I'm stealing a phrase from a former columnist at the Plain Dealer, but "word is" that afternoon drive host Brady Russell is out at NextMedia news/talker WHBC/1480. Details to follow...
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Changes at WHBC...
- Thread starter static_cling
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S
SeanMGilbow
Guest
I worked with Brady in the final months that WCUE was a commercial staion. I wish him all the best.
Nice spin on budget cuts from OMW.
Budget cuts, sure Wink Wink Nudge Nudge.
Please, the show sucked and sucked hard. Period.
Budget cuts, sure Wink Wink Nudge Nudge.
Please, the show sucked and sucked hard. Period.
John Baylor said:
Oh, I get it. Monty Python, right? "Say no more, squire!"
John, you clearly haven't been keeping up with NextMedia's budget blues. Check the archives if you have any doubts. Let me be blunt; It's called "we paid too much money for the stations because we were involved in a bidding war with Clear Channel, but we have too much pride to admit to a mistake". I wonder if CC still feels like it lost the war.
I've been told Brady was informed of the decision while on vacation..nice touch there, NextMedia..
I'm rather surprised it wasn't ''Kayleigh Kriss''; I've been told she makes well over $40,000 per year..and her ratings are tanking, along with the rest of the FM..
In any case, what direction does 'HBC-AM go now? Clear Channel effectively blocked all the syndication efforts that NextMedia put forth..except for Dennis Miller..its obvious they won't replace Mr. Russell with a warm body..so now what?
I'm rather surprised it wasn't ''Kayleigh Kriss''; I've been told she makes well over $40,000 per year..and her ratings are tanking, along with the rest of the FM..
In any case, what direction does 'HBC-AM go now? Clear Channel effectively blocked all the syndication efforts that NextMedia put forth..except for Dennis Miller..its obvious they won't replace Mr. Russell with a warm body..so now what?
R
rebbe
Guest
If OMW is right (and Jim Albright is replacing Brady) I might have to agree with John Baylor for the first time. If it was merely about cost cutting, wouldn't NM opt for some form of syndicated programming? There are still plenty of shows out there. The ratings on WHBC AM are not so bad in morning and nights, but check out the rest of the day. Hello, you have to question if they were off the air?
rebbe said:
Shhh! NextMedia might get ideas.
I think more syndicated programming could be in the works. Jim Albright may be moving to afternoons, but I get the feeling from people on the inside that it's not a long-term thing. I don't think any cost cutting will stop with Brady. Honestly, how much money could a bloated organization like NM save from firing one personality? If they're that hard up for cash, they'll do it again and again. In my past experience, there's no satisfying a corporate machine.
Speaker of Truth...I am also surprised that Nancy...errrrr...I mean, Kayleigh Kriss wasn't let go as well. I wouldn't be shocked to find out if she does make over $40,000 per year. She has been a jock as well as public affairs director or some kind of administrative type since she joined the station many years ago.
I think it was a little of both. Budget cutting AND improving a show. The AM changed format about a year ago and have had some sales problems. I think the FM has been doing pretty well overall in sales therefore why mess it up now?
Brady's show was lacking. I don't know him personally and he might be a great guy. But the show was dull and that is not good in afternoon drive.
Brady's show was lacking. I don't know him personally and he might be a great guy. But the show was dull and that is not good in afternoon drive.
D
david9396
Guest
sorry to hear brady is out at 1480. while driving between sales calls, brady was a good alternative to motormouth munchkin, fullmouth triv, and sean. he got listeners to participate on both sides of the aisle without being offensive. cc would be smart to put him onto 640 for some local flavor. i don't think it likely that jack would put live programming in pm drive on 900. won't be the first time i was wrong. david9396
Shadow said:
If my sources are correct, I wouldn't say everything's hunky dory in terms of sales for either station outside of local sports. Meanwhile, Mix is still trying to get its morning show in order and 1480 is only now beginning to win some of its old listeners over. I get the sense that some businesses are still taking out their frustrations on NM for changing 1480's format. If so, then that may partly account for flagging sales revenues. Some people really took the flip personally. Irrational? Perhaps.
Is *now* a good time to start second guessing on-air personnel? Not that there's ever a good time to cut someone loose, but doesn't this move signal confusion and/or lack of commitment on the part of the powers that be? It's one thing to can Brady (or anyone else) if their show doesn't work, but HBC needs stability while it's trying to reinvent itself. My guess is that NM lacks the patience and the money to really give it an honest try. Too bad. Things were just getting interesting.
Maybe the suits should bring back the old format. I'm sure the senior set would love to hear Neil Diamond on the box again. Zzzzzzzz...
Some clarifications here:
1) The "budget cuts" line isn't our spin. It's what we're told NM is saying in-house about why Mr. Russell was let go.
2) From what we're hearing out of the pourous walls of Market South, I have no idea if Jim Albright will be in PMD permanently. As I suggested to one of the folks I've been talking to, CNN's Lou Dobbs' new radio show is available. If they want to go syndie, that might be an option, but I haven't heard if that slot will continue to be local or not.
3) As hinted in our item on this, Jim Albright does off-air work for WHBC in addition to his Saturday morning show, and now, however long he does PM drive. They aren't bringing him in the building starting next week just to do the shift, he's already there doing other things...and has been for a long while.
4) I wish I could get WHBC better up here, or that they'd finally turn on streaming, so I would have a better shot to hear Jim. He's a good guy, and I of course remember him from the WNIR "Dating Show"/"Dial-A-Date" days.
-OA/OMW
1) The "budget cuts" line isn't our spin. It's what we're told NM is saying in-house about why Mr. Russell was let go.
2) From what we're hearing out of the pourous walls of Market South, I have no idea if Jim Albright will be in PMD permanently. As I suggested to one of the folks I've been talking to, CNN's Lou Dobbs' new radio show is available. If they want to go syndie, that might be an option, but I haven't heard if that slot will continue to be local or not.
3) As hinted in our item on this, Jim Albright does off-air work for WHBC in addition to his Saturday morning show, and now, however long he does PM drive. They aren't bringing him in the building starting next week just to do the shift, he's already there doing other things...and has been for a long while.
4) I wish I could get WHBC better up here, or that they'd finally turn on streaming, so I would have a better shot to hear Jim. He's a good guy, and I of course remember him from the WNIR "Dating Show"/"Dial-A-Date" days.
-OA/OMW
OhioMediaWatch said:
"Oh, you didn't get that memo?" ;D 1480 and 94.1 have been streaming during local programming since January.
Oops, sorry about that.
When they put the "Listen Live" link, I checked every few days for about a month, and gave up...
-OA/OMW
When they put the "Listen Live" link, I checked every few days for about a month, and gave up...
-OA/OMW
Regarding satellite and talk radio...
For the life of me I will never understand why stations would select satellite programs over local talk. There were some posts above that referenced WHBC putting Lou Dobbs on in afternoon drive. I am NOT against syndicated talk shows. I think they serve a purpose filling in non-prime places, weekends, overnights, etc.
Of course shows like Limbaugh are pillars of syndication and do well in revenue. But these second plus tier talk shows are mediocre at best. I can even understand WHBC having Dennis Miller on noon to 3pm. It mixes well with the local programming.
But putting a syndicated show on in afternoon drive on a station like WHBC is just nuts. The short term gain in saving a few bucks can never match the revenue opportunity lost. Imagine if WLW replaced Gary Burbank with Lou Dobbs. (No Brady Russel was no Gary Burbank. I get that.) Imagine if Bob Golic left WNIR and they put Lou Dobbs on there. Or Triv in WTAM. Yes they may save well over 6 figures but in the long run the revenue declines will be significantly more.
Talk radio is so good when you have some decent local hosts no matter what city. I love WKBN's Ron Verb. I applaud Clear Channel for keeping the afternoons there local. Imagine if they replaced him with Lou Dobbs?
Man we really need to turn this industry around and focus on long term revenue growth and not this stupid "we need to hit our quarter or else" attitude. Cutting the expense line is NEVER a way to achieve growth in the long run in any industry or business.
For the life of me I will never understand why stations would select satellite programs over local talk. There were some posts above that referenced WHBC putting Lou Dobbs on in afternoon drive. I am NOT against syndicated talk shows. I think they serve a purpose filling in non-prime places, weekends, overnights, etc.
Of course shows like Limbaugh are pillars of syndication and do well in revenue. But these second plus tier talk shows are mediocre at best. I can even understand WHBC having Dennis Miller on noon to 3pm. It mixes well with the local programming.
But putting a syndicated show on in afternoon drive on a station like WHBC is just nuts. The short term gain in saving a few bucks can never match the revenue opportunity lost. Imagine if WLW replaced Gary Burbank with Lou Dobbs. (No Brady Russel was no Gary Burbank. I get that.) Imagine if Bob Golic left WNIR and they put Lou Dobbs on there. Or Triv in WTAM. Yes they may save well over 6 figures but in the long run the revenue declines will be significantly more.
Talk radio is so good when you have some decent local hosts no matter what city. I love WKBN's Ron Verb. I applaud Clear Channel for keeping the afternoons there local. Imagine if they replaced him with Lou Dobbs?
Man we really need to turn this industry around and focus on long term revenue growth and not this stupid "we need to hit our quarter or else" attitude. Cutting the expense line is NEVER a way to achieve growth in the long run in any industry or business.
Shadow said:
Triv sucks. Anyone would do well in PM Drive on WTAM. Why? No other talk competition. And those talents that got better ratings than Triv (within CC Cleveland) were shown the door years ago, ie Danny Wright and Scott Howitt.
Bob Franz is a better talk talent than Triv.
Triv isn't in AM drive b/c he'd get shallacked! Lanigan would clean his clock, as would Rover. Hell, even Brian and Joe... now that's bad.
J
john23
Guest
Lou Dobbs launched March 3rd with 2 hours of clearance on WCER 900 4-6pm. Sorry I forgot to send you the memo OA...I suppose WHBC could still steal him, but at least they are still local for now...
Thank you, John. I was unaware that you guys picked him up...and I wasn't suggesting WHBC was interested, anyway. I haven't heard that in any of the rumblings out of Market Street South...I mentioned his name because A) he just started, B) is in PM drive and C) I wasn't aware that WCER has the show now.
Thank you for the heads up!
-OA/OMW
Thank you for the heads up!
-OA/OMW
D
david9396
Guest
john--who is your new latenight guy, jeff rense?--david5258
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