Citadel Cutbacks

[Big E]

Just saw on All Access that Citadel is cutting jobs left and right. It didnt say anything about the west coast. Im sure they will can people out here too.

 

[timbob]

At least 10 people out today @ KABC/KLOS

 

[Big E]

The biggies at KABC are the APD and Peter Tilden

 

[shirleyschmidt]

Practically everyone who does not have a show that ABC owns has been hit hard.

It is a huge hemorrage.

 

[ercjncpr]

Is Citadel saying that they bought something and they did not figure how much it was ultimately going to cost them? Or they did not understand the lack of revenue from these stations before they bought them?

 

[Shoot From Hip]

The combination of how long it took for the transaction to close, the general decline in radio during that period of time, and the continuing underperformance of the ABC group during that period created a set of circumstances that was exacerbated by the price Citadel initially agreed to pay.

 

[mred]

I wonder if high rated KGO will get cuts, up in SF? Ronn Owens and Gene Burns are making $250k to $300k. for 15 hours a week.

 

[davideduardo]

I wonder if high rated KGO will get cuts, up in SF? Ronn Owens and Gene Burns are making $250k to $300k. for 15 hours a week.

I doubt Ronn is making $250 k. Something more in the $500 k to $700 k range sounds more reasonable.

 

[RadioStarOne]

I hope Ronn Owens stays right where he is at! The station would never be the same without him! I would say that Disney/ABC is/has laughed all the way to the bank on this one! You will know that KGO is in serious
trouble if Mickey Luckoff or Jack Swanson exit the station in the next month or two. In which case Citadel may as well just turn out the lights and transmitter and send all the staff home for the grim reaper would have arrived and of course "departed."

One more thing: How long now before the shareholders of Disney/ABC that remained behind start calling for the elimination of the Citadel management that is doing so bad running this station group? You can't just blame all the red ink on the economic downturn can they? David I hear your name being called.

 

[nmoore6676]

I never cared much for Peter Tilden on KZLA but I caught him a few times on KABC and felt that he had found his niche. I hope he gets a new gig soon. Maybe another local show for KGIL?

 

[davideduardo]

I would say that Disney/ABC is/has laughed all the way to the bank on this one!

Remember, as Tom Taylor states this morning, that the staggering losses for Citadel were "paper" losses involving valuations, not operations. Apparently the ABC stations Citadel acquired were quite profitable as a group, but Citadel wants to clean up everything, from balance sheets to margins.

One more thing: How long now before the shareholders of Disney/ABC that remained behind start calling for the elimination of the Citadel management that is doing so bad running this station group?

Again, Citadel took paper losses on valuations. In the end, they will look better for the future after a grim 2007.

You can't just blame all the red ink on the economic downturn can they?

The economic turndown is one aspect, and one that exacerbates all the little flaws at the market or station levels. For example, the squeeze of Fresh and CBS-FM on WPLJ becomes all the more obvious in times like these.

 

[TattooQueen]

I never cared much for Peter Tilden on KZLA but I caught him a few times on KABC and felt that he had found his niche. I hope he gets a new gig soon. Maybe another local show for KGIL?

They just might finally get rid of that obnoxious thing they call a morning show, move Shawn to a different slot and let Peter take over!

 

[Rebafan]

I never cared much for Peter Tilden on KZLA but I caught him a few times on KABC and felt that he had found his niche. I hope he gets a new gig soon. Maybe another local show for KGIL?

They just might finally get rid of that obnoxious thing they call a morning show, move Shawn to a different slot and let Peter take over!

Don't think it will happen but if it did Marv-LA would not be happy about that It is radio.... ANYTHING can happen LOL ;D

 

[david]

I never cared much for Peter Tilden on KZLA but I caught him a few times on KABC and felt that he had found his niche. I hope he gets a new gig soon. Maybe another local show for KGIL?

Yes. I would put Peter together with Marc Germain and April Winchell - for AM Drive on KGIL - Call it "MAP" out your morning.
MAP = Marc, April, Peter

 

[AnimatronicAbeLincoln]

Remember, as Tom Taylor states this morning, that the staggering losses for Citadel were "paper" losses involving valuations, not operations. Apparently the ABC stations Citadel acquired were quite profitable as a group, but Citadel wants to clean up everything, from balance sheets to margins.

I don't doubt what you're saying, David... I get that. My question then is, if it's just a paper loss, then why do they have to go around firing people?

By firing people and compromising the products in the biggest, most competitive markets, they could cause ratings hits which would then be followed by real, actual, non-paper losses.

I just can't reconcile the fact that it was only a paper loss with their sudden need/urge to clean up balance sheets and margins, and fire all these dozens of people, some of whom are in key positions in major markets.

 

[Mr1derful]

I never cared much for Peter Tilden on KZLA but I caught him a few times on KABC and felt that he had found his niche. I hope he gets a new gig soon. Maybe another local show for KGIL?

They just might finally get rid of that obnoxious thing they call a morning show, move Shawn to a different slot and let Peter take over!

You never know, Peter may show up at KKGO. But I think Peter's country days are behind him. His morning show on KZLA was, how can I say this, an interesting experiment while it lasted. Talk radio is Peter's true calling. He just sounded so much more alive and happier when he was on KABC. I agree that KGIL would be a perfect fit.

 

[jimmythebassett]

There are two factors working against each other here. Citadel is a lousy company, but ABC/Disney ran these stations into the ground with layers of fat managers and producers. That's not a combination for success.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Doug mccintyre should thank the radio gods he went from red eye radio to mccintyre in the mourning

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Re: KABC Website (Was: Citadel Cutbacks)

KABC radio keeps its track record of website ineptness intact.

You may recall when they ballyhooed the return of the Dodgers
they spelled Vin Scully's name wrong in several postings.

Now, Monday evening, the site still has Peter Tilden listed in the
hosts section and as one of the "giant rotating heads" on the
masthead next to the KABC 790 logo.

He has been removed from the program schedule page however.

 

[crystalset]

I love KABC but the over the top doom and gloom conservative syndicated hosts are getting tiresome. I say they are way overexposed, way too loud and frankly become annoying. I'm not deaf! Give me both sides using local talent talking about local issues tossing in major news stories from around the world. Give me IDEAS and let me make up my own mind. That’s why I loved Peter Tilden. His political opinions were his and he never pushed them. I for one will miss Peter terribly. Much as I miss Mr. K.
I just found Dennis Miller. Didn’t know he was on the radio. He is a world of knowledge. Yes he’s opinionated but in a fun comical way and he doesn't feel the need to yell.
Hey Citadel there are plenty of sports stations. If they will check the history of KABC they will see how listenership dropped last time they became, “The Home of the Dodgers.” Also begs the question from where did that money come to acquire the Dodgers broadcasting rights? .
Ps: Get back with us soon Al on a regular basis.