Citadel to begin major changes in major markets...

[LKellerIII]

"Since cost-cutting is Citadel's #1 goal, I wonder if they're going to go into each market, and, wherever they own both FMs and AMs, blow up an FM, and simulcast one of the AMs on it. They don't have KKSF anymore, so it won't happen in SF, but I wonder if it might happen in LA, Chicago.. NYC.."

I don't know enough about New York and Chicago, but a number of people posting here - primarily David Eduardo - believe that AM is basically dead in the water - even for news and talk - and the future is on FM. If this is true, it wouldn't hurt KABC to be simulcasting the AM talk format on 95.5 FM. I guess it depends on how much revenue KLOS brings in by itself.

 

[MikeAmatori]

I know a few of our fellow posters seem to have a problem with KGO, But for as much fault as they seem to find with the station, here is what is not in dispute. It remains profitable, highly rated and interesting to listen to. Local programing, grown up topics, adult hosts who are the best in the business. Blowtorch signal.

Working at KGO is a resume item that most anybody in broadcasting would love to have. But KGO is kind of
in the same position as say...Tiger Woods...They are just waiting for you to stumble or lose...because that makes them feel good...And then they can say "you see I was right about them"

I am sure about one thing, no one bought KGO to destroy it. If the ABC stations were considered by our
new owners as a prize worth 2.6 billion dollars, then I know they consider KGO the Crown Jewel. I am aware the have slashed and burned some of the other former ABC properties...No one wants to see anyone lose their job, BUT! the stations that took the bigest hits had the bigest problems...ratings problems, billing, cashflow etc.

The speculation I have read here is just that, speculation. And in one case, I belive it was the plot to the movie Wall Street. Please don't confuse it with facts as they apply to KGO. As I said before, My money is on Mickey and Jack, they are the Best in the Business, and that is a fact!

 

[CarterB]

And, just think, you can get a share of Citadel stock for less than the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee. Yum

 

[mred]

The comment about dot.com ads was right-on. They would take out image ads and help wanted ads and kgo and ksfo were sold out.

Gene Burns would not work for pm drive because he likes the long call. (I'm sure they would still want some traffic, news and weather in the talk format.)

The fact that Karel does his show from a tough shed in long beach is problematic.

Watenburger is so radioactive from his years in the nuclear industry, theuy don't want him in the station because he glows in the dark.

Rogers on ksfo broadcasts from a remote location and and I think Gil Gross does too.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

Gil broadcasts from both the KGO studios and from socal.

 

[DavidKaye]

I am sure about one thing, no one bought KGO to destroy it. If the ABC stations were considered by our
new owners as a prize worth 2.6 billion dollars, then I know they consider KGO the Crown Jewel.

One should hope, except to read this disquieting statement from the Citadel CEO: "He also said Citadel is "trying to redeploy some programming expenses to ratings that, perhaps, are more revenue-related than truly ratings-related, so we're going to be more focused on ratings that bring revenue rather than ratings that bring ratings for the sake of ratings."

To me this means infomercials disguised as talkshows. Now, in the past KGO has had some infomercials of a sort. The "Dirt Gardener" with Bert (and later Buzz) Bertolero was one such, fully sponsored by their Navlet's garden centers, and hosted by a KGO host. As I remember, that's the closest KGO ever got to infomercials. But, then we look at KABC, and, well....

 

[Geek-O-Rama]

All Access says Melanie Morgan was fired from KSFO? Isn't she married to Jack Swanson? That will make for interesting conversation at home tonight.
Any other bloodletting?

 

[doublecashkgb]

She was the only thing going on the morning show. The male host sounds like he passed away 5 years ago.

 

[LKellerIII]

"All Access says Melanie Morgan was fired from KSFO? Isn't she married to Jack Swanson? That will make for interesting conversation at home tonight."

I'm shocked. Really. I'm not a fan, but she had developed from the news-reader on the Lee Rodgers program into one of those take-no prisoners rabble-rousing publicity generating right wingers that gets attention - not to mention ratings. She had parlayed her almost Savage-like status into a number of news stories, and frequent appearances on cable news outlets.

Perhaps the KSFO morning show's ratings have declined, but Melanie would seem to be just what a right-wing talk station needs to keep the buzz going.

 

[MikeAmatori]

Melanie Morgan:

Her contract was set to expire at the end of the month...So in a world of cut, squeeze and trim they chose not to renew...We were kidding around at 8:45 AM, she was gone at 9:05 AM. what a great business. Mel spent 25 years working at KGO and KSFO with a time out for a few years in Seattle when Jack was running KING A/F. No matter what you thought of her "Act" she is a very nice person, with a wonderful sense of humor. and in spite of her on air persona, didn't take heself to seriously. Mel was very cool to work with. I will miss her.

So far we have lost 2 people, the other a Local Sales manager, and we believe there is a hiring freeze on open positions. Don't know if it's over yet, but for those of you scoring at home. Aprox 72 people have be Let Go from Citadels ABC Stations Group.

 

[chris319]

carel 7-10p

Ew, no, yuck, icky-poo. I'd rather listen to Alan Colmes. Or plunge a butter knife into my temple. No, uh-uh.

And, just think, you can get a share of Citadel stock for less than the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee.

For less than the cost of the cup it comes in.

 

[DavidKaye]

Her contract was set to expire at the end of the month...So in a world of cut, squeeze and trim they chose not to renew...We were kidding around at 8:45 AM, she was gone at 9:05 AM. what a great business.

When the old old KSOL 1450 changed from "soul" to beautiful music KEST, the owner, Les Malloy, himself once a legendary DJ in these parts (and someone who should know better), locked out the old staff with no notice whatsoever. They found that their keys didn't fit the door any longer. I've heard stunts like this done many places.

When I worked at the second KSOL 107.7, the manager was told not to come back from vacation.

When I worked at channel 31 in Sacramento, the hottest air personality they had, a movie host, was let go one afternoon when the GM got cranky. We were told to remove all video from the station that had him on it -- a tough feat given that he'd done spots, intros, v/o, and had already pretaped about two week's worth of movie tweeners.

This is why I've never taken a broadcasting career seriously, but have dipped in and out of it. I guess I don't have the guts to work in such a whimsical industry. I'd rather play my accordion music on the streets and at least know I'll be rewarded decently for my efforts, because even a capricious audience of people walking by is more stable than most radio gigs, it seems.

 

[DavidKaye]

Oh, and I just got to thinking: Had Melanie Morgan stayed with Metro instead of getting a contract with KSFO perhaps she'd still have a job. I'm wondering if, given that she was the guts of the KSFO morning show, perhaps Citadel has an anti-nepotism rule that is stronger than ABC's and this may have been instrumental in her contract not being renewed as well as the luck of simply being the first contract to come up.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Melanie Morgan Out At 560/KSFO

I've always referred to Melanie Morgan as "The Actress Who Plays Melanie Morgan" -- a character on the KSFO morning show -- but she was damned good at it. She could raise blood pressure (among lefties and righties), get her audience inspired to show up and do things in public, and she understands that it's radio and you're there to entertain.

Radio needs more Melanie Morgans, not less, whether you like her message or not. Somebody around here would be smart to grab her quickly ... but who's got the money these days?

 

[LKellerIII]

"Radio needs more Melanie Morgans, not less, whether you like her message or not. Somebody around here would be smart to grab her quickly ... but who's got the money these days?"

What about low-rated no-buzz KTRB (see other thread), or nothing-happening-but Savage KNEW? Both of these stations could use a shot in the arm from some well-known local talent who could generate some buzz and get the listeners involved.

I know everybody's afraid to spent money these days, but it seems like a couple hundred grand for Melanie's salary, and some publicity through outdoor advertising would be a risk that would have a good chance of paying off. Who knows, a popular Melanie Morgan local morning drive show on one of those stations might even encourage listeners to stick around and check out their syndicated hosts.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

"Radio needs more Melanie Morgans, not less, whether you like her message or not. Somebody around here would be smart to grab her quickly ... but who's got the money these days?"

What about low-rated no-buzz KTRB (see other thread), or nothing-happening-but Savage KNEW? Both of these stations could use a shot in the arm from some well-known local talent who could generate some buzz and get the listeners involved.

I know everybody's afraid to spent money these days, but it seems like a couple hundred grand for Melanie's salary, and some publicity through outdoor advertising would be a risk that would have a good chance of paying off. Who knows, a popular Melanie Morgan local morning drive show on one of those stations might even encourage listeners to stick around and check out their syndicated hosts.

Kevin Barrett, are you lurking?

 

[DyingMedium]

I've always referred to Melanie Morgan as "The Actress Who Plays Melanie Morgan" -- a character on the KSFO morning show -- but she was damned good at it. She could raise blood pressure (among lefties and righties), get her audience inspired to show up and do things in public, and she understands that it's radio and you're there to entertain.

Radio needs more Melanie Morgans, not less, whether you like her message or not. Somebody around here would be smart to grab her quickly ... but who's got the money these days?

Sorry Boss, but totally disagree with you on MM. Was she really talented? I'm sure some think so...and maybe she is. But anyone who says the things she said on the air and then turns around and proclaims "it's just a show" gets no respect from me. She may be a nice person, but I've never bought the "it's only a show" argument when it comes to Newstalk...

And, had she remained at metro, she might still have her job, but a lot less money.

 

[LKellerIII]

"Sorry Boss, but totally disagree with you on MM. Was she really talented? I'm sure some think so...and maybe she is. But anyone who says the things she said on the air and then turns around and proclaims "it's just a show" gets no respect from me. She may be a nice person, but I've never bought the "it's only a show" argument when it comes to Newstalk... And, had she remained at metro, she might still have her job, but a lot less money."

I always feel strange defending right-wingers, and I'm neither a fan nor detractor of Melanie's. But there is a liberal conceit I keep hearing that right wing talk hosts are only doing it for "the show" and don't really believe what they're saying. Morgan made a point a few years ago of explaining her political conversion from liberal to conservative. I'm willing to believe she's a sincere right winger. I think Boss was not trying to say that she's a fake conservative, but that she pushes the envelope to generate publicity and ratings. Like it or not, these talk hosts get ratings for sounding outrageous and extreme, and that's what Melanie and other successful talk hosts have done.

Look at Ann Coulter - the more outrageous she gets, the more books she sells. And she gets a ton of extra free publicity when liberals go crazy and foam at the mouth every time she says something extreme.

I think it's odd to criticize Melanie for leaving a low paying Traffic gig to become a major market talk co-host. She probably made more money as a Disney/ABC employee than she could have made at Metro in a decade. That seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

I'll tip my hat to Llew for saving me the time of having to write a lengthy response. You echoed my sentiments precisely.

DJ

 

[DyingMedium]

I've heard MM's "explanation" of her so-called conversion. Didn't buy it. I think she's an opportunist...which isn't always a bad thing. But it certainly leaves credibility out in the cold.

"But there is a liberal conceit I keep hearing that right wing talk hosts are only doing it for "the show" and don't really believe what they're saying. "

Liberal conceit? Really? That anything like the liberal media? Be careful about labeling...

The sad part is, I know several talkers from both sides of the aisle who use the "it only a show" excuse, using ratings and publicity as an excuse...because, for them, that makes it OK. Sorry, I just don't feel that way. I think your responsibility as a broadcaster supercedes the chase for ratings.

Obviously, she is/was very popular...I know I'm in the minority here. But that's my take on it.

Also, don't think anyone criticized her for leaving Metro...Hell, I give her props for that!