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Cont(r)act Sport

Rusty Bridges

Rusty Bridges

http://talkintv.buffalonews.com/2015/08/07/is-howard-simon-leaving-wgr-for-ub/

If this report in The News has any standing, it looks like Entercom is playing hardball with WGR morning co-host Howard Simon. It appears 3:30 a.m. wake up calls, dueling with callers, and interviewing coaches and athletes isn't all it's cracked up to be. Simon's position on that account may not be a surprise, neither is Entercom's position to protect its investment. Hmm... could it be that Simon is positioning himself for more money as the co-host of the #1 morning show with Men 25-54?
 
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Radio contracts are written in sand anyway.
Bluffing will only get you to the exit.

As long as the zombies continue to call in to rehash
Bills and Sabres ad nauseum, it won't matter who's behind
the microphone on that station...
 
If Simon has an offer from UB, it would be hard for him to pass it up if the money was anywhere near what he's making at 'GR. The benefits are better, the vacation time is better, and the retirement is MUCH better. In this case, the numbers and research ought to tell Greg Greed that Howard is the heart of that morning show. He's the only thing that makes Jeremy White remotely palatable. Radio contracts are written to favor the company, not the talent. 'GR could withstand the loss of White a lot more easily than the loss of Simon. UB would be lucky to get Simon in their quest for more impact in Buffalo.
 
This must have something to do with radio or broadcasting, otherwise what legal standing does Entercom have if Simon wants to work for the University of Buffalo in a capacity that doesn't involve being on the radio or television? Simon is good, but he's not irreplaceable. There probably are as many people who like Jeremy White as like Simon, it's even possible that fans listen to the morning show because of White. I can listen about 20 minutes at most and it doesn't have anything to do with Simon or White. After 20 minutes, you kind of get the drift, whether the Bills won or lost. Everything after that is like listening to drunks at a sports bar. They all know more than the coach or managers. That's why they're working in an oil change joint or on the line at Ford or Chevy. But I can see management at any radio station not wanting the burden of fixing a busted morning team, especially if it's highly rated. If Tom Ragan wanted to walk away from the Edge, there would be similar concerns.
 
Contracts are contracts, no matter what the business. Radio contracts are notoriously tilted toward Corporate, not the talent. There may be an out clause, but usually it's there for corporate, not for the talent. There are also limits on what type of work you can do outside the company. For example, you wouldn't be allowed to work for another radio station or media outlet - at least not within a large geographic area.

I'm sure that WGR has research on who's the stronger talent on the morning show. It may be somewhat based on demographics. Simon is the voice of reason most days. White is the bombastic loudmouth who constantly interrupts. That may play well for younger demos. Howard has way more patience with him than I would - or Schopp would. I'd almost like to see Schopp and White together. It would be like a steel cage death match - Mensa y Mano.
 
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