Kind of a sucky way to go out after 20 years
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/...-on-wzon-sportscasters-dale-duff-clem-labree/
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/...-on-wzon-sportscasters-dale-duff-clem-labree/
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Duff and Labree out at WZON
- Thread starter Mainedude2007
- Start date
Is there a good way to go? It's not a sports station anymore.
There is no shame for them. They were given a mandate in 1993 and they fulfilled it. I have a lot of respect for both of them. They put 110% into that station, working nights, weekends, at all hours. Lots to be proud of. It's unfortunate, but I don't think sports radio is dead. With a different model, I think it can work, and I am sure someone will try.
There is no shame for them. They were given a mandate in 1993 and they fulfilled it. I have a lot of respect for both of them. They put 110% into that station, working nights, weekends, at all hours. Lots to be proud of. It's unfortunate, but I don't think sports radio is dead. With a different model, I think it can work, and I am sure someone will try.
WAEI seems to be doing just fine with Downtown, which competed directly with WZON and is being networked around the state.
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/...town-radio-show-will-gain-three-new-stations/
From this followup story, it looks like there's some bad blood between King and his former employees:
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/...sox-bruins-celtics-high-school-game-coverage/
Jeff Solari had nothing good to say about King either after his ouster.
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/the-sports-edge-they-are-throwing-us-a-change-up
It appears that once you are no longer King's employee you no longer fear his wrath.
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/...town-radio-show-will-gain-three-new-stations/
From this followup story, it looks like there's some bad blood between King and his former employees:
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/...sox-bruins-celtics-high-school-game-coverage/
Jeff Solari had nothing good to say about King either after his ouster.
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/the-sports-edge-they-are-throwing-us-a-change-up
It appears that once you are no longer King's employee you no longer fear his wrath.
Disclaimer...I do on rare occasions do some work at Zone...and I am not afraid.
Solari left on his own. It must be so exciting going into work everyday with lawyers. Now he writes the same column every 6 months to complain how sports coverage is dwindling. That tells me nobody else is making money with it either. A shame, because I think it absolutely can be done.
Radio stations are cheap now. You don't need anywhere near Mr. King's wealth to own one. So if it's a big deal to you, then go get one and go to it. Kudos to Kimball and friends who have actually put their own time and money into their effort.
Your last statement is just inflammatory. They must have the lowest turnover rate of any media outlet in the state. Dozens have been let go from the corporate clusters. Let's not unappreciate a local owner who is interested in his stations on a day when Tim Moore was treated as nothing but a high number on an Atlanta accountant's spreadsheet.
Solari left on his own. It must be so exciting going into work everyday with lawyers. Now he writes the same column every 6 months to complain how sports coverage is dwindling. That tells me nobody else is making money with it either. A shame, because I think it absolutely can be done.
Radio stations are cheap now. You don't need anywhere near Mr. King's wealth to own one. So if it's a big deal to you, then go get one and go to it. Kudos to Kimball and friends who have actually put their own time and money into their effort.
Your last statement is just inflammatory. They must have the lowest turnover rate of any media outlet in the state. Dozens have been let go from the corporate clusters. Let's not unappreciate a local owner who is interested in his stations on a day when Tim Moore was treated as nothing but a high number on an Atlanta accountant's spreadsheet.
It's good to know that you're a part-timer at Zone, so you don't rely on King's philanthropy to pay the bills. Lord knows it's hard enough to keep the debt collectors at bay as a radio full-timer in Downeast Maine! Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt, broke even at best, moved on to greener pastures. And that was working for Mark Osborne (current MAB Chairman) and Natalie Knox, arguably the most employee-friendly owners in the market save King. Such was my devotion to their Ellsworth operation that even after I left the area I continued to commute three hours each way for months for a single overnight shift, unthinkable in this era of confiscatory gas prices. But I digress...
'Tis true, Solari saw the handwriting on the wall and left of his own volition. His observations are from a seasoned broadcaster's perspective, albeit one no longer beholden to the profession. That he has periodically returned to this theme does not detract from its validity; otherwise, most media critics would be mute. I think it's fair to say that, given his druthers, he'd rather be in a studio than in a courtroom, but being a broadcaster all too often involves taking a vow of poverty. Not fair to the wife and kids...
http://bangordailynews.com/2010/10/18/sports/wzon-is-making-a-lineup-change/
The expansion of Kimball's program into three more markets shows that sports on Maine radio can be successful with competent management and ownership focused on making money instead of pushing an agenda with a demonstrably minuscule audience.
Regarding the turnover issue, Messers Duff and LaBree, representing half the remaining full-time talent on The Pulse (its ranks having already taken major hits due to previous layoffs, unfilled vacancies and contract expirations) would beg to differ.
And finally, your assertion that upper management at Cumulus cashiered Tim Moore is mere speculation on your part. As you know from the separate thread about Tim, I'm on the record as being no fan of Cumulus.
'Tis true, Solari saw the handwriting on the wall and left of his own volition. His observations are from a seasoned broadcaster's perspective, albeit one no longer beholden to the profession. That he has periodically returned to this theme does not detract from its validity; otherwise, most media critics would be mute. I think it's fair to say that, given his druthers, he'd rather be in a studio than in a courtroom, but being a broadcaster all too often involves taking a vow of poverty. Not fair to the wife and kids...
http://bangordailynews.com/2010/10/18/sports/wzon-is-making-a-lineup-change/
The expansion of Kimball's program into three more markets shows that sports on Maine radio can be successful with competent management and ownership focused on making money instead of pushing an agenda with a demonstrably minuscule audience.
Regarding the turnover issue, Messers Duff and LaBree, representing half the remaining full-time talent on The Pulse (its ranks having already taken major hits due to previous layoffs, unfilled vacancies and contract expirations) would beg to differ.
And finally, your assertion that upper management at Cumulus cashiered Tim Moore is mere speculation on your part. As you know from the separate thread about Tim, I'm on the record as being no fan of Cumulus.
newsbot said:
Is anyone?
Newsbot, not sure where you're getting your info but your statement of "representing half the remaining full-time talent on The Pulse (its ranks having already taken major hits due to previous layoffs, unfilled vacancies and contract expirations)" shows that you don't have much of a handle on the history of WZON-AM. It's "full-time talent" employment has never been higher than 4 people since it's restart as the SportsZone in 1993, unless you're counting the full-time news person that it employed prior to merging with WKIT in 1995, which would bring the talent count up to 5 for a short period from late 1994 into 1995.
Nor would I describe the current employees as living in fear of Stephen King's wrath.
As to Rich Kimball's show, that has more to do with Rich and Jim Churchill's desire to do a sports show than any input from the management of the WAEI-AM, as I understand the station management has almost nothing to do with the show's production, beyond allowing them to use studio space.
As to Rich Kimball's show, that has more to do with Rich and Jim Churchill's desire to do a sports show than any input from the management of the WAEI-AM, as I understand the station management has almost nothing to do with the show's production, beyond allowing them to use studio space.
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