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EXCLUSIVE: Springer Loses WTAM/1100 Cleveland

O

OldAkronite

Our little Ohio Media Watch gets an exclusive:

<a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com/2006/03/exclusive-no-more-jerryjerryjerry.html>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com/2006/03/exclusive-no-more-jerryjerryjerry.html</a>

Basically, Clear Channel's 50,000 watt Cleveland talker WTAM/1100 is about to air its last moments of Jerry Springer in the late morning slot. The station's dumping Springer after today for local talk in the 9-11:30 AM weekday time slot. More details above.

I have some comments on this, but I'll let the usual back and forth happen for a while. I'll just say that it appears Springer never caught on in a slot once dominated by Glenn Beck, and that moving to local in the slot is (IMHO) a good idea for the powerhouse talk station.

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
The station's dumping Springer
> after today for local talk in the 9-11:30 AM weekday time
> slot. More details above.

Some other stations are dumping syndie for local. Hartford's WDRC is
replacing Hannity with a local duo 3-6 pm.<P ID="signature">______________
raccoonradio5ap.gif
</P>
 
Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Springer. He's a lousy talk show host.

> Our little Ohio Media Watch gets an exclusive:
>
http://ohiomedia> .blogspot.com/2006/03/exclusive-no-more-jerryjerryjerry.html
>
>
> Basically, Clear Channel's 50,000 watt Cleveland talker
> WTAM/1100 is about to air its last moments of Jerry Springer
> in the late morning slot. The station's dumping Springer
> after today for local talk in the 9-11:30 AM weekday time
> slot. More details above.
>
> I have some comments on this, but I'll let the usual back
> and forth happen for a while. I'll just say that it appears
> Springer never caught on in a slot once dominated by Glenn
> Beck, and that moving to local in the slot is (IMHO) a good
> idea for the powerhouse talk station.
>
> -OA
>
<P ID="signature">______________
http://talkingradio.blogspot.com/</P>
 
> Some other stations are dumping syndie for local. Hartford's
> WDRC is
> replacing Hannity with a local duo 3-6 pm.

It's been done all over the place, and is one reason Glenn Beck's lost some big Clear Channel clearances. Like, down in Atlanta, where former WSPD'er Denny Schaffer took that slot over on CC's WGST/640.

OK, so it's different here. Whoever gets the show - and we'd bet on Bob Frantz right now, yet another WSPDer - will be on the 50,000 watt flamethrower with no major competition, aside from sports talk on WKNR/850 (Greg Brinda) and suburban airings of Beck on WHLO/640 Akron and WEOL/930 Elyria.

Schaffer's bad luck is to go against Atlanta Talk Radio King Neal Boortz on 50,000 watter WSB/750. Frantz, or whoever gets the WTAM midday talk gig, will have no such problem.

BTW, AllAccess has confirmed our earlier report, and WTAM announced Springer's dumping during its 4 PM newscast today. Well, we didn't need confirmation ourselves. We knew it was accurate. :D

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
The Move - Syndicated To Local Talk

> Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Springer.
> He's a lousy talk show host.

I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times.

If his name were Jerry Smith, and he weren't the internationally famous Ohio host of a trash talk TV show, this move wouldn't have happened. WTAM clearly hoped they could capitalize on "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" (in fact, many of their promos contained such a riff!).

Somewhere in there, WTAM management hoped they could mold Jerry into a "liberal hot talk" host. WTAM/CC Cleveland market VP/Programming Kevin Metheny even admitted on the air, that one time he filled in for Springer, that he was Jerry's "talent coach".

Listen to that one show with Mr. Metheny, and you'll hear what CC hoped to get out of Jerry, but never got all the way.

I'm actually surprised we haven't seen the "dancing around liberal talk's grave" contingent in this thread. Maybe they realize this is a unique situation - putting a not-all-that-compelling "big name" host in a slot formerly occupied by a conservative syndicated host, on a station which features no other attempt at liberal talk.

The move, frankly, isn't a rejection of "liberal talk"...it's a rejection of Jerry Springer. And mostly conservative/sports talk WTAM really is NOT a good fit for any non-conservative host, frankly. The move to a local show is long overdue, and sorely needed, IMHO.

If the host is ANY good, it instantly adds another dial punch to my 9-noon routine...which is already crowded with:

Glenn Beck (WHLO/640 Akron)
Stephanie Miller (WARF/1350 Akron)
Joe Finan (same, for an hour in that slot)
Howie Chizek (WNIR/100.1 Akron market)
Greg Brinda (WKNR/850 Cleveland sports talk)

Could the local stations stop putting the only listenable hosts in town in the exact same time slot??? :D I mean, juggling between five stations and six shows is a bit much!

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
Re: The Move - Syndicated To Local Talk

> Glenn Beck (WHLO/640 Akron)
> Stephanie Miller (WARF/1350 Akron)
> Joe Finan (same, for an hour in that slot)
> Howie Chizek (WNIR/100.1 Akron market)
> Greg Brinda (WKNR/850 Cleveland sports talk)
>
> Could the local stations stop putting the only listenable
> hosts in town in the exact same time slot??? :D I mean,
> juggling between five stations and six shows is a bit much!

Well, 9-noon ET is the most oversyndicated daypart, but at least we can thank our lucky stars that 'TAM is actually willing to spend a few bucks and not bring us Tony Snow like KRC recently did, under the guise of bringing him back to his hometown... somehow because he once scribbled on a spelling test in Norwood he should be on a great talk station. Good to see Metheny do something right in the absence of a second talk station to take the overflow.
 
Springer certainly is not a whiz-bang radio host (although he's sure better than when he started). But his dumping in Cleveland isn't only because his ratings are weak.

As others here have posted, a big issue at radio stations is syndicated vs. local, and it's not so much a "serve the community" issue as "serve the bottom line."

Syndicated shows eat up local ad inventory. Local stations can make WAY more money airing a modestly or even weakly-rated local show with 100% locally-sold ads than it can with a syndicated show. Glenn Beck with a 6.7 share could produce less revenue than a local show with a 4.4. Only a blockbuster like Limbaugh is the occasional exception.

Again, not to say that the Springer show was stellar, but I think this dynamic had a lot to do with getting dropped in Cleveland. Clear Channel Cleveland just got a new GM, and his job is to turn around a weakly-performing (in dollars) market. I think this was a move in that direction, and I'd bet Kevin Metheney was not in favor of it.
 
> It's been done all over the place, and is one reason Glenn
> Beck's lost some big Clear Channel clearances. Like, down
> in Atlanta, where former WSPD'er Denny Schaffer took that
> slot over on CC's WGST/640.

Also WISN and WGY (and 55KRC, but for Tony Snow, whom my accountant told me today was a "creep")... funny how many of these stations don't have a problem with clearing Hannity in his entirety in PMD, which is more important than midmornings. I'm all for local content, but let's be consistent.

> BTW, AllAccess has confirmed our earlier report, and WTAM
> announced Springer's dumping during its 4 PM newscast today.
> Well, we didn't need confirmation ourselves. We knew it
> was accurate. :D

Too bad Kim isn't still around so they could do the same Springer-bashing they did when Triv was on vacation and Kim/Rado filled in (God, those were four loooong hours) and they kept saying, "Glenn Beck, yeah, no more". How are those "budget cuts", Kim? Heard Allison doing an equally weak job today and it made me realize how quickly they must have recovered from aforementioned money woes... yep.

> Syndicated shows eat up local ad inventory. Local stations
> can make WAY more money airing a modestly or even
> weakly-rated local show with 100% locally-sold ads than it
> can with a syndicated show. Glenn Beck with a 6.7 share
> could produce less revenue than a local show with a 4.4.
> Only a blockbuster like Limbaugh is the occasional
> exception.

Limbaugh is a loss leader is some markets. Kind of like the $0.99 12-pack of Coke that gets you into Giant Eagle to buy $7 tub of cream cheese.

In the demos that matter, though, I do believe Beck's numbers were higher than you mention. The 6.7 more reflects Dr. Laura's numbers in her last year in midmornings.
 
Maybe they should have brought Schaeffer to WTAM rather than WGST, where he's fighting the 900-pound gorilla. Hopefully, WTAM will strike gold with whoever they bring in, not have to go through three or four hosts to find a fit..or have to end up with WLW-based hosts to fill.<P ID="signature">______________
"Your right to know supersedes your right to exist"..Gary Burbank</P>
 
> Maybe they should have brought Schaeffer to WTAM rather than
> WGST, where he's fighting the 900-pound gorilla.
yet another bum gabe hobbs move..
 
WTAM, Kim vs. Alison, Local Talk, Beck

> Too bad Kim isn't still around so they could do the same
> Springer-bashing they did when Triv was on vacation and
> Kim/Rado filled in (God, those were four loooong hours) and
> they kept saying, "Glenn Beck, yeah, no more". How are those
> "budget cuts", Kim? Heard Allison doing an equally weak job
> today and it made me realize how quickly they must have
> recovered from aforementioned money woes... yep.

I heard that show, too, by the way. Ouch.

No, think this through a little.

* Kim was one of six people on the air at some point during that show - Triv, Rado, Marty, the news anchor and whoever's doing sports (normally Mike Snyder, currently fill-in Mark Schwab). Her role was expendable budget-wise. Very much so.

Triv really didn't let her do what she was hired to do - provide a regular "reality check" foil for him. Alison is just a female voice to occasionally pipe up on something and read sponsor billboards, and she's likely paid somewhat less than Kim.

If you want an idea of what the Triv/Kim dynamic was SUPPOSED to be, tune down to CC sister station WKBN/570 Youngstown, and listen to Casey Malone mix it up with Ron Verb.

* By dumping Springer and going local in mid-mornings, WTAM instantly gains the ability to sell local spots. That was the primary reason they could "afford" to go local. Assuming they'll not be paying the new mid-morning host a king's ransom, they have a much easier shot of making money if *anyone* is listening.

> In the demos that matter, though, I do believe Beck's
> numbers were higher than you mention. The 6.7 more reflects
> Dr. Laura's numbers in her last year in midmornings.

As predicted by others, I wonder if WTAM will "triumphantly" bring back Beck in the 9 AM slot if the local host doesn't work out. I don't see it happening right away, and it may depend on CC's relationship with Beck at the time it would seem likely. But Beck's kicked butt ratings wise for WHLO/640 down in Akron.

Even if his numbers last year on WTAM were dropping before he was dumped, you can bet they'd rather have his numbers vs. Springer's.

I do think they'll give the local talk a long-term try, though. It has the potential to make more money than they were making even at Beck's ratings height, and the rest of the station is strong enough to support it now.

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
Re: WTAM, Kim vs. Alison, Local Talk, Beck

> If you want an idea of what the Triv/Kim dynamic was
> SUPPOSED to be, tune down to CC sister station WKBN/570
> Youngstown, and listen to Casey Malone mix it up with Ron
> Verb.

Although the local talk competition does a terrible job by not bringing in Beck, Hannity, and Savage to compete (although I suppose WPGB comes in pretty well there), WKBN is a great example of a smaller market talk station with a great local presence.

> * By dumping Springer and going local in mid-mornings, WTAM
> instantly gains the ability to sell local spots. That was
> the primary reason they could "afford" to go local.
> Assuming they'll not be paying the new mid-morning host a
> king's ransom, they have a much easier shot of making money
> if *anyone* is listening.

> As predicted by others, I wonder if WTAM will "triumphantly"
> bring back Beck in the 9 AM slot if the local host doesn't
> work out. I don't see it happening right away, and it may
> depend on CC's relationship with Beck at the time it would
> seem likely. But Beck's kicked butt ratings wise for
> WHLO/640 down in Akron.
>
> Even if his numbers last year on WTAM were dropping before
> he was dumped, you can bet they'd rather have his numbers
> vs. Springer's.
>
> I do think they'll give the local talk a long-term try,
> though. It has the potential to make more money than they
> were making even at Beck's ratings height, and the rest of
> the station is strong enough to support it now.

Heck, with their ROS numbers, they could mimic WRKO and hire the PD foot critic to host "Taste of Cleveland Today" and still make more. At five minutes an hour, that's 12.5 minutes a day lost revenue. You could cut rates over a third and maintain the same revenue.
 
> > Some other stations are dumping syndie for local.
> Hartford's
> > WDRC is
> > replacing Hannity with a local duo 3-6 pm.
>
> It's been done all over the place, and is one reason Glenn
> Beck's lost some big Clear Channel clearances. Like, down
> in Atlanta, where former WSPD'er Denny Schaffer took that
> slot over on CC's WGST/640.
>
> OK, so it's different here. Whoever gets the show - and
> we'd bet on Bob Frantz right now, yet another WSPDer - will
> be on the 50,000 watt flamethrower with no major
> competition, aside from sports talk on WKNR/850 (Greg
> Brinda) and suburban airings of Beck on WHLO/640 Akron and
> WEOL/930 Elyria.
>
> Schaffer's bad luck is to go against Atlanta Talk Radio King
> Neal Boortz on 50,000 watter WSB/750. Frantz, or whoever
> gets the WTAM midday talk gig, will have no such problem.
>
> BTW, AllAccess has confirmed our earlier report, and WTAM
> announced Springer's dumping during its 4 PM newscast today.
> Well, we didn't need confirmation ourselves. We knew it
> was accurate. :D
>
> -OA
>

Is Springer on any other stations where the other hosts are not liberal talk?
 
Springer Has One Other Non-Libtalker Left

> Is Springer on any other stations where the other hosts are
> not liberal talk?

He clears on Clear Channel's news/talker in Sarasota, FL, WSRQ, right before Rush:

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.1450wsrq.com/pages/onair.html>http://www.1450wsrq.com/pages/onair.html</a>

That's the only one I know about.

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
Re: WTAM, Kim vs. Alison, Local Talk, Beck

> Although the local talk competition does a terrible job by
> not bringing in Beck, Hannity, and Savage to compete
> (although I suppose WPGB comes in pretty well there), WKBN
> is a great example of a smaller market talk station with a
> great local presence.

Actually, there is NO local talk competition for WKBN, not even second-tier or third-tier, in the market.

There used to be - WRTK/1390 was the last major station to go up against WKBN, and it's now a CC sister station to WKBN as standards WNIO.

There have been occasional low-rung competitors (WASN/1330, WANR/1570), but nothing significant since WRTK got plucked out of talk by, well, WKBN buying it :D WBBW/1240 dropped out of the race years ago, and is ESPN sports now.

The Cleveland and Pittsburgh stations have varying degrees of signal up there. A Hannity fan would have a better shot at Akron's WHLO/640 in most of the market, at least on the Ohio side. WPGB is mostly a possible factor on the PA side of the market.

To bring WKBN into this discussion of WTAM's mid-morning slot, it's been live and local in mid-morning for some time, with operations manager Dan Rivers taking over for now-departed legend Dan Ryan.

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
Hannity and Beck in Y-Town...

> > If you want an idea of what the Triv/Kim dynamic was
> > SUPPOSED to be, tune down to CC sister station WKBN/570
> > Youngstown, and listen to Casey Malone mix it up with Ron
> > Verb.
>
> Although the local talk competition does a terrible job by
> not bringing in Beck, Hannity, and Savage to compete
> (although I suppose WPGB comes in pretty well there), WKBN
> is a great example of a smaller market talk station with a
> great local presence.
>

Forever's WKST/1200 New Castle (a CC spin-off two years ago) both has Beck and Hannity. IMHO, WKST technically counts as a Youngstown station...

I did punch up WKBN once on a Saturday afternoon. And behold, they have a live, local talk host in Morris Ray. He was even pretty good, too.

WKBN even does this with Indians, Browns and OSU games, to boot.

- Nathan Obral<P ID="signature">______________
WTAM/1100: An Abuse of Radio Power!</P>
 
Re: Hannity and Beck in Y-Town...

> Forever's WKST/1200 New Castle (a CC spin-off two years ago)
> both has Beck and Hannity. IMHO, WKST technically counts as
> a Youngstown station...

I guess. It gets a signal into a decent part of the market. Enough to be a factor? Nope... despite having a better signal into Youngstown than WHLO/640 Akron gets into Cleveland.

As far as I can tell, WKST also gets literally no ratings in Y-Town...

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>
 
Re: WTAM, Kim vs. Alison, Local Talk, Beck

While the move to local is the most interesting part of this, a few things are worth remembering. Only a few types of people would start their radio careers in a big city and, within months, go national, hosting a talk show while learning on the job. (Although one is always learning on the job, but I digress.)
I don't even think Springer has big-time clearance on Air America stations.
Stephanie Miller airs in L.A., maybe San Francisco as well. Phoenix aired a local host until the station was sold and changed format March 1st.
Seattle shuffled the schedule completely, but Springer isn't on it, and KPOJ, Portland carries Thom Hartmann live.
That's 100 percent non-carriage on the affiliates I've checked, although middays are a more likely bet for East Coast stations. He occasionally does some interesting things, but mostly his show isn't compelling radio.
As I said, only a few types of people would get this chance, and they'd be major celebrities in some other venue: comedians, TV pundits and show hosts, politicians, etc.
It was actually a leap from sensationalist TV show host to credible talk show host, and Springer would have had to be a super-talent to make the leap, no matter what his ideology. Alas, as a talk show host, I don't believe he's that good.
On the conservative side, Tony Snow isn't either. KTAR in Phoenix dropped local to carry Snow a few months ago, and I can't see anything positive in that move.
Fewer ads, lower ratings.
Bill O'Reilly hasn't really set the radio world on fire, either. Prominence in other venues brings possibilities, but no guarantees.
 
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