Wow, someone (nemesis) really hates Rover! I used to work for CBS (not in Cleveland), and have VERY intimate knowledge of the Rover deals. I also left on good terms, so I don’t think I’m as jaded as the other fellow. I have been following the Rover/CBS/CC saga with interest because of my former involvement with the first two.
To start off, CBS stations did not “pull out because they could.” They were all on the hook for money owed to Rover through the end of the term. It was a decision by corporate to replace Rover with O&A after 6 months because many felt they were going to get huge ratings across the board, which didn’t pan out. In fact, after almost 2 years they were getting worse or similar numbers than Rover on most of the stations involved with the deal, and that was after 2 years, not 6 months.
There was also a lot of pressure put on CBS by O&A to include Rover stations in their deal, and CBS was desperate to consummate a deal for NYC, so they signed off on the idea, somewhat screwing Rover (which most likely factored in to his decision-making process when he was figuring what out what company to go with). Granted, Chicago didn’t show much growth for Rover, but the station was a mess to begin with, there wasn’t much to work with, and what can you expect after a few months. In fact almost all his stations were sub-par to begin with, as evidenced by where they are today…gone. They were throw-away stations used to sweeten the deal given to him, which was really just to keep him within the company in 2003, another time CC was courting him.
Getting back to the “pulling out because they could”: All the affiliate agreements were the same. Rochester and Memphis weren’t locked in somehow, so the reason they’re still on is because that’s what they want
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Both Rover and O&A are STILL being paid for all the stations they were once on, through the end of their current agreements. Stations like those in Detroit who had Rover, then O&A and dropped both are still paying BOTH SHOWS!
Both Rover and CC definitely knew CBS would respond to him leaving by putting O&A on in mornings, and I doubt they’re too worried about it, or they wouldn’t have done the deal (obviously).
Now to the other thing that got me: morale at CC about the deal. You’re saying morale has gone DOWN since this was announced? I don’t work there, but I find this absurd. Perhaps your personal morale, but I doubt it’s shared by too many others (although I’m willing to listen). This is a big move, and a positive one for CC. The alternative if they hadn’t won Rover: flip formats or continue getting crushed. That’s a morale killer. If ABC were to steal Leno (ratings winner) from NBC to replace Kimmel (ratings loser), but he cost $10 million more, do you think morale at ABC would go down because they were spending more money? Doubt it.
Judging from my past dealings, I would also say it was a keen business move on the part of CBS to put out that $500K figure, and I'd bet it was them. They were familiar with the deal, and are likely trying to stir up the animosity seen in nemisis' post. Personally, I'd look at it another way... the fact that someone is pulling in that kind of loot should be an inspiration to others to succeed and try to get a piece of that pie.
Now a disclaimer: I have met Rover on a few occasions, so my judgment may be as clouded as nemesis’, although in the opposite direction. Off the air I found him to be extremely courteous, down to earth and quite modest, a stark contrast to the many (probably over 150) morning people I have met through the course of my career, and in stark contrast to his on air persona. Ironically, I found the other show in question (O&A) to be the exact opposite. It's a funy thing how some people react to successes and failures, and my personal experience is that the two shows deal with them in very different ways.
Only time will tell if it’s worth it to CC, but I expect this deal has ALREADY had a positive impact on sales there.
To start off, CBS stations did not “pull out because they could.” They were all on the hook for money owed to Rover through the end of the term. It was a decision by corporate to replace Rover with O&A after 6 months because many felt they were going to get huge ratings across the board, which didn’t pan out. In fact, after almost 2 years they were getting worse or similar numbers than Rover on most of the stations involved with the deal, and that was after 2 years, not 6 months.
There was also a lot of pressure put on CBS by O&A to include Rover stations in their deal, and CBS was desperate to consummate a deal for NYC, so they signed off on the idea, somewhat screwing Rover (which most likely factored in to his decision-making process when he was figuring what out what company to go with). Granted, Chicago didn’t show much growth for Rover, but the station was a mess to begin with, there wasn’t much to work with, and what can you expect after a few months. In fact almost all his stations were sub-par to begin with, as evidenced by where they are today…gone. They were throw-away stations used to sweeten the deal given to him, which was really just to keep him within the company in 2003, another time CC was courting him.
Getting back to the “pulling out because they could”: All the affiliate agreements were the same. Rochester and Memphis weren’t locked in somehow, so the reason they’re still on is because that’s what they want
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Both Rover and O&A are STILL being paid for all the stations they were once on, through the end of their current agreements. Stations like those in Detroit who had Rover, then O&A and dropped both are still paying BOTH SHOWS!
Both Rover and CC definitely knew CBS would respond to him leaving by putting O&A on in mornings, and I doubt they’re too worried about it, or they wouldn’t have done the deal (obviously).
Now to the other thing that got me: morale at CC about the deal. You’re saying morale has gone DOWN since this was announced? I don’t work there, but I find this absurd. Perhaps your personal morale, but I doubt it’s shared by too many others (although I’m willing to listen). This is a big move, and a positive one for CC. The alternative if they hadn’t won Rover: flip formats or continue getting crushed. That’s a morale killer. If ABC were to steal Leno (ratings winner) from NBC to replace Kimmel (ratings loser), but he cost $10 million more, do you think morale at ABC would go down because they were spending more money? Doubt it.
Judging from my past dealings, I would also say it was a keen business move on the part of CBS to put out that $500K figure, and I'd bet it was them. They were familiar with the deal, and are likely trying to stir up the animosity seen in nemisis' post. Personally, I'd look at it another way... the fact that someone is pulling in that kind of loot should be an inspiration to others to succeed and try to get a piece of that pie.
Now a disclaimer: I have met Rover on a few occasions, so my judgment may be as clouded as nemesis’, although in the opposite direction. Off the air I found him to be extremely courteous, down to earth and quite modest, a stark contrast to the many (probably over 150) morning people I have met through the course of my career, and in stark contrast to his on air persona. Ironically, I found the other show in question (O&A) to be the exact opposite. It's a funy thing how some people react to successes and failures, and my personal experience is that the two shows deal with them in very different ways.
Only time will tell if it’s worth it to CC, but I expect this deal has ALREADY had a positive impact on sales there.
