How did Citadel get in this position?

[CONSultant]

I don't see how firing some of the big name talent saves them any money? Citadel still has to pay out their contracts...why turn your stations into piped in garbage and pay talent for months on a noncompete to sit home? I must be missing something, here.

 

[fortt3]

I don't see how firing some of the big name talent saves them any money? Citadel still has to pay out their contracts...why turn your stations into piped in garbage and pay talent for months on a noncompete to sit home? I must be missing something, here.

Better folks than me can answer this question, but I'm guessing that they can't just wait for contracts to expire, since the talents' contracts expired at different times. So, they had to do it all in one fell swoop (or swell foop), to cut the expenses at Kicks, and possibly prepare for a flip at Eagle. Not that I agree with any of it...the way they didn't let Rhubarb, Jim Vann, and all the rest of them have a dignified exit was the lowest.

 

[jabba17]

And, keep in mind, guys, that this wasn't because Eagle was hurt by the Bull by any means. Their numbers were steady. It's just that they're the victims of being in a large corporation and, because Citadel's hurt, they have to take it out where they can, in this case, everywhere. Unfortunately, Eagle will be hurt by the Bull because of their own blood letting.

On the other hand: What if Citadel targets a niche audience that's currently starved...Would it be a gamble worth sacrificing Kicks' flanker and handing the Bull a gift?

I think the fork has already been stuck in the Eagle. They could go syndicated/VTed classic country, but I think a better chance would be with some other non-earth-shattering format such as oldies or soft AC...although there is presently a hole for alternative.

 

[TheTominator]

Reading these posts has made me wonder...Any idea how any of these radio companies, like Citadel, are going to make radio new and exciting, when all they do is not pay anyone anything, and expect them to work twice as hard?? Sounds like a recipe for stale radio and burnout to me....

 

[BIGSTICK]

And, keep in mind, guys, that this wasn't because Eagle was hurt by the Bull by any means. Their numbers were steady. It's just that they're the victims of being in a large corporation and, because Citadel's hurt, they have to take it out where they can, in this case, everywhere. Unfortunately, Eagle will be hurt by the Bull because of their own blood letting.

On the other hand: What if Citadel targets a niche audience that's currently starved...Would it be a gamble worth sacrificing Kicks' flanker and handing the Bull a gift?

I think the fork has already been stuck in the Eagle. They could go syndicated/VTed classic country, but I think a better chance would be with some other non-earth-shattering format such as oldies or soft AC...although there is presently a hole for alternative.

If you want alternative go to WRAS, WRFG, or WREK. Alt sucks...... Look what they just did to a huge AAA station in Chatt. 96.5 the mountain. Atlanta needs am oldies format.

 

[Inside your head]

If you want alternative go to WRAS, WRFG, or WREK. Alt sucks...... Look what they just did to a huge AAA station in Chatt. 96.5 the mountain. Atlanta needs am oldies format.

brent those r fighting words....

 

[jimmythebassett]

To analyze this situation you must work backward.

They are over a billion in the hole...$848 million more than last year. Yes revenues were down, but not so you had to cut the heart out of a station to save it. The story behind the story is this: Farid bought more car than he could afford. He HAD to have this radio division, at any cost, and when the price went up, he had to cover the depreciation, not to mention the extra administrative costs. It was a bad business deal for such a small radio company. When you paint yourself into a corner and you have to eviscerate the creativity out of your radio stations, then the blame lies at the very top of Citadel. Feel sorry for those people who are left behind. This is the beginning of the end for Kicks.

But it has to be said that a lot of the blame on how Kicks/Eagle came to this point goes to Victor Sansone. He totally misjudged the Bull and allowed them a foothold.

Theodore Forstmann owns Citadel - He should fire the mad middle eastern man - One rumour is Teddy might talk to Mel about coming in and fixing this mess. After all, that's how Teddy met Farid through Karmazan. DO NOT TALK PROGRAMMING IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS CITADEL. They have no central programming unit. They don't think in programming terms. This was a programming oriented small-medium market started by Larry Wilson in the 80's in the West. Jacor was used as the blueprint for it. It was manageable and fun - The comes along Suleman.

 

[BIGSTICK]

If you want alternative go to WRAS, WRFG, or WREK. Alt sucks...... Look what they just did to a huge AAA station in Chatt. 96.5 the mountain. Atlanta needs am oldies format.

brent those r fighting words....

LOL..Enough fighting in the world, just my opinion. :-*

 

[beachguy3b]

How? One word:

Stupidity

They did so on an even grander scale than Clear Channel. Now THAT, friends, is hard to do...

 

[jal41]

WDOD-FM 96.5 flipped to top 40 yesterday, still as "The Mountain".

Citadel closed at 1.55 (including after hours trades), up .35. Again, people are buying the plan, but I still think the toilet paper companies ought to worry about competition from useless Citadel stock certificates.