Infinity unveils "Free FM" plans and more

[bigwoody]

Rover physically moves to WCKG/Chicago, but stays on 92-3/Cleveland.

From Allaccess.com


Finally, INFINITY announces its "HOWARD STERN Replacement Strategy,' and as ALL ACCESS was first to confirm, the station is relaunching several stations as FM Talk "FREE FM." AS part of the new strategy, DAVID LEE ROTH and ADAM CAROLLA have been officially announced as STERN's replacement in NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, respectively, starting JANUARY 3.

ROTH's show will also air on KLLI (LIVE 105.3)/DALLAS, WYSP/PHILADELPHIA, WBCN/BOSTON, WRKZ/PITTSBURGH. WNCX/CLEVELAND, and WPBZ (103.1 THE BUZZ)/WEST PALM BEACH. CAROLLA will air on new FM Talk convert KIFR/SAN FRANCISCO, KPLN (THE PLANET)/SAN DIEGO, KZON/PHOENIX, KUFO/PORTLAND, and KXTE (EXTREME RADIO)/LAS VEGAS.

CAROLLA's longtime comedy partner JIMMY KIMMEL will serve as Creative Consultant for CAROLLA's show and an advisor for INFINITY.

WXTM/CLEVELAND morning man ROVER will add WCKG/CHICAGO, WKRK/DETROIT, WAQZ/CINCINNATI, WMFS/MEMPHIS, and WZNE/ROCHESTER and will be based at WCKG. THE JUNKIES will move to mornings at WJFK/WASHINTON and will also be heard on WHFS/BALTIMORE. KITS (LIVE 105.3)/SAN FRANCISCO will replace STERN with "THE MORNING MUSIC CO-OP," a music-intensive show.

Rock WYSP/PHILADELPHIA, Classic Rock KPLN/SAN DIEGO, and the new KIFR/SAN FRAOCISCO are launching the "FREE FM" Talk format TODAY (10/25). WXRK (92.3 K-ROCK)/NEW YORK will flip to Talk as "FREE FM" in JANUARY, and FM Talk KLSX/LOS ANGELES, WCKG/CHICAGO, KLLI/DALLAS, WJFK/WASHINGTON, WKRK/DETROIT, and WHFS/BALTIMORE are all being rebranded "FREE FM" as of TODAY as well.

Part of the new programming will be a one-hour daily show starting JANUARY for "PENN AND TELLER"'s PENN JILLETTE. The show will air on WXRK, WCKG, KIFR, WJFK, WKRK, KPLN, WHFS, and KSFN-A/LAS VEGAS.

INFINITY's JOEL HOLLANDER says “when we set out to find a replacement for HOWARD STERN we took the opportunity to cultivate a wide array of talent, from both in and out of the radio industry. With ROTH, we’ve found someone who continues to evolve his career and deliver for his legion of fans. ADAM’s depth of entertainment experience is unmatched in radio. And JIMMY has a proven track record of creating winning shows for both radio and television. Couple that with an impressive roster of emerging talent and formats and we have all the necessary elements for INFINITY to continue as the major player in morning drive.” <P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

Some thoughts here:

1. Joel Hollander really needs a better poker face. Didn't he say a week ago that the "Free FM" domain names were just routine? We all saw through it, so this "news" really isn't. Infinity has more damn leaks than the CIA.

2. David Lee Roth in Cleveland? Don't get too accustomed to him, I don't think he'll last too long. Bad fit. Bad host. He can't talk--when he's sober! Opportunity to get a local flavor--ball dropped by Infinity. Oh well, we know how the playlist is, so should we expect anything less?

3. What a kick in the pants to Cleveland. Moving Rover PHYSICALLY to Chicago screams of "you're not good enough or big enough to be home base to this show". What an insult to the city, which has been good enough for Rover for, what, 4 years?! So, this leaves Cleveland with one less live, local AM drive show.

 

[nate]

>
> 3. What a kick in the pants to Cleveland. Moving Rover
> PHYSICALLY to Chicago screams of "you're not good enough or
> big enough to be home base to this show". What an insult to
> the city, which has been good enough for Rover for, what, 4
> years?! So, this leaves Cleveland with one less live, local
> AM drive show.
>

no doubt about it...a nice slap a Cleveland there. I also thought Infinity would have done more with 98.5 than just putting Jack on it. It loosk like status quo with DLR and classic rock or Jack. I am getting a sattelite radio for christmas.

btw,
as hard as Infinity tried to get Mancow, I wonder how confident they really are in Rover.

 

[bigwoody]

> Some thoughts here:
>
> 1. Joel Hollander really needs a better poker face. Didn't
> he say a week ago that the "Free FM" domain names were just
> routine? We all saw through it, so this "news" really
> isn't. Infinity has more damn leaks than the CIA.
>
> 2. David Lee Roth in Cleveland? Don't get too accustomed
> to him, I don't think he'll last too long. Bad fit. Bad
> host. He can't talk--when he's sober! Opportunity to get a
> local flavor--ball dropped by Infinity. Oh well, we know
> how the playlist is, so should we expect anything less?
>
> 3. What a kick in the pants to Cleveland. Moving Rover
> PHYSICALLY to Chicago screams of "you're not good enough or
> big enough to be home base to this show". What an insult to
> the city, which has been good enough for Rover for, what, 4
> years?! So, this leaves Cleveland with one less live, local
> AM drive show.
>

Not so fast on the Rover "move". Rover is a native of Chicago. At the recent Conclave TalenTrak 10 held in Sept at the Lakeside Holiday Inn, Rover was guest speaker. He gave his background, etc. AND that he would love to one day be back in Chicago. He almost recently bolted for CC, who guaranteed a syndication deal. Infinity ponied up with syndication and more money. I bet Chicago was part of the deal, per Rover. FYI, He stated he has 2 1/2 years on his present contract...and that $$$ talks. It always does.
<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[bigwoody]

> >
> > 3. What a kick in the pants to Cleveland. Moving Rover
> > PHYSICALLY to Chicago screams of "you're not good enough
> or
> > big enough to be home base to this show". What an insult
> to
> > the city, which has been good enough for Rover for, what,
> 4
> > years?! So, this leaves Cleveland with one less live,
> local
> > AM drive show.
> >
>
> no doubt about it...a nice slap a Cleveland there. I also
> thought Infinity would have done more with 98.5 than just
> putting Jack on it. It loosk like status quo with DLR and
> classic rock or Jack. I am getting a sattelite radio for
> christmas.
>
> btw,
> as hard as Infinity tried to get Mancow, I wonder how
> confident they really are in Rover.
>

With the markets they put him in, I'd say fairly condifent. And that's just Infinity. Rover is also on CC's WMAD/Madison.
<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> > 3. What a kick in the pants to Cleveland. Moving Rover
> > PHYSICALLY to Chicago screams of "you're not good enough
> or
> > big enough to be home base to this show". What an insult
> to
> > the city, which has been good enough for Rover for, what,
> 4
> > years?! So, this leaves Cleveland with one less live,
> local
> > AM drive show.
> >
>
> Not so fast on the Rover "move". Rover is a native of
> Chicago. At the recent Conclave TalenTrak 10 held in Sept at
> the Lakeside Holiday Inn, Rover was guest speaker. He gave
> his background, etc. AND that he would love to one day be
> back in Chicago. He almost recently bolted for CC, who
> guaranteed a syndication deal. Infinity ponied up with
> syndication and more money. I bet Chicago was part of the
> deal, per Rover. FYI, He stated he has 2 1/2 years on his
> present contract...and that $$$ talks. It always does.

De minimus, to my argument. If it was Rover's deal, then a pox on him too. It means only that BOTH Infinity and Rover consider Cleveland small beans now that they're a "big time" syndicated morning show.

And don't anybody give me crap about Chicago being a better marketing angle than Cleveland. As WIXY one said, "Anything [Chicago] can do, Cleveland can do better!"

And the "hometown" thing is a cop-out: Cleveland was good enough for and to Rover for how long?

Bah.

 

[network]

> And the "hometown" thing is a cop-out: Cleveland was good
> enough for and to Rover for how long?

Long enough to launch him a syndication deal. LOL

I do agree with you wholeheartedly on the David Lee Roth move. I suppose when (oops, I'll be optimistic) IF he doesn't work out, at least Infinity can shuffle the others around. Or hire some other washed-up member of an 80's/early 90's hair band. There's alot of them out there. Hey Jani Lane, want a gig? What about you, David Coverdale? Kip Winger, get in line!

I feel sorry for WNCX. I see putting on DLR on 98.5 as a huge advantage to WXTM & Rover.

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> > And the "hometown" thing is a cop-out: Cleveland was good
> > enough for and to Rover for how long?
>
> Long enough to launch him a syndication deal. LOL
>
> I do agree with you wholeheartedly on the David Lee Roth
> move. I suppose when (oops, I'll be optimistic) IF he
> doesn't work out, at least Infinity can shuffle the others
> around. Or hire some other washed-up member of an
> 80's/early 90's hair band. There's alot of them out there.
> Hey Jani Lane, want a gig? What about you, David Coverdale?
> Kip Winger, get in line!
>
> I feel sorry for WNCX. I see putting on DLR on 98.5 as a
> huge advantage to WXTM & Rover.
>

And that's the thing--I've been bemoaning the David Lee Roth thing since it was announced (unofficially months ago). It is tailor-made for VERY short-term retention/curiosity. It's not going to last long, maybe three months, and then the audience will move on elsewhere--or Roth will just not show up one day (which I can seriously see happening).

I will disagree about Rover's advantage. He may get some of the younger crowd, but the biggest gainer of the older crowd: Lanigan. I just have a feeling.

And it's nice to not be talking about Q104! (And we can agree on some things, no?)

 

[bigwoody]

> > > 3. What a kick in the pants to Cleveland. Moving Rover
>
> > > PHYSICALLY to Chicago screams of "you're not good enough
>
> > or
> > > big enough to be home base to this show". What an
> insult
> > to
> > > the city, which has been good enough for Rover for,
> what,
> > 4
> > > years?! So, this leaves Cleveland with one less live,
> > local
> > > AM drive show.
> > >
> >
> > Not so fast on the Rover "move". Rover is a native of
> > Chicago. At the recent Conclave TalenTrak 10 held in Sept
> at
> > the Lakeside Holiday Inn, Rover was guest speaker. He gave
>
> > his background, etc. AND that he would love to one day be
> > back in Chicago. He almost recently bolted for CC, who
> > guaranteed a syndication deal. Infinity ponied up with
> > syndication and more money. I bet Chicago was part of the
> > deal, per Rover. FYI, He stated he has 2 1/2 years on his
> > present contract...and that $$$ talks. It always does.
>
> De minimus, to my argument. If it was Rover's deal, then a
> pox on him too. It means only that BOTH Infinity and Rover
> consider Cleveland small beans now that they're a "big time"
> syndicated morning show.
>
> And don't anybody give me crap about Chicago being a better
> marketing angle than Cleveland. As WIXY one said, "Anything
> [Chicago] can do, Cleveland can do better!"
>
> And the "hometown" thing is a cop-out: Cleveland was good
> enough for and to Rover for how long?
>
> Bah.
>

If I had the chance to move back to my hometown for the money and other parameters I wanted, I'd do it too, no matter how long I was in another market. Except...I love the beach...hate OH winters, lol! Wilmington NC is the 10th fastest growing revenue market, it's on the ocean, is small, just one hour to MYB, and UNC Chapel Hill has a campus there. Ah...college girls!<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[HHH]

>
> If I had the chance to move back to my hometown for the
> money and other parameters I wanted, I'd do it too, no
> matter how long I was in another market.

Insiders say that Rover NEGOTIATED AND REQUESTED the move to Chicago, to be back in his hometown, as part of the deal.

Will someone tell the babies over at Listening Party (cleveland.com) that their golden boy was the one behind this, not Infinity. They are going "wah wah wah" about "Cleveland being a farm team to Chicago" but they evidently don't know the real story. Insiders say that Infinity had no problem keeping him here.

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> >
> > If I had the chance to move back to my hometown for the
> > money and other parameters I wanted, I'd do it too, no
> > matter how long I was in another market.
>
> Insiders say that Rover NEGOTIATED AND REQUESTED the move to
> Chicago, to be back in his hometown, as part of the deal.
>
> Will someone tell the babies over at Listening Party
> (cleveland.com) that their golden boy was the one behind
> this, not Infinity. They are going "wah wah wah" about
> "Cleveland being a farm team to Chicago" but they evidently
> don't know the real story. Insiders say that Infinity had
> no problem keeping him here.
>

Then, as I said above, a POX on him. Fine, Cleveland's good enough to be your launching pad, Rover, go.

But don't let the door hit you on the ass. Oh, and if it doesn't work out there in the Windy City (as Robert Feder predicts), don't bother coming back here. Art Modell STILL hasn't made an appearance in 10 years.

Sorry, I just find this portion of the story ridiculous.

And if, as you proffer, Infinity wasn't behind it, I retract my accusations contrary. I shall direct my wrath appropriately.

 

[network]

>
> I will disagree about Rover's advantage. He may get some of
> the younger crowd, but the biggest gainer of the older
> crowd: Lanigan. I just have a feeling.

Good points! I definitely can see the older staying with Lanigan. My mom listens to both Stern and Lanigan. I was simply stating the advantage based on the content of Rover's show (which would appeal to those that like Stern).

 

[bigwoody]

> > >
> > > If I had the chance to move back to my hometown for the
> > > money and other parameters I wanted, I'd do it too, no
> > > matter how long I was in another market.
> >
> > Insiders say that Rover NEGOTIATED AND REQUESTED the move
> to
> > Chicago, to be back in his hometown, as part of the deal.
> >
> > Will someone tell the babies over at Listening Party
> > (cleveland.com) that their golden boy was the one behind
> > this, not Infinity. They are going "wah wah wah" about
> > "Cleveland being a farm team to Chicago" but they
> evidently
> > don't know the real story. Insiders say that Infinity had
>
> > no problem keeping him here.
> >
>
> Then, as I said above, a POX on him. Fine, Cleveland's good
> enough to be your launching pad, Rover, go.
>
> But don't let the door hit you on the ass. Oh, and if it
> doesn't work out there in the Windy City (as Robert Feder
> predicts), don't bother coming back here. Art Modell STILL
> hasn't made an appearance in 10 years.
>
> Sorry, I just find this portion of the story ridiculous.
>
> And if, as you proffer, Infinity wasn't behind it, I retract
> my accusations contrary. I shall direct my wrath
> appropriately.
>

HHH is correct, Rover brokered the deal so he could return home. As I said, I was in the audience at TalenTrak when he told the whole room that he'd go to Chicago in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. I don't blame him. He's not a native Clevelander. The city, and the listeners, don't own him. And to A/B him to the Browns, who were in the city since 1946, is a stretch. I've heard his schtick. It's ok. Lanigan is the originator, albeit unknowingly following in the footsteps of Imus and Gary Dee. <P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

Rover and Lanigan and Imus and Dee

> HHH is correct, Rover brokered the deal so he could return
> home. As I said, I was in the audience at TalenTrak when he
> told the whole room that he'd go to Chicago in a heartbeat
> if the opportunity arose. I don't blame him. He's not a
> native Clevelander. The city, and the listeners, don't own
> him.

I know that, but it still kicks to see him essentially get his big break here and scoot the city under the mat. I'm not saying this is a reasonable argument by any means.

> And to A/B him to the Browns, who were in the city
> since 1946, is a stretch.

No, I'm A/B-ing him to Modell. Again, I'm not claiming to be reasonable here.

> I've heard his schtick. It's ok.
> Lanigan is the originator, albeit unknowingly following in
> the footsteps of Imus and Gary Dee.

I don't know if Lanigan can "follow" in their footsteps. All three were contemporaries of one another: Lanigan took over for Imus in 1971, at the same time Gary Dee was starting at WERE (strangely enough, under PD John Webster, who was later Lanigan's long-time partner--very incestual!); Lanigan stayed in AM drive at WGAR, Dee moved to WHK in 1975 (AM drive), and Imus came back to WHK in 1978 (PM drive). These guys all knew each other, and probably all ripped each other off.

By the way, Chuck, in case you haven't noticed, sometime in the past couple years Lanigan stopped doing "The Flex Club," one of the greatest radio gimmicks of all time (and dating back to his WGAR days). He claimed it ran its course; I think he was "encouraged" by management to get rid of it.

 

[bigwoody]

Re: Rover and Lanigan and Imus and Dee

sometime in
> the past couple years Lanigan stopped doing "The Flex Club,"
> one of the greatest radio gimmicks of all time (and dating
> back to his WGAR days). He claimed it ran its course; I
> think he was "encouraged" by management to get rid of it.

Rover has worked in biggers markets than Cleveland, including L.A., doing talk radio. Look into his background. He rose pretty quickly. He's only been in radio as a host about 8-9 years.


I think it may have been two-fold. It was an old bit, and it didn't play well with the AC direction the station had gone too under Dave P. Who knows. I loved it. But then I grew up listening to Lanigan in high school (I was wise to Jeff & Flash's Blow ups, etc. I thought them lame at age 16).

Does L&M still do "Family Food"? That's a bit Doc & Chip devised to get free food brought up. It worked too! Doc is deviously brilliant.<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by bigwoody on 10/27/05 12:45 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

Re: Rover and Lanigan

> Rover has worked in biggers markets than Cleveland,
> including L.A., doing talk radio. Look into his background.
> He rose pretty quickly. He's only been in radio as a host
> about 8-9 years.

I know he's worked in bigger markets--that wasn't what I was saying. He made his MARK here, and his work here and its success got him the multi-year contract with Infinity, the mini-syndication deal, and now the Stern replacement deal. He (should be) indebted to Cleveland for its support of him that got him this stuff. (By the way, he's been in C-Town for almost 3 of those 8-9 years).

> Does L&M still do "Family Food"? That's a bit Doc & Chip
> devised to get free food brought up. It worked too! Doc is
> deviously brilliant.

Morning Show Food (Feud). Still done--and, yes, it's still "Chip's House, it has always been his house, it will always be his house!" Unless he loses, then it's an "unsanctioned match".

Also, he and Munch still "chest bump" which is *really* disturbing because Munch ain't no youngster anymore, and he may get hurt.

By far the funniest bit is the old "coin dropping". So hard to explain unless you hear it. I think Rizzo started it.

 

[adz]

Re: Rover and Lanigan

> > Rover has worked in biggers markets than Cleveland,
> > including L.A., doing talk radio. Look into his
> background.
> > He rose pretty quickly. He's only been in radio as a host
> > about 8-9 years.

He actually got noticed by Infinity in Las Vegas, where the ''Extreme'' format was first tried and where it enjoys continued success..and where Howard is gone in a couple weeks..
>
> > He (should be) indebted to Cleveland for its support of him
> that got him this stuff. (By the way, he's been in C-Town
> for almost 3 of those 8-9 years).

He's still going to be in Cleveland although out of a Chicago studio..which only makes a difference to some of the people on this board..I doubt the larger audience cares..they just want to be entertained..where it comes from is irrelevant..something Stern proved to all of radio..

Since all of us are given to speculation on this venue..anyone want to hazard a guess as to when the David Lee Roth experiment ends? I'm guessing he's done by the 4th of July..with Adam Corolla taking over in the majority of markets..
>
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Speaker Of Truth on 10/27/05 11:16 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

Roth Speculation

> Since all of us are given to speculation on this
> venue..anyone want to hazard a guess as to when the David
> Lee Roth experiment ends? I'm guessing he's done by the 4th
> of July..with Adam Corolla taking over in the majority of
> markets..

I give Roth three months--I have bets on that he'll just not show up for work one day and that'll be it. He's not cut out for this job.

Replacement: not Carolla. On WNCX, probably just "jukebox" music in AM, post-Roth.