https://www.kvue.com/article/news/l...klbj/269-aef0b40b-a2e1-4ee0-a2f1-54f632f259ba
Gone after 20 years and new ownership
Gone after 20 years and new ownership
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Jeff Ward out at KLBJ 590AM
- Thread starter longhorn2004
- Start date
Has anyone heard if he's intending to return to broadcasting?
I thought it was unusual that his parting was so quiet from Dale Dudley (on the KLBJ-FM side). Dale usually (eventually) tells what went on. I only remember Dale mentioning Jeff leaving a couple of times. He quickly mentioned it the day after Jeff left and about a week ago he said something along the lines of, “when they fired Jeff”.
Dale said he has been asked not to talk about the AM (KLBJ-AM) side anymore so I (we, the listeners) don’t get any information about what is going on over there.
I never heard anything, but I assume the reason they let Jeff go was because of ratings. I guess it could have been a contract dispute but I have not heard anything either way. If it was because of ratings, I don’t know if he will be back on the air. And, I doubt any other station would be able to pay him what he would want.
Hopefully, someone has some real information because I sure don’t.
Dale said he has been asked not to talk about the AM (KLBJ-AM) side anymore so I (we, the listeners) don’t get any information about what is going on over there.
I never heard anything, but I assume the reason they let Jeff go was because of ratings. I guess it could have been a contract dispute but I have not heard anything either way. If it was because of ratings, I don’t know if he will be back on the air. And, I doubt any other station would be able to pay him what he would want.
Hopefully, someone has some real information because I sure don’t.
I always had the impression from Ward's farewell post on Facebook that he was saying the ownership change would have made it impossible for him to continue being intellectually honest, or entertaining. Here is the post:
"I’m honored to have given every ounce of intellectual honesty I have for the past 20 years. To anyone who appreciates that, I appreciate you.
Whether I made you laugh or scream, every day I thought about how to make that barstool the most entertaining place you could be. It’s all I ever wanted to do. That part of the job was fun. Thank you for letting me in. I admire you, and I hope you admire me.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go play with my kids."
My interpretation hasn't changed, especially given the rightward realignment of KLBJ-AM programming since the ownership change. He really barely fit in under the old management, and would have become a latter-day Dale Dudley under the new management.
New owners sometimes like to cut costs, and Ward was probably one of the more highly paid talents. But I'd say it's also true that if the new management had liked him, they would have found a way to pay him what he wanted. Where there is a will for the two sides to have a meeting of other minds, it usually happens, but that obviously didn't occur in this case.
"I’m honored to have given every ounce of intellectual honesty I have for the past 20 years. To anyone who appreciates that, I appreciate you.
Whether I made you laugh or scream, every day I thought about how to make that barstool the most entertaining place you could be. It’s all I ever wanted to do. That part of the job was fun. Thank you for letting me in. I admire you, and I hope you admire me.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go play with my kids."
My interpretation hasn't changed, especially given the rightward realignment of KLBJ-AM programming since the ownership change. He really barely fit in under the old management, and would have become a latter-day Dale Dudley under the new management.
New owners sometimes like to cut costs, and Ward was probably one of the more highly paid talents. But I'd say it's also true that if the new management had liked him, they would have found a way to pay him what he wanted. Where there is a will for the two sides to have a meeting of other minds, it usually happens, but that obviously didn't occur in this case.
Its very unsettling when a long time radio personality ( I remembering listening to Jeff Ward's first show) suddenly is not there anymore and no information given. Whether the new management team liked him or not, they owe it to the audience he helped built a farewell show or at least farewell message.
Agreed, and it can happen, when the personality and the management have an amicable relationship, and can agree about how to do the sendoff.
But that almost for sure wasn't possible in this case.
But that almost for sure wasn't possible in this case.
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