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Kava: More Cuts At KGO Today

BossRadioDJ

BossRadioDJ

Brad Kava has just blogged about rumored cuts at KGO (810 AM):

Weatherman Leo Ciiolino is gone, apparently, as is assistant program director Trish Robbins and news director Paul Hosley. If you have information to confirm or deny, drop me a comment.
 
Leo is already off the KGO website. Geez, the corporate bean counters waste no time, do they?

Yea, that's a good way to make a radio station better and more profitable...get rid of all the talent.
 
Boo! I can't believe Leo is gone from KGO! Major bummer. I like Lloyd a lot, too, but I grew up listening to Leo and always enjoyed listening to him on KGO. Best wishes to Leo!
 
From a couple of embedded CBS employees, I've heard that Mr. Luckoff may be nearing the end of his run (wishful thinking, perhaps) at KGO, by his choice, and that the Citadel purchase agreement that helped maintain some employee stability at the former ABC stations expires on (or about) June 12, which is this Friday.

The latter item, I was told, may mean that a more extensive exodus may be in the works, not just at KGO, in the coming weeks.

Again, I'll reiterate that it was CBS employees that mentioned this.
 
Yes, KCBS has been spreading that story via their sales dept for the past few weeks, They seem to be calling our AE's with that information...In fact, I was with one of our sales folks last week when he got called by a CBS AE, who BTW was a former KGO AE, that was fired by Mickey about 10 years ago... So obviously he has no agenda. ;)

I think Jack or Mickey, who run the stations, would be happy to answer any questions you may have about KGO/KSFO... If your embedded guys at KCBS are not available to answer for them.

But you did post it for them, and thats all that matters. :)
 
Production Boy said:
Yes, KCBS has been spreading that story via their sales dept for the past few weeks, They seem to be calling our AE's with that information...In fact, I was with one of our sales folks last week when he got called by a CBS AE, who BTW was a former KGO AE, that was fired by Mickey about 10 years ago... So obviously he has no agenda. ;)

I think Jack or Mickey, who run the stations, would be happy to answer any questions you may have about KGO/KSFO... If your embedded guys at KCBS are not available to answer for them.

But you did post it for them, and thats all that matters. :)
Click to expand...

Mighty PB, you know me, and I don't post nothin' for nobody. ;D

You'll note that I made it clear that the comments I was repeating did come from CBS personnel ... not from a KGO source. But I also heard the same comments regarding the Citadel situation from other people not related to CBS (or KGO, for that matter).

I think that the other stations will breathe a huge sigh of relief the day Mr. Luckoff steps down at KGO. In fact, I'd venture to guess that several of them will dip into their meager petty cash fund and send a few cases of champagne to his retirement party.

Regarding the purported Citadel contract/covenant, it's not a big deal (if it actually exists) -- the radio industry is in such a shambles that even the best, most stable and lucrative stations are casting off talent, from behind the mike and from behind the scenes. Look at the people KGO let go this week.

I've been saying that you could sure build a great radio station with all the talent that has been turned loose over the past year or so. I may have to revise that: you could probably build three or four great stations now.

And you think Jack and Mickey would be happy to answer my questions? The heck they would. :'(
 
Yep...the hits just keep on comin'. A couple of opinions:

1 - I'm sure that Leo is a very nice man, but I've never liked him on air...boring, boring boring...

2 - While the latest changes at KGO are being brought about by a poor economy and poor management, the station needs a big make-over. Every time I tune in it sounds old, old, old....

Static, I agree with you...you could build your dream station right now! Wish someone who actually has money would do so...
 
How could KGO sound old when they run those super hip promos that are written, produced and voiced by non other than "PRODUCTION BOY"?




Jerry Gordon KNUU Las Vegas
 
Mighty PB, you know me, and I don't post nothin' for nobody. ;D

You'll note that I made it clear that the comments I was repeating did come from CBS personnel ... not from a KGO source. But I also heard the same comments regarding the Citadel situation from other people not related to CBS (or KGO, for that matter).

I think that the other stations will breathe a huge sigh of relief the day Mr. Luckoff steps down at KGO. In fact, I'd venture to guess that several of them will dip into their meager petty cash fund and send a few cases of champagne to his retirement party.

Regarding the purported Citadel contract/covenant, it's not a big deal (if it actually exists) -- the radio industry is in such a shambles that even the best, most stable and lucrative stations are casting off talent, from behind the mike and from behind the scenes. Look at the people KGO let go this week.

I've been saying that you could sure build a great radio station with all the talent that has been turned loose over the past year or so. I may have to revise that: you could probably build three or four great stations now.

And you think Jack and Mickey would be happy to answer my questions? The heck they would. :'(
[/quote]

DJ, is it that you don't know anyone at KGO to call...Hmmmmm?

The June 12th thing has been in the Radio Trades for months, What it means is that Citadel can now dispose of the ABC Assets (Stations/all or some) without screwing up Disney Reverse Morris Trust Deal for taxes...I would think we'll see some for sale signs or Station trades with other companies...All of us, who were here for sale day 6/12/07 knew that be cause they told us in writing.

How The staff found out:

Mr. Luckoff called a Staff meeting at 11:30AM on Tuesday to announce to the whole staff KGO/KSFO that "These cuts were not economic, they were to improve the radio station" "They were not Citadels call or request or order, they were mine (Mickey's)"
(Doesn't sound like a Layoff does it?) It was a performance issue, pure and simple.
Mickey also said "Citadel backed him 100%" I can tell you that of the people assembled about 50-60 of us,there was not a person there who did'nt think The Mick, was Large and In Charge of these Stations. He also spoke of the 12th only to say that This action was unrelated, and that he thought that perhaps Citadel might sell some properties. They(Citadel) also have hired a firm to work on the Debt service, 2.1 Billion, and that that company also handles Large Company Sales and Chapter 11 filings,
(A French Company Name) but that has been in the financial press since last week.

Jack is now Ops Director of KGO/KSFO as he has been in the past. Ken Berry is now the KGO News Director, as he has been in the past. Leo's morning weather is now being handled by Lloyd.

The Leo thing was not even mentioned till later, I will tell you that I am friends with one of his buddies, and he told me, that Leo told him, he was planning on retiring in Sept. But THAT IS 2nd hand info, BUTfrom someone I trust...Leo is 84...Some think 86.

You are right...The competition will breathe a large sigh of relief when Mickey Retires. He is a formitable competitor who fights for his station and his staff even when it's not the popular thing to do, in this or any other business climate. ALL The owners love to hate him Because he's smart, tough and spends their money, but he makes them a lot more.

I wonder how many of those "Pros on the Beach" can say that about their former bosses? The guys who tossed them under the bus to save their jobs. Any local stations come to mind?
 
Interesting info, PB. It sounded like this was just a result of more cuts by Citadel, but now that you've cleared it up obviously it is otherwise. I liked Leo, but if he was going to retire anyways then the move makes sense. I wish Leo, Trish and Paul all the best, and thanks to Leo for his many years on the air (and his granddaughter Marissa too!).
 
DyingMedium said:
Yep...the hits just keep on comin'. A couple of opinions:

1 - I'm sure that Leo is a very nice man, but I've never liked him on air...boring, boring boring...
Click to expand...

I agree. For awhile there Leo was mumbling really fast and I couldn't make out what he was saying. The last several years it seemed that he was just in a hurry to get his moment done with, no personality, no quick witted responses to anchors, nothing to make a person want to listen.
 
Production Boy said:
Mr. Luckoff called a Staff meeting at 11:30AM on Tuesday to announce to the whole staff KGO/KSFO that "These cuts were not economic, they were to improve the radio station" "They were not Citadels call or request or order, they were mine (Mickey's)"
(Doesn't sound like a Layoff does it?)
Click to expand...

This doesn't improve the picture, PB.

What you're saying portrays it as if Mr. Luckoff called the very talented Trish Robbins into his office and said "I'm not laying you off, but you don't work here any more."

"Am I being fired?"

"No. And you're not being laid off, either. By the way, this is not an economic issue. I'm not doing it to save money. Money has nothing to do with it. I just want to improve the radio station."

"But you're saying that the station will be improved by not having me here."

"Precisely. Good luck in your future endeavors in the broadcasting industry. Could you please send Paul Hosley in?"

"What should I tell him if he asks why?"

"Tell him I want to discuss his new role in improving the station."

Is there anybody at KGO who thinks that the (whatever it was that was NOT a layoff) was actually just a classy move by Mr. Luckoff to handle the (whatever it was that was soooooo NOT a layoff) on his own terms rather than subjecting a trio of talented and valued employees to a potentially less sympathetic dismissal by corporate executioners?
 
DJ, I will chock your remarks up to "Your Opinion" Your entitled, but of course you are wrong.

You really don't know what happens here, your guessing at what happens here.

There is somthing called termination for cause, that happens even if you have talent of some kind. And, if have cause, you can terminate. It eliminates problems
in running your organization. ;)
 
Production Boy said:
DJ, I will chock your remarks up to "Your Opinion" Your entitled, but of course you are wrong.

You really don't know what happens here, your guessing at what happens here.

There is somthing called termination for cause, that happens even if you have talent of some kind. And, if have cause, you can terminate. It eliminates problems in running your organization. ;)
Click to expand...

PB, it's always just my opinion! I ain't an industry analyst. I ain't an insider. I'm just another booger-eatin' radio geek. :-\

...But your comments now make it sound like Trish Robbins, Paul Hosley and Leo Ciolino were NOT valued employees who were contributing to the success of KGO, and that they were fired as a result of that failure.

Would you say that is a correct assessment?
 
I know that none of these folks got to a high level of accomplishment in broadcasting without having a lot of ability.For those just beginning in broadcasting..one should never assume tenure. There is more stability at KGO radio than any other broadcasting entity in the United States.
 
DavidKaye said:
I agree. For awhile there Leo was mumbling really fast and I couldn't make out what he was saying. The last several years it seemed that he was just in a hurry to get his moment done with, no personality, no quick witted responses to anchors, nothing to make a person want to listen.
Click to expand...

I am one of Leo's spotters, and have been doing it since January of 1994. When Leo made his daily call (around 8:15 AM) to me on Tuesday morning, he let me know that he had been told that Monday had been his last day. When I checked on KGO's web site, his profile information had already been removed.

The reason Leo has seemed "in a hurry to get his moment done with, no personality, no quick witted responses to anchors" for awhile is because he was told to make his reports shorter - no wishing anybody a happy birthday, just the weather, please. I did not hear this from a buddy of his, I heard it right from his mouth. He would have been more than happy to inject a little personality into his reports.

What I find most reprehensible is that these people were let go without even the common courtesy of a two-week notice.

As to whether Leo was "planning to retire in September," I couldn't tell you. He hadn't mentioned it to me. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. He's made brief reference any number of times over the years to possibly retiring, but as you can see, until this past week, he hadn't headed in that direction. I'm under the impression he was just as shocked as the rest of us.

FWIW, he is a real gentleman, well-spoken and kind. He was a pretty good weatherman, sometimes right down to the minute (a few weeks ago, he mentioned that we could expect showers around 2 PM, and what do you know? Within minutes of that time, that day, it started to rain!).

I think anybody who has worked someplace as long as Leo did at KGO deserves more than such an abrupt firing (unless there is REALLY cause - think Bernie Ward and Karel). I think Mickey Luckoff showed a total lack of class in Leo's case. He is NOT a gentleman, IMO.

Anybody remember when morning anchor Ted Wygant left the station? We all knew weeks in advance, and he had a special send-off at the end. I think Leo deserved that at least!

Just my two cents . . .
 
coppersmom said:
I know that none of these folks got to a high level of accomplishment in broadcasting without having a lot of ability.For those just beginning in broadcasting..one should never assume tenure. There is more stability at KGO radio than any other broadcasting entity in the United States.
Click to expand...

More than KCBS?
 
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