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KGIL: Saul's 10th Spin at the Format Wheel?

ChannelFlipper said:
Please land on all Beatles again....
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As much as I would like it, probably not. All-Beatles did not work for either Saul, or the Texas station that tried it in the 80's (I still remember that embarrassing day when they tried to give away A CAR, and there were no takers...because there was no audience).
 
Don Paschal said:
ChannelFlipper said:
Please land on all Beatles again....
Click to expand...

As much as I would like it, probably not. All-Beatles did not work for either Saul, or the Texas station that tried it in the 80's (I still remember that embarrassing day when they tried to give away A CAR, and there were no takers...because there was no audience).
Click to expand...
Don Paschal said:
ChannelFlipper said:
Please land on all Beatles again....
Click to expand...

As much as I would like it, probably not. All-Beatles did not work for either Saul, or the Texas station that tried it in the 80's (I still remember that embarrassing day when they tried to give away A CAR, and there were no takers...because there was no audience).
Click to expand...

Generally whether something would "work" or not is the main point of most topics on this board, but this is Saul's KGIL we are talking about. Nothing will work - the signal is horrible and there is not enough money even in the best situation to promote a concept that otherwise would "work". For example, many of the talk show hosts on his station are very successful in other markets, and with a better signal in another place, his talk lineup might work as well. But it's KGIL, so it doesn't.

So the discussion regarding what would work is moot. I only care about having something I personally may tune into once in awhile, since I am in the approximate five mile radius of the station's signal. When he had Beatles on, I tuned in from time to time. I realize the format can only be a short lived one, almost a stunt, but at least I would tune in.
 
Don Paschal said:
With its morning show headed to KFWB (Laura Ingraham), and rumors that other shows maybe ripe for the poaching (Glenn Beck and Savage come to mind), is Saul Levine about to spin that format wheel a 10th time since 1993?

(the history of KGIL here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KGIL)
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The Wikipedia article is a joke when it comes to the history of KGIL.

The station was a monumental success when it was "KGIL in the Valley" for many years with a huge talent budget, and great billing.

Given short shrift in that Wikipedia piece (none) are talents like Sweet Dick Whittington, Paul Compton, Wink Martindale, Chuck Southcott, Thomas Brown, Larry Van Nuys, and on and on and on. Francis Gary Powers did airborne traffic for quite a while after the U-2 incident and before KNBC. The alumni list from the Buckley music glory days is a long one. But there was life left in the girl following that.

In its news/talk incarnation, the likes of John Swaney, Jim Simon, Carol Hemingway and Jackie Olden, plus NBC Talknet hosts like Sally Jessie Raphael and Bruce Williams, gave the station a new lease on life. Things fell apart when Buckley sold the station and its fm sister to generate cash to operate the family's WOR in New York.

To tell the story of KGIL only from the Levine days forward would be like telling the story of the Los Angeles Dodgers from the day Manny Ramirez blew (sorry!) into Chavez Ravine.

There are many more parts to even earlier KGIL history and success. To call the Wikipedia article a history is a joke.
 
Very good point, observer8057. In fact, KGIL was BETTER under Buckley than it is now. It WAS Valley-centric and had great hosts.

A great thread, as a matter of fact, would be to ask whether is it time to go back to a more 'regional" model of radio in LA...with stations that serve mostly The Valley, Orange County, etc.

As for MOYL, that format has gone down considerably. Martindale, Gary Owens, and the like are no longer on. Probably a better fit would be the "Fabulous" format KLAC had (now offered online line and in syndication by Brad Chambers as Martini-in-the-Morning).
 
Don Paschal said:
With its morning show headed to KFWB (Laura Ingraham), and rumors that other shows maybe ripe for the poaching (Glenn Beck and Savage come to mind), is Saul Levine about to spin that format wheel a 10th time since 1993?

(the history of KGIL here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KGIL)
Click to expand...

Reading between the lines it is likely Savage and the newly acquired Jerry Doyle Shows are the ones that are in danger. Laura Ingraham, Doyle and Savage are all TRN shows. Beck is by Premier and since KFI is gong with more Handel it is likely he is safe. Lars Larson is committed to Saul so likely he will stay as long as there is a KGIL Newstalk format. Unless KFI decided to replace Handel with Beck from 6 to 9 (not likely) I think KGIL will get to keep him and he and Larson are the non TRN shows.

My choice would be to put Glenn Beck on live again as morning lead off, followed by Ziegler (9 to noon) and then maybe another local show until Lars Larson begins at 3 (live).
 
observer8057 said:
Don Paschal said:
With its morning show headed to KFWB (Laura Ingraham), and rumors that other shows maybe ripe for the poaching (Glenn Beck and Savage come to mind), is Saul Levine about to spin that format wheel a 10th time since 1993?

(the history of KGIL here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KGIL)
Click to expand...

The Wikipedia article is a joke when it comes to the history of KGIL.

The station was a monumental success when it was "KGIL in the Valley" for many years with a huge talent budget, and great billing.

Given short shrift in that Wikipedia piece (none) are talents like Sweet Dick Whittington, Paul Compton, Wink Martindale, Chuck Southcott, Thomas Brown, Larry Van Nuys, and on and on and on. Francis Gary Powers did airborne traffic for quite a while after the U-2 incident and before KNBC. The alumni list from the Buckley music glory days is a long one. But there was life left in the girl following that.
Click to expand...

Sweet Dick was the greatest! I was a big fan...and you're right about "Valley Radio KGIL" having a huge talent and advertising budget. I remember when Sweet Dick returned to KGIL in early 1977 (after a short stint at KFI), KGIL ran a FULL-PAGE ad in the L.A. Times' Sunday Calendar section, heralding his return. I still have that ad somewhere, along with some handwritten correspondence from the man himself. He was quite the talent...ahead of his time, really.
 
Ziegler and his massive ego are trying to talk their way into AM drive RIGHT NOW!
 
LARadio.com said that Saul does not want to rely on syndicators for his core product anymore. So, a locally programmed John Ziegler in AM Drive might make sense. As for format alternatives, LARadio.com offered Classic Country, among others, as a possibility as it would compliment KKGO-FM. Don't know how well Classic Country would do given LA's ethnic mix but then again, how much worse could it do than the Talk format it has now?
 
AM FM listener said:
LARadio.com said that Saul does not want to rely on syndicators for his core product anymore. So, a locally programmed John Ziegler in AM Drive might make sense. As for format alternatives, LARadio.com offered Classic Country, among others, as a possibility as it would compliment KKGO-FM. Don't know how well Classic Country would do given LA's ethnic mix but then again, how much worse could it do than the Talk format it has now?
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A syndicated classic country format (the same one that was on 1350AM for awhile. They appear to have a different service now.) was already tried on the 540AM signal. That went nowhere.
However, the older songs (even 80s) have now vanished from the KKGO-FM playlist. It may be a good idea to do some type of non-jock or voicetracked in-house 70s/80s/early 90s format. Have a couple of jocks from 105.1 VT the entire day. Instant creditability! The demos are terrible for this in LA, but the ratings could only get better not worse.

However, let's not forget that we are in reality. It's back to standards.

Replying to a comment above:
I think that at this time we DO need stations that serve certain areas. This includes the OC and the SFV.
 
AM FM listener said:
LARadio.com said that Saul does not want to rely on syndicators for his core product anymore. So, a locally programmed John Ziegler in AM Drive might make sense. As for format alternatives, LARadio.com offered Classic Country, among others, as a possibility as it would compliment KKGO-FM. Don't know how well Classic Country would do given LA's ethnic mix but then again, how much worse could it do than the Talk format it has now?
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I like my Glenn Beck idea better, people don't like to be screamed at in the mornings and that is what Zig is all about. In afternoon drive opposite J & K his arch enemies, that would be the ticket. As I said it appears that the unnamed syndicator that pulled the plug is Talk Radio Network. They used Saul to get "LA" clearance and jumped ship when a better signal opportunity arose. Look for more TRN offerings on KFWB. Glenn Beck is syndicated by Premier and if Clear Channel wanted him in LA they would have cleared space for him on KFI with the Dr. Laura defection and the overworking of Handel. So my guess is that Glenn stays at KGIL and putting him in the morning live makes sense to allow local callers to participate. Doing a local morning show without a news department is sure death. KFI has an excellent news department, KFWB was been all news and has KNX down the hall. KABC has a token local news operation with some very talented people staffing it so going live and local in the morning without local news would not serve Saul very well.
 
OCradiodude said:
I think that at this time we DO need stations that serve certain areas. This includes the OC and the SFV.
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I think you've nailed it: whatever he format...targeting the SFV (or at least part of it) is their only chance...
 
What sounds best coming out of your AM? Oldies. Very old oldies.

(Talk sounds good on AM, but it costs too much to get the talent.)

I'd enjoy a mix of the more upbeat standards from Frank, Tony, Dean, maybe even Bing (no Rod Stewart, Barbara Streisand or that new guy that does standards) and the 50s/early 60s. Line up some ads for Geritol and Metamucil, and you're ready to make major bank. ;)

Either that or the "shuffle." That was a fun few weeks.

One format Saul hasn't tried is KNAC - Pure Rock. Heck, at this point, why not?
 
Saul should just play the audio from Jacques Cousteau documentaries or Sea Hunt with Lloyd Bridges since the KGIL signal is only heard by dolphins and whales.
 
For what it is worth Ziegler has been constantly plugging his website and telling everyone to sign up for his mailing list so that they will keep up on his happenings. Sounds like a format flip on the horizon.

Certainly music would be cheapest to do, especially if they go all voice tracked automation. I think Standards is a better bet though I like them when they did the oldies but there are numerous internet sources for that.
 
JZ announced, as he has been hinting all week, today is the final show on KGIL. Methinks MOYL is coming soon, I can't see them staying talk because with the TRN defection and no Ziegler all they have left is Glenn Beck and Lars Larson plus the Larry King simulcast.
 
While standards done properly is great (they don't make 'em like Sinatra any more), MOYL always seemed to be a disaster mired in 'How Much Is That Doggie in the Window.' When I am out in the IE, where I can get them, I do kind of like KSPA.
 
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