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KGOW investor scare

I am sticking with Thanksgiving for KGOW change or simply turning the switch off. Things have changed quite a bit since KSEV started out. Back then there really were no full time talk format stations in Houston. And KSEV had a semi-listenable night time signal. KGOW is very specialized doing sports. Once again, they are just so damn far behind the others. And all the other sport stations are not successful. The only sports staion making money is KILT whether you like them or not. Despite KPRC and KBME's bad ratings, they are able to command money because of being sold in combo with the Clear Channel stations. KGOW is very much a stand alone. Another reason they will fail from a monetary stand point.

KGOW surviving a few more months is like a needle in the haystack. Too much against them. SIGNAL, TALENT, COMPETITION, ITCHY INVESTORS, MARKET CONDITIONS, AND BAD TIMING.
 
B Chaffin, don't forget KGOW also brings DEAD AIR, JUEVENILE ANTICS and a LACK OF RELEVANCE to the market.
 
You guys bring excellent points and valid reasons for shuttering The Game early, but I still believe they'll ride it out longer than you think. Gow and his investors have (had) deep pockets, they are smart with a couple of exceptions and planned this for so long I don't see them throwing in the towell that early, but again you guys make great points. Look, if a dumb disfunctional outfit like BizRadio, with the exception of Brent Clanton, can survive for 3 years a station with some brains behind it should be able to last in some incarnation for at least a year.
 
>>>>Look, if a dumb disfunctional outfit like BizRadio, with the exception of Brent Clanton, can survive for 3 years a station with some brains behind it should be able to last in some incarnation for at least a year.<<<<

A few things here - BizRadio has a purpose, some intelligence, and 15 spots running instead of 6. I believe the KGOW investors did not expect this slaughter that they are getting in the market. Hopefully they can recoup some of these losses when the property is sold. No way in HELL with this abortion format last on KGOW till 2008. And if Mr. Gow reads these boards, I'm sure he has to agree with many of the critiqes written about his station. I'm not a radio management person, but as a simple listener you can hear how sorry they stand out. Too bad, I was expecting much better since it is not run by corporate radio.BThey really could have created some good noise with the right line up if they had picked more experienced people.
 
I suspect the key mistake was bringing Richard Topper in as GM. I don't know him, but unless he is an investor, he was brought in as a successful sales manager from KILT-AM who no doubt promised delivery of much more advertising than he is currently delivering. In advertising, it's amazing how many friends you realize you DON'T HAVE when you move from an outfit like KILT-AM to KGOW with no signal, no history and lots of other technical problems. Don't know if Granato brought Topper or visa versa, but I hear Topper on air in the AM with Granato daily. He's a salesman, NOT an on-air personality. My take - he should be out selling constantly, networking constantly and not chit chatting wasting precious time on air. Also, the GM is responsible for the technical issues with the station. He is obviously inexperienced in that arena and it shows on air. Supposedly Granato is the PD, but Topper signs off on his decisions in a normal chain of command. Again, if Topper is an investor, there is no real chain of command if Granato is too an investor. And if Topper is NOT an investor, but Granato is, there is absolutely no chain of command and decisions that the GM should override cannot be overridden. There's nothing more important than strong management in all levels to bring success, especially with an outfit with so much stacked against it like KGOW. From what I see and read, there are a lot of head chefs in the kitchen. If this is truly the case, and change is not made soon, I will be proven wrong and the the thing will shutter sooner rather than later. To me it sounds like Granato brought only a couple of the many advertisers he had at 610. The vast majority did not come over. I also heard that Topper brought a couple of his sales/drinking buddies in as his sales force. The more you hear, the more bad layers of this onion you peel. It may be rotten after all.
 
The two sales guys Topper brought over from 610 were both given VICE PRESIDENT titles. One for the agency side the other for direct. They have a lot of VPs sitting around table and nothing gets done. Granato has got to be kicking himself.
 
I'll bet Granato is thinking about the Jim Jones "Temple of Doom" right about now.
 
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