Rod Arquette will leave at the end of March. Can you say "fall guy?"
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KIRO PD OUT
- Thread starter The Street
- Start date
Rod is a good guy from my experience with him - and I worked in SLC when he was at both KSL and the news station KWMS - so this saddens me.
However, it may have nothing to do with the struggles of KIRO-FM. Bonneville is a well run company and they knew this would be a 2-3 year transition period..or I'm assuming they knew that. Investing in the future - but it sure was expensive. Not only did they lose the revenue of KBSG, but KIRO twins took a hit in audience and revenue. Equally they flipped just as the market switched to PPM.
Wish Rod nothing but the best...he's a good radio guy.
However, it may have nothing to do with the struggles of KIRO-FM. Bonneville is a well run company and they knew this would be a 2-3 year transition period..or I'm assuming they knew that. Investing in the future - but it sure was expensive. Not only did they lose the revenue of KBSG, but KIRO twins took a hit in audience and revenue. Equally they flipped just as the market switched to PPM.
Wish Rod nothing but the best...he's a good radio guy.
S
SeattleRadioPro
Guest
"Incompetent PD" is more like it if you consider all the boneheaded moves made BEFORE the switch to FM.
Off the wall prediction: Dennis Kelly drops KOMO as a client, re-establishes his consulting relationship with Bonneville and takes over as KIRO's PD.
Off the wall prediction: Dennis Kelly drops KOMO as a client, re-establishes his consulting relationship with Bonneville and takes over as KIRO's PD.
SeattleRadioPro said:
FWIW ... that was reason he was OFFERED the Fisher gig ... to prevent Bonneville support.
Jackson Dell Weaver said:
Does anyone really think that Rod made the sole unequivocal call on moving KIRO to FM? PD's alone don't make those kind of decisions. I would venture that the decision was made before he came on board. "Fall guy" is right!
For those who think it's as easy as moving N/T "back" to AM, I assert again it's NOT an option. I'm sure that long-term carriage contracts were signed with ESPN, Mariners & Seahawks.
Watch for KIRO-FM to launch another multimedia ad campaign for the Spring. They're not ready to stick a fork in this yet.
All I can say is that if this PD was involved in the PM drive show there at KIRO, he should be shown the door.
S
searadiofreak
Guest
Dan McKay said:
I agree, no fork yet. Bonneville's WTOP-FM in DC continues to win big-time. There is no reason why this success can't happen in Seattle.
Fall guy? More like "guy fall down on the job."
I couldn't agree more that the afternoon drive show is the worst. And I have been disappointed in how N/T/W have been relegated to no more than an afterthought. Mybe now KIRO can get back to its roots.
There is hope, heard great coverage on tsunami/earthquake event today on 97.3 as well as KOMO. Kudos to both.
I couldn't agree more that the afternoon drive show is the worst. And I have been disappointed in how N/T/W have been relegated to no more than an afterthought. Mybe now KIRO can get back to its roots.
There is hope, heard great coverage on tsunami/earthquake event today on 97.3 as well as KOMO. Kudos to both.
I couldn't agree with you more. The afternoon show is a disaster. Completely obnoxous and disrespectful, that Ron/Don. Just check this interchange out with State Senator Adam Kline, particularly at 1:45 . Senator Kline actually hung up on Ron, and rightfully so. Take a listen and judge for yourself:
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=108&sid=290422&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter/
I rest my case. :-\
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=108&sid=290422&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter/
I rest my case. :-\
S
searadiofreak
Guest
Disrespectful? Yes.
Good radio? Yes. Let's not lose sight of the fact that the KIRO PM drive guys are there to drive ratings. That is what they were hired to do. Frankly, I think Seattle radio could use a little more of that. Why not rankle some folks up? If that gets numbers, so be it. Also notice that KIRO's website put this on. Hmm.
Good radio? Yes. Let's not lose sight of the fact that the KIRO PM drive guys are there to drive ratings. That is what they were hired to do. Frankly, I think Seattle radio could use a little more of that. Why not rankle some folks up? If that gets numbers, so be it. Also notice that KIRO's website put this on. Hmm.
Don't let the GM off the hook there. He used to be a N/T programmer. "Used to be" being the operative phrase.
searadiofreak said:
Good radio? Drive ratings? I give those two a big fail on each count. If they were hired to pull off what amounts to tavern talk targeting middle aged stoner delivery truck drivers, then mission accomplished. Somehow I find it difficult to believe that a major market full market N/T station owned by Mormons would be targeting that particular demo. You "rankle" folks by at least relating to your audience. If that's the case with KIRO's PMD show, their average listener is male with an IQ of less than 100.
S
searadiofreak
Guest
TVradioguru said:
Since when did "lowest common denominater" NOT equal ratings? And why is KIRO, (owned by Mormons), above that? BTW, Bonneville's LDS "philosophy" really only applies to their SLC properties, everywhere else they are just "in business" like everyone else. And I will repeat, this story was put on the KIRO "My Northwest" website, so obviously they see some value in it.
searadiofreak said:
Could it be maybe that "lowest common denominator" is what is driving people AWAY from radio?
You have to understand, radio is in a very tough spot. There are newer technologies available without 99% of the usual garbage (those "erectile dysfunction" ads hawked by shameless scammers anyone?) I hate to say it, but you are what you sell as well as what you program.
Discounting my board handle, I think the vast majority of average folks would sooner put up with a PSA for medical marijuana than this garbage. I don't need any "herbal" remedies for my own personal junk, the rest of us don't need it. Do YOU?
Think about it.....
Yes they may pay lots of money in the short term....but I'd sooner be working to support LOCAL businesses and LOCAL products than be the 24/7 equivalent of an annoying telemarketer.....
Or would some of you News/Talkers be bankrupt WITHOUT it?
But what do I know? Like I heard before from those closest to me "Let it go Lar, just let it go....."
And I'm letting it go...
I hope you (the big shots in this God-forsaken business) figure it out someday. That what makes local radio great is not following the national trend, but being LOCAL about it.....And in Seattle/Puget Sound, we're more accustomed to blazing trails....NOT following them.....
All this B.S. about who's leaving, who's in....as far as I'm concerned, you're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Seattle radio has traditionally been bigger than that.......
Until I hear it.....I'll listen to Tacoma.fm....
Bongwater said:
I agree that dumbing down your programming to attain the low-hanging-fruit is a poor strategy indeed. When it comes to total ratings, that low hanging fruit is few and rotten, at least that has been the case for KIRO.
Secondly Bong, people aren't being driven away from radio. Radio listening is increasing, probably because of the economy. Time Spent Listening is down somewhat because listeners have more choices.
Finally; stations ddon't have the option to pick and choose their advertisers in this economy. I don't care for some of the spots for male enhancement, colonitcs, or whatever. The sad reality is those are the advertisers that are buying long (pardon the pun) contracts.
Sorry, but those who are bashing Ron & Don as a couple of dum-dum, Leykis-esque trash-talkers are off base and have clearly not given the show enough ear time. These two are sometimes irreverent but always entertaining, almost always respectful and they have heart. I don't always agree with everything they say but they usually give time to both sides of an issue and they approach issues with a sense of fun and they make topics interesting. It's darn good radio.
It's that worthless Frank Shiers that needs a little more slapping on this board if you ask me. That guy is 100% totally unlistenable. Blech.
It's that worthless Frank Shiers that needs a little more slapping on this board if you ask me. That guy is 100% totally unlistenable. Blech.
I'm a WA native and was excited to take a trip up there a couple weeks ago. We were traveling west, from Spokane, and once in FM range, we started looking for some good traffic reports in the afternoon. I first tuned to KIRO FM and heard just a talk show. I had to switch over to KOMO AM to get the every 10 minutes traffic. I have not heard of many (if any) N/T outlets that do not have an afternoon news program. Most have morning news, daytime talk, afternoon news and night talk. I dunno. I think people have been programmed to hear traffic and weather 10 minutes on the 9's on N/T stations (and all news, of course). This came across as odd.
If I'm uninformed about the typical N/T schedule, please educate me.
If I'm uninformed about the typical N/T schedule, please educate me.
B
blowtorch50k
Guest
I'm from Chicago and listen to KIRO-FM via the Internet a lot. I don't particularly care about Seattle local interests necessary, but the insights into politics and the world from Dave Ross, as well as Ron and Don is probably some of the best stuff I have heard - and I also listen regularly to both WLS-AM and WGN-AM from Chicago. I wish Chicago had a KIRO like station.
By the way, the Ron and Don show has traffic every 10 minutes.
By the way, the Ron and Don show has traffic every 10 minutes.
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