KLIF Going Down Drain?

[DFDub]

I just heard this morning that Darrell Ankarlo is leaving KLIF. Does anybody know the story behind that? I know that Knapp left to join Radio America. What is Ankarlo doing? What will KLIF do? None of the fill-ins that they have used are any count.

Is Cumulus going to make it difficult for KLIF to hire quality hosts to fill these positions? A previous thread mentioned they might be going all syndicated. But I saw an ad on their website for a replacement for Knapp about a month before he left. Saw no such ad for a morning show replacement, though.

 

[VOXPOP]

"His last day will be Nov. 17. The Ticket's Gordon Keith broke the news this morning....

said he was going to KTAR Phoenix......"


Jon David Wells (whoever that is) is the new afternoon host.

 

[jd]

Jon David Wells (whoever that is) is the new afternoon host.

From what I can tell he's from Talk America Radio Network, if that means anything. Didn't 990 AM run some of their shows before they switched to Mainstreet?

No mention of Wells on the KLIF website yet.

 

[radio-amp]

Darrell Ankarlo is heading to a great job at KTAR. Contrary to what's being said on other boards, Ankarlo wasn't fired from KLIF. The very sad thing is he loves the DFW market and probably would've stayed with his amazingly loyal audience. Too bad the station management didn't also feel that loyalty toward the show. After trying to keep the word of Darrell leaving so hush-hush, for management to have not foreseen that the Ticket would break the story about him leaving is stupid. Where's the class at that station? KLIF has become one huge cost-cutting machine. Ankarlo worked liked a dog trying to always give the best audio, the best guests, the most compelling topics and A-1 service to all his sales clients. He went on sales calls almost daily. He had one terrific promotional idea after another that were repeatedly shot down by management because they would've cost the station a couple of bucks. Ankarlo had some kick ass momentum going but then Cumulus came in, swept the place clean of any personality, made sure they lost all the people who actually cared about the lifespan of the station, brought in their clueless, ego-driven 20-somethings, paid them 20-something, gave them a schlock-title and said, "Have at it". Ankarlo brought tons of revenue, entertainment, community service (he and his wife were a godsend to the families of troops in Iraq with all the money they raised) and lot of fun to that station. He had an enthusiasm for that show that never stumbled even when Bennett was taking people and money away on a daily basis. Good for Ankarlo on getting out - he's looking at a great future.....unfortunately, I can't see KLIF lasting more than a year at best.

 

[spinderella]

Interesting first post. Hi Darrell.

 

[klifhanger]

It does appear to be from him,doesn't it?

 

[DroopyDave111]

Darrell Ankarlo is heading to a great job at KTAR. Contrary to what's being said on other boards, Ankarlo wasn't fired from KLIF. The very sad thing is he loves the DFW market and probably would've stayed with his amazingly loyal audience. Too bad the station management didn't also feel that loyalty toward the show. After trying to keep the word of Darrell leaving so hush-hush, for management to have not foreseen that the Ticket would break the story about him leaving is stupid. Where's the class at that station? KLIF has become one huge cost-cutting machine. Ankarlo worked liked a dog trying to always give the best audio, the best guests, the most compelling topics and A-1 service to all his sales clients. He went on sales calls almost daily. He had one terrific promotional idea after another that were repeatedly shot down by management because they would've cost the station a couple of bucks. Ankarlo had some kick ass momentum going but then Cumulus came in, swept the place clean of any personality, made sure they lost all the people who actually cared about the lifespan of the station, brought in their clueless, ego-driven 20-somethings, paid them 20-something, gave them a schlock-title and said, "Have at it". Ankarlo brought tons of revenue, entertainment, community service (he and his wife were a godsend to the families of troops in Iraq with all the money they raised) and lot of fun to that station. He had an enthusiasm for that show that never stumbled even when Bennett was taking people and money away on a daily basis. Good for Ankarlo on getting out - he's looking at a great future.....unfortunately, I can't see KLIF lasting more than a year at best.

This is the most transparent post I have ever read.

 

[bluescreen]

Actually if you'd do a little sleuthing you may find that the post probably isn't from Darrell, but rather from his former producer.
radio-amp - AnnMarie Pettito

 

[angelo]

KLIF - Jon-David Wells

For those of you in the DFW area, you will enjoy Jon-David Wells. He is a very talented broadcaster, who has worked here in the Las Vegas market for years and is a true professional. He belongs in a larger market like DFW in order to showcase his skills. He is very entertaining, funny and knowledgeable of current events. Give him a listen once he is on the air.

 

[spinderella]

Re: KLIF - Jon-David Wells

For those of you in the DFW area, you will enjoy Jon-David Wells. He is a very talented broadcaster, who has worked here in the Las Vegas market for years and is a true professional. He belongs in a larger market like DFW in order to showcase his skills. He is very entertaining, funny and knowledgeable of current events. Give him a listen once he is on the air.

Hope he's better than the other Vegas transplant Jay McFarland over at KRLD. That show should be renamed "Ernie and Jay we suck all day." Good job Gavin. KRLD mid-days now sound like a cheap imitation of Live 105.3.

 

[hajinator]

Ankarlo needs to take his massive ego to LV and stay. He was a joke. As far as revenue, if he brought it in, he would still be there. The Ticket breaking the news is a non story. No love lost between Ankarlo and The Ticket. The Ticket is revenue, Ankarlo is a fraud.
I truly enjoyed Ankarlo's meltdown on the Ticket. Bye Ankarlo, do not forget your ego when the door hits you.

 

[angelo]

JD Wells blows McFarland out of the water.

 

[jondavidvox]

Thanks Ange....That was really nice.

Jon-David Wells

 

[daithi]

Darrell Ankarlo is heading to a great job at KTAR. Contrary to what's being said on other boards, Ankarlo wasn't fired from KLIF. The very sad thing is he loves the DFW market and probably would've stayed with his amazingly loyal audience. Too bad the station management didn't also feel that loyalty toward the show. After trying to keep the word of Darrell leaving so hush-hush, for management to have not foreseen that the Ticket would break the story about him leaving is stupid. Where's the class at that station? KLIF has become one huge cost-cutting machine. Ankarlo worked liked a dog trying to always give the best audio, the best guests, the most compelling topics and A-1 service to all his sales clients. He went on sales calls almost daily. He had one terrific promotional idea after another that were repeatedly shot down by management because they would've cost the station a couple of bucks. Ankarlo had some kick ass momentum going but then Cumulus came in, swept the place clean of any personality, made sure they lost all the people who actually cared about the lifespan of the station, brought in their clueless, ego-driven 20-somethings, paid them 20-something, gave them a schlock-title and said, "Have at it". Ankarlo brought tons of revenue, entertainment, community service (he and his wife were a godsend to the families of troops in Iraq with all the money they raised) and lot of fun to that station. He had an enthusiasm for that show that never stumbled even when Bennett was taking people and money away on a daily basis. Good for Ankarlo on getting out - he's looking at a great future.....unfortunately, I can't see KLIF lasting more than a year at best.

As someone who's worked for Cumulus, this person is dead-on with their assessment. Everyone else currently employed by Cumulus better watch out - Christmas is just around the corner - Cumulus' favorite time to let people go...

 

[TheLaffer]

Re: KLIF - Jon-David Wells

For those of you in the DFW area, you will enjoy Jon-David Wells. He is a very talented broadcaster, who has worked here in the Las Vegas market for years and is a true professional. He belongs in a larger market like DFW in order to showcase his skills. He is very entertaining, funny and knowledgeable of current events. Give him a listen once he is on the air.

I'm sure Jon-David Wells is a nice guy, but i've heard him on KLIF before and he filled in ONCE on Coast To Coast AM, to NEVER return. He's Las Vegas material. Voice sounds RADIO-ISH. But i wish him well.

 

[survivor]

Anyone who knows Darrell knows (A), the author of this post is 99% certain to be Darrell and (B), it is absolutely NOT Ann Marie Petitto. Not her personal style, not her writing style.

The best way to describe this post is a Steaming Load of Crap. Those who have been around him know him to be one of the worst egomaniacs this market has seen in a long while.

> Darrell Ankarlo is heading to a great job at KTAR.

Yeah, mornings in Dallas to middays on an FM talk station in Phoenix. Good move up, Darrell.

The fact is, Darrel and his sidekicks were getting very stale and very un-entertaining. And management knew it. Darrell can bad-mouth the 20-something management, but they still have their jobs in a top-5 market.

Yeah, as Darrell wrote in his post, the station may not last a year. But now that the egomaniacs and controls freaks are gone, the station now has at least a fighting chance.

 

[Slambang]

Well, the way I look at it, he needs a break in a smaller market to put his ego in check.

 

[little1]

Darrell Ankarlo is heading to a great job at KTAR. Contrary to what's being said on other boards, Ankarlo wasn't fired from KLIF. The very sad thing is he loves the DFW market and probably would've stayed with his amazingly loyal audience. Too bad the station management didn't also feel that loyalty toward the show. After trying to keep the word of Darrell leaving so hush-hush, for management to have not foreseen that the Ticket would break the story about him leaving is stupid. Where's the class at that station? KLIF has become one huge cost-cutting machine. Ankarlo worked liked a dog trying to always give the best audio, the best guests, the most compelling topics and A-1 service to all his sales clients. He went on sales calls almost daily. He had one terrific promotional idea after another that were repeatedly shot down by management because they would've cost the station a couple of bucks. Ankarlo had some kick ass momentum going but then Cumulus came in, swept the place clean of any personality, made sure they lost all the people who actually cared about the lifespan of the station, brought in their clueless, ego-driven 20-somethings, paid them 20-something, gave them a schlock-title and said, "Have at it". Ankarlo brought tons of revenue, entertainment, community service (he and his wife were a godsend to the families of troops in Iraq with all the money they raised) and lot of fun to that station. He had an enthusiasm for that show that never stumbled even when Bennett was taking people and money away on a daily basis. Good for Ankarlo on getting out - he's looking at a great future.....unfortunately, I can't see KLIF lasting more than a year at best.

As someone who's worked for Cumulus, this person is dead-on with their assessment. Everyone else currently employed by Cumulus better watch out - Christmas is just around the corner - Cumulus' favorite time to let people go...

1. The story broke on KSKY. I've been told that Benit didn't let the rest of the stations know until after someone at KSKY heard it from 'somewhere" (cough*ankarlo*cough*cough)
2. the Old PD left for a job in NYC. The old APD left for a job in her hometown (Philly?). Knapp JUST left, Knapp's old producer left not more than a month or two back, etc...Since Cumulus took over in Late spring, can you really say that they 'swept the place clean'? Sure looks like people left on their own, rather than being run out by Cumulus.
3. If Ankarlo brought tons of entertainment, I'm sure the ratings would show that right? What's that? His ratings sucked? So 'tons of entertainment' is really code for a 1.0?
3a. Same with revenue. I've seen a ton of shows whose ratings suck stick around IF THEY MAKE MONEY.
4. How many Ticket billboards have people here seen the last few years? Compare that to the KLIF Osama boards of 2-3 years ago, the plethora of Ankarlo and Knapp billboards last year, the Dave Ramsay boards that are up now...If they were taking money away from KLIF , they certainly weren't spending it on the ticket. Could it be that it was overall corporate costcutting, since they went through a very long sale process?

Whether that post is Ankarlo or Petito, can the sparks from the axe-grinding be any more obvious?

 

[little1]

The fact is, Darrel and his sidekicks were getting very stale and very un-entertaining. And management knew it. Darrell can bad-mouth the 20-something management, but they still have their jobs in a top-5 market.

Isn't Catlin doing double duty as both Ticket and KLIf PD? Hasn't he been at the ticket since it's inception? So if he's a 20-something, and he's been there almost 15 years, I'm suprised we didn't hear more about a 14 year old producing a sports show.

 

[jondavidvox]

Re: KLIF - Jon-David Wells

"I'm sure Jon-David Wells is a nice guy, but i've heard him on KLIF before and he filled in ONCE on Coast To Coast AM, to NEVER return. He's Las Vegas material. Voice sounds RADIO-ISH. But I wish him well."---The Laffer

Actually Laff....I was never on Coast-To-Coast. That was the other John Wells; the imaging voice guy.

Thanks very much for the good wishes.

J-D