KLIF Going Down Drain?

[TheLaffer]

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?

I've heard the same thing about Ankarlo and his huge ego. He's a good talent. NOT great talent. However i will agree, CUMULUS is CLUELESS and it's showing up in Dallas, Indianapolis, Houston and many others. Cumulus, Clear Channel, Cox, CBS have ruined too many peoples lives and it has to stop!

It's a tragedy how many good talents are being left on the sidelines while some of the most inept people get hired over and over and over again.

 

[Slambang]

Halleujha! finally someone speaks the truth

 

[gew2409]

Here is part of a response from the Asst. PD at KLIF about my questioning changes involving Ankarlo, Knapp, Dr. Laura, Neal Boortz, Michael Savage, Coast to Coast and telling them Ed Wallace is still the best....
---------------------------------------------------
We did not get rid of Greg Knapp. Greg, like most talkshow hosts, wanted to
go national with his show and I don't think there was anything we could have
done to keep him after he was presented with the opportunity.

We wanted to keep Darrell and he wanted to stay. His contract was up and
thus was presented with this tremendous chance to go to Phoenix. We tried to
keep him, but unfortunately for us we could not make the math work to match
what they were offering. We wish him the best and I'm sure he will do well
there.

We've recently made a change to Coast to Coast to begin the show at Midnight.
That started on Monday of this week. We have a new afternoon show that will
start on Monday. His name is John David Wells. He's conservative, he's
funny, and very authentic on the air. I think you'll like what he brings to
the table. The reason we tape delay Savage is that we felt that it was
important to have a Live and Local show on in the afternoon so DFW could have
someplace on the dial were people could sound off on issues that matter to
them.
---------------------------------------------------
I suggested making a FADL (Former All Day Listener) t-shirt

 

[TheLaffer]

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

My apologies Jon. I wish you all the best on KLIF.

 

[jondavidvox]

No big thing, my brutha....And thanks again.

J-D
FB

 

[Slambang]

If theres one bright spot in this, Coast to Coast is going back on at midnight...I plan my late evenings around that show Nothing is more fun than working overnight and hearing all the crazy callers

 

[jailart]

Wells is better than John McFarland...he has a good voice ---unlike sqeeky John..and unlike John McFarland wh proclaims "I'm a gen-xer I don't read books..Wells does stay informed

 

[Coronaextra]

I worked at KLIF.
I am not bitter and this is truth.
I know Ann Marie...that post sounds EXACTLY like her...her tone...her well known *witty* banter. 
She would put newspaper on the studio window and door and spent hrs tucked away with Darrell.  Always made me wonder...especially since Mr. Ankarlo would profess on-air that he respects his wife so much that he doesn't even get into an elevator alone with a woman. (how insane that that is somehow meant to sound like a wonderful husband...) Ann Marie is famous for her office indiscretions. Ask around.
Honestly folks, Ankarlo is the truest of narcissists. Honestly. 
He rags on his crew ON AIR and blames THEM for his misinformation and low ratings.  Maybe that's why in 5 yrs he went through 5 news people, 4 producers and SEVERAL board ops.  Not a nice guy.
And there was no revenue or ratings...I don't know why AMP (Pettito) is saying that except maybe for her resume since she was also acting APD.
Ask me anything you want to know about him.
Like about him being fired out of St. Louis for sexual harassment.  Hard to swallow when he preached that he was a devout Christian on air.
Hypocrisy at it's finest, and when you work every day with it, it EATS your soul.
I am surprised a Mormon run operation like KTAR is hiring him.
I only registered on this board because I really want the truth out there.  There is a lot worse that I can tell you about what I personally saw and experienced with Ankarlo, but I can only imagine Darrell's and Ann Marie's response as it is.
BTW- PD Jeff Hillery, was a prince.

Jeff Hillery is a prince, but the rest of that is TOTAL B.S.  I too worked for Susquehanna and then Cumulus, and while Darrell can be a bit of an ego, I only had to tell him once to knock it off, and it was never an issue again.  As for Ankarlo and AnnMarie being involved with each other, please. They'd put paper in the studio window to keep the salespeople out. You could easily see into the studio from the producer booth or from the control room. It sounds like you are a bitter board-op or a disgruntled producer that got let go at some point, and I bet I know who.

It's been six months and no sign of a PD.  Too often great promotional ideas didn't get off the ground because the never-ending-turn-over-of-a-sales staff couldn't sell them. 

It's a sinking ship and Ankarlo is smart to jump.

And I'd believe AMP wrote the post to set the record straight.  It does sound like her.

Five news people?  Well, one left in the years I was there, but she didn't like Dallas, and last I remember, Terese and Ron both really liked him.

In the last six months the PD left, the APD left, the morning and afternoon show hosts left, the KLIF sales manager, the KPLX sales manager, the KPLX/Bone imaging director is leaving, almost the entire KLIF sales staff is gone, the Wolf/KLIF assistant production director, several KPLX salespeople, KLIF and KPLX promotions staff are fleeing, and that's just some of it.  It's not a fun place to work anymore, and that's sad because it was. 

Good luck, Darrell.  Congrats on getting the hell out of there.

 

[TheLaffer]

I worked at KLIF.
I am not bitter and this is truth.
I know Ann Marie...that post sounds EXACTLY like her...her tone...her well known *witty* banter.
She would put newspaper on the studio window and door and spent hrs tucked away with Darrell. Always made me wonder...especially since Mr. Ankarlo would profess on-air that he respects his wife so much that he doesn't even get into an elevator alone with a woman. (how insane that that is somehow meant to sound like a wonderful husband...) Ann Marie is famous for her office indiscretions. Ask around.
Honestly folks, Ankarlo is the truest of narcissists. Honestly.
He rags on his crew ON AIR and blames THEM for his misinformation and low ratings. Maybe that's why in 5 yrs he went through 5 news people, 4 producers and SEVERAL board ops. Not a nice guy.
And there was no revenue or ratings...I don't know why AMP (Pettito) is saying that except maybe for her resume since she was also acting APD.
Ask me anything you want to know about him.
Like about him being fired out of St. Louis for sexual harassment. Hard to swallow when he preached that he was a devout Christian on air.
Hypocrisy at it's finest, and when you work every day with it, it EATS your soul.
I am surprised a Mormon run operation like KTAR is hiring him.
I only registered on this board because I really want the truth out there. There is a lot worse that I can tell you about what I personally saw and experienced with Ankarlo, but I can only imagine Darrell's and Ann Marie's response as it is.
BTW- PD Jeff Hillery, was a prince.

Jeff Hillery is a prince, but the rest of that is TOTAL B.S. I too worked for Susquehanna and then Cumulus, and while Darrell can be a bit of an ego, I only had to tell him once to knock it off, and it was never an issue again. As for Ankarlo and AnnMarie being involved with each other, please. They'd put paper in the studio window to keep the salespeople out. You could easily see into the studio from the producer booth or from the control room. It sounds like you are a bitter board-op or a disgruntled producer that got let go at some point, and I bet I know who.

It's been six months and no sign of a PD. Too often great promotional ideas didn't get off the ground because the never-ending-turn-over-of-a-sales staff couldn't sell them.

It's a sinking ship and Ankarlo is smart to jump.

And I'd believe AMP wrote the post to set the record straight. It does sound like her.

Five news people? Well, one left in the years I was there, but she didn't like Dallas, and last I remember, Terese and Ron both really liked him.

In the last six months the PD left, the APD left, the morning and afternoon show hosts left, the KLIF sales manager, the KPLX sales manager, the KPLX/Bone imaging director is leaving, almost the entire KLIF sales staff is gone, the Wolf/KLIF assistant production director, several KPLX salespeople, KLIF and KPLX promotions staff are fleeing, and that's just some of it. It's not a fun place to work anymore, and that's sad because it was.

Good luck, Darrell. Congrats on getting the hell out of there.

You speak the truth about that place. Unfortunately the usual "dead weight" will remain in place who are alreading bring in 'Questionable" talent, sales and managers.

 

[daithi]

"You speak the truth about that place. Unfortunately the usual "dead weight" will remain in place who are alreading bring in 'Questionable" talent, sales and managers. "

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

 

[DroopyDave111]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

 

[Coronaextra]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

That certainly doesn't apply to everyone there. There are still some amazingly talented people walking the halls. The atmosphere is just different. My job, day to day, didn't really change with the sale. Just a different name on my checks, but so many people I worked with went from happy to downright miserable. It was hard to see.

As for Ticket getting 570's signal? Who knows? That rumor's been floating around for years.

 

[TheLaffer]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

That certainly doesn't apply to everyone there. There are still some amazingly talented people walking the halls. The atmosphere is just different. My job, day to day, didn't really change with the sale. Just a different name on my checks, but so many people I worked with went from happy to downright miserable. It was hard to see.

As for Ticket getting 570's signal? Who knows? That rumor's been floating around for years.

Did i say ALL the people there are Dead Weights??

 

[daithi]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

Hmm...give it time. Anyone with integrity and an ounce of decency eventually gets fed up with Cumulus crap.

 

[I Kick]

Coronaextra are you kidding?
Are you Darrell???
MANY board ops and producers were bullied by Mr. Ankarlo. News people...yes 5...2 men, a woman, and then Terese and Ron. The first two men said no to the job because of you, um, him. (Said they would not work with such a guy...didn't need work that badly) Then the woman ("who didn't like Dallas")left because of him...Terese told me she asked to be switched to Greg's show and Ron...well, he thinks DA is an arrogant SOB with ridiculous viewpoints and politics.A fake.
Producers...he treated everyone but AMP like Sh*t. A great one who worked with him in other markets finally quit over it.
It's real sweet that you are a loyalist...((or an actor Mr. Ankarlo))...but let's tell the truth.

 

[Coronaextra]

Coronaextra are you kidding?
Are you Darrell???
MANY board ops and producers were bullied by Mr. Ankarlo. News people...yes 5...2 men, a woman, and then Terese and Ron. The first two men said no to the job because of you, um, him. (Said they would not work with such a guy...didn't need work that badly) Then the woman ("who didn't like Dallas")left because of him...Terese told me she asked to be switched to Greg's show and Ron...well, he thinks DA is an arrogant SOB with ridiculous viewpoints and politics.A fake.
Producers...he treated everyone but AMP like Sh*t. A great one who worked with him in other markets finally quit over it.
It's real sweet that you are a loyalist...((or an actor Mr. Ankarlo))...but let's tell the truth.

You can probably figure it out, but no, I'm not Darrell. I've been gone for several months.

Now admittedly, I did not know the first "two guys," but I did know Jennifer who left to be closer to her boyfriend in New York. She didn't hate Darrell. She just didn't like Dallas and fell for some guy on Long Island where she was from.

Jeff switched Terese and Ron, and she was not happy about it at first which she did tell me. I've never heard Ron say anything negative thing about him, and I count Ron DeRoxtra to be a friend.

I've only worked with Darrell in recording sessions (and if that doesn't give it away well...), but I honestly never had a big problem with Darrell. The only time he pulled ego on me, I called him on it, and it was never an issue again.

Heck, sometimes I treated the board ops like crap. You know, "Get out of my studio!"

What bothered me about your post was the, "I wonder" crap. If Ankarlo and AMP were going to do anything, they would have done it in his office which had no windows and a lock on the door. Not in a studio or prod studio where anyone could go busting in. You lost credibility there, Clint.

He's not perfect, but he's hardly the total jerk you make him out to be.

Now, I need to go ride my bike

 

[little1]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

Did i say ALL the people there are Dead Weights??

You didn't but daithi did....let's deconstruct his sentence.
According to him the only people left at Cumulus are either "biding their time until they can get something else", or are "are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus".

Doesn't leave himself a lot of wiggle room. That's a pretty clear either/or. Problem is it ignores that 2 of the Cumulus stations are arguably among the best in the metroplex. Both are consistently nominated (and often win) various awards (ticket-ESPN station of the year, Wolf-CMT station of the year, both for Marconis, AWRT awards, etc)...
So let's take, the Hardline for example. If memory serves, they were #1 men 25-54 in the last book and #2 PERSONS 25-54. Are they biding their time until they can get something else, or are they dead weight?

And if either of those is true, what does it say about the sorry state of DFW radio that the top of the heap is held by 'dead weight" like the Hardline.

 

[daithi]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

Did i say ALL the people there are Dead Weights??

You didn't but daithi did....let's deconstruct his sentence.
According to him the only people left at Cumulus are either "biding their time until they can get something else", or are "are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus".

Doesn't leave himself a lot of wiggle room. That's a pretty clear either/or. Problem is it ignores that 2 of the Cumulus stations are arguably among the best in the metroplex. Both are consistently nominated (and often win) various awards (ticket-ESPN station of the year, Wolf-CMT station of the year, both for Marconis, AWRT awards, etc)...
So let's take, the Hardline for example. If memory serves, they were #1 men 25-54 in the last book and #2 PERSONS 25-54. Are they biding their time until they can get something else, or are they dead weight?

And if either of those is true, what does it say about the sorry state of DFW radio that the top of the heap is held by 'dead weight" like the Hardline.

Ah, but they were winners when they were Susquehanna-managed stations. Only people who need a job or subscribe to Cumulus' "we don't need no stinking morals" mantra stay with any of their stations. As posted previously, give it time. Any person worth a grain of salt will eventually get fed up with Cumulus' crap and move on.

 

[cartertimm]

Let's not give Cumulus credit for Ticket just yet. The talent on the Ticket were all on long term contracts.
Cumulus had to honor them. When any contract has come up yet on the other three stations, the person has been offered less, if not in straight pay, bonuses are less and apperance money being less. It will be interesting in 2007 when key Ticket folk have renewal. At least right now anyone who was being pay over $50,000 and not under contract was fired (remember Jimmy Christopher!!!).

 

[TheLaffer]

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT in your statement! The ONLY people that stay on at Cumulus, aside from those just biding their time until they can get something else because they have families to feed, are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus.

Hmm... how about all the hosts at The Ticket? Biding Time while feeding families? I think not. Dead Weight? I think not...

Do any of you ever think that the Ticket could get 570's badass signal?

Did i say ALL the people there are Dead Weights??

You didn't but daithi did....let's deconstruct his sentence.
According to him the only people left at Cumulus are either "biding their time until they can get something else", or are "are the "dead weights" who have as little integrity and morals as the top brass at Cumulus".

Doesn't leave himself a lot of wiggle room. That's a pretty clear either/or. Problem is it ignores that 2 of the Cumulus stations are arguably among the best in the metroplex. Both are consistently nominated (and often win) various awards (ticket-ESPN station of the year, Wolf-CMT station of the year, both for Marconis, AWRT awards, etc)...
So let's take, the Hardline for example. If memory serves, they were #1 men 25-54 in the last book and #2 PERSONS 25-54. Are they biding their time until they can get something else, or are they dead weight?

And if either of those is true, what does it say about the sorry state of DFW radio that the top of the heap is held by 'dead weight" like the Hardline.

Ah, but they were winners when they were Susquehanna-managed stations. Only people who need a job or subscribe to Cumulus' "we don't need no stinking morals" mantra stay with any of their stations. As posted previously, give it time. Any person worth a grain of salt will eventually get fed up with Cumulus' crap and move on.

Trust me the grass is not greener on the other side. All the big companies are in free fall.