More Nassau cutbacks

[NHRadio]

It appears Goldman Sachs isn't wasting any time. Dominic Biello was blown out of WLNH Laconia NH today along with Production Director Lisa Mchugh. More cuts are possible in both the Laconia and Hooskett clusters.
My semi-informed opinion is the next morning show on WLNH will be syndicated. Maybe Bob and Sheri?
My sympathies to Dom and Lisa...they're good people.

 

[Jimc]

Like most corporate moves to tighten a belt, even symbolically,they don't streamline the ones somewhat up the ladder who have been wasting oxygen for the company.

Talent is almost meaningless, at times. or it seems that way.

Dommie and Lisa are indeed good people and VERY talented.

 

[johnnyp66]

Once again.....a company cutting in the wrong place!!! Don't cut talent....cut one of the million VP's that do absolutely NOTHING!!!!!!!! Sorry to hear about this Dom.....class act...great man!

 

[Radiodeity]

{snip}
...cut one of the million VP's that do absolutely NOTHING!!!!!!!!...
{snip}

To quote the 1974 film, Blazing Saddles, Governor William J. Le Petomane remarked, "We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!..."

Hope all who are about to be set free will land on their feet feeling okay and knowing it isn't over... remember your talents are still marketable. Good Luck to All...!

RD

 

[Radioace]

WNNH 99.1 has gone silent as of 11AM this morning. Don't if this is forever, or just a maintenance problem.

 

[nancyrobbins]

Anyone know if Shirley Clarke is still with the Nassau group?

 

[Radiodeity]

Could have to do with WNNH being one of the stations that have to be sold off. Maybe they are already beginning to split off the signal to some format that will not interfere with what they already have going. Takes a few hours to reconnect the output of an automation to the program line feeding the transmitter.

Time will tell I guess..

RD

 

[NHRadio]

I think the timing is just unfortunate. The carrier is still on, making me think it's in the STL path....but obviously can't be sure.

WNNH 99.1 has gone silent as of 11AM this morning. Don't if this is forever, or just a maintenance problem.

 

[mdamico25]

>>Could have to do with WNNH being one of the stations that have to be sold off. Maybe they are already beginning to split off the signal to some format that will not interfere with what they already have going. Takes a few hours to reconnect the output of an automation to the program line feeding the transmitter.

Maybe Clark Smidt will buy WNNH back. Would love to see a rechristened "Oldies 99" back on the radio. Clark owned WNNH from its 1989 sign on until about 2000 and during that era, WNNH had a very diverse playlist and slick sounding "big city" sound despite being located in the hinterlands of Central NH. I believe that Smidt currently owns 107.7 WTPL in Concord, so if he could come up with the $$, perhaps he could run both operations out of the same studios- which I believe belonged to WNNH at one time!!

-Mike

 

[NHRadio]

He does not own WTPL. It's owned by Great Eastern, headed by a former Vox partner. I forget which one.
Clark is a partner in WCAP, Lowell.

I believe that Smidt currently owns 107.7 WTPL in Concord, so if he could come up with the $$, perhaps he could run both operations out of the same studios- which I believe belonged to WNNH at one time!!

-Mike

 

[NHRadio]

I'm hearing rumors that Nassau may be closing it's Hooksett building to save on the rent and finding cheaper quarters in Concord. Sounds kinda hard to believe, even for them. Has anyone else heard this?

 

[probuttonpusher]

where would they go? Their old studio location is one of my favorite scrapbooking stores.

 

[NHRadio]

I'm sure there's plenty of office space in and around Concord.

 

[Jimc]

Jeff Shapiro owns Great Eastern. Their two morning guys...Peter St James and Ken Cail worked for OLDIES 99 back when Smidt owned it.

Along with: Dave Emerson (Mr News), Big Jim Kenton, Konrad Kayne, Brett Mallard, Old Weird Harold ,and Dan Vinal

 

[ret vet]

That's correct, Clark Schmidt does not currently own anything in Concord, he owns/manages WCAP-AM/Lowell.
I would't be surprised if he's interested in WNNH but so would Jeff Shapiro (owner of WTPL) and whoever just bought 102.3 (nee WWHK/WKXL-FM). Some former WNNH employees might be considering returning to 99.1 and getting off the sinking ship that is Nassau.

Lisa McHugh is definitely a great talent, and a terrific person, best of luck to her.

I've heard the rumor about closing Hooksett too. That location is in a hole forcing them to broadcast to towers via phone lines which costs 10s of thousands per month. Besides that it's not real smart to locate your sales staffs outside the markets the stations serve (Concord and Nashua.)

 

[Jimc]

former owner of WLKZ and WNNH (after Clark Smidt) Ira Rosenblatt set up the Nassau deal with the stations in Hooksett. His brother in law owned the building. Ira was the NH VP of Everything for Lou for awhile.

 

[radiomezzo]

Shirley has been gone for more than six months.... and I'm shocked that Dom and Lisa are gone.... who's gonna do the production now? OMG

 

[NHRadio]

I hear Pat Kelly will be the Prod whiz at Nassau Gilford. The way things are going the next step will be calling Dial-Global for satellite formats...not that I want that to happen.

Shirley has been gone for more than six months.... and I'm shocked that Dom and Lisa are gone.... who's gonna do the production now? OMG

 

[Jimc]

Pat's very organized, and a workhorse.

What's the story with selling the stations...too early to tell?

And what do we know about that guy Sumereau who bought 102.3 from Shapiro? He used to work for Nassau.

 

[NHRadio]

I'm sure Pat will do an excellent job.
As for selling the stations, it's far too early to tell. Goldman Sachs will have to look at all the stations and see which can make money and which can't...then try to find buyers for the dogs...which isn't easy.
Their whole raison d'etre is making money. If any of the stations make money they'd be foolish to spin them off. The good news for them is any goodwill impairment charges (and I'm sure there will be lots) can offset any tax on profits from the "good" stations.

I have no info at all on the new buyer for WWHK.

Pat's very organized, and a workhorse.

What's the story with selling the stations...too early to tell?

And what do we know about that guy Sumereau who bought 102.3 from Shapiro? He used to work for Nassau.