New line-up at KABC revealed soon - some will be shocked ... others surprised

[michael hagerty]

Radiojomo
That line-up would be a disaster.

Then what lineup wouldn't be a disaster? Here's my point: KABC needs to go after KFI. It might be the only thing that can possibly save them, even with a weak signal.

I think what we're all saying is KABC is ultimately doomed as an English-language talk station. It may...may...improve in the ratings with the changes Cumulus is makIng and do better than a 0.7 , but it's unlikely they can do anything that would impact KFI's numbers or make themselves sustainable over the long term.

Well KABC has to go back to FM like 95.5 so they can survive. look there was a KABC-FM in the 1960's before there was a KLOS.

Yes- this is the same solution that posters keep proposing on the SF board to "save" KGO. Neither of Cumulus's FMs (KFOG and KSAN) get huge ratings, but they reportedly bill well. So Cumulus would have to blow up one of these two to prop up their new KGO news experiment . Doesn't sound like a good bet to me.

Not that easy, Recto. KLOS makes money. Possibly more than KABC could make even if it did fairly well on FM.

Cumulus isn't bumping up against ownership limits. If they could find FMs they like at a price they're willing to pay, they could buy them and leave their existing FMs alone.

 

[westfield60]

Radiojomo
That line-up would be a disaster.

Then what lineup wouldn't be a disaster? Here's my point: KABC needs to go after KFI. It might be the only thing that can possibly save them, even with a weak signal.

I think what we're all saying is KABC is ultimately doomed as an English-language talk station. It may...may...improve in the ratings with the changes Cumulus is makIng and do better than a 0.7 , but it's unlikely they can do anything that would impact KFI's numbers or make themselves sustainable over the long term.

With everyone singing the swan song for KABC (myself included).... I couldn't help re-think this.

Why couldn't KABC just survive in the basement as it has done in the past 15 years.? Look at KRLA (KIEV) and KFWB. They never make a blip on the ratings and yet year after year they keep going on and ratings seem like it doesn't matter to management of those stations. How many people in LA are actually listening to Michael Medved or Dennis Miller. Cannot be that many. So why should KABC even make any sort of effort to take on KFI when they neither have the money nor that talent to take it on. So why not just survive with what they are doing and as long as they can pay their hosts that is all that should matter - No?

Why the double standard expectation of KABC trying to unseat KFI but no expects the same from KRLA or KFWB?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Radiojomo
That line-up would be a disaster.

Then what lineup wouldn't be a disaster? Here's my point: KABC needs to go after KFI. It might be the only thing that can possibly save them, even with a weak signal.

I think what we're all saying is KABC is ultimately doomed as an English-language talk station. It may...may...improve in the ratings with the changes Cumulus is makIng and do better than a 0.7 , but it's unlikely they can do anything that would impact KFI's numbers or make themselves sustainable over the long term.

With everyone singing the swan song for KABC (myself included).... I couldn't help re-think this.

Why couldn't KABC just survive in the basement as it has done in the past 15 years.? Look at KRLA (KIEV) and KFWB. They never make a blip on the ratings and yet year after year they keep going on and ratings seem like it doesn't matter to management of those stations. How many people in LA are actually listening to Michael Medved or Dennis Miller. Cannot be that many. So why should KABC even make any sort of effort to take on KFI when they neither have the money nor that talent to take it on. So why not just survive with what they are doing and as long as they can pay their hosts that is all that should matter - No?

Why the double standard expectation of KABC trying to unseat KFI but no expects the same from KRLA or KFWB?

Their goal need not be to "unseat" KFI, just be a worthy competitor.

 

[michael hagerty]

Radiojomo
That line-up would be a disaster.

Then what lineup wouldn't be a disaster? Here's my point: KABC needs to go after KFI. It might be the only thing that can possibly save them, even with a weak signal.

I think what we're all saying is KABC is ultimately doomed as an English-language talk station. It may...may...improve in the ratings with the changes Cumulus is makIng and do better than a 0.7 , but it's unlikely they can do anything that would impact KFI's numbers or make themselves sustainable over the long term.

With everyone singing the swan song for KABC (myself included).... I couldn't help re-think this.

Why couldn't KABC just survive in the basement as it has done in the past 15 years.? Look at KRLA (KIEV) and KFWB. They never make a blip on the ratings and yet year after year they keep going on and ratings seem like it doesn't matter to management of those stations. How many people in LA are actually listening to Michael Medved or Dennis Miller. Cannot be that many. So why should KABC even make any sort of effort to take on KFI when they neither have the money nor that talent to take it on. So why not just survive with what they are doing and as long as they can pay their hosts that is all that should matter - No?

Why the double standard expectation of KABC trying to unseat KFI but no expects the same from KRLA or KFWB?

No one expects KABC to unseat KFI or even believes it can...because....well, it can't.

Now...why not be like KRLA (870, the old KIEV) or KFWB?

KFWB is in a trust, the operators of the trust have made it clear the plan is to sell the station, and David has laid out the business case that it would be very difficult for KFWB to do well as anything other than an Asian-language station.

KRLA? According to an SEC filing, Salem paid $33.4 million for 870...but borrowed only $26 million of that. And that was 13 years ago, so the debt service is probably really manageable, if they haven't in fact paid it all back (Salem's as financially conservative as they are politically conservative).

Cumulus laid out $1.7 billion for Citadel and took on a lot of Citadel's debt. The way the business is right now, they're probably counting most heavily on the stations in the largest markets to generate significant cash flow. It's a very different situation from Salem and KRLA.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

We're now five full pages into this thread and I still haven't seen anything that is "shocking" or "surprising". It's the same ol' everything with these guys.

Here is what something "shocking" would look like:

Los Angeles, CA - In an effort to prove that he still has relevance that he lost after marooning himself on satellite radio for the last five years, Howard Stern has chosen to come back to terrestrial radio. And to prove that he is the "King of All Media", let alone radio, Howard has chosen to make his triumphant return to AM Radio at 790 KABC. "The station has been a dead station walking for years" said Howard, "and I am out to prove that great radio, like getting hookers to strip for me on live radio with Robin Quivers watching and commenting as if she is a disinterested party, can rejuvenate this once-great station that has lingered near the bottom of the ratings for years. We are literally going to go from worst to first and I challenge all morning competitors to try and keep their audience from flipping over to the AM band to hear radio done right. Mark and Brian couldn't compete against me before and they will fail miserably again. I can't even believe they are still on in this town. And when we are in first place in PPM in one year, I will celebrate by making the "Return of Fartman" and premiering it with a huge street party right here in Westwood".

Just as it was when he went to satellite, it is not certain that what is left of Howard's audience actually knows how to tune into the AM radio band, if indeed their radios have them at all. Howard made his announcement down at his agent's office in Beverly Hills surrounded by his long-time producer Gary Dell'Abate, aka "Baba Booey" and two strippers from the Spearmint Rhino. Howard begins his first day on KABC on January 3. It is assumed this is where Peter Tilden's morning radio career ends.

 

[michael hagerty]

We're now five full pages into this thread and I still haven't seen anything that is "shocking" or "surprising". It's the same ol' everything with these guys.

Here is what something "shocking" would look like:

Los Angeles, CA - In an effort to prove that he still has relevance that he lost after marooning himself on satellite radio for the last five years, Howard Stern has chosen to come back to terrestrial radio. And to prove that he is the "King of All Media", let alone radio, Howard has chosen to make his triumphant return to AM Radio at 790 KABC. "The station has been a dead station walking for years" said Howard, "and I am out to prove that great radio, like getting hookers to strip for me on live radio with Robin Quivers watching and commenting as if she is a disinterested party, can rejuvenate this once-great station that has lingered near the bottom of the ratings for years. We are literally going to go from worst to first and I challenge all morning competitors to try and keep their audience from flipping over to the AM band to hear radio done right. Mark and Brian couldn't compete against me before and they will fail miserably again. I can't even believe they are still on in this town. And when we are in first place in PPM in one year, I will celebrate by making the "Return of Fartman" and premiering it with a huge street party right here in Westwood".

Just as it was when he went to satellite, it is not certain that what is left of Howard's audience actually knows how to tune into the AM radio band, if indeed their radios have them at all. Howard made his announcement down at his agent's office in Beverly Hills surrounded by his long-time producer Gary Dell'Abate, aka "Baba Booey" and two strippers from the Spearmint Rhino. Howard begins his first day on KABC on January 3. It is assumed this is where Peter Tilden's morning radio career ends.

Nah, even that wouldn't shock me, since Jack Silver's there and already tried Frosty, Heidi and Frank.

Actually, every absurd thing I can think of to write "that would shock me" wouldn't. It's radio, it's Los Angeles and they're desperate.

Some day, Jack Silver will learn it's his last day. On the way to the parking lot, the best we can hope is that he has a friend who'll put his arm around Silver's shoulder and say:

"Forget it, Jack. It's La Cienega."

 

[westfield60]

Always love reading Michael Hagerty's posts. Brilliant analysis.

 

[Rusty Muck]

We're now five full pages into this thread and I still haven't seen anything that is "shocking" or "surprising". It's the same ol' everything with these guys.

Here is what something "shocking" would look like:

Los Angeles, CA - In an effort to prove that he still has relevance that he lost after marooning himself on satellite radio for the last five years, Howard Stern has chosen to come back to terrestrial radio. And to prove that he is the "King of All Media", let alone radio, Howard has chosen to make his triumphant return to AM Radio at 790 KABC. "The station has been a dead station walking for years" said Howard, "and I am out to prove that great radio, like getting hookers to strip for me on live radio with Robin Quivers watching and commenting as if she is a disinterested party, can rejuvenate this once-great station that has lingered near the bottom of the ratings for years. We are literally going to go from worst to first and I challenge all morning competitors to try and keep their audience from flipping over to the AM band to hear radio done right. Mark and Brian couldn't compete against me before and they will fail miserably again. I can't even believe they are still on in this town. And when we are in first place in PPM in one year, I will celebrate by making the "Return of Fartman" and premiering it with a huge street party right here in Westwood".

Just as it was when he went to satellite, it is not certain that what is left of Howard's audience actually knows how to tune into the AM radio band, if indeed their radios have them at all. Howard made his announcement down at his agent's office in Beverly Hills surrounded by his long-time producer Gary Dell'Abate, aka "Baba Booey" and two strippers from the Spearmint Rhino. Howard begins his first day on KABC on January 3. It is assumed this is where Peter Tilden's morning radio career ends.

Nah, even that wouldn't shock me, since Jack Silver's there and already tried Frosty, Heidi and Frank.

Actually, every absurd thing I can think of to write "that would shock me" wouldn't. It's radio, it's Los Angeles and they're desperate.

Some day, Jack Silver will learn it's his last day. On the way to the parking lot, the best we can hope is that he has a friend who'll put his arm around Silver's shoulder and say:

"Forget it, Jack. It's La Cienega."

KABC could hire Jesus Christ and the result would be no different.

No, I'm not talking about the weekend KFI host. I'm talking about the Jesus Christ from the heavens above.

 

[michael hagerty]

We're now five full pages into this thread and I still haven't seen anything that is "shocking" or "surprising". It's the same ol' everything with these guys.

Here is what something "shocking" would look like:

Los Angeles, CA - In an effort to prove that he still has relevance that he lost after marooning himself on satellite radio for the last five years, Howard Stern has chosen to come back to terrestrial radio. And to prove that he is the "King of All Media", let alone radio, Howard has chosen to make his triumphant return to AM Radio at 790 KABC. "The station has been a dead station walking for years" said Howard, "and I am out to prove that great radio, like getting hookers to strip for me on live radio with Robin Quivers watching and commenting as if she is a disinterested party, can rejuvenate this once-great station that has lingered near the bottom of the ratings for years. We are literally going to go from worst to first and I challenge all morning competitors to try and keep their audience from flipping over to the AM band to hear radio done right. Mark and Brian couldn't compete against me before and they will fail miserably again. I can't even believe they are still on in this town. And when we are in first place in PPM in one year, I will celebrate by making the "Return of Fartman" and premiering it with a huge street party right here in Westwood".

Just as it was when he went to satellite, it is not certain that what is left of Howard's audience actually knows how to tune into the AM radio band, if indeed their radios have them at all. Howard made his announcement down at his agent's office in Beverly Hills surrounded by his long-time producer Gary Dell'Abate, aka "Baba Booey" and two strippers from the Spearmint Rhino. Howard begins his first day on KABC on January 3. It is assumed this is where Peter Tilden's morning radio career ends.

Nah, even that wouldn't shock me, since Jack Silver's there and already tried Frosty, Heidi and Frank.

Actually, every absurd thing I can think of to write "that would shock me" wouldn't. It's radio, it's Los Angeles and they're desperate.

Some day, Jack Silver will learn it's his last day. On the way to the parking lot, the best we can hope is that he has a friend who'll put his arm around Silver's shoulder and say:

"Forget it, Jack. It's La Cienega."

KABC could hire Jesus Christ and the result would be no different.

No, I'm not talking about the weekend KFI host. I'm talking about the Jesus Christ from the heavens above.

Well, Southern California has always been a tough market for Him...

 

[westfield60]

If Doug McIntyre couldn't make it then Jesus has no chance.

 

[calradiodj]

And apparently it's official - without Geraldo.
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...-a-sets-2012-on-air-lineup----without-geraldo

 

[michael hagerty]

And apparently it's official - without Geraldo.
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...-a-sets-2012-on-air-lineup----without-geraldo

Okay, so what does Jack mean "stay tuned for that part of it (Geraldo)"? There's going to be more to say? And I don't see Imus in 3-6 AM, either.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Now for weekends get rid of football it has no place on kabc at all!!!No more infomercials either like in the early 00s or so you had gloria alread do her show on weekends and kim forget her last name do weekend shows and you had the money dude so cmon cumulus dont stop get the weekends listenable. No one listens to these garbage infomercials cmon dont be so nieve!

 

[westfield60]

A couple observations and updates:

1 - Jack "Boehner" Silver is senile. He said “The new lineup puts all of KABC’s incredibly talented hosts into time slots that highlight their strengths.” Larry Elder was already at the 3pm slot for years and couldn't attract a fly. So Jack can you please remind me what strengths you are talking about? Ditto for Peter Tilden, Doug McIntyre..do I need to continue?.

2 - John Phillips announced that starting Jan 3 he will be on from 9am to 12:00 pm. But that is only for a month after which he will be 9:00am to 10:00am. So it does look like Geraldo is coming to LA after all, it's just he is walking from New York to here and needs a month to get here.

KABC Management can't do anything right.

 

[wadio]

So it does look like Geraldo is coming to LA after all, it's just he is walking from New York to here and needs a month to get here.

I believe the idea (based on their notion that the listener is stupid) is to introduce Geraldo on WABC with a lot of fanfare about it being a "live and local New York show." The audience will rejoice!

Then after a month they'll quietly put the show up on the bird.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

So it does look like Geraldo is coming to LA after all, it's just he is walking from New York to here and needs a month to get here.

I believe the idea (based on their notion that the listener is stupid) is to introduce Geraldo on WABC with a lot of fanfare about it being a "live and local New York show." The audience will rejoice!

Then after a month they'll quietly put the show up on the bird.

Do not underestimate the sheer cleverness of these guys. They are sharp as a tack on on their game.

I love how Jack can come out with his brand new lineup (that is really the same old line-up in new timeslots), and then, when presented with the first question about the potential arrival of a brand new personality to the station and the market, his best response is "stay tuned". Oh yeah, I can just see throngs of listeners tuned into KABC for months pondering to themselves "Will Geraldo come? When will Geraldo come? I am just dying to find out." Plus, talk about a vote of no-confidence to the new line-up before it ever goes on the air.

Sometimes I think to myself, "If I was a paid agent for KFI that was secretly inserted into KABC management, what exactly would I do any different to tear down the station?" I can't really come up with anything.

 

[Robnoxious]

Sometimes I think to myself, "If I was a paid agent for KFI that was secretly inserted into KABC management, what exactly would I do any different to tear down the station?" I can't really come up with anything.

No need for espionage and covert missions.
The subterfuge of KABC is coming from within it's own walls!
KFI has nothing to fear except another plane clipping their tower.
And even then, it'll only be a flesh wound.

KABC has a bleeding abscess.