NextMedia puts more jobs on the chopping block

[static_cling]

Word is that two more staffers have been shown the exit at NextMedia's WHBC/1480. My people tell me that the afternoon sports anchor and a news reporter were both given the boot on Thursday, again citing budget problems.
Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! Is NM's financial condition that dire that it's willing to sacrifice the station's ability to provide local coverage of news and sports?

 

[Speaker of Truth]

I note with some sadness that Lindsey Menapace evidently has been shown the door, since her picture and bio is gone from the website..she's a little bulldog, with a solid work ethic to go out and get stories..added to that is that she's a sweet young lady who deserved a far better fate..

Having said that..

What you have now is a news department of three...for all effective purposes two, since Pam Koch also wears a couple of hats..exactly how many meetings can you cover, or do breaking news, with that number, given the size of the coverage area..

Geoff Mears is a talented cat..and if you could clone him, so much the better...

But you can't..and that's the problem...

Mears is going to be asked to shoulder an incredible load of work..and he's not going to get paid what he's really worth..

I wish I had answers, but every thought I have is not the most feasable..and I have no idea what the Survivors of South Market are going to do..but NextMedia really created a mess and its going to be a challenge to clean up..and ''Kayleigh Kriss'' still holds the immunity stick..mindboggling when you think about it..

 

[BizDecision]

Is Sam Bourquin the afternoon sports guy that is being let go? If so, that kills the sports department.

Lindsay is a great talent, having paid her dues at WTUZ in New Philadelphia.

I am surprised that Kayleigh Kriss has survived the many changes there. She must be of more value to NextMedia than what we know.

 

[static_cling]

Is Sam Bourquin the afternoon sports guy that is being let go? If so, that kills the sports department.

Thankfully, the answer is no. The bad news for the sports department is that Chris Schiemann is the one being shown the exit. I wonder how this will affect WHBC's coverage of high school football this year? Will Sam be a one-man band?

 

[ChrisBGSU06]

Hi folks, I'm the Chris Schieman who was let go on Thursday. I can tell you first, that WHBC's coverage of high school sports probably won't change much. Sammy has a bunch of part-timers ready to go, and if I don't find anything else full-time, I may stick around Bourquin and do some part-time stuff myself. The high school sports won't go away as long as it makes money.

I can tell you, how things went down with Lindsay, Brady, and myself, that this is something that wasn't planned. The GM and PD told both of us that the changes were based on the way the economy is right now, and the sorry state that our industry is in.

I want to tell you that I appreciate there are kind words on this board about Lindsay. She's a friend, and a fire cracker, who I loved working with. She is the type of "old school" strong female reporter that radio needs badly, and I really hope if someone looks at this board they will pick her up, because she gets the job done, and she is the most passionate person I've met in the business.

Right now, WHBC only has Sam in the sports department full-time. It's sad if you know the history of WHBC sports, as I do, which is why I wanted to work there so bad. I also did news, working with Geoff Mears, who, along with Steve Luke, who are pretty much the news department now. If something like the Jessie Davis case comes along, it would be very difficult for WHBC to cover it the way they did this year.

As far as myself, I realize I may have entered the industry at a bad time, but I believe I brought something unique to my work, more sound, a little wit, and hopefully it gets me somewhere.

The sad part is WHBC is now without 3 people who truly cared about Stark County, and really believed in what we were trying to accomplish at WHBC. It was the most fun I've ever had in my life, and even though I was there a total of 10 months, I can't help but look back at my time there and smile, because I believed in what I did, and loved every second of it.

 

[OhReally?]

The GM and PD told both of us that the changes were based on the way the economy is right now, and the sorry state that our industry is in.

Sorry to hear you were cut as part of the budget irresponsibility, but you don't REALLY buy that, do you?

 

[ChrisBGSU06]

I guess I have to, because that's what I was told. I would like to think if it was something else, the people firing me would have the guts to be honest and let me know. Hell I'm 25 and pretty young in the business, so if there was something else that I need to change at my next job, I would hope that someone would be up front and tell me. Maybe that's naive of me, I don't know. I know Lindsay and myself put in a lot of hours, and were multi-taskers, so it definitely wasn't lack of work effort.

What I know is NM saw Lindsay's position and my position as unnecessary (even though it's a news/talk station), so it was pretty easy for them to get rid of our positions completely, whereas if they would have made a move to get rid of someone like Kayleigh, they would still have to put someone in her spot, and thus a salary would still be there. By dropping us, they don't have to add any extra cash.

 

[rebbe]

Anyone involved in media in Northeast Ohio knows exactly how "tough" it is right now. To take shots at any given company, be it NextMedia, CCU, CBS, etc. is foolish. Wake up people, we are in a recession. I feel sorry for the people who have lost their positions due to the unfortunate business conditions. Companies are fighting hard to survive. Take a look at how far off revenues are this year in Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown. Every station, regardless of their ratings position, is feeling it. I truly believe that the people who lost their positions at NextMedia are great broadcasters, and we should all hope that they find employment quickly.

 

[fayfare]

If there should ever be a college course on how to not to buy and run radio stations, it should feature NextMedia and their buying of WHBC AM and FM. First, they way overpayed for the stations and now they are in a position that they cannot sell them and come close to what they paid for the two. Secondly, with WHBC-FM, they made the format change and obviously people are not responding to it. Thirdly, they took the AM side and try to make it into a talk station. Even though the old format was making money and advertisers and listeners were happy, it was not enough. Talk may be successful, but not with the line-up they have. Fred was great playing music and talking in between the songs. He is not an interviewer. Pam is doing too many things. The old Brady show was just plain bad. They do have something going with Ron Ponder. They take the best news and sports operation in the area and destroy it. Any day now, I would not be suprised if the entire station programming was syndicated. Yes, if Clear Channel had bought the station, I am sure that the programming on WHLO is what would be on 1480. Sometimes in small towns, you have to look at the local value of a radio station to the community and what it does. It aslo means you might sacrific a dollar or two. NextMedia is not local ownership and that ownership is gone forever. My hope is that NextMedia will get their act together and find a format or hosts that will work. Finally, as far as revenues. The company that I help operate locally used to advertise on both the AM and FM for many, many years and was involved in the sports programming. Not any more. It just is not delivering the numbers and exposure that it used to. We still advertise on the radio, just different places.

 

[IHateEd]

You've got to love the anonymity of the internet that allows "people" to take potshots at others, not just on this board with this topic but on other boards and other topics as well, without fear of repercussion, or having to personally justify statements or remarks made. It's fun to deride and belittle...and it takes no testosterone!

The "insider knowledge" of these same "people" who apparently have nothing else better to do but sit in a darkened basement with enough radios tuned to every station in their respective markets, be it Cleveland, Canton, or Portland, OR, just so they can listen 24/7 to everything clearly and concisely and weigh in on any and all topics on boards like this is amazing, too! I guess you could be someone currently working in radio, but then, why not say who you are? I'm sure it's not a lack of that testosterone that I mentioned before, is it? And if you aren't working in radio, but used to be, well, certainly things are much better for you now, so you have no reason to be bitter and/or angry. Right?

Bottom line: 3 people just lost their jobs (and more will be going soon), another is now working 60 hours a week with no raise in pay and a bad ticker to boot, and a lot of it has to do with Mr./Ms. fayfare's (and way too many others like them) lack of understanding that their "sour grapes" actions are also impacting the local economy in a negative fashion, because it's cheaper to pull syndicated programming off of a satellite on both AM and FM (it's called 'voicetracking', fayfare, and it mostly ain't local, either) and put another 10 people on the street. Now that's an economic education for you. Duh.

There's no better aerobic workout than grave dancing, apparently. How utterly pathetic and sad, but whatever floats your boat, I guess.

 

[fayfare]

Gee, a little negative, aren't we???? Let me clear a few items that the most recent poster made. First, I am not in, or ever have been in radio. I am a local business person, who for advertising reasons, follows local radio and the ratings and programming. You make it sound like my decision not to advertise on WHBC personally cost 3 people their jobs. Based on that reasoning, I guess I have saved other people their jobs by taking my marketing to 3 other local stations with the demographics that I was looking for. Secondly, if you thought my post was a personal shot at someone, you are very far from the truth. I know most of the people working at WHBC, have met them, and have been involved with several of them on local promotions involving my company. Overall, they are a great and professional bunch. My observation was basically that Fred is a better DJ than interviewer. I did not say he was a bad guy. In my opinion, Brady was fine on the FM side, but as a talk show host, he was not. Again, I did not say he was a bad guy. This has nothing to do with sour grapes, just observations. And based on what I have heard on the street, by former listeners of WHBC, others share my opinion. I know what voicetracking is--I don't know why it was so important to bring that up. Obviously I hit a sour note with IHateED. And, where did you get that I was grave dancing? Regardless, I stand by my original opinion that the changes made by NextMedia have not gone well and that the whole purchase of the WHBC was not well thought out. And, if they do get their act together, have programming that pulls good numbers and the demographics that pertain to my business, I will be very happy to bring my marketing/advertising back to WHBC, both the AM and FM side.

 

[OhReally?]

Anyone involved in media in Northeast Ohio knows exactly how "tough" it is right now. To take shots at any given company, be it NextMedia, CCU, CBS, etc. is foolish. Wake up people, we are in a recession. I feel sorry for the people who have lost their positions due to the unfortunate business conditions. Companies are fighting hard to survive. Take a look at how far off revenues are this year in Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown. Every station, regardless of their ratings position, is feeling it.

Oh please. I am wide awake and have been for a long time. Let's not blame what's going on on the dismal economic situation. That's THE foolish approach. It's not like the economy just started heading south on St. Patty's Day. What's happening is the ongoing ineffectiveness, incompetence and just basic piss-poor planning of radio management. "Holy crap! We're down (again) this quarter. Who can we cut to break even so I can save my ass to stockholders and upper-management?" It's one thing if something unexpected happened, but there isn't much that's "unexpected" in our industry. This is radio -- not the insurance industry, for example, where we can be hit hard by one natural disaster. There are too many in this industry kicking it's OWN ass because they fail to plan/look long-term. And if any of them say they are, they're full of ish. If it was truly a budget issue, they'd lighten-up some of the manager load and throw some overboard FIRST.

The current economic environment is a great example. Proper planning should not result in having to let go of several staffers. Laying people off should be the last resort. But again, this would constitute having people in management with effective business sense. Hell, if you're down consecutive quarters, most people (with an inkling of a clue) would look back and try to figure out WHY and fix it! Going the route of "aww crap...our bad programming decisions and/or planning caused us to take a financial beating, so let's fire ___ people to 'fix it'" is not how you deal with it. At least the RIGHT way. Unless it's those staffers who are directly responsible for the continual ineffectiveness of the station. But as we all know, now more than ever, those responsible for the dumbassed-decisions are notthe ones who are held responsible (because if that was the case, Jann Jeffries would've been handed a pink slip yeeeeeeeears ago!)

Every stupid action that is constantly made in this industry -- beginning by grossly overpaying for radio properties years ago -- further indicates to me that there are some flunkies who couldn't successfully run a lemonade stand on a 90-degree day. AND surrounded by cement. I truly feel sorry for those who are cut loose and fed the "oh, for budget reasons..." bullcrap for ignorant decisions made by someone/people above them.

 

[ChrisBGSU06]

I truly feel sorry for those who are cut loose and fed the "oh, for budget reasons..." bullcrap for ignorant decisions made by someone/people above them.

If that's what you meant when you asked me if I really believed I was let go for budget reasons, then I understand a little better what you mean. Of course I know it was decisions like that made by others that did me and the others in. It's the major reason why I'm looking in many other places outside of radio for employment. Because the morons seem to be able to keep their jobs in radio, while the people who believe in the industry and bust their asses are the ones screwed.

 

[Rusty Muck]

If that's what you meant when you asked me if I really believed I was let go for budget reasons, then I understand a little better what you mean. Of course I know it was decisions like that made by others that did me and the others in. It's the major reason why I'm looking in many other places outside of radio for employment. Because the morons seem to be able to keep their jobs in radio, while the people who believe in the industry and bust their asses are the ones screwed.

At least Citadel doesn't own WHBC. THAT is a company that TRUELY overpaid for radio stations, and has mismanaged them to the core. Their CEO Farid Suelheim is the definition of "incompetent."

-Myron aka nate81-

 

[YEKIMI]

So he's right up there with Mays?

 

[Speaker of Truth]

A little history lesson...

In June of 2000, NextMedia purchased WHBC AM and FM for 43.5 million dollars..

Even in their salad days, in the days of ''Special K'' and Company, when WHBC was the only radio station in Canton, it was never worth that kind of cash..never was, never will be..

News Talk was the only option NextMedia had left for the AM..its days as a music station were long since dead..AM radio in general is dying a quiet death..you've got N/T, All Sports, ethnic or religious formats..those are are your programming choices..like it or not..

The FM had been a mess under those running it..about half the music on the FM was also shared with the AM..and the audience could not tell one station apart from the other..

As for now..

I'd forget about local news..keep it in morning drive and run ABC at the top of the hour after 10 AM..

I'd keep Fred, Pam and Sam..and go All Sports..

WHBC already has the Indians, Browns, Cavaliers, Buckeyes and Fox Sports Radio..

You could add a couple of part time folks to help Sam out..and there's your radio station..

The move to news talk should have been made about 25 years before NextMedia finally did what it had to do..but that's water under the bridge, and a topic for another time..

On the FM, I'd give the current morning show two or three books to get its act together..Ryan Seacrest has a syndicated midday show..your aftrernoon drive can be live..

Any suggestions?

 

[YEKIMI]

Yes...shoot Ryan Seacrest so he can't infest any more radio stations or TV sets.

 

[gabigley1]

Sure glad to see Jim Albright back on the air again. I'm a fan of his from way back in
the 90s when he was on WNIR. He is a talented and deseving of this full time talk show
gig.

 

[ReelBill]

Anyone involved in media in Northeast Ohio knows exactly how "tough" it is right now. To take shots at any given company, be it NextMedia, CCU, CBS, etc. is foolish. Wake up people, we are in a recession. I feel sorry for the people who have lost their positions due to the unfortunate business conditions. Companies are fighting hard to survive. Take a look at how far off revenues are this year in Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown. Every station, regardless of their ratings position, is feeling it.

Oh please. I am wide awake and have been for a long time. Let's not blame what's going on on the dismal economic situation. That's THE foolish approach. It's not like the economy just started heading south on St. Patty's Day. What's happening is the ongoing ineffectiveness, incompetence and just basic piss-poor planning of radio management. "Holy crap! We're down (again) this quarter. Who can we cut to break even so I can save my ass to stockholders and upper-management?" It's one thing if something unexpected happened, but there isn't much that's "unexpected" in our industry. This is radio -- not the insurance industry, for example, where we can be hit hard by one natural disaster. There are too many in this industry kicking it's OWN ass because they fail to plan/look long-term. And if any of them say they are, they're full of ish. If it was truly a budget issue, they'd lighten-up some of the manager load and throw some overboard FIRST.

The current economic environment is a great example. Proper planning should not result in having to let go of several staffers. Laying people off should be the last resort. But again, this would constitute having people in management with effective business sense. Hell, if you're down consecutive quarters, most people (with an inkling of a clue) would look back and try to figure out WHY and fix it! Going the route of "aww crap...our bad programming decisions and/or planning caused us to take a financial beating, so let's fire ___ people to 'fix it'" is not how you deal with it. At least the RIGHT way. Unless it's those staffers who are directly responsible for the continual ineffectiveness of the station. But as we all know, now more than ever, those responsible for the dumbassed-decisions are notthe ones who are held responsible (because if that was the case, Jann Jeffries would've been handed a pink slip yeeeeeeeears ago!)

Every stupid action that is constantly made in this industry -- beginning by grossly overpaying for radio properties years ago -- further indicates to me that there are some flunkies who couldn't successfully run a lemonade stand on a 90-degree day. AND surrounded by cement. I truly feel sorry for those who are cut loose and fed the "oh, for budget reasons..." bullcrap for ignorant decisions made by someone/people above them.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. You hit the nail on the head my friend. NM has done the very same thing with their properties on the east coast. Bad management
and programming decisions ruined some very good and profitable (pre-NM) stations.
The sad thing is, the bad decision makers are still drawing a salary while the people that worked hard and are proven winners were shown the door "for budget reasons".

 

[kentuckymedia]

The original concept of Nextmedia was great. Buy powerful AM/FM combos, then partner them with smaller surrounding signals to create cluster "pods". It was brilliant, on paper. When it came to the banks, that was another story.

Very similar to Clear Channel, however the story that CCU owns is just buy everything in site..which we are finding out didnt work out well either.

The original plan was to build solid outlying clusters around some of the largest markets. This is what they have done and successfuly too in Dallas and Chicago. Their purchase of KBAY and Mix in San Diego is paying off too. Somewhere along the line, they decided they wanted to try their hand at small markets in the middle of no-where. They ended up with Decatur, Erie, Canton, etc. However each of those market, they bought the leading cluster.

I cant remember the exact purchase price of NM Decatur when they bought it back in 2000, but when they sold it to Archway, they took a major loss.

What has happened in Canton was pure play. They paid way too much for two amazing stations. But simply put, they paid too much. The cluster may of been worth 20 million, thats about it. After about 3 years, they realized they paid way too much, and now are trying to bail out as fast as they can.

Nextmedia has no desire to remain in Canton. They do have a desire to remain in Chicago, Dallas and SanJose. Recently (in the last 3 years), I had heard downstream that Donnie had made an offer to purchase the combo with a couple of investors. This would give them the market leading AC/CHR and Talk stations. And what a power combo that would have been. But Nextmedia wanted way too much money for the cluster.

It will be interesting, but if there is a serious offer on the table anytime in the next 2 years, look for Nextmedia to exit.