• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Pamal Gainesville Cuts Staff

J

Jeff2

According to R&R...

"Budget cutbacks were the order of the day at Pamal's Gainesville cluster as around a dozen people were unfortunately let go. Among the casualties were WKZY PD/afternoon dude Matt "The Bratt" Derrick, morning jock Kory and morning co-host Jack Weston."

You knew this was coming. That pretty much cleans out 'KZY. I wonder who else is gone? I hope Jim Brand survived--it would be a shame to go out like this after almost 40 years at WDVH.
 
The only surprise to me is that it has taken this long for Pamal to swing the ax in Gainesville. I'm wondering what other stations will start "swinging". Entercom Gainesville/Ocala just recently promoted its GSM to VP/GM at WKTK/WSKY.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
Not surprised. Everybody is hurting for revenue. As the weakest of the Gainesville-Ocala clusters, Pamal had to be REALLY hurting!

I'm guessing 'KZY is basically automated now (?)

As for Entercom, they may be doing okay locally. But that stock price (or lack thereof) has got to be hurting their budgets somewhat.
 
MN Maniac said:
Not surprised. Everybody is hurting for revenue. As the weakest of the Gainesville-Ocala clusters, Pamal had to be REALLY hurting!

I'm guessing 'KZY is basically automated now (?)

As for Entercom, they may be doing okay locally. But that stock price (or lack thereof) has got to be hurting their budgets somewhat.
Click to expand...

If you watch the stock reports closely, you'll note that virtually all the publically traded media companies, especially radio, are trading as "penny" stocks because they are all valued at less than one dollar per share, often times trading at below par value.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
Kevin McKay and Rebecca are doing the morning show on 'KZY so guess there were some survivors.

Jim Brand was live on WDVH right after the 6AM news so guess he's still around too. I wonder if he'll be voice tracking on Magic and the Buzz! :D
 
Although Jim Brand is legendary and does an excellent job, I doubt he will voicetrack on The Buzz and Magic as he doesn't have the younger voice for those formats. He does an exceptional job on WDVH with its classic country format and that is where is strong suit has been. In other word he wouldn't sound right on The Buzz or Magic.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
My Jim Brand on Magic and the Buzz was tongue in cheek but it would be a hoot to hear him on the Buzz. He was actually a big Top 40 guy in Boston and Louisville back in the day.
 
Jeff said:
My Jim Brand on Magic and the Buzz was tongue in cheek but it would be a hoot to hear him on the Buzz. He was actually a big Top 40 guy in Boston and Louisville back in the day.
Click to expand...

I had heard that Jim Brand really "cooked" on Top 40 radio back in "the day". It would be interesting to hear his air-checks from those earlier Top 40 days in the 60s.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
Everyone was let go at WRZN too Don Bruce after 5 years,Gene Martin after 14 years,Lane Shephard after 19
years the only ones left here are me a weekender and the office manager a new satellite sits next to the studio going back to Jones network adult standards.....................................
 
We've discussed Entercom's plunging stock price and Pamal's problems which I assume are due in large part to the owner's dependence on car dealerships but no mention of Dix and Asterisk, the other two local group owners. I checked online and looks like Dix is in the printing and newspaper business mainly in the Ohio area with some radio station ownership as well. Newspapers aren't doing the best right now so wonder what it looks like for K-Country and Wind-FM.

I didn't find much on Asterisk. Does anyone know who is involved and what their financial background is?
 
Jeff said:
We've discussed Entercom's plunging stock price and Pamal's problems which I assume are due in large part to the owner's dependence on car dealerships but no mention of Dix and Asterisk, the other two local group owners. I checked online and looks like Dix is in the printing and newspaper business mainly in the Ohio area with some radio station ownership as well. Newspapers aren't doing the best right now so wonder what it looks like for K-Country and Wind-FM.

I didn't find much on Asterisk. Does anyone know who is involved and what their financial background is?
Click to expand...


When I worked for Asterisk, the Head Honcho was a man by the name of Fred Ingham. He was based out Fort Lauderdale. Which was interesting since Asterisk did not own any stations in Fort Lauderdale. I never met him, but his was the signature on my paychecks. Pretty sure he's still in charge (?)
 
Jeff said:
We've discussed Entercom's plunging stock price and Pamal's problems which I assume are due in large part to the owner's dependence on car dealerships but no mention of Dix and Asterisk, the other two local group owners. I checked online and looks like Dix is in the printing and newspaper business mainly in the Ohio area with some radio station ownership as well. Newspapers aren't doing the best right now so wonder what it looks like for K-Country and Wind-FM.

I didn't find much on Asterisk. Does anyone know who is involved and what their financial background is?
Click to expand...

Jeff,

Dix Communications, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wooster Republican Printing, Inc. based in Wooster, Ohio. The company is a privately owned media company owned by the Dix family of Wooster, with media interest in newspaper and radio. At one time, not too many years ago, Dix owned VHF television stations centered in the Midwest along with a handful of cable systems in addition to the publishing and radio holdings.

Dix Communications currently is concentrating its holdings on newspaper, newsprint, internet and radio. The majority of the newspaper holdings are weeklies in Ohio and Kentucky although the company does own a handful of dailies. The radio holdings are concentrated in Ohio, Maryland, and Florida.

The company appears to be holding its own, mainly due to the fact that the company has very little debt since all of its media holdings are 100% owned. WOGK has been number one for years, and most likely will remain in that position in the foreseeable future.

A full listing of Dix Comunications and Wooster Republican Printing holdings can be found at www.dixcom.com.

Pretty much the same can be said for Asterisk Commincations which is another privately held media company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and owned by the Ingham family. Fred Ingham is the President of the company. Asterisk's holdings, however, are limited to radio with holdings in Gainesville and Ocala consisting of 5-FM stations. WTRS and WMFQ are the prize stations in the Asterisk group.

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
radioboss said:
I wonder whether Kevin Fennessey was let go as well.

He (I believe) was the Sales Manager or Operations Manager for WRZN.
Click to expand...

Kevin Fennessey was let go about a month before the other staff cuts took place. Kevin is now General Manager for 50kw News-Talk 1060 WIXC-AM Titusville - Cocoa Beach - Melbourne...

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
I worked for Jim Brand at WDVH in Gainesville in 1971 when they had just went country..Before they were "The Great 98..WDVH" R&R...Jim was a hellava good fellow..
 
BIG APE said:
I worked for Jim Brand at WDVH in Gainesville in 1971 when they had just went country..Before they were "The Great 98..WDVH" R&R...Jim was a hellava good fellow..
Click to expand...

Jim Brand is still there holding down the morning drive slot on Classic Country WDVH-AM 980...

Mark Tillery,
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]
 
Jim Brand was still on this morning but I wonder how much longer? I guess the afternoon guy was let go in the "Pamal purge" and they have gone to a satellite classic country service from it sounds like Jones or whoever owns it now. The 1,240 songs on my iPod sound just as local as most radio stations are sounding now. :'(
 
Jeff said:
Jim Brand was still on this morning but I wonder how much longer? I guess the afternoon guy was let go in the "Pamal purge" and they have gone to a satellite classic country service from it sounds like Jones or whoever owns it now. The 1,240 songs on my iPod sound just as local as most radio stations are sounding now. :'(
Click to expand...

This is the ultimate irony. The ONLY way local radio can survive is to become as LIVE and LOCAL as possible. Give people what they cannot get on an iPod or satellite service: LOCAL CONTENT! But instead, the suits do just the opposite by cutting payrolls and local programming to the bone.

Meanwhile, TSL and revenue continues to drop. The downward spiral continues...
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom