Paul Duckworth Quits PD Gig

[CorporateSuit]

Right on the home page news feed....

Paul Duckworth only took over as PD of Cumulus-owned news/talk KLIF-AM (570) in Dallas just two months ago, leaving Citadel’s WMAL-AM (630) in Washington, DC. Duckworth tells Radio-Info the decision had nothing to do with KLIF or Cumulus, but everything to do with his health. Duckworth says, “Neither I or the company planned on this happening. I am leaving because of health concerns.” Duckworth, who has spent 37 years in radio ruining great stations working and managing in markets such as Portland’s KPAM-AM (860), Seattle’s KVI-AM (570), Orlando “and other stops”, says, “It’s time to take a step back. Programming radio can be a rigorous activity.” Duckworth will remain on the job until September 30.

 

[floradora]

I really hope all is well with Paul! But I can't help but wondering whether Paul got an offer "he couldn't refuse" from KVI or deep-pocket Bonneville Seattle???

 

[TVradioguru]

Somehow I believe the answer is neither.

With WMAL they handed him an AM station which used to have a great signal and ratings, but over the past ten years has neither. Now add in the competition, WTOP which has something like 4 simulcast FM signals in the DC-Baltimore area, and you've got an impossible mountain to climb.

If the situation from what I hear is true, Duckworth was hired to turn the place around, but it was probably too late anyway. That combined with lack of resources from the owner given the economy and the fact its an AM station. Duckworth was probably killing himself trying to plug a very leaky boat. No radio station gig is worth your health and sanity.

 

[equalinercard]

Somehow I believe the answer is neither.

With WMAL they handed him an AM station which used to have a great signal and ratings, but over the past ten years has neither. Now add in the competition, WTOP which has something like 4 simulcast FM signals in the DC-Baltimore area, and you've got an impossible mountain to climb.

If the situation from what I hear is true, Duckworth was hired to turn the place around, but it was probably too late anyway. That combined with lack of resources from the owner given the economy and the fact its an AM station. Duckworth was probably killing himself trying to plug a very leaky boat. No radio station gig is worth your health and sanity.

WMAL has never had a great signal. 40 years ago, when the DC metro was considerably smaller, WMAL's signal was decent. But in terms of the modern DC metro survey, WMAL's signal is horrible. So to suggest that Duckworth was handed a station with a great signal is absurd.

And he certainly wasn't handed a station with great, or even decent ratings. WMAL has not had decent ratings for 20 years.

If Paul Duckworth had taken over WMAL in 1972, then you might be able to say he was handed a station with a decent signal and ratings.

 

[TVradioguru]

Somehow I believe the answer is neither.

With WMAL they handed him an AM station which used to have a great signal and ratings, but over the past ten years has neither. Now add in the competition, WTOP which has something like 4 simulcast FM signals in the DC-Baltimore area, and you've got an impossible mountain to climb.

If the situation from what I hear is true, Duckworth was hired to turn the place around, but it was probably too late anyway. That combined with lack of resources from the owner given the economy and the fact its an AM station. Duckworth was probably killing himself trying to plug a very leaky boat. No radio station gig is worth your health and sanity.

WMAL has never had a great signal. 40 years ago, when the DC metro was considerably smaller, WMAL's signal was decent. But in terms of the modern DC metro survey, WMAL's signal is horrible. So to suggest that Duckworth was handed a station with a great signal is absurd.

And he certainly wasn't handed a station with great, or even decent ratings. WMAL has not had decent ratings for 20 years.

If Paul Duckworth had taken over WMAL in 1972, then you might be able to say he was handed a station with a decent signal and ratings.

No, that isn't what I said. Please try reading more carefully. I never said WMAL had a decent signal nor decent ratings when Duckworth was hired which was what, three years ago since he left KPAM?

Ten years ago WMAL was much more established as a news player in the Baltimore/DC market albeit sliding to WTOP prior to jumping on the syndication bandwagon (or Bandaid as the case may be). WMAL was already in the dumps when Duckworth was hired in some attempt to revive it, thus my leaky boat comment.