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Radio cuts in Williamsport

M

mrdiffuser

Programming cuts hit CC Williamsport today with the dismissal of more than 100 years of radio experience.
WKSB morning show co-host Gail Bair was let go as well as long time afternoon personality Tom Turner.
30+ year local icon Lou Kolb who held down middays was dismissed as well.
WBYL morning host Ted Bennett was also shown the door in the reduction in force by CC as predicted.

Sad day for local radio and these good people.
 
It is indeed a sad day for these great people!

If Backyard was smart... they would take 107.9FM and become a jocked station.
Hire Lou Kolb, Tom Turner, and (rehire) Ted Bennett. 107.9 could actually do very well against the blowtorch; especially since they took the torch to themselves.

This couldn't have been easy for Jim Dabney. Jim is a classy and very well respected broadcaster, who does care for his people on West Fourth Street.

I am totally surprised that Gary Chrisman didn't get shown the door as well. Nothing against Gary; but, the way CC is slashing budgets. You would have thought they would. But, maybe CC needs the Chrisman Morning Show and the revenue that it brings in.
 
I've worked with everybody, except Gail, that was axed in the Clear Channel Bloodbath, they are all great radio people with a ton of experience. I can only sit here and shake my head and think "well that is what happens when a "fugus' like Clear Channel invades a good small market. I worked in Williamsport from 1964 to 1978, it was a good market with a lot of competition from LOCALLY owned stations and the listeners had the benefit of great local talent like, Lou, (who I worked briefly with at WLYC) Ted (who I hired for our company) Tom who I worked with for several years at WMPT and KISS FM. I hope the folks at Backyard Broadcasting seize the opportunity and hire these people it would be a great radio coup in their part.
 
I am totally surprised that Gary Chrisman didn't get shown the door as well. Nothing against Gary; but, the way CC is slashing budgets. You would have thought they would. But, maybe CC needs the Chrisman Morning Show and the revenue that it brings in.
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Gail played a big role in the success of the Chrisman morning show. So it's gonna be just Gary and the "kid" now. Such a shame. I met Lou and Tom many years ago---great guys.

As successful as this station has been, and you would think CC would not take so much out of the moneymaker. But this proves it doesn't matter.
 
And the lack of attention BEGINS:

Stopset ends...song begins..60 secs in it cuts off and this new "voice from away" does the weather into another song.

I say "voice from away" because in the 90 minutes he's been on the air, he hasn't identified himself.

This is part of making that local programming better? On a market leading station (near the top) for years?

Big Hits to Big Mistakes. What a shame.
 
I want to thank all of you who have posted for the support during this unfortunate situation. I know Kelly...and am pretty sure who mrdiffuser is ;D. It was indeed a shock...although not totally unexpected. Sure, I survived 2 ownership changes and 2 previous rounds of cuts...but kind of knew that eventually the axe would find me and a few others. It's a real shame...like seltzer has said...a station like Kiss-Fm...which I was proud to be part of for 25 1/2 years...suddenly disconnects itself from it's community and takes away a big chunk of the people that were the reason listeners listen. I wish Kiss luck but don't think much good will come out of robot radio. What I will miss most is the "family" we all became over the years. Lou, Ted, Gail and myself didn't just spend time at work...we spent time with our family outside of our homes. I know we will all stay in touch though. I hold no ill feelings for Jim or anyone else who had the unpleasant task of carrying out the CC grim reaper's duties...it goes with the territory. They are all good people who I wish the best to.
 
We came from a time when you knew the owner you worked for. To be sure we didn't always agree, BUT at least he knew your name and gave a rats behind about the market. Clear Channel has no feelings, the execs might want to watch the movie Scrooged, I am sure they will see themselves.
 
Tom, nice to see you here. Wanted to add my sympathies for yesterday's cuts. I always enjoyed working with you, sweet Lou and Gail. I'm crushed that one of the stations that I most enjoyed working for was decimated like this.

As for the comments about Gary, the one poster hit it on the head. He is essentially now the franchise. How long he'll choose to stay in that environment, though, might be a better question. I certainly wish him well.

For now, I'll keep all those affected in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there, and keep moving forward.

Bill
 
I've had the chance to hear from each of the 4 affected yesterday in the CC RIF. I'm happy to report that their perspective on their dismissal is encouraging. They have all taken terrible news with lots of class and dignity...more than I or probably lots of us ever could do. The past day has been filled with many thoughts of time spent with each of them, and there were a lot of good times that far outweigh the whims of a greedy corporation on the way to destroying an industry.
And Tom is right, he does know me....BTW, mrsdiffuser says hello. :)
 
Oh my....a sad day for PA radio....I know Ted....a wonderful guy and my heart goes out to him. I feel terrible for all who were cut.

Kevin Fitz
 
I'm guessing Gary is in the middle of a multi year contract or he would have been shown the door also. Pay attention to the handwriting on the wall!
 
the problem is clear channel's massive debt - every two years or so they have to re-structure and con somebody
else into believing that they will somehow pay off what they owe. the last suckers were the geniuses at bain
capital (once headed by mittens romney), who now want to see a reduction in debt. can't fire the owners, so
they brought in a guy who has hated air talent his whole career, bob pittman (a real supergenius - brought
to new york at age 25 to re-vamp wnbc, he fired norm n. nite and cousin brucie, hired medium market
talent and then installed his live-in girlfriend to replace don imus...he lasted 18 months). pittman made his
bones as the supposed creator of mtv...but his relationship with radio has always been a fondness for so-called
"national" formats over anything local. i feel for those who lost their jobs, but they should actually be happy they
don't have to work for this pr**k.

and brother lou - i'm sure you will resurface soon - you're too good to be off the air for long!
 
Haven't been on the board lately; but, I wouldn't expect any less of a generous comment from Tom T.

Tom, when I worked there during the turn of the millenium; our cubicles were next to each other & we share the same birthday too.

Tom, Lou, Gail and Ted should land somewhere around the market. Though, selection will be tough (due to ownership being held by a few companies).

Knowing the good man that Jim Dabney is, he really is a good "moral" man... it had to hurt seeing his friends having to leave.
 
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