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SUE TRECCASE OUT OF WFLA AFTER 20 YEARS

T

tparadioqb

I honestly expected to come here and read the thread on this, not START the thread.
On Friday, Sue was shown the door after 20 in WFLA's programming department. No reason really known.

Oddly enough, ALL ACCESS says that the new OM is now Gabe Hobbs.
Isn't he just a little busy being the VP/NewsTalk for all of CC?

Anyways, I'm sure a lot of people have plenty to say about Sue's but bottom line, she was a KEY part of WFLA.
Anyone think any big changes will now come?

I wish Sue well. Hopefully she'll land another gig quick.
 
Was Ms. Treccase an innovator or a caretaker? Isn't she the one Mark Larsen used to refer to as "The Topic Lady"?

The basic template for 970 was set in the early 90's, under Gabe Hobbs.

Over the last year or two, the conservative talk radio S.O.P. has shown signs of fraying. Many stations around the country, such as KSTP, Minneapolis, have read the tea leaves and are becoming less ideological
and more local in their programming. Even KFBK, Rush's first talk station, got rid of longtime conservative host Mark Williams and replaced him with a center-left host who isn't blatantly political most of the time.

970 showed no signs of reacting to these changes. Instead it has been going the other way, staying syndicated and getting more ideological, replacing Phil Hendrie with the conservative (and whiny) Mark Levin. 970 has also lost touch with its local roots. It used to be a local talker most of the day. Now everything outside of morning drive is syndicated. Schnitt is shared with two other markets.

Anybody can turn on a satellite dish and be a conservative talker in this day and age. To stay dominant and command confiscatory ad rates, 970 must do what other stations cannot. Their hurricane coverage is superb, but what do you do in a slow hurricane year like this one? 970 is the only spot on the dial for local news, but there is NO spot on the dial for local talk in the 19th biggest market.

Clearly some changes needed to be made. 970 seemed to be undergoing a slow erosion. No AM is strong enough to beat 'FLA, but Genesis and Salem were chopping little pieces off the monolith. There is also the possibility that someone may try to beat them to the punch with an FM Talker in this market.

Hobbs made a major impact 15 years ago, but any executive is beholden to the powers that be. Will this mean less ideology and more localism, or more syndication and cutbacks? What would you do to right the CC talk flagship?
 
I think you're reading into this too much. Despite all your points which I respect and somewhat agree with, I think the dismissal is over what most of these other Clear Channel management changes are over; money. I think it's safe to assume that due to her 20 years in one location, Treccase was probably making pretty good money.... Also worth noting is that this comes only weeks after CC reorganized it's national and regional management as well. Just my 2 cents...
 
Clearly a sign the Right-Wing, Hate Monger talk radio is near an end. It won't be long before the liberals take control of Congress as well as the air waves.

HILLARY in 2008!
 
I know left wing radio is failing for sure... Air America is declaring bankruptcy tomorrow... Just a heads up...
 
Just a nasty rumor started by those hate mongers on the right. Air America is stronger than ever. Ratings are up, and they are constantly adding new markets. CC and the other Right Wing radio zealouts are running out of ideas, as the ratings for Rush, Hannity, et al continue to fall.

Congress in 2006 - The White House in 2008!
 
Perhaps the only reason Air America - or the "progressive" format is still standing: BECAUSE of Clear Channel. The only such formatted stations that are making a go of it are CC owned properties in Denver, San Diego, Madison, Miami, San Fransisco and especially Portland. While these stations may not compare, in terms of ratings, to their Rush/Beck CC brethren, I bet each and every one of these stations is performing better than their previous formats.
 
The future of Air America and left wing talk are two seperate topics. Air America is having problems because running a 24 hour network and getting it cleared is an expensive and risky proposition. Very few 24 hour networks of any kind have much success. Look at all of the sports networks that have come and gone, fringe networks for comedy, women, minority talk, business have all started and are on life support or have gone under.

If Air America goes under tomorrow, Franken and Rhodes will be picked up by a syndicate and continue to air Nationally. Ed Schultz will continue as he has, seperate of Air America. There is a market for progressive talk and it is getting some legs.

It is important to remember that many of the great right wing hosts are not on stations that are all right wing talk all the time. There shows are parts of lineups that cover a wide range of subjects aimed at a specific demographic.
The only reason Air America had to start as a network was that it was the only way you could get anyone to put left wingers on the air. The network may wither away, but the talk will continue. The lefties have a long way to go, but they are probably here to stay.
 
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