• 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

The Bull's Fitz just got a little busier...

R

Rob Piotrowski

...he's the new host of "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40 with Fitz" starting the weekend of January 4 & 5.

For those living in Rio Linda - Kingsley was country radio's Casey Kasem and died earlier this year.
 
Wonder if it'll mean a change in venue for Fitz. The Kingsley show was based in the Dallas area. That's where the production team is based. Of course they could do it by remote control. But that's not how that show has been done. Obviously his main gig is in Seattle. He wouldn't be the only syndicated country show in town. Lia still does her nightly syndicated country show from Seattle.
 
TheBigA said:
Wonder if it'll mean a change in venue for Fitz. The Kingsley show was based in the Dallas area. That's where the production team is based. Of course they could do it by remote control. But that's not how that show has been done. Obviously his main gig is in Seattle. He wouldn't be the only syndicated country show in town. Lia still does her nightly syndicated country show from Seattle.
Click to expand...

Hubbard is going to let the morning show they recently hired move away and go remote so he can do a syndicated countdown show. Do you realize how absurd that sounds?
 
TheBigA said:
As I said, that's not how this show has been done. But maybe they'll change for this new deal.
Click to expand...

If you are trying to say “that’s not the way things are done,” that is an excellent way to end a business or career.
 
AQH said:
If you are trying to say “that’s not the way things are done,” that is an excellent way to end a business or career.
Click to expand...

I understand all of that. However, he's walking into a heritage show, one that's been done the same way with the same people for over 25 years. Read the story here:

https://news.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n38043

They are keeping all of those people, who are used to a certain routine. Even when the show was dropped by ABC Radio about 15 years ago, the staff picked up the ball and self-syndicated the show using the exact same template they had used previously. That's kind of what they're doing here. They have a proven track record. Now they have a new host. He's going to have to work within that framework.

The other thing mentioned in the story is Fitz has another existing syndication deal for another countdown show and some other programs. It's with another company. I doubt they're going to just let those affiliates go to this competitor. How do they handle that?

https://sunbgi.com/programming/hitlist/
 
Rob Piotrowski said:
The news releases say they are transitioning the "Hit List" affiliates to ACC. Nothing said about the other shows.
Click to expand...

Yes I read that. Obviously their INTENT is to transition affiliates to the other show. But if you're the other syndicator, aren't you going to try and keep those affiliates in some way? Imagine being a radio station carrying these shows and getting two weeks notice (during a holiday period no less) that things are changing.
 
AQH said:
Hubbard is going to let the morning show they recently hired move away and go remote so he can do a syndicated countdown show. Do you realize how absurd that sounds?
Click to expand...

Based on the ratings that The Bull has since Fitz took over mornings....maybe not that absurd. :cool:
 
SeattleNative said:
Based on the ratings that The Bull has since Fitz took over mornings....maybe not that absurd. :cool:
Click to expand...


I could be very wrong, as im looking at this form the outside never having listened to Fitz and not working in the market.. but from what i can see just in his facebook postings, he comes across with a massive showing off ego and its all about him
 
TheBigA said:
Yes I read that. Obviously their INTENT is to transition affiliates to the other show. But if you're the other syndicator, aren't you going to try and keep those affiliates in some way? Imagine being a radio station carrying these shows and getting two weeks notice (during a holiday period no less) that things are changing.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that happens all the time at this time of year, with many syndication changes taking place at the first of the year. I'm not sure what the other company has to replace Fitz with, but if they don't have anything, I would think the only other choice is to go local.
 
Presumably CT40 or Hubbard simply bought out the competing countdown show in order to access Fitz. Sun Broadcast Group probably agreed to a non-compete in the country music countdown business for a period of time.

So the only ones who walk away sad are the stations which carried "The Hit List" and cannot take CT40 because of in-market competition.
 
PTBoardOp94 said:
Presumably CT40 or Hubbard simply bought out the competing countdown show in order to access Fitz. Sun Broadcast Group probably agreed to a non-compete in the country music countdown business for a period of time.

So the only ones who walk away sad are the stations which carried "The Hit List" and cannot take CT40 because of in-market competition.
Click to expand...

Not Hubbard. Fitz's agent negotiated the deal.
 
Rob Piotrowski said:
Bob was referring to what a HL affiliate would do if they can't air ACC due to it being on a competitor.
Click to expand...

There are lots of other syndicated shows for stations to carry. This is not the only option.

You keep saying ACC, and that is American Country Countdown, currently hosted by Kix Brooks. The new Fitz show is Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40 With Fitz.
 
Rob Piotrowski said:
Not Hubbard. Fitz's agent negotiated the deal.
Click to expand...

The press release says Hubbard is becoming a production partner in CT40, with Bob Kingsley's widow.
 
PTBoardOp94 said:
The press release says Hubbard is becoming a production partner in CT40, with Bob Kingsley's widow.
Click to expand...

Meaning Hubbard is getting some money for its part and Kingsley's estate is getting money for using his name (which will probably last a year or two since Fitz will want to hear his own name).
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom