I’ve been doing some digging from various sources, and believe me, this is big! Lots of discussions, lawyers, and drama happening in Cleveland radio right now.
So, what’s it about? Well, let me tell you a little story:
When Maxwell started at WNCX, a die-hard Rover listener would heckle him over the phones. He soon figured out that when he was put on hold, he could hear the off-air discussions of everyone in the studio during songs and commercial breaks! While it wouldn’t happen all the time (my source says it was related to a setting on the board at WNCX that would change), it was frequent – almost every day. This listener recorded these off-air conversations for months, turning them over to Rover every week or so. It got to the point where the listener and his friends would come up with reasons to be put on hold (such as “I’m a trucker and I’m driving out of town, so can you put me on hold so I can continue listening over the phone?”).
Rover now found himself in possession of nearly 100 hours of private conversations. My source says he consulted with his own lawyer and Clear Channel lawyers over whether the tapes could be played on the air. The answer? Yes. Ohio (like many states) only requires one party of the conversation to be aware a recording is being made. And this wasn’t even a conversation – it was going to everyone on hold who called WNCX, which negates any expectation of privacy.
Rover hinted on the air he had some big information that would get Maxwell fired and end his radio career. Eventually he spilled the beans about what he had (and played a small portion of the tapes to show they’re real).
So why haven’t we heard the tapes? Here’s where it gets REALLY interesting. Maxwell’s ratings are beyond horrible. He’s a non-factor in morning drive, and Rover saw no reason to blow him out of the water and give WNCX the opportunity to put anything even moderately better in mornings. Smart on Rover’s part.
But, as you may recall, I blew the lid off the secret that Rover already has a deal in place to move to CBS when his contract expires in a few months. The deal and the tapes drama were happening at the same time! Rover is doing his new employer a favor by burying the tapes. A 5 year deal worth close to $5 million buys a lot of silence, even when the hatred between Rover and Maxwell runs deep.
But since Rover let out that the tapes exist, Maxwell and his agent are going CRAZY! They’ve been begging CBS to try to stop the tapes from coming out and to put their legal team on Clear Channel, to no avail. Maxwell knows Rover holds his entire life in his hands…not a good position to be in!
So what’s on the tapes? My sources (one of whom has heard some of the tapes) say it’s ugly. Racist rants, sexual harassment of fellow CBS employees, plotting to get Chunk fired, bad-mouthing of clients and management, and more. On a scale of 1 to 10 on how bad it is for Maxwell, it’s a 15.
CBS knows they’re in for boycotts, lost business, etc. Look for them to preemptively fire Maxwell quickly, whether or not the tapes get out.
Remember, CBS may have a deal with Rover to keep the tapes under wraps. But the person or persons who originally made the recordings can put them out on the internet or give them to the news or do whatever they want with them. And CBS knows this.
Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s truly one of the strangest cases they’ve encountered in the radio careers. Only time will tell how it all ends.
So, what’s it about? Well, let me tell you a little story:
When Maxwell started at WNCX, a die-hard Rover listener would heckle him over the phones. He soon figured out that when he was put on hold, he could hear the off-air discussions of everyone in the studio during songs and commercial breaks! While it wouldn’t happen all the time (my source says it was related to a setting on the board at WNCX that would change), it was frequent – almost every day. This listener recorded these off-air conversations for months, turning them over to Rover every week or so. It got to the point where the listener and his friends would come up with reasons to be put on hold (such as “I’m a trucker and I’m driving out of town, so can you put me on hold so I can continue listening over the phone?”).
Rover now found himself in possession of nearly 100 hours of private conversations. My source says he consulted with his own lawyer and Clear Channel lawyers over whether the tapes could be played on the air. The answer? Yes. Ohio (like many states) only requires one party of the conversation to be aware a recording is being made. And this wasn’t even a conversation – it was going to everyone on hold who called WNCX, which negates any expectation of privacy.
Rover hinted on the air he had some big information that would get Maxwell fired and end his radio career. Eventually he spilled the beans about what he had (and played a small portion of the tapes to show they’re real).
So why haven’t we heard the tapes? Here’s where it gets REALLY interesting. Maxwell’s ratings are beyond horrible. He’s a non-factor in morning drive, and Rover saw no reason to blow him out of the water and give WNCX the opportunity to put anything even moderately better in mornings. Smart on Rover’s part.
But, as you may recall, I blew the lid off the secret that Rover already has a deal in place to move to CBS when his contract expires in a few months. The deal and the tapes drama were happening at the same time! Rover is doing his new employer a favor by burying the tapes. A 5 year deal worth close to $5 million buys a lot of silence, even when the hatred between Rover and Maxwell runs deep.
But since Rover let out that the tapes exist, Maxwell and his agent are going CRAZY! They’ve been begging CBS to try to stop the tapes from coming out and to put their legal team on Clear Channel, to no avail. Maxwell knows Rover holds his entire life in his hands…not a good position to be in!
So what’s on the tapes? My sources (one of whom has heard some of the tapes) say it’s ugly. Racist rants, sexual harassment of fellow CBS employees, plotting to get Chunk fired, bad-mouthing of clients and management, and more. On a scale of 1 to 10 on how bad it is for Maxwell, it’s a 15.
CBS knows they’re in for boycotts, lost business, etc. Look for them to preemptively fire Maxwell quickly, whether or not the tapes get out.
Remember, CBS may have a deal with Rover to keep the tapes under wraps. But the person or persons who originally made the recordings can put them out on the internet or give them to the news or do whatever they want with them. And CBS knows this.
Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s truly one of the strangest cases they’ve encountered in the radio careers. Only time will tell how it all ends.
