The Fall of KGO

[kinetic]

Rotenburger: "The Bung Hole eco freak Sierra Club nazis are running wild in the street...Clinton will pick up a steaming dog turd off the grass and hand it to you and call it candy..."

Parents think the old codger is "cute" with his insults. That's my take anyway, from hearing people talk about him over the years. I assume the parents either tuck the kids away in bed after the phone calls or think that Wattenburg's comments are innocuous.

Personally, I think his audience appeal comes from his deep voice and his insults. I believe people think of him as a father figure, scolding miscreant children, and for some reason there are lots of people with father fixations who like to hear this kind of thing.

While saying "bunghole" and "turd" may be crude, I don't think they even qualify as curse words anymore in this profane society.

It never bothers me when talk hosts get hot under the colllar about politics - that's more or less par for the course. What has bugged me in the past about Wattenburg is the way he treats people who call with sincere science related questions. He often answers their questions rudely and condescendingly with a kind of "you're stupid to even ask" attitude.

I think some people like to be verbally abused. I have a co-worker who used to play Laura Schlessinger's program in her cubicle, until we made her stop. The most remarkable Dr. Laura performance I ever heard involved a caller who mentioned in passing that she made all the guests in her home take off their shoes (Japanese style). Laura didn't even respond to the woman's life-problem, but instead trashed her verbally for multiple minutes for making people take off their shoes.

Obviously, this practice annoys the good doctor, and she took the opportunity to spew about it - but it had nothing to do with the woman's problem, and was truly bizarre behavior for a professional giving psychological advice. Predictably, the woman was cowed and apologized to Dr. L for her lifestyle choice.

While I agree that a degree of humility would be appreciated from the occasionally too-erudite-for-his-own-good Dr. Wattenburg or the self-inflated Dr. Laura, we're getting off topic.

When this thread first appeared, I thought it premature. No doubt there may be indicators to which some of us are not privy --something suggesting long-term trends that need to be guarded against or avoided altogether-- but are we that certain KGO is toast when it falls out of the top spot for one PPM, or is any level of mea culpa in order when it bounces back in the next PPM?

Someone else also remarked about scheduling, that: 1) all the host are "medicare eligible," or; 2) the M-F, 10-1a slot needs a permanent host instead of musical chairs.
My guess is that the 10-1a decision is a cost-cutting maneuver since most, if not all the fill-ins are part timers.
Does the station need younger hosts? How young? Do they even exist and can they have an intelligent conversation without falling into the empty ad hominems so common in talk radio and so rare on KGO? And would younger hosts even matter when the other problem raised here is that you'd still be on the AM band?

 

[radioman148]

>>but are we that certain KGO is toast when it falls out of the top spot for one PPM, or is any level of mea culpa in order when it bounces back in the next PPM?>>

I think it's too early to bury KGO.
Remember they're still making lots of money.

 

[RadioStarOne]

You folks commenting on Dr. Bills use of the term Bunghole need to get off your chairs and look up the definition of the term. You all might be surprised to find out what it really is!

 

[DavidKaye]

I think some people like to be verbally abused.

Amen; and the listeners like to hear it. Len Tillem has mentioned it. I think the difference, though, between Tillem and Bill Wattenburg is that Tillem does it with good humor and with Wattenburg it always sounds condescending.

 

[radioman148]

I think some people like to be verbally abused.

Amen; and the listeners like to hear it. Len Tillem has mentioned it. I think the difference, though, between Tillem and Bill Wattenburg is that Tillem does it with good humor and with Wattenburg it always sounds condescending.

Creating verbal controversy is what they do. It lights up the phones.

 

[MikeAmatori]

Just a few words here.

I commend KCBS for there consistant and fine programing, which is news. 24/7, I commend KCBS for their
# 1 book in January, I will point out that it only took them 30 years and 2 (KFRC-FM) stations to beat KGO by 1 tenth of a point.

But a victory is a victory. Congrats.

Congrats to KGO who beat them by 2 tenths of a point in Feb.

KCBS also does very well 25-54, where they have been doing better than KGO For some time.

KGO, is News and Talk, 7hrs of news 17hrs of talk. Now, I can't help but notice that the 12+ and 6+ victory by KCBS was good enough to merit this post "The Fall of KGO" But when KGO edged them the next month "It's ONLY a Beauty Contest"

Oh, well such is life. Trust me when I tell you we would love to have a KGO-FM. However with stock selling for 6 cents a share, the economy in shambles and a company that is cutting staff and expenses throughtout
the whole company, not just KGO...Just to stay viable so Citadel can refi the 2 Billion Dollar Debt, I just don't see it happening very soon.

10-1am, yep the economy has much to do with it. But that is only an educated guess by someone who works there, but since I don't know, I'll guess you are only guessing too.

Over the past 15 years, 4-5 more stations are doing some type of News or Talk in the bay area. So KGO is not alone anymore. KSFO, KTRB, KNEW, Green 960, Even 1260 and KDOW take a small piece away...and lets not forget KQED, Not much local programing, but the NPR Tap fills the programing bucket for them...They
start running morning edition at 3 am. (east coast live) then it repeated 5-7a and 7-9a. The only thing that is new is the 5 min. net news at the top of the hour, and KQED few live inserts.

So there is a lot of competition, I make no excuses, but I do think it should be pointed out.

BTW Cheaper Ad rates will get you more advertisers too, but you can't give the time away for less than it's worth, If you do, your profitability will go to hell, but you logs will be full. That's also a way to get advertisers in a bad economy to buy your station, no matter what your ratings are.

I think it is fair to say KGO is a good radio station, so is KCBS. Competitors YES, The same NO.

An FM will draw more 25-54's to your station, because, according to the experts, most who post here, young people don't know what AM radio is, but then most of those young folks think all history started in 1980...(The Olden Days) Who knows, FM may be next, cause I see a lot of those little white ear buds, plugged in to 20 somthings personal IPod Radio Station.

KGO may be the last great radio station in San Francisco, I hope it here for many more years.

OH, just one more thing, Dr. Bill reminds you to use regular gas, screw global warming, make electricity
with atomic energy, and keep listenig to him on KGO AM on your C.Crane Radio

 

[radioman148]

>>OH, just one more thing, Dr. Bill reminds you to use regular gas, screw global warming, make electricity
with atomic energy, and keep listenig to him on KGO AM on your C.Crane Radio>>

Can we use more coal too?

 

[davideduardo]

I commend KCBS for there consistant and fine programing, which is news. 24/7, I commend KCBS for their
# 1 book in January, I will point out that it only took them 30 years and 2 (KFRC-FM) stations to beat KGO by 1 tenth of a point.

In the demos that matter, the ones advertisers target, KCBS beat KGO by two full points; KGO has not been #1 in 25-54 for a long, long time. 12+ is irrelevant, and that is why Arbitron gives that data away.

 

[DavidKaye]

Creating verbal controversy is what they do. It lights up the phones.

Whether the phones light up or not is not the issue. The issue is whether people listen. From my own experience I have interviewed guests and not gotten any calls until after the guest left because people were listening to the interview. Callers and listeners are different animals.

 

[DavidKaye]

Oh, well such is life. Trust me when I tell you we would love to have a KGO-FM.
However with stock selling for 6 cents a share, [....]

An LMA is the only way. Oh, and Citadel stock closed on a high today of 8 cents, not 6, so anybody who bought Citadel stock the day it went to OTC trading has done very well indeed. On how many stocks can you octuple your money?

They
start running morning edition at 3 am. (east coast live) then it repeated 5-7a and 7-9a. The only thing that is new is the 5 min. net news at the top of the hour, and KQED few live inserts.

This doesn't speak well of KGO if an NPR rerun does better in morning drive than live local news, does it?

BTW Cheaper Ad rates will get you more advertisers too, but you can't give the time away for less than it's worth, If you do, your profitability will go to hell, but you logs will be full.

I suggest that KGO might up its rates and revamp its marketing plan (to advertisers) and reduce its spot load. KGO needs to cut way down on the clutter. Before 7pm I can tune in to KGO randomly and I'll always hit a spot cluster. This is not good. KNEW and KKGN don't appear to be that way.

Remember that people always say they were driven away from radio because it's too commercial. We can both remember a time when radio stations had way fewer spots.

 

[LKellerIII]

Oh, well such is life. Trust me when I tell you we would love to have a KGO-FM.
However with stock selling for 6 cents a share, [....]

An LMA is the only way. Oh, and Citadel stock closed on a high today of 8 cents, not 6, so anybody who bought Citadel stock the day it went to OTC trading has done very well indeed. On how many stocks can you octuple your money?

They
start running morning edition at 3 am. (east coast live) then it repeated 5-7a and 7-9a. The only thing that is new is the 5 min. net news at the top of the hour, and KQED few live inserts.

This doesn't speak well of KGO if an NPR rerun does better in morning drive than live local news, does it?

BTW Cheaper Ad rates will get you more advertisers too, but you can't give the time away for less than it's worth, If you do, your profitability will go to hell, but you logs will be full.

I suggest that KGO might up its rates and revamp its marketing plan (to advertisers) and reduce its spot load. KGO needs to cut way down on the clutter. Before 7pm I can tune in to KGO randomly and I'll always hit a spot cluster. This is not good. KNEW and KKGN don't appear to be that way.

Remember that people always say they were driven away from radio because it's too commercial. We can both remember a time when radio stations had way fewer spots.

Morning Edition deserves the success. The quality of the reporting, and NPR's freedom to go into detail and run lengthy stories cannot be matched by KGO - or KCBS for that matter. The fact that NPR news is a repeat of the live east coast broadcast is more or less irrelevant.

And maybe Ed Baxter's uh...act... is finally wearing thin for listeners. Despite my admiration for Mr. Production Boy, and 90% of the KGO operation, I cannot understand Baxter's success or longevity. Personally, I couldn't listen to the Afternoon News when he was the anchor, and I haven't been able to listen to the Morning News since he took over. Absolutely no offense meant to Rosie Allen or Jennifer Jones.

Personally, I'd prefer an intelligent talk alternative on KGO in morning and afternoon drive. They're basically doing the same thing as KCBS with the long news blocks (talk about clutter), and there is a dearth of intelligent talk programming in those hours - especially in afternoon drive where it's right-wing talk, a Stephanie Miller re-run, or nothing.

 

[MikeAmatori]

As always, I defer to the experts here at radio-info.

 

[mred]

Baxter comes off as a doe-eyed no nothing, that's his appeal, he's not an expert, he's a clod-hopper just like you, who's trying to find the answers. Given the reign of Dunbar and Wygant, etc. I think KGO wants a voice you heard before in their news block.

 

[DavidKaye]

Baxter comes off as a doe-eyed no nothing, that's his appeal, he's not an expert, he's a clod-hopper just like you, who's trying to find the answers. Given the reign of Dunbar and Wygant, etc. I think KGO wants a voice you heard before in their news block.

I don't have a problem with Ed Baxter since he moved to mornings. I think he's gotten way better. I also like his interviews around 5:15am. Still, I have no desire to hear weather and traffic reports every 10 minutes nor the unbearable spot load, so I prefer to listen to KALW or KQED-FM.

 

[LKellerIII]

As always, I defer to the experts here at radio-info.

Gee, thanks Production Boy. Does that mean that being one of the few real experts here, you have bestowed upon me an honorary PhD in Radio Expertise?

 

[DeadAudicy]

As always, I defer to the experts here at radio-info.

Well put.

 

[LKellerIII]

As always, I defer to the experts here at radio-info.

Well put.

You know, just for the record - I've never claimed to be an expert on anything except my professional career field, which has nothing to do with radio. This is one of a couple of forums I enjoy expressing my opinions in, in this case because I'm a fan of the medium. Since I follow radio, I know a lot more than the average radio listener, plus I've learned a lot about radio by reading posts from the real experts (some of it depressing) - but that's it.

Another forum I spew my opinions on is a political blog, but I've never had anybody there (even people who think I'm stupid and misguided) tell me my opinions are irrelevant because I've never been a politician.

Those who want Radio Info to be an exclusive forum for radio professionals should get together and tell that to the site administrators . If you all agree amongst yourselves, they can make all the users show some proof of expertise...fax them a copy of your union card, perhaps?

 

[DavidKaye]

If you all agree amongst yourselves, they can make all the users show some proof of expertise...fax them a copy of your union card, perhaps?

Union card? How retro 20th Century...

 

[sandwix]

If you all agree amongst yourselves, they can make all the users show some proof of expertise...fax them a copy of your union card, perhaps?

Union card? How retro 20th Century...

Agreed. Most SF stations that were AFTRA decertified the union years ago. A better bet--and in keeping with the 21st century--would be a station ID card. Even an FCC license as an ID is laughable today.

 

[DeadAudicy]

You know, just for the record - I've never claimed to be an expert on anything except my professional career field, which has nothing to do with radio. This is one of a couple of forums I enjoy expressing my opinions in, in this case because I'm a fan of the medium. Since I follow radio, I know a lot more than the average radio listener, plus I've learned a lot about radio by reading posts from the real experts (some of it depressing) - but that's it.

Another forum I spew my opinions on is a political blog, but I've never had anybody there (even people who think I'm stupid and misguided) tell me my opinions are irrelevant because I've never been a politician.

Those who want Radio Info to be an exclusive forum for radio professionals should get together and tell that to the site administrators . If you all agree amongst yourselves, they can make all the users show some proof of expertise...fax them a copy of your union card, perhaps?

To be clear, the term used was expert, not professional. Several times in the above quote, "expert" is in fact implied. Phrases like "I know a lot more than the average listener" deny the writer's own intent in disclaiming whether he imagines himself an expert. And certainly other posts in this thread wallow further in self implied expertise.