The future of "The End"?

[radiovictim]

It's clear that there's a bitter debate going on here that will never stop. I just wish everyone could be civil while doing it and refrain from personal attacks on those who disagree. It's childish and detracts from the points you are trying to make when you throw out a barrage of insults. We don't have to agree with each other. We may even learn from each other... or not. Let's at least respect each other.

That being said... I have a question on a slightly different note and I'd like to hear some opinions from those in the biz...

In an article in the Sac Bee Biz section last week, a spokesperson said they need to get a new show in place asap because a few of their clients have already cancelled their contracts after the incident.

I suspect that much of Entercom's time is being spent stealthily searching to fill in the gaps. The other staffers can only keep it afloat for so long until it wears on them. I hope for their sakes that they get some relief soon.

However, I would expect that they are actively looking for more than just mornings, since the PD gig is equally important and vacant. Could the new PD already be lined up and coming from Ventura? Just a guess. Also a guess... their imaging and station voices might be changed soon? Would they consider going a different route with a syndicated morning show? How will any changes be marketed, if at all? Might they try to stay off the radar rather than promote a new crew?

I'm not trying to start rumors. I do not intend to appear insensitive to the victims of this tragedy. I'm just honestly wondering how a station might attempt to recover (from a programming standpoint) after a situation like this. Providing they don't lose their license, I highly doubt they'd ever change the format... but I'd expect a new look and sound to the package in which it comes.

I am posting this to question the logistics, not the legal issues, regarding the future of The End. What are your thoughts? How will they continue forward, providing their license is not lost? Just looking for professional opinions... and for the love of God, HH... please don't go putting your resume here again. I doubt any of us here are hiring posters who advertise themselves on this board.

 

[DyingMedium]

I think you need to blow the whole thing up and start over. I'm not sure this is something the station can come back from in its current form.

 

[The Goodfellow]

It's clear that there's a bitter debate going on here that will never stop. I just wish everyone could be civil while doing it and refrain from personal attacks on those who disagree. It's childish and detracts from the points you are trying to make when you throw out a barrage of insults. We don't have to agree with each other. We may even learn from each other... or not. Let's at least respect each other.

That being said... I have a question on a slightly different note and I'd like to hear some opinions from those in the biz...

In an article in the Sac Bee Biz section last week, a spokesperson said they need to get a new show in place asap because a few of their clients have already cancelled their contracts after the incident.

I suspect that much of Entercom's time is being spent stealthily searching to fill in the gaps. The other staffers can only keep it afloat for so long until it wears on them. I hope for their sakes that they get some relief soon.

However, I would expect that they are actively looking for more than just mornings, since the PD gig is equally important and vacant. Could the new PD already be lined up and coming from Ventura? Just a guess. Also a guess... their imaging and station voices might be changed soon? Would they consider going a different route with a syndicated morning show? How will any changes be marketed, if at all? Might they try to stay off the radar rather than promote a new crew?

I'm not trying to start rumors. I do not intend to appear insensitive to the victims of this tragedy. I'm just honestly wondering how a station might attempt to recover (from a programming standpoint) after a situation like this. Providing they don't lose their license, I highly doubt they'd ever change the format... but I'd expect a new look and sound to the package in which it comes.

I am posting this to question the logistics, not the legal issues, regarding the future of The End. What are your thoughts? How will they continue forward, providing their license is not lost? Just looking for professional opinions... and for the love of God, HH... please don't go putting your resume here again. I doubt any of us here are hiring posters who advertise themselves on this board.

This is a great question. Why not phrase it "What would I do with the station?" New call letters are a must. Something that would work with the hits, but would be totally different than that now morbid station name. Maybe something simple like use their frequency with a single letter or two letters. I would put a "mid day" kind of morning show on quickly as a stop gap between what they had and what they are going to have. Make it music intensive. In six months I'd introduce the new morning show which is replacing the morning good guy, nice sounding time and temp liner card boss jock! Not replacing the Morning Rave.

Before all the mid day guys jump on me, I know you do more than that. Just saying that the temporary morning show would do little or no schtick!

When the new morning show is in place; promote, advertise and do contests which no one could get hurt from, unless their phone shocks them trying to be the 9th caller or they get eye trouble logging on the new station web site.

That's what I'd do, how 'bout you?

Goodfellow

 

[wcrzx]

In todays world people will forget in a year

 

[radiovictim]

I recall in a previous post that someone mentioned only a handful of people outside of the business were aware of this event. I can attest to that. Despite all of the news coverage, the only people who have questioned me about this are the people I know who are in the business but are in different markets. (And, no, I do not currently work for Entercom.) As a matter of fact, many of my friends and collegues outside of radio are unaware of what has happened.

In todays world people will forget in a year

Knowing the typically short attention span of the general public, I, too, wonder if the average listener will be affected by this. After all, how many times have you had a change of lineup and months later listeners are "surprised" to find that something is different? Still, I think some sort of retooling is necessary.

Goodfellow, thanks for your insight on this matter. I would have to agree with your assessments/suggestions and appreciate any other opinions regarding this topic.

 

[AnaHadWolves]

Not To Be Gruesome, But...

...I have to wonder how high their cume and how long their TSL will be in the upcoming book. Some enterprising land-shark...err, "account executive"...will surely be out with his briefcase and contracts the first morning after the book breaks.

God bless capitalism! ;D

 

[XCountry285]

Will it still be Top 40 as The End or will it become some other format?

 

[godofirony]

I wouldn't be shocked if Chris K took on the PD role...assuming he wants it.

But yes, they absolutely need new call letters and a new design.

I bet it will be awhile before any changes though - they lost too many staff members, and with corporate being tied up with the legal "end" (no pun intended) - I can't imagine they'd turn around something very quickly.

 

[radiovictim]

Anyone know if they use consultants? I would imagine this might speed up the process.

 

[marko83]

How about "Smooth Jazz 107.9" now with 100kw of music and a new Top 40 station in 94.7. New name, calls, logo, voice overs, djs, everything.

 

[Chris_Rose]

They will never do this... but this is what they SHOULD do.

The station should be taken off the air immediately. It should go completely DARK until the settlement with Jennifer Strange is worked out. (I too believe this will never see the inside of a courtroom.)

They should then sell the station for as much as they can get. Taking it DARK will at least begin to help it loose the awful stigma currently attached to it, thereby increasing it's stick value (which is currently very low).

In order for this frequency to survive, it needs completely new ownership and a completely new format. Nothing short of that will EVER remove the awful stank that currently permeates the halls of KDND.

There is NOTHING Entercom can do to save this signal. They need to throw in the towel and call it a day. The sooner they come to this realization, the better for all involved.

 

[cabradio]

Re: They will never do this... but this is what they SHOULD do.

The station should be taken off the air immediately. It should go completely DARK until the settlement with Jennifer Strange is worked out. (I too believe this will never see the inside of a courtroom.)

They should then sell the station for as much as they can get. Taking it DARK will at least begin to help it loose the awful stigma currently attached to it, thereby increasing it's stick value (which is currently very low).

In order for this frequency to survive, it needs completely new ownership and a completely new format. Nothing short of that will EVER remove the awful stank that currently permeates the halls of KDND.

There is NOTHING Entercom can do to save this signal. They need to throw in the towel and call it a day. The sooner they come to this realization, the better for all involved.

Are we taking bets? Because I disagree.

 

[Chris_Rose]

Re: They will never do this... but this is what they SHOULD do.

Are we taking bets? Because I disagree.

I'm not afraid of a friendly wager, but you can't simply "disagree"... what solution do you propose? And under what time frame do you see this thing playing out?

I have no doubt that Entercom will ignore my free advice. It's clear (at least to me) that they care far more about earning whatever pennies they can scrounge together, than they do about the life that was taken from the Sacramento community. At least my proposal offers the opportunty of bringing some level of humanity and dignity (if only symbolic) to an otherwise reprehensible situation.

At this point, it seems to me that Entercom should care at least as much about its reputation as they do the bottom-line. But given that it appears they cared so little about the life of Jennifer Strange, it would seem that they don't really have a reputation worth salvaging. Sadly, I doubt any other corporate radio conglomerate (Clear Channel, Cox, Emmis, et al.) would have handled things much differently, given the exact same set of circumstances. To my knowledge, none have even gone on record to condemn what has occurred here. What does that tell you?

So which one do you work for Mr. Profit?

 

[knowbetter]

Re: They will never do this... but this is what they SHOULD do.

The station should be taken off the air immediately. It should go completely DARK until the settlement with Jennifer Strange is worked out. (I too believe this will never see the inside of a courtroom.)

Let's get real here.

The station (enity), frequency, and the business is going to remain. anyone who assumes differently does not understand anything about business. the "until the settlement" statement is completely inane, since that "setlement" has nothing to do with anything. I am sad the woman died, and I hope that from that incident, it saves lives in the future, but the fact that is happened is not really relevant other than it happened. To this point, nobody know WHY she died, It probably in some way has at least something to do with HER.

They should then sell the station for as much as they can get. Taking it DARK will at least begin to help it loose the awful stigma currently attached to it, thereby increasing it's stick value (which is currently very low).

FCC will not take it dark, and I doubt Entercom will do the same. Stigma?? where, it's a radio station, and unless you are personally involved and know the "victim", I don't understand your emotionalism. I find the FCC's investgation of this matter interesting, but unless they are prepared to modify their rules, and Congress is going to revise the First Amendment, they can't do anything but advise future licenseeses.

In order for this frequency to survive, it needs completely new ownership and a completely new format. Nothing short of that will EVER remove the awful stank that currently permeates the halls of KDND.

There is NOTHING Entercom can do to save this signal. They need to throw in the towel and call it a day. The sooner they come to this realization, the better for all involved.

I wish you the best with your rant...sadly, you are JUST WRONG!

 

[Chris_Rose]

Re: They will never do this... but this is what they SHOULD do.

I wish you the best with your rant...sadly, you are JUST WRONG!

When I read comments like yours, it's easy to understand how (and why) this business has lost so much of it's humanity and it's dignity. Radio has become a menace to the public domain. I can think of no better example than this. My idea is an attempt to send a symbolic message that at the end of the day, this business is really about human beings. On both sides of the microphone. Why is it so easy for you to disregard that aspect of my solution and focus solely on the dollars and cents? Have you no sense of decency?

Again, we are talking about the death of a mother of three children. I don't have to "know" her to empathize with her family. It seems you have reserved your "emotionalism" to attack my ideas. Easy to do when you offer no solutions of your own. Don't you think?

 

[content]

Chris-
I believe you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who would not acknowledge the tragedy here. However, the issues of 'stigma' and corporate culpability remain issues of great debate.

For the near future, the community (radio and Sacramento) will continue to mourn the tragic loss while debating liability. And after a period of time our cultural A.D.D will move on to the new topic du jour and the listeners will continue to want to hear Justin Timberlake and Pussycat Dolls every 45 minutes on 107.9. It will be a gradual process, but it will happen.

 

[cabradio]

Re: They will never do this... but this is what they SHOULD do.

So which one do you work for Mr. Profit?

I'll get to a solution later, when I have more time. I have to run my own business right now. But to answer THIS question, I work for none of them I am self employed. I am an independent programmer, and talk show host. My company CAB Radio provides the management and programming for WXCT AM 990 in Hartford a station owned by Davidson Media Group. Click on my links, you'll learn just about everything you ever want to know about me.

 

[bradrollinondubz]

What about Kiss 108? Keep the format but make it like LA's KIIS-FM. Kiss Morning Show.

or Z-107.9 with the Morning Zoo. haha...much like morning BITS...not very original but it's something people recognize

 

[HenryOchs]

What about Kiss 108? Keep the format but make it like LA's KIIS-FM. Kiss Morning Show.

or Z-107.9 with the Morning Zoo. haha...much like morning BITS...not very original but it's something people recognize

or How about Blazin' 107-9! Keep the format, but make it a lot like San Francisco's Wild 94.9 with the T-Man Show in the Morning!!!!!!

 

[1069_KIFR]

While we're at it.....Flash 107.9!