My main issue with KYKX was the Danny and Dru show.
As for the complaints about Waller Broadcasting and localization... one would be hard pressed to find someone who has done more for his local markets than Dudley Waller.
KOOI was live/local 24/7 until he signed Delilah for 7-mid. Even then, he had a studio producer to stay on top of the automation.
KEBE was the pinnacle of public service radio until the strain of operating 10 stations pulled his resources from that station.
KLJT has just been a snake bitten frequency.
KYKX stayed live/local throughout the daytime, with Lia at night. KYKX has several features, including the Friday Night Scoreboard (where they even recognize teams I've never heard of, like Como-Pinkton). Sure, the morning crew could use some more professionalism (which they may have improved since I have left ET), but the localism was there. So, they discussed Tyler events... so what. They still had Hands on a Hardbody (until the tragic event), local sports coverage, they broadcasted live from Longview, and he even gave the veteran personalities a shot. Heck, he even tolerated Corn Bread.
KFRO has struggled to maintain locality for years, before Waller aquired it.
KFRO-AM... Hey, not everyone can be as good as KWRD-AM (in the pre-Russell days).
KOYE... actually worked to serve the LOCAL hispanic market. THere for a while, their remote vehicle was everywhere.
KKUS... admittedly relied too heavily on automation... and I didn't exactly agree with the decision to can the staff... but on the other hand, he brought back Tom Perryman and gave Bob Mauldin a job.
Waller always maintained a local news staff (Rick Watson, Tom Medsger sp?), and even broke into regular programming with live coverage of the Tyler Courthouse shooting. How well did the rest of the market cover that? Oh, wait, that's right... it was in Tyler. I suppose KYKX should've ignored that story too.
Dudley Waller is not exactly the air personalities' best friend. If the personality in question adds value to the station, good. If not, he really has no use for them. However, to ignore decades of public service to the Jacksonville, Tyler and later, Longview markets because a programming product began to decline when he began the process of selling the properties... and because that product "continues to erode" is sad, in my opinion.
He maintains his headquarters in Jacksonville, when any other owner would have moved everything to Tyler. He maintained studios in Longview, when we have seen the corporate world would have moved things to Tyler. He serves his communities because that is the best way to maintain long-term success.
Dudley has never hired me, and I have never had the chance to really meet him (he passed me in the hall once.) However, when I look back on all the local news, Let's Talk, Jacksonville, Longview and Pine Tree HS Football, Jacksonville High school basketball and baseball, Lon Morris & JBC basketball, and Regional Juco Basketball tournament coverage, I really have to say he served the communities well.
As for the current state of the Breeze... it's no real secret that he's preparing to exit the business... either through retirement or promotion. Leave the man alone. He has ran his course, he finished his race, and I pray there is a crown waiting for him on the other side.
Oh, and one more thing, Radio is not about the DJs. Sorry. That's reality. Unless you are Dave Moreland or Ron Chapman, the dial flips if you talk more than 15-30 seconds, or more than 3-4 times per hour. Listeners want their favorite song. Period.
Sorry, I had to use the bad joke. I imagine since Moreland went back to KOOI, they are hurting as far as ratings go (they weren't much with him there and now they're really struggling). CHR would probably be their best route, given their only competition really is K94.5 out of Shreveport, and you really can't get that much in Tyler.