What does WBZ 1030 AM do with the 8 PM-12 AM Monday-Friday slot now?

[Jul]

What does WBZ 1030 AM do with the 8 PM-12 AM Monday-Friday slot now that Paul Sullivan has died, get another talk show host or extend the all news format another 4 hours Monday-Friday?

 

[Casablanca]

With the presidential primaries and election coming up I don't think BZ will dump talk radio in the evening but will probably extend the news to 8.
I think that is a mistake but what do I know.

WBZ really needs a political heavy weight in there for the presidential race. Could be Dan Rea but don't think so.

They really need to think outside the box which is something WBZ is not very good at doing.

If they could get someone like Laurence O'Donnell who is a real firebrand that would shake up Boston evening talk radio. He is local ( Quincy native I think) and has an extensive and controversial background with the likes of MSNBC and as a co-writer of the West Wing.

 

[ChrisNH]

Many people are fond of saying that talk radio is in a shambles in Boston. I can see where they're coming from. But I would suggest that WBZ not give up on the format and also not rush to tab a successor to Sullivan. The problem is that talk radio hosts cannot simply be plucked from a newspaper, or a TV station. That's the incestuousness of the media industry: newspaper people seem to have a 'right' to hop over to radio; TV people have a 'right' to hop over to radio. We see it all the time, and the landscape is littered with simply awful radio hosts that come out of those other media cesspools...as though they are granted that position 'just because' they are in Boston media.

I hope WBZ does a little bit of work before just plucking someone from The Globe or the Herald, or any of the TV stations.

 

[raccoonradio]

They seem to be doing a rotation of Dan Rea and Jordan Rich right now. Not sure if they might want to pick one of them to do 8-10 pm, for example, and then hire someone else for 10-mid. They could even
go syndie (CBS-associated Westwood One has Dennis Miller they could tape delay but it would be
on as much as a 12 hr delay plus I don't see 'BZ going syndie, at all)

Many nights there will be shot--SCORE!--of course, too. (82 reg. season games I think)

 

[TSBench]

Many people are fond of saying that talk radio is in a shambles in Boston.

Yep, especially unemployed talk hosts who can't get a gig.

I can see where they're coming from.

How so? Talk ratings in Boston are as good, and usually better, than in any other major market in the country. The highest rated talk duo in town have just re-upped for five years, WTKK appears to have filled an AMD slot that was hemoraging listeners, and, the best news in a long time, Mike Savage is frequently pre-empted by the Sox. The only thing up in the air now is WRKO trying to plug PMD. Hardly a market in 'shambles.'

But I would suggest that WBZ not give up on the format

Why would they give up on the format? They survived losing Brudnoy, so they can probably survive the death of Paul Sullivan.

and also not rush to tab a successor to Sullivan. The problem is that talk radio hosts cannot simply be plucked from a newspaper, or a TV station.

You mean like Paul Sullivan, Brudnoy, Dennis, Callahan, Eagan, Michael Holley, and Howie Carr, and fill-ins like Jack Williams and those sportwriters and TV sports folks who pop up like prairie dogs on WEEI? Yep, those ex-TV and newspaper hires certainly didn't work out.

I hope WBZ does a little bit of work before just plucking someone from The Globe or the Herald, or any of the TV stations.

You mean like Dan Rea or Jon Keller. I can't imagine any PD wanting them to fill a talk show opening.

Thanks for the insights.

Regards,
TSB

 

[raccoonradio]

Actually Savage isn't fully pre-empted by the Sox--he usually airs afterwards.
No Sox (incl. Wed. when games are on WEEI) or late game: Savage at regular time.
Early Sox game: Savage right afterwards

Not quite into Savage--but am looking forward to tonight when WTKK debuts Phil Hendrie.

>>WRKO trying to plug PMD

if the Howie-to-Morrissey Blvd. move finally happens, who do they put in...Colonel Hunt? Oh well,
they'll find someone. Mr. Wolfe? I have an audition tape here from a Mr... "Brian...Maloney..." Says
he's done fill ins here before...Also
on line one there's a guy who claims to be a former Jerry Williams producer...

Yes, despite the non-success of SOME TV and newspaper personalities, there HAVE been some
in those media who have become successes in radio after all!

 

[robbbc]

With the presidential primaries and election coming up I don't think BZ will dump talk radio in the evening but will probably extend the news to 8.
I think that is a mistake but what do I know.

Having an all news network is a great resource, the fact that New England has one is great. It annoys me when I want to catch headlines overnights and I get to hear a local talker on WBZ, no offense to Mr. Sullivan. What's even worse is this is when WBZ can be heard for hundreds of miles. Why put on a local talker bad mouthing Deval et al. when you could change your format to a wider ranging New England service at night? There are other places for talk on the dial. Do one thing and do it well. WBZ is #1 12+ providing a public service to the community. Good luck to them and let the talking heads duke it out on WRKO and WTTK.

 

[raccoonradio]

The other places on the dial (political talk wise) aren't doing local though, they're syndie. But I agree
about the news coverage--and even if it's just TOH, WBZ always has local instead of going to
network stuff like WRKO and WTKK do. (Or in the case of WRKO, the offsite-produced Metro/Shadow).
WBZ provided valuable info last fall when the Danversport explosion happened. Between news and
callers talking to Leveille, it was the only radio place to cover it overnight.

 

[TSBench]

With the presidential primaries and election coming up I don't think BZ will dump talk radio in the evening but will probably extend the news to 8.
I think that is a mistake but what do I know.

Having an all news network is a great resource, the fact that New England has one is great. It annoys me when I want to catch headlines overnights and I get to hear a local talker on WBZ, no offense to Mr. Sullivan. What's even worse is this is when WBZ can be heard for hundreds of miles. Why put on a local talker bad mouthing Deval et al. when you could change your format to a wider ranging New England service at night? There are other places for talk on the dial. Do one thing and do it well. WBZ is #1 12+ providing a public service to the community. Good luck to them and let the talking heads duke it out on WRKO and WTTK.

Because, although 'BZ may reach across the country, almost all the money is made in the metro, some in the wider Total Survey Area, and none farther out. Getting calls from Canada and Kansas may be a nice ego boost, but it doesn't translate into commercial success. About the only stations which get mileage from long range signal strength are those overnight flame thrower 'truck driver' stations mostly in the midwest and south.

In fact, neither WBZ nor anyone else who counts seems to pay much attention to that extra reach, For years, they had a sales promotional piece which proclaimed listeners in "38 states East of the Mississippi." When I mentioned to the promotions department that this was geographically impossible, I was told that it was the first time this had been brought to their attention in the 10 years the claim had been part of their local and national sales kits. I think they subsequently pushed the boundry westward.

I'm sure this is not the answer you're looking for. There are lots of times I wish there was an all-newser I could pick up late night that came in a little better than WINS and 'CBS in NYC, but that's life,

IIRC. didn't some local station try running the audio from Headline News on the overnight a while back? Seemed like a good idea to me for someone wanting a quick hit on national news. It actually made more sense than a local all news overnight, since there usually isn't any local news of import in the evening or overnight which hasn't already been beaten to death during the day. There is only so much local news, and what there is can be covered in the top of the hour casts during the WBZ talk programming.

Regards,
TSB

 

[newhampshiredude]

WBZ will probably go all-news from 8PM-12AM, but I could be wrong. CBS/Westwood One is probably looking to get Dennis Miller on in Boston, so CBS could force WBZ to carry him. CBS' "News" station in Dallas/Ft. Worth, KRLD, airs Lars larson (another Westwood One host) from 9PM-12AM. Let's hope this doesn't happen with Dennis Miller is Boston. He really sucks on the radio.

 

[Casablanca]

Posted below but worth repeating here:
Rod Fritz, former News Director at WRKO, and now weekend newsman on Fox Radio News would be an excellent successor to Paul Sullivan.

Rod was hired at WRKO to do both news and talk but a change in PD's there must have changed it.

Rod is extremely knowledgeable, smart and a Vietnam Veteran. He would easily fit into the WBZ mold.

All news - all night would be a BIG mistake and kill BZ's evening ad revenue.

 

[ChrisNH]

Many people are fond of saying that talk radio is in a shambles in Boston.

Yep, especially unemployed talk hosts who can't get a gig.

I can see where they're coming from.

How so? Talk ratings in Boston are as good, and usually better, than in any other major market in the country. The highest rated talk duo in town have just re-upped for five years, WTKK appears to have filled an AMD slot that was hemoraging listeners, and, the best news in a long time, Mike Savage is frequently pre-empted by the Sox. The only thing up in the air now is WRKO trying to plug PMD. Hardly a market in 'shambles.'

But I would suggest that WBZ not give up on the format

Why would they give up on the format? They survived losing Brudnoy, so they can probably survive the death of Paul Sullivan.

and also not rush to tab a successor to Sullivan. The problem is that talk radio hosts cannot simply be plucked from a newspaper, or a TV station.

You mean like Paul Sullivan, Brudnoy, Dennis, Callahan, Eagan, Michael Holley, and Howie Carr, and fill-ins like Jack Williams and those sportwriters and TV sports folks who pop up like prairie dogs on WEEI? Yep, those ex-TV and newspaper hires certainly didn't work out.

I hope WBZ does a little bit of work before just plucking someone from The Globe or the Herald, or any of the TV stations.

You mean like Dan Rea or Jon Keller. I can't imagine any PD wanting them to fill a talk show opening.

Thanks for the insights.

Regards,
TSB

If you are going to measure quality as a function of quantity, then we ought to see the 'learned, elite & esteemed' TSBench at McDonald's...where billions & billions are served. The TV and newspaper 'prairie dogs' popping up on the radio were described quite accurately as 'media whores' who see their own industries heading toward icebergs and figure they'd catch a new wave to fame and fortune. There is TOO much reliance on the incestuous media merry-go-round, which is full of the liberal entitlement mindset that suggests that some of these people 'deserve' the slots they're in. Find me a person who loves Dennis or Callahan and I'll find you one who doesn't. Same with everyone else on your list. But if you want to latch onto your 'McDonald's' rationalization, go right ahead.

Above all, thank you for bringing the caricature of the elite liberal media 'expert' to life! It's enjoyable seeing one of them in action!

 

[TSBench]

Re: What does WBZ 1030 AM do with the 8 PM-12 AM Monday-Friday slot now?

If you are going to measure quality as a function of quantity,

No, I''m going to measure success in radio as a function of audience quantity. I can't think of another objective way to measure it. And, until the Chris-o-meter replaces Arbitron, that probably isn't going to change.

I'm sure when the Romans fed the Christians to the lions it wasn't an artistic success, but I'm also sure the Colosseum was SRO, which must have made Lucius the Miller who bought signage very happy.

then we ought to see the 'learned, elite & esteemed' TSBench at McDonald's...where billions & billions are served.

This, of course, makes the usual assumptions not in evidence. First, McDonald's is a legendary success in the fast food industry, but since I don't eat fast food I don't dine there. Likewise, if the #1 station in town was rap/hip-hop, I wouldn't listen because I don't care for that programming. Since I've never posted anything that a intelligent, observant, poster would construe as claiming that I listen to stations based on their ARBs, I don't see why you'd make this analogy. But, on second thought, maybe I've answered my own question.

The TV and newspaper 'prairie dogs' popping up on the radio were described quite accurately as 'media whores'

Why? Because they have knowledge that folks in large numbers will hopefully listen to them impart? If anyone actually thought that you had something of value to add in a field other than the one you are in and would pay you for it, and you took it, would you consider yourself a whore?

who see their own industries heading toward icebergs and figure they'd catch a new wave to fame and fortune.

And, what exactly do you find wrong with that? I can only assume you have a lot of friends in the typewriter sales and repair industry.

There is TOO much reliance on the incestuous media merry-go-round, which is full of the liberal entitlement mindset

Blah, blah, blah. What meaningless blather. Save this crap for SaveWRKO, the only board you can post to without lowering the collective IQ 20 points,

that suggests that some of these people 'deserve' the slots they're in.

Arbitron and the sales departments decide whether talent 'deserves' to be in their slots. Do you understand the radio business?

Find me a person who loves Dennis or Callahan and I'll find you one who doesn't. Same with everyone else on your list. But if you want to latch onto your 'McDonald's' rationalization, go right ahead.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but having 90% of the people in a market NOT listen to you will make you a runaway success and a millionaire. I guess you really don't understand the biz.

Above all, thank you for bringing the caricature of the elite liberal media 'expert' to life! It's enjoyable seeing one of them in action!

Anyone who follows this board knows that I'm at least, and probably more, conservative than any other poster here (the operative description being 'conservative', as differentiated from 'numb-nuts reactionary'.)



Regards,
TSB

 

[Garrett]

WBZ will probably go all-news from 8PM-12AM, but I could be wrong. CBS/Westwood One is probably looking to get Dennis Miller on in Boston, so CBS could force WBZ to carry him. CBS' "News" station in Dallas/Ft. Worth, KRLD, airs Lars larson (another Westwood One host) from 9PM-12AM. Let's hope this doesn't happen with Dennis Miller is Boston. He really sucks on the radio.

First of all, WBZ is Owned by CBS, so they aren't "forcing" WBZ, to do anything. Either CBS will decide to put him on, or they won't.

Second, "he really sucks" is just a personal preference of yours. I enjoy listening to Dennis Miller as do others, and his show is really taking off. The problem for Boston is, he's a conservative, and it seems to me there is quite enough conservative talk (perhaps too much) in the Boston radio market.

So, for the sake of not having to read "Dennis sucks" threads, I hope CBS does not go with that.

There is an AP 24hour radio news network that WBZ can pick, but I bet they plug in someone like Jack Williams as they have done in the past. I see no reason why WBZ would tamper with a formula that works. just fine.

Ponder this: Now there's another option for Howie Carr (and doesn't that just make you all tingly inside?).

 

[newhampshiredude]

Although the Dennis sucks probably wasn't needed on a board liek this after a great man has died, CBS could force WBZ to air Dennis, like Clear Channel did with Glenn Beck, although I highly doubt it. I like the idea of Rod Fritz on WBZ. Now we're talking.

 

[Infidel]

This assumes Rod wants to do a talk show in the first place. :-\

 

[robbbc]

Posted below but worth repeating here:
Rod Fritz, former News Director at WRKO, and now weekend newsman on Fox Radio News would be an excellent successor to Paul Sullivan.

Rod was hired at WRKO to do both news and talk but a change in PD's there must have changed it.

Rod is extremely knowledgeable, smart and a Vietnam Veteran. He would easily fit into the WBZ mold.

All news - all night would be a BIG mistake and kill BZ's evening ad revenue.

I wonder why it would kill the revenue? WBZ is the # 1 radio station in Boston. They do a full day of news radio that makes them a boatload of money and has many listeners. This "talk-rules" thinking appears to me to be little more than conventional wisdom. All-news rules in Boston.

 

[Casablanca]

Well, WBZ Radio has been doing talk at night for nearly 40 years.
Think they started with Bob Kennedy's "Contact" and then of course Jerry Williams in the mid 60's [ The infamous Vietnam Veteran's call was on WBZ in the 1968 Presidential campaign and put Jerry on Nixon's "Enemies List".]

WBZ is not a station the likes to change a winning format. Yes, they tweak it every once in a while and pre-empt for the Bruins, but that is about it.

Rod Fritz is the perfect fit for WBZ Radio. He is seasoned, well balanced, has a great radio voice and can do talk well.

Whether Ted Jordan will go out of the house or not for Paul Sullivan's successor is the question. While I think Dan Rea does an outstanding job I don't get the sense that he wants to give up television although he is 60 or just about to turn 60 and TV can be very cruel where ageism is a standard operating procedure. More so for women but look what happened to Bob Sheiffer at CBS News who had tons more credibility than Katie Couric....but tons more lines.

I expect 'BZ will move fast as they did when Bruds died in 2004 although Paul Sullivan was David's hand-picked choice as his successor.

So, don't expect WBZ to change its format. They are just too cautious and conservative and don't want to change a winning format.

 

[SonicOverload]

Well, WBZ Radio has been doing talk at night for nearly 40 years.
Think they started with Bob Kennedy's "Contact" and then of course Jerry Williams in the mid 60's [ The infamous Vietnam Veteran's call was on WBZ in the 1968 Presidential campaign and put Jerry on Nixon's "Enemies List".]

weren't there rumors that the Vietnam Vet call may have been fake?

 

[Casablanca]

I have met that Vet. He is not a fake. The crazy Right Wing would like him to be a fake but he is not.

Well, WBZ Radio has been doing talk at night for nearly 40 years.
Think they started with Bob Kennedy's "Contact" and then of course Jerry Williams in the mid 60's [ The infamous Vietnam Veteran's call was on WBZ in the 1968 Presidential campaign and put Jerry on Nixon's "Enemies List".]

weren't there rumors that the Vietnam Vet call may have been fake?