What will CBS/Alt do with out Oedipus's guidance?

[content]

First, this is not an invitation for Varulven to go on his anti-Oedipus crusade.

Second, what will CBS do about all of their floundering, once great, Alt and Rock stations? (I really don't think Oedipus had enough modern impact on any station to take the blame, or credit). Now that Stern is gone, you can see which stations had poor ratings and poor stationality behind Howard's big numbers. (Yes, I'm talking to you BCN, and several of the other failing CBS rock/alt stations)

Third, with the massive changes at CBS....who will takeover as Programming Prez?

Fourth, Do the Free-Fm's and Jack's of the world have a future?

Should be a very interesting next few months at CBS.

 

[Varulven]

Re: What will CBS/Alt do without Mel Karmazin's guidance?

Again, a new poster with little presence here tries to deflect the issue. The failure to spell "without" correctly makes it obvious who published the post...and who put him up to it.

Ed Hyson was hardly giving "guidance". Mel Karmazin set the rules. You brought his name up - and the facts are the facts - Oedipus didn't guide - his job was to fire people to cut payroll. Plain and simple. He was a hatchet man for Mel disguised as a program director. Once Mel was gone, so was Oedi.

The question should be: What will CBS do without Mel Karmazin's guidance.

If Oedi was the wizard, Mel was the man behind the curtain.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Second, what will CBS do about all of their floundering, once great, Alt and Rock stations?

Don't know. Add more Led Zep, maybe?

 

[content]

Pardon my spelling errors.

Reread, my first statement.

The rest of the questions are legit. There are a lot of legitimate questions facing CBS right now. These questions are relevant to those working in and/or interested in radio.

Your (Varulven) personal vendettas are irrelevant to me, and dare I say 99% of the other readers of this board. I'm tired of having interesting threads hijacked by your sour grapes. Please move forward.

 

[Varulven]

You are a brand new poster speaking for "99 %" of this board just like Nik Carter does. Frankly, we've all gotten tired of NIK being the hijacker and blaming someone else.

It is clear someone is looking for "positive" information about Oedipus. There isn't any - he was fired for a reason. Mel Karmazin was the brains.

 

[Nik2.0]

I speak for 99% of the board?...Joe You're the one constantly passing off his opinion as fact. YOU're still talking about ME too so who is hijacking the thread? you're an idiot in addition to being crazy. :



Second, what will CBS do about all of their floundering, once great, Alt and Rock stations? (I really don't think Oedipus had enough modern impact on any station to take the blame, or credit). Now that Stern is gone, you can see which stations had poor ratings and poor stationality behind Howard's big numbers. (Yes, I'm talking to you BCN, and several of the other failing CBS rock/alt stations)

Third, with the massive changes at CBS....who will takeover as Programming Prez?

Fourth, Do the Free-Fm's and Jack's of the world have a future?

Should be a very interesting next few months at CBS.

Interesting questions all Content, if I had to guess? Alt rock as a format has been floundering for a few years, partially becuase of the music but hugely because of the internet, the "kid's" have the music before we do more often than not!. Wbcn has not been an alt station for about as long although they still report to the alt panel, with the amount of Classic Rock in the library whch actually began under Oedipus by the way (so no one thinks this is a diss of current management) they're not a true alt station. Mostly because that format as a whole is really in trouble with the exception of KROQ virtually all other alt stations from 99x in Atl, to Q101 in Chicago, (especially now without mancow) are floundering.

As for Pres. of programming IF they even fill the position (which they might not even do, they may just leave it vacant) I would guess it would be Greg Strassell who is already VP of programming and has been for the past few years, first under Steve Rivers and then Rob Barnett. He's a big wig and I dont think it would be much of an adjustment to give him the title since he's already pretty much doing the job.

Jack is doing really well in LA and Ok I think in Dallas, otherwise I still think it's too early to really say what the future holds for jack and or Free FM, O and A are obviously going to be a big part of the story and probably the saviors of every station that they're on. Yes I think you are right it will be an interesting few months for RADIO in general but CBS in particular you are correct there!.

 

[content]

Thanks for getting the thread on the intended track.

The Alternative format has seen more fruitful times, but with Howard gone, station's like WBCN and KITS (San Francisco) show their true underperformance. In a review of topline ratings for larger markets, there are still examples of Alt stations performing reasonably well. (KDGE - Dallas, KTBZ - Houston, WWDC - Wash, DC). Drive down the road to Providence and college-run WBRU is still in the mid 3's. Stations, like BCN, have been hiding behind Howard for too long, and need a major overhaul.

Regarding Free, O&A should help, but these stations appear to be tanking across the board, and I believe CBS would be well-advised cut bait in a lot of situations. Don't you think CBS would do better in NYC if they matched O/A up with a Rock/Alt - Male targetted station after 10a? (Perhaps something programmed better than the most recent version of KROCK)

 

[Notahobby]

I think the FREE-FM's and JACK-FM's are toast ... they'll be gone quicker than Boston this Morning once Jason Wolfe took over WRKO.

Oedipus was a programming genius. I bet he sets up a consultant firm and just rakes in the cash.