WKNR Programming Changes

[Tim]

For what it's worth...Greg Brinda did do weekends on ESPN about 10 years ago or so...flying to Connecticut almost every weekend to do a couple national shows.

I've always liked Brinda....and find him entertaining without becoming childish/jr. high-like.

Sportstalk hosts, like all talk radio personalities, are an acquired taste...and it's a very subjective thing.

WKNR's host "style" (short skirts 'n boobs, tons of talk about hosts' personal lives -vs- sports) is something, obviously, they did because they thought that would pull male ratings (kinda like Howard Stern's style, but without Stern's talent). They gave it a shot, and it didn't work.

Now 923TheFan is running a straight-down-the-middle, professional sportstalk station and Cleveland (on 92.3 you can't honestly say northeastern Ohio) and we radio fans/hobbyists are reacting.

When the Fall rating book comes out (January, 2012)...we'll get the first really fair look at who won and who lost.

Anybody betting what WKRK and WKNR's 12+ share (since that's all most of us will ever see)?

Maybe WKRK 3.5%, WKNR 1.8%? Just a crazy guess on my part.

 

[1sttimecaller]

There has not been a monthly "book" released for Cleveland since 92.3 went all sports. There are weeklies, but they are not released. There is no fall book anymore in PPM markets, now its all about the monthlies.

From Arbitron.com:
Cleveland PPM Weeklies - September Week 1 September 2011 9/15/2011 12:00
Cleveland PPM Weeklies - September Week 2 September 2011 9/21/2011 12:00
Cleveland PPM Weeklies - September Week 3 September 2011 9/28/2011 12:00
Cleveland PPM Monthly** September 2011 10/5/2011 12:00
Cleveland PPM Weeklies - September Week 4 September 2011 10/5/2011 12:00

 

[Ron Lee]

I like Bruce Hooley. Since when does everyone have to be a Buckeye fan that lives in Cleveland? I didn't realize every host has to be 100% positive about OSU all the time. If you want that then listen to Roda/Munch who think OSU should win the national title every year. You don't have to be overboard in your hate like Goldhammer. Hooley is fair. He will be a good addition to WKNR

Aaaahhhh, wrong. Try again. Hooley is anything but fair. He is a selfish self promoter who only cares about his own brand and his own agenda. His irrational unreasonable rants is what got him canned in Columbus. He had been the "other negative voice" for years but when his rantings went over the edge is when he was fired. To say Hooley is "fair" smacks of someone who really isnt all that familiar with his work.

 

[vjm]

Rizz has been working with R & R sidekicks Will Burge and Dave DeNatale during his temporary PMD side job while we wait for Brinda and Hooley.

I wonder if this is a dry run so these guys can get into a groove for the revamped RBS with Ned gone and Hammer (supposedly) in a reduced role.

Yes, Burge is also Browns beat reporter, but primarily he's a producer/sidekick.

 

[kosar]

That Hooley/Fedor/Goldhammer Buckeye-hating excuse for a show a few months back was the most un-listenable crap in the history of Cleveland radio. No exaggeration. I don't care if they pair Bruce Hooley with Jesus, I'm not listening to him spew his anti-Buckeye agenda.

This is so true. I couldn't believe I was even listening to it, but it was before 92.3 came online, so I have a "bit" of an excuse.

Brinda/Hooley/Fedor is a hate-mongering machine, and to me, is going to be the death nail to WKNR. I can't even believe it is going to be attempted.

 

[Whinekiller]

I am so tired of hearing that Hooley is anti-Buckeye. He's not.

What Hooley was is anti-Tressel. He hated Tressel's holier-than-thou persona and the way that the OSU administration turned a blind eye. Bruce was a PD journalist for nearly two decades and knew that Tressel was doing the same sort of enabling at Ohio State that he was doing back at YSU. Hooley spoke out about it, got slammed for it, and seemingly just edged further and further outside the tOSU-coddling mainstream in Columbus.

I personally liked Tressel and wish he was still the coach. I really, really admired him. But now that the facts are out, I understand where Hooley is coming from.

For Pete's sake... Hooley is writing a book with Chris Spielman, who is as scarlet and gray as you can get. He's tight with Thad Matta and praises the basketball program like crazy.

There are a lot of folks at OSU whose heads explode whenever someone local has any criticism for the program. People have been chased out of town and Hooley's gotten just raked over the coals. But he's not anti-Ohio State, unless you think that Tressel defines what Ohio State is and what it's always been.

 

[Capulet]

Whinekiller

Well said about Hooley hoopla.He's a legit sports journalist.

 

[CleveRadioInsider]

Word on the street is that Goldhammer is not happy with his "reduced" role. He put in a call to Papa Goldhammer and Papa Goldhammer has spoken with Papa Karmazin about this travesty of justice. Expect Goldhammer to remain right where he is at. No reduced role at all.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Word on the street is that Goldhammer is not happy with his "reduced" role. He put in a call to Papa Goldhammer and Papa Goldhammer has spoken with Papa Karmazin about this travesty of justice. Expect Goldhammer to remain right where he is at. No reduced role at all.

If only I were a fly on the wall to hear those conversations... lol

Anything publicly that Rizz, Hammer, Fedor et al say is pure spin. We'll see if they actually take this seriously and try to revert tRBS back to its original sound in 2007 (i.e. Aaron might have been given a 'spanking' and ordered not to monopolize tRBS). That's why it was a convenient move to hire 'consultants' for the station a few month back - such an order can be pinned on THOSE people. Typical move for Craig K. to absolve all blame from himself.

Bad situation for Craig K. to be in. On one hand, this is for WKNR's utter survival. On the OTHER hand, YOU KNOW Joe G. has to be furious right now... you can fill in the rest...

 

[vjm]

Word on the street is that Goldhammer is not happy with his "reduced" role. He put in a call to Papa Goldhammer and Papa Goldhammer has spoken with Papa Karmazin about this travesty of justice. Expect Goldhammer to remain right where he is at. No reduced role at all.

If only I were a fly on the wall to hear those conversations... lol

Anything publicly that Rizz, Hammer, Fedor et al say is pure spin. We'll see if they actually take this seriously and try to revert tRBS back to its original sound in 2007 (i.e. Aaron might have been given a 'spanking' and ordered not to monopolize tRBS). That's why it was a convenient move to hire 'consultants' for the station a few month back - such an order can be pinned on THOSE people. Typical move for Craig K. to absolve all blame from himself.

Bad situation for Craig K. to be in. On one hand, this is for WKNR's utter survival. On the OTHER hand, YOU KNOW Joe G. has to be furious right now... you can fill in the rest...

Speaking of spin...I find the way CK has been trying to poo-poo the Karmazin/Goldhammer connection on the air the last couple of days kinda funny.

Craig has been saying "I heard all the talk about how Aaron's dad is a part owner, yadda yadda yadda...the truth is, Aaron applied for a job here in 2006, before we even got to Cleveland."

He also even said that an AMD job in Denver had opened up but that Hammer was "committed to Cleveland".

Now let me get this straight...

Aaron Goldhammer--a kid who was born into money, probably never raked a leaf or washed a dish in his life, and attended the not exactly cheap NYU on Poppa Joe's dime--just one day woke up, saw that there was a job opening at a rinky-dink radio station in Beaver Dam Wisconsin, bought a ticket on a Greyhound bus, and put in an application the same way a 15 year old would to get a job at McDonalds.

And on top of it, turned down an opprotunity to go back home to Denver, whose teams he openly roots for on Cleveland airwaves (especially the football team, which is a sore subject) to stay in a town where he bashes in over the top fashion the pro teams, has a borderline pschycotic hatred towards the college team, and puts down the listeners/callers/e-mailers as if it's beneath him to have to deal with them...because he's committed to it.

OK Craig...whatever you say buddy.

And if Aaron really is crying the blues to Poppa Joe...that should tell you all you need to know.

 

[1sttimecaller]

The job of a good talk show host is to envoke emotion. Goldhammer is doing just that. You all seem to have a negative response to his content. I hate to tell you this, that's how it works. You'd be suprised how many liberals listen to Rush everyday.

The real issue here isn't his talent. TRBS has been finishing top 3 persons 25-54, the show is working.

Just be honest and straight up, you can't stand the fact someone had a connection to get a job (which happens everywhere btw) and works in radio while you sit on the sidelines.

Be fair, be honest, the kid ain't bad and it pi$$es you off.

 

[kmt]

John:

As Howard Stern has proven... conflict works. And add this to emotion and you do indeed have the potential for big ratings.

Emotion + Conflict = Good Radio

Love it, or hate it, if it's top 3 25-54 it's working.

My question is that if the show is pulling good numbers in a key demographic why are they messing with it?

How is the PM drive show performing in demos?

 

[vjm]

The job of a good talk show host is to envoke emotion. Goldhammer is doing just that. You all seem to have a negative response to his content. I hate to tell you this, that's how it works. You'd be suprised how many liberals listen to Rush everyday.

The real issue here isn't his talent. TRBS has been finishing top 3 persons 25-54, the show is working.

Just be honest and straight up, you can't stand the fact someone had a connection to get a job (which happens everywhere btw) and works in radio while you sit on the sidelines.

Be fair, be honest, the kid ain't bad and it pi$$es you off.

Thanks for joining us, Ned.

All kidding aside, if Hammer is so great, why are they (supposedly/allegedly/hopefully) going to cut down on his role on RBS?

Because PEOPLE CAN'T STAND HIM!

Think about this way...Would any radio company not named Good Karma take a flier on him, much less let him get away with what Craig Karmazin and company allows him to?

As far as sports takes go, Cleveland radio has had "contrarian" types going back to Peter Brown during WKNR's infancy 20 years ago. It's when you compound that with Aaron being a genuinely annoying, spoiled, elitist brat that thinks his presence is a gift to "the great unwashed", that's where you get just pure out and out hatred from the listeners.

People want to listen to RBS for Rizzo, and Hammer (with Fedor along for the ride) used the fact he was teacher's pet to turn the show into his own little playground.

And pre August 29, 850 was the only game in town for local sports talk at that time of day, so it was RBS or nothing.

WKNR is obviously feeling the heat from The Fan, or else they wouldn't be going through all these changes.

The fact they're taking Ned off RBS, and cutting down on Hammer should tell you that 92.3 is putting a hurting on them, and that even the previously untouchable "Bratty Bunch" is feeling the effects.

CK wouldn't bump R & R to late evenings, bring in Bruce Hooley for PMD, and overhaul RBS if things were rainbows and lollipops at the Galleria.

 

[Rusty Muck]

The job of a good talk show host is to envoke emotion. Goldhammer is doing just that. You all seem to have a negative response to his content. I hate to tell you this, that's how it works. You'd be suprised how many liberals listen to Rush everyday.

The real issue here isn't his talent. TRBS has been finishing top 3 persons 25-54, the show is working.

Unlike actual competition showed up. Prior to last month, Rizz's only competition was:

Glenn Beck
Mike Gallagher
the last two hours of Rover
the last hour of Lanigan
the first hour of Rush Limbaugh
the first hour of Jim Rome (for those lucky to get WARF/1350)
Laura Ingraham (for those lucky to get WEOL/930)
automated music on 92.3
automated music on 106.5
Dan Patrick (for those lucky to get WARF/1350)

Now... which out of that list would count as actual competition for tRBS?

Take away Glenn, Laura, Mike Gallagher and Rush, because political talk does NOT equal sports talk (and there are a good chunk of sports fans who AREN'T by any means conservative). Moreover, Rome, Rover, Lanigan and Dan Patrick really can't count because either their shows are in a partial overlap with tRBS' time slot, or it's on a station that isn't targeting or rated in the Cleveland metro in WARF.

Baskin & Phelps are far from a perfect show, but it's the first actual test that tRBS has ever had. The fact that the show could be overhauled four weeks in suggests that the "top three 25-54" ranking was a mirage. tRBS was, and has been, a sitting duck.

Just be honest and straight up, you can't stand the fact someone had a connection to get a job (which happens everywhere btw) and works in radio while you sit on the sidelines.

Joe Goldhammer is a slimy labor lawyer out of Denver who has always pampered his two kids all through life. The fact that someone like Aaron gets a job out of total favoritism with no respect for the business or the people in it (remember how he and Rizz fumbled Jeff Thomas' firing?) is something to be condemned, and rightfully so.

And when the owner of the station, who is (even if he won't admit it) best friends with Joe G. and Aaron, deliberately lies about "station surveys" and programs WKNR to his and Aaron's own tone-deaf tastes...

Be fair, be honest, the kid ain't bad and it pi$$es you off.

If that were the case, then why isn't tRBS on in afternoon drive going up against Triv, Alan Cox and Bull & Fox? Rizz no longer has the excuse of TV sportscaster duties, you know. And someone as egotistical as Aaron would have to jump at the chance of feeding his ego further.

Oh, wait... Rizz and Aaron would get flattened by Triv, Alan and B & F.

Let's compare Aaron to Chad Zumock... there are people can't stand Chad, but I've never seen or heard him totally monopolize Alan's show with a phony persona. And there are a good amount of people that respect Chad, but I've NEVER heard a single solitary positive word said about Aaron from anyone not named Craig K.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Craig has been saying "I heard all the talk about how Aaron's dad is a part owner, yadda yadda yadda...the truth is, Aaron applied for a job here in 2006, before we even got to Cleveland."

He also even said that an AMD job in Denver had opened up but that Hammer was "committed to Cleveland".

Bullcrap.

Aaron had hosted, along with Jordan Sherwood, the "Hammer & Wood" morning show on WTLX/100.5 Madison. And had done until September 2006, when he came to WWGK/1540 as one of the station's update anchors.

Oh, did I mention that WTLX has always been owned by... Good Karma Broadcasting?

Sorry, Craig K., but that blows your argument right out of the water. Whoops.

 

[Ron Lee]

Wait a minute, for 3 years now, CK has been conducting his "survey" and telling us that the people just love Goldhammer and that his approval rating is at a very high percentage. Same thing more recently for Fedor. He has said that the people tell him what to do with his station and by keeping those guys on the air in their prominent places, he was just listening to the people.

So, why is he now going against "the people" and doing an about face and demoting them and reducing thier roles? He just spend 3 years telling us that we love them and want them on the air and that he just does what the people want??

Something is fishy about CK, his surveys, the way he deciphers them and what he has been feeding to the people.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Nathan has been following this extensively on his Twitter account. I've been out of pocket doing other things, and I'VE been following Nathan.

I did manage to get a confirmation out of the Galleria what Nathan has already reported: It's Bruce Hooley, Greg Brinda and Chris Fedor in PMD. I'm told Fedor will actually be a co-host, and not just doing "SportsCenter updates".

Though my source didn't confirm it yet, it appears likely that Reghi and Roda get bumped to 9 PM-midnight(-whatever), with Roda actually taking the Indians/Cavaliers beat reporter role, and not in the building when he's at games.

Again, no confirmation on this side of the blog on that rather obvious second move, but Nathan has good sources. (I haven't heard anything about reconfiguration of tRBS, or any change in Aaron's role, but Fedor would appear to be gone from tRBS due to his new role.)

I'll put something up later today on this and other stuff in my hold bin.

 

[DToTheJ]

Nathan has been following this extensively on his Twitter account. I've been out of pocket doing other things, and I'VE been following Nathan...

What did you think of my "Goldhammer/MC Hammer" zinger? :

WKNR's host "style" (short skirts 'n boobs, tons of talk about hosts' personal lives -vs- sports) is something, obviously, they did because they thought that would pull male ratings (kinda like Howard Stern's style, but without Stern's talent). They gave it a shot, and it didn't work...

It may not have worked by default since it is WKNR, but I bet if Tom Bigby was involved, there would have been a different result.

 

[Tim]

Without all the details previously by everybody....it's this simple for me as a listener: when I want sports information/sportstalk...I prefer the straight-ahead approach of 923The Fan, to the overly show-biz'd WKNR.

Before August 29th, I often just didn't listen much to WKNR comparred to past years because of what I thought was the onslaught of silliness and non-sports content. It seemed to me they were acting that way because some sports consultant told them that was the way to win audience...but, that it just wasn't for me personally.

As another poster mentioned...now we have an alternative. And, I'm really glad they're here (even though I'd rather have them on 98.5 so I could listen in any room at home, not just on-line or in the car, even though reception is inconsistent in cars, depending on where you are).

 

[asterisk]

The job of a good talk show host is to envoke emotion. Goldhammer is doing just that. You all seem to have a negative response to his content. I hate to tell you this, that's how it works.

There's the rub, John.

Sports talk listeners were listening because, in actuality, they didn't have any other choice out there but to go to a national show. Now that there is an option, they are changing the channel and not coming back.

To be fair, since JOSH SABO was let go tRBS has seen the rise of the Aaron effect. I think Josh and Tony could reel him in a bit.