KGO Radio has pulled the plug on its yearly "Cure-A-Thon", a 24-hour radio charity that benefited the Northern California Leukemia Society.
Begun in 1979, the annual charity raised well over $18 million and was a key part of KGO's March schedule, both in terms of popularity and as a valuable tool to the charity that was dependent on both its monetary contribution and promotional pull.
KGO hasn't officially announced the Cure-a-Thon is history, but a station source confimed to me that after 30 years, there will be no 2011 charity.
Begun in 1979, the annual charity raised well over $18 million and was a key part of KGO's March schedule, both in terms of popularity and as a valuable tool to the charity that was dependent on both its monetary contribution and promotional pull.
KGO hasn't officially announced the Cure-a-Thon is history, but a station source confimed to me that after 30 years, there will be no 2011 charity.
Just another reason to hate Citadel!
ReplyDeleteNo way!!??
ReplyDeleteWhat whack jobs... next will we get Syndicated Herb from Iowa or New Yawk?
One more sign of KGO’s fall from grace…not very surprising after Luckoff’s departure.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how the KGO Thanksgiving fundraising drive that Bernie Ward spearheaded has done since his departure?
At long last, KGO has a redesigned, much cleaner web site. There is still too much clutter, but it's a vast improvement. As for the Cure-a-Thon, that's bad news for the Leukemia Society, but I won't particularly miss it.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the skinny on their Listener Club? Would I want to join any club that would have me as a member?
AH
What a group of losers!
ReplyDeleteI hope no one THEY KNOW gets leukemia.
I also noticed the re-designed KGO web site and had to chuckle at the huge Facebook and Twitter logos on every page. They're really going aggressively after that young demographic who listens to Taliafero's rants at 3am!
ReplyDeleteKGO was getting a nice tax write off for the cure-a-thon, KGO has so many commercials I quit listening, they have a poor record of hosts, one killed himself, anther in prison,another went crazy on the air and was fired,get rid of Oens and most of the current hosts...
ReplyDelete"Anonymous" is synonymous with Rich Lieberman.
ReplyDeleteThis shouldn't be surprising after the way both the Democrats and Republicans gutted the FCC and filled it with cronies who cared little about public service and a lot about letting their industry friends consolidate. Public service used to be a big component of the licensing process, but I guess that's gone with way of nickel candy bars and dial telephones.
ReplyDeleteif Gene Burns does not come back, there is no reason to listen to KGO.
ReplyDeleteMore ads than ever, Ronn Owens moves to the right, contrived jolly talk during the news and KGO is dying. The telethon was always touted as a unique and huge success. But the new KGO must be finding more money for themselves elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear this - I have slowly stopped listening to KGO - another reason not to
ReplyDeleteIf Gene doesn't come back I will no longer listen to KGO as my mainstay radio station. It's that simple. Way to many adds; I'm sorry it's come down to this.
ReplyDeletei love happy talk!
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting.
ReplyDeleteA slow death to the once proud KGO.
So long . . .
Wow...KGO USED to be a Bay Area mainstay, a rock...now it is just a sad afterthought. Leukemia is a horrible, draining sickness and those afflicted with it and those FIGHTING this battle need all the help possible. I know. I was diagnosed last May with AML and I am here to tell you it sucks. I will be changing the tuner on my car radio.
ReplyDeleteI am no listener of KGO but it strikes me as odd that posters here feel the station OWES the public this charity.
ReplyDeleteSaying they hope no one THEY know gets leukemia, etc.
There are plenty, perhaps hundreds, of stations in the Bay Area that don't do leukemia cure-a-thons.
I don't understand why KGO out of all of them is obligated to do one forever.
And I have a loved one with AML. (acute myelogenous leukemia).
You mean we don't get to be bludgeoned by Ray and Ron (and whoever else) yelling "we've raised $440,000 but it is not enough!"
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief ... .
Oh, and Citadel Broadcasting is merging with a competitor, Cumulus Broadcasting. What this means for KGO is anyone's guess, but expect vast programming changes.
...and that folks is why I do NOT listen to the tripe from KGO radio...
ReplyDeleteI downloaded a Ronn Owen's show from last week. There was actually only 31 minutes of his show, the rest of the hour was taken up by repetitious news and commercials. On the good side, this meant less of Ronn's blather (it was the guest I wanted to hear) but on the other side, who the hell needs 29 minutes of piffle? For the past year, KGO was declining. The poor station has now reached bottom, very sad. If Gene is gone, then I'm gone, too. I don't listen to any of the other hosts.
ReplyDeleteAre falling ratings a sign of lack of content? KQED's talk has more substance these days and they've been beefing up in the news department.
ReplyDeleteI gotta agree with a lot of you: Pat Thurston is not the long term solution in the spot as she is, but she's not far off. If she continues to evolve, she could grow into the spot. Sorry, but I can't quite put a finger on what needs to change just now.
On the cure-a-thon: It's a shame that KGO is withdrawing from public service at a time when corporate radio needs to show it has a human, local side. Shame on Citadel!
With the new site I can no longer listen live. I listen from my work computer and I'd have to contact IT and ask them for a version of Flash that's compatible with the site. *Shrugs head*
ReplyDeleteRich, did you notice that KGO stopped airing old Dr. Dean Edell shows? God Talk is back to it’s regular hours Sunday mornings and last Saturday afternoon Jim Gabbert was on instead of Dean. I get so angry about has transpired at that station. I miss Dean on a daily basis. I’m not surprised about the curathon. I can’t believe how low KGO has sunk.
ReplyDeleteOh, let's blame everything on Citadel again! They are a third-rate broadcasting company, but I find it hard to believe they called up the new GM and dictated an end to the Cure-A-Thon. I don't think KGO's out-of-pocket expenses and revenue opportunity costs were significant enough to drive such a decision. Perhaps the remaining KGO management team (not just the new GM) felt the event had run its course. I believe contributions fell significantly last year -- due no doubt to the economy, but perhaps also because the event has seen its better days. Things change, and nothing is forever. JW
ReplyDelete+5 Gene Burns
ReplyDeleteA true mensche.
Who is this guy on tonight? This mans name is Stacy Taylor. KGO has really lost its moja. I've listed to this station since coming to California in 1970. I guess everything changes and not necessarily for the better.
ReplyDeletemaybe the far left can start providing the money since the right gives 78% of all money donated to charities nationwide....i stopped giving completely unless the org. supports my independent views..they need me i only wanted to give...guess who wins???
ReplyDeleteLet's face it -- the true reason for ANTHING and EVERYTHING that's happening at KGO is money. That's why they introduced a new "clock" that is a ruse to make listeners think they're getting more news. But we're not that stupid. It's so obvious that KGO is playing 8 to 10 minutes MORE commercials per hour than they did before the switch. It's nearly unlistenable now. Hell, if they're trying to save money, they should just fire Ronnald Owens and use his $1 million dollar paycheck to hire and pay 7 hosts. Then they should look for synergistic methods to generate income, instead of diluting and hence destroying their main product with a critical mass of irritating ads.
ReplyDeleteSucks about the Cure-athon, but how's this for an idea - fire tha(not-so) closet right wing wacko Ronn (what's with the 2 n's?) Owens and put Big Ed Schultz on in his slot. The Bay Area of all places should have more than one liberal station. Hell, we have 2 hate-talk, righty stations. BTW Mon Mar 28 is the live debut of Nor-man Gold-man in karel's old slot 3-6p on Green 960. -A loyal 30 year KGO listener, who now prefers Green 960's syndicated lineup and more minutes of program per hour.
ReplyDelete