A broadcast veteran in the radio biz tells me that the coming days for Citadel employees, (KGO/KSFO here in SF) will be cause for "major concern" now that it appears that the Cumulus acquisition of Citadel is complete, (pending FCC approval which is almost guaranteed.)
More so, says the source, for KGO/KSFO people than KNBR. "I'd be nervous if I were them. You don't know these guys."
He's referring of course to the Dickey brothers, and one Lew Dickey, (known in the biz as "Tricky Dickey") the chief head of Cumulus known for uh, his, uh, "fiscal watchfulness." Hey, does cheap come to mind? Bingo!
Try to envision a mass decrease of everything...EVERYTHING, including all non-discretionary spending and that includes on-air, off-air, expenses that are deemed unnecessary, the works. And it hits every dept. from the ground floor to the sales dept. to the programming division--nothing, no one, nobody is immune.
The people, according to the source, who should really feel the pinch are the mid-to-high-level management folks, no one in particular. For example, the marketing head of KNBR could be theoretically given the position of running ALL the stations--i.e., KGO, KNBR, KFOG, The Bone, etc.
"They don't need multiple managers to run each station. You don't know these guys--they're 120% bottom line--they're going to pillage these people."
Other things to envision: the possibility of KGO/KSFO Radio leaving the ABC Broadcast Center in the Embarcadero, (which both share with KGO-TV--KGO-TV is of course owned by Disney which owns the plush property at 900 Front St.)
Could KNBR staff be supplanted to go over to KGO? And vice-versa? I asked the source. "Sure...maybe Gary Radnich goes to KGO...maybe 1050, (KNBR's sister station) becomes a secondary source for KGO's news division, (much like KCBS' FM outlet, 106.9)...Everything's on the table."
One thing's for sure: A lot of nervous radio people in the city today. Should be quite a night at the Old Ship bar on Battery.
*Gene Burns will call in to Pat Thurston tomorrow night, (Friday;) give the listeners an update on his condition. Someone in the know says he'd be "shocked" if Burns were to announce his retirement. As I said earlier, I wish Burns well, but I'd be shocked myself if he's on the long-term KGO radar.
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If Radnich gets louder than usual then we'll know he's nervous. He becomes more obnoxious on air when he feels his job is not secure. We'll be watching him closely...
ReplyDeletethe one person (team) that could come out a big winner here to me seems to be the A's. KNBR wanted the A's on 1050 years ago but the A's said no thanks. Now you have the chance to get the A's next year if they don't buy their station and move them to 560 (again), 810, or 1050. The other winner could be Cal Football, now you get 810 plus the mandate that KNBR folks talk all day about how great Cal Football is.....
ReplyDeletelol @ the constant obsession with Radunich on this blog...didn't you guys hear when that caller told Radunich that his face looked like a tomato or something? isn't that enough for you?
ReplyDeletei do hope the new mgmnt fires the turds over there like dibley and the morning show clowns, barbieri, etc.
Name me a business owner/operator that is not 120% bottom line. If you don't make money you do not survive. I see nothing wrong with any plans for cutbacks. Maybe Dickey can take over The City and chop pay all around.
ReplyDeleteLike I said-KNBR people are acting edgey. I never heard them ever mention Dickey before this month..now he gets a nod every other day.
ReplyDeleteIts sounds like the first casualty will be Damon Bruce when 1050's format changes. KNBR won't take him back with the Giants using Lee Hammer as a puppet.
Bruce "jokingly" called KNBR the "evil empire" the other day. He's not coming back.
Radnich is like the cockroach who survives the nuclear war..his unashamedly "the rich are always right" philosophy of a man driven by love of the all mighty buck keeps him propped up. Still,it might be cheaper to get rid of him?..you never know.
A minor correction. KGO's parent, Disney, does not own the 900 Front St. property. It is leased for multiple millions. KGO-TV will be very happy to have the additional space in the building so they can lease to more attorneys.
ReplyDeleteYeah right they are going to fold a major franchise like KGO and turn it into KGO 1050 ha ha you are delusional.
ReplyDeletehaha, its the jealousy of Radunich's money, eh??
ReplyDeletesad sack losers whining about the wealthy per usual...how pathetic...
as for D. Bruce i'm not sure why he lost the Sportsphone 680 gig(must have been ratings, no?) but it doesn't reflect reflect well on him when he makes those kind of comments...was he moved over because he pi$$ed off SFG management? he really has nothing worthwhile to say on baseball...basketball is his forte...for the most part he's just boooooring though...
Cumulitus. There is no cure.
ReplyDelete1050 will remain sports as it protects 680.
The marketing head of KNBR already oversees The Bone & KFOG. 55 Hawthorne is as stripped down as it can get. KGO will be joining the party. 4 heritage stations going further down the drain.
ReplyDeleteDamon Bruce sounds like a windbag to me. I guess the young kids would say toolbox? ahahah
ReplyDeleteWasn't he whining for 3 months that the Ginats should sign Manny ...the steroid head?
Knows basketball? Ha! I called him once, and was going to make a suggestion, and said that I had played a little ball in my youth. He asks me, "With WHO?" (Condescendingly.) I replied, "Mully." He had a COW! Of coarse, he didn't believe me ... what an immature goofball. I listened to him 2 or 3 times, and that was enough.
Not a Bud Furillo (L.A.) or Pete Franklin. (Franklin was deep.)
Mark in WC
Ok-not sure of I heard right as I was surfing channels on the Japan tragedy-but did Radnich say Ron Owens was now on the KNBR 7 floor?..I know i have something garbled..but I heard Ron Owens name and Radnich admitting things are changing..
ReplyDeleteWill Radnich talk to Ownens about the newest cell phone or gadget?
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you this, Radnich isn't afraid to get to the real truth on certain matters... so if they ever talked state or federal budgets... he might wake Owens up to the reality that we are swimming in debt... and, therefore, something has to be CUT!
I have to laugh at how many people-like today call in to say how rude and full of himself Radnich is to regular people. If he senses your not worth a buck to him,he blows them off.
ReplyDeleteI wonder when he drops the nice guy persona and admits he's obnoxious and hates people who arent of his "type"?
i think radunich must have laughed at a few of these losers on here, that's why they so pi$$ed off..he's got a show to run and has to try to keep people reasonably entertained or they switch the station...so if you're a dimbulb who can't add anything to the proceedings he(rightly) moves on...and if he goofs on you, too damn bad - grow up or listen to the idiot on 1050...
ReplyDeleteI would imagine KSFO is profitable as is. Right wing hate talk seems to be popular still.
ReplyDeleteKGO could give KCBS a run for it's money as a all news format and the sports backup to 680. Some excellent news talent at 810.
1050 could be rebranded Talk 1050 and put some of the lefties over there to counter balance KSFO?
Fun to speculate, what do I know.