Big blowout at KOIT...perennial FM ratings leader.
Laurie Sanders, who celebrated her 20th year doing afternoon drive at KOIT this week, was let go Wednesday in a downsizing move. The reduction in force also included Marketing Director Jude Heller and KOIT general sales manager Scotty Bastable. Sanders will be allowed to do a goodbye show Thursday.
This is the latest in the dismantling of KOIT. Last July program director Bill Conway was relieved of his duties after 14 years of ratings success.
Long-time mid-day announcer Larry Ickes was let go in September along with Julie Shannon, assistant PD/music director and morning news.
**From my audio spy: Entercom, which runs a slew of outlets, including All-Sports, 95.7 FM-- "The Game" has its sights on a popular 102. 9, FM Bay Area mainstay.
...The News:
Entercom is buying KBLX. Inner City Broadcasting has filed for bankruptcy. Word is that Entercom wanted to block Cumulus from buying KBLX which would have allowed them to simulcast one of their AM's on 102.9, (KGO perhaps?)
**Developing...
*Follow me on Twitter
*RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE
How could they mess with a good thing at KOIT? Aren't they the #1 AC station in the nation?! Once you start fiddling with a good thing, it goes downhill. I'm so sad Laurie will be leaving. And I wondered where Larry went.
ReplyDeleteI hope the owners don't move to a 100% computerized format. (What was that one computerized station from a few years back, with John O'Hurley as the voice of the station)?
Too bad Mickey and Jim Gabbert couldn't have bought it and reconstructed the successful KGO model. But at least Cumulus didn't get a hold of yet another station.
ReplyDeleteThis business sucks. All people in charge of radio are f*****s!
ReplyDeleteWhen KOIT was owned by Bonneville it was known as The Mormon Money Machine. It always had great ratings, huge revenue/ profit and a reputation for treating employees well. In just a few years under Entercom that has all changed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cautionary tale for the KBLX staff and their loyal listeners
Rich, what's new with Gene Burns and will he ever return to the bay area airwaves? I'm a little surprised that you have not mentioned this over the last few weeks.
ReplyDeleteIndeed - Bonneville treated people like gold. They had a great health plan, 401K and even a pension plan. Plus, they made money despite not taking gambling (lottery) or spirits business. Employees also rec'd 40 hours of paid time off to volunteer work each year. So sad to see them leave the market!
ReplyDeleteIt was very sad to see them leave. This hands down was probably the best company I had ever worked for. Chuck Tweedle was a class act and ran a tight ship. It was considered the IMB of radio! So sad to see it all go away!! The heritage, the legacy, mostly the people that made that station the success it is!
DeleteEntercom buying KBLX? Why? They have failed twice with 95.7 the Wolf now the Game; Bombed with KFOX on two frequencies as well as screwing up KDFC before on 102.1; continuing to destroy the ice upon a time successful KOIT
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of failure for one company. Why do they want to buy another station- to have another failure perhaps!
Entercom's treatment of KOIT's Laurie Sanders mirrors what is happening all over the industry, and the excuse they always give as they gut these successful stations is that they're going in a different direction. They always mess with success. Greedy aren't they.
ReplyDeleteThey should move THEGAME to 102.1 Its a nice theory that FM 95.7 should have a clear signal,in reality it's too weak,is hard on the ears in a car,and is never in stereo. If they were on a stronger FM,added the Raiders,and hired Sports host who might be democrats instead of those never ending conservatives like Lund bashing Obama or that idiot Monte from a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteThat PD at 95.7,hires what he see's in the mirror..and it's not getting them far when people here are ready to dump KNBR for real quality.
AND I should have added a REAL demo take on sports is what is needed. I dont support the Nazi's is what most conservative sports hosts consider a liberal offering to the bay area.
DeleteIf I hear Lund and Urban bash Obama one more time?..its 1050 or the Joy of Painting (happy tree's says Bob) on ch 54 for good..
Sports host who spout conservative polotics shows how little Entercom knows about sports programming and how little they are in synch with San Francisco
ReplyDeleteThey are losers
I don't live in the Bay Area anymore (for now), regular listener to KOIT and am appaled. Just like when Clear Channel took over KKSF. I think the mindset of supposed the younger execs who are in charge. Disgusted, if they continue to change the format, I am sure they will loose all their loyal listeners. Heck, it wouldn't be KOIT in character, only the namesake! Sucks!
ReplyDelete