Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Rothmann Letter on KGOne One Year Later



It's close to the one-year anniversary of KGO becoming k-GONE. I've been inundated with reminders and I can't believe the bitter hurt and angst that still exists in the Bay Area over the purge one year later.

I just received this letter from former KGO talker, John Rothmann:

December 1st marks the one year anniversary of the end of KGO as the greatest news talk station on the radio dial. For those of us who were lucky enough to be on the air and those who loved to listen and participate by calling in, it is a loss that we feel every day.



KGO was the place we went to debate the issues of the day. The hosts at KGO represented many diverse points of view and gave us qll the best in talk radio. What could be better than sharing countless hours with Ronn, Gil, Gene, and Ray. We remember Ira Blue, Jim Eason, Lee Rogers, Bernie Ward, Pete Wilson, Dwayne Garrett and all of the others who were part of the KGO family of talk hosts through the years. Our producers were the best. The news team was tremendous and won numerous well deserved awards. Year after year KGO was proclaimed the best news and talk radio station in the United States. The listeners to KGO responded to the outstanding programing, by raising millions of dollars for the Leukemia Cure A Thon, the Thanksgiving Charities drive and so many more worthwhile efforts. No other station was able to form such a true partnership with the listeners to do so much good for the entire community. We were more than just a community we were an extended family of millions.



The leadership and vision of Mickey Luckoff made KGO News Talk 810 the number one station in this market for more than three decades. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to the man who guided and built KGO into the legendary station we all appreciated and loved.



One need only look at the current radio ratings to understand what the loss of KGO has meant to our community. One would think, just looking at the numbers, that the current owners of KGO would understand the impact of their error.


I was lucky enough to be on the air at KGO from August of 1996 to December 1, 2011. I will always be grateful for the opportunity, the fun, the friendships, and the sheer joy of being on the KGO News Talk 810. How I wish KGO were still the station that we all knew and loved.


27 comments:

  1. I miss the civilized intelligent discourse of John Rothmann. I see he hasn't changed a bit.

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  2. What are the ratings in 25-54? Where are they ranked?

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  3. So, should we bring back Frank and Mike on KNBR in the morning? Resurrect 610 KFRC with Bobby Ocean, Rick Shaw, and Drake jingles? Jim Lang again on KSFO? Bring Bruce Williams back to talk radio, too? Nothing stays the same. Change is the only constant, especially in a dynamic medium such as radio. KGO, as it was constituted, is not coming back to its former glory. It's done.

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    1. Good point. Time for everyone to move on.

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    2. I think it makes sense to revisit the sense of loss at the one year anniversary of KGO's demise. We were fortunate to be able to listen to all the talent at a very special and unique radio station for many years and it's kind of like losing a friend. Actually, it's a lot like losing a friend who kept us company during our daily routine.
      I appreciate 910 for bringing on some of KGO people although when it is dark so early, my signal is so weak it's hard to hear.
      I enjoyed John Rothmann's letter. I wish I could hear more from him.

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    3. Yep; change the dial. Great idea.

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    4. maybe Ron Owens is posting as anonymous on this post dated November 28, 2012 12:11 PM?

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    5. The new ad jingle is out: Cumulus! the power of...incompetence!!!

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    6. how funny the ones who say just "move on" or saying "its done" are probably the ones who hated the old kgo.and i bet the majority were conservatives.
      yes it is good to look back and see how things were and why they are no longer.hopefully we can someday bring back a station resembling that of the legendary KGO.

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  4. I do miss the old KGO greatly. I listen to Len Tillem and Gil Gross daily over on the new station, KKSF. I enjoy it when John makes an appearance there, too. The new owners of KGO made a big mistake, but there's little we can do about it now. Time to move on, unfortunately.

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  5. too bad 910 can't make more space for KGO exiles...how about replacing the 7-10 clown with Ray T?

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    1. Money may well be the reason why 910 hasn't hired all of the former KGO talk show hosts that were fired at this time last year. It's probably cheaper for 910 to carry syndicated Fox Radio programming like Alan Colmes and Tom Sullivan on weekdays and more profitable to air informercials (unfortunately) on weekends. KKSF's weak signal can't come anywhere near matching the coverage of KGO's 50,000-watt blow torch, and its ratings are still in the basement despite adding former KGO talent Gil Gross, Len Tillem, John Rothmann, Ed Baxter and Rosie Allen to their line-up at one time or another.

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    2. When the implementation of the logistics does not meet the situation, it could only means one thing.

      KKSF management sucks.

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  6. Have only turned to KGO 4 or 5 times in the last year, when I would listen 3/4 times a week before....and the times I've listened this year has only been for sports.

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    1. I was also a loyal listener but now I may catch the news or sports on KGO once or twice a week. I have gone from hours to minutes. Still miss it though. Nothing quite the same on the dial.

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  7. What does John Rothman do nowadays anyway other than his infrequent appearances on KKSF? Anyone care to help me out?

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  8. I miss hearing you on the radio John! Your willingness to share your knowledge about national politics was a major bay area asset. And the way you conducted your show -- your courtesy to your guests and your callers (some of which didn't return the courtesy very well to say the least), is a merit to you and in my opinion was without equal among all the sfo area radio hosts.

    Not saying I always agreed with you though ... lol.

    With KGO's ratings now in the dumps, I expect some business-minded-person will recognize the huge business opportunity available and start an independently owned commercial center-left AM radio station with good bay area coverage. The prior KGO advertisers must be in a tizzy, not able to reach 75% of the bay area audience any more. Some say this station already exists, as 910AM, but first of all 910AM has poor coverage except near the city of San Francisco, and second, I just don't see a Fox station (even if it had better coverage) which airs the Limbaugh show being able to deliver the audience that bay area advertisers seek.

    when that happens, I hope you'll get a chance for a 3 hour every weekday spot there! Crossing my fingers!





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  9. The beauty of Cumulus destroying KGO (Bill Bung-nut not excluded) is that it is losing so much money. Lew Dickey seems to have NO business sense on how to run a profitable radio group let alone know what good programming is. His father must be disgusted and so disappointed that the Dickey name will be associated with what appears to be probably the worst run radio company if not the worst run company ever. Go to Glassdoor dot com and read the reviews. You will see why the only sales people who are left at most of the stations at Cumulus SF are pretty much kids right out of college or they resemble senior citizens that came back to work because they more than likely lost their retirement money when the stock market crashed. So with shitty programming and no talented salespeople left, Cumulus doesn't make any money. I find that hilarious. BTW... I hear talk that Pizzati might be next to enjoy the same fate as Bungleprick now that JT has been hired. I also hear that NO ONE wants the market manager job. F#ckin' hilarious!

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  10. Radio is the one medium that is still free, yet the bean counters and mega-companies who own the business of radio today are slowly strangling the life out of it with terrible decisions.

    What Cumulus has done to the local stations in this market borders on criminal. They are a terrible company and should be ashamed of what they have done, but they could care less.

    About the only good thing is that they're bleeding money and have become a joke in the industry. As someone once said:
    "It was like they were given the keys to a Ferrari, and didn't know how to use a stick shift."

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  11. Cumulus made a fundamentally stupid decision to drop the news talk format at KGO along with the highly professional broadcasters like John Rothmann, Gene Burns, Gil Gross Ronn Owens (hanging by a thread) and others. It was an institution in the bay area and would have maintained its leading status for years to come under management like Mickey Luckoff. As a conservative, I was always drawn to the slightly left leaning programming in order to either validate or reject my own position on important issues. The current hybrid news format is grade B compared to KCBS and frankly is an excess format for this market. The weaker news formats in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have disappeared. It will not survive here either. The market desperately needs resurrect old KGO format backed up by the solid staff it once had. Perhaps someday, I will have it as a preset selection on my AM or FM dials.

    By the way, Rothmann is a true professional. I often disagreed with him but I admired his analysis and knowledge of history. He is a kind and respectful man and I miss hearing him.

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    1. "By the way, Rothmann is a true professional. I often disagreed with him but I admired his analysis and knowledge of history. He is a kind and respectful man and I miss hearing him."

      This is so true!

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  12. Thank you for your memories and thoughts Mr. Rothmann. I couldn't agree more and hope to find you on the radio dial in a regular spot again. All the best.

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  13. If it wasn't for these internet updates I'd have long ago forgotten KGO. I love my new internet radio. I go to WABC on the top of the hour for ABC News. I go to WEEI to get my beloved Red Sox news. I go to LBC - London's Biggest Conversation - for intelligent, truly fair and balanced talk radio. I can list all my other presets but suffice it to say that Cumulus killed not only KGO but radio. Buh Bye!

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  14. Internet Radio and streaming audio is keeping me alive with access to progressive talk throughout the country. That said, the crew at KGO in the past was stellar. Even though some of them are steaming its not like having the KGO flagship to turn to. It continues to be missed

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  15. There is still plenty of good talk on KGO, especially on the weekends. Why are you forgetting Monty, Pat, Brian, Candice Delong even. In some ways I think it's better now. And when I want the local news KGO is where I turn to. Those other news stations are just not as good.

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    1. Either you work for KGO or must be high! How can you possibly compare Monty (at the M-O-N-T-Y show) to any of the former stellar talk hosts or even think 'it's better now'? I can't stand Monty and his loud self righteous holier than thou attitude. Pat and Brian, are great professionals and from the old days but unfortunately are lumped into the new K-GONE. Yes, the former KGO News Talk 810 is truly missed and it's only proper to recognize the anniversary date of its demise. I do miss it as I would an old friend and am NO longer a faithful listener out of protest! If you want GOOD local news listen to KCBS, KQED or in the North Bay KSRO

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  16. IMO "The Monty Show" is one of the major problems. I have to turn the dial, or turn off the radio, when it's announced that "The Monty Show" will be up next. Evidently, "You get what you pay for" is as true today as it ever was.

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