Clear Channel has been sending its work force a bunch of pink slips. It's the holiday season. Timing has never been a virtue at big broadcasting companies. The bottom line supersedes Kris Kringle.
Folks here at the company cluster in town have largely been saved thus far from the mass company layoffs. Outside of OM Alan Eisenson's abrupt departure in November, CC's SF-Sacto section has been relatively calm.
That could change.
Rumors abound that there's a fair chance of significant layoffs around the first of the year. Nobody has any real concrete evidence but if cuts are prevalent in big markets like Chicago and LA, then surely, SF, the story would go, would be on the Clear Channel hit list.
Newstalk 910, the local SF CC radio outlet, is supposedly close to a budget for the coming year. That could very well forecast its long-term plan for the station's news and talk local conduit involving hosts who are awaiting the news. Talk about the fiscal cliff. Yes, many people are nervous. Could you blame them?
*Yeah, so this media observer has issues with a sendoff on local TV news that bordered on the ridiculous with a so-called sports anchor professional crying out loud on live TV over a colleague's early exit to the art world procured by her bosses. About as uneven as the last sentence. Cry me a river.
*Meanwhile, on the Ronn front...everyone is calling and e-mailing. Hang tight, folks, we didn't anticipate a lot of late maneuvers but we're on it. Stay tuned.
*Speaking of KGO, the big bad guy that is temporarily running Cumulus SF is supposedly about to take aim at the station's personnel, on and off the air. Like I said, it's the holiday season. December is a cruel month. And this dude is all about that, so I've been told.
*Follow me on Twitter
Rich you need to become a community organizer.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is that supposed to mean?
DeleteDecember layoffs at Clear Channel have become an annual tradition. It takes some serious cajones to do a major round of layoffs right before Christmas once; it takes a real piece of shit to do it annually without fail.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have any news on Lynn Jimenez? I only hear the Wall Street Journal people on the KGO morning news. I Only listen for about an hour, but she hasn't been on in weeks. Is she ok? Still at KGO? They list her on the website.
ReplyDeletePlease check this blog for a Jimenez item about one week ago...come on man!
DeleteCan't find the blog myself, but I heard Lynn say herself on her last day she was taking a temporary leave to take care of family business and that she would definitely be back.
DeleteHer father, that she donated a kidney to, a few years back, is in declining health. She has taken a leave to assist in his care and be with him. She is a remarkable lady...in many ways.. keeping her in thoughts and prayers and hope for a speedy return, unfortunately, understand what that means.
DeleteI pray that KNEW will keep Gil Gross, Len Tillem, John Rothmann and cBas Kunz. They've become like close friends and family to me and I'd feel lost without them. Wouldn't we all?
ReplyDeleteUh, in the case of Gross no. Bringing in Rhoda plus not taking calls 95% of the time has angered the base.
DeleteUh, no.
DeleteWith the exception of Len Tillem. He has the best ratings on KKSF (not KNEW, incidentally.)
the station at 910 is KKSF... they swapped the KNEW call letters a year ago
DeleteSlow news day? Much about nothing if you ask me. There's nothing new and of substance in here. Vague hints of layoffs in the radio industry are nothing new. Get back to us when you really know something, but don't post filler.
ReplyDeleteRonn had a year more on his contract..they just wanted to get there $ 500k out of him...but look at the good side his was on KGO since 1975 I know I was listening.!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of cajones, I wonder how they will handle Ronn and if they have the cajones to not give Ronn an acceptable path to stay on the station when he has just barely recovered from his horrible ordeal? He no doubt has the best sized lister audience of all the hosts by a mile even without those who stomped off furiously last December (don't totally blame them, but I still am a fan). I wonder what the station will look like this time next month.
ReplyDeleteDid you not see how they treated Barbieri and his Parkinsons? Kicked him in the ass, Ronnnnnnnnnn's illness will have no bearing.
DeleteDear Santa:
ReplyDeleteRich says that December is a cruel month for radio people. Here's an idea to payback someone who has been cruel to listeners, management, staff and people in general.
Please fire KAREL and do it quickly and painfully. Christmas Eve would be a grand and fitting time.
Thank you. Best to Mr. Pizati in pulling this off. As a bonus, please rid the airwaves of the witch from NYC, Hangin' w/ Mo Langon. Send her to Monterey and KOMY for training. Oh, never mind that, there is no training there, as a certain blogger proves. And to all a good nite.
@"Santa"...
ReplyDeleteSo, if you're really a clever one you could figure out Cumulus' email assignment strategy, and send Mr. Pizzati your thoughts directly. Oh please do.
https://www.google.com/search?q=gary+pizzati&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=u&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oJfHUKzYEu3OigKy2YHoAg&ved=0CEkQsAQ&biw=1276&bih=690