Ronn Owens is working on KGO.
Albeit without a contract, but a call into his agent, David Katz, indicates that "discussions are ongoing." Which begs the question, what discussions?" Katz wouldn't address that, but did confirm my assessment that, since Owens' old deal expired on Tuesday, he's no longer getting seven figures.
I asked Katz if Owens's current compensation was on an "at will" basis, (essentially scale plus a few percentage points.) Think low six figures. And remember, Owens has little, if any, leverage and his agent knows it. "Yes, you could say that, " offered Katz.
Conveniently, neither Owens nor KGO/Cumulus even bothered to acknowledge that Owens is even on the air after months of speculation as to his status. He told a colleague a few months back that he was "seriously considering retirement." I reported that.
Now, after battling some recent medical issues, (in which he broadcast from his home), and working at a time he normally takes off to celebrate the holidays, Owens is on the air and, again, working without a contract.
Katz told me last month that no matter what, "he'll, (Ronn) be working in San Francisco." Gees, what a surprise. I was actually thinking Owens was checking out condos in Tulsa.
Bottom line: Owens will continue to work until Cumulus finds it the time he's no longer the brand that kept him at KGO for the past 36+ years, it's just that the money isn't once what it was, and Owens wants a few more years left behind the mic. His retirement thoughts have been put off and KGO apparently doesn't have anything better for 9-Noon Monday thru Friday.
That's the latest.
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Some PURE speculation on what might be being "discussed"...
ReplyDelete1-A two hour show...10 to noon...lets them add an hour to the morning news (addding 4 to 5am didn't work out, but I can see news going to 10 working)?
2-A four day week? Or even more vacation time?
3-(This one's pretty unlikely, but...) A time slot change? The "afternoon" news slot is, in my book, the worst of the worst on the station, so why not have Ronn come in from, maybe 2 to 5? They can still do traffic every 15 minutes in the last hour to keep early commuters happy then get a stronger news broadcast in afternoon drive.
Mattress Man's ego must be extremely bruised and battered. Maybe Ronnnnnnnnnn wants to stay on air long enough to cheer on yet another war, this time vs Iran? Just walk away with the little dignity you have left man!
ReplyDeleteMattress Man is a talentless hack whoshould have been dumped years ago. Only his huge ego keeps him on air.
ReplyDeleteKGO should replace "Mattress Man" with "Cabinet Man" Gil Gross and Rhoduhhhh.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed Ronn's show and am happy to be part of his audience. There are many like me. I think he should work as long as he chooses and he has plenty of dignity ( 11:04 a.m. above) and plenty of talent (3:53 p.m.) If you don't enjoy him, just change the channel and listen to Rush who is the angry, bitter man's cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteIt's not Ronn's fault the station tanked. Check his numbers. The moment he gets on the air at 9 AM they increase from the news. THe station isn't what it was, but it certainly isn't on Ronn like him or not.
ReplyDeleteRonn Owens is the best, but the way the remaining KGO talkers keep every topic alive through out their shift, instead of covering them one at a time and going into depth, drives me crazy. I'm sure somebody made that decision for them. When they got into a really meaty topic, it always amazed me how there would always be some callers who were truly experts in the topic and would contribute their expertise to the conversation. Now, they don't stay exclusively on one topic long enough to attract that type of listener. The shows are just a superficial hodge-podge of topics. Almost like the talk show equivalent of elevator music for background noise. JW
ReplyDeleteAMEN to that. I tried listening to Ronn periodically for a few months after the purge, but his topics just seemed to wander all over the place, and it was easy to just turn him off and migrate to Forum on KQED. Good topics, no ads, and enough time spent on an issue to be informed as well as entertained.
DeleteKudos JW. This is the exact same complaint I have with Cabinet Man's (Gil Gross) show. He goes on long monologues about different subjects without ever really going in depth into any of them. When Jim Gabbert or John Rothman fill in they take tons of calls and stick to a topic for an hour at least. So refreshing!
DeleteYes, if the fill-ins can get callers, Gil's explanation that people are busy during that time slot and not available to call or follow one topic for the whole hour doesn't hold water.
DeleteThere isn't much of a "scale" for talk hosts at KGO. They are covered by the local Free Lance Code, the rate for a 3-hour show is about $125. One sticky issue for Ronn is severance...he is due at least 72 weeks' pay, but at what rate? The severance he earned under ABC and Citadel should be in a trust account, but can the Dickey Bros. be trusted with it? Put aside the knives and snark....if they can screw Ronn, think what they can do to those wi,th less leverage
ReplyDeleteSo you think Ronn is working for an hourly wage? Adding in prep, we'll call it 4 hours/$125 x 5 = #2,500 a week x 50 weeks (minus 2) and he gets to $125,000 a year?
DeleteI'm guessing he's getting more than that. Just a hunch. With KGO's ratings being what they are, they cannot afford to lose him, as much as some of you may suspect/hope.
@9:03, you forgot to factor in all the time off Ronnnnnnnn garners, including all major Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Wican holidays....
DeleteHave you listen to Ronn's show lately it is all ads.his show to ads must be 1/3 Ronn 2/3 ads and news, pull the plug it's painful to listen too.....
ReplyDeleteWow! There are some nasty, jealous people out there. Ronn Owens salary and/or working conditions are none of my business. Nor should they be any of yours. You don't like him? Don't listen. And grow up.
ReplyDeleteI would love hearing Ronn Owens on 910,
ReplyDeletefrom 9a.m to noon instead of Rush.