Several industry people, reacting to my story about the possibility of Cumulus shifting from news back to all-talk on KGO, now say it's a virtual certainty.
One longtime Bay Area exec, a veteran who knows Cumulus inside and out was succinct: "It's not a matter of if--but when."
I agree. In fact, I would say within three-six months. The only thing, logistically speaking, is obtaining clearances from various shows. Some of those shows are Cumulus properties such as Geraldo and Red Eye. Mike Huckabee too. And that's not such as big an obstacle as it appears to be given that two of those show already air on KSFO, a Cumulus-owned station here in the city.
On the weekend? More bleak news. Expect a lot of canned real-estate shows and barter-like productions that wreak of tape-delayed content and wallpaper shows. In other words, little or basically no original programming, a Cumulus speciality given they don't care about content nor programming for the local community.
It's no wonder, again, that a great majority of current KGO news staffers are flooding resumes into other stations' personnel dept, (like KCBS and KQED), and/or seeking work out of the business altogether.
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Seriously? With all the local talent available? No Copeland? No Monty?
ReplyDeleteThis too is doomed.
KG-ONE do need adult supervision. How they choose their discussion topics is totally amazing. Their ability to read the mind of the masses can be compared to certain politicians pursuing irrelevant political issues.
ReplyDeleteRich! Rich! Rich! Have you ever thought of working for an intelligence agency? You would be so super.
Goodbye Karel! So long Timmy Montmanure, Bye Bye Shef Scott. See ya, wouldn't want to be ya Maureen Langon1 Sorry 'bout that Crime Lady. Sad for Pat Thurston, too? What about Christine?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait. I like Red Eye. Buh Bye Sussman, you, too, Morgan.
I think KSFO will be sold sooner than later. Cumulus can't handle two talkers.
It only figures -- no news director and the new operations manager is from a mostly all-talker at KABC (and failing badly.) This won't be pretty to watch. Have fun on KXRA, Karel.
If Cumulus is going to go back to talk radio there's a likelihood they will syndicate some of their programming. If any of them work they will keep that show, and then they will try to find 1 or 2 local shows in between to increase ratings and presence. If they make a quick switch to talk it's easy to syndicate while they bide their time.
ReplyDeleteEverything being discussed by Rich is predictable and boring. Yet his comment about it being a 3-6 month thing, I will gladly take that bet. He will undoubtedly be wrong.
What an incredible waste of a 50 kilowatt, clear channel frequency. Sounds like they are just moving KSFO over the the high power signal. It's not about KGO per se. It's about enhancing the reach and value of their programming properties. Any predictions should probably be framed in that context. JW
ReplyDeleteThe major screw up was letting the former hosts go...very bad. Then changing the schedule by adding the "has been" Glen Beck and relegating Stephanie Miller to evening at a time when fewer people would be listening was an extremely poor choice. After having been a listener for decades since the days of Jim Dunbar and Ira Blue, I very, VERY RARELY EVER tune to KGO anymore. I believe there was a larger listener following prior to these changes. Perhaps a survey of listeners would have been helpful. I'm not sure what the new management has for brains!
ReplyDeleteYou must not have been a KGO listener. KGO never had Glen Beck and Stephanie Miller on. Not sure what station you are confused with. Jim Dunbar and Ira Blue, yes. Not the others.
DeleteRed eye is good, however I would prefer coast to coast. Bring Hannity on over and lets try to talk some sense into bay area libiots.
ReplyDeleteIf KGO survives a license challenge, then we should disband the FCC and let Ayn Rand rule the airwaves.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of a clear channel station.
100% travesty.
Makes sense now why they renewed Ronn's contract.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Mattress Man's reaction on the day they gut the all news format. I can just hear his feigned enthusiasm at the prospect of following Geraldo's show at 9am!!! I must say, the idea of no more Chef Ryan Scott, Monteminor and Jennifer Lee Jones makes me giddy.
ReplyDeleteI doubt they'll dump Jennifer Lee Jones, Jon Bristow or the Morning News. They'd run Geraldo after Ronn. God help us.
Delete12:39 I very much like Jennifer Lee Jones , John Bristow and the morning news and I doubt that they will be replaced because I bet the ratings are good. Also, I think it's about time to stop with the mattress man b.s., but go ahead and continued to be resentful. Oh and I am no longer a big fan of KGO, but do appreciate a few things still: a.m. news, Ronn, Michael Finney, John Hamilton, and Lynn Jimenez (if she ever gets back).
DeleteIt looks like the Jennifer Lee Jones cheering squad from Pleasanton came on full force to support the "perky" one. Her "iiit's Fridaaaay" moniker got tired real fast. Sorry, I never warmed up to her. I thought Rosie Allen and Ed Baxter were great in the mornings and I also enjoyed them on 910am until they decided to give the full time gig to Plumbing Man. In fact, on Fridays Baxter and Allen were MUCH better than Rhoda and Gross-man. Oh well, I'm not tuning in as much to Plumbing Man or the Loyah, afternoons find me listening to Lieberman and that old fuddy-duddy Chuck Friedman on KSCO.
DeleteCan't KGO or any other station for that matter lose their license if the public does not support their efforts? Sounds like it is time for the public to respond.
ReplyDeleteNo. The FCC doesn't get involved in programming controversies -- outside of obscene and illegal issues, of which this isn't. The Commission deals only with the "public trust and necessity" as it pertains to community and pubic service. Don't get too excited about Rich's thoughts on going back to talk, be it syndicated or not. After ditching the high price of past personalities, Cumulus wouldn't go back to getting those high salaries back in place. It would be talk on the cheap (though it is an AFTRA union shop) and syndication through Cumulus' own programming would be much cheaper. We've been down this road with Rich before to no avail.
ReplyDeleteAutomated, out-of-market syndicated programming IS what I said, doofus. I didn't say anything about hiring "high-salaried" people. Geraldo is already on their payroll. As is Huckabee. Read the post before you go down your own "road to no avail."
DeleteHey, Rich, everyone's heated because it's such a frustrating no-win situation. It's clear that talk, excepting Owens, will be outsourced. And it's clearly an abuse of the original terms of a 50,000 watt clear-channel license, but with an FCC that sold out to big bucks long ago, ain't nothing going to be done about it. We learned that when owners--and programming--changed over at 840 KTRB, another 50,000 watt outlet where they're only in it for the money.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather listen to "All News" KGOne than to Huckabee, Geraldo, et al. My preference would be to put Humpty-Dumpty back together again - meaning - put all of the talk show people, fired in December 2011, back behind the mike at KGO.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if they could. But Len Tillem and Gil Gross have permanent gigs on 910 AM now, so why would they go back to KGO and the people who shot them dead? And John Rothman? Who knows? I don't think he has any love left for KGO either, and it's KGO's loss.
DeleteSadly, I don't think Gene Burns is available, but if he were, I can't imagine he'd want back in there either.
What's the 50k Watt/Clear Channel license all about? Is this a "crack" that listeners can exploit with the FCC?
ReplyDeleteIt'll never happen! KGO is a KCBS wannabee! KGO. All news all the time. Cumulus will continue to shout it from the highest hill.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how's that God-awful elevator music working out on kjzy?????????? Don't you just love saccharin music? Yuck!
ReplyDeleteWon't happen. Too much money. That and the fact they are "too old" to try and get those 25-54 year olds (which bombed and fail miserably.) No way Cumulus will turn around and rehire those lost at those salaries or anywhere need them. Plus, Mr. Burns won't be back, unfortunately. Gross may have a non-compete over at 910. Ray is out in the cosmos. Those days are over. Cumulus won't reinvest the money they so desperately worked at saving. Ralph Barbieri's departure at KNBR proves that as well.
ReplyDeleteSo are you saying that Geraldo Riviera is "too old" to draw the 25-54 radio audience? That Hillary Clinton is too old to draw votes for the presidency from 25-54 year old voters? that rush is too old to be on the radio? It's a false construct that there is only a certain age that can draw a certain age to buy a product, listen to something, or watch something. For example, did you think that only old people enjoy "Downton Abbey?", because it isn't about current times?isn't reality tv about 25 year olds?The departed hosts were all over 54. They were replaced by much younger voices, for the most part. How has that worked in the 25-54 demographic?
DeleteIt's not going to happen. Do you think Cumulus pulled the plug to save all that money a couple of years ago, (when they're fired most of their talk show hosts) just to throw more money back out there on some lousy, hack, talk show talents in an effort to get better ratings? Anyway, Cumulus (ie.e the Dickhead brothers) could care less about ratings. They're all about downgrading and destroying the product. Cumulus is to radio what the atomic bomb is to humans. The sooner Cumulus gets out of the radio business, the better. Who knows, we may even have quality radio programming again! But it won't happen anytime soon!
ReplyDeleteCumulus is a business and as such they are in it for profit for their investors and shareholders. Do they care about the quality of the product? Hell no. Do they care about Bay Area listeners? Only to the extent to justify advertising rates. They have a formula to pay bottom dollar for the cheapest product at a high megawatt station and hope to sell anough advertising to make a profit. Nothing more or less. They will never rehire the old KGO talk show hosts - too expensive. They may, however, hire Rich Libermann!!
ReplyDeleteRich,
ReplyDeleteBelieve you are right. I predicted that the hybrid news format would only last 90 days but failure took longer. Unless Clear Channel gives up on Rush like they did in Boston, Huckabee will remain on KSFO. You're probably right about Geraldo although he may run for a U.S. Senate from New Jersey. John Batchelor may move over from KSFO for late night, too. Rothman may be sour on the Cumonoids but would be an excellent local presence. I don't see them picking up any Dial Global (Dennis Miller), Premiere, TRN or other syndicated talk hosts so they will try to fill the schedule with low cost locals or maybe import some others like Larry Elder or some of the national fill ins. Most of the good ones are conservative, which would conflict with the left of center history. It will be a challenge to fill the day so their news blocks may have some life. Ultimately, I think they may ditch one of their AM properties here and perhaps pick up an additional FM in trade. Who knows? It should be interesting.
so, back to the same ol' same ol' syndicated talk shows? like San Francisco, New York, Boston, Topeka, Abilene, Jackson...SAME SHOW, SAME PROGRAMMING ???? ha!
ReplyDelete