Ronn Owens had an "Up to 30" segment on KGO Radio. Callers complained about the advertisers essentially being scammers (the dog product "Dynovite" or something), men who wear their pants at their knees, and then the good stuff: a number of callers complained about KGO's new format. Then Ronnnnn stopped the segment and said, (see below after UPDATE)...
UPDATE: KGO conveniently did NOT post the third hour of Ronnnnnnnnn's show. And you thought the mattress man was transparent.
I have ZERO respect for the guy. He's a schmuck. Did I say it right? Schmuck.
11/26 11:25 A. M.
Owens:
This is not easy. This is the last "up to 30." I don't like to hear advertisers put down. We have an advertising department that works hard.
A lot of people are still upset about the change nearly 2 years ago. ABC sold to Cap Cities. Sold to Disney. Sold to Citidel and now Cumulus. Every industry has gone through this: cost cutting everywhere you look. But you cannot blame business for wanting to be profitable. I had nothing to do with the format change. Friends of mine were let go. I stayed because I was under contract. Cumulus has treated me wonderfully. They've treated everyone wonderfully. Cumulus is no different from any other company. They wanted to make a format change, and they're doing a good job. People in our news room are doing a damn good job. I was thinking of retiring. I came back. Others -- some are happy some are not. The old KGO is gone. It's not coming back. Whether I miss it or not is not the issue. I was thrilled to be part of the old KGO. The news format is still a good format. They are working their butts off and to be criticized is something I'm tired of. It's
disturbing. My program is not going to change. That was the last up to 30. It's not a fun idea anymore. But before you criticize everyone, the old KGO is not coming back. Gene Burns has passed away. Gil Gross has found new work. Please -- for everyone who works their butt off -- stop it. We've got damn good people.
--As Gene Burns would say were he alive:
YOU BLOWHARD!
More later.
Cumulus is a wonderful company to Ronn until he gets his own pink slip
ReplyDeleteGene Burns is too much of a gentleman to say to say this to your face, Owens.
ReplyDeleteYou're a moral pygmy and a putz.
I'm listening to KGMZ instead of your program.
-David K.
What a kiss ass. Was he on his knees when he did this?
ReplyDeleteHe stayed because he was under contract. Because he's under contract, chances are they have to treat him well. What about those NOT UNDER contract? He came back because of the $$$. Plain and simple. If he thinks people are going to believe otherwise, he's high on something. Cumulus is different than other companies, well, maybe not these days. Most companies treat their employees like s***.
He may think the criticism is disturbing. Well, his thoughts on this matter are exactly that. If he wasn't under contract, he'd probably feel differently.
Yeah, KGO has changed. The old ways aren't coming back. But the new ways suck. KGO might as well hire college kids to rip and read off the teletype. He can't see through all of that guaranteed money and security.
Here come the interns...
And if I heard that, I would change the channel and never return...
ReplyDeleteWhat a MUTT
ReplyDeleteKGO Podcasts for Wednesday EXCLUDE the 11am hour where he made his "up to 30" speech. Was there something to hide?
ReplyDeleteAnyone have another link?
I heard the very end of it this morning and his comments brought me to tears...tears of disgust for him and Jared, and the Dickey brothers. But tears of sorrow, that what happened KILLED Gene Burns...as surely as if Ronn had shoved the knife in himself...he may not have shoved it in but he twisted it ...read it Ronn...you may fool some people, but not the majority.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what made him do the up to 30? I can't believe that he really though that no one would bring it up. I guess there is no heart, and no brain, either....all wrapped up in himself. He never once thought of backing up his "dear friends"...I'm sure he crawled into the Dickey brothers on his knees, asking to stay on, being grateful to take a pay cut to renew his contract. His time will come, probably not in this realm, but it will come... LC
Damn...I wanted to listen to that last Ronnnnnnn segment AGAIN. Sorry about the sponsors getting hammered, but Ronn got the truth today
ReplyDeleteHeard that this morning...
ReplyDeleteRon Owens is laughing...all the way to the bank!
Wish Pat Thurston would take-over that spot.
We need more buttoned-up women in Radio.
And Pat's Perfect!
I know Ronn will be looking at this, and I want to tell him something.
ReplyDeleteRonn, I tuned in during the last 15 minutes of your third hour today and quickly discovered that I had missed a very interesting 45 minutes of that hour! I distinctly remember you saying just before 12 Noon that the third hour would be available on your podcast. I just went to the podcast page for your show and THE THIRD HOUR HAS BEEN OMITTED!
Ronn, you're a LIAR!!!
Needless to say, I've lost a lot of respect for you today. You've shown yourself to be about as "transparent" as Obama.
A big NO on Thurston...she is way too left-leaning and proves the fact that liberalism IS a mental disorder. At least Ronn's politics are more moderate and sensible. Ideas, anyone??
ReplyDeleteWhatever you say Ronn.
DeleteI agree with you as far as Pat's politics 100%. On the other hand there's something sexy to me about her voice....
DeleteYes, you are a total idiot. Can we please got over the idea that you have to agree with someone to compliment them? What does far too left wing really mean? Is Rush, Savage and Levin far too right wing, is Hannity to superficial? Or Huckabee too religious? There should be room for all points of view, and since talk radio is dominated by right wing hosts, shouldn't there be someone who can balance that out. I think Gil should go, as well as Sussman and a few other, not because of their politics, but because of their boring show. I don't like Rush, Levin or many other right wing talk radio, but I would never suggest they should not have a show. I would like it if their ratings went south, because it would mean not enough people and listen to their garbage, but that really is not the issue here. I listen to Tom Sullivan and Armstrong and Getty even though often I don't agree with them. Are would like 5:11 to respond to this blog, it sounds like you only want people on the radio who you agree with? Explain, please.
DeleteI believe the 11am podcast is on there, it's just dated wrong. But the description states a detailed description about it. http://www.kgoradio.com/common/page.php?pt=Ronn+Owens+Podcast&id=4302&is_corp=0
ReplyDeleteIf it's labeled incorrectly, which one is it?
DeleteI think it might be too damaging to leave it up because of bashing the sponsors
It's listed as Nov 25, 11am
DeleteI happened to be in my car, fiddling with the dial and there was Ronn on KGO talking about the Massacre. I only heard a few minutes so tonight I went straight to the the archives....but couldn't find a thing. Did Ronn overstep his overlords and talk taboo trash? Guess so.
ReplyDeleteI really don't give a rat's anymore about KGO. I just wish some outlet would offer a consistently coherent talk format. Is that too much to ask?
I heard the entire hour today, and I remember the days that "no one told Ron Owens what to say, and the day that came, he'd leave." Yeah, sure.
ReplyDeleteA caller after the :30 mark told him, correctly, that no one criticized the newsroom workers, but many callers expressed their continuing dissatisfaction after two years of this new format. Apparently, Ron is unable to understand the difference between the two concepts. Ron's continuing deflection of the listeners' unhappiness demonstrates Cumulus's and Ron's wishful ignorance of the ratings of KGO. If they were "slipping," as Ron said, why not be happy with being #2 or #3 in the marketplace instead of #14 or #15 where they are now?
I also noticed that Ron has not said that "no one tells him what to say" in a long time. Why bother.
Wow, don't listen to him, pretty funny though. I'd rather listen to Burl Ives singing Christmas Carols than 5 minutes of him. Sounds like a child plugging their ears - "I can't hear you!" If people felt like he does they wouldn't have called in with criticism. He doesn't want to hear the truth and he had to kiss butt cover up the stinking pile of crap he created.
ReplyDeleteGood lord, yeah the old ways are gone alright along with KGO and the Chronicle. We get our news from a handful of sources from the Internet. Who wants to listen to those advertisements?
Haven't listened to KGO since the massacre. Is it still on the air?
ReplyDeleteMany of you posters know zero about what it's like to work in broadcasting. And I bet very few of you have worked in broadcasting for that many years. Cumulus is unfortunately a sign of the times, and if you want to stay in radio today, you have to work for companies such as Cumulus, Infinity, Clear Channel and others, who put profit ahead of loyalty. But to continually rip Owens is really getting tiresome. I take the guy for his entire body of work over 38 years at KGO, and he has nothing to be ashamed of, by and large, for his body of work. You yourself Rich, were always worshipping the guy back in the day, and now you're his greatest detractor. Why don't you grow up and take some responsibility yourself for some of the stupid mistakes you've made in your life, rather than constantly ripping Mr Owens? Yes, perhaps Owens could have handled things better, but I doubt that any of you who are posting would have handled it that much differently, It's not a good idea to throw stones if you live in a glass house, is it?
ReplyDeleteScrew you, asshole.
DeleteI will continue to rip the mattress man for the gutless coward that he is.
I know all about Cumulus. I know CC and CBS and Entercom too. I worked for Mutual.
Cumulus is dirt, a radio Walmart and I will address all this and Ronn on Wednesday.
Thanks Ronnnnnn.
Looking forward to your Wednesday post Rich! Keep up the good work. Lowenstein was appointment radio 10 years ago. He came at a crossroads with the mass firings. He could've been a hero but chose to be a pussy chump and a TOOL (something many of us knew him to be). His consciousness (whatever little he has) must be kicking his ass on a daily basis!
Delete$5 says that's the charming Mel Baker again. Sounds like it -- the kissasser and KGO-defender-no-matter-what.
DeleteRonn's body of work is not so impressive, including his cheerleading for Bush's Iraq war and for being part of the fearful media at that time.
DeleteForget Ronn, I really want to know the real deal behind Jennifer Jones Lee's departure and it seems will never return although we all love her. She seems like a very nice woman just like one of our daughters. We all love you and want you back if that is possible.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Jones Lee is reportedly coming back to KGO morning news in January.
DeleteI can't listen to Ronn these days. Once he was appointment radio. But then again, I still mourn the old glory days of KGO. In fact, every Thanksgiving Eve I would look forward to listening to Mr. Burns and starting my Thanksgiving prep. It didn't feel like work when I had Gene to keep me company. You can't begin to imagine how much I miss the old KGO, and I am sorry, but I'll never really recover from the loss.
ReplyDeleteI understand and agree. I don't think that these out-of-towners, Cumulus, had any idea what they were destroying.
DeleteThanksgiving, KGO and Bernie Ward were synonymous. No idea if KGO carries on the Thanksgiving Charities tradition. Too bad if they don't. There are many people out there who need help. For whatever Bernie's failings were I'd say the good he did far outweighed his runaway libido.
DeleteTomorrow should be interesting (if Ronn shows up, he tends to "get sick" or something after any problems) it will be the best of the best...Ronn along with his sidekick, "Mr Inappropriate", Chef Ryan Scott. Those two have a lot in common. I'm sure they will take this as positive, but hardly so...egotistical, self centered, and insensitive. They will both be doing the "poor me, poor you" chattering all morning.
ReplyDelete7:11,,,,Ronn's "body of work" was shown for what it is...blow hard, agree with Rich. lc
I am in the minority here. But, I feel sorry for Mr. Owens. I was a KGO daily listener from 1975 to its demise at the hands of a new careless owner.
ReplyDeleteAbout 6 months ago I was waiting in the car for my wife and dialed up 810 just to see what was happening. Ronn was on and was talking and talking and talking. No callers. And, to me, it was obvious that he had lost the old joie de vivre that once his voice transmitted. His delivery and enthusiasm were "flat." I could only listen about 20 minutes before my sadness compelled me to turn off the radio.
Mr. Owens does not own KGO. He does not manage it. He exercises no controll over its operation. Why call him a turncoat? He is doing a job in an atmosphere which must be stifling, at best. He sees other employees working their asses off trying to make something out a news operation. Hard work. Dedication. No results. Just college station ratings and sketchy advertisers.
It was naive of Ronn to think that "Up to 30" would not attract critics of KGO. That's as far as I will go in criticizing him. I feel pity, not anger.
As for Cumulus. They bought the station. They own it. They operate it. They broke it. But, most importantly, they will NEVER admit it. And they will never FIX it. Now that makes me livid!
I rarely agree with you. But hallelujah here is one of those times. Blowhard definitely is what Gene Burns would have said about Ron's comments. If you don't want to hear what your listeners have to say, don't answer the phone. KGO is gone for good but if you search enough you can catch Dr. Bill, and John Rothmann occasionally. I miss smart radio because it made me think (gee that's a novel idea).
ReplyDeleteRich,
ReplyDeleteRonn and/or KGO must've seen these comments and gotten a lot of other flack, because the third hour of Ronn's show today finally HAS surfaced on his podcast page. It's labeled properly on the page, but the mp3 audio file is dated November 25. I've downloaded it for safe keeping.
Self serving and cowardly; a helluva combo
ReplyDeleteI understand Ronn's rant about how hard everyone works at KGO, and I'm sure they do. BUT that doesn't really matter to the listeners who do not like the format and the final product. You wouldn't expect someone to dine at a mediocre restaurant just because the employees work real hard.
ReplyDeleteMost everyone who has listened to KGO over the years misses the fabulous hosts that they used to have. Period.
I'm sure all the deckhands on the Titanic worked "real hard" too.
DeleteWhat happened Ronn? Did the Dickeys spank?
ReplyDeleteI despise those Dynovite Dog Food commercials. The scratchy sound production, the talking too close to the microphone, the lurid descriptions of their dog's ailments' Gooey, Smelly, Stinky. Nasty and reeking of low class.
ReplyDeleteThere's one Dynovite commercial that starts out something like "We were going to put our dog down due to her skin condition, but we tried Dynovite..." I don't want to hear about euthanizing a dog in a commercial like this! Awful! I turn the volume down when I hear those. Can't they do the commercial with a more pleasant scenario??
ReplyDeleteOwens proves once again that he has no class whatsoever. I haven't listened to KGO even once since they fired everyone but the one host I wanted to see fired. I'm past corporate radio now. There's excellent progressive talk on the internet, like Head On with Bob Kincaid (http://headonradionetwork.com/).
ReplyDelete