MONDAY OPENERIt appears Barbara Simpson's plain and simple format--a right-wing oriented three-hour show with guests and callers, passionate to the max and loyal to the core, didn't adapt to a KSFO -Cumulus management team that wanted more PPM-friendly, 21st Century radio conduits.
After repeated, frequent clashes with the bosses, Cumulus abruptly pulled the plug on Simpson and her show early last week.
Simpson left a terse simple message on her Facebook page Saturday confirming the decision: "My show has been cancelled. Please check back later." Simpson hasn't been heard from since. My best guess is that the "babe in the bunker" might be in a state of shock.
I hardly ever listened to Simpson's weekend show, (from 4-7 PM), because most of the theme of the show centered on ultra-right topics and at times, monster conspiracy theories that amounted to virtual lunacy. Occasionally, Simpson's back and forth with callers on basic news-talk items was decent radio if not riveting. And Simpson had a very loyal audience as evidenced by all the comments both here and on Facebook blasting KSFO for its clubbing of the hostess. No word on who will replace Simpson --for now it's rotating hosts.
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The comments here don't in anyway reflect loyalty. Radio listeners aren't here weighing in. Radio people are, and the number is pretty limited.
ReplyDeleteI didn't care for her show, nor do I know her personally, but I believe the comments made about jiggering the ppm, etc. Of course this is cumulus's plan and of course it won't work.
Randall Bloomquist is as big an intellectual lightweight as you'll ever meet in this business or any other. I'm sure he and his kind have no interest in an older female show. I don't know the new host people referenced but I'm sure he'll be uninspiring, male and younger. These corporate management idiots think that's the solution to the problems they've created.
Don't expect the morons like the dickeys, the bloomquists or any of their local hires to fix problems they caused. That's like asking bin Laden to build the world trade center.
Uninspiring, male and younger is correct. And I'd bet no young men are listening.
DeleteI think there are enough of us Boomers and elder Booms to create our own demographic. I think that we are a market that still consumes and utilizes merchandise on a regular basis. We also tend to vote on a regular basis. It would behoove an enterprising person who had 10 million dollars or so burning a hole in their pockets to create and maintain a terrestrial radio station just for us. I predict someone will come riding to our rescue within the next ten years. We still form a substantial business model that could prove quite lucrative. Presently, most media organizations are going through some heavy pruning of the radio rosebushes. Pruning, cutting back, streamlining all the way down to the dirt, and then some. Many consider themselves wise to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. Perhaps one answer is listener supported radio. Not entirely listener supported, but a large percentage. Take a look at the Berkeley model, subtracting the gratuitous progressiveness. How has that community based radio worked for them? Do they rely on government loans or grants to keep hope alive, or is most their income from advertising? Good Morning Barbara. I miss you. Your radio brothers and sisters are still here, we are waiting, waiting to hear from you. Tell us when that will happen as soon as you know. God be with you.
ReplyDeleteSorry, you lose. Advertisers buy the up and coming, not the has been there demographic. They already spent billions trying to convince "boomers" through their years of growing up. They don't follow them anymore. If you're over 55, bye-bye. Sorry, that's reality. Radio is built on the future, not on the past. Today, more advertising dollars are spent reaching the Internet and smartphone crowd than AM radio and, largely, in newspapers.
DeleteSo you know why the "over 55" audience (of which I am a part) is this Advertisers do not go for "older" audiences because folks over 55 are very much brand loyal and against change. They do not jump on new things quickly, and the cost to make them adapt change makes it more expensive for advertisers to 'reach' them on the frequency of ads needed to do so.
DeleteIn other words, "our minds were made up" for the four and five decades we were "brainwashed" with ads while growing up. Nothng has change - nor will. It's about beating messages into the heads of younger people who adapt to frequent change - be it cerea to soccer mom fast food, stores, cars (especialy) and, well, mattresses, clothes and more.
We don't buy enough of that stuff, but -- as we did as younger people -- they do and they buy a lot of it. When was the last time you bught a Slurpee at a 7-11? I bet, not recently. But you take a kid or grandkid in to 7-11 and the first thing they want is a Slurpee aor the plea to go to McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Olive Garden etc. How many ads to you see that represent us? Not many, but a ton of reverse mortgage ads (Fred Thompson, Pat Boone(, Henry Winkler,) insurance - Alex Trebek and on and on.
Plus, now, the landscape has changed with the Internet, cable TV, smartphones, X-Box, tablets, computers and more on the way. Each one, an advertising vehicle used to make an "impression" on those who can't wait for "what's new"
We, unfortunately, aren't it. The Times, They Are a'Changin'.
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I'll make a bet: Barbara Simpson will be back on KSFO!
ReplyDeleteHer dedicated listeners are many staunch republicans who will make a huge stink! And if the Koch Brothers find out about this...WATCH-OUT they'll make damn sure Simpson comes back to spew the RightWing Propaganda Lies!
Better than the left's lies and propaganda that spewed on KGO for decades. Thank God that finally failed and went away.
DeleteIt was destroying ksfo. But when the corporate hacks are conservative they made sure kgo went away.
DeleteTake away the facts and your argument is sound.
Yes, it's a huge conspiracy by corporate conservatives. If this is an example of KGO's old base.....I see the virtual lunacy Rich spoke of.
DeleteTo 11:51, KGO was not only left leaning, it still IS, it is just not on during the week much. However, you comments show how little you understand and how little you listened to the OLD KGO, Ronn was and is middle of the road, on quite a few issues more to the right. Gene Burns was never a liberal, but a libertarian, Bernie and Ray was the only 2 hosts very much too the left, and they didn't lie as much as the omitted certain things, same can be said for Hannity, Levin, Savage and certainly Rush. Why do you have to be glad that KGO failed, why can't you just turn the dial, there are enough rightwing hosts in this area you can listen to, without getting mean spirited and wishing the few left wing or even middle of the road host go away.
DeleteWhat a surprise today, Ronn Owens interviewed a book author who is a Jewish man. Wow. Breaking news. And he was falling all over him. Yes, it was a solidly liberal station with a few exceptions and little diversity of any kind.
DeleteWhile I didn't always like Simpson, I dis appreciate a different voice, different point of view, etc. Though when she starting whining like the guy in the morning, that got old.
"Monster conspiracy theories that amounted to virtual lunacy"? Huh? Well, Rich, you admitted that you "hardly ever listened" to Simpson's show, and your analysis of it is evidence of that. "Monster conspiracy theories"? You mean like interviews and discussions of things like the design flaws of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge, or the closing of Drake's Bay Oyster Farm, gun control, immigration, taxes, growth of government, especially the kind that results in fewer personal freedoms and property rights? Interviews of authors who wrote about everything from European politics to the plight of western state ranchers? Those kind of conspiracy theories? Sure, some of her callers could be pretty wacky, but I don't think it's fair to tar the show in general, or Simpson herself, with that brush. As for Simpson, I doubt she's in "shock." She's a big girl and has had a long career in broadcasting in both television and radio. I heard her on more than one occasion mention what an uncertain and unstable industry it was, and that anyone in it, her included, can be here today and gone tomorrow. I admire her for sticking to her guns. I only hope some other station has the brains to see it as an opportunity and hire her. They will have me as a listener. KSFO has ditched almost every show I liked. PPM's indeed. You can have your "21st century radio conduits."
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%. In comparison, what kind of left wing garbage plays daily on KSCO and the old KGO? Speaking of lunacy, Asiana name gaffe anyone?
DeleteBarbara has bought into the "Birther" conspiracy. She also believes TWA Flight 800 was brought down by terrorism. Name the conspiracy theory, and she'll give it some credence.
DeleteAnd Ronn Owens believes in Global Warming but rarely can site any details or "the other side".
DeleteI'm tell Pope Francis about this whole thing. Barbara is Catholic, she's one of us!
ReplyDeleteI know, I know it may not make a difference, but these are uncertain times, where the unexpected often becomes the required routine.
Rich, Does 910 or 960 have any interest in hiring her?
ReplyDeleteProbably not, unless she and/or sponsors buy the time for her. Clear Channel last paid for a "name" over a year ago to no avail. That "name" is Gil Gross. They had to fire Len Tillum to do so. If you have, say, $500 an hour, 910 or 960 would like to talk with you. Bring your checkbook.
DeleteNews has changed. Have you ever caught a glimpse of MSNBC and their show "The Cycle?" It is a bunch of smug 20-something hipsters sitting around with their smartphones and lattes giggling and snickering about what Manhattan club they're going to hit up Friday night. Barbara's departure from radio is further proof that the news industry as we knew it is over.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Barbara at KGO, before she landed at "Hot Talk." Those who describe her as very bright are absolutely correct. She's, also, funny and personable. I'm sorry that this happened to her (although Lee Rogers used to point out that there are two categories of folks in broadcast media - those who have been fired, and those who will be).
ReplyDeleteKSFO isn't really on my radar. I'm from the other end of the political spectrum. I actually like to hear opposing points of view, but my big objection to the station, when it was "across the hall," is that the callers all took the same position. There wasn't any arguing a point with the hosts. Maybe, that has changed.
If Barbara lands at another station, I'll certainly give her a listen.
Good luck, Barbara!
"Back in the day" I worked with Barbara and Brian Sussman in my former careeer in TV news. I must say, I am TOTALLY STUNNED at their ultra-right wing radio personas. Neither of these two even gave a whiff that they had politics in them. They were both super-nice, friendly...and pretty much non-confrontation. Hell, Sussman even had a gay photog/producer back in his KNTV days--the the two of them got along fantastically! I remember freelancing at KTVU and seeing Barbara laugh and joke with unabashed lesbian and liberal writers/producers/editors/PA's.
ReplyDeleteI am just stunned.
3:40--The fact that you were surprised that Sussman and Simpson got along well with gays, lesbians, etcetera only shows me how well the Democrat and liberal media (but I repeat myself) spin machine has taught you to associate conservatives with bigotry, intolerance, and narrow mindedness. Of course there are some nutcases on the right, but no more so than on the left. In fact, on the whole, I'd say conservatives, as a matter of both temperament and principle, relate to people as individuals, not their identity as members of one racial or sexual orientation group or another. Conservatives just have different ideas about how to organize things and solve problems. Prejudice is not welcome. Want to see intolerance and bigotry? Watch MSNBC.
DeleteIs KTVU going to fire that dumb bitch Tara Moriarity for live reporting that the Dublin teenager was shot five times while on his knees? She attributed the repirt to an obvious cop hating lying friend of the deceased. Turns out the deceased kid was a drug addicted mess and violent. She basically accused the cops of an execution style killing.
ReplyDeleteBut clearly no one but me cares and you wonder why journalism is in the crapper.
DeleteYou sound like a shameless little cop brown-noser that defends trigger happy cops when they blow away some homeless guy shaking a stick at them...
Delete@11:37am: You sound like the street thugs in my neighborhood who whine about profiling every time they are busted for something. Or their lying low life friends and relatives. Bet you never shed a tear for victims of violent crime, just the thugs. You would be a brown nosing wannabe.
DeleteI've heard Simpson say more than once that when she worked as a reporter and an anchor she deliberately kept her political views to herself because she didn't feel it was right to inject them into her job as reporter or anchor. Of course a talk show, a commentator is different. She's a class act.
ReplyDeleteBetter to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt....at least until someone will pay you good money to appeal to the rubes tuned into their AM station.
DeleteHey Rich, what's the real reason Randi Rhodes is leaving radio?
ReplyDeleteI hate that she's leaving. There is no one here as stridently left of center, plus she is a vet. I'll miss her voice.
DeleteYes, although Randi can be long winded, there are so few left or progressive hosts in this area it is a shame her show will no longer be heard. I have little confidence in 910 filling her time slot with someone of similar views, intelligence etc. (John Rothmann comes to mind, and he would take calls, might be the reason he won't get the slot). We use to have Norm Goldman, Bill Press and Tom Hartmann, instead we got more right wing hosts who for the most part recite the republican party's talking point, and even then there is bloggers on this site, who just love it when another left winger looses their show, or decide to quit, whatever the reason might be. Too bad, there really should be a diversity of opinions on the airwaves.
DeleteHaving diversity, as you said it des not ensure "entertainment" or viable "information". Most of all, it doesn't assure "profitability". Clear Channel "owned" Randi Roades through their Premier Networks. They coudn't make any money because of a combination of things, incuding her, the signal, etc.
DeleteRothman, though liking to dabble in radio after all these years, doesn't have to work, nor, maybe, doesn't wish to fultime. There's a lot of pressure and he's been there, done that.
Plus, he'd want to get paid something, needed or not. He wouldn't do it for free. Right now, the station isn't making the income needed to pay for such talent. That's why they have so many syndicated shows on owned by Clear Channel themselves.
Saw my first political commercial for this go around on kpix today. Dem running for who knows what and his theme is CHANGE. WTF? Change from the dems california super majority? From 6 years of barry and eric? An impotent gop?
ReplyDelete"Change"...a gimmick that doesn't work.
Haha they fit their party mascot. Asses, all of them.
DeleteThe time has come to stop seeing "radio" in San Francisco as myoptic. It's not about "talent" anymore. KSFO is a station for $ALE, folks. Every nickel and dime that Cumulus can shear off, especially in the light of confrontation between talent and management / corporate is all that matters. Cumulus has other things in making KSFO the property it most needs to unload to lower that small part of a $2-billion dollar debt load.
ReplyDeleteHassling with employees, which Barbara was part-time, over heavily-paid-for management planning and a consultant isn't making the $ALE situation any easier for investors, stockholders, media brokers or companies that only "may" consider an in for an AM only 5000 watt proprty whose beam faded after the Gene Autry years with Golden West and before ABC, then Citadel then Cumulus.
Time have changed and the quieter things go, the better. That's business. The ratings show it at a 2.1 share of the total audience of radio listening. The signal vs. population is not getting any stronger and it's harder and harder to find radios today with AM on it ... let alone gaining a "furtive" and willing audience to come back to "Ancient Modulation" again. The same problem for both 910 and 960.
When will we learn that unless you have a 50,000 watt power house in a 6-million person plus market, will you "move the needle" for "active" AM radio listeners below age 65? It's not now - it's not ever again, sorry.
Barbara Simpson, after 19 years at KSFO, is only a minor part of the equation. The station must $ell for more than $5-$10 million to be worth it to compete in the market. The ad revenue response is not such to show that "multiple" in sales. Every distraction, including at KGO, makes the station(s) less profitable. As a result, worth less.
Cumulus, I think, is circling the wagons to bring in house as cheaply and inexpensively as possible, all that's around it to maximize the potential of a decent sale. That's why more changes are coming -- and KSFO has to grow to more than a 3.5 share to do it with the money needed to make a $ALE profitable.
There will be more formatic change on KGO as well for the very same reasons if and when it becomes up for $ALE. It's about making money, just like any business YOU might own. Would YOU expect anything less from your business? Or, would you just keeping digging into your bank account just to please your customers, no matter how much you've lost?
Perception is NOT the new reality. At the end of a day, it comes down doing what you can do to make a living. Hence, why talk radio is eroding, progrrssive talk is more and more disappearing from both sides of the aisle and why AM radio is now in the spin cycle before it disappears from the washer.
That's fact. These things cost LOTS of money to run with little return in many, if not most, cases. How would you run YOUR business?
No ratings for progressive talk, little revenue and she did this in November for more money and a new contract. One was extended for six months, but things got worse, so, she quit Premier and may (or may not) be looking for another syndicator. Ad sales for "confrontational / controversial" programming is getting tighter and tighter without the "entertainment value" of same. Advertisers have been shy on progressive or extremist left or right radio for several years and it doesn't sell in the marketplace which is overrun as it is with right-wing progressive radio. Liberal radio is dyng quickly for that reason. Harder to get affiliates to make it profitable and harder, still, to get advertisers to stand and support it. I think she'll be back - for a price. Then, the cycle will happen again if it doesn't work.
ReplyDelete3:40: Nice guys can be homophobes, too. It's the concept of the Other. Racists rationalize acceptance of an individual black man who, for example, may be their letter carrier by saying, "He's one of the good ones." Those of us who work in TV news are in our own tribe, which, in Sussman's case, transcended the negative feelings he has for gays outside of his business circle.
ReplyDeleteIs that why KGO radio consistently hired a non-diverse cast ... same age group, same ethnicity, and same political views as the GM?
Delete