DEAR MIKE:You know me by now. I know you know me because everyone reads me over there at KGO and this is not what you think it's going to be, Mike, because I'm going off the beaten path and want to level with you; really, Mike, just bear with me and take a listen.
KGO is in tatters --but get this, Mike, you have an unbelievable chance to right a very huge wrong. It's something very easy, very basic, very simple and I guarantee it will strike the right chord and make YOU and KGO a winner.
Give back the weeknight 7-10 PM time slot to Pat Thurston and John Rothmann. Immediately. Yesterday. Why this? Mike, it's simple. Your listeners want it. Badly. And Mike, get this, YOU win, KGO wins, and you score a hit with people that have long given up on you. Maybe they come back. I'm betting, Mike, they do.
Mike, you're informed, I would assume. Have you seen the news? Do you watch and hear the latest coming out of Washington and the Trump administration? Have you ever heard of Sean Spicer? You know, the now, ex-Press Secretary that resigned and has become "Saturday Night Live" fodder with Melissa McCarthy becoming a cult heroine? That guy. It's news stories like that, Mike, that dictate the news domain. That become what PEOPLE ARE TALIKNG ABOUT; even millennials, Mike, the same millennials and Gen X people, including young men and WOMEN that LISTEN to talk radio every now and then when they aren't on Facebook or Smartphones --It's not a "7F" topic, Mike, but better yet, it's a topic that people talk about and react to and John and Pat have a really good grip on it. Heck, it's JUST ONE TOPIC amongst many because we're dealing with a really wacky President Trump and his minions make for red meat on TALK RADIO, Mike, I thought you were looking for that kind of material that would make KGO the impact, bread-winning radio station it used to be.
Sure, Mike, placing John and Pat back together from 7-10 would be like saying you guys made a mistake but you could win back instant credibility by doing something that frankly, you should have done yesterday. People do it all the time in other industries so by you doing it you create instant karma --you also MAKE MONEY for the station because "Pat and John" could bring in several sponsors; like a Volvo dealership, I'm thinking off the cuff but I know there's several businesses out there that would step to the plate. It's called community asset, Mike, and KGO used to be in the business of community asset and most importantly, Community INTEREST. You'd be surprised, Mr. Anthony, how loyal are the listeners to John and Pat, it would just make you rock.
Do the right thing: Make Pat and John Monday-Friday 7-10 PM Regulars. I know you and Lee have it in you.
Sincerely,
415 Media
Good try, Rich. you are right, of course.
ReplyDeleteIt's not going to happen.
Cumulus and it's flunky bosses at KGO have never, never done anything right.
Great letter Rich.
ReplyDeleteI listened to KGO Radio 810 for forty to fifty years until they changed and went into the dumper many years ago. In fact I have checked this fantastic blog everyday since KGO went off the deep end. Rich, remind me how many years ago that was. If Mike Anthony does what you have ask of him I will once again be a loyal listener to KGO the San Francisco Bay Area NEWS/TALK Radio Station. I really don't want to say this but Trump said "Let's Make America Great Again" that isn't happening however maybe Mike Anthony can make KGO NEWS/TALK radio great again. I'm waiting to turn the dial back...your choice Mike...
Native San Franciscan
hey Mike after that start Coast to Coast it's normal 10pm slot. it has a huge audience. try broadcasting shows that listeners really want to hear.
ReplyDeleteFalse, Rich. Not everyone is calling for Pat Thurston in the evenings. Nope.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of ego must these hosts have to want to continue hosting a local radio show in their 60's and beyond? Move on. Get young minds and fresh ideas in there, similar to the way Silicon Valley and the tech sector thrived and made the Bay Area. Unless you have a specific specialty like Rothmann. Same with the politicians, move on.
ReplyDeleteBoth are democrats and do this for free...out of the kindness of heart.
DeleteJohn and Pat would never ask for $100 per show and an ISDN remote box so they can both stay at home. Not to mention hiring a pesky producer.
Next thing ya know they are asking for chairs in the studio to sit on.
Send Mike Anthony out to Costco for some new chairs.
Out of the kindness of their hearts, or a desire to remain in the spotlight?
DeleteEverything Rich said!!
ReplyDeleteIt's not about the ratings anymore. They don't care if anyone is listening at night. Obviously they don't care if anyone listens on the weekends.
ReplyDeleteRich, I don't think that Mike Anthony is any genius. But, even HE has to realize what you say is true.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a matter of broadcast quality, or relevance. I think it's a matter of $$$. Re-runs (I can't call it "Best of...), is cheaper than paying two salaries.
Sean Spicer quit to cash in on his fame. Don't be shocked if he is on SNL tonight.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to listen again to KGO until they get rid of their "clock". They continue to pull this ruse where they inundate us with news, traffic, weather every 7 minutes. Of course, this is all just a ruse to laddle on the commercials before, during, and after said "news break". So the clock runs like this: 12:00-12:07 -- traffic, commercial, news, commercials, weather. 12:07-12:13 -- first segment of show, where Ronnald or Ethel or NAGBM patter about what is coming on the show. Then after a short 6 to 7 minutes, it's BACK TO TRAFFIC. 12:13-12:18 -- traffic, commercial, news, commercials, weather. 12:19-12:27 -- back to the host who brings on guest via telephone, but interrupts him right as they get to the meat of the matter. Why? Well, for more TRAFFIC, of course! 12:27-12:33 -- traffic, commercial, news, commercials, weather (and inane SOUNDERS punctuating all of this, by the way). Anyway, I'm getting as bored typing this as you undoubtedly are reading it, so I'll just suffice to say that KGO needs to drop the ruse. It completely destroys the flow of the show and, I'm sure, doesn't endear you to the guests who have to sit through six minutes of pointless traffic reports just as they were making their point about something. It's dumb and nobody is falling for it.
ReplyDeleteContrary to what some might think, I do believe that there are plenty of KGO's audience who would like John Rothmann and Pat having their own show. Perhaps together or rotate 4 days of one, 3 of the other. They are very relevant considering the political climate. As for younger hosts with fresh ideas, do you mean Ethan Bearman, remember Frosty, Tim Montemayor or whatever his name was.
ReplyDeleteSome of the most successful hosts are in over 50, Savage, Rush, Hannity, Levin, Tom Sullivan and Michael Medved, I personally only like the last 2, but that is besides the point, the point is not age, the point is relevance, intelligence and informative.
A basic, simple and good idea Rich, but since Pat Thurston is probably the most engaging talk show host currently on KGO, having her on five nights a week would make too much sense for anyone involved in management at Cumulus. Remember Cumulus is the radio company that's been described as destroying stations -- and it's on the verge of bankruptcy. So having Pat Thurston on five nights a week would delay KGO's demise -- whether it's intentional or just the inevitable result of the ongoing incompetency of Cumulus.
ReplyDeleteCumulus doesn't take women seriously. That's a fact. The last owners only liked right wing radio. The new owners know nothing about it. Thurston is average/good but not special. Probably as good as what they have but no pecker.
ReplyDeleteThere is no one more informed about politics than John Rothmann. Pat adds lightness. Together they are excellent and unbeatable, anywhere.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it,
DeleteBecause it's probably all you are going to get. The only way they stay , is if they build a real following...and some paid sponsorship.
Callers do not = ratings...listeners and sponsors keep shows on the air.
Go make me proud for my great idea.
It would be wonderful to have Pat and John in regular (week-)daily timeslots. It would also be great if the KGO suits could wise up and dump the "next generation" slogan..an absolutely ridiculous exercise in self-delusion and presumably the reason that Chip Franklin spends more time nowadays on scatological, rather than political, subject matter (does KGO really think that this has more appeal to "the next generation"??).
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