Monday, October 28, 2013

Breaking: Cumulus Layoffs at KGO Radio/KSFO; Fowkes and Rockwell Out; APD and Owens Producer Jared Hart Quits; Angst at 55 Hawthorne

 CUMULUS LOWERS THE BOOM ON KGO


Layoffs galore at the 55 Hawthorne Cluster housing KGO Radio which has seen a number of layoffs in the last few days and more coming as Cumulus cuts ties at its "all-news" outlet.

GONE:

*News and Traffic anchor/reporter, Dave Fowkes, (who also subbed at sister-station KSFO.

*Traffic anchor, Steve Rockwell.

*RONN OWENS/APD--KGO/KSFO PRODUCER QUITS:

Jared Hart, KGO's "Doogie Howser" producer for Ronn Owens and the Assistant PD at KGO and KSFO has left the station and has taken a new job. Good thing since it was widely rumored Hart was on his way out the door anyway.

Sources at the station expect a new round of layoffs--not if but when. Union reps were to meet later today and in the coming week.

*Developing...

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27 comments:

  1. Doesn't Steve Rockwell still work for Cumulus at KFOG?

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    1. It's about KGO and KSFO, not KFOG even though KFOG is owned by Cumulus. Rockwell was ousted by his breadwinner, KGO.

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  2. Any word on Mel "the trench coat" Baker? I still recall how he cursed all the protesters outside KGO after the mass firings. He even said that was the nature of the business and he had been laid off many times. What's one more layoff for him? Hopefully he got canned. He's been kissing Karel's ass in recent weeks doing Kim Mccallister's job of reading news items for Karel to "sound off".

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    1. Oh yes, I remember that day and that a-hole.

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  3. Presumably, someone is still anchoring the traffic and doing night time sports? How does this save money? It's not like they were long time KGO employees. In fact, I don't think either had been there even a year. Something more to it? Two employees gone is hardly a bloodbath.

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  4. Are Ronnnnn's ratings THAT great that he can somehow keep his position after all of this? Though the girls probably had to give up their horses, Ronn is still pretty expensive by Cumulus standards.

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    1. The girls are grown up I believe and Ronn has a contract. His rating probably are THAT great. Unless you listen to Rush, he is just about the only show in the a.m. Personally, I like him and they are lucky to have him.

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  5. Worst company that ever gave me a pay check.

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  6. I guess Ronn Owens won't have a producer anymore and there won't be a new APD. Fewer people doing more work, and have part-timers fill in will be the order of the day. That seems about right for these piece of shit Cumulus Boys. Just in time to make the next payment on the new boat, huh, John Dickey?

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  7. Why don't they just do what they have been planning to do from the start---take the KGO programming off the satellite.

    Just do it.

    The small audience which remains will probably not even notice!

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  8. There's a cable channel that plays baby music 24/7. Why doesn't KGO just simulcast that? No muss, no fuss! Could land them the Gerber's account and help keep Sleep Train.

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  9. Heartless bastards...

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  10. Mel Baker cursed at the protesters at the Occupy KGO event? What a putz to do that to your co-workers and customers.

    David K.

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  11. Now if 910 was in a firing mood I wish they would get rid of Frostie and Gil Gross it has gotten so bad with those 2 I don't listen any more they are a couple chatter boxes with nothing between their ears. They are a disgrace to talk radio. There so many better host then that. At least when I have KGO Ron Owens I know what I am going to hear and have an entertaining 3 hours. Not so on the 910 Bozzo station what a disgrace to intelligent listeners. Please get ready of them they do not contribute anything to listeners.

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    1. I'm sick of Frostie "Filibuster". Won't listen.
      And Gil Gross has gotten worse and worse with his overly dramatic pauses, lame attempts at humour, constantly repeating words in each sentence, and trying to one-up call in guests. It's a shame since he has a wealth of knowledge to share. One good thing - no more Rhoda on Fridays I guess.
      Interestingly I caught his real estate broadcast purely by accident, and it was like listening to a completely different person - actually enjoyable.

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    2. Ditto. I loved Gil on KGO, introducing a topic, sometimes with an interview first, and then taking callers. Too many subjects now, too much of one person talking, so I tune in only very sporadically. When I do, though, nothing has changed with the format, so I mostly keep tuned out.

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    3. I still like Gil, however I only get to listen to an hour more or less a day so I don't know what it would be like for 4 hours. I think he is intelligent and interesting. Frosty is okay for the short time I am able to hear him. The best in the noon time slot is Ethan Bearman on KSCO / Komy. Interesting, good with callers and if you live in Santa Cruz, he does local stuff, too. He would be good anywhere, actually. He really is "fair and balanced".

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    4. Agree mostly with 3:39 I liked Gil on KGO although he was never my favorite, I could listen for the most part, and he was good with callers, 2:10 analysis on Gil's show these days is right on, he is for the most part just one big bore, yawn.

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  12. For tomorrow's program, expect Ronn Owens to discuss cell phone use while driving.

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  13. Hey Rich what's the status of your 2-4 show on KSCO? We're getting old waiting for you to be on. Take MZ to lunch. And take Kay. Buy 30 of her books. She'll sign
    every one of them. Hope you start before 2014. Good luck.

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  14. Is this the "REAL" reason that Jennifer Jones Lee is missing in action?

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  15. I am trying to stay loyal to KGO but these ads have got to stop for male enhancement, testosterone, viagra - one after another. I start listening at 4:30am and they are airing constantly. I'm embarrassed for the entire crew each time they have to come on air after one of those ads. Good grief. Enough already!

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  16. Cats living with dogs! Plagues of locusts! A traffic guy and a part-time sports guy getting fired is hardly cause for angst.

    Stirring the pot when there's nothing in it

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  17. Jared Hart is now Program Director at the CBS talk station in Philadelphia. Quite a big career move.

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  18. Tim Montemayor and Jared Hart are now PDs? Wow. Radio is a joke.

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