Saturday, April 11, 2020

415 Media Extra Saturday: Cumulus Asks Its Hosts To Consider 'Furloughs and/or Pay Cuts) As a Result of Coronavirus Pandemic Effect on Advertising; KGO/KNBR Hosts Among Local Stations Involved; Advertising Down Whopping 75-90 Percent

Coronavirus: Furloughed workers and what it means for business ...

CUMULUS officially went into furlough mode on Friday--like other businesses, particularly radio, that have been ravished, financially, by the Coronavirus pandemic, Cumulus/ SF asked its hosts from virtually all its Bay Area radio stations, including KGO and KNBR, to consider "pay cuts and/or furloughs" They were asked to respond in a week.

KGO host, John Rothmann, mentioned the policy shortly before signing off his KGO show (6-9PM) last night (Friday).

Cumulus isn't alone.

I LEARNED, through a well-positioned broadcast source here, that the policy on local show hosts will commence April 20 and that, "no one, no department, is immune" from the policy.

INITIALLY, I'm not surprised by any of this. I heard advertising is down anywhere from 75-90 percent, a whopping hit on the local radio broadcast domain (and in all other markets, big and small); it's completely devastating and while it hurts all of us consumers, it is killing radio companies too and as long as the situation gets worse, (economically) before it improves, you can expect severe cuts (pay) and wholesale furloughs across the board.

MORE LATER

REACTION (INSIDE)

415 MEDIA Analysis

LATER Saturday

18 comments:

  1. as bad as knbr and some people at kgo are, not all, hate to hear about people possibly losing jobs

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  2. Hopefully they'll nix Ronnnnn's new 30 minute crapfest before it even gets started.

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  3. Ratsnitch must have mixed feelings. He exited at the right moment prior to the pandemic; however his rumored return might actually never happen. Any news as to his overhead?

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    1. He gave ole Richie a shotout on Tony Bruno's new Sirius show this week. They both gave Rich a shoutout actually. See Gary's twitter for the link.

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  4. Looks like Greg Pappa will take a severe pay cut.
    KNBR should hire Pappa's side kick and best friend Tim Kawakami.
    Kawakami works cheap.

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    1. Isn't Kawakami loaded now? He owns the Athletic. Every "name" sportswriter in the country seems to work for Tim now.

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    2. Kawakami is an "at will employee" of the Athletic.
      He could never afford to buy into that magazine.
      His pension from the Monkey News is to small.

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    3. Not good news.
      Larry Krueger better start making calls to KHTK Sports 1140 and bring along his old partner Gary Radnich. They can then find some real estate at River Islands in Lathop and do commercials for free.

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  5. I'm sure KGO ratings have spiked this last month but will be for naught with lost advertisers. Sports and pop stations I bet have had lousy ratings and lost advertisers. Sarah and Vinnie big pay cuts coming.

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  6. Furlough?! And this article just got posted yesterday (with a mention to RL). https://www.jweekly.com/2020/04/10/everyones-home-and-thats-good-news-for-talk-radio-host-john-rothmann/

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  7. Not good news. I'm furloughed from Macy's. Since in retail you typically work evening hours, I have enjoyed being able to listen to John Rothmann every night. Although I have a feeling he will continue at a lower salary, because he clearly love what he does, and not sure he needs the money.

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  8. Does this mean Charles aka Chip will get the heave ho? And his old sidekick Rosie Perez?

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    1. Chip is a prick. Super woke Chip is all about taking your calls, head reads alot, doesn't want to get politcal but let me just say this. Save your opinionated BS for your wife asshole. All John cares about is what you think politically and hope you shop at ????. Can you cut the politcal BS and let people know where they can get tested, help elderly, what is open, what is not Etc. KGO SUCKS ASS

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    2. @917...so who do you think is a good talkshow host and why? A & G? Stupid cackling over their lame jokes. They don't even take calls to debate. Limbaugh won't even have a liberal on because he'd lose a debate.KSFO is sad. No local Cons on anymore.

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  9. The Knibber is by far the radio station hit hardest by the loss of advertising, as more than half of each hour consists of commercials.

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  10. The KNBR on-air hosts would be best served if they would go on strike and picket outside their offices.
    Those KNBR hosts are a strong and defiant group.
    You never want to get on their bad side.

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    Replies
    1. Except right now, the public is not going to have an iota of sympathy for on air types who have been able to keep their jobs and broadcast from home, during this apocalyptic period.

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  11. I have been furloughed. I wish to see the hosts on KGO continue, I have no desire to see others furloughed that won't help me. So I can have sympathy for the hosts, and grateful if the continued to be on the air so I have something intelligent to listen to.

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