Posted on 09/08/2013 2:10:08 PM PDT by raccoonradio
It appears that Talk Radio Network and America’s Radio News Network may have ceased operations.
A number of staffers have posted comments that they were let go on Friday without notice, while the following press release was issued by an anonymous TRN staffer today:
Media giant Mark Masters is suspending operations at the Oregon-based Talk Radio Network, which launched “The Michael Savage Show” and other high profile programming. The company has been refusing to communicate with staff and they are not issuing final paychecks to talent across the network. The company will not even confirm that we are no longer under contract with them. They are simply ignoring pleas for answers. I have heard through a phone call that the staff of America’s Morning News (100+ affiliates) has been told not to report to work Monday morning. Those stations (and possibly hundreds more) will check the satellite for their usual programming on Monday and get silence.
As many of us were 1099 contractors, we are not eligible for unemployment. Many of us are owed two months of pay at the termination of our contracts. One of those good people is a cancer patient who might not be able to afford her health insurance and treatments.
We need help and I hope someone hears our story.I would prefer to remain anonymous, but someone can reach me at hippienewschick@yahoo.com. I have others who can collaborate on this story. Thanks for your consideration.
Rumors about the demise of TRN began popping up on Friday following a report at Talkers.com. Mark Masters, CEO of Talk Radio Network, claimed there were many inaccuracies in that report, but that a full statement would not be released until Monday. TRN programming includes Andrea Tantaros, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, Mancow, and Monica Crowley. They also own the America’s Radio News Network that produces long-form news blocks for stations. If you carry any of their programming it might be worth preparing alternate solutions in-case there is nothing produced to air in the coming days.
TRN has seen a rash of high profile talent departures recently. Michael Savage departed for Cumulus last year after winning a lawsuit against the company. Laura Ingraham left for Courtside Entertainment And Phil Hendrie, whose show was syndicated by TRN until moving to WYM Media Management/Dial Global earlier this year tweeted the following:
Phil Hendrie @realphilhendrie
At the risk of being sued for saying this, the failure of TRN is the direct result of the disastrous leadership of Mark Masters
Talk Radio Network has been very vocal about its issues with Dial Global in particular. TRN head Mark Masters sued Dial Global last year; alleging monopolistic practices and anti-trust violations. That led to TRN moving its ad sales and affilate relations to Sun Broadcast Group in Februrary. The company was the first to come out against the pending Cumulus/Dial Global merger.
We’ll be monitoring this closely and updating as further information becomes available.
October 11th is our end date. Don’t know if it’s TRN or us giving a station to a church.
I’ll look into it tonight.
I take it that some people are losing their jobs, you might not like those people or care about them, in which case you could have chosen to remain silent.
I’m sorry for these folks, I was in a similar boat and it’s no fun.
I don’t know anything first hand, but it sounds as if TRN has gone around the bend under the current boss.
Anyway, I hope this can be worked out by transferring most of the programs to new networks. Just unfortunate that it happened with no notice.
The reason it happened was Masters did not give notice to his employees.
No wonder Savage fought hard in court.
Masters looks like a schister!
-PJ
Wow.
Of course not, you knew that going in......
Many of us are owed two months of pay at the termination of our contracts.
And you will likely get it, so stop complaining.....
One of those good people is a cancer patient who might not be able to afford her health insurance and treatments.
But then again, she might be.........
I may be wrong but the article was written by a "contractor", not an employee. Big difference.........
If I’m not mistaken, this is not the first Progressive network to fail. In fact, I think the last one to fail did the same thing by screwing the employees other than the big names at the top. In fact, I think the last bunch stole the money from some school in Chicago.
Maybe Dr. Savage knew something when he sued them.
With current/former hosts that include Jerry Doyle, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham (and others), Talk Radio Network was hardly a “progressive network.”
Wow!! Love that “Who Gives a Shit” beverage. Mighty tasty!
Let’s hope it works out for these folks.
I truly hope it does too........
You mean this controversy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_America_%E2%80%93_Gloria_Wise_loan_controversy
I really enjoyed America’s Morning News on my morning drive in here in the Washington DC / Baltimore area, until they cut it out of the WTNT line up. Now I have to wait until I’m in range of WCBM so I can listen to Sean and Frank.
TRN was not progressive...it was to the right of Cumulus/Dial Global
TRN big problem is that it had programming...but owned no stations. They kept losing affiliates as the big radio owners started doing their own syndicated programming
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