Posted on 11/18/2010 11:23:19 AM PST by raccoonradio
First, there's Michael Smerconish, who has been doing seven hours a day of talk radio: mornings for WPHT (1210) and then his Dial Global-syndicated noon-3pm show (Eastern time). As of January, he'll come off of mornings, do a special Philadelphia-only 3-4pm hour for WPHT, then have his Dial Global show broadcast starting at 4pm. Smerconish says "as the new House comes into session and a whole new round of fireworks begins", he wants to focus on his national show, while "maintaining contact with my loyal fans in Philadelphia." Taking over mornings at CBS Radio's WPHT is Chris Stigall, currently hosting 5-9am for Cumulus-owned KCMO-AM (710) in Kansas City. He starts when the new work-year begins, on Monday, January 3. CBS Radio market manager Marc Rayfield says "We searched high and low before offering Chris Stigall mornings." Stigall has guest-hosted for Fred Thompson, Michael Savage, Lou Dobbs, Rusty Humphries and Jerry Doyle, and he was once an intern on the David Letterman show. Smerconish will begin his new routine for WPHT - afternoons - two weeks later, on January 17. He continues his other activities, such as making TV appearances, and writing newspaper columns and books.
More big changes at the Big Talker, though WPHT doesn't highlight them in the release: Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity are off the new 2011 schedule. Taking Beck's 9am-noon slot is the local Dom Giordano, currently 6-10pm. Then comes Rush Limbaugh, noon-3pm, and Smerconish - who replaces Sean Hannity. No announcement yet about nights, which during baseball season often feature the Phillies
More local content for The Big Talker but what happens to the #2 nationally(Hannity) and #3 (Beck) shows on AM 1210? Do they go to weeknights or overnights delayed or another station?
OMG this is a disaster! Cannot stand Smerconish a total whining self centered sell out.
I assumee Hannity & Beck will be on another channel?
Sounds good to me. I stopped listening to Smerconish when he endorsed Obama so I will give Chris Stigall a try instead of Mike Gallagher on 990. I like Dom Giordano and since I don’t listen to Hannity or Beck I may tune in for more than just Rush.
If our FM talker in Pittsburgh got rid of Beck, I think they’d expect a freaking revolt!!!!!
We are fortunate to have a great lineup, starting with Quinn at 6 a.m., then Beck, Rush, Hannity, and Savage. I could make a career out of listening to that station all day. It’s more intellectual stimulation than most of our pop culture dolts get in a year.
If WPHT doesn’t move one or the other to nights, it’s
possible another station in town may put them on. Clear
Channel’s Premiere syndication arm syndicates both Glenn
and Sean and perhaps they own a station in town who could
run them (someone on radio-info.com wondered if they
could show up on 104.5? Clear Channel owns them and it’s
currently rock)
Maybe on WNTP 990 AM?
CBS owns WPHT
The word is Weasel.
Some FM talkers exist in various cities like the 104.7
you have in Pittsburgh; maybe they’d start one in Philly.
examples:
WTKK 96.9 Boston owned by Greater Media (local talk with
Eagan and Braude, Michael Graham, Jay Severin; syndie with
John Batchelor, Phil Hendrie)
WRNO 99.5 New Orleans “Rush Radio” (Rush, Hannity, local
John Osterlind etc). Owned by Clear Channel.
WTKK is Boston runs a best of Smerconish on weekends and who knows, they may run him nightly (they currently have an opening 6-10 pm but may fill with a local talker). The connection with Smerconish is their program director came
from WPHT and helped Smerc got his start. Hopefully he won’t
be spreading to Boston
Haven’t listened to Smirk since he became obsessed with metrosexuality and Obama.
It’s Bennett for me in the morning on 990, then Rush at lunch on 1210.
I used to listen to Hannity on 1210 on the way home because I can’t stand Medved on 990. Now I’ll just listen to FM music on the ride home.
I can’t stand Smerconish. Beck used to do his show live out of Philadelphia for a few years, didn’t he. He hated it.
I listen to Quinn, until Rose starts whining and then I'm gone.
Beck, when he's funny, but when he's doom and gloom, I'm gone.
I prefer listening to Rush on 24/7 since it's only 2 hours and no commercials, but if I'm driving I'll take the commercials.
Hannity, for a few minutes and by the time Savage comes on, I've had more than enough political talkers.
I hope this isn’t the beginning of the end of Beck. He has pissed off some powerful people, I think.
I turned Smerconish off long ago — his idol worship of Specter and endorsement of Obama....ugh.
They dropped Smerc here in Atlanta... Not that I listened...
The guy has industrial strength Obama kneepads...
Give 990 a try. Bennett wipes the floor with Smerconish and Prager and Medved are very cerebral.
I will give Chris Stigall a try instead of Mike Gallagher on 990
Mike Gallagher is so bad that I just turn the radio off as soon as I hear his bumper music. Horrible. He's right with his facts about 85% of the time, which would be good in school, but I can't trust him as a source. I really wish Laura Ingraham would return.
Smerconish can go do what Dr Dre told Easy-E, Tim Dogg, and Luke to do.
Yeah, noticed Smerconish vanished from Atlanta without apparent warning. Was wondering what happened.
104.5 would be great.That’s FM but I doubt they will change formats for this.
what are the call letters?
One correction...Glenn Beck is syndicated through Clear Channel, but ABC/Citadel distributes Sean Hannity’s radio show (through an agreement with Premier). However, you have hit on the most likely scenario for their shows in Philly.
If the FM rocker has lousy ratings, watch for Clear Channel to flip it to talk, installing Beck and Hannity now, with Rush to follow. Clear Channel has done it already in Raleigh (WRDU went from hash marks to 5.3 rating in less than a year); New Orleans (WRNO averages 5.5-6.0 rating, and is slowly chipping away at perennial market leader, WWL-AM) and Pittsburgh, where WPGB is less than one point behind KDKA. Of course, the Pittsburgh FM talker had an advantage with Quinn and Rose as their long-time morning team. The other stations were built from scratch, around their marquee attraction, Rush Limbaugh. In fact, the Raleigh Clear Channel station (and New Orleans, if I’m not mistaken) bill themselves as “Rush Radio.” Very clever—and effective—marketing strategy.
All of these Clear Channel FM outlets have done extremely well with a talk format, and more will certainly follow. In fact, radio groups have done extensive audience research, and they’ve discovered a problem. Listeners below a certain age simply won’t listen to AM radio, one reason that Clear Channel is introducing conservative talk on ratings-challenged FM stations, and AM “heritage” stations like WSB in Atlanta, WOKV in Jacksonville and WGY in Albany are now simulcasting on FM. WSB and WOKV are owned by Cox; WGY is—you guessed it—a Clear Channel property.
If I were the CBS, I’d sign a long-term deal for Rush in the Philadelphia market on WPHT. Otherwise, he’ll follow Beck and Hannity to their new outlet, and PHT will be sunk.
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