Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Talks with Don & Roma getting down to business
Chicago Sun Times ^ | 10/14/04 | Robert Feeder

Posted on 11/05/2004 8:14:20 AM PST by 1 spark

Now that Disney/ABC Radio has appointed a new boss for news/talk WLS-AM (890), the fate of morning stars Don Wade and Roma finally may be resolved at last.

But in taking so long to get down to business, ABC unwittingly allowed a door to open for the Wades at another Chicago station.

Four months after Zemira Jones left as president and general manager for a top operations post at Radio One, ABC this week named John Gallagher, a 19-year ABC veteran, as his successor. Gallagher, who most recently was director of sales at WJR-AM in Detroit, also will head Radio Disney's WRDZ-AM (1300).

Gallagher inherits a station that has been without its morning-drive franchise since Sept. 14, when the Wades' last contract extension expired.

Long-stalled negotiations with WLS are getting under way in earnest just as a new suitor has entered the picture.

Salem Communications, which is about to acquire WIND-AM (560) in a swap with Univision Radio and transform the Spanish-language station into a general market news/talk outlet, is believed to be a serious alternative for the Wades.

Although Salem's official plan for WIND is to air Bill Bennett's syndicated morning show, luring the Wades from WLS would be a major coup.

Fueling the speculation is the fact that Salem's director of network programming is Tom Tradup, the former president and general manager of WLS who retained the Wades when the station turned to news/talk.

While most observers expect WLS to come to terms with the Wades eventually, the sudden emergence of another player provides a distinct advantage to the husband-and-wife team.


TOPICS: Announcements; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: chicagoradio; donandroma; talkradio; unspunvsprotagoras; wlsradio
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-110 next last
Breaking news for Chicagoland Freepers. Don & Roma will be back on the air, at WLS, on Monday. WA-HOO!!!!
1 posted on 11/05/2004 8:14:25 AM PST by 1 spark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

D&R will be back on the air at WLS on Monday morning! This is GOOD news!


2 posted on 11/05/2004 8:16:04 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

About time. I love Terry O'Brien though so I'll miss her in the morning.


3 posted on 11/05/2004 8:17:34 AM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

Now that WIND AM560 has Laura Ingram I no longer listen to WLS, although if they got rid of the liberal Roma I might think about listening.


4 posted on 11/05/2004 8:18:58 AM PST by KeyLargo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

There's a more recent column from Feder this week that states D&R have a tentative deal w/WLS for a multi-year, multi-million $ contract.


5 posted on 11/05/2004 8:20:35 AM PST by uvular (Will Kerry now retire his 'ol crusty jacket?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo

I miss Don and Roma, but I've grown to like Art and Teri.

I am sure, not being on the air these past few weeks has been killing Don.

I called in this morning...

dr. nick


6 posted on 11/05/2004 8:21:24 AM PST by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

What did you talk about?


7 posted on 11/05/2004 8:22:47 AM PST by 1 spark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo
although if they got rid of the liberal Roma I might think about listening.

I always how Don could stand to live with that woman. Is there such a thing as loving stupidity?

8 posted on 11/05/2004 8:27:12 AM PST by bjs1779
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo

I was such a WLS junkie that i didn't even know WIND existed. WLS has really disappointed me this year. First they lose Garry M...and then Don and Roma. How stupid can they be? Maybe the competition helped to wake 'em up.


9 posted on 11/05/2004 8:27:27 AM PST by 1 spark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
I was warmed to Teri and Art slowly, but I think they did a great job through the election. I'll be interested to see if they give Art and Teri more time in some other slot beside the weekend. They could replace Roe and I wouldn't shed a tear.

They were both very gracious in their closing commnets today, weren't they?

A_R

10 posted on 11/05/2004 8:27:42 AM PST by arkady_renko (Won't waste the time reading this one...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

if this true, then i see don and roma going to 560am not wls...890

nick


11 posted on 11/05/2004 8:28:27 AM PST by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bjs1779

I always wondered how......


12 posted on 11/05/2004 8:28:54 AM PST by bjs1779
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

i was the one that talked about the democrat meltdown and that they were in mourning...

nick


13 posted on 11/05/2004 8:29:15 AM PST by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

Now if they could figure out how to get Gary Meier back with Roe Conn in the afternoons, all would be right with the Talk Radio world at WLS.


14 posted on 11/05/2004 8:30:02 AM PST by bjmorris
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bjs1779

how do you figure mary matlin and that knuckle head james carville...?

nick


15 posted on 11/05/2004 8:30:04 AM PST by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: arkady_renko

roe cohn is a joke... jim johnson is clever and quick witted. i listen to doug buffoon on 670 on the way home now...


16 posted on 11/05/2004 8:32:07 AM PST by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: 1 spark

Bad news for WLS as far as I'm concerned. They were a bore. I stopped listening a long time ago. I just started again with the new hosts. Time to switch stations again. Oh well.


17 posted on 11/05/2004 8:32:32 AM PST by Protagoras (Hillary Clinton, the potential Hitler of our time, is now in position to take over the country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bjs1779; KeyLargo

I think Roma is a loveable liberal. She is consistently kind and respectful to all callers. And to tell you the truth, i don't think she comes off as liberal as she did a few years ago. In fact...i think some of it was/is an act to counter Don's stance, just to make it interesting. With their son a marine, i can't believe she voted for anyone other than Bush.


18 posted on 11/05/2004 8:33:45 AM PST by 1 spark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: arkady_renko

I didn't hear the end what did they say?

nick


19 posted on 11/05/2004 8:34:31 AM PST by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: bjs1779
I always how Don could stand to live with that woman. Is there such a thing as loving stupidity?

She's a phony. The whole thing is an act. Always has been. They even tried to mislead people into thinking they weren't married for a long time. Bunch of crap, show biz.

20 posted on 11/05/2004 8:34:35 AM PST by Protagoras (Hillary Clinton, the potential Hitler of our time, is now in position to take over the country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-110 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson