Posted on 06/01/2006 9:21:05 PM PDT by Pro-Bush
Nothing if not controversial, Mark Williams figured to have plenty to say Wednesday about the cancellation, effective immediately, of his weeknight conservative talk-radio show on KFBK (1530 AM). Turns out, though, the talker who made a name nationally on cable TV news shows for his inflammatory opinions on immigration and terrorism was mostly gracious in discussing his parting with KFBK after five years. Williams produced solid numbers for KFBK, Sacramento's top-rated station, but his contract and added bonuses, called "talent fees," made him expensive for the station to keep, sources say. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Bruce Maiman, who has filled in on the air at KFBK recently. "It was all a budgetary decision," said Williams, who said he was told several months ago his show was in danger of being cut. "It was just a matter of the station cutting back and concentrating on the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. time slot.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
The maps only show the ground wave, which is OK for daylight hours only. They don't even come close on nighttime coverage.
Agreed about the skip. I used to work for a Riverside County legislator and he used to listen to Williams from down there all the time.
KFI in Los Angeles does the same thing.
When I was going to school in Bozeman, Montana in the mid 80s I used to tune in KFI and KFWB at night for news from home (888 miles). I could also get KNBR from San Francisco when the Dodgers played there. There was a station in Yellowknife in the Canadian Northwest Territories that I could hear on occasion from Montana (1100 miles), and one in Lexington, Kentucky (1400 miles). Of course it all depends on the weather and other factors.
KFBK chooses a 'contrarian' for night talk
By Sam McManis -- Bee Staff Writer
KFBK (1530 AM), perhaps trying to attract a more politically moderate audience for its weeknight talk programming, has hired Bruce Maiman to replace ousted inflammatory conservative host Mark Williams.
Maiman, 50, has been filling in for Williams on KFBK and for morning talker Phil Cowan on sister station KSTE (650 AM) for the past six months. This is Maiman's first full-time talk-radio job, though he has been a morning disc jockey at stations in Fresno, Salinas and, for a year, at the erstwhile KOOL 101.9 in Sacramento.
"I'd describe Bruce as having a non-ideological approach similar to (KFBK's) Tom Sullivan and (KSTE's) Armstrong & Getty," says Alan Eisenson, operations manager for both Clear Channel stations. "He has a unique ability to talk through shades of gray in an intellectual way.
"I'd like KFBK to be a little more reflective of Sacramento overall to help broaden the station's appeal."
Maiman declined to label himself as conservative or liberal. When pressed, he said: "contrarian." A native New Yorker, Maiman has been a concert pianist and studied musicology at Ohio University. He also has been a New York City cab driver.
"I like to be able to make some waves on the radio and shake things up," Maiman says. "If you can get one person to reassess their positions, no matter whatthey are, that's good."
http://www.sacticket.com/tv_radio/story/14262014p-15075429c.html
notaliberal will remember how Mark was a total newby at that event. We circled the Crapitol chanting "No More Commies In The Whitehouse!"
The two of 'em just went over to Iraq together, too!!!
Completely untrue.
KTKZ 138 / 105.5 is a vastly superior station: conservative, pro-America, thoughful.
I never listened to Williams, anyway.
Dan
......................
Dan: With all due respect to Eric Hogue and the people at KTKZ, we at Move America Forward heard from people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who listened to Mark Williams all the time. I cannot think of one time that a serviceman/woman serving overseas ever told us about how the KTKZ stream was a lifeline for them, the way that they did with KFBK and in particular the "Mark Williams Show."
Not sure how often you listened to Mark's show you typed above that you never listened to Williams anyway, but he had countless tributes to the troops - moving, emotional stuff that certainly made me emotionally sappy every time I heard it. And Mark didn't just talk, he was an ACTION guy and he would give up nights and weekends and mornings at the drop of a hat to go help out a pro-military event or group.
Eric Hogue didn't really take on the "Support Our Troops" issue in a meaningful way - other than for his malicious and untrue attacks on Move America Forward out of bitterness over the fact that we worked with Mr. Wiliams on pro-troop rallies and events.
To be 100% accurate and fair I will concede this. There is one time since MAF was formed when I thought Hogue and KTKZ did a better job at the pro-military stuff than KFBK and Williams. And that was when Hogue did his stint with Rich Botkin's trip. That was great radio and Botkin's a great American hero.
I didn't say anything about Mark Williams. It is simply untrue to say that in losing him, "these troops have now lost their voice in Sacramento."
I don't have to listen to Mark to know that. I only have to listen to Eric Hogue and Hugh Hewitt, on 1380.
Dan
No. It's a squalid little town outside Sacramento.
This is hard to believe. Mark Williams put that night time slot on the map. He may be moving on to greener pastures, but I don't know where that would be except TV.
It looks like he is going to get national exposure now.
"Maybe this week will be better for Williams. He says he'll fill in for vacationing hosts at stations in San Francisco, San Diego and Washington, D.C."
"It's important that we show our fighting men and women as well as the Iraqis that they have our support - despite what they see on CNN - and to provide for them a means by which they can tell the American people about the successes they are achieving in Operation Iraqi Freedom." - Mark Williams, KFBK 1530 Sacramento.
I don't remember him being in Sacto at the rallys back in the day. Cool beans.
Maiman is a true liberal, no moderate, and certainly not a significant intellect. He sounds like a 5th or 6th grade dropout. Very simplistic and stubborn.
Don't forget to mention
"105.5 FM"
Here is the contact information that Melanie Morgan of Move America Forward emailed out - as part of their efforts.
1) FIRST: Send an email to these people and let them know you are saddened by the news that Mark Williams has been fired and replaced with an anti-war liberal. I've also included the email addresses for 2 reporters covering this issue - include them on the same emails. We need them to hear our voices!
jeffholden@clearchannel.com
markpmays@clearchannel.com
apeterson@radioandrecords.com
smcmanis@sacbee.com
2) SECOND: Place a telephone call to Jeff Holden, the KFBK Program Director who FIRED Mark Williams, and politely and calmly state that you are calling to have your name added to those who are disappointed with the decision by KFBK to fire pro-military talk show host, Mark Williams.
The number to call: (916) 576-2223
We need for them to be besieged with phone calls. So, please, if the line is busy when you call, try back a few minutes later.
3) THIRD: Please also send a FAX and let the management at KFBK know how thoroughly displeased you are to see this station switch from being a proud sponsor of our troops and their mission, and becoming a mouthpiece for an anti-war, left-wing agenda.
The FAX number is: (916) 921-5555
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