Imus’ ouster may ignite war among Hub stations

The Boston Herald ^ | 04/13/2007 | Jessica Heslam

[JohnSheppard]

With the crass cowboy booted from its lineup, WTKK’s loss of Don Imus could spark Boston talk radio’s fiercest morning-drive war in years with tens of thousands of listeners and advertising dollars at stake.

Imus, who was heard on about 60 stations nationwide, had been on WTKK-FM (96.9) since the Greater Media Inc.-owned station’s debut as a talker in 1999.

With WRKO-AM (680) having just installed disgraced ex-House Speaker Tom Finneran in the critical morning slot, the Imus airtime gap positions WTKK to go straight at its AM rival with an all-local daytime lineup.

“It’s a great opportunity to find somebody new,” said Michael Harrison, publisher of the Springfield-based Talkers Magazine. “If they could find a local host who’s as good as Imus, they are better off with a local host.”

Imus, who regularly had WTKK hosts on his radio show, garnered decent ratings in Boston, regularly beating WRKO during the morning drive in the key 25 to 54 demographic, industry insiders said.

But Harrison said local hosts trump syndicated hosts of equal qualitybecause they have more to offer listeners. “You have local flavor and you have the dimension of being able to talk about local issues,” he said.

Observers say Phil Redo, who returned to Greater Media last year and is the market manager of its five FM stations, is a huge fan of local talent. Redo issued a statement saying WTKK would review its options in the coming weeks.

WRKO officials could not be reached last night.

[Tzimisce]

Huh...

[Anti-Bubba182]

Bring Back Air America with that Retard Stuart Smalley Guy or
the PMSing DoucheBag Garofalo!

[dr_lew]

Imus, who regularly had WTKK hosts on his radio show, garnered decent ratings in Boston, regularly beating WRKO during the morning drive in the key 25 to 54 demographic, industry insiders said.

Well, see, since Imus "regularly beat" the competition, naturally it's a great thing to get rid of him. What's your problem?

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

The big market stations will handle this well.

But if I am some small market AM radio station in Kansas that aired Imus during the morning drive, I am pissed. It creates a whole lot of problems.

[ricks_place]

Finally a morning spot opens for Air America radio jocks.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Too bad WRKO hired a convicted felon to run its morning drive show. That’s why I listen to Bill Bennett’s Morning in America on 1150 AM.

[johnny7]

Menino-In-The-Morning...

[HenpeckedCon]

Mumbles-in-the-morning.

[montag813]

Too bad WRKO hired a convicted felon to run its morning drive show. That’s why I listen to Bill Bennett’s Morning in America on 1150 AM.

A convicted felon or a diseased gambler. What a choice.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

At least the guy with the gambling problem spend his own money. Tommy “Taxes” Finneran was spending everyone else’s money.