WBT gives the boot to conservative Jeff Katz (Charlotte, NC)

Charlotte Observer.com ^ | Dec. 1, 2008 | Mark Washburn

[MitchellC]

I don't have a hard time believing it was mostly ratings that did Katz in. The guy just was not good at what he was doing - he was very grating in the lead-up to the election. (There's only so many times I can hear a person say “That's socialism!” over and over again before it becomes a dull listen, no matter how true it is.) In these last few months they've tried to portray him as a sort of Michael Savage-lite. No thanks.

And with WDYT 1220 increasing their wattage and advertising, Sean Hannity had to have been pulling away listeners from Katz.

I look forward to hearing Tara in that slot because I think she's done great so far and would be a huge improvement. With a little work, and more emphasis on solutions instead of just talking about what the problems are, she might even turn out to be as good as Jason Lewis.

[MitchellC]

Jeff Katz is being replaced by Tara Servatius in the drive time slot. Rumor has it that Tara's current 9-12 slot will eventually go to Pete Kaliner, who filled in for her while she was out on maternity leave this year, but in the meantime it looks like they'll be airing Neil Boortz.

NC *Ping*

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[csmusaret]

I think Pete is a very good reporter, but he sucks as a radio host. Same thing for Tara, but her topics are so interesting I usually listen anyway. Katz was/is a putz who used to exaggerate for effect then acted like his hyperbole was a direct quote. No need to lie when you have the truth on your side. Larsen does the best 30 minures on radio. Unfortunately he has a 3 hour show. Jason Lewis was not fired. He quit to go back near his wife’s family and to have a shot at filling in for Rush. XM radio saved me from WBT except 12-3.

[MitchellC]

Kaliner was surprisingly good when he was filling in for Tara for a couple of weeks earlier this year. I expected him to be terrible, so maybe I just had low expectations.

Tara is obviously trying to transition from print reporter to radio host so she isn’t without her flaws, but she overcomes them with the quality of information, topics, guests, etc.

And I didn’t mean to imply that Jason Lewis was fired. Far from it, and I’m sure he’d still be on WBT today (with probably double the audience of Katz) if he hadn’t decided to return to Minnesota. I hope he gets his own syndicated show, and soon.

By the way, what’s the line-up on XM?

[ladyjane]

What’s the story on WDYT? They have Sean Hannity? Anybody else?

[csmusaret]

10 AM G. Gordon Liddy is on 166. Laura Ingraham is on at 12, and Hannity is at 3. Channel 121 is Fox News Channel. You get the audio of the TV shows. FOX talk radio is on 128. Bill O’Reilly is on there, I think at 12. No matter what kind of music you like there is at least one channel playing it all day.

[MitchellC]

WDYT website.

They come out of Kings Mtn. but apparently transmit from Charlotte during the day. But about 7PM or so they're completely faded from Charlotte.

They have Hannity, O'Reilly, and Dennis Miller. Danny Fontana formerly of WBT runs the station.

[ladyjane]

Thank you so much. I will definitely tune them in.

Today’s 3:00pm program on WBT was so lame. It’s the job of management to keep quality programming on the air. They now have a PR nightmare on their hands.

Katz was a northerner and Jewish and he was very negative about Obama. WBT sees the writing on the wall. Charlotte is turning into another Atlanta and they don’t want to alienate those in power.

[crusher]

Drat! Since she became the evening regular, Tara has been “must listening” for me. She has actually become my favorite radio host, just barely edging out Monica Crowley. I tune in to Glenn Beck or Chris Plante in the morning, usually skip Rush, then on to Monica at 3 and Tara at 9. Sigh. Now they’re up against each other.

[military person]

I am extremely disappointed in WBT. Jeff Katz was an entertaining host that spoke his mind. I guess since it wasn't liberal BS, so it can't be on the air. I understand that the management has the right to fire anyone they want. It seems to me that once again the liberals complain and fools like you give in. My Soldiers and myself listen to Mr. Katz every day. If the firing is due to an advertiser, we will boycott them. We are tired of the liberals making the rules and we have to deal with it. You have the right to fire him, we have the right to never listen to your station again.

[MitchellC]

This has nothing to do with Katz’s politics. Tara is equally conservative and the same liberal bedwetters and seminar callers who were mad at Katz will soon be mad at her. (The Observer's title for this story is idiotic and redundant, ALL the hosts on WBT are conservative.)