Posted on 09/15/2006 2:24:28 AM PDT by pookie18
With One High Profile Name Leading The Way, A Significant Post-Merger Exodus Looks Increasingly Likely At ABC Radio.
As you may know, the rumor mill has been in overdrive for months. And now, it appears there is substance behind the chatter. Radio's story of the year, what will happen when Citadel finally merges its operations with that of ABC Radio, seems at last to be taking shape.
And right out of the gate, we have an earthquake: news that Sean Hannity is extremely likely to leave ABC Radio Networks, as soon as it is contractually possible.
That means Hannity, one of the country's most important talk show hosts, would be free of the combined operation as soon as one year from its completion date. Or, by mutual agreement, it could happen even earlier.
Either way, it's a near certainty that the conservative talker and FOX News Channel television host will be moving his base of radio operations somewhere else.
In addition, there are strong indications that a number of additional hosts and managers may also depart Citadel's ABC operation, some by choice and others due to the company's change of direction. Since contractual dates and terms differ, however, exits could be spread out gradually, rather than as one sudden exodus.
One outside source sympathetic to the plight of ABC's staffers told me they have a right to be paranoid: "...there have been many unhappy faces around the ABC watercooler, fearing that Citadel will make the kind of changes that will thwart their efforts of making good radio. Most industry personnel would be nervous at the thought of a takeover, but the ABC staffers, most of whom have been there for many years, have valid concerns," according to the observer.
Which side?
According to insiders with knowledge of the situation, the issue apparently isn't one of unhappiness by Hannity, the indications of dissatisfaction are instead coming from Citadel's side of the fence.
What are they and why is Hannity one of the first to potentially depart? One issue could be ratings: Sean's have been a mixed bag across the country this year, strong in some places, weak in others.
But the same could be said about Rush and almost every other syndicated political talker. Clearly, the market is saturated with far too many of them. Many firms have signed up talent seemingly without regard for audience demand and there simply aren’t enough stations for all of them.
With hot election year contests now underway, however, the fall book should show gains almost across the board. Already, we've seen some unusually heated primary battles in key races, which gave talkers an early dose of excitement to pick apart.
But there's simply no denying that talk radio, particularly on the syndicated side, is in a slump. Beyond the low-hanging fruit that emerges when big things happen, picking compelling topics the rest of the time is a challenge. Increasingly, creativity has gone out the window, making way for news event- driven talk. That approach makes generating consistent ratings growth difficult.
Another theory behind Hannity’s departure is that it could simply represent a philosophy shift by ABC's incoming owners. Another source has told me that Citadel is likely to favor more local talk on ABC's stations than has been the case recently, particularly on stations as large as WABC in New York City.
An obvious way to increase local programming would be to add it during the afternoon drive timeslot, a place Sean occupies on the East Coast. That means that Hannity may not just be looking for a new syndicator, but also new affiliates in some or all of ABC's markets.
Also, the mixed track record of ABC's owned-and-operated news/talk stations can't be ignored. While some continue to dominate their local ratings, others have been troubled for years, seemingly without much attention paid by the company. Why did they allow KABC in Los Angeles to slowly deteriorate over time? As hard as it may be to remember now, at one time there was actually a horse race between KFI and KABC, but the latter lost the fight long ago.
Lastly, the elephant in the room is painted green. It could NOT be said that Citadel has a history of paying top-dollar for air talent, in fact the situation has been quite the opposite, compared to other firms. It's very possible that some of ABC's talkers (and managers) are simply making more than Citadel is willing to accept, particularly with a declining ratings and revenue picture.
We'll be keeping track of every merger development here at Inside Radio
S'okay -- I let off my /sarcasm/ button! My post to you is Sean's standard response to most every critic of him.
>>"potted down".
oops, radio term. For those not in the biz: "turned down".
Most control boards have slider-like "pots" but some, esp.
older ones, have those round ones...I meant she had his
call turned down while the other person debating him talked.
Three books is all he asks. I like how Hannity showed up at the border about 6 months after everyone else.
LOL! Yup -- and don't forget the "Political Zoo" and the mean conspiracy to keep his book from getting any coverage. Everybody and his cousin is peddling a book these days! It isn't enough for Dr. Phil to keep pushing his several books -- now he has his son and wife in on the act! Nothing against his wife -- she seems like a really neat lady but enough with the books already!
>>leave laura on from 9-noon!!!!
It's Late Night With Laura Ingraham in the Boston area:
WTKK 96.9 delays her till 10 pm. But smaller stations
carry her earlier: on live up in Beverly MA (WNSH 1570,
9-noon) and her last 2 hrs are on WCRN 830 Worcester
1-3 pm just before Howie Carr. (Howie btw is very funny
but strictly regional: he tried to go nationwide but the
references to Mumbles Menino, etc., didn't cut it. Now he's
on about a dozen stations in New England, and online...)
>>Ann Compton's voice just drips with doom and gloom.
That news report was Straight Outta Compton (to use a rap
reference). Then there's CBS Radio's Mark Knoller ("at the White House") who sounds like he's constipated...
Can't challenge an opinion. I just know I don't care for him. (Savage has the same listener numbers, btw)
LOL. Now that you mention it, he does sound like he needs a little bran in his diet.
John and Ken are amazing activists here. They aren't through and through conservatives (they are not big fans of the war in Iraq) but they are on the correct side of most issues and have been instrumental in getting the right people elected and the wrong people unelected. They are front runners in the fight against illegal immigration and have made some major strides. They fight against criminals and mistakes of the justice system as well.
They are some of the best interviewers I've ever heard. John does NOT suffer BS for one second, and insists on the follow-up questions. He is not hostile but he does not fall for filler and lies and calls his subject on it. Most interviews leave you disappointed because the interviewer doesn't ask the questions you would have wanted answered. John and Ken ask those questions and INSIST on answers. Very satisfying.
They are more common sense than conservative, which means that indeed they tend to match conservatives on most issues. It's good radio almost every day, and they don't just entertain: they get stuff DONE.
On the Factor. Gallagher gloats about AAR failure, though BOR does say that there are "bitter, angry, disrespectful smear merchants"
on the Right as well as the left. Colmes agrees and says "you have to be entertaining...I do have my
conservative listeners, and liberals", etc.
"Stuart Smalley hasn't been paid lately. Maybe we should take up a collection."
O'Reilly says, as he's said before, "Air America fails because people don't want to hear their
country stinks 24/7..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sJBfhdRv76s
I have heard Knoller is...well...maybe a bit plump? :)
There was a day when I listened to Sean, but not anymore.
His program is 30-40 percent self-promotion. Drives me crazy!
It was our loss when these guys left NJ. There has been no one to replace them either. And with Bob Grant kicked off the air, we were left to fend for ourselves.
Nope, Savage is a distant 3rd, behind Rush and Sean
am I the only one who thinks Hannitys radio show SUCKS? All he does is whine and repeat his tired "we need you more now than EVARRRRRR!!" nonsense. And that Mcbride song...UGH!
Sean Hannity wrote books??? Huh, do tell.../s
NICE, now I gotta go get me some new eyes!
Wilkow sucks, anyone who tells you, up front, that he is the HEIR to Rush, or the next generation of talk radio--isn't.
Is he still dating the PDs daughter at WABC??
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