Posted on 12/01/2008 8:21:56 PM PST by neverdem
It's another bad week for veteran New York radio personalities, as Bob Grant has lost his nightly show at WABC (again) and WBLS reportedly has terminated evening host Vaughn Harper and overnight host Champaine.
A WABC (770 AM) spokeswoman confirmed that Grant will no longer do the 8-10 p.m. nightly show, but will do fill-in and other unspecified shifts.
That could keep Grant busy for a while, because radio stations require lots of fill-ins during the yearend holidays.
The bigger question may be whether his contract, which reportedly expires at the end of the year, will be renewed.
Grant was brought back to WABC last year by then-program director Phil Boyce, who always said he was unhappy he had to fire Grant in 1996 over the Ron Brown controversy. Boyce has now left WABC to work for the Talk Radio Network.
Grant, who turns 80 in March, has repeatedly said that "I've never had a better time on the radio" than since he came back to WABC.
Yesterday he said, "The station has a right to do what it believes is best."
WABC is shifting Laura Ingraham's syndicated show, which it carries on tape-delay, to 8-10 p.m., and picking up Curtis Sliwa's new nationally syndicated show, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
Sliwa for the moment also continues the 10 a.m.-noon morning show, though there is speculation WABC will bring in a different host there. Some reports on the New York Radio Message Board yesterday say WABC is eying Joe Scarborough.
WBLS (107.5 FM) could not be reached yesterday concerning Harper or Champaine. But multiple reports said both were dismissed in ongoing cost-cutting measures.
The station recently axed several people on the afternoon Wendy Williams show, including Charlamagne Tha God, who has just resurfaced at Dirt Law Radio in Atlanta.
Harper came to WBLS in 1976 and was one of the creators of the ultra-successful "Quiet Storm" format. Ironically, Champaine worked with him on "The Quiet Storm" after she came to the station in 1983.
Harper's low, soothing voice became a signature of WBLS, though he almost lost it after suffering a stroke in 1993. He battled his way back, spending some time at WBGO, WWRL and WTJM before returning to WBLS.
Champaine has also become a familiar voice of New York's overnight radio through the years.
WBLS has suffered from radio's general downturn in advertising revenue and has warned that it is being hit especially hard by the new Personal People Meter (PPM) rating system, under which its reported audience dropped sharply.
Station officials have been warning this could have a drastic impact on the station – and losing Vaughn Harper and Champaine qualifies.
You can get WABC radio over the internet:
www.wabcradio.com
Good time to bring John Bachelor back for the 10PM EST spot. Ingraham’s a better fit for the 8PM spot
Yeah...I noticed that Laura was on WABC in Bob’s timeslot when I tuned in. This ‘splains it. Thanks for the post.
The problem is that WABC has more people who deserve a slot than slots since bringing Imus back. I liked their old set-up an am sorry they had to let John Gambling go when they got Imus.
Ingraham originally had the slot....she was great...Bob Grant was awful....hopefully Laura stays in the 8PM slot forever....
What a lot of people don’t realize is that Bob Grant is the true pioneer in talk radio. If it wasn’t for Grant, Rush probably would never have gotten the gig at WABC.
I remember when I was a kid, my grandfather (rest in peace) turned me on to Grant. He would point to the radio in his Mustange with a laugh saying “listen to this guy.”
Mr. Grant is a wonderful radio host. The firing of Mr. Grant in 1996 regarding the comment he made on the death of Ron Brown should never have happened. Phil Boyce was pressured by the same bunch that pressured the Don Imus firing and the subsequent begging by Imus to his enemies for forgiveness. Mr. Grant never went begging, for which I respect him.
I do like having Laura on earlier, but Curtis Sliwa is on too much. I love him but geez. I can’t imagine Sliwa’s NY city ways will sell national. We’ll see.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
“It’s sick out there and getting sicker.” - Bob Grant
Curtis is excellent.
“I remember when I was a kid, my grandfather (rest in peace) turned me on to Grant. He would point to the radio in his Mustang with a laugh saying “listen to this guy.”
My aunt got me listening as well way back in the late 70’s. He was truly the pioneer of conservative talk radio.
Of late he just seems tired. It may be just as well he does fill in stuff.
I forgot to include you guys with my link.
The one thing with Laura’s show seems to be the incredible amount of commercials on it. It always seems to be rolling in and out of one constantly.
Do you hear WABC from NYC?
Wow you have a great homepage. Thank you for your service to this wonderful country.
Was it poor ratings, or something else?
Nonetheless, since I don't get to hear Laura live here in DC in the morning, I welcome her on ABC if she'll be on in the 8-10 slot.
Sliwa’s excellent.
The guy I'd love to hear nationally syndicated is Chris Plante on WMAL 630 her in DC. Tons of brains, talent and incisiveness.
Thank you!
Here in the Philly area, WABC (New York) has always come in loud and clear. Even as a kid (’60s) I listened to ‘Cousin Brucie’ spin the Top 40 on WABC. Nowadays, it’s on my car home and car radio as much or more than any other station. Rush and Mark Levin are the best, IMO.
FRegards,
LH
Should be:
Nowadays, it’s on my home and car radios as much or more than any other station.
Thank you.
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