BlatherWatch

KIROFM's troubles: are it the programming?

The PPM ratings, now the way of the world, were brutal to the established order in Seattle radio.

While we sit re-baiting our breaths waiting to hear if KVI and Fisher Radio have snatched Rush Limbaugh from Bonneville's KTTH, we ask the question: Will Bonneville significantly change the line-up in KIROFM to make it work in Seattle?

(photo: Dori Monson- "will dance for ratings")

Will Rush Limbaugh save KVI?

Negotiations should be wrapped up this Friday (July 10) between Bonneville International, Fisher Communications and Rush Limbaugh. Then the suits, and we hope everybody will know: will Big Pants leave Bonneville's KTTH to jump back to Fisher's KVI?

KVI is hopeful and their very existence as an AM talker in Seattle may depend on it. It's a long shot for sure, but what KVI has going for it is the precipitous drop in the new PPM ratings of KTTH ... even anchored as it is by the Big Fat Genius.

Geov parrish: john clayton leaps from KJR to 710 ESPN

In the first blood drawn in the new sports-talk war between Clear Channel's KJR and Bonneville's usta-be-KIRO 710 ESPN, ESPN football guru John Clayton, a Saturday morning fixture on KJR for nearly two decades (dating to his Tacoma News-Tribune sportswriter days) spinning his scarily encyclopedic knowledge of the NFL, is jumping to 710 effective Saturday.

Historic seattle radio day THURSDAY at KIRO

 Dave Ross will pull the plug, throw the switch, slay a small four-legged animal and fo, rmally say goodbye to 710KIRO as we know it at 11:55a THURSDAY April 2. The 710 KHz location has been news gab for over 80 years.

(The ceremony was delayed one day in order to April Fool BlatherWatch:
 were told it was to happen yesterday).

Sports talk 710AM ESPN will be launched in the hallowed location Monday, April 6. 

Listener's complaint: 'we only get KIROFM in the ladies' room!'

How does KIROFM come in where you live? Have you made the switch yet? How's it working for you? Will your listening habits be changed when the news talk format relocates April 1?
 
From reader Mike:

I'm so bummed at work. We can't get KIROFM in the shop. it's scratchy no matter where we put the radio, except in the ladies restroom! I bought a cheap indoor antenna but nothing has worked. We're having big arguments, but can't agree to what station to put the shop radio on when KIRO switches over. Everybody has a different idea. It will probably end up being on some kind of music. Bummer.

The long knives of tuesday: bryan suits will survive

The radio industry is abuzz after a New York Post piece Friday about a massive restructuring of Clear Channel, the nation's largest radio company who will cut costs of $400 million.

Soccer on news talk: lose-lose for listeners

by Rev

Bonneville announced Thursday that they will be broadcasting the newly upgraded Sounders' soccer games on KIRO-FM, with Kevin Calabro simulcasting his play-by-play on both radio and TV.

Yes, that's KIRO-FM, the talk station, and not the new all-sports AM station.

This is a big deal because it represents a huge breach of faith, both with KIRO's news-talk audience, who had previously been assured that they would no longer be plagued with pre-emptions of their favorite talk shows for baseball games, and the sports audience, who will be subjected to play-by-play done on the cheap.

You think soccer on teevee is boring? wait 'til you get it on the radio!

 When is news talk radio not news talk radio? when it's interrupted by sports.

Bonneville Seattle Market Minder, Carl Gardner announced Tuesday that KIROFM the new, supposedly sports-free, news talk station will broadcast all the games of the Sounders, a little-known soccer team located in the Seattle area.

(Soccer is a middle school, round-ball sport that's played, we're told, in many countries of the world including Buenos Aires).

Welcome geov parrish... our new sports-wars correspondent

Hell yes, it's war! KIROAM is moving their 80-year old news talk format to FM and flips to sports-talk in April.

KJR-AM will be seriously challenged.

Bonneville's loud, heritage, AM talker will have the Seahawks and Mariners radio

(photo: Geov Parrish)

play-by-play; ESPN national talkers, and now they've hired Kevin Calabro, the veteran pbp announcer, and long-time voice of the Sonics for local sports talk.