more leaks in and out of the titanic of eastlake

We speak, of course, of the latest “trends” ratings and the meltdown of Entercom’s top-rated mixed-format Seattle news-talk station, KIRO and its red-headed stepsister, the right-wing KTTH.

Another Entercommie spoke out to blatherWatch over the weekend and said good ol’boyism was the personnel strategy for the controversial and apparently failing new line-up. Program Director Tom Clendening hired his ol’ buddy, Allen Prell and Dori Monson pressured Clendening into giving his ol’ pal, Tony Ventrella the m-f, 6-9p slot.

The perfesser, Fred “who’s your daddy?” Ebert, formerly in that slot, was fired after he made sexual remarks at 3a on the Lou Pate show (Sun-thur, 1-4a). Let’s just say his comments had to do with long strokes and fistfuls of hair and leave it at that.There were few listening in the early morning hours and no outside complaints. But the tape was passed and yukked-up widely around the office and colleagues say it was the excuse management was looking for to make way for Ventrella.

Our man at Eastlake opines that the rest of it--the mystifying Dave Ross relocation to evening drive and Mike Webb’s expanding an extra hour earlier were matters of the chips falling where they may after Monson and Clendening got their friends installed. 

That’s stunning, if true. I hope it was more strategic than that.considering the talent and known product-worth of Dave Ross.

Ventrella, longtime Seattle TV sports head is the nicest man in the world--he even used to return my calls-- but most agree he isn’t a good fit for this radio gig. He may have some doubts himself--he sure misses a lot of work for a new guy...

(I interviewed him when rumors were flying that he might run for Congress in the 2nd or 8th Districts. He has the makings of a good politician, though he’s such a pleaser, he might have trouble with those pesky damned-if-you-do decisions--but who doesn’t?)

“The only people still [at KIRO] are those who haven’t found a new job yet,” our guy says. Reporter Rich Johnson will leave for Fox News soon, and other newsies have been out interviewing.

It’s gloomy around Eastlake these days. “People aren’t so much pissed off...” says our latest leaker. They’re saddened, and puzzled at the dubious programming decisions that have resulted in this scary situation.

“It’s like the wind went out of the sails,” according to a source. And speaking of sales, cubicles up in the sales department are like confessionals on Saturday night--mostly empty. Sounds like there’s not enough money being generated to keep on the heavily commissioned sales staff.

KTTH management and employees feel they’re being ignored by Clendening while he and other Entercom suits and consultants try to save KIRO. Arch-competitor KVI reportedly leads them again in the ratings; and Mike Siegel, (m-f, 6-9a) we fear, may have to raffle off some toasters or interview porn stars ala Howard Stern to fluff up early mornings.

Meanwhile, KIRO has put lipstick on the pig--walls and stairways around the station have been dolled up with giant promo posters like the ones on Metro buses. The consensus among the peons is that it’s like changing the art on the Titanic.

BlatherWatch’s recent revelations about Eastlake have raised cries of foul and a few vague, Seattle-style threats from anonymous readers. I cry fowl (chicken!) at their anonymity. My real name is all over this blog, and my professional reputation as a reporter is as invested here as it is anywhere I’m found in print.

Multiple sources truly on the inside, have spoken to us--not under the easy mask of Internet anonymity, but with full name disclosure and the ostensible risk of losing their jobs. We wouldn’t betray anyone’s identity, so they speak freely.

BlatherWatch gets no joy out of reporting KIRO’s problems. The station has been the leader in news-talk radio for15 years and the only station to have a balance of political views in a liberal city dominated by conservative talk.
~~
Got any inside talk-radio poop to dish? Blab it at [email protected] Discretion assured.

Comments

[mick horan]

I’ve been retired for the last 7-8 years and do some work from home so I have the morning to listen to the radio as I work. For all that time it was KIRO710 and Dave Ross.

You know the day that Dave Ross first said he was going to the 3-6 shift I really didn't get a good feeling that it was voluntary. I have always felt that he had to have the BEST show with the best ratings in his time slot (9-12). I know that this was based on a gut feeling but that’s how I felt (maybe I just wanted it that way because I’m such a fan).

Anyway the ratings aside I think from your writings over the last few entries I was right to feel as I did.

I try to listen to Dave but now it’s maybe 1-2 hours a week total. I’ve moved to Air America (1090 AM) thanks to you. I was getting it from the Internet until I came across your BLOG and you said that I could listen to Al Franken on 1090.

I’m sorry to see KIRO Ngo down.

Mick

PS: As I said I would listen to Dave almost everyday and followed that with Dori Monson. He had a fun show for the first 5-6 years but it seemed to change about 2 years ago. He started to move RIGHT until now he sounds like all the other folks on KVI. It’s not a fun show anymore Toto.

[Fremont]

It was the attack on the Twin Towers that sent Dori Monson spiraling into the self-righteous right... what a loss!
And hey, Blather, what's a "vague, Seattle-style threat?" "May the clouds piss on your evergreens?" or more like "the spawn of Ted Bundy is dating your daughter..."?
Come forward, Anonymous, if you're a worthy opponent.

[me]

If you want to see examples of anonymous Seattle-style threats, go check out Lisa Wood's blog! (rimshot)

[Fremont]

Whoa! N.I.M.B.Y...! Vitriol in Seattle?! Thanks for the "deep background" tip, me! Anonymous spews all over the land!

[Hans Bjordahl]

I gotta say I was sad to see Fred go. In my opinion, he was easily KIRO's second-best talk show host (and there's no shame being second to Dave Ross). Ebert's show was entertaining, informative, humorous and in most cases riveting. Plus, there was a good chance you'd learn something along the way. So I was somewhat mystified when he disappeared.

As for the Dave Ross move, I thought I'd follow him to any time slot, but the afternoon slot really doesn't sync with my schedule, so I've probably caught 60 minutes of Dave Ross total since the move. Before that, it was two hours each morning, easy.

[blathering michael]

We've heard that over and over around here, Hans... it's sad for those of us for whom Dave Ross is the geldt standard in talk-talk.

[Michele]

I've always loved Dave Ross for his middle of the road stance. He was someone I could listen to to actually learn about issues and not feel I was merely being manipulated into believing an agenda. This has all changed. He seems angry...and is obviously more left leaning. My defenses are up again, it's hard to listen with an open mind like it was before. I really miss the old Dave.

[Rockefeller]

Where did you hear that MEdved was going to KKOL, the bottom of the radio heap?

[Jeff B.]

It's pretty obvious what's happening. The more liberal KIRO gets, the more it is failing. Take a look at Air America's ratings. In the dumpster. Liberal talk radio doesn't sell, hence the empty cubicles in the KIRO sales department. Buh bye.

[Lan Roberts]

Many of these radio stations and performers are taking things too serious, although they are. There are tons of good lines just from the self serving Right and especially Fearless Leader Dubya. Many radio performers are afraid of losing their gig so they seem to hold back on comments about Fearless and his goons even if it's the truth. Many radio hosts could learn some valuable lessons from The Daily Show's Jon Stewart. That show is what radio used to be and should be.....
Aloha to all of my former listeners in the NW
Lan Roberts

[Glen]

KIRO’s recent programming changes just don’t quite make sense. They moved Dave Ross to the afternoons (away from most of his core audience), replaced him in the mornings with Alan Prell (who, as a fill-in for Dave during his Congressional campaign was adequate, at best), cut the mid-day news hour out completely, cut Dori Monson back an hour, and added Tony Ventrella (who is just too nice for a talk radio show).

I think it’s still too early to tell if their programming changes will hold water, sponsorship-wise. I have a feeling that they will eventually move Dave back to mornings.

[Glen]

The programming changes made at KIRO are perplexing, to say the least. What I’ll be curious to find out is how the programming changes made there will pan out financially for KIRO. As a radio programmer (and no, I don't work for Entercom or for any station in the Seattle area), my goal is to provide the kind of shows on the air that will attract the most listeners. The more listeners a station has, the easier it is to sell advertising to businesses that want to reach the listeners of what you have on the air. The more advertisers, the more money the station makes.

Personally, I’ve made some great programming decisions, as well as some dismal ones. The dismal ones involve programs I thought would be just what listeners wanted to hear, but despite positive listener feedback, businesses weren’t willing to sponsor them. So, we pulled those programs, or moved them to time slots outside of the “golden hours” of programming – Monday through Friday, 6am to 7pm, with preference to the 6-9am and 4-7pm time slots. If you hear a talk program on any radio station outside of 6am-7pm, chances are that sponsors are charged a cut-rate to advertise during those shows. The same applies for any program on the weekends.

Most people who have had no experience in the radio industry fail to recognize that radio programming is not entertainment-based, but sales-based. I’m not saying that the listeners don’t count – they do – but how much money a station can make off of a show through advertising pays the bills. A show could have thousands and thousands of loyal listeners, but the sponsorship is low, the show is a bust and should be replaced with something more lucrative. A commercial radio station is a business – it makes money from helping other businesses make money through advertising.

And, in defense of any talk show host on any station, if you agree or disagree with their leanings, left or (gasp!) right, you should let the sponsors of the show know how you feel. Those sponsors are the ones who, ultimately, enable those hosts to pay their mortgages or keep their families fed.

[LINDA]

I can't wait for the days when my time allows me to turn on Allen Prell. He is absolutely a breath of fresh air. I find him to be extremely well-versed in political matters as well as local issues. He is always, always, always a gentleman, even when someone pokes a nasty jab at him. How people can be so mean-spirited, especially to a person as fair and courteous as Mr. Prell, never fails to amaze me. Keep up the good work, Allen, don't let the small-minded ......get you down. Erin Hart and Mike Webb are ever-delightful and inspiring to listen to also. P.S. To the prudes who took offense with Mr. Ebert, how do they feel about the "Chippendale" remark made by the 1st lady this weekend????

[choch]

better listen while you can, he won't be around long...

[Naomi]

Shame..I really enjoyed the Fred Ebert Show. Does anyone know if there are any rumors of him going back on the air... Anywhere?

[Online Casino]

best site
http://www.onlinecasino.org.in/