rumors, intenuendo, weak-kneed spin from kiro, ktth, michael jackson, and the runaway bride

Rumors abound about the Entercom (KIRO, KTTH) ratings train wreck.

Our sources tell us they’re definitely interviewing hosts for Allen Prell‘s job (9a to 12p).

Another tantalizing rumor, which is at present just a idea batting around town, is that they’ll move Limbaugh over to KIRO, and shut down KTTH completely. Whoa. Dude...wouldn't that be amazing?

Embattled Program Director Tom Clendening, who presided over this stampede to the bottom is still hanging in there.

BlatherWatch has been reporting this decline since March. We were greeted with frank denials and sneering sarcasm from Entercom management and employees with axes to grind. but we were also overwhelmed with information from staffers worried about their jobs and sick about programming so clearly blunderful.

There have been some bad breaks for KIRO. They lost Mariners baseball practically by default, undone by Fisher Broadcasting who worked harder to get the pure gold contract that Entercom reportedly had been taking for granted.

Dave Ross, their highly rated and respected morning guy who had made them No.1 against Rush Limbaugh, left to run for congress. When he came back, KIRO put him in the afternoon, dumping a huge crowd of listeners to go to Al Franken (KPTK, m-f, 9-12p) or to hang out at KUOW’s Weekday (m-f, 9-12p).

If you’re the type who needs some MSM to make you feel better about buying the pure made-up truths and pithless analysis you read on blatherWatch, here’s Heidi Dietrich’s great piece. Program Changes Knock KIRO Radio Off Its Perch which appeared in the May 20 ish of the Puget Sound Business Journal (a sordid left-wing rag) which says in some new and damning ways what we’ve been reporting for months.

Dietrich has some great interviews with marketing and advertisng execs.

"They changed a lot of things around, and people are all confused," said Dave Sharp, owner of Seattle-based media consulting company Sharp Consulting Group. "It's going to take a while for people to find them."

We were interested to learn that despite their losses, they haven’t discounted their ad rates! 

“Some ad buyers, however, who did not wish to be identified, said KIRO's ad rates are above average and should be lowered now that the station no longer has the Mariners."

Our favorite quote, though, was Tom Clendening’s weak-kneed attempt at spin:

"We made some pretty dramatic changes,” he said, “and we didn't expect to have our ratings go through the roof right away."

Comments

[Duane]

I enjoy reading your blog even though I disagree frequently with some of your opinions. One confusing remark is all of Dave Ross' listeners flocking over to Air America. How can they be in 24th place if many of Dave's listeners went there?
As you predict the demise of KTTH, I predict the demise of Air America. Even charismatic Al Aharpton, who I dislike, could help them.

Duane

[Duane]

OOPS!...Regarding Al Sharpton...even he COULDN'T help Air America.
Pardon my typo.

[Brian Maloney]

Duane, you might be referring to an overall figure for KPTK-AM. Between 10am and 3pm, Air America has seen a large audience increase, even if the station as a whole is still struggling.

This situation, unique to Seattle, gave Air America a chance to gain a foothold in the Puget Sound Area. It's a rare bright spot for the network.

[Scott]

Just remember, compare the numbers for Al Franken's show during its first year in any market with the numbers for Lush Flimbaugh's show for the first year in any market. Al beats him like a left handed stepchild. As do most of the other AA talkers.

But of course, this argument over who listens to whom the most makes little sense. The right seems to think that because Lush Flimbaugh is a good radio host with strong numbers, that his policy positions (and subsequently theirs, since they can't think for themselves) must be correct.

Well folks I hate to break this to you but usually, the truth isn't as popular as fiction. A MAJORITY of people used to think the world was flat. And if someone was out there selling the idea that it was really round, they were written off. Didn't change the fact that the world is round.

And Lush Flimbaugh and the righties saying that Bush is right won't change the fact that he's wrong.

[blithering michael]

Brian Maloney's response to your comment Duane, is why I, raving liberal, listen to and trust what Brian Maloney, crazed conservative has to say about radio. He has a bullshit detector and though seriously deluded, he can be counted upon to make honest analyses even when the facts don't favor his politics.

His, is the kind of discourse, I wish all conservatives (and libs, for that matter) would exercise more frequently. That said, the opionated bastard has lot to say about Air America on his ambitious blog radioequalizer.blogspot.com/ that I don't want to hear. You'd probably enjoy including it on your daily blog run, if you don't already.

[Duane]

Looking at the latest postings from Arbitron across the country, Air America is not gaining any ground...has lost in the markets I was able to look at...the BIG markets.
Personally, I don't care if they remain on the air, but who is subsidizing them?
And by the way, if you don't have the couretsy to call Rush Limbaugh by his correct name, I will now call it Err American...a BIG mistake.

[Scott]

Lush Flimbaugh is a commie and so are you. And who cares how AA stays on the air. You righties have been predicting, hoping for, praying for their demise for a year and so far, they just keep adding stations. In fact, AA has added stations at a faster pace than that lying drug addict big pants Limbaugh. Must really frost you right wingers to know that you can't lie with impunity now. And that someone is there to counter with the truth!

[Duane]

When I was a kid the P-I ran "Today's Chuckle" on their front page. Scott, thank you for giving me a great chuckle today. Oh, by the way 55 stations in a year? I don't think that's a rousing success. Limbaugh is on 600 stations.