Fisher shrinks the pie: john & ken whistle past the graveyard

John Carlson, and Ken Schram, made some heh, heh, jokes and put on a happy face for P-I radio columnist Bill Virgin Wednesday.

"We're the 'Where's Waldo?' of radio," said Schram.

(photo: ken & john, whistle while your workin')

He was talking about the latest move of their program, The Commentators which is being rather hastily (not unlike the application of a tourniquet) shuffled from heritage talk station KVI's drivetime to all-news KOMO for a weirdly scheduled 4 hour show from 10a to 2p starting Sept. 29. They'll be replaced on KVI by Laura Ingraham's morning show beamed down afternoons from CoinStar. 

It's the latest downsized pants of the incredible shrinking Fisher Communications, forced to go on an extreme diet.

The boyz, who disagree as much as they can on the radio, are keeping their senses of humor, (at least they're working) telling Virgin: "I just hope the schizophrenic people who run this company finally make a decision that they're willing to stick to," Schram says. "I figured it out. They're moving us on average every six months. So I figure somewhere around next Easter we'll wind up on Star 101.5 spinning records."

Carlson: "It's an absolutely ingenious marketing ploy on the part of Fisher management (which operates KOMO, KPLZ-FM, known as Star 101.5 and KVI-AM/570). We've got a really popular show. Let's see if you can figure out where it is."

PD Dennis Kelly did a little 'splainin' about the strange new time on KOMO, which is at present devoid of other newstalk. He said most people listening to an all-news station occurs in morning and afternoon drivetimes. "That audience gets really cranky with us when they drive home and they don't have what they expect from us."

Kelly says "he's not contemplating" adding other talk shows to KOMO.

And what about KVI?

Carlson told Virgin that bringing on a national conservative like Ingraham "reassures 'the KVI faithful' who might have worried that the station's format was being watered down."

"Audiences don't get as caught up in the 'it's a local show, it's not a local show' as we might get caught up in it," Kelly says. "If it's a good show, it's a good show," he said, adding that Ingraham is "one of the rising stars in talk radio."

(And, he could have added: she's free, and we don't have to give her a health plan).

Only one local program is left at KVI: Kirby & Co. (m-f, 5-9a). It's a downsizing -- things are grim around Fisher Plaza. More -- we can't confirm how many -- were laid off with the Tators move.

"I believe," says a KVI staffer, they will eventually move or get rid of Kirby, make a robo-station out of it, get it back in the black, then sell it off."

(photo: Kirby Wilbur)

Kirby reportedly has an excellent agent and his contract isn't up until January 2009.

Another KOMO source told BlatherWatch: "I'd love to be here as when this company rises from the ashes, but there's not much hope if you're part of the ashes."

The KVI faithful (what's left of them) aren't worried about programming watered down as much as they miss their beloved jocks and the community of live & local programming.

On the Radio Boards at radio info.com, an on-line radio trade forum, KMan asks:

The real question is: if local radio is full of nothing but national syndicated shows, and all but the very cream of the crop stink, why should anyone listen to radio? Seems like a downward spiral.

If the #13 market can't maintain more than one station with a full roster of live/local talk (KIRO), then the industry is ready to implode.

If the #13 market can't develop any new talent in the early evening & overnight hours because its all syndicated, who is going to be the next John Carlson?

Comments

[Duffman]

All I can say is going up against BOTH Dave Ross and Dori Monson is probably akin to electing Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House...a futile move.
John (Carlson) I will continue to look forward to you getting a solo gig sometime in the relative near future. Good Luck!
R.I.P. KVI !!

[Farnigan]

It's so freakie around Fisher Plaza. Sports guy Matt Pitman was let go (last day Oct.3) and Brian Calvert will no longer be the News Director, he'll be Eric Slocum's replacement on the afternoon show. Dave Carson who was a producer and one of the Mouthing Off guys, is gone.

[Lynn C.]

I'm hearing that DK is not long for this world and Schram is trying to get out of his contract.

[Duffman]

Do you have any word on Kirby and Carleen over at KVI?

[RobP]

>>I'm hearing that DK is not long for this world<<

I wouldn't count on that. He's taking over as KOMO's ND when Calvert replaces Slocum. And even though he can't program a VCR, let alone a radio station - DK has always found a way to keep his gig.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Can someone explain to me why John Carlson and Ken Schram still work in the radio business? I don't see the logic in it.

[joanie]

I wonder if Kirby put all his eggs in the stock market...

I wonder how much he needs a paycheck?

I wonder if Kirby will go back to teaching?

Wasn't he a teacher?

I wonder if Kirby will go back to living off the tax payor?

[Sclub]

Pretty clear this the end of the road for Fisher, these guys are BROKE.

[Duffman]

ms joanie: in answer -

I believe Mr Wilbur was a real-estate appraiser before radio and I believe he has an avocation of teaching history to home-schooling classes. So no, I don't think he ever lived off the tax payer (not 'or') and doubt he will in the future; at least not directly.

[ed calvert]

Just dont mess with Coast to Coast Am

[Puget Sound]

Duff
Joanie is just unhappy about poor lifestyle choices.

Note that she always seems worried about what others have. Lots of coveting going on there. She seems to take glee in the misfortune of others. Her crap on Chucks would be one example.

[Mukilteo Steve]

Certainly Carlson has no place in radio.

[Miami Web Design]

I love that program, is a shame, they are doing the last move of the program, awww!!!