Fisher Communications ended its agreement last year with classical KING-FM (98.1), when it reverted back to public radio status.Though everyone knew that was coming, Fisher's radio top line was bashed: cash flow shrank, and revenues fell.
Radio-Info:
Also hurting revenues, according to CFO Hassan Natha - "the overall market decline" in Seattle, and the format change at KVI (570). They switched it from conservative talk to oldies, and the recent age 6+ trendline has been 0.2-0.2-0.3. Fisher says the radio ratings continue to be strong at hot AC KPLZ (101.5). There's also news/talk KOMO (1000) and its LMA'd FM simulcast, KOMO-FM, Oakville at 97.7.
And then there's the pale pachyderm that is Fisher Plaza. Once touted to be the 9th Wonder of The Media World, they've been trying to dump it since 2005. Since selling it hasn't worked out, CEO Colleen Brown, who still has her job despite all of this, says they continue to "evaluate options." They're getting more "creative," according to Radio-Info, and considering a sale/leaseback or a re-financing.
Brown is confident "there will be a good outcome", though it's tricky trying to sell something that was "built around a TV station."
(BlatherWatch suggests burning it down for the insurance, perhaps leaving the management teamed tied-up in the management suites. That's called "Soprano option").
(photo: "pale pachyderm")
Last week the i's were crossed and t's dotted for the sell-off of the Great Falls, Montana cluster, Fisher is now just a Seattle company, their loopy regional radio dreams are over.
But that their talent- such as John Carlson and Ken Schram - have Internet presence only on Facebook is telling just how digitally hip the company isn't. A cursory glance at the KOMO news site is also telling.
KIRO's shining model, with their triangulation between listeners, news talkers, and their lively, show-pages drives web traffic and radio listenership... and vice versa.
Company gestalt, not unlike their misconceived Plaza, is built around a teevee station. It may take another decade or two to change that- but it's doubtful that Fisher has got another decade or two... This makes us sick-it's the only locally-owned media operation in town (one of a few in the nation) and their greed, bad judgement, and teevee-centricity has turned a thriving business and market leader into a teetering shadow.
(CEO Colleen Brown could write a book, Corporate Survival after Utter Failure- You Too Can Do It! She has an amazing resilience or the Fisher board is soft in their heads, or somebody is getting paid-off or fellated well and regularly. The terrible decisions and horrible hires which have led to the near decimation of this company should have spelled her termination 5 years ago).
Did anyone realize that Fisher produces a nationally-syndicated monring show? It's called The Daily Buzz. I think it used to be on CW11 in the Seattle market, but now it's on one of KOMO's digital subchannels. And it is god-awful.
Posted by: Tony | November 08, 2011 at 04:01 PM
No one dares speak up around the office over at Fisher Plaza, but many pray to the Lord that Colleen Brown and her posse get run off. Radio jobs are so few and far between, everybody is hanging on for dear life. This company has not felt stable to most of its employees for a long time.
Posted by: JimF | November 08, 2011 at 11:26 PM
My prayers are with the folks at Fisher. There are some neat folks there. I hope it holds together.
Posted by: Bill Wippel | November 09, 2011 at 08:54 AM
KOMO radio is unlistenable - its talk programs have no connection to its news programming, which in turn is recycled TV chuckle buddy wallpaper. Between that and The Joke Formerly Known as KVI, they're wasting two of the best AM signals in town. Except for Carlson & Schram's contracts (which they're stuck with) both stations are operated as cheaply as possible.
Posted by: Pete | November 09, 2011 at 09:44 AM
WOW, sad to see the demise of the once mighty Fisher Empire. It seems KVI has never been the same since Limbaugh jumped ship to KTTH in what seems like ions ago. The old lineup was Kirby in the morning, Limbaugh until noon, Medved from noon to three and the Drive With Carlson until six. Then Brian Maloney from six until nine at night. Kirby Wilbur even appeared on Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect” representing conservative views back then. Carlson ran for governor in 2000 and then came Weissbach. When times changed, their programs got stale and you already knew what was going to be said.
Could never listen to Carlson and Schramm as a team for an extended period of time. They kept reminding me that I too am middle aged and wondered if I sounded that silly whenever talking about current events with friends during weekend get togethers.
Posted by: reader | November 09, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Just the few stories I've heard coming out of the Fisher stations from employees paint a sad picture and my heart goes out to them.
Posted by: Cueburner | November 10, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Dude, KING-FM never had "public radio status" before this year. Ever. It was a commercial station all the time, even when its ownership changed to benefit arts organizations. You keep repeating your own misinformation on this for some odd reason.
Posted by: Seattlenerd | November 11, 2011 at 05:55 AM
What do you mean "One-Town Horse"?
How about Portland, Eugene, Yakama, and the Tri-cities?
Posted by: ri | November 14, 2011 at 06:03 PM