media bytes for monday, september 22, 2008

Welcome To SDRadio for Monday, Sept. 22

Extra Xtra: Dave Palet was dismissed from 1360 KLSD, Xtra Sports last week. Part of the morning show at the station, Dave has “no comment” on why the dismissal happened. (Pictured: Dave, Jeff, and Mike Costa)

What is known: In the last month a couple of key chess moves have happened locally and company-wide. Clear Channel Communications has gone private — and the banks that made the deal had to discount the bonds by a bunch. (Ironic it is the same banks that are part of the recovery package being cobbled together.) The mandate from Texas: cut costs, cut costs, oh yes, cut costs.

First, Lee Hacksaw Hamilton was not given the opportunity to resign with the sports station. Then there is the water-cooler talk of bringing Dan Patrick in for the morning ride, similar to KLAC in LA. Patrick’s show, a good solid sports shot that airs live at 6 a.m. for three hours has hit the stride since on air. It doesn’t hurt that Bill Pugh, the operations manager for the station, is Dan’s brother.

How ever it is disguised, the motive is to cut costs, cut costs, and cut costs. While Dave’s dismissal is puzzling and a head scratcher, it is, after all, a business that has seen a steady decline in ad revenue, and the perceived notion that satellite radio is making an impact, especially in sports.

If (and probably when) Dan Patrick’s show hits the 1360 airwaves, Jeff Dotseth and Mike Costa will find themselves in another slot. The Union-Tribune ended its association with the radio station a couple of months back. I also expect the possibility of a few more syndicated shows to make it to the airwaves. No matter how the chess pieces are moved around the CCU board, it is a Stay Tuned item.

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KSON has a long history of quality country radio in the market. They have marketed themselves where school kids spell country “KSON” on test. This is one station that continues to market themselves and are not afraid to spend a little money in the process. The morning show of Cliff and Company is making their fall round to various breakfast places in the county. Not only is it a chance to met the crew, and hear Tanner-tainment first hand, you’ll see that the crew is a genuine off air as they are on. Pictured: Tori, Cliff, Morgan, and Bill at a stop in Escondido.

This Friday, the crew will converge in Poway, see the KSON web page for the place to join in on the fun.

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Roy Robertson checks in:

As many of you already know, I have accepted a new full-time media development and marketing position with the Raymond J. Lucia Companies and the Ray Lucia Show, effective Monday, October 6th, 2008. I will send updated contact information as soon as it’s available, but I will be available at this address throughout the transition, and my cell phone (619 823 9401) will remain unchanged.

“I’m excited and energized by the new challenges ahead, and look forward to working with Ray, the Lucia family, and many of you, in my new role. I’ll also be fortunate enough to continue working with many of you in a free lance capacity.

I’ll be leaving the KFMB Stations, and the family I’ve known for 30 years, as of this Friday, September 26th. I look forward to maintaining a great relationship with the stations, and the people who work there, after leaving the company. I would like to thank KFMB for how supportive and encouraging they’ve been regarding my new opportunity.”

Larson’s Large Legacy

World-famous and well-known radio host Mark Larson checks in. Mark has been a long time spot on the dial for folks, first at KFMB and at KPRZ and KCBQ. He ended up on KOGO before settling in on a stop at San Diego 1700AM.

Mark has an extensive web page and can be visited at MarkLarson.com.

SDRadio: Mark, you have moved to the extreme right of the dial at AM 1700. Are people finding you?

ML: People are finding us, but it takes time. All stations in San Diego, all companies are tight on promotion budgets now, and have been for months. And 1700 is in a crowded talk field. But we are auniquely different station, so that will change. We’re also at a part of the AM band that many people don’t know exists. San Diego 1700 has also spent the last year retooling our old format and shifting out block/brokered programs that didn’t fit in. Stacy Taylor joined us in January, but we didn’t get the rest of the old block programs moved around or out until just a couple of months ago. We’re still very new.

As to your comment about dial position, we’re on the far right, unless you go digital, in which case we’re just a couple of scan stops to the LEFT away from from, say 600 and 640. Besides, we ARE the only station in town with BOTH sides of the talk spectrum. I’m on in the morning 5-9, coming from the conservative position (but often much different from, say Roger or Rick), Stacy’s on afternoons 3-6PM. Dennis Miller 12-3 is conservative, but often libertarian/contrarian. Lionel’s show is also part of our line-up, straight from Air America. Ray Lucia’s show originates with us as his SD affiliate, and with the current economic jitters, I can’t think of a better show to have on from 9A-Noon opposite the Big Gorilla (Rush).

SDRadio: In addition to the morning show, what is your role at the station?

ML: Program Director, as I was at KFMB for 17 years. There was also over 10 years at KCBQ/KPRZ where I served as GM and programmer most of that time. It’s in my blood. That being said, with tight budgets faced by all businesses, it’s even more important to get out and see people. I’m very involved in sales efforts and in-person promotion —- that is, every day after the show, I’m in the community getting “in front of people”. Hey, I’ve been in this town over 32 years. It’s important to not just yak on the air but actually be immersed in San Diego. I love that. It’s like campaigning for listeners. And advertisers. We’re getting results. >

SDRadio: What are some of the challenges in today’s radio market (local and nationwide) that BCA is doing right?

ML: Ratings and recall, along with revenue— everyone’s challenges. Lots of flack now over ARB’s PPM system, which I believe will help stations like ours. I do think it’s a much fairer methodology. Recall (or lack of it) causes some people who listen to me in the morning, for example, to insist they heard me on KOGO or KFMB (especially since I spent three years at KOGO before moving to BCA). People get confused and are habitual, which is why getting the old Arbitron diary system to pick up changes is a slow process, especially in news/talk.

PPM will reveal lots of things that will surprise local “experts” and will track preferences more accurately. Much of our challenge now is doing the best we can in the current environment and generating word of mouth PR. We’ve also really stepped up our inter-station cooperation, between BCA’s XX 1090 and 105.7 The Walrus. we are blessed with a great team and our recent move into our new offices/studios has helped freshen our mindset toward cooperation.

Kudos to the boss, John Lynch for getting us new tools to work with, putting BCA on a new more level playing field. He’s had the vision to create two new stations (105.7 and 1700) in just a few months and do so while facing tough economic times and competition, not to mention what it takes to build new facilities at the same time.

We also cross-promo on-air on our stations,and that’s a huge plus, especially with the rapid growth of the Walrus. We’ve increased that cooperation, as demonstrated by our big 9/11 Blood Drive at the Hall of Champions last week … an all-station effort and a big success. Exciting times here, in spite of the challenges all of media are facing.

SDRadio: For those who don’t know, what is AM 1700 all about?

ML: SAN DIEGO NEWS AND TALK, locally owned and operated station. A different mix of news, too. We’re an NBC Radio and CNN affiliate, and we’ve stepped up affiliations with KUSI-TV and the San Diego Business Journal. We have live, local shows (for starters) with me in the morning, Ray Lucia and Stacy Taylor. Dennis Miller and Mike Reagan (6-9PM) are based in So California, and have lots of San Diego connections. Only Lionel is from out of town — the east coast, but it’s a good “different voice” to add to the “News and Talk from BOTH sides” mix. By the way, now that Storm baseball is over for the season, Lionel’s show moves to 9PM-Midnight (from 1-4AM) We also carry “First Light” (which used to be on KFMB) from 4 to 5AM.. an excellent early-morning news program.

But back to local. We have assembled specials like live, local HIGH SCHOOL football on Friday nights. Shows like “The Yellow Ribbon Team” and “Chandler’s Watch” that support the military. All local programs. We just added “Dr. Fix-it” and in recently months the popular “Garden Compass” to our weekend line-up. Live, local, unique stuff.

SDRadio: Having Stacy Taylor in the afternoon line up brings two perceived different views to the air. Why did you, as the PD, do that?

ML: I brought Stacy back to San Diego from Chicago (to work at KFMB). He’s a great talent, and we’re friends, despite ideological differences most times. The challenge is getting the diehard left-wing listeners to sample the conservative shows, and vice-versa. I think the right wing is actually more tolerant of shows on the “other side”, but time will tell. The more we let people know about this unique blend of shows, and where the heck 1700 is on the radio, the more the audience is growing.. and will grow.

SDRadio: Your morning show continues to have the “Who’s Who” list of Beltway insiders and a nation news makers on line. Your connections are vast and
deep. For those who don’t tune in, who is a frequent Mark guest?

ML: People ask how I “network” to get big names. That doesn’t happen because of a book I read or a plan or map. I just “do it”. In all the community work, national boards, etc, you run into key people. I find people fascinating, and connections just develop in the course of talking with people and paying attention to them. I also ante up personally to join and support key organizations… that opens doors. I have really been blessed with quite a list of go-to experts.. some of the best in the world who’l come on the show just about any time. It’s like a “radio cabinet” of advisers. I don’t know where to start on any “list” of regular guests. Governors,Senators, all the local leaders, Gorbachev…and not just names people will know off the bat. For example, when I was in Afghanistan a couple of years ago, I connected with Defense Minister Wardak… he’s also been on the show several times. With all the focus on that country again, we’re quite well positioned to get information that’s really important… not just from a news standpoint, but for local military families. This is info no one else has, really.

My info-network that has evolved is a whole lot larger than the whos-whos you hear on-air, and I’m emailing, calling, meeting people off-air on a regular basis. All of that gives us very special connections.

SDRadio: You continue to be active in local activities and politics. From your mic and the listeners view, is this presidential and local election gathering more interest than the before?

ML: Absolutely. In many ways this is a “wake up people!” election. Media is faster, and distortions fly faster, too. The American people need to pay attention. We try to help with that, on both sides, on San Diego 1700AM.

SDRadio:What else is in Mark’s world?

ML: In addition to my main duties at BCA, I continue to run my websites, speakers agency (www.speakersgroup.net) and media company (with clients like El Cajon Ford. I have people who assist with those efforts, so it doesn’t distract. I love what I do, and my biggest challenge is listening to my wife when she say “stop working”, at about 6PM. Since I get out of bed at 3AM everyday, she has a point.

Anyway, all of these things feed the network of contacts that play into the show, and open doors for sponsors for BCA.

I’m also prime guest host on the Michael Reagan national show, so that gives me a nice nationwide platform, in addition to being heard on over 2,500 radio stations each week, worldwide, on programs like “Turning Point” and “Healthline”. One of the most rewarding things we’ve done this year has been doing a special daily program for the troops in Iraq, broadcast on bases all over the country.

One of my favorite charities is Heart to Heart international. I’m on their National Board and a member of their Global Leadership Council, and right now we’re very involved in getting hurricane relief into Texas and the Gulf Coast. One doctor’s vision, 15 years ago, has resulted in over $750 million (wholesale) in medicines and supplies being delivered around the world. I’m honored to be part of that, and have been for over ten years

Despite the challenges we all face every day, disasters, Wall Street jitters, etc… it’s still a “wonderful life”. And I thank God for each day, being able to do what I’ve loved to do since I was a kid.

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BTW: The kids are all grown.. daughter has been graduated from college two years.. we’re in empty nest zone… and I’m a very young grandpa for the first time ,too… hey, I’m only 53..

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