KGO radio changes format to all news talk hybrid
Click here for an update. Gene Burns and Len Tillem signed up for new Bay Area station.
Click here for an updated article. At least one former KGO host has already turned up on another station.
KGO Radio (810 AM) announced to listeners on Friday, December 2, that it is changing formats from newstalk to mostly news. The weekday schedule will be radically changed. Talk show hosts Gene Burns, Gil Gross, Ray Taliaferro, Len Tillem and John Rothmann were all fired on Thursday, December 1. Repeat broadcasts were plugged in their place. The new format will start on Monday, December 5.
Update: Dr. Bill Wattenburg's reaction to the KGO radio format change can be found here.
Ronn Owens to stay
Ronn Owens will be the only weekday show that will stay intact. On Friday, December 2, Owens told listeners that he had "survivors' guilt" but is excited about the new format. Owens told listeners he was "numbed" by the news and felt bad for his friends and former co-workers. He brought on the station's news and program director, Paul Hosley, who told listeners that slipping ratings with the station's longtime all-talk format was the reason for the change. The station will be competing with the top-rated all-news station, KCBS (740 AM).
Hosley told KGO-TV, Channel 7, "We thought that there would be a better opportunity to build audience by going to a semi-all news format. Our talk format has been wonderful over the years for KGO, but the audience really hasn't stayed with us. The audience isn't there. We believe that news will attract more listeners."
Cumulus Media owns KGO radio while Disney owns KGO-TV.
Weekend talk
The weekend shows will remain partially intact. Karel will remain 7-10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. According to the station's online schedule, Pat Thurston will take over 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekends. Spencer Hughes takes over the 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. weekend slot that had been occupied by Bill Wattenburg, according to the station's Web site. Wattenburg apparently among those who have been let go. Wattenburg's Web page on the KGO site had been removed.
Bob Brinker's Moneytalk show, which had aired on Sundays at 1-4 p.m. is no longer on the station's schedule and neither is Joanie Greggains. (UPDATE: Bob Brinker will apparently remain on KGO, more on that here.)
Gene Burns' weekend Dining Around show has also been cancelled.
The following was posted on Burns' Dining Around site:
From Gene Burns
To our Audience:
Needless to say we were stunned at the news of the cancelation of the Gene Burns Program and Dining Around. We deeply appreciate the many good wishes we have received from listeners and sponsors alike. While at the moment personal replies are impossible, we do want you to know that there are great things to come for both programs.
Please watch this site for updates which we will provide as matters develop and follow joel on twitter @joelriddell
thank you for your loyalty
Gene and Joel
Gene Burns's 16th Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange!
The event has been cancelled.
Sadly we will not be able to enjoy the company of our judges
and our friends
please accept my thanks -
and extend your grattitude to all that would have made this event amazing
joel
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