ARCHIVED IN REVERSE ORDER
KTSA RADIO FIRES
WIGLESWORTH, SONNELAND
CARL, ELIZA OUT; BILL CLINTON IS
IN
RG Griffing, SAL Commentary
6-23-2004
As
KTSA prepares to air the hour long info-mercial
touting a CBS-backed book by Bill Clinton --
disguised as a news event-- two of it's long time
talk show hosts, who disagreed with the
"forced carriage" of the commercial,
have been shown the door by angry KTSA managers.
Though
Reid Reker, station GM has not given the exact
reason for the firings of Carl Wiglesworth and
Eliza Sonneland, some are wondering at the
"coincidence" in the timing.
It all
began with a secret memo accidentally sent to all
KTSA employees. (See below.) The memo seems to
point to the age of Wiglesworth, and financial
woes at the station, as part of the recipe.
Wiglesworth's suggested replacement, Chris Duel,
is described as a good choice because he will
work "inexpensively."
Meanwhile,
some of the survivors of the carnage at the once
proud station have pretty much changed their tune
about the Clinton show.
According
the E-N's Jeanie Jaekle: "Though I've heard
many a talk show host grouse on the air about
their station giving so much time to Clinton, one
host — the morning show's Trey Ware —
is sounding more balanced on the subject. On his
show the other day, Ware said of Clinton:
"He's more of a rock star. Besides, when you
have an opportunity to talk to a former president
of the United States, you've got to take the
chance."
Especially
if CBS/Infinity gives you no option.
Nothing,
it seems, will better improve the morale of the
"troops" than a couple of good
executions.
* *
*
Meanwhile,
Wiglesworth and Sonneland soon will be speaking
out in articles here in the Lightning.
* * *
The
Memo
An Ugly Look
Inside The Beast
From: LaRochelle,
Ann
To:
Cc:
Subject: FW:
KTSA plan
Sent:
6/21/2004 8:24 AM
Importance:
Normal
-----Original
Message-----
From: Reker, Reid
To: Cook, John R
Subject: KTSA plan
Brian Ongaro and I
are going to talk tomorrow regarding our proposal
for
the AM. As I
said yesterday, I think we need to move as
quickly as
possible on this
so that we can hit 2005 with a running start and
suffer
all of our
consequences this year since there is very little
chance of
hitting budget
anyway. So, let's start by looking at it
two ways. The
first way is by
making all of our changes effective July
1st. Here is
the information I
will need to put this proposal together:
How much total
severance will we pay out to Carl and Eliza?
(Ann)
How much live
endorsement revenue will we lose by taking
them off the
air? I will figure
out how much we can replace. (Ann and me)
I need Carl and
Eliza's ratings track record over the past year.
(John)
We need to know
what we will have to pay Chris Dual to do PM
drive and
what his ratings
were at WOAI. Maybe if he starts very
inexpensively, we
can get him a good
bump in year two and it helps us get over some
huge
revenue and
severance hurdles. Also, will we need to team him
up and
what will that
cost. John, maybe you should have this
conversation with
him this morning
and let him know what the possibilities are.
(John)
We need a ratings
projection for 2005 based on making these changes
(John)
We need to know
what the difference in salaries will be between
Carl and
Chris and Eliza
and Jack so that we can put together a realistic
look at
cost savings for
2005 (John and Ann)
John and I REALLY
need to figure out whether we should make any
changes
with
Ricci. He is extremely passionate and
it could be very
demoralizing for
the entire staff if we move him. Not only
that, we
will have a
tougher time with HR trying to change two people
over 60
than just one.
Finally, we need
to look at projected EBITDA for the remainder of
the
year if we do it
now and projected EBITDA for 2005 if we wait
until
1/1/05. Also,
based on an increase in ratings, we need to
formulate some
sort of idea as to
what 2005 would look like from an EBITDA
standpoint.
John, that means
you have to project ratings out through 2005.
(Editor's
note: Click here for meaning of EBITDA)
I
know alot of this is "best guess" work
but it is definitely something
corporate will
need to see before they let us do this.
John, if you can
get all of your
parts done this morning than we can finish it of
this
afternoon when Ann
gets here and I can put together the narrative.
Thanks,
Reid
Reid Reker
Senior VP/Market
Manager
Infinity
Broadcasting KTSA/K-ROCK
4050 Eisenhauer
Road
San Antonio, Tx.
78218
KTSA
management can be reached at 210-599-5500
KTSA Carnage Abating?
Eliza Is Apparently Gone,
Ricci To Stay, Carl Still Up In -- Not On -- The
Air
RG Griffing, SAL Commentary Copyright 2004 San
Antonio Lightning
Sources at KTSA radio tell
the Lightning that broadcasting legend Ricci Ware
will continue his show at the well-known local
station, but in the morning slot vacated by the
departing -- apparently fired -- Eliza Sonneland;
and popular talk star Carl Wiglesworth's fate is
still up in the air, as KTSA management appears
to be reconsidering their apparent decision to
let him go.
A memo accidentally sent to
ALL KTSA personell outlined a plan to gut the
station of its top talent. (See stories below.)
Since the Lightning
published that memo, KTSA managers appear to be
re-thinking their plan to dump Wiglesworth. KTSA
has made no comment to the Lightning, other than
to authenticate the memo as it appears here.
Meanwhile, major advertisers
are outraged by the Wiglesworth
affair...developing...more to follow.
* * *
Posted 2PM 6-21-2004
INFINITY STRIKES THE
LIGHTNING
CBS TO SUE
SAN ANTONIO LIGHTNING?
CBS/Infinity Lawyer:'REMOVE
THAT EMAIL!' Or Else
SAL Staff
A Washington Based Attorney
has hinted that legal action may be taken against
this publication for printing a memo obtained by
the Lightning showing KTSA radio's determination
to fire some of its top talent. (See story
below.)
In a voice mail to the
Lightning, a woman, who identified herself as
Infinity's attorney Jennifer "Bebbin"
(spelling unknown) demanded the memo be removed
and implied that legal action could follow if
that demand is not met.
Here is the Lightning's
short answer: "No."
- Developing -
Posted 10AM 6-21-2004
Ricci
Ware, Carl Wiglesworth,
Eliza
Sonneland Out?
Secret Memo
Obtained By The Lightning
Shows Carnage
To Come
RG
Griffing, SAL Commentary - Copyright 2004 San
Antonio Lightning
A
secret memo at KTSA radio outlines Infinity
Broadcasting's plans to gut the popular AM Talk
Radio show of some of its major celebrities.
What
is not clear is why KTSA's management is making
the move-- financial, age-motivated, or reaction
to KTSA personalities angered by Infinity's
forced carriage of the Bill Clinton
"interview" due Thursday?
Repeated
calls to KTSA management and Infinity top
executives have so far gone unreturned.
Continuous updates through the day, as warranted.
Below,
in its entirety, is the memo:
From: LaRochelle,
Ann
To:
Cc:
Subject: FW:
KTSA plan
Sent:
6/21/2004 8:24 AM
Importance:
Normal
-----Original
Message-----
From: Reker, Reid
To: Cook, John R
Subject: KTSA plan
Brian Ongaro and I
are going to talk tomorrow regarding our proposal
for
the AM. As I
said yesterday, I think we need to move as
quickly as
possible on this
so that we can hit 2005 with a running start and
suffer
all of our
consequences this year since there is very little
chance of
hitting budget
anyway. So, let's start by looking at it
two ways. The
first way is by
making all of our changes effective July
1st. Here is
the information I
will need to put this proposal together:
How much total
severance will we pay out to Carl and Eliza?
(Ann)
How much live
endorsement revenue will we lose by taking
them off the
air? I will figure
out how much we can replace. (Ann and me)
I need Carl and
Eliza's ratings track record over the past year.
(John)
We need to know
what we will have to pay Chris Dual to do PM
drive and
what his ratings
were at WOAI. Maybe if he starts very
inexpensively, we
can get him a good
bump in year two and it helps us get over some
huge
revenue and
severance hurdles. Also, will we need to team him
up and
what will that
cost. John, maybe you should have this
conversation with
him this morning
and let him know what the possibilities are.
(John)
We need a ratings
projection for 2005 based on making these changes
(John)
We need to know
what the difference in salaries will be between
Carl and
Chris and Eliza
and Jack so that we can put together a realistic
look at
cost savings for
2005 (John and Ann)
John and I REALLY
need to figure out whether we should make any
changes
with
Ricci. He is extremely passionate and
it could be very
demoralizing for
the entire staff if we move him. Not only
that, we
will have a
tougher time with HR trying to change two people
over 60
than just one.
Finally, we need
to look at projected EBITDA for the remainder of
the
year if we do it
now and projected EBITDA for 2005 if we wait
until
1/1/05. Also,
based on an increase in ratings, we need to
formulate some
sort of idea as to
what 2005 would look like from an EBITDA
standpoint.
John, that means
you have to project ratings out through 2005.
(Editor's
note: Click here for meaning of EBITDA)
I
know alot of this is "best guess" work
but it is definitely something
corporate will
need to see before they let us do this.
John, if you can
get all of your
parts done this morning than we can finish it of
this
afternoon when Ann
gets here and I can put together the narrative.
Thanks,
Reid
Reid Reker
Senior VP/Market
Manager
Infinity
Broadcasting KTSA/K-ROCK
4050 Eisenhauer
Road
San Antonio, Tx.
78218
KTSA
management can be reached at 210-599-5500
-
Developing -
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THE EDITOR
