KNEW and Savage part ways – my industry source told me a year ago that Savage’s deal with TRN (Savage’s syndicator) allows Savage to make his own one-on-one arrangment in San Francisco. KNEW is owned by Clear Channel, which is under serious pressure to cut costs. I doubt this is anything more than a dollar and cents decision, and perhaps the PPM data picking up that Savage’s ratings aren’t holding up.
Savage is being replaced by a simulcast of John and Ken, which is the afternoon show in KFI in Los Angeles
Hmm… Savage is on a lot of Clear Channel stations, part of the standard Beck-Limbaugh-Hannity-Savage-Noory lineup… I’m wondering if this is only the first domino to fall, and if Savage will start losing a lot more stations. After all, Savage is the only one in that lineup that isn’t handled by Premiere. If that happens… it’s not good news for Savage.
As for ratings… San Francisco’s a rare market where conservative talk has never done particularly well, due to local left-leaner KGO’s dominance. Neither KSFO nor KNEW have been able to make much headway into the market. I think it may have more to do with KSFO’s moves toward Talk Radio Network, having picked up Melanie Morgan’s show and retaining Schlessinger. We’ll see if he ends up on KSFO (or maybe even KGO) in the coming weeks…
The statement from KNEW is odd – they’re saying they (KNEW or CC?) are heading in a new direction with a more local focus. I can’t see how a simulcast from L.A. can be more local than a guy who lives in San Francisco
The local statement probably pertains only to KNEW. J&K at least talk a lot about issues pertaining to the whole state of California, and they also recently added Hedgecock, who, although he’s technically national, still talks a lot of California politics too. This on top of their morning lineup, which is also local or regional. Savage doesn’t do that much of that anymore, other than the occasional railing of Pelosi.
If you ask me, it’s not a bad idea. As I mentioned before, local talk works on KGO in that market. If they can build a conservative alternative with lower costs, it could make itself sustainable even if it’s not a major challenger.
Is now on KSTE 650
KSTE is Sacramento, different market.
On the internet, there is no such thing as a market! :)
KSTE has a solid local signal in San Francisco
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KSTE&service=AM&status=L&hours=D