In this week’s issue… Toucher & Rich rehire producer – iHeart ups McCabe, makes PA moves – Remembering CBS’ Saviet, WINS’ Klein – Toronto permit changes hands
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*While we wait for the week’s expected big news on Thursday (and we’ll have more on the launch of WINS-FM in New York later in the column), our lead story from the week just ended is the return of one of the WBZ-FM (98.5 the Sports Hub) staffers who lost his job in Beasley’s big cuts earlier in October.
It’s good news for listeners to the top-rated Toucher and Rich show that producer Mike Lockhart is back on the job, filling a role that hosts Fred Toettcher and Rich Shertenlieb insisted was essential to keeping their broadcast going. But while Beasley was willing to agree with the hosts that they still needed Lockhart on the job, the company still wasn’t willing to pay for him – and so Shertenlieb said he’d pay Lockhart’s salary, plus (as he told listeners) a “38% markup” to cover Beasley’s administrative costs and Lockhart’s benefits.
Is any of this good for our business? Not especially. While there are some higher-profile morning shows that function as their own separate businesses, where the station pays a lump sum for the show and the hosts and producers then get paid out of that revenue, it’s our understanding that that wasn’t how Beasley had things set up with Toucher and Rich, and so effectively Shertenlieb was forced to take a cut in his own pay to keep Lockhart as an essential part of his team. It might be sustainable as a one-off situation, but it’s no way to run a radio station in the long run – and it will surely come up whenever Shertenlieb’s contract is up for renewal.
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In this week’s issue… New tech, lots of regulatory questions at the NAB Show - iHeart, Audacy make staffing cuts - Community expands in VT - Sox find new RI radio home - WEEI shuffles afternoons - FMs sign off...
In this week’s issue… The industry gathers in Vegas - SBS files for bankruptcy - New top 40 in PA - Retirement in Brockville draws honors
In this week’s issue… Audacy cuts local managers - Cape Cod, VT, western PA FMs sold - WVOM ousts Bangor legend, draws ire - New owner for NJ duo - AM surrenders in VT
In this week’s issue… TEGNA deal consolidates Hartford, Scranton, Buffalo stations - CBS to close radio newsroom - Buffalo's Snyder to retire - New FM cancels amidst allegations - Erie's Stehlin retires - New LPTVs on the way
