Bloodbath at Nova M/KPHX

[Ultimajock]

...surprised nobody's mentioned this here, since it's been taking place throughout the last week. Apparently, Nova M owners Shelly & Anita Drobny have fired CEO John Manzo, program director/afternoon drive host Jeff Farias, sales director Kim Macias and webmaster Billy Foster. Manzo has been hired by Randi Rhodes for her show's independent production team; it looks as if Nova M is claiming that Farias left to pursue another offer made to him and Foster quit in protest, but Farias is himself claiming they were all fired. Leonard Clark, a one-time commentator on Farias' show, has put up a website, http://www.bringjeffback.com/, in support of Farias' side in the situation...

...and, strangely, the new CEO at the "liberal" Nova M is Art Mobley, who was quoted by UPI at http://Please use the full length URL a few months ago as a John McCain ally (shades of Evan Cohen)...

[oldiesfan6479]

...and, strangely, the new CEO at the "liberal" Nova M is Art Mobley...

Didn't Mobley own or run the class A FM in Buckeye (106.9) a few years ago?

[j henry waugh]

A different take from someone that claims to also have been "there"…

[ironbear]

Lots of loose and damaging talk floating around those other boards...that's really too bad.

Interesting reference to the Mobley/McCain connection: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9429.html

"Trying to get the first black-owned radio station on the air in 1992, Mobley ran into resistance from the Arizona National Guard, which claimed the signal would cause interference problems.  McCain stepped in, he said, and helped get KMJK on the air."

McCain has been an advocate for minority and alternative voices in broadcasting, including important initiatives in LPFM.  But I'd personally think twice about supporting him (for President).

[Legend City]

Wow, what will their eleven listeners do?

[Bill Drake]

Wow, what will their eleven listeners do?

Ha ha maybe their eleven listeners can link up with "Energy 92.7's" two listeners and then they'll have a lucky 13! Just leave the banal lame disco crap at home!

Good riddance to Manzo.  He was of the odd opinion that a station's coverage area is of no importance. I seem to recall a similiar bloodbath when the Beer Baron Fred Von Weber canned anyone left of center many years ago at KFYI.

[justthenumbers]

Ha ha maybe their eleven listeners can link up with "Energy 92.7's" two listeners and then they'll have a lucky 13! Just leave the banal lame disco crap at home!

Can't recall the last time I heard a disco song on Energy.

[Bill Drake]

Ha ha maybe their eleven listeners can link up with "Energy 92.7's" two listeners and then they'll have a lucky 13! Just leave the banal lame disco crap at home!

Can't recall the last time I heard a disco song on Energy.

I can't remember the last time I heard music - not some canned corporate slop - on a station that has less listeners than Sarah Palin has ovaries..... 

You can call dung honey but it still smells like dung.....

[justthenumbers]

I can't remember the last time I heard music - not some canned corporate slop - on a station that has less listeners than Sarah Palin has ovaries..... 

Well, at least we agree on Palin.

[buster2]

"I seem to recall a similiar bloodbath when the Beer Baron Fred Von Weber canned anyone left of center many years ago at KFYI."

You are mistaken.  I'm no fan of the Beer Baron, but I was there when many left-of-center talk hosts were on the air.  To accuse him of sweeping liberals out of KFYI is just not true.

Leykis quit (on-air) and was not fired.  He did not bring huge ratings for KFYI, in any case.  Jami McFerren was more moderate, but likewise was let go for weak ratings.   Earl Baldwin would probably object to being called a liberal, but he was not exactly a conservative, either.  He was on KFYI for many years, but was let go in one of many cost-cutting moves. 

On the other hand, John Dayl was a libertarian and was let go for weak ratings and eventually brough back time and again for weekend work.

Jack Cole was fairly liberal, but he also had problems with substance abuse, and was let go... again, for ratings.

At no time did Fred "clean house" of the liberals at KFYI.  In fact, you could argue that a classic KFYI lineup could consist of Barry Young in AM drive, Bob Mohan in early midday, Jami McFerren in late midday and Tom Leykis in PM drive.  That lineup existed for a time and it was not designed for political views, but for entertainment value.

It should also be noted that Fred Weber (I can't believe I'm defending this guy...sheeesh) did an on-air editorial calling for Republican Gov. Ev Mecham to resign.  He was the first boradcaster to editorialize to that effect.

The assumption that KFYI became a right-wing station because of the political views of Fred Weber is erroneous.  Fred was about one thing:  KFYI and Power 92 making money.  It they got ratings and revenue, Fred would put Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Maher, Keith Olbermann and Cindy Sheehan on the air.