Herald: Kim Carrigan in mornings? Howie stuck at RKO 2 yrs?

[raccoonradio]

Herald says that while Kim Carrigan formerly of Ch 7 has done some WRKO fill ins, she
"was mum yesterday on the buzz that she’s joining WRKO radio’s morning-drive show following the exit of talkmeister Tom Finneran". Also I have heard Howie mention on air "I hope they don't
pick up my contract". Yes it seems under Howie's WONDERFUL deal, they have the option to keep
him for 2 more years.

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061135163&srvc=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bostonherald%2Fbusiness+%28Business+-+BostonHerald.com%29

The article reveals WRKO's stellar ratings put them in a three way tie for 24th place in 25-54
last month.

>>The five-year contract for the station’s star — afternoon-drive host and Herald columnist Howie Carr — expires in the fall, and the station has the right to renew him for another two years.
“I’m hoping I can escape from AM radio,” Carr said yesterday.

Also WGAN's facebook said he was to be on with them this morning (I didn't hear) to "discuss his future at WRKO" among other things. Yes this is yet another post about Howie
but evidently Entercom values him SO much that they may be willing to let him stay in their
employ another couple years, and RKO can continue to get such awesome ratings. No word
what ratings would be like if he wound up on Morrissey Blvd (96.9) or Cabot Rd in Medford (1200
and poss 101.7)

[Joseph_Gallant]

Given that morning drive is more important than afternoon drive (and a morning drive host usually makes more money), I think it's more likely that WRKO-680 may decide to move Howie Carr to morning drive, give him a raise and a long-term extension, instead of having Kim Carrigan take over mornings.

But if Carr goes to mornings, I could see Carrigan go to afternoons to fill Carr's old slot.

[raccoonradio]

That could happen, who knows. Someone did point out on boston-radio-interest that a morning show, however, would not work out well for the Howie affiliates...since they all have their own
morning shows. What would they do, tape delay Howie and run him at 3?

>>it's more likely that WRKO-680 may decide to move Howie Carr to morning drive, give him a raise and a long-term extension,

He wants mornings, it's said..but I think he also would like to be on FM, etc. Would a big
money, extended contract satisfy him though? Where does RKO go in the future with people
abandoning AM?
And how about the fact that the ratings have RKO tied for 24th in 25-54 (last month). I don't
know how much money RKO makes with ratings like that--would they do better with an FM
presence?

Right now does RKO need Howie more than Howie needs RKO? But if his contract indeed makes it possible for them to keep him for 2 more years, it may be out of his hands

[raccoonradio]

In this economy would he get a big raise? They cut Ordway's pay in half due to poor ratings...

[DanStrassberg]

He wants mornings, it's said..but I think he also would like to be on FM, etc. Would a big
money, extended contract satisfy him though? Where does RKO go in the future with people
abandoning AM?

Mr Gallant is not out in front of the wild rumors and speculation parade this time. He has failed to pick up on my suggestion that Entercom might decide to simulcast WRKO on either 97.7 or 107.3. Whichever of these two FMs did not get the 680 simulcast would then continue with the existing hard rock. Coverage-wise, a WRKO simulcast on the somewhat emasculated 107.3 signal would have very nice coverage--if you admit that some people who wanted a decent signal and could not get it on 107.3 would have to (horrors) throw the band-select switch on their radios to AM. (AM??? You mean there's ANOTHER broadcast band???)

[raccoonradio]

Agreed, 107.3 simulcast would make sense if they had to. Keep rock on one freq. It would help to the west
after dark (can be early sunsets at times of years) though they do have WCRN to help during Howie.

Poss. Howie may have to wait until cont. expires then maybe sign with someone else--96.9?--and have to wait a couple months.

More people sticking to FM band, going to AM only for specialty formats and programs. People buying mp3 players with radios but FM only (I won't bring HD radios into this, not many have them or want them anyway). Just last night I went to my 8pm break and thought for a moment about  tuning in to Dan Rea.Whoops, had my Sony walkman mp3 player with FM radio only...so WBZ was  out of the question.

[rockcaptain]

I am scratching my head about the 2 year option. Last time around Howie was screwed by a similar clause basically giving Entercom right of first refusal. Why would this clause go in his new contract? You would think his agent would have taken that out...unless it was built into his previous contract (basically saying if he gets picked up for a new term there would be a 2 year option on future contracts). Sounds like a bad deal to me.