Bob Grant Returns To WABC, Talk Radio, New York City
ONE FINAL LAP?
After 11-Year Absence, Bob Grant Rejoins WABC
*** Exclusive To The Radio Equalizer ***
Eleven years after his termination over a poorly-received comment about Commerce Secretary Ron Brown's death, conservative talk legend Bob Grant is set to return to New York City's WABC-AM, according to high-level industry sources.
An official announcement is set for later today.
Grant will assume the 8-10pm slot vacated by Jerry Agar, who was hosting the show from a studio in Chicago. Until early 2006, Grant held down afternoon drive at fossil-talker WOR-AM.
In the most recent quarterly ratings report, Agar turned in a 1.5 share, significantly below his competition at WOR (Michael Savage with a 2.3 and Steve Malzberg at 1.9).
While continuing to enjoy popular support in New York City radio circles as well as industry respect, there are questions about whether Grant is a good fit for WABC's long- term needs. At 78, he remains a legend, but it's hard to imagine this run as more than one last lap around the track.
On the flip side, he remains very well- known in the area and there's little doubt fans will be excited to hear this news.
Paving the way for his return was the recent ownership change at ABC Radio, with Citadel Communications taking over from Disney. That takeover has meant that a lot of the previous quirkiness (and fear of on-air controversy) has been swept away, which overall should be good for talk radio.
In the big picture, talk radio is still failing terribly at building the next generation of talkers who can move it forward. As it now stands, the medium appears to be milking its oldest hosts until their final days. When they are gone, does radio's most important format simply shut down?
UPDATE: we scooped the NYC papers by hours with this announcement.
FOR Boston- area talk radio updates, see our other site. New: weird faux-toshop flap hits WEEI hosts and the Boston Herald.
Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of what you ultimately purchase, help to further this site's efforts.
Or, if you would prefer, please contribute at the Honor System box in the upper right corner. Thanks again!
Technorati tags: talk radio bob grant wabc bob grant wabc return bob grant jerry agar citadel wabc
After 11-Year Absence, Bob Grant Rejoins WABC
*** Exclusive To The Radio Equalizer ***
Eleven years after his termination over a poorly-received comment about Commerce Secretary Ron Brown's death, conservative talk legend Bob Grant is set to return to New York City's WABC-AM, according to high-level industry sources.
An official announcement is set for later today.Grant will assume the 8-10pm slot vacated by Jerry Agar, who was hosting the show from a studio in Chicago. Until early 2006, Grant held down afternoon drive at fossil-talker WOR-AM.
In the most recent quarterly ratings report, Agar turned in a 1.5 share, significantly below his competition at WOR (Michael Savage with a 2.3 and Steve Malzberg at 1.9).
While continuing to enjoy popular support in New York City radio circles as well as industry respect, there are questions about whether Grant is a good fit for WABC's long- term needs. At 78, he remains a legend, but it's hard to imagine this run as more than one last lap around the track.
On the flip side, he remains very well- known in the area and there's little doubt fans will be excited to hear this news.Paving the way for his return was the recent ownership change at ABC Radio, with Citadel Communications taking over from Disney. That takeover has meant that a lot of the previous quirkiness (and fear of on-air controversy) has been swept away, which overall should be good for talk radio.
In the big picture, talk radio is still failing terribly at building the next generation of talkers who can move it forward. As it now stands, the medium appears to be milking its oldest hosts until their final days. When they are gone, does radio's most important format simply shut down?
UPDATE: we scooped the NYC papers by hours with this announcement.
FOR Boston- area talk radio updates, see our other site. New: weird faux-toshop flap hits WEEI hosts and the Boston Herald.
Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of what you ultimately purchase, help to further this site's efforts.
Or, if you would prefer, please contribute at the Honor System box in the upper right corner. Thanks again!
Technorati tags: talk radio bob grant wabc bob grant wabc return bob grant jerry agar citadel wabc
published by Brian Maloney at
10:41
10 Comments:
I never cared for Jerry Agar, so Bob Grant replacing him doesn't bother me. But WABC would be making a big mistake if they replace Curtis & Kuby with Don Imus. Without the politicians/media types who left him high and dry when CBS/MSNBC fired him, Imus is Opie and Anthony on Geritol.
By
Stephen Johnson, at 22 August, 2007 13:10
"In the big picture, talk radio is still failing terribly at building the next generation of talkers who can move it forward"
With a talent pool that includes you among its possible candidates, it is no fraking wonder it is failing.
By
elmonica, at 22 August, 2007 15:52
Brian:
I'm amazed you still let the same few angry children troll your site every day. It's time to take the next step -- get a real site and block these angry white kids access. Your audience has to be more than these two-bit circle jerkers.
By
Emerson, at 22 August, 2007 17:02
Initially, Grant will do very well in the New York market, but age has not been kind to him, and many of his old fans will just sort of choose the teevee or their grandchildren instead, just because Grant will depress them.
On the other hand, Grant is definitely...even at his age...far better of a host then either Savage or the Kahanist-radical Malzberg, particularly for true conservatives tired of the Zionist message rammed down their throat...
He has a certain perspective on things, seems much more calmer and rational then he used to, and actually has an inability to form his own opinions without jumping onto bandwagons.
He actually is a normal, decent, generous man in real life. For all we know, he may be as disgusted with the current crop of conservative talkers as most of America is, and could be considered a reformer!
In any case, I wish Bob luck.
By
hashfanatic, at 22 August, 2007 17:40
Emerson you stupid redneck azzwipe,
I agree that it is time to for Maloney to fulfill his pledge for a new site and to implement rigorous comment controls.
Are you listening Maloney? We aren't talking about imaginary people this time but real emailers.
By
elmonica, at 22 August, 2007 18:06
Well elmo, I would think at a new site you, hash, and MoPoop would be 3 we wouldn't see there.
By
PCD, at 23 August, 2007 09:31
That is very insightful of you PCD.
While I can't speak for Hash or MOP it would truly be a joyous day for me.
By
elmonica, at 23 August, 2007 10:59
I love Bob Grant and am very happy he's back. He sounds the same to me as he did 20 years ago. I'll listen every day.
By
susan, at 24 August, 2007 00:08
The return of Bob Grant is a welcome development.
The comments of the poster about Steve Malzberg are anti-semitic and libelous. I have listened to Malzberg for years and never heard a single comment that can be contrued as Kahanist.
Now if Phil Boyce can leave Curtis and Kuby alone and ditch Coast to Coast and bring back John Batchelor he will have a perfect station.
Bring back John Batchelor and restore high quality original late night programing.
By
beakerkin, at 26 August, 2007 21:08
"The comments of the poster about Steve Malzberg are anti-semitic and libelous."
Oh, isn't that ALWAYS the excuse?
"I have listened to Malzberg for years and never heard a single comment that can be contrued as Kahanist."
Well, then you are either a liar, very ignorant and educated regarding religious Zionism and Jewish extremism, or a covert Kahanist follower yourself.
"and ditch Coast to Coast and bring back John Batchelor he will have a perfect station."
Yeah, they should "ditch" their best, most popular late-night program...
I have a better idea! Howzabout we "ditch" the lowlife scammer and horrendous "broad"-caster Laura Ingraham, bad bumper music and all, and replace her with Batchelor, who I agree IS quality radio?
Now go study some history.
By
hashfanatic, at 27 August, 2007 15:41
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