Ryan Leslie gone?

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Looks like Walker will be doing a regular correspondent segment at 4:40 every Wednesday now. Whatever comes cheapest I guess.

oh brother!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

It's a pretty amateur station for the most part. Thankfully we have Peter Maher. Brad Curle has really grown on me over the years too.

TSN won't bother coming here either since they're pissy like ESPN about just not bothering with stuff they don't cover.

Going back a ways in this thread, but this isn't a case of TSN being pissy. Hell, given the battle between Rogers and Bell in the radio industry over the last few years, I suspect TSN would have loved the idea of crushing Rogers in a market. The problem, however, is that Rogers has both the Flames and baseball locked up long term, while QR77 has the Stampeders. Calgary isn't big enough for multiple sports radio stations and without a marquee property (read: Flames), there's no real point to TSN even trying.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by worth

What kind of business sacks someone in the morning because of budget cuts and then goes to air in the afternoon without a replacement or any sense of knowledge in what they are doing?

If you're going to cut someone, why not keep them on for a couple of weeks and figure something out first, then let them go and go to air with a replacement or some sense of control over the situation.

Everything the Fan 960 has done in the past 5 years with the continual rotation of personalities just screams incompetence. Perhaps this is more of a Rogers issue, but cripes guys, get it together.

That's pretty standard in the radio business. You don't want to fire a guy then give him two weeks of air time to bad mouth you during his show (and it has happened).

When stations change format, they very often have a big staff meeting on Monday morning and everyone is let go and they use filler for a while until the new format and new on air staff are ready to go.


It's really no different than what most businesses do. You get laid off and given your two weeks notice, but you're walked out the door right away so that you can't perform any sabotage or steal stuff. Most people would be professional about it and not do any damage, but those that would could do a lot of damage in two weeks.

[Tailgator]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

There's a reason some of those TSN guys would rather stay at TSN even without an NHL contract. Rogers is extremely cut-throat and tight with the purse strings. Look at how they have treated the Flames PBP guys going back to Millions. Have you ever seen TSN pull that crap where guys get promoted and demoted or fired in short order only to have each successive replacement to be worse than the guy he replaced? Ever wonder how every female host TSN hires is not only attractive but talented while Rogers hires the females that aren't good enough for TSN?

I think people have to realize that $5.2 billion is a lot of money and that certain areas of the business were going to get the short end of the stick as 960 is cutting back left and right. It's all about filtering the money into Toronto now for HNIC and the Kypreos and Maclean dog and pony show.

You have some kind of inside info on this? You seem to have a massive hate on for all things related to Sportsnet. Are you in the industry, maybe a competitor or a former employee? Not criticizing or judging, just wondering.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Tailgator

You have some kind of inside info on this? You seem to have a massive hate on for all things related to Sportsnet. Are you in the industry, maybe a competitor or a former employee? Not criticizing or judging, just wondering.

It is strange because a year or so ago EE was singing the praises of SN getting Hockey Night in Canada, while slamming the CBC.

[mikeecho]

Apparently Kirch and friends (Nault I suppose) to host Hockey Central at noon again. At this point, can't they just play the Toronto version and talk Flames starting at 1:00. At least the guys on the Toronto version have a bit of a clue.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by jnmoore

The only real talent on SN are thee HC guys. As for the women on TSN, they drive me nuts. Hedger tries to be a guy and the other her accent makes me bonkers. With all their "aboot" and "sooth". I know many Canadians talk like that but tv is a place to take away those stereotypes.

The Ontario accent is the worst accent in Canada when it come to the stereotype "aboot" type stuff. You are bang on about the TSN ladies, they are absolutely terrible for it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

It is strange because a year or so ago EE was singing the praises of SN getting Hockey Night in Canada, while slamming the CBC.

Nope. That was TSN not SN.

[mikeecho]

SN may have a chance with Cybulski switching over. It'll be interesting to see what his new morning show is like. If it's a success, I can see fan960 airing that, Rome, the Toronto hockey central and focusing on a few guys to do an afternoon local program and Flames games.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Nope. That was TSN not SN.

No it was SN because I remember making a joke about you being Rogered.

[Iceman90]

I am going to see if I can get Ryan on the podcast. He'd be good fun to talk hockey with.

[Hank Hill]

If 960 can't afford to keep talent like Ryan Leslie due to budget perhaps they should fire management who are running the station into the ground. It seems to me the blame rests with Kirsch and he should be the one fired for not generating enough revenue to pay talented broadcasters.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by nik-

It really does seem like the sneakiest worst job that people think would be awesome.

"I'll get to talk sports all day!" Yeah, sorta, but they'll pay you peanuts and they'll pimp you out for ad fills all day.

There are actually a fair amount of jobs that people would think are 'cool' but in reality suck. Usually anything where the demand for the jobs exceeds the supply... people get hosed.

I used to work at mid-sized market arena and the guys in event management who worked ridiculous hours getting the place set-up and working with promotors, etc would get paid peanuts while i was up working an entry level finance position with regular hours and getting paid more than them.

I'd guess lots of jobs in sports are like this as well - scouts, local commentators. Jobs where tons of people would want a spot but there isn't many positions.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

If 960 can't afford to keep talent like Ryan Leslie due to budget perhaps they should fire management who are running the station into the ground. It seems to me the blame rests with Kirsch and he should be the one fired for not generating enough revenue to pay talented broadcasters.

I'm not a fan of Rogers but Kirsch has done a very good job given the budget and the fact he has to deal with Rogers management. He's the guy that took the risk and brought in Mike Richards from Toronto which was a boon to the station and to Richards career. Wether or not you liked Richards the the guy was a ratings magnet (hence TSN scooping him) and losing him really hurt the station. That was Kirsch's one ace up the sleeve and there just isn't a enough Mike Richards to go around. Kirsch hired Rob Kerr who was also very valuable to the station and was lost which was out of control and wether or not you like Kerr doing Flames PBP the man was very good on the radio. Andrew Walker was another talent taken away from him that was out of his control. He had the late Joe Sports on the show as well that was a solid talent.

I don't know Kirsch at all but I have been a listener of the station since it was the Team and if anything the man seems to have a knack for finding radio talent. His problems are more related to market/budget restraint issues and keeping that talent. I don't think it's fair to blame him for Rogers being a crappy company to work for.

[Northendzone]

I always wonder why the fan does not pick up the feed of Vancouver or TO in their off hours or weekends. I'd rather listen to stuff from other Canadian cities that cbs sports radio.....

It would be nice if they had more local content on the weekends when I have a chance to listen versus Monday to Friday....

Anyways, I guess both ideas might cost more money than offering a dose of stuff out of Murica...

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

If 960 can't afford to keep talent like Ryan Leslie due to budget perhaps they should fire management who are running the station into the ground. It seems to me the blame rests with Kirsch and he should be the one fired for not generating enough revenue to pay talented broadcasters.

I was told they are extremely cheap with their sales staff and have a large turnover in that department as well. Not sure if that is Kirsch's call but you can never do well if the sales staff can't make any money.

[FaFaFlamey]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

The Ontario accent is the worst accent in Canada when it come to the stereotype "aboot" type stuff. You are bang on about the TSN ladies, they are absolutely terrible for it.

Hahha, that's so true! And then they deny that they pronounce it that way. Too funny!

[CaramonLS]

Weird bump, but Hockey central at noon has been insufferable since Kelly and Josh started hosting. These guys really don't know what they are doing.

Honestly, it's time to bring back Rome or even pump the Ontario feed back in.

I do wonder about their sales staff as t@t mentioned. My buddy works in sales at Corus on straight commision, he gets 14% on new business and 10% on existing renewals. You have to wonder if it is the numbers or if the existing portfolio is total garbage.

Also, Kelly shouldn't be running a seperate sales department (if he is), it should be Rogers running a sales staff for all the stations they have combined in Calgary. Are all stations in the Rogers portfolio doing crap in the calgary market?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Are all stations in the Rogers portfolio doing crap in the calgary market?

Come to think of it, we haven't been annoyed by certain jewelry store commercials lately. Although perhaps that's seasonal.

[CaramonLS]

I would think they lost it. That had to be easily a 100k+ contract for 960 alone. They seem to have branched out into other forms of billboard advertising.