Expose The Hypocrisy


September 17, 2007
WTKK Plans Leak Themselves

Regarding big changes coming to WTKK, the cat has let itself out of the bag. Based on a website redesign in progress that has been made available for public view, likely by accident, we're able to glean a number of details about its plans.

Here's the link, just don't be surprised if access has been yanked by the time you read this. It pays to check SaveWRKO at all hours, doesn't it?

Highlights:


-- The new lineup is simple enough: Howie Carr in morning drive, Michael Graham back in midmornings, Eagan & Braude maintain early afternoons, while Jay Severin stays put in the 3-7pm slot.

-- Overall, the new website represents an improvement over the previous version, with a bit more interactivity and news updates. The current one can't be retired fast enough!

-- WTKK's station logo has been redesigned and a new slogan adopted: "Boston's Talk Evolution". The new graphic features "WTKK" rather than "FM Talk", which didn't prove as Arbitron-friendly as station suits had wanted. These are good moves.


What's revealed here more than anything is that Greater Media is finally serious about boosting WTKK's performance and position in the market. Let's hope a number of weird programming quirks unique to WTKK are also swept away with these changes.

The wild card, however, is Howie Carr. While Greater Media is smart to create the strongest possible impression that he has joined WTKK, in reality, he hasn't. With Entercom showing no sign of letting Howie go, it will be up to the judicial system to determine his professional fate.

Posted by Brian Maloney at 10:53 PM | Comments (15)  | Track


Comments

Checkin the site right now at 614am it says that Howie is on right now. 6-10. His face was the first thing I saw when I clicked on the site link.

Posted by: Brian J. at September 18, 2007 06:18 AM


The site is still up as of 7:04 am. The "Listen Live" link works, and it says that Howie is "On Air".

I wonder if he is going to be on the air next week. He twice mentioned during the Max Robins segment that he would be talking to him next week.

Posted by: Phil at September 18, 2007 07:10 AM


Brian, I was listening to Eddie Andleman's Sport Huddle show on 96.9 Sunday night and at the very end of his show he said,"I want everyone to tune in Thursday morning at 5:30 to 96.9". I think he was refering to Howie. Has it been said who is replacing Howie in the sand box!

Posted by: Kate at September 18, 2007 07:45 AM


Brian,

Why are you now criticizing another Irishman (Carr) just like you are always on Uncle Tommy and Mariellen Burns, etc.

When in doubt, you ALWAYS criticize the guy from the Auld Sod.

Makes you think, doesn't it? Are you a self-hating Irishman?

Posted by: Tommy's Nephew at September 18, 2007 09:02 AM


Where do they get these pictures of Capin' Graff? Having seen him in person, these pictures are not him. Even if he had tar tar sauce on his face it still couldn't pass for da Capin'. (Web page link still working as of this post.)

Gotta love the bumper music on he's been working into his shows lately, "Gimme 3 Steps" and "Won't Back Down"

He needs to work Steely Dan's "FM" into the rotation.

Being a person that listens and not having any inside expericence in radio, what did Entercomm do that kept D & C, and what could be done to make Capin' Graff stay?

Posted by: ~~~bjd~~~ at September 18, 2007 09:17 AM


Where am I criticizing Howie here?

You sound like a certain relative who always lectured me on how being an Irish Catholic Republican is a betrayal against my own people.

Posted by: Brian Maloney at September 18, 2007 09:22 AM


I clicked the link and, as of 9:32 AM 9/18/07, it's gone. All that comes up is a white page with the letters "wtkk" at the top center.

Posted by: JazzOrganist at September 18, 2007 09:36 AM


Brian, next time, "alt", "print screen" to get a screen shot of those elusive web pages.

Posted by: Kevin at September 18, 2007 10:09 AM


Yes it's gone but I mentioned on Free
Republic that it had pictures of the WTKK
staff, including Howie, and sections like
"Today on the Howie Carr Show".
As for the bit mentioning Howie being on
air, same thing with the WPRO site. Even
though Buddy Cianci is not starting till
Thu., if you checked it out at 10 am it
said "On air, Buddy Cianci"

Posted by: raccoonradio at September 18, 2007 11:48 AM


I'm guessing that there is a certain
Web Developer on Morrissey Blvd
who may be looking for work this morning....

Deval Patrick joined a few other governors
in lobbying congress for more H1B slaves, eh,
workers recently. If he has his way they
can replace the developer for pennies on
the dollar...

Posted by: frankie at September 18, 2007 12:02 PM


What great news! Adios RKO, Hello WTKK!

Posted by: LOL at September 18, 2007 01:35 PM


A website improvement tells you "What's revealed here more than anything is that Greater Media is finally serious about boosting WTKK's performance and position in the market."

Really?

Boy, you read an awful lot into something that has almost no relationship to the on-air product. It's just some design geek in a back room.

Accordingly, I lolled.

Posted by: AGuy at September 19, 2007 02:34 AM


Early this morning (Sept 19) Michael Graham was talking about "we are getting a new car tomorrow morning " and playing a lot of car-themed bumper tunes.

So, it looks like the "New Carr" arrives on 9/20. I'll have to check out Howie's "swan song" on 'RKO this afternoon, if he hasn't already been shown the door...

Finn the Crim, your "salad days" are over (heh heh)

Posted by: Ed the Radio Man at September 19, 2007 10:24 AM


Wouldn't it be a real "jolt" if Howie was on both RKO and TKK at the same time...

About as likely as the Titanic resurfacing itself and arriving in port, but these days, ANYTHING is possible ;-)

Two stations can "share" the Red Sox, perhaps two can "share" Howie...

Posted by: Ed the Radio Man at September 19, 2007 10:28 AM


I tried to see the dev site but yup it's not there. So my question: Where was Michelle McPhee on the new website?!? Does it look like she'll have a Mon-Fri presence? (God I hope not...)

Posted by: A. Nonymous at September 19, 2007 12:35 PM