Free Republic

As CEO of Braintree-based Greater Media, Peter Smyth is always reluctant to change a radio station’s format. It can be upsetting to fans, frustrating to workers and expensive to pull off. But it was hard to argue with the numbers. Smyth tells me the that plunge in ratings for WTKK over recent years prompted him to start seriously considering dropping the station’s talk format as long ago as last spring. Those discussions eventually led to the Braintree company’s decision to switch from talk to a rhythmic adult contemporary music format earlier this month, branding it as Hot 96.9. “We couldn’t...

Domain registrations are pointing to yet another major format change in Boston. 969BostonsBeat.com, 969TheBeat.com, BostonsBeat969.com, Power969.com, Variety969.com, and TheStreets969.com were all anonymously registered last week. The domains were all registered using the same registrar normally used by Greater Media, owner of 96.9 WTKK Boston. WTKK rebranded as “NewsTalk 96.9” in September following changes at two of its direct competitors in the market. Since that time WTKK’s growth has been stagnant, while Entercom Talk 680 WRKO and CBS News 1030 WBZ have both shown growth in election season and the demise of Clear Channel’s “Talk 1200” WXKS. Reading the tea leaves...

GREATER MEDIA Talk WTKK (96.9 BOSTON TALKS)/BOSTON talk host JAY SEVERIN is out. The company suspended the talk show host last month (NET NEWS 3/31), and reports last week (NET NEWS 4/1) claimed the suspension was related to comments about sexual harassment. GREATER MEDIA released the following statement: "GREATER MEDIA TODAY ended its relationship with JAY SEVERIN. Our company has always encouraged a free and open dialogue on a variety of issues and topics, and we will continue to be guided by that principle. But we also demand that our on-air talent maintain an appropriate level of civility, and adhere...

Beleaguered WTKK radio talkmeister Jay Severin remained off the air yesterday — and station execs stayed mum — after the shock jock was suspended for boasting about his past sexcapades with female employees. Women’s rights attorney and WTKK-FM (96.9) substitute host Wendy Murphy, who has filled in for Severin, called his on-air remarks offensive but questioned the station’s decision to suspend him.

WTKK radio has indefinitely suspended button-pushing, talk jock Jay Severin — nearly two years after yanking him off the air for a month following his crude remarks about Mexican immigrants on his afternoon-drive show. “Jay was suspended after we received serious complaints about the recent content of his show,” the station said in a statement today. “The matter is currently under review.”

BOSTON -- A Massachusetts state representative and a conservative talk show host in the Hub are squaring off after the state rep blasted the radio personality in an obscenity-laced e-mail Thursday. "Michael Graham is a (expletive deleted)," State Rep. David Torrisi, a North Andover Democrat wrote in an e-mail response to a Graham show producer's request to be on the talk show. "He can go (expletive deleted) himself for all I care." Torrisi, who was being invited on the show to discuss his opposition to a proposal to ban state benefits for illegal immigrants, later told Statehouse News Service he...

Tensions are starting to boil between one Boston talk radio host and a local prosecutor in charge when accused Alabama rampage killer Amy Bishop killed her brother with a shotgun blast in their Braintree home in 1986. John Kivlan, a former Norfolk Country assistant district attorney, left an ominous message for WTKK-FM (96.9) yakker Michael Graham during Friday’s show. (Graham is an op-ed columnist for the Boston Herald).

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Boisterous talkmeister Howie Carr has made no secret that he feels trapped at WRKO - but it appears he’s stuck there. Peter Smyth, chairman and CEO of radio station owner Greater Media Inc., said yesterday that he has no plans to go after Carr again. Carr’s contract with rival WRKO is up in 2012. A legal battle ensued two years ago after Carr struck a five-year deal worth up to $7 million to replace Don Imus in the morning-drive slot on Greater Media’s WTKK-FM (96.9). Carr’s bosses at WRKO-AM (680) were stunned to learn their star was jumping ship. The...

Philadelphia radio host Michael Smerconish is coming to WTKK-FM (96.9) on Sundays. The station plans to air his “best of” from noon to 3 p.m. starting this weekend. Smerconish had filled in for WTKK afternoon-drive host Jay Severin during his month-long suspension. Here’s more from the station: ================= Boston’s Talk Evolution 96.9 FM, WTKK Adds Michael Smerconish to Weekend Lineup Smerconish’s Weekend Show Premieres this Sunday on 96.9 FM Boston, MA (June 18, 2009): Boston’s Talk Evolution, 96.9 FM WTKK, announced today The “Best of” Michael Smerconish Program, will be added to the station’s weekend lineup beginning on Sunday June...

After a month-long indefinite suspension following his offensive remarks about illegal Mexican migrants, WTKK radio host Jay Severin will return to the airwaves Tuesday, the Hub station announced today. In a statement, station management said they have had conversations with Severin over the past several weeks about his “hurtful, inappropriate remarks” and that he understands the station will not accept “this type of commentary on our airwaves in the future.” The station said that based on that understanding, they have agreed to conclude Severin’s suspension and he will return to his afternoon-drive show Tuesday. “We want to emphasize that WTKK...

WTTK-FM talk radio host Jay Severin had been warned about crossing the line from edgy to hateful. Not long after WRKO-AM (680) fired talk show host John DePetro in 2006 for making homophobic remarks about two state officials, WTKK-FM (96.9) gathered its on-air talent, out-of-town and local, for an all-star event. Each host was invited to deliver an opening monologue, then take a seat onstage for a round-table discussion. Like WRKO, WTKK thrives on provocative programming, none more envelope-pushing than Jay Severin, the station's feisty afternoon drive-time host. A self-described libertarian and "rock 'n' roll Republican," Severin has long been...

WTKK's Jay Severin was suspended three weeks ago and there is still no official word when or if the controversial talk show host will be back on the air. Why is the fate of Severin's career being treated so mysteriously?

Jay Severin–or at least, a modified version thereof–could return to WTKK’s airwaves soon. According to WGBH-TV’s Greater Boston, Severin–who was indefinitely suspended last month for controversial comments about Mexico’s role in the spread of swine flu–may be brought back under three conditions: a restructuring of his salary (said to be around $1 million annually), a change in the overly sarcastic tone of his show, and an agreement to broadcast the show from WTKK’s Dorchester, Mass. studios, as opposed to his home. A toned-down Severin will be a better Severin. The “Extreme Games” host had a less acerbic tone during his...

Station may cut ties WTKK talker Jay Severin’s future at the radio station still remains in limbo two weeks after he was yanked off the air. Station spokeswoman Heidi Raphael said yesterday that Severin remains on suspension. She declined further comment. Severin was suspended indefinitely without pay April 30 after calling illegal Mexican immigrants “leeches” and the world’s “lowest of primitives” when talking about the swine flu on his show. Severin’s drawn-out absence - and silence - has fueled speculation that the station wants to reduce his hefty salary or cut him loose altogether. “I just get the impression from...

It’s starting to look like the baptism/murder scene from “The Godfather” at Greater Media Inc. In December the company terminated outspoken, highly-visible WBT-AM/Charlotte afternoon drive host Jeff Katz for undisclosed reasons. This past Thursday, Greater Media hit WTKK-FM/Boston afternoon driver Jay Severin with an unpaid, open-ended suspension for anti-Hispanic remarks – including recent comments tying the spread of Swine Flu to illegal immigrants from Mexico. A suspension without pay is often a kiss on the cheek on the way to termination. If Severin does return to the job, it can’t possibly be the same anything-goes show. Are these moves somehow...

Jay Severin, the fiery right wing talk show host on Boston's WTKK-FM radio station, was suspended yesterday after calling Mexican immigrants "criminaliens," "primitives," "leeches," and exporters of "women with mustaches and VD," among other incendiary comments. Heidi Raphael, a spokeswoman for the station, said Severin had been suspended indefinitely from his afternoon drive-time show. She declined to say which of his comments - made since an outbreak of swine flu was linked to Mexico in recent days - sparked the suspension.

Jay Severin, the fiery radio talk show host on Boston�s WTKK-FM, was suspended today after making derogatory comments about Mexicans. Heidi Raphael, a spokeswoman for the station, said Severin had been suspended indefinitely. She declined to comment further. George Tobia, Severin's lawyer, said it was not clear how long his client has been suspended.

Conservative WTKK yakker Michael Graham was handcuffed and arrested early this morning, the latest Boston radio personality to have a run-in with the law. Graham, 45, was arrested around 5:30 a.m. in Framingham and charged with failure to stop for a red light and operating a vehicle after his driver’s license had been revoked, said Lt. Paul Shastany.

Yakker Jim Braude in ‘international incident’ Hits traffic snarl-up tickets By Jessica Heslam Thursday, November 13, 2008 - State police say he nearly caused an “international incident” when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was in Boston, but NECN host and WTKK yakker Jim Braude is taking his traffic citation before a judge later this month. The prime minister was leaving the JFK Library and heading to Cambridge last April when Braude and his black SUV pulled a big no-no and nearly drove head-on into the dignitary’s escort. Brown - who had more security than the president’s Hub visit - was...