Posted on 05/25/2009 5:47:12 PM PDT by raccoonradio
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 locked in a ratings war with another right-of-center local radio personality, WRKO's Howie Carr. When Severin walked onstage, however, he wasn't sputtering about Hillary Rodham Clinton or Jesse Jackson, two favorite targets of his.
In fact, his mouth was duct-taped shut.
As he subsequently made clear, not only was Severin demonstrating solidarity with DePetro, he was putting his bosses on notice that he would keep speaking his mind in the pot-stirring manner to which he and his listeners were accustomed. As one attendee later put it, "Part of Jay's shtick is he never backs down. Contrition is just not his thing."
Whether Severin can afford to stay unrepentant is questionable. On April 30, WTKK slapped Severin with an indefinite suspension for making derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
>>Since the election of President Barack Obama, Rooney added, the tone of Severin’s program has become increasingly negative,
So...libtalk radio was all so nice and respectful of W
by comparison eh? (/ sarcasm)
Isn’t the Globe facing a bit of a “financial storm” as well??
I’m not so sure his national show, which lasted 9 months,
had high ratings (thus WTKK hired him back; a promotion,
from a national show to just a local one)? HUH?
Nothing that charging up to $1.50 for the daily edition
and $4.00 ($5.25 at one place in VT) can’t solve eh...
from Mark Shnyder’s Boston Radio Watch
http://www.bostonradiowatch.com
>>As I said from the beginning when this all happened, the bottom line is the bottom line. This is not about free speech, stereotyping or offensive language as being spun in the newsprint, on non-profit media shows and other blogs. When Severin got into trouble in 2004 and actually had an official FCC complaint filed against him and WTKK, Greater Media backed him all the way. Why? Because his ratings were hot and he was making money for his employers. It was love at the cash register. This time around, his ratings are not hot, not even warm(Severin is not even in Top 10) and with the advertising market being what it is, you don’t need to be an economics genius to figure out that paying $1 million a year plus bonuses just doesn’t make sense in this business environment. What happens next? There are only two options to consider : an agreed buyout or one big pay cut.
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