Airwaves: February 24, 2006
XM Nabs Winfrey
XM Satellite Radio has signed Oprah Winfrey to a three-year deal
worth $55 million, and calls for a new channel -- to be launched in September
-- on the service called Oprah and Friends.
No details were released on what exactly her channel would feature, nor which
of her friends will be on the bird. However, it will be new content, not just
what is currently available on her current program or network.
Will this be a reason to subscribe? Too early to tell, but XM apparently felt
they had to do something. After leading the subscription count almost every month
since it launched, XM found itself being trounced by Sirius in the final
quarter of 2005 due at least in part to the Sirius debut of Howard Stern.
(XM had a year head start on subscriptions, so the final word on who will be
the "winner" is still unknown).
What's interesting to me is that XM actually felt a need to do something For
months, XM fans stated that their favorite service already had a Stern-beater
in Opie and Anthony. Perhaps XM realized that is not enough. or perhaps
they signed Oprah just to keep her off of Sirius.
No matter. I would think that this will be the last of the big-ticket signings.
Unless someone can convince Rush Limbaugh to move to satellite. And that,
I predict, will not happen.
NASCAR Nation
The other day I'm listening to one of my regular Sirius channels when the DJ
mentions coverage of the Olympics on another channel. So I tune in and hear ...
NASCAR coverage.
Last Sunday I'm listening to KZLA when suddenly the countdown show ends
early in order for the station to air ... NASCAR races.
I never knew that NASCAR radio coverage was so big.
We've Got Mail
Reader Robert Billingsley wrote: "Every time I read your column, I'm reminded
of radio past, and the people on it. I'm wondering whatever happened to Rege
Cordic, I believe on KNX back in the 60's, and the team of London
and Engleman. L & E had some of the best little skits on radio, like
'The new adventures of Leave it to Beaver,' and 'Fantasy Island.' They had some
others which are not coming to mind right now."
Thanks for writing. You've inspired me to bring back a popular feature of the
past:
Where Are They Now?
I remember Rege Cordic from 1110 KRLA in the early 1980s, but he came
to Los Angeles in 1966 to replace Bob Crane on KNX when Crane left radio
for Hogan's Heroes.
He arrived at KNX after a long run at KDKA/Pittsburgh where he once commanded
an amazing 85% audience share. yet he only lasted one year on KNX ... the lure
of television was just too strong, and he left radio for acting.
Cordic passed away in April, 1999 due to complications from brain cancer. He
was 72.
London and Engelman made a huge splash on KRTH back in 1979. With their
popular skits and contests -- my favorite was "I'm Better than You" --
they helped make KRTH a powerhouse in the ratings.
When former KHJ programmer Chuck Martin was getting set to switch K-WEST to
a top-40 format (think KHJ on FM), he was thinking of hiring Rick Dees for
mornings, but instead went with London and Engelman. Under Martin, L&E thrived
at the new K-WEST, and the team quickly became my favorite way to wake up.
Unfortunately, management soon changed at K-WEST, so L&E made their way first
to Florida, and then to San Francisco's KMEL. It is there that they split
up.
Now John London is working mornings in San Francisco, while Ron Engelman is
out of radio and living in Central California.
Wouldn't it be great to launch a real top-40 station in Los Angeles again and
convince London and Engelman to get back together? I'd love it.
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Copyright © 2006 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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