Program director out as WLS shakeup continues
Bob Shomper
One day after the new boss of WLS-AM (890) vowed to revitalize the program department and “restore the luster of the WLS brand,” he swept out the program director of the Citadel Broadcasting news/talk station.
Bob Shomper was forced out Friday after little more than a year on the job. His departure was foreshadowed in an interview here with Michael Damsky, who was just promoted from vice president and director of sales to president and general manager: “My top priority is make sure WLS is being programmed to best showcase the talent that we have.” In announcing the move to his staff, Damsky said:
“As we evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of WLS-AM, we realized that we needed a program director with a different vision to capitalize on all of the opportunities that this compelling news environment and exciting political season present our station. We will immediately begin looking for the person with that vision.”
The shakeup began last Friday with the ouster of Mike Fowler after two years as president and general manager of WLS-AM and oldies sister station WLS-FM (94.7). That move was carried out personally by Farid Suleman, chairman and CEO of Citadel Broadcasting.
Shomper joined WLS in December 2008 from Tribune Co.-owned news/talk WGN-AM (720), where he had been program director for more than two years. He previously spent seven years as program chief of WBAP-AM in Dallas/Ft. Worth. During his tenure at WLS, Shomper hewed to a conservative line, with the station emphasizing hard-edged political topics over lighter, more entertaining fare. Among his most publicized moves was hiring disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a weekend host.
With the advent of Arbitron’s Portable People Meter ratings system, audience shares for WLS were strong in the early part of 2009, but dipped later in the year.
22
01 2010
blogs.vocalo.org
So what does this bode? As long as the old grouch in the morning and El Rushbo are drawing their numbers, does anyone forsee a change in tone? Seems like if their programs are drawing the numbers, there won’t be a major change. Surely Damsky isn’t going to swing the pendulum to the Air America death spiral programming. The recently paired Roe and Ciso…what is going on? Oh…expect more Scott Shannon on the FM.
Maybe this will allow Roe Conn to go back to being entertaining; although I’ve already had to tune out the new Cisco pairing when they waded into the usual right-wing, tea-bag topics. Roe used to be the one welcome refuge from that crap; but not so much lately.
That Damsky, he’s a regular wordsmith, ain’t he?
QUESTION…
Did Bob Shomper leave WGN-AM for WLS-AM, or was he let go from WGN?
I’m pretty sure Shomper left WGN for WLS. WBAP is a big conservative station, so its no surprise he wanted to be more at home, but I really don’t get what canning Shomper achieves.
With an exciting political season coming up this year, how about hosts that talk about the election from a L-O-C-A-L point of view, taking calls from the locals. Imagine that! You could get the sales department out to sell commercial time to local businesses. Funny, radio & TV stations, along with newspapers, made money before they were all sold to big conglomerates.
Sounds like:
A) a salary dump
B) Damsky wants his own guy, probably someone from his CBS days
Welcome to the wonderful world of radio broadcasting!
Bob Shomper is a fine gentleman. I wish him well.
Roe and Cisco are as boring as the conversation in the booth next to you at a restaurant – blah blah blah. Roe needs a funny sidekick – I tuned out.
I think Roe Conn should find a reason to sue Don Wade.
Or maybe they could just arm-wrestle for publicity.
Please Please Please get rid of that flea bitten megalomaniac self absorbed criminal dirtbag Blagojevich. I would rather have nails pounded into my ears than listen to that bag of crap.
But ask me how i really feel about Blago and i shall release my emotion.
Roe has gone down hill since Garry left. When Jay Marvin, Ski Anderson, Nancy Skinner you got the other side of things.Nate Clay also was good.
And get rid of that whiny-voiced egomaniac Mark Levin, whose idea of the height of humor/political insight is to refer to Hillary Clinton as “Her Royal Thighness,” the Washington Post as the “Washington Compost” and Meet the Press as “Meet the Depress.” Clever one time, maybe, As a steady schtick, not so much.
I would love to see Harvey Wells (WCPT), after his reflection, come to the realization that he could do a much needed service to the general public and team up with his ‘ol buddy from WXRT (Damsky), and give the listeners a “Real Fair & Balanced” voice in Chicago. You already have the Rabid Right overly represented, so why not let Harvey import a couple of Progressive voices, and let them duke it out. It would be a way to reach 2 audiences leading up to the 2010 & 2012 elections. It would take listeners out of the “echo chamber” of listening to people they already agree with, and open them up to an alternative viewpoint. Let the fireworks begin! Just thinkin’.
I’ve had to turn off Don/Roma, Rush, Hannity and all the rest of your “Righties”, after having grown up with Biondi, Lujack and the other greats from “the Golden Era” (60’s-90’s). This would be a great opportunity to get back half of your old audience. You can make each show “destination radio” and let them survive/fail on their own.
programming an AM radio station inn 2010 has got to be one of the toughest jobs in America…..good luck to whoever gets this position.
When will WLS wake up and realize that Don Wade and Roma need to be given the boot? That and getting rid of the syndicated shows will make WLS the powerhouse it once was.
Bob Shomper is a great guy and a terrific program director.
I am certain that he will land on his feet. I wish him the
best.
Is it just me or are the pics of Damsky and now Shomper really awful? Evil, even? Maybe the photographer didn’t have much to work with but don’t both of them look like movie bad guys? Damsky’s pic is surreal. Check the mad bomber eyes. RFeder-Blog-Editor-Guy, is it just the way the pics turned out online or were they terrible to begin with? Nightmare inducing! Brrrrrrrrr.
Oh and Steve Scott, formerly of WLS and voice of yourrrr Chicago Bullsss, now a rising star at WCBS and voice of whatever team they have there, is a fine gentleman. I wish him well.
Roe is the only reason I go anywhere near WLS anymore. The hiring of Cisco Cotto worried me a bit, but so far I’ve found him entertaining.
There ARE people who don’t want to listen to political talk all day long! I wish program directors would take note…