RIP Toucher and Rich Show ... It was fun while it lasted

8slim

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I'm not sure about that. I'm sure there are some people that are on 98.5 because of T&R, but all the shows are on top of the charts so I can't really see that changing especially when the alternative in town isn't nearly as good.
Audience flow is a real dynamic. The midday show, and F&M, absolutely benefit from T&R starting the day with such a huge audience share. T&R leaving wouldn't necessarily crater F&M -- although I imagine it would absolutely hurt Zo & Beedle -- but their ratings would slip to some degree.
 

8slim

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I wonder if Beasley is calculating that they could get, say, half the ratings for a quarter of the cost, and would be fine with that.
I'm certain they've done that kind of analysis. It's why funds buy newspapers, gut them, and squeeze out every last dime. It's all about the margin.

Terrestrial radio is a dying business.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I'm certain they've done that kind of analysis. It's why funds buy newspapers, gut them, and squeeze out every last dime. It's all about the margin.

Terrestrial radio is a dying business.
This is the entire point, look at this roster of crap: https://bbgi.com/brands/

Most of the stations are playing Kool and the Gang, Queen, Stevie Nicks an Ja rule. I'm not sure of Beasley's go to market, but 98.5 seems like an odd fit for them since the own about 40 shitty stations that are actually dying. You'd think they'd want 98.5 to pay for these other stations that are worse than Pandora.

I bet T&R are done with them after this contract which makes me sad.
 

8slim

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This is the entire point, look at this roster of crap: https://bbgi.com/brands/

Most of the stations are playing Kool and the Gang, Queen, Stevie Nicks an Ja rule. I'm not sure of Beasley's go to market, but 98.5 seems like an odd fit for them since the own about 40 shitty stations that are actually dying. You'd think they'd want 98.5 to pay for these other stations that are worse than Pandora.

I bet T&R are done with them after this contract which makes me sad.
Looks like they own 5 other sports talk stations, a couple in big markets (Philly, Detroit). I doubt any of those have ratings remotely close to 98.5 though. And as Rich noted this morning, 98.5 had the 5th-most ad sales revenue in the country this past year, which is remarkable given the market size. Of course, ranking 5th gets you $33 million, which is a paltry sum in a media biz where major corporations are raking in billions upon billions in video subscriptions and ad sales. Beasley ain't one of those corporations.
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

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Moving away from a sports-centric channel may breathe new life into both of them, creatively, and they would likely have much more freedom with their supporting cast.

The way things seem to be trending, it's going to be a desolate sports radio landscape around these parts in the not too distant future.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I don’t want to live in a world without T&R in the morning. I know the day will come but it’s such a great way to start the day.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I think T and R’s days on 98.5 are numbered after this.
That's my read. They will have Lockhart research "monetizing streaming radio" his first day back (since they are paying him!)

Rich is a stand-up dude, though, which we already knew. Didn't Fred do a lot to help Rich when Rich's wife was ill? These guys are solid with each other, whatever their other life stuff might be.

I get cost cutting, but screwing around with your cash cow over what...75k? 100k?...for Lockhart is dumb. While they may have modeled "half the ratings for a quarter the cost" I do not think they have fully accounted for the loyalty of many, many T&R listeners who have been with them for years and who will go out of their way to avoid post-T&R 98.5 Especially since T&R will go all "Nickleback" on Beasley about 24 hours after they walk.
 
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8slim

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Who’s been filling in for Lockhart? Nick?
Sounds like Rich and Nick have taken on the workload. Rich said he was in at 3am today so he could write and cut the 8am "What Happened Last Night?" segment.

That's insane for a co-host to be in at that hour doing that kind of work.
 

dirtynine

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I did find it somewhat amusing that Rich has been busting his ass, getting in early, destroying his voice, battling with management and ultimately paying another employee’s salary out of his pocket… and Fred couldn’t be bothered to drive in or even FaceTime in to the show on Monday when his setup didn’t work from home. Obviously they have an understanding and a clear division of responsibilities. Rich is insanely dedicated, I think is the main point. I hope he gets to sleep soon.
 

JCizzle

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I did find it somewhat amusing that Rich has been busting his ass, getting in early, destroying his voice, battling with management and ultimately paying another employee’s salary out of his pocket… and Fred couldn’t be bothered to drive in or even FaceTime in to the show on Monday when his setup didn’t work from home. Obviously they have an understanding and a clear division of responsibilities. Rich is insanely dedicated, I think is the main point. I hope he gets to sleep soon.
Fred "quiet quitting" is about all that shit company deserves. Not only for the layoffs, but they also jerked him around with his sick leave for rehab IIRC. They don't owe Beasley a fraction of what they put into the show.
 

Granite Sox

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Fred supported others who said Rich should take a day off by saying, "I can do the cuts. It's easy. [Save yourself an hour of sleep.] Just have Nick pull the clips when he gets in and I'll wing it. That's all it is."

Fred low-key undermining a key element of Rich's entreaties to Beasley on why they needed to keep Lockhart. Nice going, asshat. I think Rich was trying to deflect Fred by indicating that it's a little more involved than that (hint hint asshole keep your mouth shut) and it totally went right over Fred's head.

I agree with others... between Beasley's assholery and Fred's personal situation, this is the beginning of the end.
 

VamonosPests54

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If I was Lockhart, I would not go back to that shitty company and be around upper management that wanted to give you the boot. It's great Rich did this, but I can't imagine going back being a fun experience.
 

sezwho

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If I was Lockhart, I would not go back to that shitty company and be around upper management that wanted to give you the boot. It's great Rich did this, but I can't imagine going back being a fun experience.
I don’t think he’s around anyone that fired him. Sounds like a far away conference room to me…but I would hold it against them possibly to my detriment.
 

dirtynine

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Fred "quiet quitting" is about all that shit company deserves. Not only for the layoffs, but they also jerked him around with his sick leave for rehab IIRC. They don't owe Beasley a fraction of what they put into the show.
Agreed that Beasley is shit and nobody should be bending over backwards for them. But they literally woke up Joe Murray to Zoom in (or whatever) because Fred gave up. When Rich started sounding like the cryptkeeper (or John Henry) it might have been nice to have his partner there. But again - I think they have their relationship pretty well defined. And I also agree that circumstances are conspiring against the stability of the show right now.
 

8slim

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I'd be pretty BS too, but I think it's smart tying himself to Rich. If they do jump on something new, Rich would clearly want Mike to join the next effort.
Agreed. It sounds like Lockhart essentially now works for Rich. Rich has mentioned "all the paperwork" he has had to sign in the past few days. I'm wondering if that means Lockhart is not on the Beasley books anymore, but is functioning as a contractor that Rich "hired" and support his salary/benefits. I'm wayyy outside my expertise, but I have to think that Beasley can't be formally paying Lockhart's compensation if they're looking to realize the cost savings that comes from his being laid off.
 

8slim

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But again - I think they have their relationship pretty well defined.
I keep thinking that Fred is really fortunate to have Rich as his friend and partner. There can't be too many other guys in the radio biz who'd be as generous and patient with Fred as Rich has been. Obviously there's a benefit to Rich since Fred is immensely talented. But not every co-host would see it that way after a while.
 

redsoxedmunds24

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If I remember correctly when they announced the contracts they last signed Fred commented something along the lines of being here for another decade. Given the age of their kids it would fit.
 

NortheasternPJ

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And now they're basically implying they're going to write a bunch of nonsense shit articles for the website. This should go well.
 

onthereg527

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I’m a massive fantasy player and every week can barely get through the Dave Richard segment. Anyone else? Maybe because Fred talks about his team so much? Nothing worse than someone going on about a league you’re not even in, haha.
 

NortheasternPJ

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"Call me a stick in the mud, but I hate traffic." - Fred

Immediately after "Nick, save that one, that's our next article!"
 

Andy Merchant

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I thought it was a huge concession when Rich said they had to write four articles per day for the web site as part of the deal to get Mike Lockhart back. Kudos to them for a creative solution to that problem, which I think is a hilarious middle finger to management.

If nothing else, it certainly seems more likely that they'll be entertaining offers to sign elsewhere once their current contract is up.
 

NDame616

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I hope they realize them pimping these out and talking about them on the air will get them 10X the clicks than if they posted "Should the Bs sign Pasta?" articles
 

Patriot_Reign

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Has anyone heard if Lockhart is returning to the Sunday fantasy football show?

Not a listener but curious if he's strictly stuck to the morning show now.

edit: these one sentence "articles" are great, such a great F YOU to management.
 

Helen.Wallach-Davis

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Oct 6, 2022
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i like when Rich and Wallach call BS on one of Fred’s egregious lies. He thought he’d be able to just edit a story he’s told multiple times before and get away with it
 

dirtynine

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While my bet is that this all resolved itself, at least for the near future, this all feels like the last days of Conan’s Tonight Show.
It kinda feels like T&R on BCN afternoons circa ‘08 when they were really close to getting canned (because of management cost cutting). I think they were weeks or even days away at one point. Of course they didn’t and THS happened pretty soon after. Can’t believe I’ve been listening to them long enough to remember how their move from rock/shock to sports was considered a bizarre last-ditch experiment.
 

Riconway3155

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It kinda feels like T&R on BCN afternoons circa ‘08 when they were really close to getting canned (because of management cost cutting). I think they were weeks or even days away at one point. Of course they didn’t and THS happened pretty soon after. Can’t believe I’ve been listening to them long enough to remember how their move from rock/shock to sports was considered a bizarre last-ditch experiment.
Did it happen that way? I remember after the announcement of the sports hub happening, they said they were in the know for something like almost a year because they were going to be the flagship morning show. I may be misremembering that though. I do remember once the announcement happened, they completely stopped playing music for a couple months and although I LOVED it because it was more content - they had to fill so much more time and were talking about how much harder it was.

I, with you, can't believe how long I've been listening to them for. I remember starting to listen when they were 3pm to 7, then they moved to 2 to 6 for a while before moving over to mornings.
 

dirtynine

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Did it happen that way?
Admittedly it's a bit fuzzy now, so your sequence might be more accurate. I do remember a point in time, right around when the future of BCN was up in the air, where they were strongly implying they were close to getting the knife before it was announced that they were slotted for 98.5. Maybe that was already something they had in their back pocket by then.
 

JohnnyTheBone

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Admittedly it's a bit fuzzy now, so your sequence might be more accurate. I do remember a point in time, right around when the future of BCN was up in the air, where they were strongly implying they were close to getting the knife before it was announced that they were slotted for 98.5. Maybe that was already something they had in their back pocket by then.
WBCN itself was getting the knife. The station was no more, but T&R were relocated to the new all-sports entity.
 

hube

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Apr 4, 2010
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WBCN itself was getting the knife. The station was no more, but T&R were relocated to the new all-sports entity.

Rumors of BCN's demise started at the same time they got the rights to Patriots games - I remember even back then that it was seen as the first move to a transition to an all-sports-talk format. It was talked about for years before it actually happened.
 

onthereg527

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Rumors of BCN's demise started at the same time they got the rights to Patriots games - I remember even back then that it was seen as the first move to a transition to an all-sports-talk format. It was talked about for years before it actually happened.
This isn't accurate. BCN got the rights to the Pats in 1995, nobody was talking about them going to an 'all-sports talk format' back then. They were in a massive war with AAF, which they were winning for a few years.
 

Riconway3155

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I gotta say - I keep dying laughing at these clickbait website articles they keep talking about and posting. They are showing up on my facebook feed and one of them was what Paul Pfeiffer from the Wonder Years looks like now. I clicked on it and laughed out loud. It has to be generating clicks to the website!
 

hube

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Apr 4, 2010
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This isn't accurate. BCN got the rights to the Pats in 1995, nobody was talking about them going to an 'all-sports talk format' back then. They were in a massive war with AAF, which they were winning for a few years.

Damn, time flies. I do remember some chatter in the early/mid '00s but forgot it was that far back that BCN started broadcasting those games.
 

Helen.Wallach-Davis

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Oct 6, 2022
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I missed this, what happened?
One of Fred’s tall tales. He was working at a driving range and someone hit the ball scooper cart thing he was driving, the latest rendition included him punching the guy before he quit.

He cracked me up a couple times this week so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume this was a statute of limitations situation where he only just now became able to disclose incriminating details
 

Patriot_Reign

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This isn't accurate. BCN got the rights to the Pats in 1995, nobody was talking about them going to an 'all-sports talk format' back then. They were in a massive war with AAF, which they were winning for a few years.
But it's also not quite inaccurate. It certainly wasn't 1995, but for years before they actually flipped to 98.5 there were whispers about going to an all sports format since they were already in on the Pats.