Premiere Exec Calls WABC Move “Shocking”
Yesterday, WABC/New York and sister News/Talker KABC/Los Angeles announced that, beginning next week, both stations will debut Citadel Media’s newly syndicated Doug McIntyre’s Red Eye Radio in overnights. The official announcement included some not-so-subtle jabs at Premiere Radio Networks Coast To Coast AM — a longtime fixture in overnights at WABC — from both KABC PD David G. Hall and WABC programmer Laurie Cantillo. Late yesterday PRN President of Content and Affiliation Julie Talbott released a statement on the upcoming change at WABC saying, “It’s shocking when a top-rated program is removed from a station. However, we’re incredibly proud that Coast to Coast AM continues to be the most-listened-to overnight radio program in North America, broadcasting live on 527 affiliates to more than three million passionate and loyal listeners each week who enjoy hearing one of the most relevant and entertaining shows in the News/Talk world.”