Krenn's radio absence continues
-
Jim Krenn
Share with others:
Longtime morning radio host Jim Krenn, who has not been heard on WDVE-FM (102.5) for nearly a month, is hoping to return in 2012. But Clear Channel Radio-Pittsburgh management still is not talking about his situation.
"WDVE made a decision to remove Jim from the air," Mr. Krenn's agent, David Sedelmeier, said Friday. "It came as a complete surprise to him.
"Jimmy hopes that he will be permitted to fulfill the terms of his existing contract. It remains to be seen if WDVE will allow him to do that."
Calls to Clear Channel Pittsburgh, which owns WDVE, were not returned Friday. The station has posted an opening for a new morning team member on its website. The site also doesn't have any hosts' names listed in its current morning show content.
Mr. Krenn's presence on the show had been scaled back in the past year, with listeners noticing that he's on for less than the full daily 6 to 10 a.m. air shift.
His supporters have launched a "Bring Jim Krenn Back to the DVE Morning Show" Facebook page lobbying for his return. It was more than 880 members. Postings included an email address for WDVE management.
The situation parallels co-host Randy Baumann's sudden disappearance from the show in January 2010. He was not on the air for nearly a month when contract negotiations stalled. When he returned, the station announced that it had signed unspecified multiyear contracts with the show's four principals, who also include Val Porter and Mike Prisuta.
But new contract negotiations aren't a factor this time around. And poor ratings -- which have cost many an on-air talent job -- aren't the issue, either.
"When you're No. 1 in the market, that makes no sense," Mr. Sedelmeier said.
The WDVE morning show has enjoyed an unprecedented ratings ride in the Pittsburgh market, consistently topping the Arbitron charts among 25- to 54-year-olds, even unseating long-dominant KDKA-AM morning show among total listeners during some ratings periods. And its host has enjoyed a record run in morning radio, where many teams don't survive the competitive ratings wars. Mr. Krenn has been on the WDVE morning show for 24 years. Mr. Baumann replaced Scott Paulsen 12 years ago.
First Published December 31, 2011 12:00 am
