When 96.5 FM radio (WOXL) show host Pat Ryan suddenly disappeared from the airwaves earlier this summer, lots of folks were shocked. With his affable style, Ryan over the past five years or so had won lots of loyal listeners. They were understandably upset when he could no longer be heard.
Ryan hasn’t really talked about his departure, and I haven’t really pressed him on it. I took it that he was laid off. Whatever happened, he appears to still be on good terms with the station management. In fact, Ryan and the station have worked out an interesting arrangement that will apparently get Ryan back on the radio before the end of the year.
Ryan has essentially bought time back into a sports talk radio show that he helped create about five years ago. The popular show is known as “The Wise Guys” and can be heard on AM 1310 and 970. Ryan teamed up with long-time local radio personality Bill McClement to talk about all things sports. The station is affiliated with ESPN radio, so there’s lots of sports talk to go around.
The show has continued since Ryan’s departure from the radio station. Ryan recently returned to sit in for McClement, who was on vacation, for a few days. Ryan was joined by former WLOS anchor Frank Kracher.
Ryan now plans to buy time into the Wise Guys program, and he’ll be selling ad spots to help support his endeavor. Ryan really wants to push the local angle and broaden the show to include more than strictly sports. That’s already been the case, but Ryan is actively seeking to include more voices.
Ryan is passionate about radio, and I’m excited about his return to the airwaves. I’ll keep you posted on his progress.
Look for Ryan to return in December.
6 Comments
Anytime a personality has to pay his way to be on the air. He is being robbed.
And any station that plays that way is robbing the community of decent talent.
Pay the people that work on the air. Don’t make them pay to be on the air.
Totally ridiculous way to run a radio station.
They are just too cheap to pay for programing. At that point they should sign themselves off the air. A 0.5 rating = not enough listeners to sell advertising. Why by advertising on a station that has no listeners. That’s why them make the personalities go out and have to sell their on time. I don’t even think they show up in the ratings now. How do you sell that ? Hit the off switch on the transmitter. http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb_market
Thanks for the 411 on that, Mike. The ties may be cheap – they look OK on TV -but you would think he’d just skip the pocket squares. I really do not mean to be a fashionista, but again, that look is, well, square.
realityczech
That’s just the way the ties and pocket squares come packaged in the box at Hamrick’s. When you’re spending $7.99, you’re gonna go with what’s there–that’s too much money to be mixing and matching. If you’ll notice, the suspenders match, too.
One other thing about Larry Blunt. Regular visitors to Ashvegas will likely not believe this coming from me, but it is fashion related.
What is it with those matching ties and pocket squares? Cuevas does it too. Don’t these guys know we are officially living in the 21st century? I may be wrong, but I think that look went out sometime in the 80s, right around when Rod Stewart was still recording albums.
In the greater scheme of things, I know this is not important. I just think it is hysterical.
realityczech
You are right on the money, Real Reporter! Local advertizers need to put their money up front to keep programs like The Wise Guys on the air.
I am by no means a dyed-in-the-wool sports talk radio nut. I do, however, enjoy local content and personalities like Pat Ryan. He is obviously passionate about what he does and he makes me laugh. His interaction with The Great One and Seth in the Mother Ship is enjoyable. As Pat and Bill often say, it is the only LIVE, LOCAL, DAILY sports show in the market. It is and that is the main reason I listen.
Based on what I know about media and advertising, it seems to me that what Pat is trying to do here is more than a bit of a crap shoot. As I understand, from the way Ash explains it, Pat will be performing AND selling his own program. If so, that is a beyond a heavy lift. I hope he makes it. I want Pat Ryan to stay on the radio here in Asheville. I believe a lot of other listeners do too.
Ash also mentions how Frank Kracher has helped out on occasion, filling in for Bill when he is away. I have heard Frank a few times and he certainly works well with Pat. But I never make any bones about it here on Ashvegas and will repeat myself until I am blue in the face. Frank Kracher belongs back at the anchor desk with Darcel and Tammy. Radio is clearly not his main thing. TV news anchoring is and WLOS management should recognize that his return would help tremendously. Blunt out, Kracher in. Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but as Walter Cronkite would put it, "that’s the way it is".
realityczech
Business Owners who want to advertise on a radio show that’s truly "local" and "fun" should consider reaching out to Pat and putting their advertising money behind this effort. The effort will work only if businesses put their money behind it….with another upside being loyal listeners who will spend money with those busineses. This may be the future way to preserve truly local content and personalities on the radio dial. Help Pat make this work. We’ll all be better for it.