Asheville News

Shake-up at Saga Communications: Program director Debolt let go from radio station owner

Jason Sandford September 23, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Ashvegas has just received word that Craig Debolt, the program director for 98.1 The River, and program director for other Saga Communications programming, has been let go from the company. Can anyone confirm?

The River, a new station that I believe is less than a year old, has really done a great job of focusing on local music and promoting local events. With great personalities such as Amy Jones and Ashley “Bad Ash” Davis leading the way, the station — in my opininon — is a bright spot on the local radio dial that is overwhelmingly filled with mediocre programming.

I’m not sure what’s going on at Saga, which owns 96.5 WOXL. Earlier this year, the company parted ways with popular local radio show host Pat Ryan. If anyone has any more information on the shake-up at Saga, we’d sure like to hear it.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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6 Comments

jamessmack December 12, 2009

craig was the best thing by far for that lame radio station….i left the plant for the mountain to hear craig for the ride at 5….no more mountain…back to the planet. thanks for the good times craig. james

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Craig Debolt November 30, 2009

Thanks for the comments folks! Not sure anyone will see this at this point. Just saw this recently. Anywho, rock on in the hills and maybe we’ll talk and rock again. In the meantime, think John Tesh.

Craig Debolt

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Been There September 24, 2009

Pity. It was a good station. An eclectic mix of music.

Time to pay for the satellite again.

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don talley September 23, 2009

With the mashed up ownership of local media it’s hard for me to keep track of who is where. I confess that I dont listen to much commercial radio but I thought Bad Ash (Ashley Davis) was on 105.9 The Mountain. Is she on both stations?

Guess I’m gonna have to get a scorecard to keep up with it all.

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Lena September 23, 2009

Damn. I was worried that had happened when I noticed a few days ago that the Work Release Program wasn’t on. I have a 40-minute commute home and looked forward to that radio segment every day at 5!!!!! I wondered if he got in too much trouble for playing songs with the F-bomb in it too much.

Damn damn damn.

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plastic paddy September 23, 2009

CRAP! Debolt was the only DJ on the Moutain that kept Nickelback to a minimum and wasn’t afraid to play some off the wall request on the ride home.

I guess it’s back WNCW.

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