In a move that was not much of a surprise to close media watchers, Rick Rambaldo announced to his staff his departure from the Erie stations he once owned. NEXTMEDIA sold the stations to Connoisseur Broadcasting in March. Rick, who continues to have an equity position with NEXMEDIA, went from an equity owner of 6 radio stations to the general manager of the Erie properties.
In a conversation I had with Rambaldo on Tuesday, Rick said “I really wanted to pursue other interests ...the stations are really in good local hands with the current staff.” Six months is a good transition period and longer than most would have expected. There is good and bad news in this announcement for Erie. The bad news is that he is leaving Erie Radio. The good news is that he is staying in Erie. “I am leaving on good terms with Connoisseur Broadcasting,” said Rambaldo, “They are a good company and more importantly, they have good local people at the stations serving the Erie radio audience. Erie is my permanent home...I am staying, and I love it here in Erie." His resignation was effective immediately.
It was only a few weeks ago, that Rambaldo stunned local listeners with a change on 93.9 classic country to a contemporary country format called, “The Wolf.” The change in programming brought a roar from many. (Or was that a howl?)
Now I am going to watch his movements very closely because Rick is not the type to sit still. We have not heard the last of Rick Rambaldo, but we will miss his honest brand of broadcaster just the same.
Good Luck Rick!
"Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting will stop.” FCC www.dtv.gov
Just 14 Days To Go Before WSEE DT Channel 16 Construction Permit Expires.
12 comments:
mmm. Jack is a bad boy. Thanks..I got those mixed up and there is a big difference. I was so excited about breaking the news first, I should have double checked and triple checked. That error was a big one. Thanks again for pointing that out.
Jack,
Congratulations on your scoop! You beat the Times News to the punch! Your blog entry appeared LAST EVENING! You beat the Times News by a good 10 to 12 hours!!!
WELL DONE!
(Check your facts, Peter!)
To be fair to all concerned, while I did post til about night, I labed it Friday as I usually do when I post the night before. Peter P. wrote me that he understood but suggested I use the actual time and date the post was made. The rules of new media are so different from regular media. The Times can write a story one day and give it the publishing date the next. I guess those are the differences. I thanks Peter P. for his advice.
If you are implying that Rick would consider owning a TV station you should buy some swamp land I have for sale in Florida.
He has tons of experience in Radio so naturally that means he would be a huge success in TV? I think not!
Why can't this market attract a QUALITY station group? I hope to hell Ricky sticks to Radio and leaves TV to the pros!
I am not implying anything at the moment except he has his own set of options. For the Record, Rick does have TV experience as he was with the FOX affiliate in Rochester, NY before coming to Erie and starting Rocket.
He may just have another Rocket in his pocket.... but he is sure glad to be in Erie.
Thank goodness he is done with Erie radio! He ruined JET 1400AM and 1330AM (Flagship Radio). We used to have morning and afternoon local talk on 1400 now we only have a couple hours in the morning! Don Imus UGH!
Love how he ruined Flagship 1330AM also! To claim Rick is some sort of genius is a slap in the face to those of us who love Erie broadcasting.
I speak for myself and others at Channel 35. We all hope that Rick makes the decision to own a TV station someday. Maybe he will pick our station. Lilly Broadcasting of PA, LLC has run our once proud station into the ground. The morale here is terrible! It's all backstabbing and who can suck up to the current news director.
We once had Pella, Shriver, Zompa. Now we have Van Zandt? Vendetta? and the three mouseketeers!?
PLEASE RICK, SAVE US! NOW!
Maybe the new general manager will sack that blowhole jeff johns!
I have always pointed out in the past that I have not always agreed with every move Rick made. In fact, before NEXMEDIA sold the stations Connoisseur, I told Rick that I thought most of the stations sounded flat and boring. We had a spirited discussion. Even as NEXMEDIA, Rick didn't have the full authority over the purse strings to do what he wanted to do. Perhaps that has lead to his current departure. But the spirit he has, given a free hand, is still the best of the broadcasters in this market. The key word is "free hand." The moves that were made at WJET and others may not have been his choice, but his responsibility to implement.
I think some of the comments expressed here about programing are very justified. Thanks again for the candor.
Rick Rambaldo is nothing more than a self-promoting grandstander. He will go down in history as the worst station owner in Erie Radio history.
Mr. Rambaldo singlehandedly destroyed 1400 and 1330 AM. For this he should get the middle finger instead of your ass kissing!
Pucker-up Jack-O!
I always thought that the changes Mr. Rambaldo made on 1400 and 1330 were not of his doing...but rather he was carrying out the wishes of Next Media. He was not the owner...but rather a cog in the machine. My feeling was that the PTB at Next Media wanted as streamlined an operation as possible...so it would be more attractive to the next corporate owner. Which is why local news bit the dust...along with other great LOCAL personalities.
My bet is that if Rick were the actual owner...many of those cuts/changes would not have been made.
I've got to agree with Anon, much of the downgrading of the Next/Con radio stations is because of Next/Con, not Rick. Think back a little and remember the promotional domination the Rocket and Star used to have in the Rambaldo Communications days. Rick always demanded the best equipment (for the best price) and a clean operation. The penny-pinching and the sometimes bad programming calls came after the group owners came in.
You don't have guys like Ron Kline, Mojo, Natalie Massing, and Dan Geary stick around if they are not treated well. Rick's Erie Radio legacy should be one of respect and honor. Rick raised the bar for Erie radio and I was glad to be a friend and (sometimes) compete against him.
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