Clear Channel Cleans House at The Beat

UPDATE: Olivia Fox faxed a statement on her situation to the Times this morning. It reads:

"95.7 The Beat and Clear Channel Radio informed me on Monday morning, after my show, that my services would no longer be required at the station. I have truly enjoyed working at 95.7 the Beat, and have truly enjoyed being involved in the Tampa Bay community and working with youth here. This is a great place to live and work.

"I want to thank my many loyal fans for all their passionate support over the last few years. It has been a terrific time for me. I am now looking forward to many new opportunities, and anybody who is interested can keep in touch with my career by consulting my Web site."

If you're a fan of Olivia Fox and her freewheeling morning show on WBTP-95.7 FM (The Beat), you awoke to a very different reality this morning.

When you last heard Fox on Monday, it was a typical start to the work week. Today, you're listening to comic Steve Harvey's nationally syndicated morning show and wondering what happened.

You're not the only one. WBTP officials benched Fox for Harvey on Monday, notifying her then that the station would be presenting the comic's show -- which is syndicated from New York City -- in her timeslot starting this morning. Which only leaves one question: Why?

Even the station's program director admitted Monday it wasn't about low ratings; though I couldn't get detailed daypart fIgures last night, it was understood that her ratings were strong and WBTP placed ahead of prime competitor WLLD-98.7 FM (Wild 98.7) in the fall Arbitron figures I saw at the Radio and Records web site. See the station's history at a glance here.

Which leaves the distinct impression Fox got canned for doing her job too well. No wonder commercial radio is on the verge of vanishing.

Fox hasn't yet returned my calls and WBTP's program director isn't saying much, so all that's left is scurrilous speculation. So let's get to it:

Theory #1: Because Harvey's show is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, which is owned by Clear Chanel Radio, which also owns WBTP, it was cheaper for Clear Channel to bring in Harvey than keep paying for Fox's local crew.

Theory #2: The station is targeting a slightly older audience by bringing in the 50-year-old Harvey, leaving the younger audience to corporate sister WFLZ-93.3 FM.

Theory #3: This is a radical attempt to boost revenues at the end of a particularly tough year, advertising-wise.

I know enough to know that any or all of these explanations might be true. If you know as much or more, dear reader, feel free to express yourself here.

This also means that the first 100,000-watt FM station in Tampa Bay focused on urban -- meaning, black -- listeners now has a non-local morning show.  For Fox's former competitors at WLLD, it's got to feel like a reprieve -- acing out their biggest competition for young urban-oriented listeners with a 50-year-old guy who still makes jokes about going to church.

Seems a step backward for a station which was doing a good job of challenging WLLD for dominance in the morning.

First Fall Shows Canceled Already?

I noted in my Fall TV Preview that the sitcom Happy Hour was likely to be the first shows canceled by the networks. But who knew it would happen so soon?

The Futon Critic reported Monday that the fox series Happy Hour and Justice are both going on "hiatus" before the network's fall schedule is disrupted by baseball playoffs. Of course, shows that are pulled so quickly often never find their way back onto the schedule again.

Even when the networks bench a show, they sometimes don't have the guts to say it's been canceled.

Comments

[Pamela Brown d'Almeida]

I was suprised at the sudden change this morning. However,did they no this before they canned the very people that kept the radio slot HOT! Seems to me that they have families also! I want to thank them for giving us the laughter as long as they did. Love ya

[james raulerson]

I really like Fox and her crew in on 95.7. I used to work in radio before it became so corporate. It is a shame. Here was a great show, that combined humor, music, information and social commentary. Fox is way better than MJ. By the way I am a 30 something white male.

[entrepreneur forum]

Steve is definitely for the more mature and conservative crowd. I think they may have done it to separate themselves from the "party all the time" mentality of tampa. They play R&B as well as hip-hop and Gospel on Sundays -- I think its great to diversify. But who really knows - I am sure there are a TON of factors considering CCs size. Sad news however for the whole morning show - I hope they find a new home soon. Nows a good time for them to consider starting their own business.

Maybe she can go work for Oprah. Oh wait, she's black! I hope you're going to blog about Oprah's comments regarding white people. I'm not even sure who should be more pissed off - You have one of the most influential black women in the world claiming only one black works for her. And you have a black person bragging that she has whites working for her, the inference being completely racist. But we'll ignore that, and have countless stories about whether or not some guy uttered the n-word 30 years ago....

[BP]

Unfortunately Olivia may have worn out her welcome as she did in DC. She is a talent but has a problem with authority as Russ Parr and she had the hottest show in DC (a major market) for 9 or 10 years and she ran herself out by voicing her demands. It is well known in DC as she has a strong base. Hopefully she will tone it down and return to the Chocolate City but Tampa will surely be w/o a true talent. I will resort to XM as 93.3 and 98.7 are sad stations for wannabee’s that focus on the negatives and illustrate R&B and Hip Hop in a horrible light as the 98.7 Crew is a bunch of sell outs with Microphones. They are not true to the People as Olivia has been for so long. Although she can do w/o the dry, "questionable" side kick Mike Johnson (he won't survive in a major market). Stay Strong O.F.!!

Is this really that odd for clear channel? Remember that 95.7 not that long ago was adult contemporary / want-a-be “slightly alternative” then over night it became The Beat? I don’t believe its Fox - they don’t seem too keen on notifying the public on their programming changes either.

I listened to the station today and I thought it was a great change from the back to back playing of the records during the morning hours.....the best time to listen is during evening hours because the same songs play over and over.This is just my opinion but overall the station is great.

[Tosha]

I'm such a fan of O.F., that if XM offered her a gig, I'd become a member.

Good riddance.

I was a faithful listener for 2 years and got sick of her using racism as a crutch for the show. You could tell when there was nothing big in the news when she begin her nonsene tirades about "white people." She has nobody to blame for losing her show but herself. If she was a true talent she would still be working. I do feel bad for the rest of the people on the show. They were very entertaining, and they're the reason I listened for so long.

Good riddance.

I was a faithful listener for 2 years and got sick of her using racism as a crutch for the show. You could tell when there was nothing big in the news when she begin her nonsene tirades about "white people." She has nobody to blame for losing her show but herself. If she was a true talent she would still be working. I do feel bad for the rest of the people on the show. They were very entertaining, and they're the reason I listened for so long.

[Danita Cuevas]

Listening to the O.L. morning show was the highlight of my mornings. The show was entertaining, refreshing,informative and even downright HILARIOUS! Now that she's gone, my mornings are so boring. Steve Harvey is not for radio. I see no humor in his morning show. I will truly miss her show.

[Linda Huggins]

I was never a fan of 95.7, until I turned to that station by mistake one morning and Olivia Fox was on, I enjoyed the show so much I was a faithful listner after that. I enjoyed what that team bought to your station, seems to me clear chanel used her to draw a certin crowd once you did that you got rid of her. I liked the way they showcased the talent in the bay area allowing them to be seen and heard when otherwise they would have never had that chance and that allowed them to go on to bigger and better things. Whom ever made the decision to get rid of her it was a bad one !!!!. Good luck Olivia just like that door was shut another one will open much better that clear chanel. Just let your fans know where you are when you get there.

[Tia]

I am a 26yr old bi-racial female and I love all music, however the Steve Harvey show is so unamusing they dont talk about anything interesting and they dont play any good music! The m.j. show is so predijuice and wlld 98.7 is repetitous....and the tom joyner show is worse than the steve harvey show why not have a comedian that is funny to do a radio show like Mike Epps! please bring olivia back or someone that is interesting!

[Billy Martin]

Hi, my name is Billy, I listin to your show every morning at 6:00 am. You put god first.What a blessing you start your show with a gospel song. I was wondering if you would play a song when you start your show the song is by Canton Jones called, " I"m Gonna Stay Saved" ,Steve may the lord bless you! Thank You, Billy.

[Barbara Strauss]

I am a 54 year old white grnadmother raising an 11 year old bi-racial grandson. We listened to O.L. and her crew every morning on our ride to school. Travis and I both loved the show..I was never really afraid to let him listen to this adult radio program because O.L. and the guys were never really offensive in their remarks or programming, they were however, funny. We especially enjoyed the dynamics of the crew. And of course we miss the Fox Files. I think it is particularly important for me to keep Travis in step with both sides of his culture and the music and O.F. spin did just that. I hope someone at Clear Channel come to there senses. Steve Harvey can be funny but most of the time he is just too out there.

[Observer]

I remember fox from The Russ Parr Show and find it odd that she's was let go under the similar mysterious circumstances from that show. She's obviously got what it takes, I mean much of the material that the Parr show uses is indeed derived from what Fox brought to the table.

I'm wondering if there's an issue of ethnics involved in both circumstances that isn't in anyone's best intrest to discuss.

im sad that she lost her job but lets be realistic her show had nothing for u to remember no interesting topics i was glad when her show ended steve keeps a smile on my face all the way to work on the other hand i rushed for ol to play a song ithink the beat made a good descion but hey who am i to talk i stuck at a dead end job keep ur head up ol radio isnt for everyone find something to fit ur personality like being a clown

[angel dallors]

steve you the man you so carzy from a cuban fan who listens all day and every day bless you and all your peeps specialy sister odell hooooo lord keep up the good work and the faith with GOD theres nada DADDY DALLORS out

[Tarrah]

I miss Olivia Fox she brought the talent out of Tampa,FL. When she left Faze 2 left with her. She knew how to party. There aren't really any upscale clubs left in Tampa Faze 2 was always dress to impress loved it. Olivia! please bring life back to Tampa girl!, we miss you.