Ruled by ratings, radio personalities get a little nervous every three months when Arbitron releases its figures showing who’s been listening.
Still, even in such a volatile profession, you would expect that Shawn and Jeff at The Zone (KZZO, 100.5 FM) would be safe. I mean, this morning team has been something of a local broadcast institution on rock radio for 13 years - first at KWOD (106.5 FM) and, since 2002, at The Zone.
But this week - coincidentally or not? - when the ratings came out, the team was broken up: Jeff Jensen was fired and Shawn Cash was told by management that he’ll be given a new time slot in a week or so.
Steve Cottingim, vice president of Sacramento's CBS Radio stations, tells us that the station wanted to “freshen up” mornings and “try something new.” (He says he would reveal The Zone’s morning plans soon.)
“Stations depend a lot on their morning shows to set the tone for the rest of the day,” Cottingim says.
And, oh yeah, the ratings were tanking. In the latest book, released Thursday, KZZO’s pair ranked 15th in radio's all-important 18-to-49 demographic, with a 2.8 rating. Plus, the two had not been in the top 10 for the past four ratings periods.
Jensen took his ousting graciously.
“It would be great press if I had some great parting shot, but I don't,” he says. “We had a great ride - 13 years is a long time in radio for a pair to be together. It was 13 lucky years for me to interact with the people of Sacramento. Good Lord willing, I'll be back and able to do it again.”
The ratings slump was probably a factor, Jensen admits, but added that the station’s “format itself has had its ups and downs. And we got caught up in it.”
Another reason for the demise, Jensen says, is his salary. When he and Cash jumped to The Zone from KWOD in 2002, they doubled their salary.
“When they were looking to see whose salary to target, mine was probably the biggest one out there,” Jensen says. “I know they also want to try something new with the morning show. They want to mix things up.”
-- Sam McManis
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