Thursday, October 27, 2011

Tom Becka fired by Clear Channel; ruthless corporatism bites the hand that promoted it

UPDATE: Becka returns to Omaha radio. Were Tom Becka and Dave Wingert axed by Mitt Romney's cutthroat private equity firm?

The popular right-wing KFAB radio personality was, according to the Omaha World-Herald, one of dozens of Clear Channel hosts across the country who have lost their jobs due to cost-cutting measures. This seems to corroborate suspicions of critics who said Clear Channel's reason for firing Dave Wingert (an expletive uttered on air) was just an excuse to get rid of comparatively expensive talent.

This week's Clear Channel firings were predicted last week by a poster on Radio-Info.com, who wrote:
It's widely reported that the suits are being summoned to Chi-town next weeks and the flash drives will be handed down dictating severe programming cuts.  You see, the debt they'll [Clear Channel] never pay off had to be re-financed and, in return, the bank wants a lot of operational cuts.  This time, programing will be SEVERELY impacted.  Who is in trouble locally?
The latest round of pink slips comes in addition to the bloodletting in the first quarter of this year.
The larger group of positions eliminated yesterday were the result of the top-to-bottom business analysis conducted by Bain Capital, which along with Thomas H. Lee Partners, are the private equity firms which now own the overwhelming majority of Clear Channel parent CC Media Holdings. That analysis determined that certain jobs were redundant, unnecessary or could be done by a computer rather than a human being. Thus, the mass firings of 1,850 people in January and 590 yesterday for a total of 2,440.

34 comments:

  1. I smell a rat. Tom Becka, outspoken critic of unions, corrupt politicians, and even inconsistent do-gooders. With the highest rated AM show in that time slot, they decide to ditch the guy because of budget concerns? Bull doody.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh right. His capitalist overlords got rid of him because he was criticizing the unions. Makes sense — if you're off your meds.

      Delete
  2. Tom Becka didn't have an AM show.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AM as opposed to FM - not as opposed to PM. Becca was not a good host, and was not a great broadcaster in my opinion. This was for the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is currently on WLS in Chicago as a sub. I cannot deal with him. Very irritating.

      Delete
  4. Used to have KFAB on radio all day long, and consider both Wingert and Becka as good as anyone in the business. Now, if "elrushbo" was on a different station, I'd skip it altogether. They'll land on their feet somewhere and be better for this experience, but Clear Channel in Omaha won't be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Becca was not a good host, and was not a great broadcaster in my opinion. This was for the best.

    Definatly in your opinion he was not good. He was by far the best and most entertaining show that KFAB had and the morning show was just behind him. Now that Becka is gone and Crash Davis is in that slot you better make sure you have plenty of caffene in you for the drive home because Crash is a big snoozer and lacks talent big time!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tom Becka was a great watchdog for the city. I am sorry to see him go.

    ReplyDelete
  7. HAVE NOT LISTEN TO kfab AFTER BECKA WAS FIRED. HE WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPEN TO OMAHA AS OUR CITY OFFICIAL AND kfab ARE ON THE TAKE NO DOUBT..KEVIN H.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am sorry to not be able to listen to Tom. Please find someone in the field who can speak English with correct grammar. Crash does more than crash cars, he does it to the language. a teacher

    ReplyDelete
  9. IMO, There was nothing more entertaining than when Tom Becca did his morning show. Please bring him back so I can start my mornings with a laugh !

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tom Becka was annoying Big Time. How many times each show did he repeat over and over again the same thing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. At least Tom Becka was kinda of in the middle of the far left and the far right. Most of the rest of KFAB is right wing wac jobs.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tom Becka is an institution. He will succeed anywhere he goes as long if the pc police let him.

    pbl

    ReplyDelete
  13. I hope somebody locally picks him up. Mornings or afternoon. He has a great mix of comedy and covers serious issues we should all think about. Crash is a snoozer and doesnt seem very bright.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wish him all the best. He wasn't the best interviewer, but there was always a certain honesty in his reports. Hope he shows up in Omaha again

    ReplyDelete
  15. Becka performed various community service duties and was even willing to appear in person to be interviewed in one of my University of Nebraska Omaha classes.

    Gotta' give the chap credit for being more than just a voice on the airwaves.

    Radio IS a ruthless business.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Shoulda axed the husker homers in the early AM.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tom Becka is a friend of mine. He was a friend to Omaha. Clear channel is very foolish. Letting wingert and Becka go spells the end of kfab being the superstation in Omaha. How foolish. They let him go once before and begged him to come back. Tom, as a friend, never let kfab shit on you again. Screw em. Land on your feet somewhere they appreciate you.

    Your tattoo shop buddy in Lincoln.

    Gary

    ReplyDelete
  18. Does anyone know where and how Becka is doing??? I refuse to listen to KFAB ...Becka was the only voice the citizens had in this pathetic town

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was looking to find the station Becka went to. Looks like everybody else is looking too. I almost never listen to KFAB anymore. Used to have it on non-stop. Sadly, now KFAB is just blah with no draw or distinction from any other station on the dial. Now I constantly switch between about five stations (non of which are great by themselves).

    ReplyDelete
  20. He is on facebook. follow him there. hopefully he lands another job soon

    ReplyDelete
  21. I hadn't tuned in to KFAB for awhile and just found out Becka was gone! He was the main reason I listened to the station. He was entertaining and a super spokesman for Omaha and Nebraska. KFAB...you've lost another listener.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ...just another example of what happens when you don't stick to the script...what did he think this is? America? - Restore the CONSTITUTION and end the censorship of real issues and opinions...Nebraska Shall Not Fall! - dave

    ReplyDelete
  23. I quit listening to kfab in the afternoon. Crash doesn't do anything for me... Becca was not only fun to listen to,,, he was also a watch dog for the tax paying folks in the city...

    ReplyDelete
  24. I wish you were still on the radio with all of the political things going on now. I miss your show and your take on things. I have really cut back on my listening to KFAB since you are no longer there.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I also do not listen to KFAB in the afternoon no question the unions had someting to do with Tom's fireing.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have to say Clear Channel was in ERROR when they let a talent like Tom Becka go. What were they thinking. I do listen to KFAB, because there is still a mountain of talent to behold and listen to. The morning show and the "pack of lies" show still have what it takes to keep a person thinking the whole day through. Love the guest callers and "YES" I still yell at the radio when I need to. Miss Becka and he needs to be brought back to his rightful place.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Becka was an ignoramus. Glad he's gone. The collective IQ of Omaha went up 12 points when he went off the air.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Tom Becka--RIGHT WING??? I take it you didn't study political science in school?

    He's a Libertarian for crying out loud.

    The fact that you refer to Becka as "right wing" shows your ignorance when it comes to American politics, and speaks more to your ideology...comrade.

    ReplyDelete
  29. The late Jim Brown is the one great local on-air fellow I miss.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Do you mean Steve Brown??

    ReplyDelete
  31. "Were Tom Becka and Dave Wingert axed by Mitt Romney's cutthroat private equity firm? "

    Said a tool.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Tom Becka is now on KCMO 710 am 103.7 FM from 9am till 11 am. Call or text him at 1-816-576-7710. His show is growing exponentially and the entire Mid-west is tuning in.

    ReplyDelete

ShareThis