I’m hearing in dribs and drabs about engineers losing jobs at CBS Radio as part of the recent cutbacks.
Paul Sakrison, who was chief at KNX(AM) and KFWB(AM) in Los Angeles, is one; he’s now looking for work.
Taking over that responsibility is Julian Vega, CE of KROQ(FM) and KCBS(FM) in Los Angeles. Scott Mason, regional DOE for the West Coast, adds Vega’s old CE duties. Mason was KROQ CE back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
I also learned that CBS Radio VP of Broadcast Engineering Glynn Walden adds CE duties of KYW(AM), Philadelphia with Wes Spencer taking over some of the DOE administrative duties with the regional engineers. That’s a return to familiar turf for Walden, who was chief at KYW in the mid-‘80s. Presumably he now splits his attention between N.Y. and Philly.
CBS Radio Spokeswoman Karen Mateo verified that staff cuts have been completed but didn’t say much beyond that, like how many people have been cut. In past months, the broadcaster has streamlined its corporate management staff, and installed market managers and directors of sales in all of its markets.
In a statement, CBS Radio said it continues to build on a strategy of deploying assets to best grow ratings and monetize the results.
It says changes in operating structure have simplified the process of buying and selling ads, sped the decision-making process and are “allowing us to more effectively monetize the aggregate number of listeners who hear us on the radio and the Internet.”
CBS said it has also made programming improvements and strengthened its digital assets (but was not specific about those) in order to distribute its content on various emerging platforms.
Drop me a note if cuts at CBS or elsewhere have affected you. I’m at [email protected].
