HOWARD GARRETT OFF THE AIR

[Tony M]

kchervey-

I think you've made some good points.

Here's my two cents. Before my retirement I worked at a Fortune 100 company in Human Resources for 35 years and negotiated everything from union contracts to Golden Parachutes for executives. During the terms of negotiation both parties are often held to confidentiality agreement, sometimes called a gag order.

I don't know what Howard can/cannot say but I know his character and his allegiance to his audience and supporters of the show. We are all wondering and some of us confused by what is going on and want the facts to be disclosed quickly. However, this situation may be preventing Howard from saying ANYTHING.

The home page has a message from Howard saying news will be coming shortly. If I know Howard, shortly means days not weeks.

Tony M

[Kathe Kitchens]

I just called WBAP and was told that Howard had made the decision to leave, and that the station did not have any choice in the matter. They were rather forceful in their statements that they miss Howard and his show and that they would never have kicked him off the air because he has too many listeners. Curious? :shock: :roll: :? What the heck?

Let's all hope that when we get the message that Howard's show is to be broadcast, it's coast to coast and on only the best, most widely known stations. It's time to get some intelligence involved here!

Kathe :lol:

[kchervey]

Here are the points I took away from the announcement on the web page as of Sunday the 5th:

*Working to improve broadcast.

*Looking for radio stations.

*Because of the improvements, won't hear broadcast on weekend of March 5th.

Kathe learned it was not WBAPs decision.

So, we would still wonder why Howard would quit before he had stations lined up. If he had stations, then why not tell us? If the stations were known, but not ready, why not stay with WBAP until they were ready? Maybe becuase there was a contract renewal decision, and he was in a situation where he either had to sign up for another year, or not be on the air until the next stations were ready. I hope it is not because he is angry with WBAP. I like the station--except for the liberal, MD who entertains as he bashes the natural way of healing, and anything conservative. If he was happy with WBAP, but had to .....

I should probably just be more patient.


I hope they have podcasts

[PT Ben]

I hope the new format will also include the ability to listen at non show times. Sunday morning I always miss the first 3 hours of hte presentation because of church. Hopefully, we'll have the ability to download mp3's of show and listen while we garden or sip herb tea. Whatever and whereever I WANT HOWARD back on.

[northwesterner]

I looked around and didn't find this thread for a while, so started another. Oh, well. I'm here now.

A Google search doesn't reveal any online articles about this changeover. Howard's column is still appearing in the Dallas Morning News ("transplant that crape myrtle near the pool, don't try to prune it").

This change IS news for a lot of listeners, but it seems to be under the radar of the local newspapers. It would be nice to see something in print acknowledging Howard's place in the world of organic gardening and living, and perhaps a little information about what he plans next.

Northwesterner (gardener, feeder of birds, and owner of two fine rescue dogs who eat Muenster large chunks every day)

[Neematoad]

Consider this?

Contract neogiations are sticky. If a contract is nearing its end, both parties must neogiate. If the contact ends and neogiations have not concluded.....then neither can proceed.

Howard & WBAP may be neogiating every day, but if the contact expired....makes sense no broadcast for either party. Also, in neogiations, the "gag order" is in place.

Let us trust our friend Howard. He is honorable and would never jeopardize his relationship with the listeners.

My guess is BOTH sides, can say nothing for a certain period of time.

You know that Howard speaks up and says what is on his mind.....
I am guessing WBAP and Howard cannot speak of details.

SO.... let us stop speculating and wait for the announcement. The website says Wednesday morning.

The person what wrote about the column in the paper. I do believe that one has nothing to do with the other.... newspaper - radio

My suggestion is keep reading the website and keep an open mind and no pre-judgements or false rumors are made.

Let us count the days until Wednesday.

[northwesterner]

Take that "parent" hat off, please. It is annoying in a discussion among interested adults.

The local media have been remiss in not noticing that Howard is off the air and perhaps asking questions that acknowledge something about his absence, and/or perhaps that negotiations are underway, if they are. What makes you think that interested people can't talk about such things? That's nonsense. No one is asking Howard to reveal his hand in any bargaining going on. No prejudgements were made at all, except in your suggestion that such prejudgements might be going on.

They noticed when Glenn Mitchell died, they should notice when Howard is off the air. It's simple--the radio audience wants to know something about the disappearance of their favorite personality and the papers, which report on all media, would be doing a favor in asking those questions.

Northwesterner

[kchervey]

Northwesterner,

Thanks for your comments. I am guessing Howard is reading this and appreciates the interest and intrigue. I assume he sometimes laughs, sometimes smiles, and sometimes wants to scream, but interested none the less.

Now for some speculation.

Let me say from the start, that I know nothing. I have been told nothing, but I love to play the guessing game, and have been troubled by some questions.

How would it be better if he left WBAP? How could he possibly build listeners on a station that is so small it does not have a gardening show? How could anything be better than WBAP? Speculation:
*Maybe he was tired of having anti-organic sponsors during his show.
*Maybe WBAP's programming would not allow for national syndication.
*Maybe the other station he is going to is a very big station that already has a gardening show, but he would displace an anti-organic show with his natural way gardening show---that would be huge. This one would also explain why he can't say anything because it would disrupt things at that radio station. I like this one becuase it explains everything--it let's me keep the faith with both WBAP, the new station, and Howard. And, it virtually doubles the organic audience in DFW. Also, maybe the other station wanted him off the air for a couple of weeks to make the transition work better.

Again, I know nothing, but I have been watching Sherlock Holmes on TV lately.

:)

[mattk]

Here's what I heard from someone with a show on another station. WBAP wanted Howard to pay for the time slot, instead of them just selling advertising time. He said no, and was off the air. I also heard some of his advertisers have already signed on with another show.

If the last part is correct, then it seems that the advertisers have been told he's not coming back for a local show. It would make sense that WBAP would be obligated to let the advertisers know what is going on.

I hope he lands somewhere, even if it becomes a national program, but it was nice having him as our "local" guru.

[kchervey]

mattk,

All of your info fits everything posted on the website. Too bad, though. I was hoping he was going to another big local radio station to displace an organi-phobe. Once a caller to one of those shows was worried about grub worms, and the host said she shoould put some chemical out. She said, but what about the earth worms? He said he did not like to kill animals either but otherwise she could lose her entire lawn. He was missing the point entirely about the gardening benefit of earth worms.

I was also distressed lately to see all the fire ant chemicals in a local store. That stuff has never really worked for me, or anyone I know, but I have had about 90% success with dried molasses alone, and when it didn't work, orange oil took the success to 100%.

About the advertisers:
*I worry about the total organic vendors in the DFW metroplex--where will they go to get their word out?
*I think there was conflict between Howard, and the "chemical guys" that WBAP sales were bringing in. They could not have been that excited about advertising weed and feed chemicals when he was going to turn around and say don't buy them.
*The other big local show has plenty of advertising--himself. He sells books, magazines, fertilizer, and lots more. Maybe WBAP was looking for that kind of situation.

Well, website says mysteries will be solved tomorrow.

[Nadine]

mattk wrote: Here's what I heard from someone with a show on another station. WBAP wanted Howard to pay for the time slot, instead of them just selling advertising time. He said no, and was off the air. I also heard some of his advertisers have already signed on with another show.

If the last part is correct, then it seems that the advertisers have been told he's not coming back for a local show. It would make sense that WBAP would be obligated to let the advertisers know what is going on.

I hope he lands somewhere, even if it becomes a national program, but it was nice having him as our "local" guru.

Do you not find it strange that a person from another radio station would know something that is going on at WBAP…something that people working at WBAP might not even know?
I am aware of a garden talk show in which the host does pay for time on the air, but I do not believe that this is the case with Howard. Did you read (10 March) Kathe Kitchens’ post?
It is interesting, however, the scenarios about what people say they heard from someone else or what circumstances they think are surrounding this whole issue. It is all speculation, but it is nonetheless interesting.
I can say this for a fact: I went to lunch with another talk show host, a producer, and some other people who work at WBAP about a year and a half ago. During the course of conversation, I was told, and I quote, ‘Howard makes the station a lot of money’. That is why I seriously doubt WBAP would want him to start paying for his airtime.

kchervy: An announcement will be made tomorrow. It may or may not answer all your questions. The mystery may haunt you forever... <g>

[Tree Dude]

They could have had the car guy go an extra hour, at least.

To tell you the truth, I thought the hour schedule was strange. One hour on Saturdays. Four hours on Sunday morn. Well a lot of listener could not listen to the show on Suns because of church.Maybe that is the reason for replays just on Suns(the last two times it was not replay but the current airing).
Just like Nadine, I record the shows on tape every show as much as I could (except I don't have 100's, just 3). But I always thought, why don't they switch the dayhours or have on afternoon on Suns so that folks can listen.

Tree Dude

[kchervey]

Nadine,

Yes, you are right. There are so many truths in the world that are none of my business. And, then there are all those truths that are about us, but even our friends/parents/etc long decided we would be better off not knowing. But, I think we will know what station he is on, and whether my guess about him displacing another gardening host is correct.

We need him on the air in DFW. Gardeners need him, vendors need him, and anybody allergic to toxics need him.

Tree Dude,

You mentioned the Car Guy Show. I had a conversation with WBAP people once and they said that is one of the few weekend shows that pays its own way with advertising. I assumed at the time that the Natural Way paid its own way (and was surprised to read today that it doesn't). I think they were refering to those mortgage and such shows.

I think Howard has many positive attributes, but one is the way he treats callers. He may be the only one that I have heard that has never been rude to a caller. Especially those that are dumb, or silly, or have dificulty communicating, or even those calling up wanting to use roundup.

Also, the answer you are looking for is PODCASTING. It is the greatest, you just get some free software like Itunes, and then start telling it what talk shows to download, and it keeps up with them. Some shows are on the program, others are not. Of those that are, some charge, but most are free. It is a lot easier to do than explain, but here is a page that tries to explain it: http://www.krld.com/pages/2872.php?

Those with mp3 players can then easily have them automatically download to their players. Those without can save to CDs, or audio tapes, or they can listen on their computer.

[Nadine]

[quote="kchervey"]Nadine,

Yes, you are right. There are so many truths in the world that are none of my business. And, then there are all those truths that are about us, but even our friends/parents/etc long decided we would be better off not knowing. But, I think we will know what station he is on, and whether my guess about him displacing another gardening host is correct.

We need him on the air in DFW. Gardeners need him, vendors need him, and anybody allergic to toxics need him...quote]

EVERYBODY needs him, or at least someone like him to enlighten him or her to a better way of living. Living as opposed to dying, due to the inevitable destruction resulting from a myriad of possibilities and likelihoods...either the use of neurotoxins and/or from consuming the "empty" food grown in soil that has become lifeless because of the relentless application of high nitrogen fertilizers.

[kchervey]

Today is Wednesday.

Anticipation