Hoerth out at 'PTT
Pittsburgh: Doug Hoerth's theme song --- Groucho Marx's "Hello, I Must Be Going" --- has never been more appropriate.
Hoerth is no longer affiliated with WPTT (1360), Alan Serena, vice president of operations at Renda Broadcasting, told PBRTV this morning.
Hoerth's Sunday night oldies show on sister station WJAS (1320) has come to an end as well. Another Renda source tells PBRTV that Hoerth's last day was Monday, while the Post-Gazette's Adrian McCoy says "Uncle Dougie's" contract was not renewed.
Listeners noted Hoerth's absence earlier this week --- the station has been running "The Best of Hoerth" in his usual 3 to 6 p.m. time slot --- and that his podcasts had disappeared from iTunes.
According to McCoy, Mike Gallagher's syndicated Salem talk show will fill Hoerth's former slot.
The cancellation leaves Lynn Cullen not only as the self-professed "Lone Liberal" on WPTT, but also the only live, local host heard during weekdays on the McKeesport-licensed talker. Hampered by a weak nighttime signal, WPTT doesn't have a local morning or afternoon drive show, and has struggled in the ratings as the market's third talk station, far behind KDKA (1020) and WPGB-FM (104.7).
Hoerth, the subject of a lengthy PBRTV profile in 2000, marked his 27th year in Pittsburgh broadcasting earlier this month. He moved to WPTT nine years ago after stints doing overnights at KDKA (1020) and shows at KQV (1410) and the former WTKN (970). Cullen and Hoerth were mainstays of the former WTAE (1250), along with Myron Cope and former Press columnist Phil Musick.
Attempts to reach Hoerth this week have not been successful.
Readers’ Forum
This makes you think. If they did not want to renew his contract was it simply a money issue or was it because they’re not all that sure about the future of the format? Either way, they way they did it sucks . After such a long history he should have had a chance to say goodbye to the listeners.
JR - December 07, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Despite reports Gallagher will NOT be filling the vacant slot. He is already on 730 AM WPIT amd airs weekdays 4-6p.
WPIT is a Salem station and has a market exclusive contract. Their is no agreement with Renda for the Gallagher show.
More: http://powerballplace.blogspot.com/2007/..
Shaun (URL) - December 07, 2007 at 5:58 pm
although it was 20 years ago, the fact that he has been broomed from KDKA, WTAE and now WPTT could mean that Hoerth wont be picked up locally again. I dont see Hoerth’s style matching with 104.7 and, quite frankly, I don’t know when they’d air him anyways, maybe from 3-6 before Ellis Cannon. The thing that Hoerth would be best at – overnights – I dont believe he’d be interested in doing again.
Keith P. - December 07, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Though I don’t live in “da burgh” anymore, I used to listen to Doug quite a bit while I lived there. I really miss his show. I hope he lands on his feet soon at another radio station. He was a great guy to listen to in this age of biased politcal radio crap.
dmine45 (URL) - December 07, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I shall miss Uncle Dougie! I too hope he lands again somewhere. 3 to 6 is supposed to be drive time, a shame WPTT could never figure out how to correct their low power hour all year round. Now they will become just like the rest of talk radio in this town, canned feeds of more political talk. Just what people want to hear after a long day!
But I guess it is a money issue after all. WPTT should take a lesson from its weekend lineup and pattern their weekday program in a similar way. Then at least we would have an alternative to all the pundits and so called political experts that seem to be everywhere on talk radio! The radio in Pittsburgh is getting more pathetic by the day in my opinion!
tbren2562 - December 12, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I’ll miss Uncle Dougie! I though he was funny and original. Unfortunately, WPTT, the so-called “progressive” station, decided to replace Uncle Dougie with conservative Laura Ingraham. Regardless of whether she’s conservative or progressive, I can’t take her – she sounds like a kazoo when she talks. Who knows – maybe they’re making room for someone else – maybe Imus?
If I was Lynn Cullen, I’d be shaking in my boots right now. It may be that WPTT is going to go to a canned feed of syndicated talk.
uncle dougie fan - December 12, 2007 at 3:29 pm
It is a sad day for WPTT. They have lost me as a listiner and I am sure many moore.
Spike on the car phone - March 09, 2008 at 11:10 am