Jim Rome is being kicked off KILT sports radio.

DEAR_JOHN's Avatar
Farewell dude, your act has gotten real old over the past few years.

Frankly I got tired of the dude being too full of himself. He would get on a subject and go on and on and on and on...........ugh.

I will miss Romes takes the first 15 minutes of the show. That was always my favorite part.

http://www.chron.com/sports/article/...th-2429495.php

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"Jim Rome, whose hard-edged, opinionated talk show has been a fixture on KILT (610 AM) for almost 14 years, will be dropped by the CBS Radio all-sports station after Friday’s show after more than a year of declining ratings.

Rome’s syndicated show will be replaced by a new local show hosted by Mike Meltser and Brad Davies called MAD Radio. Morning show hosts Marc Vandermeer and John Lopez will work from 6 to 10 a.m., followed by Meltser and Davies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rich Lord and Josh Innes from 2 to 6 p.m. and Barry Warner and Shaun Bijani from 6 to 10 p.m.

Rome is now heard on more than 200 stations nationwide in addition to his ESPN television show, but Houston was one of his first major market affiliates outside the West Coast when he debuted on KILT in March 1997.

The show quickly became one of the most popular parts of KILT’s lineup, and Rome visited Houston at least four times for promotional stops, including an October 1998 appearance that drew more than 4,000 at Sam Houston Race Park.

However, KILT program director Gavin Spittle said Rome’s listenership, as measured by Arbitron ratings for the men 25-54 demographic that is the key demo for sports radio advertising rates, has been in decline for more than a year as ratings for the rest of the station's dayparts have increased, particuarly in the wake of the Texans’ recent upsurge.

“This is a performance-based business, and we have exhausted our options,” Spittle said. “We like Jim and thank him for all he has done for the station. He has been a huge fan of Sports Radio 610, and we have been huge fans of Jim Rome.

“Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the ratings in Houston have slid to the point where a change is necessary."

For the December ratings book released this week, KILT ranked first among Houston’s four all-sports stations and 10th overall in the weeklong ratings for men 25-54. The station has been in the top 10 for three consecutive months as the Texans, whose games are heard on KILT, have climbed to the top of the AFC South Division standings.

In weekday ratings for the same demo, KILT ranks ninth overall in morning drive, eighth overall in afternoon drive, 12th from 7 p.m. to midnight and 14th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the midday demo that includes the Rome show is the only one in which it does not lead all four Houston sports stations.

“I wish I had better news for the Rome listeners, but I hope they will enjoy our live and local lineup,” Spittle said. “We have the ability to talk about our local teams all day long. Even though we are Houston’s sports leader, I’m so proud that we continue to look for ways to improve.”

Former Rice and NFL player N.D. Kalu will work on Mondays and Fridays with Davies, who returns to full-time radio work after an earlier stint on KBME and recent work on Texans studio shows with KILT, and Melstser. Brien Straw will replace Meltser as the news anchor during KILT’s morning show, and Robert Henslee will remain on the afternoon show.

Rome is on vacation this week, so he has made his final on-air appearance on KILT. A spokeswoman for Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates the show on more than 200 stations nationwide, was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Premiere’s options to place Rome on another sports station in Houston appear to be limited. Premiere is owned by Clear Channel Communications, which owns KBME (790 AM). However, that station’s midday lineup anchored by Matt Thomas is beating KILT in the ratings, so a change is not likely.

KFNC (97.5 FM) airs the final hour of ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd show from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by local programming, so a change is unlikely. KGOW (1560 AM) is the flagship station of Yahoo Sports Radio, which features Houston-based host Craig Shemon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., so it is not a feasible option for the Rome show.

Rome was a dominant figure during his early years on KILT, which changed to all-sports in 1994 and took a flyer on Rome when longtime station manager Dickie Rosenfeld added the show in 1997.

"We were trying to carve out a niche, and I think he helped put us on the map," Lord said in 2007. "His show was radically different from anything we had heard, and he got a lot of attention early on.”

Rome’s listeners, in fact, sparked a coup of sorts at the station in 1998, when Rosenfeld attempted to tape-delay an hour of the show. Listeners’ protests persuaded Rosenfeld to back down and air all three hours live, a practice that continued throughout the show’s tenure on KILT."
Satin's Avatar
  • Satin
  • 12-28-2011, 09:25 PM
Wow, that's big news, I'm shocked. I agree with you buddy, I used to really like and listen to Romey every day, but lately I have become much less interested. He's still funny at times, but he's gotten mostly annoying to me now.

I haven't listened this week because he's had that idiot wanna be comedian on and I cant stand him. He's not funny and very rude and stupid.

As far as our local people, I like Mike Meltser but also don't care for Brad Davies. I think I would much rather listen to local talk all day.

Damn Romey RIP....
Fuck. I was really trying to avoid getting that Jungle Insider shit.

Rome's act was getting a bit stale, but I still liked having some national flavor in the daytime lineup.

I guess Travis Rodgers is a better producer than the Real World pretty boy. If Rome lost a prominent affiliate like Houston, he probably isn't going to be on the air anywhere before too long.

I'm still a fan though. And I agree, DJ. That opening segment is always gold.
LickemLow03's Avatar
Good writtens Rome, your act was old years ago! See ya, won't wanna be ya!
Awww, that's too bad...NOT!! I turned his shit off the first time I heard him years ago and have avoided him ever since.
DEAR_JOHN's Avatar
Here's a link to the locker room on aspd. I don't know if anybody can link to this or not. It's about Rome, going back to 2002.

http://www.eraps.net/showthread.php/...light=JIM+ROME
That Chronicle article is just KILT's spin on the subject. Rome is not for everyone, nor are his guest hosts, but what is better in that time slot? I liked Sean Pendergast there but they moved him to early morning to prop up Granatos' weak stuff.
I never was a fan of the Jungle. I know some people thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Don't consider me to be among them.
zofco's Avatar
  • zofco
  • 12-29-2011, 12:39 AM
Big fan of Rome. Keep him, get rid of asshole Ennis.
One-Eyed Willy's Avatar
Damn, no more Romey Romey Rome??
that sux!
DarthMaul's Avatar
I'll miss Rhome!! DAMN!
DEAR_JOHN's Avatar
Jim (Chris) Everett on the Rome Show.

Loved it! Arrogant bastard Jim Rome would have gotten his ass kicked in a big way had it been on the street!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uczUKTwgqeY
R.M.'s Avatar
  • R.M.
  • 12-29-2011, 04:51 AM
I have the sads. My atf on the yearly smack off is Silk for some reason. Jay Mohr as co host. Much love for

Vic in No Cal and Steve Carbone. Boo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBcAR...eature=related
Satin's Avatar
  • Satin
  • 12-29-2011, 10:06 AM
"global warming".....lmfao !!
I have lived in Houston my entire life, and have seen countless DJ's, Anchors, and Talk Personalities come and go.

In the end, if the ratings fall, your ass is out. The Radio business is brutal, it always has been, and always will be.