WGST flips to Spanish sports talk ESPN Deportes; Rusty Humphries had plans to leave anyway
After Rush Limbaugh finished up his show at 3 p.m. , News/Talk WGST-AM was no more. Instead, 640 began playing the syndicated radio network ESPN Deportes targeting Spanish listeners. (Clear Channel, which owns the signal, also operates a Hispanic music station on the FM side at 105.3 called El Patron.)
This was one of the rumored changes I had heard on Wednesday, but Clear Channel GM Matt Scarano didn’t return calls for comment.
Limbaugh moves to AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB on Monday. I’m not sure what becomes of the other syndicated shows like Glenn Beck, “Coast to Coast AM with George Noory,” Michael Savage and Mark Levin. I presume some of the other talk stations on the AM dial may try to scoop them up.
WGST’s afternoon host Rusty Humphries, a syndicated talk show host who added a local Atlanta show at GST two years ago, said in an interview that he had already told GST months ago that he was going to leave after his two year contract was up next month and before this news came out.
He said the strain of commuting back and forth between his home in Oregon and Atlanta was too much given that he has two daughters on the West Coast. He plans to go back there full time.
When WGST management asked him to do the local show in the fall of 2010, he thought it would be a fun challenge: “I wanted us to go from worst to first. It didn’t happen, but I had a blast.” His syndicated show, he said, is heard on more than 50 stations nationwide (as well as online).
The ratings for WGST have been pretty steady the past few years. Limbaugh always brought in the biggest numbers. In August, the station ranked 21st overall in Arbitron ratings. Limbaugh can often reach top 10 among 25-54 men.
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198 comments Add your comment
Don Treply
September 28th, 2012
10:58 pm
Author of this article and blog has lost credibility by not mentioning that WGST also lost a top 3 rated show The Savage Nation. Instead mentions only Rush and some minor talk show hacks.
Junkman
September 28th, 2012
11:04 pm
This once iconic station has been dying a slow death since the day they fired Snake Davis.
ATL UP N HERE
September 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
WGST made a terrible call…screwed over some great people…but they will be fine. I don’t think I’m too worried about Rusty. He’s syndicated around the country PEOPLE!!! We will miss him and Jake in Atlanta..and good luck to all the great people who got the boot.
Norbert
September 28th, 2012
11:30 pm
Somebody above mentioned Tom Hughes – he is far and away the funniest person I have ever heard on local radio. As a straight newscaster, he managed to be miles funnier than anybody I’ve heard who was actually paid primarily to get laughs.
Mike
September 28th, 2012
11:59 pm
I have been with this station since 1993. AHRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAA!!! Okay. Now I’m just sad. Hannity’s local show first got me listening to this station. Then Rush , then everyone. So many great personality’s over the years. Now it’s a &%$#@ Spanish language sports station ? WTF ?
bob
September 29th, 2012
12:08 am
Clear channel, ruining radio one station at a time. They should adopt the constanza rule, whatever their instincts say do, they should do the exact opposite, they would be more successful instead of just owning areas by spending money.
libb nosnews
September 29th, 2012
12:19 am
Glad the internet works to find out what happened. i too have xm in my car and would not miss Mark Levin. I am curious to know what will become of Herman Cain who was going to take over Neil Boorst’s spot nationally. Anyone know?
libb nosnews
September 29th, 2012
12:23 am
got confused there as i surfed between the two station. Cain will still be with us.
Agreed, though what a lame decision to just vanish!
Ghost of Keith Kalland
September 29th, 2012
1:24 am
This is the Ghost of Keith Kalland, I am saddend and shocked to hear about the death of WGST, does anyone remember the ubiquitous ladder in the road way??
BIGPAPA
September 29th, 2012
2:31 am
I GUESS ALL THESE REDNECKS AND HONEY BOO BOO CHILD KKK CLOWNS WILL HAVE TO LISTEN TO THAT OBESE RUSH SOMEWHERE ELSE
Hay Foot
September 29th, 2012
2:46 am
I’ve felt betrayed many times in the last 40 years listening to Atlanta radio, by people being axed, but I must say I didn’t see this one coming. Very very sad!
FarmerRob
September 29th, 2012
3:44 am
R.I.P. WGST
September 28th, 2012
4:18 pm
I miss THE KIMMER.
AMEN!!!
The idiots at Clear Channel must be writing a book on how to ruin a great radio station. It has been a downhill slide since before they got rid of Kimmer. They essentially got rid of all of the actual talent and piped in almost everything. Some of that was good listening but nothing could replace Kimmer, Wayne, and the Newsmaker Line Guy.
And just when I thought they were already at the bottom of the barrel they prove that they can take this great old station even lower. Time to celebrate illegals, (who won’t be listening either.)
Very Sad Day!
Regis
September 29th, 2012
6:11 am
Why do all radio and tv stations want loyal listeners, but they are never honest with there listeners. would it have killed them to let people know what was happening? where they worried that it may cause them to go out of business. I guess they all want loyality to only go one way. I’ll miss WGST.
Eat a Taco now
September 29th, 2012
7:29 am
Hey Pedro u want respect Move back to Mexico bet you illlegal too like rest……we not in Mexico we like have are FM stations back to Music from past here..sure let be some Just sports show Talk show AM only some Music FM bring back Fox 97 stuff remember randy n spiff oldies of 50’s 60’s 70’s 80’s can be done here on radio stations in area..Just we need some brass balls awake here as for wgst n wcnn whoopee they be off air after 5pm pass atlanta cause FCC made them reduce power to Out areas of atlanta like they still do now….so Pedro go Home to Mexico want spanish now this not Obama’s america he founded period it was George washington samual adams thomas jefferson and ben franklin the Minute men who founded Us remember that!
Steak Shapiro
September 29th, 2012
8:03 am
Eat a Taco Now – you sir are an idiot
D.Owen
September 29th, 2012
8:05 am
Atlanta has always had the worst fm stations in the country, but least am was the best in the country.I am more tha very sad and I am a native atlantan, stick a fork in me I am done with radio in the ATL.
D.Owen
September 29th, 2012
8:23 am
WGST…. where did you learn such wounderful decision making the University of Obama.
Sassyaunt
September 29th, 2012
8:34 am
Miss Tom Hughes and the Kimmer. Won’t be listening to the druggie Rush Bimbo on WSB. Agree with others, Atlanta radio AM is done, Will keep my satellite radio.
Corny Hull
September 29th, 2012
8:49 am
I didn’t think of the possibility of this happening to talk radio until yesterday, but one way for the libs to overcome the conservative information talk shows, is for foreign or domestic entities to pay the stations enough $$$. That way Congress/President don’t have to legislate them off the air to keep everybody in the dark. Believe me, this is not an off-the -wall impossibility. For the almighty dollar, some people will do virtually anything.
SomeGuy
September 29th, 2012
8:50 am
WGST almost destroyed itself with Planet Radio, recovered, and then did it to itself again. Rob & Dave was Planet Radio Part II. With the same results. This is the station that let Clark Howard, Neal Boortz, and the Kimmer slip through their fingers. Now they’ve lost the cash cow Rush Limbaugh. Becoming a Spanish station is the sort of sad joke that the Kimmer might have told only now it’s coming true. What a crying shame.
Manuel
September 29th, 2012
9:04 am
Now, our local Hispanic community has their own talk radio station and we don’t have to listen to the racist rush limbaugh anymore!!!
un gran día!!!!
Redneck
September 29th, 2012
9:06 am
Dang O messicans, their viddles er tolerable but wassup ain’t this the USA?
Senor Wences & Barney Frank
September 29th, 2012
9:25 am
Now we have radio stations that cater to us. Take that you heterosexual legal citizens!!
Bless Your Heart
September 29th, 2012
9:26 am
*Now, our local Hispanic community has their own talk radio station and we don’t have to listen to the racist rush limbaugh anymore!!!*
Maybe they can inform you the proper way to become an American citizen? First, you stop sending all your $$ back to Mexico, then you’ll have enough money for the process. Second, we all know you are smart enough to know how the process works, because you have enough brain cells to deceptively cheat the US system for years.
Um, racist (that label isn’t working anymore) Limbaugh is Rich because of people like you. You make him wealthy just listening for a minute or two.
Enjoy your pandering while it lasts on WGST, as your segment of the population just isn’t that important or wealthy enough to matter. You only have yourself to blame for the way most Americans feel about you!
The Truth
September 29th, 2012
10:08 am
We all miss The Kimmer and Levin and Denny Radio.
The Truth
September 29th, 2012
10:12 am
The Truth remembers when it was still legal for WSB (Welcome South Brother) to say “White Columns On Peachtree”….sad.
EX AM Radio Listner
September 29th, 2012
10:16 am
Everyone, do yourself a favor and get satellite radio. It’s the best decision I have ever made.
AM and FM Atlanta radio is now officially dead. RIP 96 Rock. RIP WGST. RIP Atlanta radio.
RGB
September 29th, 2012
10:30 am
“…but Clear Channel GM Matt Scarano didn’t return calls for comment.”
Oh, I bet you left a message in ENGLISH and he, uh, didn’t understand it.
On another note, what a sad thing to tune to 640 and hear no news or conservative talk–only Spanish voices repeating “ESPN” with the bravado voice typical of Hispanic stations enhanced by copious amounts of reverb. Can you say “Sabado Gigante”? I’m not a media guy, but I’d like to see the business case for this format.
To think they didn’t hang on to Tom Hughes some years back and to end up with this. Carumba!
Sandyt
September 29th, 2012
10:35 am
I miss The Rob and Dave Show. My husband had just started to listen. We would have coffee with Rob and Dave every morning….Please keep us informed as to where their show will end up. I so hope they stay in Atlanta, we enjoyed their interviews with local government .etc.
rod
September 29th, 2012
10:45 am
meme your stupid he lost 2 and replaced them and probably is buying a new jet while you keep driving your Yugo
911
September 29th, 2012
11:49 am
Clear Channel should relinquish its license so WGST will have half a chance of surviving in the Atlanta market. It’s impossible to tailor and implement programming of so many stations by remote control from Texas. Attempts to woo an audience of sports enthusiasts will be a dismal failure since the broadcast signal barely makes it beyond its tower on Cheshire Bridge Road. Clear Channel’s biggest mistake was inspired by greed when it sold off its FM outlet. It then became a station with a very limited reach no matter what it programmed. It’s one station I would not want to include in a portfolio if it was given to me.
By the way, Savage won a long-standing fight on Thursday to break his contract with Talk Radio and voluntarily took himself off the air until he makes a deal with another network. WSB would be smart to add him to its nighttime lineup when once again available. Beck and Levin will land somewhere, but it will take some time for the dust to settle.
Kimmer Fan
September 29th, 2012
12:02 pm
Oh man I know the Regular Guys are laughing. And you know Kimmer is loving life.
How the might station has fallen thanks to idiots making decisions.
Kimmer Fan
September 29th, 2012
12:03 pm
Well thats one less station on my presets. LOL
Apostrophe Jones
September 29th, 2012
12:22 pm
Bring back Ludlow (and Junebug).
My attic squirrels are back.
ragnar danneskjold
September 29th, 2012
12:26 pm
Somewhat amused that the parent company of the AJC is now delivering Rush to Atlanta.
Apostrophe Jones
September 29th, 2012
12:32 pm
Years ago, WGST fired Nathalie Dupree on a Monday morning, before her show.
She came on the air and cried the whole time, and I guess for the rest of the week.
No more notice for anybody now.
Wayne stuck in AL
September 29th, 2012
12:34 pm
Atlanta AM radio is turning into a ghetto, or more precisely, a barrio.
Rush Levin
September 29th, 2012
12:54 pm
Unbelievable. Que passa, morons???
Mr. Bauer
September 29th, 2012
1:03 pm
Somewhere Forrest Sawyer is shaking his head.
TBONE
September 29th, 2012
1:04 pm
……………and despite the ratings up for grabs now inthe Atlanta radio market, (Tube)Steak Shapiro’s station will still continue to SUCK!!!
Raymond
September 29th, 2012
1:16 pm
This is certainly a brilliant move. Advertisers will flock to WGST to hone in on those lawn service and construction worker dollars.
Crashing Boulder
September 29th, 2012
1:19 pm
What a shame. I always held out hope that The Kimmer would come back some day. He was the BEST thing in Atlanta talk radio since I moved here almost twenty years ago. The only good thing to come out of this is that the radio wretch Neil Boortz’s time on the radio at WSB will be reduced by an hour to make room for Rush Limbaugh. Since I despise Boortz, I suppose that is a good thing.
pb
September 29th, 2012
2:08 pm
Yes Crashing Boulder,
It is truly a shame. Used to be one of the best and original Atlanta stations, a true competitor to WSB. But I disagree about Limbaugh. He is a windbag; in love with the sound of his own voice. Somewhat self righteous and pompous. And Apostrophe Jones, Ludlow cannot come back. He had passed away recently.
Larry
September 29th, 2012
2:20 pm
This is a big mistake! This market does not need another Spanish station-whose brain fart was this ! I hope this dies a quick death!
Lou Johnson
September 29th, 2012
2:28 pm
Its run by out-of-towners for out-of-towners. What were they thinking? Its so sad. They were the station put on by the engineers at Ga. Tech many years ago. Its all part of the New World Order.
TG
September 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
I hope you folks see the handwriting on the wall. If you don’t know Espanol, you better find a class now. If your kids don’t, get them in Espanol asap else they will lose out on jobs and other opportunities. We are being invaded and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it.
911
September 29th, 2012
2:57 pm
Will give this hair brain idea six months at the most. What happens when programming is turned over to consultants and focus groups? Disasters!
ken
September 29th, 2012
3:37 pm
WGST used to push WSB in the mid-90’s but the station died the minute someone named Nancy came up with the whole Planet Radio idea. That was as catastrophic a miscalculation as New Coke was. They never recovered from this and slowly the parts were peeled away until there was nothing but a shell.
Crash clipsock
September 29th, 2012
3:41 pm
Que pasa? El camino? Caca la verde loco?
Cranky old man
September 29th, 2012
4:11 pm
My neighbors put their house up for sale once….got a contract and said it was a nice “Latino” family. Heck they weren’t Latin, they were Mexicans, dang nice family too.