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
Fozzie
September 30th, 2012
9:29 pm
Clear channel has hit bottom and has begun to dig. Well, opens up a spot on my pre-sets.
NJ Devil
September 30th, 2012
10:46 pm
Thank goodness for satellite radio.
Atlanta radio has been on the decline for years.
David Wheeler
September 30th, 2012
11:29 pm
wgst will finally find the bottom of the Marianas Trench
countrymouse
September 30th, 2012
11:33 pm
Wow. I remember WGST as the “GA Tech” station. When Clear Channel bought them and did away with WPCH as the only (surviving) “easy listening” FM station in Atlanta, and turned it into that horrible “The BULL” (yeah it IS bull–right name), I knew we were in trouble. When they then dropped the ONLY Sunday-morning religious programming left in Atlanta (on a mainline station), the “Sounds of Faith”, and when I called them about it snidely told me “well, it didn’t have the ratings”—really? Wonder how it lasted so long, then? — then I knew we were in even MORE trouble. I felt then, that this was a station that was NOT PAYING ATTENTION to what its customer base actually WAS, and actually WANTED. But…the last year or so I felt they were (slowly) pulling it back together and creating a station I might want to listen to again.
And now they pull this.
It’s getting so that there IS no radio left in Atlanta for those who like easy-listening, or classical, or religious, or conservative–or even just ENGLISH-based, programming.
HEY YOU BROADCAST COMPANIES OUT THERE—you are IGNORING an entire MARKET of people who are NOT hispanic, NOT immigrant, NOT liberal, and NOT secular!
Idiots.
Quick2Run
October 1st, 2012
12:14 am
This is a Travesty!! The Whole Damn Thing with WGST Going Off the Air was Kept SECRET!! I didn’t know Anything about it Until it Happened!! And to Turn that Frequency into an All Hispanic Station???? They Don’t Even SPEAK the English Language??? This Damn City is CATERING to the ILLEGALS!! I am SICK of the Whole Mess!! Atlanta Radio SUCKS!! I Detested that Boring Rush Limbaugh!! What a Blow Hard!! Yawn!! I Adored Coast to Coast AM…the ONLY Decent Program On the Air…..and Now It’s Gone!! I Might as Well DIE!!
Quick2Run
October 1st, 2012
12:28 am
OH!! The “New” WGST is called ESPN Deportes!! How Appropriate, Because That’s EXACTLY What We Need to Do with All These Blood-Sucking Midget Hispanics Out there (you know, the ones married to women who can’t seem to keep their legs closed???)!!! DEPORT THEM NOW!!! They are Using Our Government by Taking our Food Stamps and Welfare!! And They Get Away With it Too!!
Marietta Mike
October 1st, 2012
12:31 am
Clear Channel lost the ATL whenit fired the Kimmer to pull in Others who were under contract. They lost a lot of local listeners in the AM and PM and over night. Boortz I believe knew this was coming and made up his mind to go. Spanish radio sports talk? What a fricken joke. Instead of an INFORMATION STATION it has become a lighthouse for the 800K illegals, Obama gave citizenship to, to follow to take American jobs. Screw you Clear Channel will not listen to or support your advertizers in the future. I guess it wont matter i do not speak Mexican.
Rizzy
October 1st, 2012
1:12 am
I think what happened to 640-WGST was a buissness decision, and that is their buissness.
However,
All of you, that are criticizing the people, upset with WGST, for dumping our local talk show hosts, and conservative talk in general, in order to cater to the spanish speaking population, better be ware.
How would “You” feel if the AJC or WSBTV-2 was only available in Spanish…?
I guess if you speak Spanish, not so bad.
How about Arabic?
Where would you get your news from then?
Rob and Dave, Rusty, and all the News Room guys and gals, did a great job of keeping us close to our elected officials. (Both Republican and Democrat) And, holding them accountable to us, to their promises, and resposibilties.
You might despise Glenn Beck, Rush, and Michael Savage, and that is fine.
You might feel like they shoudn’t be on the air.
And if that is the case, you have no respect for the Constitution of The United States of America.
Specifically – The First Ammendment.
Freedom of Speach works for all sides, and all political beliefs.
Not once in this post have I made a remark about the accuracy of MSNBC’s reporting of … HAHA
Semper Fi to you Kimmer… Where ever you are.
Same to you Rusty, Cookie, Jen, And all you Guys.
Rob and Dave…
You’ll all be missed.
Come back soon!
WGST: Atlanta Talk Show Mainstay Goes Spanish Speaking Sports Station! AAAARRRGGGHHH! - Stormfront
October 1st, 2012
2:55 am
[...] AM" deep into the night… So tonight I try to dial-in, and this is what I get… WGST flips to Spanish sports talk ESPN Deportes; Rusty Humphries had plans to leave anyway | Radio &… The invasion continues… __________________ Question aspects of the Holocaust—Go To Prison! [...]
Strawberry_Joe
October 1st, 2012
3:42 am
I’m stunned, but not entirely surprised. This is consistent with other past, stupid decisions WGST management has made. Put a fork in it – WGST is done.
BigAintheBigA
October 1st, 2012
4:56 am
I hope the ESPN Deportes thing is temporary. Definitely lost me and I’m assuming everybody else that is not fluent in Spanish. What are they thinking?
WOW
October 1st, 2012
7:13 am
As usual Clear Channel really knows how to screw up a radio channel… so they killed Project 96.1 and not 640 WGST…..real genius up there in the world of corporate management. I enjoyed the Rob & Dave Show at least they focused on local issues and now what do we have left nothing other than Clear Channel wanting to cater to the hispanic community with another spanish speaking channel. Please Clear Channel you suck.
stephen ramsden
October 1st, 2012
9:22 am
wow, this sucks. 640 was my staple for the drive in and the drive home to catch local news and such, why would I want to learn spanish if the only thing I would get is the same old stale sports reports? WHo on Earth made this stupid decision>?
Time to get XM in my work truck too I guess.
Popeye
October 1st, 2012
9:25 am
Too bad GST – you have been on my radio dial since I arrived in Atlanta in 1987. I will never tune into your station again, no matter what you do……You’ve lost me forever.
Megan
October 1st, 2012
9:27 am
I am so disappointed I will no longer get to hear the Rob and Dave Show. Nor will I get to listen to the Dave Merlino show each Saturday afternoon. I truly enjoyed the local information I learned from listening to these two programs. Not to mention Rusty’s afternoon time slot. I had been a WSB listener for years until I tuned into these shows and found them to be more informative on a local level. I guess it is back to WSB again. That’s too bad.
Donlaze
October 1st, 2012
9:56 am
I knew this would happen when they cancelled the Kimmer.
Royal Marshall Fan
October 1st, 2012
10:02 am
Just damn……
jeff
October 1st, 2012
10:02 am
Clear channel is an over leveraged company that is having trouble funding its bonds. I guess they hope they can cut costs and maintain revenue by switching. This may be the sign of Clear Channels death.
Jono
October 1st, 2012
10:07 am
Illegal Aliens are running wild, we need to create laws to prevent this. WAIT, we have laws but the DEMOCRATS and RINOs don’t want to enforce them. Somebody should look up the definition of the word “ILLEGAL” and see what we should consider these people. Are they law biding citizens or law breakers? The USA used to be a nation of LAWS but now it is a nation of crooked polititions and liberal wimps who could not bare to kill a mouse in their own house. We need LEADERS with BACKBONES again. Not these “jelly-fish” leaders we have now.
F. Lovett
October 1st, 2012
10:14 am
This would not have been so bad, perhaps, if some notice would have been given to the listeners. Like others, I thought there was a skit being played; however, I soon realized that something was amiss. I thought it was a glitch with my phone (streaming audio). But on the way home from work, I realized there was a major change with not freakin announcement. Thanks a lot. I had only been listening to WGST for about 6 months, but I thoroughly enjoyed the personalities. I also used to enjoy the Kimmer as others noted. This is really damaging to Talk Radio in Atlanata, to say the least.
Johnny b Fit
October 1st, 2012
10:16 am
Let’s get some things straight here. One, wgst’s ratings had been recovering the last two years thanks to Rusty, Rob and Dave, Glenn Beck and Mark Levin. Savage lent nothing to the station which is why he was on a three hour delay and he can suck an egg for all I care. That fiasco which came when they fired The KImmer and the rest of his crew back in 2006 as well as The Regular Guys at 96 Rock. Second, illegal aliens and homosexuals have replaced the heart and soul of the Atlanta market. Third, from now on I will never listen to a Clear Channel station again and will try get others to do the same. form now on Sirrus will be my best friend.
Lou Johnson
October 1st, 2012
10:23 am
I thought they’d wait till after the election when (hopefully) the economy would turn around. I knew they were operating with a negative cash flow. I heard a lot of PSAs on there.
I thought they would sack the local talkers and plug into satellite all day as they’ve done that before.
This is punishment since the conservative audience did not buy enough spots to support the format.
Rather than fine tune it to make it profitable to operate as a conservative talker, they decided to tear down the foundation and start all over again.
The station is probably up for sale. It costs nothing to plug into satellite all day (except the electric bill). But I can’t see it marketable as a Hispanic formatted station. Is anybody aware that 1550 (a Hispanic station) just went dark???
Jen McClure
October 1st, 2012
11:35 am
I AM SOOOOO UP SET!!!! I LOVED THE ROB AND DAVE SHOW AND NOW IT’S ALL SPANISH ALL THE DAMN TIME!!!! YOU PEOPLE REALLY KNOW HOW TO SCREW THINGS UP!!! YOU COULD HAVE, AT THE VERY LEAST, LET THE GUYS SAY GOOD BYE AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reidgal
October 1st, 2012
11:51 am
I just got back from vacation St. George/Apalachicola area and was mourning the loss of the best radio station ever — The Coast (oldies from 40s, 50s, 60s,70s and 80s that even my kids like) — and was looking forward to catching up on the local news and yes, even Rush, that happened while I was gone.
What the heck is wrong with these guys? I have been listening to GST since I was a teenager and lived for Paul Drew. I suffered through Planet Radio and even stuck with them after they got rid of Tom Hughes and The Kimmer, but what is left now? Just another indication of how much we (Atlantans) matter to the money guys!
Patriot
October 1st, 2012
12:16 pm
ESPN Deportes?? What it’s gonna be, a 24/7 Hispanic soccer channel?? What other sports do Hispanics play?? Hope you go under WGST. Been listening to you for a long time. Sayonara!
Chad
October 1st, 2012
1:49 pm
Clear Channel can suck it.
me big conservative
October 1st, 2012
1:51 pm
It is astonishing to me that there are people that will not except the truth about whats happening in America and around the world. All they can do is make fun of people that want the truth and want to be informed. when SHTF hits dont come to me bitchin and beggin for help .
Lou Johnson
October 1st, 2012
2:14 pm
Even the Chinese station WJTP 890 broadcasts in ENGLISH!
WGST is now a station run by illegals for illegals making $2 an hour. Far less than Rob Johnson.
I guarantee the Mom & Pop taco stands on Buford Hwy won’t be paying their old spot rate. Probably won’t be able to make their electric bill.
Here’s what to do- BOYCOTT!!!!!!
Boycott all the American clients who advertise on this station. So far as I can tell, that’s McDonald’s, Subway, and Home Depot!!!!
catmom
October 1st, 2012
2:59 pm
This blows! I loved listening to the Rob and Dave Show on my way to work. So does anyone know where I can find Rob and Dave, Glenn Beck, and/or the Dave Merlino Show that played on Saturdays?
Rainy Dayz
October 1st, 2012
3:44 pm
Catmon, I heard Glenn Beck without problems this morning at glennbeck.com. I’ll look for Mark levin this evening. I don’t think we’ll find Rob and Dave, at least for awhile.
Greg
October 1st, 2012
3:54 pm
Major mistake!
Rich Simpson
October 1st, 2012
5:02 pm
I was raised on “Quixie” am 790 WQXI, in the 60’s and 70’s. I miss that station.
M. Kearns
October 1st, 2012
6:13 pm
The guys up the dial at AM 750, must be doing back flips !
fact checker
October 1st, 2012
7:16 pm
WGST ratings were not “recovering” as noted earlier, they were pulling the same 1.1 share they had with all syndicated shows. Rob Johnson and Rusty Humphries actually did worse than the canned programs they replaced, which anybody with a brain could have predicted. Tom Hughes and the Kimmer they were not!
Jerro
October 1st, 2012
9:43 pm
You have got to be kidding me clear channelli??!! What did George Souros buy u out , or did u sell out the America conservative on your own??!! I would bet you are not that smart , what a shame you have done to a great radio station in Atlanta !!
Mr. Pickles
October 1st, 2012
10:58 pm
LOL! Rusty Humphries, what a joke!
Odio a los hombres blancos enojados
October 1st, 2012
11:37 pm
Sorry folks! Bain Capital, in combination with Thomas H. Lee Partners, acquired Clear Channel, the owner of WGST 640 radio in 2008. Premier Networks, which syndicates the Rush Limbaugh Show, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel, and thus is also under the Bain family of companies.
So don’t blame Obama, the Democrats, George Soros, or undocumented aliens for taking away your right wing security blanket or firing its employees. It was more likely done in the boardroom of Bain Capital to create a tax write-off for its wealthy owners to suck off the public dole, including at least one person who likes to fire people and is enamoured by car elevators, dancing horses, and public office.
Drexel Gal
October 2nd, 2012
6:52 am
Someone said earlier that most of the current Western US was once part of Mexico. Mexicans don’t need it, since all of them live in a total of six apartments.
RadioFan
October 2nd, 2012
10:25 am
I remember WGST in the early 1970s. It was all news 24 hours. They had the largest news team in the state. It was great. This is where Forrest Sawyer came from in the late 1970s. I used to work at WAGA when we hired him from WGST. I think most radio stations are almost bankrupt now since people are so spread out with satellite, wifi, etc. WSB plays commercials and promos about 80% of the time so they are about useless. The remaning stations just try increase commerical content to make up for lost ratings which just drives more people away.
Uncle Tom Bill
October 2nd, 2012
2:57 pm
WGST has been on the wane for many years. I started listening when they were on another frequency years ago. They tried in vain to displace WSB to no avail. My problem is, why are all immigrants that speak Spanish, are broadcasting only in Spanish? With all of the Spanish speaking stations already on the air, why do we need more? Most immigrants upon arrival here, try to learn ENGLISH! It would be nice, and very thoughtful if some of these stations would speak in both languages,then the general public would get an idea of what’s on their minds.To me, it’s an insult, as though they’re really saying that they DON’T want to learn English. All of the Europeans that immigrated here, quickly learned how to speak basic English.
Hoads
October 2nd, 2012
4:56 pm
Sorry folks. No way in hell you’re gonna convince me that a Spanish sports channel will bring higher advertising dollars than conservative talk radio. This is the problem with consolidation of our media companies- especially when they are reliant on the federal government for licensing- And a federal government intent on reinstitutung the “Fairness Doctrine”. Shutting down conservative talk radio that included Rush, Glenn Beck & Mark Levine!?!?!? 5 weeks before the most pivotal election in recent history?
Wonder how many other conservative talk radio stations will soon be disappearing around the country.
lYNN
October 2nd, 2012
5:30 pm
Glad to see so many people remember THE KIMMER! It was a great show. And Tom Hughes..a classic. Its just sad to run a good thing in the ground. Can’t really say I was surprised though…but what a non classy way to pull the plug!
lYNN2
October 2nd, 2012
5:35 pm
Hey…almost forgot about “planet radio” some number of years ago What a joke that turned out to be.
Maybe that was the beginning of the end.
No Habla
October 2nd, 2012
11:28 pm
I can’t understand anything they are saying now on wgst. Should I take spanish lessons???
Dawn
October 2nd, 2012
11:31 pm
Hmmm. Well, I’ll never listen to 640 am again … and I am fluent in BOTH languages. Hasta Luego.
WQXI
October 2nd, 2012
11:37 pm
Bring back the ramblin raft race! Booze and decadence—nothing like it!
kevin
October 3rd, 2012
12:37 am
For all you regular coast to coast listeners…….THIS IS IT. Its everything that half that shows guests have been saying in actual manifestation. Atlanta, illuminati capital of the south US, plus CLEAR CHANNEL monopoly, plus BAIN CAPITAL, plus GOP/Mitt Romney illuminati poster child. Add all that up- SOMETHING HAD TO GO. We lost George Noory and the biggest night time radio program in history along with mr “I DONT LIKE MITT ROMNEY” Rush Limbaugh…….and pow, lights out. FYI: Coast to Coast is STREAMABLE LIVE FROM SOME 20 OTHER US STATIONS VIA YOUR PC. Just google: how do i now listen to coast to coast am in atlanta. The second hit is a streaming guide. PASS THAT INFO AROUND.
Darren
October 3rd, 2012
4:54 am
You can listen to Coast-to-coast am on 1510 out of Nashville. It, sadly, has a clearer signal most of the time than 640 did.