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Don Barrett at LA Radio.com says the response he's hearing to KNX dropping the Drama Hour "has been swift and mostly negative." He calls it "Post-Dramatic Shock Syndrome."
Skeptical observers wonder if the decision was more profit driven rather than altruistic in providing a platform for continuous news coverage..."A bad decision!” wrote Jim Brown, former Hollywood reporter for NBC's Today show and, before that, on-air news reporter for KCBS/Channel 2 (then KNXT)... “And using the fire, recall, supermarket and mass transit strike as well as the war in Iraq as an excuse, is a stretch. This was an unusual convergence of events. Tragedy and mayhem is NOT 24/7 and the Drama Hour was a nice break while driving home from dinner or the theater or in the early morning hours when you can't sleep.
"However, knowing the 'taste' that David G. Hall brought to programming and promotion at KFI, we can probably expect other 'wonderful' decisions in the future. In fact, while you're at it, how about getting rid of the Dodgers on KFWB. Then both stations can be 'a 24/7 full service news operation' AND compete with each other. Well, competition in this day and age when both stations are under one management umbrella is not realistic, is it?”
As a commenter in yesterday's post says, KNX explains the cancellation at its website. And offers to sell you a subscription to keep hearing the old dramas.