WBT's management team took over Jeff Katz's time slot Tuesday to explain to listeners why he wouldn’t be on the air in Charlotte any more – ratings and research.
“It’s been an interesting 24 hours here at WBT, Colossus of the South,” said general manager Rick Jackson, citing WBT’s old nickname.
“When you have personnel changes, it’s personal.”
Jackson and Bill White, program director, took calls from listeners for three hours to explain and defend their decision.
“We made these decisions based on business,” Jackson said. “We do know collectively over time through research and ratings how people here perform.”
Station studies showed Katz had problems with the listeners, Jackson said. “We could see the fit wasn’t right here.”
White and Jackson insisted that Katz’s firing wasn’t a result of specific complaints or pressure from groups that opposed him. Nor was it a result of the election of Barak Obama, whom Katz had opposed.
Katz had a long-term contract with the station that won’t expire until summer, Jackson said, and it will be paid out. Katz has not responded to requests for an interview from the Observer.
Katz joined WBT in August 2006 from a station in San Francisco. Katz’s ratings were strong at the beginning, even surpassing those of previous afternoon host Jason Lewis, who left for a job in Minneapolis-St. Paul. But Katz’s numbers softened. Now WBT runs about fifth in afternoon drive among Charlotte stations in the station’s target demographic, men ages 25 to 54.
Callers offered varied opinions about Katz.
“I’m glad he’s gone,” said the first caller, Jim from Charlotte. “This guy, all he would do is the negative.”
Another complained that he disagreed with Katz and was cut off the air.
Others praised Katz for his dogged conservatism and community work. “Jeff Katz was the one beacon telling the truth,” said one listener who called himself “Citizen Wells.”
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