Nova M Becomes 'On Second Thought'

[Duer 157099]

Source: The Nielsen Company

By Mike Stern

The finger pointing between host Randi Rhodes and her network Nova M is over, and so is Nova M. Network GM Eric Reinert tells R&R that Nova M is no longer an entity and that a new company called On Second Thought LLC has been formed and is moving forward. Both Reinart and Rhodes' lawyer Robert V. Gaulin confirm that Rhodes is no longer associated with the group.

Gaulin tells R&R that Nova M's legal team is advising the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and that Rhodes would not hear anymore from Nova M until after the bankruptcy proceedings began.

Gaulin says he has advised the network that their contract with Rhodes is considered terminated due to breach of agreement on their part. He declined to comment on the exact contract breaches but says, "No on-air personality would ever go on air with a talk show under the circumstances that existed that we found out about two or three weeks ago."

Gaulin also says that the current hospitalization of Nova M co-founder Sheldon Drobny is due to an attempted suicide saying he and Rhodes are, "Most sadded by the tragic news." Reinert declined to comment on the situation.


Read more: http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/

[Kittycat]

1. So what happened with Randi?

Another contract dispute? Did she put someone down? I usually listen to her when I go to pick my son up from school. She can bug me at times, but I still enjoyed the show - she had a good radio voice, unlike some of the bland people out there that put me to sleep.

[Duer 157099]

2. Sounds to me like the issue was money

I mean, no duh. But all those who have been dissing Randi about this, assuming it was her fault, maybe now can calm down and realize that maybe (and of course, I'm assuming too!) she wasn't getting paid!

Wonder why Mike hasn't weighed in on any of this, or has he?

:shrug:

Damn, it's sad when any troubles hit the progessive talk radio sector! :cry:

[sabbat hunter]

3. she hasn't had much luck has she?

first with AAR and now this? She isn't even on the air on her home station?

Maybe an AAR reunion?

[Imalittleteapot]

4. Go read what Randi has to say...

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/

I sure hope she lands somewhere soon.

[bertman]

5. me too. But I can't wait to find out what precipitated THIS departure. Never a dull

moment with Randi.

[Duer 157099]

6. Considering that Nova M is filing for bankruptcy....

don't you think it's quite fair to assume that THIS departure was precipitated by something related to that, such as that she wasn't getting paid, or something?

[davidwparker]

7. Go, Randi. She is such a talent.

[SharonRB]

8. There's a little more in this version

Nova M Becomes On Second Thought
By Mike Stern

The finger pointing between host Randi Rhodes and her network Nova M is over, and so is Nova M. Network general manager Eric Reinert tells R&R that Nova M is no longer an entity and that a new company called On Second Thought LLC has been formed and is moving forward. Reinart also confirms that Rhodes is no longer associated with the group.

The new network will continue to offer host Mike Malloy along with new shows from hosts Nancy Skinner, who has been filling in for Randi Rhodes during the recent contract dispute, and Mike Newcomb, a popular local host in the Phoenix area.

Reinart declined to comment on a lawsuit recently filed by former network CEO John Manzo. The 16-page complaint alleges, amongst other things, that the syndicator breached Manzo's contract, failed to pay state and federal taxes on his behalf, defamed his character and cast him in a false light.

Another topic Reinart declined to discuss was the recent hospitalization of Nova M co-founder Sheldon Drobny. Sources tell R&R Drobny is doing well and will be OK.

Mike Stern
News Talk Sports Editor Radio & Records
Office: 773-857-2693
Cell: 312-735-0226
Fax: [phone]
IM: sternradiorecord

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[Left Coast2020]

9. We need to come up with a way (assuming money is the issue)

to keep progresive radio going. I don't know if it should a partnership, or what, but we need to do something. We need to think outside of the box on this. I hope that once this administration gets serious about media reform, we can have something hopeful to look forward to.

[wildflower]

10. What if DU were to start a radio network?

DU radio, run on donations?

I'm so sad about Shelly. How awful. And sad for Nova M. And for Mike. And Randi. I loved Nova M.

[The Gunslinger]

11. Tons of fodder for the right wing media there...

You'll never stop hearing them say that progressive radio has failed.

[wroberts189]

13. yep... but its radio itself that has failed. sad.

[NuttyFluffers]

12. it might relate to the repeated problems with the phone lines

that's been a problem persistent for the past few weeks, and could warrant a breach of contract on Nova M's part.

subscribers is nice, but sales team is also crucially important. and at least own a station or two so that you cannot be blackballed from the markets.

what we are seeing now is very much a blackballing of the media versus progressive messages. very systematic. which all the more supports my decision not to participate and purchase any mainstream US media. let 'em collapse. sure it hurts jobs, but i'm sure Al Jazeera or BBC is hiring. newspaper and tv journalism is essentially dead in america; any more fiddling with it is like play with a corpse.

[defendandprotect]

14. It seems clear that there was a financial problem which led to bankruptcy . . . isn't it???

I came upon some chatter that Nova was going to buy AAR ---

Maybe Randi didn't get a look at the books before she signed on last year?

And, now an "attempted suicide" by Sheldon Drobny, Nova co-founder !!!

Worried about Randi and would like to hear more from her -- did she need this???

When she left AAR and went with NOVA she was able to go home to Florida -- think

her mother resides with her in her home. Her daughter is off at college?

Stressful times !!!

[Garbo 2004]

15. Randi latest comments to Palm Beach Post on her leaving Nova M:

Rhodes, who’s been heard here for more than a decade on WJNO-AM 1290, tells Page2Live that three separate lawyers told her she should quit working for syndicator Nova M.

So she walked.

“There were so many breaches of my contract it’s not even funny,” Rhodes said when asked if the company’s failure to pay for her libel insurance kept her off the air. “I’ll probably sue them. I should never have gone there.”

Even if Rhodes show originated from the JNO studios here, it was owned for the past 10 months by Arizona-based syndicator Nova M.

So happens Nova M filed for bankruptcy Tuesday.

“Oh sure, they’re dismantling that company so they don’t have to pay me, and they’ll start another one this week,” Rhodes said.

http://www.page2live.com/2009/02/18/radios-randi-rhodes-is-off-the-air-again/#more-4445