The Katz TV St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

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What I heard from the “little people at Katz”: In case you don’t know what actually happened when Jim Beloyianis, his three peers and their secretaries were axed last Thursday. At 830am, his boss and two security guards–with no prior warning—came into Jim’s Manhattan office.


His Boss told Jim he and Valerie, his long-time Secretary they had 20 minutes to clean out their desks. They would then be escorted to the street with their boxes of personal stuff.  His boss and security guards the reportedly went back upstairs–did same drill with two of Jim’s peers. A third one was having his annual physical–he was fired on the phone. Be fitting if he was getting a colonoscopy when he got the call.

Rahilly or someone then called six Katz TV rep offices to advise them–by phone–their offices were being immediately closed, period.

Next month, Jim would have celebrated his 39th anniversary with Katz TV Reps.

I spent 27 years (1959-1986) at Eastman Radio Reps personally competing daily with Katz Radio Reps. Gene Katz from the founding Katz family was there at that time. Gene was a world class gentleman and tough competitor. Followed by Jim Greenwald–another classy competitor.

Katz was bought by Clear Channel.  Stu Olds followed Jim Greenwald…God Rest Stu’s Classy soul.

Gene, Jim, Lowry Mays and Stu couldn’t have fired anyone in the humiliating fashion that Jim Beloyianis, peers and secretaries got axed last week–even with a gun at their heads. This was done more in the style that Putin woulda done in Moscow.

I also heard none of Katz’s clients were advised about these huge changes prior to them happening. All of this is stunning and appalling to those of us who’re veterans of the national sales representative business. A total disregard of 39 years of loyalty, hard work and dedication to growing the Katz TV Rep business. It’s very sad.

–By Frank Boyle, Frank Boyle & Co.

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7 COMMENTS

  1. Frank, your comments are spot on. I consider myself a personal friend of both Jimmy and Gerry. This was shocking news in the way it went down. I understand in 2012 many companies are under pressure to operate with profitability, we all get that, however, by treating your people in this fashion what does it say to the individuals left at Katz? As you indicated Frank, what does it say to your clients? Broadcasting seems to have “lost it’s way”, these are not the actions of an organization with long term vision, values and goals. Unless the goal is to save money today. Sad.

  2. Have to agree with Paul: Broadcasting seems to have “lost it’s way”, these are not the actions of an organization with long term vision, values and goals. There is no Gut Instinct in today’s MBAers just crunch numbers and have never been in the business where they put their money. VERY VERY Sad.

  3. I agree with Paul also. The people running the rep business now are more interested in how many reports they can make you do, rather than trying to get more business by actually selling something to the ad agencies.

    Shame on all of the people who are running the reps these days. They need to push the reports are us out of the way and let the reps go back to selling the stations they represent.

    We can’t let the pencil pushers and calculator geeks get in our way.

  4. Oh and one more thing. I have known Jim Beloyianis for many years, and he is one of the finest people in our business. A fierce competitor but always a professional.
    I wish him all the best.

  5. I would assume Jim and his associates would not have any non-compete details to deal with after this event. Hope he and his associates can rebound and be better than ever!!

  6. Read this again, shake my head: these are not the actions of an organization with long term vision, values and goals. There is no Gut Instinct in today’s MBAers just crunch numbers and have never been in the business where they put their money. VERY VERY Sad.

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