On the DCRTV Podcast, Dan Lane interviews current and former Washington and Baltimore radio and TV personalities about their successes, failures, and hard-earned lessons.
You'll get a breakdown of what happens behind the scenes at local radio and TV Stations.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Can Radio Turn Itself Around? Former CBS Radio CEO Dan Mason Weighs In (Ep 28)
What happened to radio, and what will it take to win listeners back? Former CBS Radio President and CEO Dan Mason joins the DCRTV podcast for a candid conversation about the business, its biggest personalities, and its future.
Dan explains what’s driving layoffs across major radio companies, why advertising dollars have shrunk, and why radio struggles to connect with younger listeners. Drawing on his experience with K-LOVE, he discusses what’s behind its success and what other broadcasters can learn from it. We also examine whether CBS News Radio could have been saved.
Dan takes us behind the scenes of Don Imus’s firing and explains why he believes Don Geronimo’s dismissal from WBIG was unfair and his comments were taken out of context. He also reflects on CBS Radio’s efforts to rebuild after Howard Stern’s departure, where the company’s thinking went wrong, and what he would have done differently.
Along the way, Dan recalls his pay as WPGC’s program director in 1978, reflects on what made Scott Shannon a great DJ and PD, and shares the skills and instincts that make a great Program Director.
Mentioned On The Podcast:
Fearless (https://link.amazon/B01AN1W7L)
Transcript (https://www.marksfriggin.com/news14/2-17.htm) of Howard Stern ranting on Dan Mason
More from DCRTV:
DCRTV.com (https://www.dcrtv.com)
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Follow DCRTV on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/dcrtv/)
Support DCRTV on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/dcrtv/membership)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
8 Aug 2026
Behind The Scenes Of CBS News Radio With Christopher Cruise, Sam Litzinger, And Peter Maer (Ep 27)
On this episode of the DCRTV Podcast, Christopher Cruise, the last anchor heard on CBS News Radio before the network signed off, joins Dan Lane as co-host. Former CBS News Radio anchor Sam Litzinger and former White House correspondent Peter Maer are the guests.
They look back at the history of CBS News Radio, the people who made the network special, and the current effort to preserve its historic audio archive. The conversation also examines the staffing cuts and business decisions that contributed to the network’s slow decline, whether it was obvious near the end that a shutdown was coming, and the broader cuts that have reshaped the radio news business over several decades.
The group also discusses ABC News Radio’s use of prerecorded newscasts during the overnight hours, some of the challenges facing that network, and whether ABC News Radio can avoid the same fate. They also offer advice on whether journalism remains a good career choice for young people today and make their predictions about the future of network radio news.
Mentioned On The Podcast:
Chasing The Story (https://amzn.to/3TXVC9k) By Peter Maer
A Century Of Sound (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-radios-a-century-of-sound/) By Sam Litzinger
More from DCRTV:
DCRTV.com (https://www.dcrtv.com)
Newsletter signup: https://dcrtv.com/newsletter (https://dcrtv.com/newsletter/)
Follow DCRTV on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/dcrtv/)
Support DCRTV on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/dcrtv/membership)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
1 Jun 2026
WGTS Hits #3 in DC Radio Ratings. Here’s How They Did It With Rob Conway (Ep 26)
WGTS is one of the most fascinating success stories in Washington radio. It’s a 23,000 watt non-commercial station, yet in the latest Nielsen ratings it pulled a 5.7 share, landing in the number three spot behind only WTOP and WAMU.
So how does a Christian music station compete with some of the biggest brands in radio?
On this episode, Rob Conway takes us behind the scenes at WGTS to break down the station’s secret sauce.
Rob explains what WGTS is doing differently than many other stations in the market, including investing heavily in audience research, keeping live and local DJs on the air from 5 a.m. until midnight, and building a strong connection with listeners both on-air and in the community.
We also talk about the history of the station, including the transition from classical music to contemporary Christian music in 1997, and how that decision completely changed the trajectory of the station.
We dive into how WGTS raises money without commercials, who they see as their real competition in the DC market, and why the station has been able to grow while so many other radio stations are struggling.
More from DCRTV:
DCRTV.com (https://www.dcrtv.com)
Newsletter signup: https://dcrtv.com/newsletter (https://dcrtv.com/newsletter/)
Follow DCRTV on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/dcrtv/)
Support DCRTV on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/dcrtv/membership)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
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