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Bill Benica signs off from KYNS

March 27, 2013

micSan Luis Obispo County veteran radio broadcaster Bill Benica said goodbye to his listeners last Friday before leaving his keys at the front desk.

Benica, who has been on the San Luis Obispo airwaves for more than 35 years, said his abrupt departure was sparked by a contract dispute with KYNS management.

Benica’s contract with the former progressive talk radio station was set to expire at the end of April, but station manager Aaron Criswell recently decided to double the amount of money it charges Benica to host “Talk is Cheap” effective immediately. Under the terms of their original agreement, Benica owns the 18-year-old talk program and buys broadcast time from the AM station which is owned by Mapleton Communications.

“I am extremely disappointed,” Benica said. “I have enjoyed my radio show and listeners very much. I am sorry that the manager yells and insults people and has marijuana smoke coming from his office. One of the most insane things that could happen at an FCC licensed facility. There is a whole staff of radio people who do not deserve this.”

Benica started at KVEC in 1977 as an afternoon disc jockey and was promoted to program director six months later. He went on to work at American General Media before starting with Mapleton Broadcasting six years ago.

Jim Shea, the president of Mapleton Communications, did not respond to a request for comment.

 


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I’m going to miss his show…the one thing I really do not like about radio is the sudden changes. Bill’s show was fun and I hope he turns up some where. If he retires maybe he could sit in for Dave on occasion. I would sure listen. You know? I remember when 1340 AM was the best talk radio station in San Luis. When they went with Air America I knew it was ultimately going to be a bad thing for the station.


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Air America was a bad thing for every station it was tried on. Funny how only conservatism/quasi-conservatism seems to thrive on radio. Even in S.F. and Boston, Air America struggled. Weird phenomenon.


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I want to say thank you to Bill Benica for all the good he’s done for this community for so many years. There are so many local groups that he has helped promote over the years. As a veteran he supported many things to help such as emceeing the Memorial Day services at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park to being one of the founding members of the Lost At Sea Memorial in Cayucos. Bill Benica is a true gentleman and has always been available to help anytime there was an organization in need. I would like to see the local veteran’s groups write and call this station and it’s advertisers to let them know how they feel about this. It’s time to pay back Bill for all he’s done for us.


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Unless you’ve walked in Bill’s shoes, and experienced what he has, please don’t be so quick to judge this man.

Radio is very fickle, one day they love you, the next, they hate you….it’s all about the money.

Bill has served his community well over the years, unafraid of those who don’t believe in free speech.


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Drat! No more listening to the Tribune being read over the radio.


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Yes, Bill’s style was different, and once you got used to it, it was refreshing and humorous. Best of luck, Bill. I used to see you when I worked at KSBY; you came in to do commercials.


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Kind of sad how TV/radio management treats its longtime personalities. Central Coast residents grow attached to these folks but they seem to be quite disposable. KSBY and Tony Cipolla… KCOY and Drew/Nerissa Sugars, Jim Byrne, et al… now this… Best of luck, Mr. Benica. Sorry things turned out this way.


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The management of this station needs to be fired. Frankly, I was surprised that Benica was even retained at all during the “transition” to rubbish programming.


Bill Benica was the LAST program that I could listen to on KYNS. Like most of AM radio, the station has “gone corporate” and reminds me a bit of the SCTV episode in which the mafia attempts to take over the network and change its content to feature such things as a low budget Indian TV series, etc., to try to optimize profitability. I think it was called “Ugazzi-Vision.”


They’ve even added Roy Masters, a former stage hypnotist, who is the founder of the “Foundation of Human Understanding” and has yet to utter an a single sentence that is understandable to any human. BUT, he sells a lot of books and tapes full of gibberish.


This station is a disgrace and is testament to the long term effects of broadcast communications deregulation. This is what you get from ownership concentration and corporatization.


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Best wishes to Bill, he is a good person and deserving of the best this best place live has to offer.


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Bill was the last vestige of class left at that station. Kiss it goodby, and, unfortunately, good riddance. Hope you find a new home soon, Bill. Be missing you until you do. Maybe you can get Cal Coast News to let you host on online show?


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