Is Disney Straying From Its Core Values in Barkley Firing?

KABC Talk Radio’s decision to unceremoniously dump Roger Barkley (“KABC Fires Barkley as a Morning Host,” Sept. 18) is not only a mistake but yet another indicator as to just how far the station’s owner, the Walt Disney Co., has strayed from its core values. Increasingly, the Disney corporate mentality seems determined to put profits over quality entertainment, with the listening and viewing audiences ending up the big losers.

In this instance, an apparent overreaction to a recent decline in ratings has prompted the disbanding of an extremely popular and consistently winning morning team, and in doing so, has risked the loss of loyal listeners like myself.

I, for one, have no intention of accepting Ken Minyard’s challenge to give the new show a “two-week shot.” Instead, I will be looking around for other a.m. shows and hoping that Roger Barkley surfaces on another station. In the meantime, however, I will miss his gentle wit and intelligent commentary each morning. While I suspect that Minyard, with his “in your face” approach, always saw himself as the star, frankly it was his partner’s humor and his unassuming manner and simple dignity that kept this listener coming back for more.

DONNA CHAFFEE

Los Angeles