1470 Flips to Biz talk

[Parttimer]

Even among talk shows that really shouldn't be about ideology -- financial advice, personal advice, etc. -- there is a tendency to pander to the existing right-wing audience, perhaps to gain better clearances on big stations (?)

I think it's more just a case of those guys being conservatives rather than a programming decision. Ramsey's clearly a conservative Christian, Clark Howard's a conservative southerner... that's just who they are.....

 

[TampaDan]

I've been listening to 1470 and am disappointed that it's mostly all conservative hosts. Just what Tampa needs, another right-wing talk station albeit with a business angle. They just try to scare people ... "Obama is going to raise taxes on the rich which means your boss is going to fire you." These supposed business experts are idiots.

 

[smedge2006]

I think it's more just a case of those guys being conservatives rather than a programming decision. Ramsey's clearly a conservative Christian, Clark Howard's a conservative southerner... that's just who they are.....

And why is it that it "just happens" that syndicators consistently choose conservatives and only conservatives for advice shows that really shouldn't be about ideology?

I've been listening to 1470 and am disappointed that it's mostly all conservative hosts. Just what Tampa needs, another right-wing talk station albeit with a business angle.

It seems that all AM radio stations, no matter what their format, drift into political conservatism. Even the sports stations sometimes fall into the trap. The oversupply of lower-tier conservative syndicated hosts seems to lead to their getting shoved onto second-tier "combo" stations as stations try to kiss up to syndicators. Getting "Washington Times" and Jerry Doyle cleared in the market may keep Genesis on good terms with Talk Radio Network and (perhaps) keeps TRN product away from other stations. Of course, it poisons the well and makes it impossible for these stations to expand their audiences beyond the usual suspects, but who cares?

 

[Parttimer]

And why is it that it "just happens" that syndicators consistently choose conservatives and only conservatives for advice shows that really shouldn't be about ideology?

It seems that all AM radio stations, no matter what their format, drift into political conservatism. Even the sports stations sometimes fall into the trap. The oversupply of lower-tier conservative syndicated hosts seems to lead to their getting shoved onto second-tier "combo" stations as stations try to kiss up to syndicators. Getting "Washington Times" and Jerry Doyle cleared in the market may keep Genesis on good terms with Talk Radio Network and (perhaps) keeps TRN product away from other stations. Of course, it poisons the well and makes it impossible for these stations to expand their audiences beyond the usual suspects, but who cares?

Syndicators choose shows that have audiences. I guess you need to figure out why conservative shows get more listeners than non-conservative shows.

Second tier hosts on second tier stations isn't so much "trying to kiss up to syndicators", it's simple supply and demand. These stations need programming and this is what's available on the terms they can handle.

But as far as the hosts of financial advice shows leaning conservative, it's a lifestyle, get back to basics, cut the extravagance message. How would you frame this subject matter in a more liberal philosophy?

 

[smedge2006]

Second tier hosts on second tier stations isn't so much "trying to kiss up to syndicators", it's simple supply and demand. These stations need programming and this is what's available on the terms they can handle.

How is a business format demanding more political talk? I guess a country station is demanding more syndicated hip-hop shows. FM stations have formats and stick to them. In AM Radio, it seems there is one format -- conservative talk -- that bleeds over into all the other so-called mini-formats. Presuming that the equivalent of movie "block booking" -- ten turkeys for every blockbuster -- isn't going on in radio is hopelessly naive. Don't you think 860 would like to snatch Michael Savage away from 820? One way to keep that from happening is to keep TRN happy -- and that means clearing LOTS of TRN product. They'd stick it on 1040 if ESPN would let them get away with it. Tell me again why the Washington Times morning show is such a great fit for a business station, as opposed to Bloomberg or something from CNBC.

As far as supply and demand, there are simply too many conservative shows even for the huge number of conservative talk stations to get them all cleared in the big markets. So the syndicators who are under the mandate to "clear" use every trick in the book to clear them, even when they're not the best fit. Of course, business radio isn't really a format -- or as I have pointed out it's a failed format -- so to the owners it doesn't really matter.

But as far as the hosts of financial advice shows leaning conservative, it's a lifestyle, get back to basics, cut the extravagance message. How would you frame this subject matter in a more liberal philosophy?

As I recall, the conservative hosts are the ones who screamed for the big SUV's and made fun of the people who cut out waste and extravagance and drove smaller, less expensive, more fuel-efficient cars. But the point is, why should someone who just wants advice about getting by get a dose of partisan or ideological pap? What is conservative or liberal about a household budget? Advice shows should not have a political ideology. Otherwise, it's country on the hip-hop station, and it proves that the business-advice format is not for real.

 

[Parttimer]

Dude, relax. It's all just place-holders for brokered shows. Nothing more, nothing less.

I think Bruce Williams was the only advice show that just gave advice. The rest are really shows about the hosts' personal beliefs and values. Good, bad, whatever, it is what it is.

 

[Studio20]

I quickly tired of Bruce starting to lightly smack around people who either didnt take his advice, or felt they were beneath him....and this was in the 90s.

More often than not, no matter the problem of the caller, his best advice was "Get an attorney."

Where is now round here? Tan?


yeahh.....

 

[RADIO geek squad]

Just a marketing idea. Change the call letters of each station to have something that could be called "Bay". Then they would have "Bay Biz 1470" "Bay Talk 820" and "Bay Sports 1040" Just a thought. Covering Tampa Bay with News, Talk, Business, and Sports, the Bay family of stations.

I Like It! Sounds good!