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Citadel Radiothon

M

marker101

Guest
So, I was scanning across the dial on the way to work this morning, and came across Jenn and AJ on BHT at the WB WalMart doing a radiothon. Further scanned across and found Frankie on Magic 93 doing the same. Alright, its the Citadel radio-thon. It totally threw off my daily routine. Why try this on radio? I don't know how successful it usually is, but find their 'testimonial songs' to be quite annoying.

I don't know. I wanted to spark discussion, I think that things like these should be a TV event.
 
> So, I was scanning across the dial on the way to work this
> morning, and came across Jenn and AJ on BHT at the WB
> WalMart doing a radiothon. Further scanned across and found
> Frankie on Magic 93 doing the same. Alright, its the
> Citadel radio-thon. It totally threw off my daily routine.
> Why try this on radio? I don't know how successful it
> usually is, but find their 'testimonial songs' to be quite
> annoying.
>
> I don't know. I wanted to spark discussion, I think that
> things like these should be a TV event.
>
A few more details please. Was it a radiothon for a local
charity or was it for the WalMart Food drive going on?
WILK is running messages on the air and on their website
about hunger in America. And can you (for geezers like me)
define "testimonial songs"?

Yonkstur
 
And can you (for geezers like me)
>
> define "testimonial songs"?
>
> Yonkstur
>
Thanks Yonk! I was about to pose that question myself.
 
> A few more details please. Was it a radiothon for a local
> charity or was it for the WalMart Food drive going on?

I think it was for the Geisinger hospital, or something like that. The two stations I mentioned were doing non-stop live coverage at WalMart. Call in your donations type of thing.

> WILK is running messages on the air and on their website
> about hunger in America. And can you (for geezers like me)
>
> define "testimonial songs"?
>

I define it as taking clips of a parent's struggle story and putting it over music. The one I heard was the song "I Hope you Dance" with clips chopped in about a parent's struggle with their child, and Geisinger coming to the rescue. Kinda like they do on television with an interview, a lot of slow dissolves, and sad music in the background.
 
Personally, I think Radiothons are a fabulous idea!!! Citadel should continue to do more of them on Magic93, BHT and JR!!
In fact, they should increase the number of radio thons to two to three a year to really get those ratings soaring.
What about a radiothon on The X?? Is there a hospital that treats people who have suffered injuries while getting a tattoo????
 
> > A few more details please. Was it a radiothon for a
> local
> > charity or was it for the WalMart Food drive going on?
>
> I think it was for the Geisinger hospital, or something like
> that. The two stations I mentioned were doing non-stop live
> coverage at WalMart. Call in your donations type of thing.
>
> > WILK is running messages on the air and on their website
>
> > about hunger in America. And can you (for geezers like
> me)
> >
> > define "testimonial songs"?
> >
>
> I define it as taking clips of a parent's struggle story and
> putting it over music. The one I heard was the song "I Hope
> you Dance" with clips chopped in about a parent's struggle
> with their child, and Geisinger coming to the rescue. Kinda
> like they do on television with an interview, a lot of slow
> dissolves, and sad music in the background.
>
Okay, thanks. Yeah, I could see how this could be
annoying. Remember the Springstein song "Secret Gareden"
from "Jerry Maguire" with the line in it from the movie,
"you complete me"!!!!!!!!! God, gag, awful!!!! Now I get
it. Thanks.
And as far as that radiothon, you can be real sure there
was a sales "angle" with that crew.

Yonkstur
 
> What about a radiothon on The X?? Is there a hospital that
> treats people who have suffered injuries while getting a
> tattoo????
>
Or eye strain from people attending outings at area
strip clubs. Or a free D&A consultation for visitors
to a head shop. A mind is a terrible thing to lose....

Yonkstur
 
> I don't know. I wanted to spark discussion, I think that
> things like these should be a TV event.

Sure it is! And school closings should only be on the TV and the internet. And everybody should try a new format-Everybody should do the same old format. Where's smooth jazz-Why does 921 QFM sound like smooth jazz at night (when the Penguins don't play)? This board is so devil's advocate to itself. One minute, let's make radio inovative, the next why isn't radio the same? You ask about this "beg a thon", but why does nobody mention Froggy's Country Cares marathons? As far as I remember this Radiothon is almost as old as the Citadel/Tel-a-lie-to-you take over. There's a HUGE display in the Wilkes-Barre Township for all Citadel stations. I guess people on this board don't pay attention to the radio, but certainly have opinions. I'm gonna go watch TV.
 
> why does nobody mention Froggy's Country Cares
> marathons?

Because they dumped them three years ago. JR does them now.
 
So when did it become a bad thing to try and raise money for children's hospitals? If I'm not mistaken last year Magic/BHT raised $300,000 for Geisinger.
 
> So when did it become a bad thing to try and raise money for
> children's hospitals? If I'm not mistaken last year
> Magic/BHT raised $300,000 for Geisinger.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. All I'm saying is that
when I was there, whether it was promoting reading or
homework help, there was always a sales angle. I hope
that changed a bit. I don't begrudge stations making
money in non traditional revenues either. Kudos to them
for the fine work. I'm just saying, that's all.

Yonkstur
>
 
> > So when did it become a bad thing to try and raise money
> for
> > children's hospitals?

It's a bad thing because these do NOT belong on the radio. The tune-out factor is ENORMOUS....that's why most of them are held outside of a book. Yeah, sure
the station raises a respectable amount of money, but coming from someone who has been involved in these before, it's a very tedious ordeal. You will go for hours without any response whatsoever.

> I'm not saying it's a bad thing. All I'm saying is that
> when I was there, whether it was promoting reading or
> homework help, there was always a sales angle. I hope
> that changed a bit. I don't begrudge stations making
> money in non traditional revenues either.

Of course there's a sales angle. Why do you think these things have so many sponsors?? People tune out in droves, but the station still makes money.
If stations are going to continue doing this, the procedure needs to be re-vamped somehow. Getting involved with something like "Bowl For Kids Sake" is much more worthwhile and fun.
 
Ya know, Yonk, I think you went pretty easy on this subject. Who out there thinks that radiothons/telethons are driven by the pure motives of the stations involved? Not a chance. Telethons net TV stations a ton of money; CMN, MDA, CP, Make-A-Wish, all of these outfits pay big bucks to each and every station that does their telethon. In most cases, stations not only break even, they make money on telethons. I don't know with any certainty, but I tend to suspect that radio stations likewise get paid for carrying these things. This isn't exactly a secret. If they didn't get paid by Geisinger, I'd be surprised. Geisinger, and most all of these charities, have money to burn. And the growing trend nationwide is for the talent involved to likewise be paid. It's pretty simple; if the station makes money, and all the tekkies are getting paid, and all vendors involved are making a buck, why should't your favorite smiling anchorman get paid? Another poster mentioned them being a tune out, and they are indeed. So, why do you think stations carry them? Money talks, and big money talks big.




> > So when did it become a bad thing to try and raise money
> for
> > children's hospitals? If I'm not mistaken last year
> > Magic/BHT raised $300,000 for Geisinger.
>
> I'm not saying it's a bad thing. All I'm saying is that
> when I was there, whether it was promoting reading or
> homework help, there was always a sales angle. I hope
> that changed a bit. I don't begrudge stations making
> money in non traditional revenues either. Kudos to them
> for the fine work. I'm just saying, that's all.
>
> Yonkstur
> >
>
 
> Ya know, Yonk, I think you went pretty easy on this subject.
> Who out there thinks that radiothons/telethons are driven
> by the pure motives of the stations involved? Not a chance.
> Telethons net TV stations a ton of money; CMN, MDA, CP,
> Make-A-Wish, all of these outfits pay big bucks to each and
> every station that does their telethon. In most cases,
> stations not only break even, they make money on telethons.
> I don't know with any certainty, but I tend to suspect that
> radio stations likewise get paid for carrying these things.
> This isn't exactly a secret. If they didn't get paid by
> Geisinger, I'd be surprised. Geisinger, and most all of
> these charities, have money to burn. And the growing trend
> nationwide is for the talent involved to likewise be paid.
> It's pretty simple; if the station makes money, and all the
> tekkies are getting paid, and all vendors involved are
> making a buck, why should't your favorite smiling anchorman
> get paid? Another poster mentioned them being a tune out,
> and they are indeed. So, why do you think stations carry
> them? Money talks, and big money talks big.
>

Actually, you're wrong... As someone who used to work for MDA, we didn't pay television stations anything for running the Telethon. They actually made a donation to us. Any money they made was from the traditional sales of commercial airtime that ran during the telethon.
 
> > > So when did it become a bad thing to try and raise money
>
> > for
> > > children's hospitals?
>
> It's a bad thing because these do NOT belong on the radio.
> The tune-out factor is ENORMOUS....that's why most of them
> are held outside of a book. Yeah, sure
> the station raises a respectable amount of money, but coming
> from someone who has been involved in these before, it's a
> very tedious ordeal. You will go for hours without any
> response whatsoever.
>
> > I'm not saying it's a bad thing. All I'm saying is that
> > when I was there, whether it was promoting reading or
> > homework help, there was always a sales angle. I hope
> > that changed a bit. I don't begrudge stations making
> > money in non traditional revenues either.
>
> Of course there's a sales angle. Why do you think these
> things have so many sponsors?? People tune out in droves,
> but the station still makes money.
> If stations are going to continue doing this, the procedure
> needs to be re-vamped somehow. Getting involved with
> something like "Bowl For Kids Sake" is much more worthwhile
> and fun.
>


My station in Connecticut ran a billboard stunt to raise money for the United Way. It went for 3 weeks. Our morning guy lived the entire time on the billboard, did the entire morning show from the billboard and call-ins EVERY SINGLE HOUR until mid-night the entire run. We had one of our best ratings periods EVER!!! There is every reason in the world that these should be on the radio. People are always complaining that radio stations aren't involved enough in the community. When you have 50,000 watts at your disposal to get an important message across, it's a crime not to use it.
 
> Actually, you're wrong... As someone who used to work for
> MDA, we didn't pay television stations anything for running
> the Telethon. They actually made a donation to us. Any
> money they made was from the traditional sales of commercial
> airtime that ran during the telethon.


I'll be as polite as possible, but you are 100% wrong. Either you are toeing the company line, or you are creating the company line. MDA pays, they all pay, they all buy the airtime, and then some.


>
 
"Actually, you're wrong... As someone who used to work for
MDA, we didn't pay television stations anything for running
the Telethon. They actually made a donation to us. Any
money they made was from the traditional sales of commercial
airtime that ran during the telethon."

In this particular market, WNEP was paid to run the telethon. That topic came up here a year ago.
 
> > Actually, you're wrong... As someone who used to work for
> > MDA, we didn't pay television stations anything for
> running
> > the Telethon. They actually made a donation to us. Any
> > money they made was from the traditional sales of
> commercial
> > airtime that ran during the telethon.
>
>
> I'll be as polite as possible, but you are 100% wrong.
> Either you are toeing the company line, or you are creating
> the company line. MDA pays, they all pay, they all buy the
> airtime, and then some.
>
>
> >
>
And I'll be as polite as possible... Where do you get your facts from? Seeing as how I was directly involved in running, at least the Connecticut Telethon, We didn't pay. I have no reason to "toe the company line" as I have not worked there for a few years. The Telethon stations make money by selling the Telethon to advertisers.
 
I don't recall any airtime being sold during the three telethons that this market handles - MDA, CMN, Make-A-Wish. In the case of MDA and CMN, national writes the check, which is supported by the administrative money the locals raise. Make-A-Wish is/was underwritten strictly by the local chapter. If Connecticut "gave" the airtime to any telethon, they are the exception, not the rule...




> >
> >
> > >
> >
> And I'll be as polite as possible... Where do you get your
> facts from? Seeing as how I was directly involved in
> running, at least the Connecticut Telethon, We didn't pay.
> I have no reason to "toe the company line" as I have not
> worked there for a few years. The Telethon stations make
> money by selling the Telethon to advertisers.
>
 
> My station in Connecticut ran a billboard stunt to raise
> money for the United Way. It went for 3 weeks. Our morning
> guy lived the entire time on the billboard, did the entire
> morning show from the billboard and call-ins EVERY SINGLE
> HOUR until mid-night the entire run. We had one of our best
> ratings periods EVER!!! There is every reason in the world
> that these should be on the radio. People are always
> complaining that radio stations aren't involved enough in
> the community. When you have 50,000 watts at your disposal
> to get an important message across, it's a crime not to use
> it.
>

I think we're talking about apples and bowling balls here. In my opinion these Radiothons do not belong on the radio. They take up waaaaaayyy too much air time and are a huge tune-out. I'm not going to re-iterate what I said in my last post, you can go back and read that if you like.
Now, having said that, if you DID read my entire post and not just the first part you'll notice that I am in favor of more fun ways to do this. I'm going to elaborate here because I think you missed my entire point.
I was involved in one of these billboard things ten years ago---in fact I WAS the guy on the billboard. I was there for a whole week. The local LAZ-BOY store donated a recliner---the local Home Electronics store donaterd a Big Screen TV and the local Cable company gave me a converter box that was loaded with all the premium channels. We had a contractor come up and anchor all that crap up there so it wouldn't all fall off. We had girls from the local strip club at the foot of the billboard collecting money from everyone who drove up. It was a blast and I could have stayed there for two more weeks! Okay, I cheated a bit. I had a camp tent set up on the building right next to the billboard where I would crawl down and sleep from Midnite to 5am.
The difference.....valuable air time was not taken up. I did two minutes going in to every stopset. I was on every TV station and in every newspaper. For donations (and a signed release) we would even allow people to get up there with me for an hour at a time! We had fun and never tried to guilt people into donating by using maudlin testimonials. I raised $50,000 for March of Dimes! THIS I am in favor of.
 
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