I am interested to hear comments/opinions regarding Doug's internet show last night. As a fan of Doug, I enjoyed listening to him.
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Doug Hoerth's Internet Show
- Thread starter pghfmradiosucks
- Start date
A
argentarius
Guest
It's about 6 months since Doug Hoerth's program left WPTT, and with his recent interest appearance, perhaps it is the right time to look back at this situation without emotion. Listening to parts of the internet show this week, one thing struck me big time. This is a guy who LOVES being on the radio, who is very good at it, and deserves to be on the air. Does he need to punch up and update his act? Certainly. What might have worked at 1020 and 1250 20 years ago is not what the audience is looking for today. But for all of the nasty comments that have been made about Doug (and also Lynn Cullen) on these boards recently, this - to me - really seems like a guy who still has the fire in the belly as far as radio is concerned.
Surely there is a station out there that could give him a shot. I'm thinking specifically about 620. It has a lineup of mostly quackery. I think a limited talk lineup could be a good alternative there. Nothing too political, and it would have to be promoted, but what do you think about the following:
9-noon Dr. Joy Browne - 620 has some success with Browne some years ago and this type of show is completely different from anything else available in the Pgh region during mid day.
noon-3 Stephanie Miller - This is predominately a comedy show, done from a progressive perspective. The wonderful thing about Ms. Miller is that her material is actually funny, and is equal opportunity as far as criticisms of politicians and philosophies. It is really comedy ripped from the headlines, that leans left, but not too far left.
3-6 Doug Hoerth - A perfect leadout from Miller, his material is usually less political, but he does have a following. Doug would have to be promoted, and actually get out there among the people a bit, but it would be worth it.
6-9 Wasn't sure what to do with this slot at first, but I finally came up with the Lionel Show. It is the least political of the Air America offerings and also the most entertaining. Lionel is smart, funny, and irreverent. He can go over the top a bit at times, but his shows are also first rate, and you can actually learn something. Like Ms. Miller, the show leans left, but not too far, and althouth he sometimes discusses politics, it is not really a political show
9-sign off -- back to quackery for now
signon to 9 - back to quackery for now
Surely there is a station out there that could give him a shot. I'm thinking specifically about 620. It has a lineup of mostly quackery. I think a limited talk lineup could be a good alternative there. Nothing too political, and it would have to be promoted, but what do you think about the following:
9-noon Dr. Joy Browne - 620 has some success with Browne some years ago and this type of show is completely different from anything else available in the Pgh region during mid day.
noon-3 Stephanie Miller - This is predominately a comedy show, done from a progressive perspective. The wonderful thing about Ms. Miller is that her material is actually funny, and is equal opportunity as far as criticisms of politicians and philosophies. It is really comedy ripped from the headlines, that leans left, but not too far left.
3-6 Doug Hoerth - A perfect leadout from Miller, his material is usually less political, but he does have a following. Doug would have to be promoted, and actually get out there among the people a bit, but it would be worth it.
6-9 Wasn't sure what to do with this slot at first, but I finally came up with the Lionel Show. It is the least political of the Air America offerings and also the most entertaining. Lionel is smart, funny, and irreverent. He can go over the top a bit at times, but his shows are also first rate, and you can actually learn something. Like Ms. Miller, the show leans left, but not too far, and althouth he sometimes discusses politics, it is not really a political show
9-sign off -- back to quackery for now
signon to 9 - back to quackery for now
And they'd be out of business in 90 days.
Hoerth isn't enough to attract ratings as part of a full lineup, let alone as the main attraction. Compared to what they make at 620 for running the infomercial stuff, they couldn't sell near enough spots to break even on that lineup. I doubt that they even have salespeople.
Now I could make a case for Madden, maybe, because he had an actual audience, but in the long run it would probably be the same answer.
I'm sure 620 would be more than happy to sell him blocks of time and let him go out and get his own sponsors. They are doing that on 770 with some guy named Frankie Day (radio so bad that it's entertaining in a comedic sort of way). And I love the opener that Clarke cut, "The Frankie Day oldies show is sponsored by Frankie Day and his sponsors."
Hoerth isn't enough to attract ratings as part of a full lineup, let alone as the main attraction. Compared to what they make at 620 for running the infomercial stuff, they couldn't sell near enough spots to break even on that lineup. I doubt that they even have salespeople.
Now I could make a case for Madden, maybe, because he had an actual audience, but in the long run it would probably be the same answer.
I'm sure 620 would be more than happy to sell him blocks of time and let him go out and get his own sponsors. They are doing that on 770 with some guy named Frankie Day (radio so bad that it's entertaining in a comedic sort of way). And I love the opener that Clarke cut, "The Frankie Day oldies show is sponsored by Frankie Day and his sponsors."
Arg- I know exactly what you're saying about Hoerth. He is extremely passionate in what he does.
And he also is such a horse's patute and has such a small audience- though passionate- that it's not going to happen to him in Pittsburgh again.
His best bet is to go to New Jersey or Florida, buy time somewhere, and then tell all his stories again to a new audience. He'd be looked at as passionate and new and fresh.
Does he have any sponsors that would follow him there?
And he also is such a horse's patute and has such a small audience- though passionate- that it's not going to happen to him in Pittsburgh again.
His best bet is to go to New Jersey or Florida, buy time somewhere, and then tell all his stories again to a new audience. He'd be looked at as passionate and new and fresh.
Does he have any sponsors that would follow him there?
I appreciate the thoughts on 620 but the station is making good money selling blocks of time as it does now. It's not easy to sell spots on a stand-alone AM or two stand-alone AMs (620 and 770) or even two AMs that don't stand alone (WJAS and WPTT).
The Frankie Day sponsor announcement you mentioned is legally required. I could have said "paid program," but greatly prefer "sponsored" as an alternative.
C.
The Frankie Day sponsor announcement you mentioned is legally required. I could have said "paid program," but greatly prefer "sponsored" as an alternative.
C.
Parttimer said:
With that said, if he is as good a leadout for Miller as "argentarius" says he is, I'm sure he'd be ok with a show starting at noon. There's no excuse to air her show on tape delay in full, if only to bookend Hoerth in a drive-time slot.
Relegate Dr. Joy to the graveyard hours.
tcat21
I don't know if there are podcasts of Doug's show available. Check pbrtv.com for word on any future Hoerth broadcasts as well as the newspaper. His last show was broadcasted and rebroadcasted on pittsburgholdies.com.
I don't know if there are podcasts of Doug's show available. Check pbrtv.com for word on any future Hoerth broadcasts as well as the newspaper. His last show was broadcasted and rebroadcasted on pittsburgholdies.com.
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