Economics of Talk Radio

[smedge2006]

Someone please explain to me how Madison WI (Market # whatever) can have a station on the high end of the AM band with local talk 13 hours a day (WTDY), while Tampa (Market #19) has no local weekday talk outside morning drive.

 

[Slant]

strong local direct retail ad buys and talk show host making 18K a year

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

..... and talk show host making 18K a year

But....

I would think you find it easier to find an 18K a year person in Florida than Madison, WI.

 

[smedge2006]

I would think you find it easier to find an 18K a year person in Florida than Madison, WI.

Precisely! "Half your pay in sunshine" is the state motto!

 

[drt]

Just a guess, but I imagine that ClearChannel doesn't own the A.M. band in Madison, as they do in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg/Tampa market.

It's getting harder and harder to find local news on the Tampa Bay radio dial, let alone local talk shows.

drt

 

[jaymarvin]

I worked at WFLA when it was all live. Except Limbaugh and overnights. We all made more than 18k I can tell you right now. I love the head of programing there Gabe Hobbs. He taught me how to be a talk show host. I was in Tampa this past summer. WFLA is not what it once was. It made me very sad.

 

[cm454]

The OBVIOUS statement that needs to be made:

It's ironically the SMALLER market that is more likely to go with syndication because it is CHEAPER than paying someone anything, including 18k.

How silly that someone would give cost SAVINGS as the reason for going local!

This situation says much more about CCU's lack of committment to anyone but their shareholders. By the way, their shareholders are not the ONLY ones they are supposed to be answering to.

Unfortunately, unlike a private company using private assets, we are witnessing the mass betrayal of the public trust where PUBLIC airwaves are concerned.