Givin' It Up (almost) Entirely...

[MikefromDelaware]

I did listen to one of the Thom Hartman podcasts, from Jan 7th, with guest Bernie Sanders. A very interesting program, well done. I'd listen to Thom Hartmans' show if it were available on a radio station that I could get at work. My guess is, that sort of lib talk show might play well in the Wilmington radio market. I'll have to go back and listen to some of the others of Hartman's archived shows.

I could envision a couple of scenarios for Thom Hartmans' show in Wilmington. One scenario: WILM replaced Watson's show after John retires with Hartman which might offer some real solid competition to WDEL's moderate lib Al Messitti. But frankly, the scenario I'd personally prefer would be: WDEL drops Rick Jensen's show and airs Thom Hartman's show opposite Rush who's on WILM and WPHT. That would give those who don't want the same ole GOP talk all afternoon a place to tune other than NPR.

I don't see WILM adding Hartman as if they wanted a national lib talker, they could use Premiere's Randi Rhodes which would benefit the home office more than Hartmans' show. So that leaves WDEL to either drop Jensen's show, which I doubt they'll do, or drop Laura Ingraham's show at night when the Phillies aren't playing, and add Thom Hartman's show. My guess is, WDEL probably is happy with both Jensen and Ingraham's shows so unless WPHT adds Hartman, there won't be a place for his show in the Wilmington or Philly market, which is a shame.

 

[MattParker]

Glad you liked Hartmann. He seems like a really good guy, based on his work outside radio (education, psychotherapy). Timing is an issue for him on WILM since his show airs from noon to 3pm Eastern. Twenty-one hours (69 hours on Mondays) is a long time to delay a talk show. Stephanie Miller does air from 9am to noon. Her show is heard in morning drive on the West Coast and like a lot of morning shows uses a lot of comedy bits (in addition to calls and interviews). But she has driven off some well-established progressive talk competitors in her time slot (Jerry Springer, Montel, Rachel Maddow, Lionel).

Hartmann head to head with Rush is an interesting idea. Hartmann might be an effective alternative to what WHYY-FM is running during that period, as well. Here and Now is often interesting (except WHYY-FM preempts it for a terrible local shrink advice show). Talk of the Nation is duller and more annoyingly earnest than those "public service" shows stations used to run at 6am Sunday morning. In the middle, is an NPR show trying to target Black listeners (in an otherwise upscale lilly white schedule). This daypart is public radio's weakest link locally. Hartmann has placed his show on several public radio stations and it seems like he might appeal to people who like public radio.

It would be interesting to see either or both stations try doing progressive talk on weekends to test local response. It would also be interesting to see stations in either Wilmington or Philly put progressive talk on an FM HD2 or HD3 channel and see what happens.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

If I were programming WHYY-FM, I'd have the shrink show preempt Tell Me More rather than Here and Now. But then again, I'd also not air Tell Me More during that time slot either. I agree that is an odd time slot for a black oriented NPR program. I've listened to it. Sometimes its interesting, but more often than not, I end up tuning elsewhere. Same with Talk of the Nation. Depending on the topic it can be interesting for me, or a total bore. If a Philly station with a great signal aired Thom Hartman, that might seriously cut into WHYY-FM's audience.

I'd like to see WDEL go head to head against Rush with Hartman. WDEL could put both Jensen and Messitti on togther from 9am- 12 noon for a great point counter point talk show. The two of them have strong enough personalities and opinions ( for my ear Al is better read and informed that Rick, but Jensen's no light weight) so they could offer a great show together. Greg Lance, one of the producers could act as referee in case they get too cranked up. That would leave WDEL the time slot for Thom Hartman opposite Rush. Of course WDEL could also air the Al/Rick Show opposite of Rush, but then they'd still need a show for 9-12. Plan A, Al/Rick 9-12, then Hartman 1pm-4pm would be the better fit, in my opinion.