Hannity Out Of Touch With Fort Myers

[DToTheJ]

Today, Sean Hannity took a call from Fort Myers, and started by informing the caller he flew into Fort Myers on Saturday morning and spent the weekend there. He then proceeded to tell the caller that, while in Fort Myers, he was listening to his affiliate, "WINK Radio."

Somebody forward Hannity a copy of his affiiates list. Wouldn't he know by now, if he was that familiar with his station in Florida, that it's now "Fox News Radio 92.5"? ???

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Commentators like Hannity seem out of touch with everything except the vocal minority they think is their base

 

[coolaid213]

You're right Hannity is out of touch with more than just Ft. Myers. Talk radio is a dying form of media, mostly because of hacks like Hannity and Beck. The only people who listen to conservative talk radio are people who have already been conditioned to listen to conservative talk radio... there is no collateral damage. I think most Americans, even the ones who listen, understand deep down that it's all propaganda anymore, the show hosts don't speak their mind as once was the case, they get talking points from dudes in suits in private meetings... they use their pulpit to manipulate and decide elections by herding their sheep in the right direction, it's no surprise that Hannity is clueless, he makes his living off not caring what anyone thinks (himself included).

This isn't the first time I've heard him get his affiliate's info wrong... is anyone really surprised?

 

[Prais]

Cedric said I think most Americans, even the ones who listen, understand deep down that it's all propaganda anymore, the show hosts don't speak their mind as once was the case, they get talking points from dudes in suits in private meetings... they use their pulpit to manipulate and decide elections by herding their sheep in the right direction, it's no surprise that Hannity is clueless, he makes his living off not caring what anyone thinks (himself included).

Yep! That's why Rush's ratings kill everyone -especially those Airhead America affiliates that are now something else because the network tanked.

 

[coolaid213]

The reason Rush kills in the ratings is primarily due to heritage... 20+ years on WFLA and many of his affiliates is a long time to cultivate an audience and grow a show.

Aside from that, Rush continues to flourish due to a strong distrust of government that is long overdue, if you ask me. Unfortunately, his sycophantic listeners aren't able to discern that he's cut from the same bolt as his Air America counterparts. The real reason that Air America failed has less to do with policy, and more to do with presentation... there are plenty of people who agree with the opinions that were espoused on Air America, nobody was listening because the folks running those stations were CLUELESS. If you want me to elaborate, I'd be more than glad to.

 

[HadYourPhil]

But he is still on WINK radio... Remember, it's a (stupid) trimulcast... Fox 92.5, WINK and WNOG.

 

[coolaid213]

Ooops, well fortunately, I'm out of touch with Sean Hannity ;D

 

[Frank Ferreri]

Rush is successful only because he has been on the air 20 plus years? Air America failed because of presentation not content? Hannity appeals to a vocal minority? All these statements kinda sound like the comment that it snowed 12 feet in D.C. due to global warming.

 

[quadman102]

Beforw you and Cedric show your the ones out of touch, you need to look at the ratings for Rush, Glenn, Sean, Mark Levine etc. You sound like Keith
Olberman wanna be's... thank the good lord every day that we have great Americans like Beck, Hannity and Rush getting the word out about what is
really going on. If you folks are in radio, which I really doubt, your part of the media that just plain doesn't get it... good luck to yo/

 

[coolaid213]

Well Frank, how about you put your red herring away, and challenge my statements?

I never said that was the only reason that Rush is successful, but lets put this in perspective. Every single other "conservative" talk show host says what Rush says, they do what Rush does, and they agree with the positions that Rush holds... so what separates Rush from the rest of the crowd? Not much, other than that he's been doing it longer. But does that make him better? Well, you might say the proof is in the ratings, but I don't think so. A lot of that ratings nonsense still has to do with heritage. He's on middays, on the best and most powerful AM stations in the country, and he's been on most of these stations since many of his listeners were in diapers. Rush has some powerful alliances as well, to assume his success is strictly due to talent and ability is quite naive...

Air America DID fail because of presentation and not content... I thought this was obvious. Presumably there are many millions of people who agree with the positions taken by Air America hosts, otherwise Barack Obama wouldn't be in the White House... now call me crazy, but I'm assuming that these folks want a forum for their voice to be heard too. So why didn't anyone listen? Well, I dunno if you've ever spent much time listening to Air America, but I have, and their stations all sounded terrible! They had some good talent (Lionel especially), but the imaging was pitiful, the production was WTANesque, and their marketing was even worse. There ya go...

And yes, Frank... most people DON'T like Sean Hannity. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but he's not exactly a popular guy in the eyes of most American's, neither is Rush Limbaugh. Just because they rate well among talk radio listeners, doesn't mean that rate well with the average America. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity appeal to people who like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, as a person interested in REAL news and politics, these guy's are fake, a diversion, and a waste of my time.

Rush is successful only because he has been on the air 20 plus years? Air America failed because of presentation not content? Hannity appeals to a vocal minority? All these statements kinda sound like the comment that it snowed 12 feet in D.C. due to global warming.

 

[coolaid213]

Hello Quad,

We weren't discussing politics, this is actually a forum for the discussion of broadcasting.

Would you like to post something that has to do with radio?

Beforw you and Cedric show your the ones out of touch, you need to look at the ratings for Rush, Glenn, Sean, Mark Levine etc. You sound like Keith
Olberman wanna be's... thank the good lord every day that we have great Americans like Beck, Hannity and Rush getting the word out about what is
really going on. If you folks are in radio, which I really doubt, your part of the media that just plain doesn't get it... good luck to yo/

 

[smedge2006]

He's on middays, on the best and most powerful AM stations in the country, and he's been on most of these stations since many of his listeners were in diapers.

Since A FEW of Rush's listeners were in diapers. Most are the thirtysomethings who discovered him in 1988 and are now fiftysomethings. Back then he was at least trying to be funny. Rush has no ability to connect beyond the baby-boom/early Xer demographic. Through ruthless call screening, he may be able to dig up an under-35 caller now and then, but in the greater picture there's no such thing as a "Rush baby."

 

[DToTheJ]

Trying to veer the discussion back in the broadcasting direction...

But he is still on WINK radio... Remember, it's a (stupid) trimulcast... Fox 92.5, WINK and WNOG.

I could be wrong, but I thought I read that all three stations were imaging as "Fox 92.5," even on AM, as an incentive to get listeners to go over to the FM band... But I do see your point... Technically, he still is on "WINK."

 

[NewsStud]

Today, Sean Hannity took a call from Fort Myers, and started by informing the caller he flew into Fort Myers on Saturday morning and spent the weekend there. He then proceeded to tell the caller that, while in Fort Myers, he was listening to his affiliate, "WINK Radio."

Somebody forward Hannity a copy of his affiiates list. Wouldn't he know by now, if he was that familiar with his station in Florida, that it's now "Fox News Radio 92.5"? ???

Or maybe the operators of this radio station you speak of should contact Sean Hannity's affiliate reps to let them know of a change in station branding. After all, Mr. Hannity is more than a thousand miles outside of said radio station's coverage area.

(Unless of course, you are already hearing ol' Sean on prerecorded liners and promos with him gleefully promoting the "New" Fox News Radio 92.5. Then, shame on him for not remembering.)

 

[Frank Ferreri]

Ms. Music Radio, Cedric, and others who are letting their political passion over-ride basic rules of programming. If you were programming a music station and played only music that YOU liked there is a strong possibility that it would fail if you didn't play what the market wanted to hear. Same is true with talk. Rush, Hannity, Beck and that group would not be on the air anywhere if people didn't listen. Radio is a business. Being an old guy I remember working for owners who actually were in the building and couldn't stand to listen to their own station because they hated rock and roll. As long as the ad dollars rolled in they smiled all the way to the bank.

 

[coolaid213]

This has nothing to do with my political opinion, Frank. In fact, I agree wholeheartedly with many of the things Rush Limbaugh says. The point I'm trying to get across is that listeners have no say in what programming gets aired on commercial radio... and if they did, it's quite likely that they'd vote Rush off the island in a heartbeat. But that ain't how it is, so people listen to whatever happens to be available. I'm reminded of what Sumner Redstone said of MTV in the 80's, it was something to the effect of, "we don't play what people want to hear, we tell them what they want to hear, and then we play it", maybe someone else remembers the exact quote, but the point is still valid, and applies equally to any broadcast medium. In my opinion, Americans have been systematically conditioned to accept crap programming on TV and Radio. Rush may be on top of the pile, but it's still a pile... and we deserve better.

Smedge, I usually agree with your mystery posts, but you're way off on this one! You seriously underestimate the quantity of Rush Babies! Most of the folks who grew up hearing Rush on the radio are now in their 20's and 30's, while not precisely the target demo, this makes up a huge chunk of his audience. These listeners are also notoriously his most annoying fans, I work with one such fellow. You see, since they grew up with their parents listening to Rush, they have a much deeper "connection" to the show, and will go to harsh extremes to explain to you with sycophantic glee just how "right" Rush is...

 

[Garrett]

Today, Sean Hannity took a call from Fort Myers, and started by informing the caller he flew into Fort Myers on Saturday morning and spent the weekend there. He then proceeded to tell the caller that, while in Fort Myers, he was listening to his affiliate, "WINK Radio."

Somebody forward Hannity a copy of his affiiates list. Wouldn't he know by now, if he was that familiar with his station in Florida, that it's now "Fox News Radio 92.5"? ???

Considering the number of stations he's on, I'll give the guy a Mulligan for not know that one affiliate changed names. If, on the other hand, he's on a completely different affiliate, that would a be a different story. I just don't think its a big mistake, otherwise.

His political views are not relevant to any radio discussion, imo.

 

[Frank Ferreri]

Cedric, your comments are appreciated and we all should agree that this is a radio board not a politcal opinion board. Ms. Music opines as would a talk show caller would, and that is fine, however, her views are based soley upon her slant and not from a business standpoint. She doesn't agree with Hannity therefore only a vocal minority listen or watch. Case in point Ms. Music, I don't watch American Idol and have no desire to. Do the people who watch comprise a vocal minority? Of course not, it is the number one show on TV with or without me. Lawrence Berra put it best "No one goes there anymore it's too crowded". This is not a dig at Ms. Music as her input is interesting, however, to those who have made a living in the business we view the business as just that...a business regardless of political views or music tastes. Also, Cedric pointed out MTV saying something in the 80's indicating they did not care what people wanted to watch. Fact is, they were in that position. If you wanted music videos you had no alternative. Programmers do care because their livlihood is on the line with every ARBITRON release date.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Case in point. I love the memories of WABC, WLS,CKLW, KQV, etc. Yet when I hear old air checks, I remember they played Frankie Avalon, Annette, Leslie Gore, the Carpenters, Petula Clark along with the Stones and Jerry lee Lewis. That was a true mix and I loved it then. Back then Rick Sklar or Bill Drake told me what I liked, so I liked it. Actually loved it. Did they manipulate my tastes?

 

[Prais]

Of course they did. The people with the most promotion money got the most airplay, and got to influence the most influeneable young ears.