KFI now airing informercials?

[groovyjohnnybravo]

From their Facebook account on the interweb:

The Official KFI AM 640
The Truth About Money with Ric Edelman debuts this Sunday, February 26 from 2-4pm.

Beginning March 3, Dark Secret Place with Bryan Suits moves from Sundays 2-4pm to Saturdays 7-10pm.

Phil Hendrie announced last night that this Saturday night would be his last show on KFI. He continues his national show on more than 100 stations, including KTLK AM 1150 in LA, via Talk Radio Network. Hendrie says, "This was not an easy decision because I’m going to miss everyone at KFI big time. However, doing a show like mine six days a week is murder. With the acting work cranking up and my obligation to TRN, something had to give."

 

[henry]

I've listened to Rick Edelmen in Salt Lake City. Show isn't bad --- certainly doesn't sound like an infomercial. Sounds like a "Clark Howard"-type show, but not quite as annoying.

I'd bet a dollar Phil called Robin Bertolucci yesterday. With only two days' notice, she panicked and grabbed whatever show she could quickly acquire. I'm betting she'll swap Rick out with something in-house fairly quickly, within a month or two.

 

[westfield60]

From their Facebook account on the interweb:

Phil Hendrie announced last night that this Saturday night would be his last show on KFI. He continues his national show on more than 100 stations, including KTLK AM 1150 in LA, via Talk Radio Network. Hendrie says, "This was not an easy decision because I’m going to miss everyone at KFI big time. However, doing a show like mine six days a week is murder. With the acting work cranking up and my obligation to TRN, something had to give."

I like Phil Hendrie and enjoyed his Sat show but listening to Bryan Suits is a no go. The guy is annoying as hell. I don't know what has happened with Robin. Isn't anyone better available?. Infact the last few additions (Lisa Ann Walker, the Fork Report) have been disastrous. Sort of reminds me of KABC's talent for putting people on the air that no one wants to listen to.

However I don't understand this crap that broadcasters sprew out. Phil didn't work 6 days a week. For the last few months I've been listening to his KTLK show and the Friday show is always a replay. This was the same crap Doug McIntyre would say that he was doing his Red-Eye radio show 6 days a week and once again his Friday show was a replay as well. I remember one caller confronted Doug about this lie and he ducked the question.

Just be honest, Hendrie burnt himself out, since he's been lately dabbling a lot in TV work and voice over work in a myriad of TV animated shows. So radio and particularly KFI Saturday slot was the lowest peg on the totem pole. I'm sure it was not that difficult a decision to make, Phil.

 

[wadio]

I don't know specifically what kind of deal Ric Edelman has with his affiliates ... he isn't shy about promoting his financial advisory service.

That said, he does a good show. Unlike Dave Ramsey who seldom offers more than the most pedestrian of advice (you know, cut up the credit cards, stay out of debt, etc.) Edleman delves into current financial news with enthusiasm and humor. In other words, it's an entertaining show, more along the lines of Clark Howard or Bob Brinker.

I've been listening to Edleman here in NY on WABC Sunday mornings for the past couple of years and look forward to the show each week.

 

[nmoore6676]

And this differs from Bill Handel promoting Handel On The Law, the legal referral site during his syndicated radio show also titled Handel On The Law in what way?

I listen to a financial report presented by an investment house and their advice is good and pertinent but of course they also promote their services.

This has been done since they cracked open the first microphone back in the twenties. In fact many radio stations were started to promote a business, WLS (World's Largest Store) by Sears Roebuck or WSM (We Shield Millions) by National Life and Accident Insurance Company.

I am certain the Earle C. Anthony, KFI's founder, sold a few Packards using the station.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

From their Facebook account on the interweb:

Phil Hendrie announced last night that this Saturday night would be his last show on KFI. He continues his national show on more than 100 stations, including KTLK AM 1150 in LA, via Talk Radio Network. Hendrie says, "This was not an easy decision because I’m going to miss everyone at KFI big time. However, doing a show like mine six days a week is murder. With the acting work cranking up and my obligation to TRN, something had to give."

I like Phil Hendrie and enjoyed his Sat show but listening to Bryan Suits is a no go. The guy is annoying as hell. I don't know what has happened with Robin. Isn't anyone better available?. Infact the last few additions (Lisa Ann Walker, the Fork Report) have been disastrous. Sort of reminds me of KABC's talent for putting people on the air that no one wants to listen to.

However I don't understand this crap that broadcasters sprew out. Phil didn't work 6 days a week. For the last few months I've been listening to his KTLK show and the Friday show is always a replay. This was the same crap Doug McIntyre would say that he was doing his Red-Eye radio show 6 days a week and once again his Friday show was a replay as well. I remember one caller confronted Doug about this lie and he ducked the question.

Just be honest, Hendrie burnt himself out, since he's been lately dabbling a lot in TV work and voice over work in a myriad of TV animated shows. So radio and particularly KFI Saturday slot was the lowest peg on the totem pole. I'm sure it was not that difficult a decision to make, Phil.

You hit the nail on the head. Neal Saavedra is good on "The Jesus Christ Show," but his "Fork Report" is terrible. And Bryan Suits...well, is always horrible. Probably eventually KFI's default talk show host, Wayne Resnick, will take over Saturday nights....

I also think it may be that Phil Hendrie needs to rest his voice, as he has had a lot of missing shows lately due to voice problems, which he has acknowledged on the air.

 

[radio haydays]

Let the record show that both Clark Howard and Bob Brinker do not do infomercial radio shows and never have done so.

If KFI chooses to accept money in return for putting a financial show on their radio station that is their decision.

This show going on KFI Saturdays was recently heard on KFWB in L.A. and KFWB presented the show in the form of an infomercial radio show. There are many such shows around the country where the host pays for the time in return to trying to convert listeners to customers of firms such as financial planners or money managers. This can produce good income for the radio station owner and my guess is KFI could get six figures annually for two hours of Saturday air time. This is money that can be used to pay office staff and other expenses. Obviously it is never done for the purpose of radio ratings.

But to compare such shows with Howard or Brinker is unfair since they both do straight forward radio shows, not infomericals where they pay to get on the radio.

 

[wadio]

Let the record show that both Clark Howard and Bob Brinker do not do infomercial radio shows and never have done so. // ... to compare such shows with Howard or Brinker is unfair since they both do straight forward radio shows, not infomericals where they pay to get on the radio.

For the record, I never said they do infomercials! I said (referring to Ric Edleman) :

In other words, it's an entertaining show, more along the lines of Clark Howard or Bob Brinker.

Meaning that even if Ric Edleman's show is brokered (and I don't know that it is) he's entertaining, as are Clark Howard and Bob Brinker. All three shows are entertaining and straight forward. That was my only "comparison."

 

[jonbruce]

Yes, it is a paid show. We have been running it for about a year at 920 KPSI Palm Springs. However, it does sound like a "real" radio program.

 

[radio haydays]

Thanks Jon. So there you have it. It is a paid informercial aimed at getting you to call the office and send in your money for an annual fee. No different than the gold shows aiming at getting you to buy the heavily marked up gold coins or the pill shows aimed at getting you to buy the heavily marked up vitamins or whatever.

It is all the same game. Buy air time and convert the listeners (suckers) to customers.

This is not radio, this is snake oil. If it was not, there would be no need to purchase the air time in the first place.

 

[nmoore6676]

In my mind it is a fine line between a show whose main purpose is to drive listeners to a particular business and endorsements wherein a popular station personality (Handel or John Kobylt) enthusiastically endorse cookware, laser eye surgery, sleep number beds, or a dentist. And those commercial sets, what are they for? Selling products is the name of the game and if you don't wish to listen to a brokered show or infomercial then turn the dial.

 

[wadio]

I'm not defending brokered programming -- I hate it too! But Edleman is somewhat of a rarity.

This morning, for example, he did a segment about an assisted living facility that recently changed their rules to prevent residents who had moved to the final care area from using the main dining room and other parts of the facility. He had apparently given his opinion about this last week and this week had a spokesman from the facility come on and explain the legal ramifications that lead to the decision -- a couple of elderly people almost dying from chocking incidents in an area without trained medical personnel. (Another case of lawyers creating a "rule" because our society increasingly lacks common sense.) Anyway, it was a newsworthy segment that had nothing to do with Edleman's firm -- it was just good radio.

So, while I totally agree with "radio haydays" about brokered programming in general -- and this puts KFI on a slippery slope because they can no longer claim they achieve their ratings and revenue without running infomercials -- I do cut Edleman some slack for at least being entertaining.