Life After Jerry: Sam v. Steph

[fred flintstone]

Word is Air America Radio will put Sam Seder in the late morning time slot, which currently takes Jerry Springer's show.
Will anybody notice? Will anybody care?
Sam could end up with an even smaller audience than now on Majority Report (when many stations bump Randi into early evening to take Big Ed and then dump Majority Report to take Randi on delay).

In the top 25 markets, Jerry is currently heard in:
New York (AAR leased and operated WWRL)
Chicago (Where Jerry has a local connection)
Dallas (Dallas and Austin simulcast San Antonio, also one of Jerry's original pre-AAR markets)
Detroit (One of his original pre-AAR stations).

Jerry was also heard pre-AAR in Cleveland on a non-progressive talk station, which later dropped the show - and, of course, in Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, Steph is currently heard in:
Los Angeles
Washington
Boston
Miami (one of Jerry's original, pre-AAR affiliates)
Seattle
Minneapolis-St. Paul

Progressive talk stations have local programming in this time slot in:
San Francisco
Phoenix
San Diego
Denver
Portland (Hartmann's local show)

Remaining top 25 markets lack local progressive talk stations (Pittsbugh takes Hartmann only; Atlanta takes Franken only).

Jerry doesn't even clear in Sacramento (#26), with TWO (count 'em) progressive talk stations (one has a local show; the other takes Steph). Or in Buffalo (#52), which also has two progressive talk stations (one takes Steph; the other splits the time slot between a Pacifica show and a local show).

If/when AAR drops Jerry, will Clear Channel continue to produce the show? Will any stations continue to carry it?
Will any stations stay with the network feed for Seder or will they pick up Steph?

Probably at least some of the latchkey stations will stay with the network feed either because it's easier or because it's not feasible for them to switch satellite channels on an automated station. The question is: What about stations the have a choice (and have listeners)?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I'm hearing a third option - that AAR may continue to offer Springer via AAR Syndication, a la Hartmann, primarily for his existing affiliates who wish to keep airing him.

The smart money is betting on Springer's show ending at - or before - the end of his Clear Channel deal. What WSAI/1360 Cincinnati does may be the key, here...

 

[FightingIrish]

Word is Air America Radio will put Sam Seder in the late morning time slot, which currently takes Jerry Springer's show.
Will anybody notice? Will anybody care?
Sam could end up with an even smaller audience than now on Majority Report (when many stations bump Randi into early evening to take Big Ed and then dump Majority Report to take Randi on delay).

In the top 25 markets, Jerry is currently heard in:
New York (AAR leased and operated WWRL)
Chicago (Where Jerry has a local connection)
Dallas (Dallas and Austin simulcast San Antonio, also one of Jerry's original pre-AAR markets)
Detroit (One of his original pre-AAR stations).

Jerry was also heard pre-AAR in Cleveland on a non-progressive talk station, which later dropped the show - and, of course, in Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, Steph is currently heard in:
Los Angeles
Washington
Boston
Miami (one of Jerry's original, pre-AAR affiliates)
Seattle
Minneapolis-St. Paul

Progressive talk stations have local programming in this time slot in:
San Francisco
Phoenix
San Diego
Denver
Portland (Hartmann's local show)

Remaining top 25 markets lack local progressive talk stations (Pittsbugh takes Hartmann only; Atlanta takes Franken only).

Jerry doesn't even clear in Sacramento (#26), with TWO (count 'em) progressive talk stations (one has a local show; the other takes Steph). Or in Buffalo (#52), which also has two progressive talk stations (one takes Steph; the other splits the time slot between a Pacifica show and a local show).

If/when AAR drops Jerry, will Clear Channel continue to produce the show? Will any stations continue to carry it?
Will any stations stay with the network feed for Seder or will they pick up Steph?

Probably at least some of the latchkey stations will stay with the network feed either because it's easier or because it's not feasible for them to switch satellite channels on an automated station. The question is: What about stations the have a choice (and have listeners)?

Only thing is, as I posted in a previous thread, there are only a few turnkey stations. At the most, only 2 or 3 stations air the straight AAR feed (tough to verify, since these are the ones that don't have websites). Many stations do in fact pick up other programs, either via other syndicators or local.

There's likely more turnkey operations running FSR or the True Oldies Channel.

I'm hearing a third option - that AAR may continue to offer Springer via AAR Syndication, a la Hartmann, primarily for his existing affiliates who wish to keep airing him.

The smart money is betting on Springer's show ending at - or before - the end of his Clear Channel deal. What WSAI/1360 Cincinnati does may be the key, here...

I've been hearing the same thing. He may still be under contract. Some stations opt not to go with Steph and with Jerry instead. WSAI in Cincy seems to consider him a local host. There's a station in Sarasota also airing his show only. And WWWW in Detroit, last I checked, was one of his earliest affiliates. WCPT in Chicago runs Springer, but may change this (I'm not sure if Springer does his show occasionally from their studios, since he lives in Chicago).

Sam may not get many affiliates, since there is a lot of competition at this hour (both syndicated and local offerings). I'm thinking that AAR put him there since he is probably the lowest-profile host on the network. I think he's more for XM and the webstream. He does have a following, but not nearly as much as other hosts in that timeslot.

 

[fred flintstone]

Only thing is, as I posted in a previous thread, there are only a few turnkey stations. At the most, only 2 or 3 stations air the straight AAR feed (tough to verify, since these are the ones that don't have websites). Many stations do in fact pick up other programs, either via other syndicators or local.

I've been hearing the same thing. He may still be under contract. Some stations opt not to go with Steph and with Jerry instead. WSAI in Cincy seems to consider him a local host. There's a station in Sarasota also airing his show only. And WWWW in Detroit, last I checked, was one of his earliest affiliates. WCPT in Chicago runs Springer, but may change this (I'm not sure if Springer does his show occasionally from their studios, since he lives in Chicago).

Sam may not get many affiliates, since there is a lot of competition at this hour (both syndicated and local offerings). I'm thinking that AAR put him there since he is probably the lowest-profile host on the network. I think he's more for XM and the webstream. He does have a following, but not nearly as much as other hosts in that timeslot.

Good point. Sam can keep the slot filled and AAR avoids any flack for cancelling what's left of Majority Report (Sam still has a job - sorry he's not on in your town - call the station).

Some smaller stations don't have a web address. Others have a web address which routes to the AAR website. It's a good bet both types take the network feed. It is my understanding all Clear Channel progressive talk stations clear Big Ed. Even so, the total for network-feed-only-latchkeys is much higher than two or three.

Jerry also spends time in Sarasota and has a residence there. He does not need to use a local station; with a computer and a T-1 (or even ISDN) line, he can do the show from home. Since WCPT has no local programming, they may not even be equipped to handle a live broadcast. A lot of these latchkeys are just a dish and a computer in the closet (maybe a computer with Adobe Audition off the sales office to cut spots).

Yes, there are a large number of music stations taking one of the 24/7 "formats" from ABC, Westwood One or Jones. Again, these are almost always used in off hours, small markets or marginal operations. A music station that is at all competitive in a market of any size may still be partly automated (outside morning drive) but will at least use voice tracking.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Jerry also spends time in Sarasota and has a residence there. He does not need to use a local station; with a computer and a T-1 (or even ISDN) line, he can do the show from home. Since WCPT has no local programming, they may not even be equipped to handle a live broadcast. A lot of these latchkeys are just a dish and a computer in the closet (maybe a computer with Adobe Audition off the sales office to cut spots).

I'm pretty sure that Jerry does his show in Chicago from the Clear Channel studios there. Though the company never cleared Jerry or AAR in that market, they still have a piece of his show...and he does the show in Cincy from the WSAI studios.

 

[fred flintstone]

Hey, OA! What do you say?

What WSAI/1360 Cincinnati does may be the key, here...

What are they going to do?
Enquiring (since this is about Cincinnati) minds what to know?
They promoted the station around Jerry.
When Jerry goes, does progressive talk go?
Their Ops Manager says out loud he's disappointed in the format (not good).
But what else can they do.
CC has a surfeit of AA stations in the Queen City and all the bases seem covered.
Local-live full service talk on the Nation's Station.
Syndicated conservative talk on WKRC
Syndicated liberal talk on WCKY
Local and syndicated sports talk on WSAI.
Standards and Oldies: Been there; done that.

If Clear Channel turns Jerry over to Tom Athans to sell, that's almost like pulling the feeding tube (given his track record with Hatmann and Maron) - benign neglect, just letting the show die on somebody else's watch.
If CC really wanted to market Jerry, seems like they'd give to Premiere (although, curiously, while Clear Channel has flipped stations to progressive talk, Premiere has stayed away from it).

What do you hear? What do you predict?

 

[kaufcom]

I can't believe that Jerry doesn't see the writing on the wall. His show is dead. Why doesn't he just deal with it and move on. It certainly isn't the money. Is his ego that big that he can't admit defeat. There is something to the Clear Channel connection. It was CC that presented Jerry to AAR as a fait accompli. Maybe they need CC's blessing before making a move.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

What do you hear? What do you predict?

We're not hearing much *solid* information at OMW.

I'll just stick by what I've said there and here. I find it difficult to believe that there is a long-term future for "Springer on the Radio", even in Cincinnati only. The only thing saving the show and the format is the length of Springer's contract with Clear Channel, and as you point out, the fact that Cincinnati's Clear Channel cluster has a boatload of AM stations...the rest of 'em all running most other viable formats.

A cluster which was expecting a long time period with a format like WSAI's and a show like Springer's would not have acted the way the CC Cincy folks did when the 1530/1360 flip happened. All the talk from that building was over the sports format getting a 50KW signal, and the liberal talk format was even preempted for the better part of a day.

I don't consider it political at all, by the way...despite such charges from not only liberal talk fans, but hosts like Ed Schultz. (Have you heard the back and forth between WLW's Bill Cunningham and Seg Dennison about Schultz' complaining? It's a riot!)

Whether they could have done it better or not, liberal talk has been pretty much a failure in Cincinnati, despite their name "local" host. Or maybe even because of him...

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

IF the rumblings about Jerry, Jerry, Jerry moving from the AAR network feed to AAR Syndication are true...

I get the idea it solely will happen to keep the show with a pulse as long as Jerry's existing affiliates still want it. I also expect at least some of Jerry's existing affiliates to flip to Sam Seder on the main feed.

 

[kaufcom]

Is it safe to say that Jerry's radio show with be kaput within 30 to 60 days.?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Is it safe to say that Jerry's radio show with be kaput within 30 to 60 days.?

I don't know if I'd put a date on it. My general thought is that it depends on the length of Jerry's contract with Clear Channel, and if the company decides to continue his show in Cincinnati.

They could, of course, also buy him out.

The week of the 18th could be the key, as that's the rumored week for many AAR-related changes, including Seder moving to middays and Laura Flanders taking over Mike Malloy's slot.

If Jerry's still A) on WSAI/1360 after that or B) is still being offered to his current affiliates, I don't know what the next timing would be.

 

[FightingIrish]

Only thing is, as I posted in a previous thread, there are only a few turnkey stations. At the most, only 2 or 3 stations air the straight AAR feed (tough to verify, since these are the ones that don't have websites). Many stations do in fact pick up other programs, either via other syndicators or local.

I've been hearing the same thing. He may still be under contract. Some stations opt not to go with Steph and with Jerry instead. WSAI in Cincy seems to consider him a local host. There's a station in Sarasota also airing his show only. And WWWW in Detroit, last I checked, was one of his earliest affiliates. WCPT in Chicago runs Springer, but may change this (I'm not sure if Springer does his show occasionally from their studios, since he lives in Chicago).

Sam may not get many affiliates, since there is a lot of competition at this hour (both syndicated and local offerings). I'm thinking that AAR put him there since he is probably the lowest-profile host on the network. I think he's more for XM and the webstream. He does have a following, but not nearly as much as other hosts in that timeslot.

Good point. Sam can keep the slot filled and AAR avoids any flack for cancelling what's left of Majority Report (Sam still has a job - sorry he's not on in your town - call the station).

Some smaller stations don't have a web address. Others have a web address which routes to the AAR website. It's a good bet both types take the network feed. It is my understanding all Clear Channel progressive talk stations clear Big Ed. Even so, the total for network-feed-only-latchkeys is much higher than two or three.

Jerry also spends time in Sarasota and has a residence there. He does not need to use a local station; with a computer and a T-1 (or even ISDN) line, he can do the show from home. Since WCPT has no local programming, they may not even be equipped to handle a live broadcast. A lot of these latchkeys are just a dish and a computer in the closet (maybe a computer with Adobe Audition off the sales office to cut spots).

Yes, there are a large number of music stations taking one of the 24/7 "formats" from ABC, Westwood One or Jones. Again, these are almost always used in off hours, small markets or marginal operations. A music station that is at all competitive in a market of any size may still be partly automated (outside morning drive) but will at least use voice tracking.

I'm not sure what kind of studio setup Newsweb (WCPT owner) has in Chicago, but it's certainly not an empty building.

They also own Nine FM, which is one of the few adult hits stations that have live jocks. WCPT, though, is likely stuffed in a closet, but I've never been in the building, so who knows? I'm guessing the fact that CPT's a daytimer is why they're not doing too much in regard to local programming. Still, that station is doing pretty decent in the ratings, considering it's all syndicated stuff on a limited signal.

 

[fred flintstone]

They also own Nine FM, which is one of the few adult hits stations that have live jocks. WCPT, though, is likely stuffed in a closet, but I've never been in the building, so who knows? I'm guessing the fact that CPT's a daytimer is why they're not doing too much in regard to local programming. Still, that station is doing pretty decent in the ratings, considering it's all syndicated stuff on a limited signal.

They are a daytime, but daytime is when people listen and when a station would most likely want to do local programming.

Yes, their audience numbers are comparable to better known downtown stations with superior signals which carry all or mostly syndicated programming (WIND560, the former WMAQ670, the former WCFL1000).

 

[FightingIrish]

They also own Nine FM, which is one of the few adult hits stations that have live jocks. WCPT, though, is likely stuffed in a closet, but I've never been in the building, so who knows? I'm guessing the fact that CPT's a daytimer is why they're not doing too much in regard to local programming. Still, that station is doing pretty decent in the ratings, considering it's all syndicated stuff on a limited signal.

They are a daytime, but daytime is when people listen and when a station would most likely want to do local programming.

Yes, their audience numbers are comparable to better known downtown stations with superior signals which carry all or mostly syndicated programming (WIND560, the former WMAQ670, the former WCFL1000).

The ability to broadcast during the nighttime hours certainly wouldn't hurt their ratings.

And you forgot to mention a station they occasionally beat in the ratings - WCKG (105.9 Free FM).

Oh, and 670 is WSCR and 1000 is WMVP - both established sports stations.