NBC Talknet - Could it work today?

[KilowattKat]

Back in the 80's and 90's, I was a fan of this nighttime network of block programming. It featured non political, talk shows centered on finance, relationship and personal advice, mental health, and just friendly banter with callers. Some of the hosts were Bruce Williams, Sally Jesse Rafael, Neil Myers, Lee Mirabel, and others.

I really feel like were at a place in time where people might have s need, and want to hear this type of talk radio, as opposed to the left-right political hate talk were subjected to on radio.

It's time for a change on talk radio ...

NBC Talknet - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[TheBigA]

The reason why TalkNet and similar non-political talk shows went away was due to lack of passion. Very similar to the situation with Soft AC. It became wallpaper. It got very old, and lost interest from advertisers.

Then you have an issue with attracting affiliates. Back in the TalkNet days, stations carried NBC Radio Network News. So the talk network was marketed along with that. Today, network news is declining. Stations that carry it already have a problem with aging demographics and lack of advertising. The best potential affiliates already carry Sean Hannity or other conservative talk. So you end up with affiliates of mainly 1K AM stations in small markets.

So in answer to the question, the entire infrastructure that supported TalkNet has disappeared. While I hear what you say about people wanting non-political talk, that need doesn't translate into a business model for radio. Instead it makes for perhaps a podcast that someone might listen to on their own time.

 

[ericcooper56]

Short answer: No.

 

[JJSPC]

Kind of the situation WGN radio in Chicago is now in. Live and local talk for the most part but It's just dull and ratings are dropping.

 

[radiofan2023]

Short answer: No.

Long answer:
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Non political, talk shows centered on finance, relationship and personal advice, mental health, and just friendly banter with callers.

Well it works in podcast form and the TV editions are on Youtube and Twitch with a podcast distribution on Spotify and Iheart yes. OTA probably not given where we are today. NBC Talknet won't work today but then again we are in a different era.

 

[bigdonho]

Would a show like Larry King work on radio today?

 

[KeithE4]

Would a show like Larry King work on radio today?

How many listeners did it have 40 years ago, given its overnight time slot? I remember trying to listen to it back then, and King spent much of his time with callers bellowing "What is your question!!!!" to the drunks that would call at those hours. It was enough to get me to change the station or turn the radio off so I could sleep.

 

[KilowattKat]

Talknet definitely left an impression on me, as I still can't get the network's theme song out of my head ...

Someone to talk to, someone who cares, someone you know who will always be there..tune in, turn on, Talknet.. we care!

Seriously, if Loveline can make a comeback, why not create a lineup with younger hosts, aim for a younger demo, make it a little hip, with recognizable, well liked hosts. And don't forget how popular Delilah is.

 

[TheBigA]

Seriously, if Loveline can make a comeback, why not create a lineup with younger hosts, aim for a younger demo, make it a little hip, with recognizable, well liked hosts. And don't forget how popular Delilah is.

Loveline is a Sunday night show on KROQ, not a national network. Delilah is a nighttime music show that appeals to 55 plus.

There are local advice shows. Bill Handel at KFI. Premiere offers a few advice type shows for weekends mainly.

At Home with Gary Sullivan | Premiere Networks

America's Most-Listened-To Home Improvement Radio Show Join Gary Sullivan, the nation’s leading home improvement expert, every weekend on At Home with Gary Sullivan. This nationally syndicated radio program, broadcasting from Cincinnati, Ohio, is your go-to source for all things home...

www.premierenetworks.com

Even TalkNet was mainly a nighttime network. But when Rush came along, he killed that kind of radio.

 

[KeithE4]

Seriously, if Loveline can make a comeback, why not create a lineup with younger hosts, aim for a younger demo, make it a little hip, with recognizable, well liked hosts. And don't forget how popular Delilah is.

Who would air it? Anyone on FM? Who would bother? Forget AM. It's dead to those younger than 70. Streaming, via TuneIn or another provider? Would there be enough folks (read: In the hundreds of thousands, minimum, nationwide) to get enough advertising to make a profit?

 

[PTBoardOp93]

How many listeners did it have 40 years ago, given its overnight time slot?

Probably not a ton, but the marketplace for national advertising was more favorable 50 years ago. Many TV stations signed off at midnight, or ran a B-movie. Many AM stations were still daytimers, and FM stations were not totally mainstream yet. So even if the audience working graveyard shift wasn't big, it was more unified than it is today.

 

[radiofan2023]

Seriously, if Loveline can make a comeback, why not create a lineup with younger hosts, aim for a younger demo, make it a little hip, with recognizable, well liked hosts.

Because most people in their 20s & 30s aren’t listening to the radio late at night. I think having hosts who are likable is more important than them being recognizable when you’re starting a new show. Recognizable people will usually want more money than people who are just starting out in entertainment, too.

Also, the new Loveline is nowhere near as good as the old one, because they don’t get many calls & can’t talk about medical stuff. I stopped listening after the second show.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

The reason why TalkNet and similar non-political talk shows went away was due to lack of passion. Very similar to the situation with Soft AC. It became wallpaper. It got very old, and lost interest from advertisers.

Then you have an issue with attracting affiliates. Back in the TalkNet days, stations carried NBC Radio Network News. So the talk network was marketed along with that. Today, network news is declining. Stations that carry it already have a problem with aging demographics and lack of advertising. The best potential affiliates already carry Sean Hannity or other conservative talk. So you end up with affiliates of mainly 1K AM stations in small markets.

So in answer to the question, the entire infrastructure that supported TalkNet has disappeared. While I hear what you say about people wanting non-political talk, that need doesn't translate into a business model for radio. Instead it makes for perhaps a podcast that someone might listen to on their own time.

You shoot down every programming idea raised on this site. News, too old. Music, can't compete with streaming. Non-political talk, no business model. Hannity seems to get a pass from you as if he's attracting the youth but apart from that, I don't hear any constructive ideas, only negativity. So what is radio supposed to program if not news, music or talk?

 

[KilowattKat]

Delilah is a nighttime music show that appeals to 55 plus.

Even TalkNet was mainly a nighttime network. But when Rush came along, he killed that kind of radio.

If that's true about Delilah attracting 55 plus listeners, than why do many Adult Contemporary stations carry her show, including WLTW New York? Seems like they would steer clear of her for bringing that many out of demo listeners. it's a music and talk show, with callers seeking advice or telling the story behind their song dedication.

Rush wasn't the reason for Talknet ending. In fact, the success of it brought competition from ABC that started their own nighttime talk network by luring Rafael sway from NBC, with Tom Snyder as a lead in show. Williams joined WW1 which took over NBC radio programming, and Myers moved to Australia. Basically, there were a lot of changes not related to political talk.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

You shoot down every programming idea raised on this site. News, too old. Music, can't compete with streaming. Non-political talk, no business model. Hannity seems to get a pass from you as if he's attracting the youth but apart from that, I don't hear any constructive ideas, only negativity. So what is radio supposed to program if not news, music or talk?

Shooting down or simply explaining reality is different now than then? There is absolutely no way something like that would be viable today.

 

[TheBigA]

If that's true about Delilah attracting 55 plus listeners, than why do many Adult Contemporary stations carry her show, including WLTW New York?

Her show is syndicated by iHeart, and they own WLTW. So they run her on their AC stations. Delilah herself is 64 years old.

In fact, the success of it brought competition from ABC that started their own nighttime talk network by luring Rafael sway from NBC,

Once again, this was in the early 80s when the networks were still in radio. That situation doesn't exist anymore. When I said Rush killed Talknet, I meant his STYLE of talk. That kind of hard-driving, rock music based talk actually led to what we see now on Fox News. But it made the old style talkers like Larry King and Michael Jackson obsolete.

 

[TheBigA]

So what is radio supposed to program if not news, music or talk?

It's a very tough environment. The reason those ideas get shot down is because of one thing: Money. Who's going to PAY for your great programming idea? No one knows. No one ever thinks about that. But in the real world where I live, that's the first question. Great programming ideas are a dime a dozen. We sit in "blue sky" meetings all the time and talk about new programming ideas and formats. But every conversation includes a discussion about where the money will come from, because everything we do is based on advertising.

So what's radio supposed to do? Any idea that involves a linear, real time 24/7 programming network won't get money. Any idea that involves limited appeal music that attracts older people won't get money. That's not OUR fault. That's the fault of advertisers. The advertisers don't care about programming. They want to sell people stuff, and the people don't want to be sold stuff. Therein lies the conflict.

So what radio needs to do to get out of this endless cycle is get out of the linear, real time 24/7 radio system and into something that is more on-demand. Where listeners pay instead of advertisers. Or maybe a combination of both listeners AND advertisers, which is what you have in streaming.

That's why every idea someone comes up with gets shot down. Because no one ever thinks about where the money will come from. They just assume it will come. If you build it, they will come. But that's not the model anymore.

 

[KilowattKat]

Kind of the situation WGN radio in Chicago is now in. Live and local talk for the most part but It's just dull and ratings are dropping.

WGN is ranked #8 with a 3.3 share in the PPM 6+. The ratings have been on an upswing. The opposite of what you're saying.

 

[KilowattKat]

Her show is syndicated by iHeart, and they own WLTW. So they run her on their AC stations. Delilah herself is 64 years old.

Again, why does iHeart carry her show if the demos are as old as you say? Wouldn't they want a younger host attracting a younger demographic?