NEED HELP WITH FM TALK LINEUP

[SeanMGilbow]

One more thing, whatever you decide to do Stay Away From Progressive Talk! it has failed even when it is tried in liberal markets and will fail even worse in your market.

Air America was a failure, yes. Dial Global, however, is showing there is money to be made with the right progressive talkers (Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Bill Press). This is the same company that markets the likes of Neal Boortz and Michael Smerconish and the politically neutral Clark Howard.

And there are markets such as Asheville, North Carolina, and Portland where the format has proven successful. Guess who owns the stations? Clear Channel.

 

[waketheherd]

Do you have any local news presence? If you could do a better job than your competitors in that category it would be a good start. It would cost money, but it would be worth it if the AM's are dropping the ball locally.

I agree with many here that the Clark Howard, Dave Ramsey "service" route would be the best to take. They are both real pros and I am always very impressed with both shows when I listen. Dr. Laura, Dean Edell are other options that my garner in audience in your community.

If you were to try any type of political talk I would go with two who I consider the best - Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann. Miller would give you a female presence that the your competitors don't have and she is very funny. Hartmann is soft-spoken, very smart, and has a populist bent that could appeal to many in your small conservative community.

Dennis Prager is another option. He is conservative, but like Hartmann he is not afraid to debate the opposition. They both in fact welcome it with a list of guests from the other ends of their spectrum.

Another option - if you try and stay conservative - is to go "rouge" and put GCN shows like Alex Jones, George Whitehurst Berry, Derry Brownfield, What Really Happened and Free Talk Live on the air. That ought to shake up things in your market.

 

[wyattcox]

I would tend to think that what I'm seeing (and not even knowing if they're available) my gut reaction would be a Howard/Dr Joy/Ramsey lineup with Miller for spice might not be a bad move. I'd try it....

 

[DavidKaye]

We're in a small market which leans very far right (over 75% voted for McCain / Palin in 2008).

Go with the lefties; they will infuriate your listeners so much they'll HAVE to keep listening.

 

[Big Bopper]

None of the above. Select one of the AM talkers and cut a deal for both of you to simulcast.
They have the programs and you have the better coverage, so you sell the simulcast as a package and come up with a fair split on the revenues. Perhaps they pay you a fee for the expanded coverage. Your cost is zero, except for electricity, telephone and sales commissions.
Run the other AM out of the Talk format, then let the feast begin.

You can thank me later.

The Big Bopper

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I don't know if our friend is still reading, or if he's started up the thing already

But I'd agree with the service talk route, for at least part of it. Clark Howard and Dave Ramsey are very much counterpoints to what your competition is doing (and Dial Global will certainly push you Neal Boortz if you ask about Clark ).

If these shows are available in your market, you're probably not in the south. Sounds like a northern rural market. I am a huge Stephanie Miller fan, but if 75% of your market was McCain/Palin, good luck with that.

FNR's Tom Sullivan might be a good choice. He is, by far, not a cookie cutter conservative...despite being on the same station that launched Rush into superstardom. And he knows his money, good for this economy (and compatible with Ramsey and Howard as a result).

You have some good advice here...hope it helps!