Programming a 2nd-tier station...

[mr_arbitron]

The Salem Radio line-up might work for you.

http://srnonline.com/talk/index.shtml

Hugh Hewitt has the absolute WORST ATTENDANCE record at Salem

I'm suprised there isn't any Advertiser's revolt.. Hewitt has never did a 5 day week
at Salem.. His shows are now mostly taped interviews

 

[SportsRadioDoc]

First, with the line-up that you have, I would make all of my available time in network programming have some kind of local flavor with benchmark elements. Not talking about news or sports updates, but what's going on around town type of stuff, the daily grind, something with high production value. Really make it sing. Play the hits locally during your "network time". This will get the listeners to pay closer attention to your network fare. See how that goes if you can't go local with your programming before you abandon your current line-up. Just my 2 cents FWIW.

 

[dustintv]

Got another question...when chosing a news service to give updates at the top and bottom of the hour, who's the best? ABC, Fox, CBS, or CNN?

 

[freekobe]

As for the news product - ABC is head & shoulders above the rest.
However, that being said, you must clear a hell of a lot of spots to keep them.
Fox is making some in-roads and is sounding better. CBS is old.

Here's my lineup...
1st Tier 2nd Tier
5-9AM: Local AM host ////// 5-9 Live/Local news, tx, wx, sp
9AM-12PM: Glenn Beck ///// 9-12 Live / Local talk
12-3PM: Rush Limbaugh //// 12-3 Live / Local talk
3-7PM: Local PM host ////// 3-6 Savage
7-10PM: Sean Hannity ///// 6-10 Local Sports Talk
10-12AM: Mark Levin ////// 10-1 Jerry Doyle
12AM-5AM: Coast to Coast // 1-5 Midnight Radio Network

 

[ajhenderson]

As for news, I agree ABC is probably the best. Although if 15-20% of your audience prefers Fox News as its #1 off-radio news source, the branding prospects of FNR might be excellent, as well. Unless you clear some of their bad programming, though, it's going to cost you. For the markets you list, probably between $500-1,000 a month, although the cash reduces a lot of the spot load other networks charge. CNN sounds amateurish and also has a large spot load (around 250 min/wk). CBS, same, and the casts are too long IMHO to put local news after the net cast and still slide an avail or two in.

As for the news product - ABC is head & shoulders above the rest.
However, that being said, you must clear a hell of a lot of spots to keep them.
Fox is making some in-roads and is sounding better. CBS is old.

Here's my lineup...
1st Tier 2nd Tier
5-9AM: Local AM host ////// 5-9 Live/Local news, tx, wx, sp
9AM-12PM: Glenn Beck ///// 9-12 Live / Local talk
12-3PM: Rush Limbaugh //// 12-3 Live / Local talk
3-7PM: Local PM host ////// 3-6 Savage
7-10PM: Sean Hannity ///// 6-10 Local Sports Talk
10-12AM: Mark Levin ////// 10-1 Jerry Doyle
12AM-5AM: Coast to Coast // 1-5 Midnight Radio Network

Savage isn't on until 6 ET. If you want to go national in PMD, try to steal Hannity and move him up to a live clear. I'd prefer Phil Hendrie or even John and Jeff over MRN, which is dying.