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Talk Radio Guest Question

When I worked as a Board Operator at NewsTalk 57 27 years ago, I found out that quite a few of their guests were only on there because they had paid to be a guest on the show. For example, an author or a psychic might pay a thousand bucks just to be interviewed on a talk show for 30 minutes.

I have a pretty strong suspicion that many of the guests on Jay Leno or David Letterman paid to be on there, as well.

For example, when they have a movie star on the same night that their movie premieres, I'm willing to bet most of the time that the movie studio paid for them to be on that night.

Anyone have any idea what percent of the guests on David Letterman or Jay Leno are there because someone paid for them to be on the show?
 
0%. In fact, the people are usually paid a set fee, through the union, in order to be on the show.

You really haven't stumbled upon some sort of "X-Files" like conspiracy, when people whose movie's are opening are actually out promoting them. It's called promotion. When they don't have a movie opening, or something else going on, they won't go on those shows.

Also, I seriously doubt that anyone, especially a psychic or an author, would have paid $1,000, back in 1978, to be on a show for 1/2 an hour. I think you got some questionable info.







> When I worked as a Board Operator at NewsTalk 57 27 years
> ago, I found out that quite a few of their guests were only
> on there because they had paid to be a guest on the show.
> For example, an author or a psychic might pay a thousand
> bucks just to be interviewed on a talk show for 30 minutes.
>
> I have a pretty strong suspicion that many of the guests on
> Jay Leno or David Letterman paid to be on there, as well.
>
> For example, when they have a movie star on the same night
> that their movie premieres, I'm willing to bet most of the
> time that the movie studio paid for them to be on that
> night.
>
> Anyone have any idea what percent of the guests on David
> Letterman or Jay Leno are there because someone paid for
> them to be on the show?
>
 
> Also, I seriously doubt that anyone, especially a psychic or
> an author, would have paid $1,000, back in 1978, to be on a
> show for 1/2 an hour. I think you got some questionable
> info.

Perhaps the $1000 figure is off, but it is a fact that many Talk Radio guests pay the station to be on there.

Neil Sperry's entire show, for example, is airtime that he pays for. The same was true for Al Carrell. When the Oral Roberts' ministry would have their hour long show on Sunday, that was also time they paid for.

I'm sure someone will reply who knows more specifically about this.
 
You are talking about barter shows, my friend. It's true that people will pay to be able to broadcast a show, on some stations. It's usually just on the weekends, when lawyers, or gardeners, or real estate guys, or religious groups will buy an hour. It's a money making venture, for the stations.

But, it is not a fact that "many" guests of talk shows pay to be on. There is very little money for publicity, in books, unless you are Steven King. Plus, they would have do dole this money out to station after station after station. It just doesn't happen. Plus, I can tell you that, after 15 years in talk radio, in various positions, in both very large and very small markets, I have never once been approached by anyone who wanted to pay to be on a show. I have also never heard of anyone taking money to put a guest on. We still live and die by ratings. If you have a boring author, of a boring book on your show, no one will listen. You will get no ratings, and you will get fired. It doesn't matter how much they offer to pay you. This doesn't even begin to touch on the ethical aspects of this. You are, basically, talking about payolla, here.

Honestly, I don't think you know what you are talking about. I think you have a theory about how talk radio works. But, I don't really think you understand what happens.



> > Also, I seriously doubt that anyone, especially a psychic
> or
> > an author, would have paid $1,000, back in 1978, to be on
> a
> > show for 1/2 an hour. I think you got some questionable
> > info.
>
> Perhaps the $1000 figure is off, but it is a fact that many
> Talk Radio guests pay the station to be on there.
>
> Neil Sperry's entire show, for example, is airtime that he
> pays for. The same was true for Al Carrell. When the Oral
> Roberts' ministry would have their hour long show on Sunday,
> that was also time they paid for.
>
> I'm sure someone will reply who knows more specifically
> about this.
>
 
>> Neil Sperry's entire show, for example, is airtime that he
> pays for. The same was true for Al Carrell. When the Oral
> Roberts' ministry would have their hour long show on Sunday,
> that was also time they paid for.
>
> I'm sure someone will reply who knows more specifically
> about this.
>
That's a completely different area than what you started off with. Most weekend shows like Al, Neil, Howard, etc.are either paid for or bartered. Infomercials which are disguised shows, are paid for. Once paid they can do anything they want as long as Fcc rules and station policy is not violated. When radio first started there were plenty of paid shows ,mostly from the religous side,but "soap Operas" started out that way when somelike Proctor& Gamble paid for a time slot to advertise their goods.
 
> >> Neil Sperry's entire show, for example, is airtime that
> he
> > pays for. The same was true for Al Carrell. When the
> Oral
> > Roberts' ministry would have their hour long show on
> Sunday,
> > that was also time they paid for.
> >
> > I'm sure someone will reply who knows more specifically
> > about this.
> >
> That's a completely different area than what you started off
> with. Most weekend shows like Al, Neil, Howard, etc.are
> either paid for or bartered. Infomercials which are
> disguised shows, are paid for. Once paid they can do
> anything they want as long as Fcc rules and station policy
> is not violated. When radio first started there were plenty
> of paid shows ,mostly from the religous side,but "soap
> Operas" started out that way when somelike Proctor& Gamble
> paid for a time slot to advertise their goods.
>

Mr. Murrow,

I've noticed you have over 2000 post on here. Do you have a job?
 
> Mr. Murrow,
>
> I've noticed you have over 2000 post on here. Do you have a
> job?
>
Sure do, and it's in media, and if my posts enoy you, then simply skip over them. Enjoy the day.
 
Yes, you may be confusing things a bit. Although stations & hosts aren't paid for guest appearances, there are pay services that help place authors on talk shows. For a fee they'll help an author get bookings.
If what you say about WFAA 57 was true, then my pal Ed Busch would be driving a Rolls Royce. He ain't.




> You are talking about barter shows, my friend. It's true
> that people will pay to be able to broadcast a show, on some
> stations. It's usually just on the weekends, when lawyers,
> or gardeners, or real estate guys, or religious groups will
> buy an hour. It's a money making venture, for the stations.
>
>
> But, it is not a fact that "many" guests of talk shows pay
> to be on. There is very little money for publicity, in
> books, unless you are Steven King. Plus, they would have do
> dole this money out to station after station after station.
> It just doesn't happen. Plus, I can tell you that, after 15
> years in talk radio, in various positions, in both very
> large and very small markets, I have never once been
> approached by anyone
who wanted to pay to be on a show. I
> have also never heard of anyone taking money to put a guest
> on. We still live and die by ratings. If you have a boring
> author, of a boring book on your show, no one will listen.
> You will get no ratings, and you will get fired. It doesn't
> matter how much they offer to pay you. This doesn't even
> begin to touch on the ethical aspects of this. You are,
> basically, talking about payolla, here.
>
> Honestly, I don't think you know what you are talking about.
> I think you have a theory about how talk radio works. But,
> I don't really think you understand what happens.
>
>
>
> > > Also, I seriously doubt that anyone, especially a
> psychic
> > or
> > > an author, would have paid $1,000, back in 1978, to be
> on
> > a
> > > show for 1/2 an hour. I think you got some questionable
>
> > > info.
> >
> > Perhaps the $1000 figure is off, but it is a fact that
> many
> > Talk Radio guests pay the station to be on there.
> >
> > Neil Sperry's entire show, for example, is airtime that he
>
> > pays for. The same was true for Al Carrell. When the
> Oral
> > Roberts' ministry would have their hour long show on
> Sunday,
> > that was also time they paid for.
> >
> > I'm sure someone will reply who knows more specifically
> > about this.
> >
>
 
> > Mr. Murrow,
> >
> > I've noticed you have over 2000 post on here. Do you have
> a
> > job?
> >
> Sure do, and it's in media, and if my posts enoy you, then
> simply skip over them. Enjoy the day.


Mr. Murrow,

Did you mean ANNOY? Must be a board op with that education :)
>
 
> > > Mr. Murrow,
> > >
> > > I've noticed you have over 2000 post on here. Do you
> have
> > a
> > > job?
> > >
> > Sure do, and it's in media, and if my posts enoy you, then
>
> > simply skip over them. Enjoy the day.
>
>
> Mr. Murrow,
>
> Did you mean ANNOY? Must be a board op with that education
> :)
> >
>
ahh darn..speed typist I am not. (Yoda : Book one). ANNOY is correct, Darn me.:)
 
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