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Talk Radio network may have suspended operations
- Thread starter raccoonradio
- Start date
No TRN news in the trades since one of the executives resigned last week. Stations are uncertain as to what's to come - TRN has been telling them that everything is OK.
I was given a copy of TRN's "confidential" affiliate contract. They actually demand that stations continue to air whatever TRN sends to them, regardless of if the host quits, show changes, or whatever. So, if you signed up for Andrea Tantaros and they replace her, you have to take whoever the replacement is. Clauses like that surely are not winning them fans among program directors.
Combine the control-freak affiliate contract with the fact that almost all Clear Channel and Cumulus stations have dropped TRN programming in the last couple of years, and you can see why TRN has been having trouble - they've been hemorrhaging big sticks in big markets as Cumulus and CC have slowly replaced TRN shows with their own syndicated product.
I was given a copy of TRN's "confidential" affiliate contract. They actually demand that stations continue to air whatever TRN sends to them, regardless of if the host quits, show changes, or whatever. So, if you signed up for Andrea Tantaros and they replace her, you have to take whoever the replacement is. Clauses like that surely are not winning them fans among program directors.
Combine the control-freak affiliate contract with the fact that almost all Clear Channel and Cumulus stations have dropped TRN programming in the last couple of years, and you can see why TRN has been having trouble - they've been hemorrhaging big sticks in big markets as Cumulus and CC have slowly replaced TRN shows with their own syndicated product.
That's amazing -- and scarey. Tonight, Roy "Daddy" Masters is "filling in" for Jerry Doyle. There's not a shred of similarity between Doyle's news-driven show and Masters' psychobabble. Perhaps affiliates will look more closely at what they agree to in the future.
Considering TRNs issues, I doubt that affiliates would have much to fear if they didn't air TRNs product should they switch content. It's unlikely that TRN could really do anything about it at this point. It's a shame from the perspective that this removes a valuable resource for small station groups and indepedents. Remaining smaller syndicators like Radio America could perhaps capitalize on this, particularly if they develop a hourly newscast and reach out to some of the displaced TRN talent.
F
FredLeonard
Guest
This could make stations even less likely to want to get in bed with also-ran syndicators (like Radio America). This is more likely an opportunity for Cumulus/Dial Global, which has more than one show running in some dayparts. And for Salem.
And there is no need to get a newscast from the same distributor as the talk shows (or even to get all talk shows from the same distributors).
Much as distributors might like to make themselves a turn-key solution, modern technology makes that unnecessary even for smaller stations.
This could even lead to a growth in self-syndication and a weakening of the current syndication model. Distributors? We don't need no stinkin' distributors.
And there is no need to get a newscast from the same distributor as the talk shows (or even to get all talk shows from the same distributors).
Much as distributors might like to make themselves a turn-key solution, modern technology makes that unnecessary even for smaller stations.
This could even lead to a growth in self-syndication and a weakening of the current syndication model. Distributors? We don't need no stinkin' distributors.
Syndication isn't the problem. Everyone has access to the internet or any distribution channel. The problem is selling the shows to advertisers. That was TRN's problem. They had to rely on someone else to handle their sales.
The guy who updates this stuff probably quit after not being paid.
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