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Talk Radio

A

azenergyfan

Guest
It struck me today listening to Tim and Willy on KTAR that many callers commented that it was nice to hear them in the afternoon but just hear some folks talking about everyday stuff on the radio. No politics, just everyday talk. Got me thinking, do we think phoenix will ever have a talk station that leaves the politics to 550 and 92.3 amoung others and justs bring on local hosts and syndicated hosts talking about general everyday issues? I would hope so. I actually enjoyed Tim and Willy this afternoon and really wouldn't mind a station giving us talk but focusing on lifestyle, water cooler, entertainment, health, fitness, type issues.
 
I don't know about completely leaving out politics, but a little more everyday topics is definitely needed in Phoenix talk radio. I totally agree. I didn't get to catch Tim and Willy on KTAR, but I'm planning on checking them out one of these days; I'm curious. I have to say, that's one reason I was (and still am) a fan of Joe Crummey. With his show on KFYI, he could transition from politics to everyday topics, and vice versa. It was a wonderful mix! But as for an entire station mainly leaving out politics, I don't know... Free FM was sort of like that, right?
 
I think we need more talk about immigration, because its so enlightening. ::)
 
azenergyfan said:
No politics, just everyday talk. Got me thinking, do we think phoenix will ever have a talk station that leaves the politics to 550 and 92.3 amoung others and justs bring on local hosts and syndicated hosts talking about general everyday issues?
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I think it's called 1310.
 
KJCB said:
azenergyfan said:
No politics, just everyday talk. Got me thinking, do we think phoenix will ever have a talk station that leaves the politics to 550 and 92.3 amoung others and justs bring on local hosts and syndicated hosts talking about general everyday issues?
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Yawwwwnnnnnn!!!! That's small-town old-folks radio at its worst. This is Phoenix, not Wausau. We can do better here. And I don't mean the incessant BS spewing from 550, 960, and 1480 either. Political talk of all stripes will always have its place. I just can't believe that so-called "toaster talk" is viable. There has to be another talk format that's both interesting and non-political. I haven't heard it yet other than sports, and that's a specialized format that I'm also not talking about here.

Hint: Keep an eye on WGN Chicago under the Tribune Company's new management over the next couple of years. They're the archetypal suburban-housewife/grandma & grandpa-friendly toaster-talk station, at least during the day. If they change or even severely modify that format, then I think one can say that toaster-talk is done in major markets.

I think it's called 1310.
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Yeah, they're really doing well with their less-than-0.4 ratings. If it wasn't for Aunt Edna & Uncle Louie and their friends in Geezer Seizure Leisure World, they'd be pretty close to 0.0.

And what happens when the WW2/Korean War generation pass on in another 5-10 years? Bye bye KXAM, KOY, and maybe even KTAR-FM in their current incarnations (although I thought KTAR's move to FM was supposed to prevent that from happening).
 
Keith, I didn't say 1310 was a rousing example of why stations everywhere should do a non-political format. But that is their format.

I thought WCKY/Cincy's short-lived advice talk format from last year sounded decent, although I would think it's a format ripe for a lot of paid programs. The answer for any AM station with no ratings is selling time; that will be the "hot" "new" format. That or leasing, a la 1480. AM isn't exactly a sexy concept right now, so the smart owners of dog stations will make a (somewhat) easy buck until every good AM station moves to FM. I'm not convinced that will happen anytime in the very near future, but likely will eventually.
 
Doesn't have to be political 24x7.

Could focus, at intervals, on technology/law/movies/TV topics.

But it does have to be interesting, insightful or entertaining enough to sustain an audience. Talking about visiting grandma or fishing with your uncle or whether you wad or fold the toilet paper ain't gonna get it…
 
One of the best non political talk shows I ever heard in PHX was about 10 or so years ago, it was called "Talking Pictures"

The host was local, but was a screenwriter and worked in the business for a long time. It wasn't a movie review show, it was about film. Discussing directors, technique, genre and the like. And not dumbed down.
 
j henry waugh said:
Doesn't have to be political 24x7.

Could focus, at intervals, on technology/law/movies/TV topics.
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Technology is boring on radio. It's boring off radio unless you work in the field. Leave the tech stuff to the internet where it belongs.

Law, outside of Bill Handel's show (which can be interesting, but maybe that's just me because I like Handel's KFI morning show as well), is also not radio-friendly. Neither are most lawyers.

Show-biz topics are best done on TV and in print media. Financial programming is already covered between KFNN and the weekend stuff on KFYI and KTAR-FM.

But it does have to be interesting, insightful or entertaining enough to sustain an audience.
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What's "interesting, insightful, and entertaining" is a matter of personal preference, of course, but it has to be that to a medium-to-large audience. Outside of news/politics & sports, what else is left that can appeal to the general public and also work on radio?

Talking about visiting grandma or fishing with your uncle or whether you wad or fold the toilet paper ain't gonna get it…
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Are they biting where you are? ;D
 
Leo La Porte does a great tech talk show on KFYI on the weekends that is definately not boring. Bill Handel on the law is a scream-wish he was on daily-and he's informative. When talk shows don't focus on politics, they veer towards toaster talk, finances, relationships, the paranormal, or hot talk. Yechh.
 
pattiwacki said:
Leo La Porte does a great tech talk show on KFYI on the weekends that is definately not boring. Bill Handel on the law is a scream-wish he was on daily-and he's informative. When talk shows don't focus on politics, they veer towards toaster talk, finances, relationships, the paranormal, or hot talk. Yechh.
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Leo's Tech Guy show is one of my favorites — but a lot of it is because of Leo and that he just doesn't focus on PCs — he covers the entire realm of tech — big screen TVs, Macs, PCs, cell phones, cameras, home networking, internet, etc.…

And Leo's growing podcast empire has some gems in it (and a few not so noteworthy)…

* This Week in Tech (TWIT)
* MacBreak Weekly
* This Week in Law

Handel has a good show too.
 
LaPorte and Handel are both one day delayed, which sucks, they both have great shows. And KFYI doesn't do all 3 hours of Komando, they should, it beats the hell out of listening to Jan D'atri talk about pesto sauce.
 
Several years ago Bob Boze Bell and David K Jones did a show from the Mine Shaft restaurant in Cave Creek. They talked about lots of local events, had local guests, and didn't dwell on politics. They had a TV tuned to local morning news, so that they could be current on what was going on. It was one of my favorites, and I even made the effort to drive out there 2 or 3 times to have breakfast. Somebody should check their archives (if they exist) and get some ideas. I think the key is knowing what your talking about, and keeping current. You can't bring somebody in from out of state and expect him to do a good local show. I would rather listen to Leibowitz than Ankarlo, because Leibowitz knew where Pruitt's is located, and Ankarlo has to ask where Home Depot is. Pair up Bob Boze Bell and Jana Boomersbach, and you would have a winner of a local show.
 
I really don't like all this angry music. Pop, Rock, Rap, R&B. They're all so angry. Why do all music stations have to be so angry?
I wish there was a station wasn't so angry.

I wish we had a sweedish polka station that would cater to everybody, not just those who want angry music.

I heard this really great sweedish polka station in E. BumF&*K, Iowa. I know it would work here.
 
Hey, one radio station is playing ads for the upcoming Bobby Vinton concert in Sun City.

Oxygen tanks will be provided.
 
Attention: the 10 people who opine on this board:

Such programming is already on the air in Phoenix, at KJZZ.

NPR stations in many markets are in the top 10, beating the commercial crapfest that has become AM radio.

Their talk programming is exactly what is being discussed here.

It's amazing that the same 10 people continue to say the same 10 things here.

And "Toaster Talk" done right is quite entertaining and very profitable. Last I checked WGN radio still owned Chicago.
 
Sniff...you don't like us?

Crushed, Crushed I tell you!

You are such an unhappy little drone (unless you can spread your unhappiness)

Have a rocking new years, and come up with something new to say.

(you are the 11th person and you say the same thing every time, but irony seems to escape you)
 
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