Whispers of Change in the Nashville Talk landscape

[jetfli]

Ask anyone involved with sports radio, when the local team is having the most trouble, sports talk gets great ratings. And who is having more trouble right now on the political scene? Of course, the conservatives. As Obama moves into the White House, you can bet the conservative talk radio scene is going to heat up.

There are already whispers of change in the Nashville Talk landscape:

• Fred Thompson will host a daily show for Westwood One as a replacement for Bill O'Reilly. Whereas the Nospinster never really caught on here, WW1 is already busy fielding calls from the 615 area code.
  
• Steve Gill is set to host a new show for Radio America, 2 - 5 p.m. CT.
  
• SuperTalk's website is sitting empty, as it has for several days now.
  
• Citadel's ABC Radio Networks have added some heavy-hitting national talkers. WW1 has a huge stable of big names that aren't heard locally. All syndicates are in building mode, looking for the next big audience grabber. So there's a lot of content out there, which brings us to the final bullet...
  
• Feelers are being put out locally as to the viability of a third commercial talker!
  

 

[kr0nic]

SuperTalk's website is back up. I don't think they have any dedicated web people over there...last I heard their sites were updated by one of their Sales Assistants.

 

[Signal_Faded]

If someone is really thinking about a third commercial talker maybe Cumulus should flip the Fan to traditional talk and keep afternoon sports (Al La Plaster and Co on WTN years ago). I know the signal is not great but another real talker on the FM side could really hurt WLAC.

Thompson may catch on here but I think WW1 is crazy if they think he has national appeal. Why would a guy that couldn't get traction filling in for Paul Harvey make a good choice for a long form show? WW1 was grasping at straws picking Fred.

Gill going 2-5 is interesting to me. Will he continue his local show on WLAC and do another national show from 2-5? That is quite a bit of time on air for a guy...his national show won't be heard locally (unless the third talker materializes) so it could be a near word for word retread.

 

[Fredj1979]

Today Super Talk was running Degerno in the morning, followed by syndicated shows, like Tammy Bruce and whoever was filling in for O’Reilly. Is this a taste of things to come in the new year? Perhaps they are dropping all of their local shows because satellites is more profitable. Besides Both Phil and Ramsey are national, so they can run them anyways, even if they plan to go “all off the bird” 24-7. Face it, this election proves America wants change, and there is no place the “all-right-wing-all-the-time” line up that Super Talk brings Nashville.

 

[Journeyman]

Today Super Talk was running Degerno in the morning, followed by syndicated shows, like Tammy Bruce and whoever was filling in for O’Reilly. Is this a taste of things to come in the new year? Perhaps they are dropping all of their local shows because satellites is more profitable. Besides Both Phil and Ramsey are national, so they can run them anyways, even if they plan to go “all off the bird” 24-7. Face it, this election proves America wants change, and there is no place the “all-right-wing-all-the-time” line up that Super Talk brings Nashville.

Or maybe Ralph Bristol was on vacation

 

[jwk1979]

Or maybe Ralph Bristol was on vacation

It's funny that both Ralph Bristol and Michael Del Giorngo were both on vacation this week and next week when just a few weeks ago they both were B#$&^ing about both State and Metro employees getting three days off for Christmas, basically stating no one deserves more than two days off at Christmas.

 

[Nashsound]

It's not unusually for air staff to cram vacation days at the end of the year when the ratings period is over. Could be a contractural thing.
Then, there are the engineers...

Merry Christmas all!

 

[Journeyman]

Or maybe Ralph Bristol was on vacation

It's funny that both Ralph Bristol and Michael Del Giorngo were both on vacation this week and next week when just a few weeks ago they both were B#$&^ing about both State and Metro employees getting three days off for Christmas, basically stating no one deserves more than two days off at Christmas.

#1 -- Acording to the previous post DelGiorno was filling in for Ralph

#2 -- Cumulus staff gets at least 2 weeks paid vacation per year (and only two days off for Christmas)

 

[deltas69]

(and only two days off for Christmas) ahhh.the perks of big time radio..in the old days ..at least where i worked in humble peso fashion...there were NO days off for jocks..wasn't so bad in a daytimer..where sign on was 7 and off was 4:30 ..i always worked all day Christmas .sign on til sign off..it was pre mix 92..but thats the one day we did all Christmas music..just slap an album on and let it track..other nerdowells would drop by with food and drink..made for a festive shift..someone else got the all day hangover duty for jan first..

 

[Journeyman]

(and only two days off for Christmas)...worked all day Christmas .sign on til sign off..it was pre mix 92..but thats the one day we did all Christmas music..just slap an album on and let it track..other nerdowells would drop by with food and drink..made for a festive shift..someone else got the all day hangover duty for jan first..

The one positive thing I can say about Stellite and automation ... it made days off possible!

 

[kr0nic]

It would appear, at least for now, that Gill's afternoon show on Radio America is a rebroadcast of his WLAC morning show.

 

[scottwmro]

(and only two days off for Christmas)...worked all day Christmas .sign on til sign off..it was pre mix 92..but thats the one day we did all Christmas music..just slap an album on and let it track..other nerdowells would drop by with food and drink..made for a festive shift..someone else got the all day hangover duty for jan first..

The one positive thing I can say about Stellite and automation ... it made days off possible!

The last time I had to work on Christmas was at WQQK (92Q) in 1991. There was no automation they could afford then, and the old shaffer automation was used on sister station WVOL, with ABC's black adult format.

You CAN make a satellite format sound local, but one must be creative and work with the networks elements. The closest station that has carries our format is 95.9, WRJB in Camden, TN. They use it 24/7, like we do. The reason why people get upset with automation of any sort is it cuts jobs. The typical announcer has never had to sit in the GM/Owner's chair, and try to figure out where the next dime is going to come from to make payroll. This is why WWON in Waynesboro has sold again.

We can just thank this past administration for putting us in this economic mess. Over 200,000 people, including me, lost thier jobs this year, not just radio, but in other professions as well. I was forced to retire early from my day job away from owning Magic 1560. They blamed it on my medical condition, but they owe me disability to some degree.

I encourage that people & students to learn more about computers, instead of just sitting there running the borad and playing D.J.

Yes, I know stations like WSGI in Springfield is fully staffed. But how long can Neil Peterson's money last, unless the Daddy "O" on the patio is working as a volunteer. WSGI's sister station, WDBL is automated, 24/7. WSGI is just a daytime only operation with no pre-sunrise or post-sunset. Bill Gray is retired out of politics and he has time to go over to WSGI and do the reporting he does. I'm glad he does, keeps up his health, and gets paid for it.

In today's economic situation, a small, stand alone AM can go broke by not cutting corners. Being local comes with a price tag, which your local mom and pop businesses can not afford advertising like they could 30 years ago. If your AM is in a non-rated area, you have a much better chance of being "live and local" than stations that are tied in to metro markets, like this one, with seven counties around it with stand alone AM stations.

 

[Evangelist]

Now that we know all about operating a small AM, let's get back to the topic--talk radio.

I didn't realize Steve Gill's mid-morning show was now syndicated as an afternoon rerun. Interesting.

I wish another station around here would carry Glenn Beck live if WLAC is going to continue with brokered programming.

 

[scottwmro]

Now that we know all about operating a small AM, let's get back to the topic--talk radio.

I didn't realize Steve Gill's mid-morning show was now syndicated as an afternoon rerun. Interesting.

I wish another station around here would carry Glenn Beck live if WLAC is going to continue with brokered programming.

Oh Mr. Newsman,

The same goes for Corporate FM or 50 KW AM's in medium and large markets, why do you think we have "brokered programming" and music formats like Jack, to cut cost in a lousy economy! I don't keep up with WLAC's talk programs, but having a "paid/broker" program, coming off satellite, with the breaks taken care of by a PC/Automation system makes sense. Lots and lots of what was local talk programs are now being carried from sources like Westwood One, ABC, Dial Global, Jones, etc. for other markets to air. It all boils down to the bottom line. Less empolyees, and not breaking the budget. And guess what, I even have 2 PAID broker programs.

 

[aeulgr1]

I see the name Supertalk used in other states as well. Are they all parts of the same company or is the name Supertalk generic?

 

[kr0nic]

I thought it was a franchised thing like Jack, Music of Your Life or 24-Carrot Country. Maybe licensed is a better word.

 

[bub]

Now that we know all about operating a small AM, let's get back to the topic--talk radio.

I didn't realize Steve Gill's mid-morning show was now syndicated as an afternoon rerun. Interesting.

I wish another station around here would carry Glenn Beck live if WLAC is going to continue with brokered programming.

Oh Mr. Newsman,

The same goes for Corporate FM or 50 KW AM's in medium and large markets, why do you think we have "brokered programming" and music formats like Jack, to cut cost in a lousy economy!

If it hasn't happened already, it's only a matter of time before INFOMERCIALS start popping up around the dial in DRIVE TIME! :

 

[Evangelist]

Now that we know all about operating a small AM, let's get back to the topic--talk radio.

I didn't realize Steve Gill's mid-morning show was now syndicated as an afternoon rerun. Interesting.

I wish another station around here would carry Glenn Beck live if WLAC is going to continue with brokered programming.

Oh Mr. Newsman,

The same goes for Corporate FM or 50 KW AM's in medium and large markets, why do you think we have "brokered programming" and music formats like Jack, to cut cost in a lousy economy! I don't keep up with WLAC's talk programs, but having a "paid/broker" program, coming off satellite, with the breaks taken care of by a PC/Automation system makes sense. Lots and lots of what was local talk programs are now being carried from sources like Westwood One, ABC, Dial Global, Jones, etc. for other markets to air. It all boils down to the bottom line. Less empolyees, and not breaking the budget. And guess what, I even have 2 PAID broker programs.

And your topic about running your station is fine for another thread.

This one is about talk shows that air in Nashville. Some of those are syndicated and others are local. Steve Gill's program is local and displaced Glenn Beck's live broadcast on WLAC, and I expressed my wish that someone around here would carry Beck live.

The guys at 104.5 are doing well with their sports talk format. Good talent and good promotion. That's the way to do it.

 

[scottwmro]

Now that we know all about operating a small AM, let's get back to the topic--talk radio.

I didn't realize Steve Gill's mid-morning show was now syndicated as an afternoon rerun. Interesting.

I wish another station around here would carry Glenn Beck live if WLAC is going to continue with brokered programming.

Oh Mr. Newsman,

The same goes for Corporate FM or 50 KW AM's in medium and large markets, why do you think we have "brokered programming" and music formats like Jack, to cut cost in a lousy economy! I don't keep up with WLAC's talk programs, but having a "paid/broker" program, coming off satellite, with the breaks taken care of by a PC/Automation system makes sense. Lots and lots of what was local talk programs are now being carried from sources like Westwood One, ABC, Dial Global, Jones, etc. for other markets to air. It all boils down to the bottom line. Less empolyees, and not breaking the budget. And guess what, I even have 2 PAID broker programs.

And your topic about running your station is fine for another thread.

This one is about talk shows that air in Nashville. Some of those are syndicated and others are local. Steve Gill's program is local and displaced Glenn Beck's live broadcast on WLAC, and I expressed my wish that someone around here would carry Beck live.

The guys at 104.5 are doing well with their sports talk format. Good talent and good promotion. That's the way to do it.

Have you contacted someone at Clear Channel about your concerns? WLAC, being a 50 KW station in this market, should be local, at least during the day, like it was in the 80's. I can understand brokered/paid programming at night, because of the skywave and these dumb preachers think they are reaching the world on a 50 KW station covering 30 states and we all know nobody is paying them any attention, but during the day, Clear Channel should have some sense to be live and local.

This goes back to the storm coverage thread we discussed. The talk show host can give weather reports as he/she does thier live program. I agree, Mr. Beck's program should be carried live, at the WLAC studios. As a matter of fact, all the talk show host (except Rush) should be live at the Clear Channel Studios, Nashville. But being I don't fully understand the situation over there, I should speak on this subject.

 

[olebud]

This goes back to the storm coverage thread we discussed. The talk show host can give weather reports as he/she does thier live program. I agree, Mr. Beck's program should be carried live, at the WLAC studios. As a matter of fact, all the talk show host (except Rush) should be live at the Clear Channel Studios, Nashville. But being I don't fully understand the situation over there, I should speak on this subject.

Scott....Scott.....Scott...... You don't want anyone telling you what to do with your station but you readily distribute your opinion on what everyone else should do. You're preaching to the choir. All of us, especially those no longer are employed in radio, agree. Radio does it well. You can't take television along in the car to talk about weather and have a personal rapport with listeners. And believe me, there are a number of pros in this town who could do it well....if given the chance.

What's going on at WLAC and CC? You need to read other boards and sites like Taylor on Radio. Clear Channel is bleeding $$$$$$. Reported there is a big meeting of CC GMs in El Paso next week and cuts of 20 to 30 percent in employees --- and maybe other things ---are rumored. I have no direct knowledge (haven't spoken to Romer in a couple of weeks) but you only have to google clear channel to get an idea of the flow.