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Would Monitor work now?

J

job

Guest
Would (NBC radio's) "weekend service" Monitor work as a satellite delivered weekend, evening or overnight format. NBC is out of radio and maybe the Monitor could not be used. Maybe the format would need some updating. But could the extended "phantasmagoria" of live pick-ups, breaking news, sports, live performances, event remotes, interviews, comedy bits and more work on news-talk stations? Or as a format for public radio?
 
The technology is there; but the major problem is getting local stations
to give up time for a network program. NBC would have to be generous with local
spots. Also, there is a problem with music offerings. The original Monitor did play music -- usually MOR, adult pop or chicken rock. What would it play today:
oldies and AC??
BTW it's my understanding that NBC cannot start its own network until the end of 2007, when its original license agreement with WW1 expires. The current NBC News Radio is a joint venture with WW1.
Dirk Van's "First Light on NBC Radio" from WW1, if expanded, could be a Monitor-styled show. The closest right now is probably "All Things Considered" from NPR
and "Bloomberg on the Weekend" from Bloomberg Biz Radio.
action central (GEC)
 
> The technology is there; but the major problem is getting
> local stations
> to give up time for a network program. NBC would have to be
> generous with local
> spots. Also, there is a problem with music offerings. The
> original Monitor did play music -- usually MOR, adult pop or
> chicken rock. What would it play today:
> oldies and AC??
> BTW it's my understanding that NBC cannot start its own
> network until the end of 2007, when its original license
> agreement with WW1 expires. The current NBC News Radio is a
> joint venture with WW1.
> Dirk Van's "First Light on NBC Radio" from WW1, if expanded,
> could be a Monitor-styled show. The closest right now is
> probably "All Things Considered" from NPR
> and "Bloomberg on the Weekend" from Bloomberg Biz Radio.
> action central (GEC)
>
I don't know if I agree with your assumption that stations would be unwilling to clear the time. Look at all of the syndicated programming stations run on the weekends. It would probably be easier and perhaps more profitable for them to run a program like Monitor.

Oldies and and Oldies based AC would work well, especially if this were to be offered to AM radio stations.
 
There are more than a few "if's" that would need to be addressed if a "Monitor-type" long-form program were to be offered.

As stations have moved away from having a jock/board-op on duty at all times and relying on segue-syndiation on the weekends and overnight, have not many stations simply taken shows that fill air time that would not be sold on on high priority? (Better to have "basket-weaving by satellite" than dead air?)
This in some cases makes for a patchwork quilt of programs that cover the air hours but may not be a huge tune-in factor. On the other hand, would listeners tune in if they knew the "Monitor" program was on all weekend and they could listen to some now and some later? Then also, what happens to the listener who tunes in each week for that computer show or money-managing program?
Have we lost them to whoever else might pick them up?

Plus, as this type of program would be mosly on AM (for whatever reason), would not the seasons of baseball/footbal/hockey and schoolboy sports play havoc with keeping any regular listeners that it might gain?

I for one would welcome a "Monitor-type" program, but I'm afraid it's time has come and gone.

We welcome your rebuttal.<P ID="signature">______________
"What's That?" "French Horns!"

</P>
 
> Would (NBC radio's) "weekend service" Monitor work as a
> satellite delivered weekend, evening or overnight format.
> NBC is out of radio and maybe the Monitor could not be used.
> Maybe the format would need some updating. But could the
> extended "phantasmagoria" of live pick-ups, breaking news,
> sports, live performances, event remotes, interviews, comedy
> bits and more work on news-talk stations? Or as a format
> for public radio?


Interesting question. I don't see it working on a music station, but there is certainly a shortage of syndicated weekend talk programming that's worth listening to. There are any number of truly dreadful weekend talk shows that I'm sure get cleared simply to have something to put on the air. Obviously, the format would need to be freshened to appeal to 21st century listeners, but I'm sure many stations would welcome a "one-stop" weekend format.
 
I think it would

But, as has already been pointed out, it couldn't be your father's Monitor - just as Pat Weaver's other creations, the Today Show and the Tonight Show, have evolved.

I don't know that NBC would or should be involved - or even that the Monitor name could or would be used. But I think the concept and format could work - appropriately updated.

I think it would work on news-talk stations mostly (which tend to have a big drop-off in listeners on the weekends).

I don't think it should play music - although music remotes (carefully selected and in small doses) might be a possibility - focusing more on the event than on the music itself.

I think the idea of "going places and doing things" - the unpredictability - the you don't know what's going to happen next - and the live - this is happening now - qualities of Monitor could work and maybe could work better than the weekend "best of" and fix-it shows that are staples on most news-talk stations.

The big hurdle would be having the new "Monitor" be as profitable to stations than the easy money of weekend infomercials.
 
The New Monitor, as I "hear" it

I agree that a new Monitor would be a welcome addition to the weekend airwaves. I could envision NBC radio doing it and even calling it Monitor as most listeners today never have heard of the original Monitor. I'd not refer back to the "old days of Monitor" as it wouldn't be relevent to most listeners. I could envision any network doing this sort of program as well. The music issue could be a problem, but if they did do music it should be selected for the demos who listen to talk radio which would probably mean using a mixture of oldies, today's country, and AC. The other thing that should be a regular feature on the New Monitor that used to make the old Monitor great was the comedy routines. Today there are plenty of comedians for the new Monitor to draw from for bits. Maybe there could be a tie in with Comedy Central or something.

> But, as has already been pointed out, it couldn't be your
> father's Monitor - just as Pat Weaver's other creations, the
> Today Show and the Tonight Show, have evolved.
>
> I don't know that NBC would or should be involved - or even
> that the Monitor name could or would be used. But I think
> the concept and format could work - appropriately updated.
>
> I think it would work on news-talk stations mostly (which
> tend to have a big drop-off in listeners on the weekends).
>
>
> I don't think it should play music - although music remotes
> (carefully selected and in small doses) might be a
> possibility - focusing more on the event than on the music
> itself.
>
> I think the idea of "going places and doing things" - the
> unpredictability - the you don't know what's going to happen
> next - and the live - this is happening now - qualities of
> Monitor could work and maybe could work better than the
> weekend "best of" and fix-it shows that are staples on most
> news-talk stations.
>
> The big hurdle would be having the new "Monitor" be as
> profitable to stations than the easy money of weekend
> infomercials.
>
 
Monitor would work better on MSNBC

Since the NBC folks own the "Monitor" concept, why would they put it on a medium in which they have no ownership stake?

I think if they wanted to revive it, they would try to do it on one of their cable networks, perhaps the forlorn MSNBC. They could even get a send-off from Imus, who was part of the "old" Monitor.

Pat Weaver, despite his many innovations, was not a fan of TV news in the 50's, to the great frustration of people like the late Reuven Frank who were trying to build the NBC News operation. (See Frank's book "Out of Thin Air.") Weaver responded to Frank's criticism in his own memoir, saying that TV news wasn't technically capable of doing the kind of news he envisioned, and which radio was doing at the time with shortwave pickups. Perhaps Weaver saw Monitor as a radio concept because it couldn't have been done on television at the time, pre-satellite, pre-video tape, pre-ENG. I tend to think that if Weaver were in the media biz today, he'd see Monitor as a video concept, not a radio one. Its virtues would be lost in the world of re-hashed political talk and infomercials that is weekend talk radio in 2006.

Some things the MSNBC Monitor could plug into on a weekend...

Parades. There's always one somewhere, from Florida and New Orleans in the winter up into the heartland on the Fourth of July. Most of them are known only in their local communities.

The dress rehearsal for "Saturday Night Live." Take a few cut-ins and see what the gang is going to be up to later that evening.

Volunteer efforts, which tend to take place on weekends. Shots of fresh-faced young people doing good things.

Wacky sports of the kind that used to show up on "Wide World of Sports" and the tail end of the 6:30 TV newscast on a Saturday evening.

The "Daily Show/Colbert" approach of mock-news would be perfect for Monitor's comedy segments.
 
NBC NewsChannel... Monitoring your world.

> Since the NBC folks own the "Monitor" concept, why would
> they put it on a medium in which they have no ownership
> stake?
>
Excellent idea. If NBC-U revamps MSNBC, that would be a terrific programming move.
action central (GEC)
NBC NewsChannel... Monitoring your world. (GEC)
(I know NBC has a closed circuit service for affiliates called NBC News Channel)
 
Why Not Monitor as a similcast on NBC radio/MSNBC

Didn't someone post earlier that NBC would be going back into the radio business in 2007, that's less than a year away. So, then wouldn't they have ownership stake in radio again. Actually I could envision NBC doing both a radio version of Monitor and a MSNBC version on cable. They'd probably appeal to a different demo. Or why not do the radio version, but using cameras too so that it could be viewed on as a cable show. Sort of doing as a number of radio talkers are now doing and cam casting on line (Limbaugh and WHYY-FM's "Radio Times") except that this wouldn't be on line, but on cable.

For us old Monitor listeners, wouldn't that been great to have been able to tune in on TV to see what a favorite Monitor jock looked like: Murray the K, John Barthalmul (sp) Tucker, Ted Brown, etc. Sure we knew what Joe Garrageloa (sp) Frank Blare etc looked like from their other roles on NBC TV, but the others. So a simulcast on the new NBC radio and MSNBC could be a great way to go.

The other issue that might come up is using the name Monitor now, as I believe the Christian Science Monitor newspaper has a news show on NPR called "The Monitor".

> Since the NBC folks own the "Monitor" concept, why would
> they put it on a medium in which they have no ownership
> stake?
>
> I think if they wanted to revive it, they would try to do it
> on one of their cable networks, perhaps the forlorn MSNBC.
> They could even get a send-off from Imus, who was part of
> the "old" Monitor.
>
> Pat Weaver, despite his many innovations, was not a fan of
> TV news in the 50's, to the great frustration of people like
> the late Reuven Frank who were trying to build the NBC News
> operation. (See Frank's book "Out of Thin Air.") Weaver
> responded to Frank's criticism in his own memoir, saying
> that TV news wasn't technically capable of doing the kind of
> news he envisioned, and which radio was doing at the time
> with shortwave pickups. Perhaps Weaver saw Monitor as a
> radio concept because it couldn't have been done on
> television at the time, pre-satellite, pre-video tape,
> pre-ENG. I tend to think that if Weaver were in the media
> biz today, he'd see Monitor as a video concept, not a radio
> one. Its virtues would be lost in the world of re-hashed
> political talk and infomercials that is weekend talk radio
> in 2006.
>
> Some things the MSNBC Monitor could plug into on a
> weekend...
>
> Parades. There's always one somewhere, from Florida and New
> Orleans in the winter up into the heartland on the Fourth of
> July. Most of them are known only in their local
> communities.
>
> The dress rehearsal for "Saturday Night Live." Take a few
> cut-ins and see what the gang is going to be up to later
> that evening.
>
> Volunteer efforts, which tend to take place on weekends.
> Shots of fresh-faced young people doing good things.
>
> Wacky sports of the kind that used to show up on "Wide World
> of Sports" and the tail end of the 6:30 TV newscast on a
> Saturday evening.
>
> The "Daily Show/Colbert" approach of mock-news would be
> perfect for Monitor's comedy segments.
>
 
A New NBC Radio Network??

You may be right about there may be problems regarding NBC using the "Monitor" brand today.
As to NBC getting back into radio in 2007, I mentioned that the original licensing agreement with WW1 runs out near the end of 2007 (unless it was
amended when NBC News Radio premiered.) It's my understanding that NBC can't
start a new network without going through WW1 first before that date. BUT, GE
may not want NBC to get back into radio fulltime.
As I recall, the premiere broadcast of the original MONITOR was simulcasted on TV.
action central (GEC)
 
Monitor trademark

> You may be right about there may be problems regarding NBC
> using the "Monitor" brand today.
Billboard Magazine has a trademark registration on "Radio Monitor"
and the Christian Science Publishing Society owns "Monitor Radio."
action central (GEC)
 
Re: A New NBC Radio Network??

> BUT, GE may not want NBC to get back into radio fulltime.

I remember reading a quote from Robert Wright a few years ago. He said the biggest mistake he has made in his tenure was getting out of the radio business.
 
Why NBC? Why "Monitor?"

Some of you are stuck in the past!

The original post asked about the concept. It made clear a "weekend radio service" did not have to be called "Monitor" and did not necessarily have to come from NBC.

It does not have to have music either. NBC has already done that. They took away the music and called it NIS.

NBC destroyed Monitor. NBC completely mis-managed the network and their owned stations. NBC has Imus and Howard Stern on one radio station and said they couldn't make money in radio. Go to Blockbuster and rent "Private Parts" for a taste of NBC's management incompetence.

The idea of the "Monitor concept" on cable TV is interesting. It might actually work better there. But on radio or cable TV, the basic concept would have to be re-tooled for today. It could not be "your grandfather's Monitor."
1. No music.
2. No scripts. (The dumbest thing about the old Monitor was they hired some of the best "communicators" of the day, and then made them read those really stodgy scripts.
 
Re: A New NBC Radio Network??

> > BUT, GE may not want NBC to get back into radio fulltime.
>
>
> I remember reading a quote from Robert Wright a few years
> ago. He said the biggest mistake he has made in his tenure
> was getting out of the radio business.
I remember seeing that quote somewhere.
NBC sold off stations in NYC, DC, Chicago and SF. I doubt that there
are any stations in those markets with comparable reach that are available today. I do feel, however, that a full service NBC Radio Network come be successful without NBC O&Os, so long as it gets "big name" affiliates in major markets.
action central
(GEC)
 
The Old NBC Radio Network

NBC Owned and Operated Radio Stations

New York
WEAF/WNBC - Now WFAN owned by CBS Radio

Chicago
WMAQ - Now WSCR owned by CBS Radio

Washington, DC
WRC - Now WTEM owned by Clear Channel

San Francisco
KPO/KNBR - Now owned by Susquehana (company being acquired by Cumulus)

Heritage NBC Affiliates

KFI, Los Angeles - Now owned by Clear Channel
KOA, Denver - Now owned by Clear Channel
WTIC, Hartford - Now owned by CBS Radio
WSB, Atlanta - Owned by Cox
WHO, Des Moines - Now owned by Clear Channel
WBAL, Baltimore - Owned by Hearst-Argyle
WWJ, Detroit - Now owned by CBS Radio
KSTP, St Paul - Owned by Hubbard
KSD, St. Louis - Now KTRS independently owned
WGY, Schenectady - Now owned by Clear Channel
WPTF, Raleigh - Independently owned
WLW, Cincinnati - Now owned by Clear Channel
WTAM, Cleveland - Now owned by Clear Channel
KVOO, Tulsa - Owned by Journal Broadcast Group
WSM, Nashville - Now owned by Gaylord
WFAA/WBAP (820) - Now owned by ABC Radio (company being acquired by Citadel)
WOAI, San Antonio - Now owned by Clear Channel
KOMO, Seattle - Owned by Fisher Broadcasting

Westinghouse Stations KDKA, Pittsburgh; KYW, Philadelphia; WBZ, Boston discontinued their affiliation with NBC in 1954.

boing-boing-boing
 
Re: A New NBC Radio Network??

> I doubt
> that there
> are any stations in those markets with comparable reach that
> are available today. I do feel, however, that a full service
> NBC Radio Network come be successful without NBC O&Os, so
> long as it gets "big name" affiliates in major markets.
>

Well, we're talking different eras here...when the old Monitor was around, AM was still king, and a handful of flamethrowers accounted for the lion's share of listening. Those days are gone.

This is not to say that a full-service weekend format couldn't be somewhat successful, though I see more demand for this in smaller markets than in major ones. Weekend pickin's are pretty slim for small-market talk radio. Doesn't have to carry the NBC brand, or be called "Monitor"...indeed bringing back a 40+ year old brand may be counter=productive.
 
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