Last week, I had a conversation with the PD of a major market talk station. He proudly announced to me, "I doubt there is a more efficient talk station (than his) anywhere". I asked what he meant by "more efficient". He answered, "We make a lot of money".
I asked him to explain how he does it. He told me, "We have only one local show, our morning show. We get our news from a local TV station and we get our traffic from Metro".
I couldn't help but wonder where this PD and his owner will be when the syndicators that provide 85% of his station's content don't need his station's transmitter, tower, and broadcast frequency to distribute their programming. I hope they're saving all the money they're making now because that day is not far off.
3 comments:
wow...I think you are way off base here. Predicting that syndicated product will not 'need' radio stations is a bit far fetched. Will there be more means of delivery available for syndicated product? Without a doubt but I still think, for the foreseeable future, talkers will still need the sticks to get their message to the masses.
I agree that terrestrial stations will always be needed, both for syndicated shows and (hopefully) to attract local listeners. As for bringing in the community, we know what the answer is: live and local. Since budgets are currently being held ransom by expansion debts, I don't know when local staff can be re-hired and properly utilized. Fingers crossed.
here in Atlanta (10th or 11th market) w/a metro of 4.5 million, we have one local political talk talent and thats Neal Boortz who has been a fixture for 30+ years.
Four major stations, one local talker. 17 syndicated shows.
Who could have predicted?
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