Ratings And Future of Talk Radio

[David]

Looking at latest major market radio ratings. It is clear news talk is losing audience, with few exceptions, across the board. I can't see anything but the bare outlines for these stations. However, it is clear we are in a critical time of losing audience. Most likely, we continue to see demographics catching up with the format. In simple language people are dying off and not being replaced with y
ounger listeners.

What happens when Cumulus takes off Limbaugh in big markets? We continue to wonder where this is going. Huckabee simply will not rejuvenate the format. I couldn't believe the downturn in some markets. KFI in LA is the star performer. From what I'm seeing many second and third talk stations in markets are not even showing up in the ratings. Salem network stations wiped out in some markets. KSKY shows little gain in the short time Mark Davis has been there. That's no knock on Mark. It's too soon to evaluate KSKY ratings. Salem in Tampa, Denver wiped out. Great heritage stations like WCCO, KMOX, and WBZ dropping like a rock. WPHT in Philly. WFLA -Tampa Bay taking on water.

Bay Area talk radio just sliced and diced after Cumulus slashed and burned KGO. But, KKSF has a pulse, but will never score big numbers.

Limbaugh has to be very concerned. A lot of this carnage is at stations he's on. Boston Clear Channel "Rush Radio" failure results in two local hosts being let go. I continue to wonder what happens when Rush retires. He's under contract until 2016. Will that be the end?

[Bemused]

Well..... Talk Radio has had a pretty good run, but guess what? THINGS CHANGE!!!!!

Smooth jazz stations are disappearing by the drove, replace mostly by classic rock, if my own investigations have revealed.

The hard core belligerent bullying angry talk hosts appear to be dying off. People are tired of Limbaugh, Beck, and all the other schtick that is out there.

Dont sell Huckabee short. He has a tight program filled with informative guests. There are plenty of good hosts out there who do not rely on talking points. Compared to Sussman and Morgan on KSFO for example. The real future is with folks like John&Ken or Armstrong&Getty, populists with a real rapport with us ordinary folks. The days of ideology have passed.

My read is that people are sick of the hard core ideology and are looking for something else. They will find it in music or softer dialogue or maybe even in work if this economy ever starts producing jobs again

Whatever. The good old days of talk radio, of all radio, are gone. Like the buggy whip manufacturers of myth and legend. Time to move on.

PS I dont feel sorry for Limbaugh. I bet that when his contract expires, he will out the door and on to the golf course with no second thoughts, despite his claim that he will not stop until everyone agrees with him.

PPS anyone think that Rabbi Lapin will be around much longer? What a waste of a time slot.

PPS how long before KSFO goes back to broadcasting baseball, like they did when I first listens to the SF Giants on that station?

PPPS the real sad thing IMHO is that George Noory appears to thrive.....

PPPPS the beat goes on, the road goes ever on.......

[BUngaro]

Goooooood Riddance. Perhaps Americans will be allowed to have their OWN OPPINIONS.

[schaabdl]

Perhaps more are moving to the Internet and Phone apps - how many still listen to a radio at their desk in the office; run / exercise with something other than a digital connection.
***
And Americans do have their OWN Opinions - some just can't accept that the majority don't agree with socialist bent of the left.

[BUngaro]

Considering that the USA is the last sorry practitioner of Pawn Shop Capitalism and the DEFAULT AMERICANS just love it, shows how adulterated the the information their oppinions are based on.

[Bemused]

Originally Posted by BUngaro

Considering that the USA is the last sorry practitioner of Pawn Shop Capitalism and the DEFAULT AMERICANS just love it, shows how adulterated the the information their oppinions are based on.

Oh Bungo, how I have missed you. Pawn Shop Capitalism? A beautiful turn of the phrase, despite how empty it is!

Sincerely, my friend, you, my middle son, and I should sit down some time, tip a couple, and have a good long talk about conspiracy, ideology, and good brews.

Salud.....

[Mad_Dog]

Radio in general, not just news talk, has been in decline.

Too many commercials. Too many national hosts talking about national politics. If you already heard Limbaugh, why tune in later to Hanity? Or Levin?

But the talk format is doing quite well. Most listeners of the medium aren't callers, have never been callers, will never be callers,. So for them, podcasts work out quite well. The listener has control over when they listen. And there are a LOT of podcasts being done out there. Even some live streaming. I point you to Tom Leykis, who is now apparently doing fairly well with his own internet "radio station".

I expect the FM band to be re-allocated within the next 20 years. AM may stick around, because it is more prone to interference (and thus less desirable for repurposing)... but I wouldn't be shocked to see AM be sold off as well. Radio stations had their chance to transition to internet stations back in the late '90s, but consolidation killed that.

[BUngaro]

You folks depend on the preachings of Convicts, Drug and Alcohol Abusers, Perverts and other types of Human Trash. ( With few exceptions like David.)