Hannity = Bad Radio

[bub]

On other threads, many people have suggested that talk show listeners like "classic talk topics", just like music format listeners like hearing the same old songs over and over. Why shouldn't Hannity keep on "talkin' the oldies"? It appears to be working for him.

Just like music formats with "evergreen" songs, even talk formats need "evergreen" topics so they have something to fill for 3 hours; even if it's something that's been beaten to death.

[Signal_Faded]

Doesn't matter if you like him or not...the truth is you are starting to see some erosion in Hannity's numbers nationwide. If you look where he follows Rush he is still solid...but take away that giant lead and he fades into the background noise. The demands (extra inventory inside show, morning commentary, weekend best of replay as well as paying for the chance to air the show) put on by Hannity to clear the show are starting to outweigh the advantages of having the show.

[MikefromDelaware]

Hannity is hard to listen to, be he on radio or TV.  He seems to be more obnoxious on radio though.  I agree with quadraphonic that the radio version of Hannity is a big billboard promoting Sean Hannity and what a "great American" he is via his concerts, books, and his FOX TV show, which surprises me that ABC radio would tolerate that abuse of their air waves as they do have a television network that has programming on at the same time Hannity's on Fox.  I'm assuming Hannity isn't paying ABC Radio for the plugs of his TV show on a competing network or the plugs for his books or concerts that other authors or performers would be paying to get on ABC Radio..  The few times I've tried to watch Hannity on Fox, I've never once heard him promote his ABC Radio show, so it's not like he's doing equal promoting on both shows.  He seems to value the TV show over the radio show as more money can be made on TV than on radio, even though he's already making millions. 

I'm not a big fan of any of the big 3 conservative talkers, but Rush I do like the best.  He at least can be entertaining (he was at his best during the Clinton years), when he wants to be. 

Glenn Beck, sometimes can be interesting, but he too often goes over the edge or off the cliff.  His radio show too, self promotes his books, concerts, and his Fox TV show (again I've not noticed Beck promoting his Premiere Radio Network show on FOX).  What I've found I like best for viewing or hearing Beck is catching his lead story of the day on the Fox website.  That is a 12-15 minute segment of his TV show.  So you get the main point of what he's trying to say without all the other crap getting in the way.  You can listen to that when it's convenient online.  I've not found his entire show to be available, so the lead story may be all you can get online without having to be a paid member of Beck's fan club. 

Signal Faded mentioned the demands, you forgot that ABC Radio also added the demand that the station's carry Mark Levin's ABC Radio show.  I know one station, WDEL in Wilmington Delaware, that told ABC Radio to stick it, and they dropped Hannity a few years ago.  They went live and local.  Their cross town competitor, WILM picked up both Rush/Hannity and have good ratings with it, but very few local spots during those shows and WDEL went to live and local, have good ratings AND plenty of local spots during those same time slots (one lib local talker and one conservative local talker).  So it is possible to ween your station from the syndicated talk teat and survive.  I believe Baltimore's WBAL did the same thing as WDEL and is doing well too.       

[DToTheJ]

... you are starting to see some erosion in Hannity's numbers nationwide. If you look where he follows Rush he is still solid...but take away that giant lead and he fades into the background noise...

His ratings in Washington, D.C. alone are pathetic. DCRTV posts the rankings of the talk shows on WMAL; while Rush and whatever the WMAL morning show is calling itself that week usually are ranked anywhere between 3rd and 10th, Hannity normally clocks in at 18th place! I would not be surprised if WMAL probably brings back Andy Parks for afternoon drive!

Oh, and Mike, I believe Hannity's show is now syndicated by Premiere, just like Rush and Beck before it. Yes, ABC used to handle it, but I believe Premiere is now responsible, if not sharing the duties with ABC in some capacity.

[MikefromDelaware]

DToTheJ thanks for the update.  My point though still stands.  Why would Premiere put up with all that self promoting, especially to the Fox TV shows. 

Is Mark Levin with Premiere too?  So, that means the Clear Channel aka Premiere Radio Network has a stable full of the most popular conservative talkers (Beck/Rush/Hannity/plus sports talker Jim Rome, and lib talker Randi Rhodes.  What other major talk stars (conservative/lib/sports/other) do they have in their line up?  What about Dave Ramsey or Clark Howard ( I believe his name is).  If I remember correctly, Kim Kommando is with the West Star Radio Network.  Laura Ingraham, I don't believe is with Premiere, but I could be wrong. 

With Premiere being the network for those top tier shows, it sort of explains how they get away with "convincing" their affiliates to air the Best of/Week in review shows on Saturday of Rush/Hannity (does Beck offer a week in review or best of Saturday show?).  That keeps other networks talk shows from airing on their affiliates and provides an extra day of spots for their bottomline.

It would be interesting to see the actual ratings for Rush/Hannity Week in review shows.  My guess is they aren't that great (the ditto heads have been listening all week long, why hear a rerun when Laura Ingraham or some other conservative talkers show would yes be saying the same thing, but in a different way?).   

Anyhow, it sounds like CC/Premiere has a major lock on talk radio programming for top tier programming.  I noticed that Fox News Radio plays the audio version of Beck's TV show at 8pm Eastern. 

 

[Sean Gilbow]

Clark Howard is Dial Global, along with conservatives Neal Boortz and Michael Smerconish and liberals, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller and Bill Press.

[gr8oldies]

Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage are Talk Radio Network. Dave Ramsey as far as I know self-syndicates.

[Going back to Nashville]

Clark Howard is Dial Global, along with conservatives Neal Boortz and Michael Smerconish and liberals, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller and Bill Press.

I lean more to the  libertarian side on most issues, so I listen to Boortz often. Until recently
I really never listened to Stephanie Miller. I guess I had the idea set in my hand that she was too
much like Randi Rhodes, who I like about as much as Beck, which is not much. I did happen to turn
her on one day, and really liked her show, I do listen to her often, she is very funny and entertaining,
even if I don't agree with many of her points.

The reason I said all this is because one day she was on, Boortz was walking past her studio
when she was on the air, and she started picking on him, in good fun, and he kinda stepped in
and you could hear him in the background, picking on her right back. It was very fun and lighthearted
like 2 friends joking with each other.

I'm I the only one who thinks they would do one hell of good show teamed up together?

I know I would certainly listen.

Thoughts? 

[Talk_Dude]

Clark Howard is Dial Global, along with conservatives Neal Boortz and Michael Smerconish and liberals, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller and Bill Press.

I lean more to the  libertarian side on most issues, so I listen to Boortz often. Until recently
I really never listened to Stephanie Miller. I guess I had the idea set in my hand that she was too
much like Randi Rhodes, who I like about as much as Beck, which is not much. I did happen to turn
her on one day, and really liked her show, I do listen to her often, she is very funny and entertaining,
even if I don't agree with many of her points.

The reason I said all this is because one day she was on, Boortz was walking past her studio
when she was on the air, and she started picking on him, in good fun, and he kinda stepped in
and you could hear him in the background, picking on her right back. It was very fun and lighthearted
like 2 friends joking with each other.

I'm I the only one who thinks they would do one hell of good show teamed up together?

I know I would certainly listen.

Thoughts? 

I think your statements illustrate the point that talk radio preaches to the choir, and that the same principles that cause music fans to pick one music station over another also apply to talk fans picking one talk show over another.

[Wyatt Cox]

Back to topic, I can only give anectodal evidence from my conversations with listeners. 
We run Miller, Dobbs, and Hannity 9a-6p. 
9a-3p if I do anything different on the air with a problem or preemption, I hear about it.  3-6p, it's cricket city.
We lost our audio server Thursday while I was covering a city council meeting during Hannity.  Not a single phone call or complaint.

I hear from people how they hate Hannity and why don't we put Limbaugh on.  I tell them if they hate Hannity, they'll be the same way with Limbaugh.

Here's the problem.  In 2008 we got tons of political buys targeting O'Reilly and Hannity stations.  With O'Reilly gone and Dobbs filling that role, I can't afford to show him the door before the Harry Reid/Sharron Angle election.