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Jul
Guest
What does the future look like for the conservative talk stations across the country now that Trump is President-Elect? Is this a good or bad thing for the stations and will the ratings go up or down?
The debate will get interesting as the Republican Congress battles with a so-called Republican President, who is used to having the power of the purse, and the ability to do whatever he wants. The Constitution doesn't allow for that. Trump is about to get a lesson in civics. I'm expecting a lot of heated battles over foreign policy, immigration, jobs, the tax code, the border wall and even such simple things as infrastructure. All of those decisions have to be made with Congress.
What does the future look like for the conservative talk stations across the country now that Trump is President-Elect? Is this a good or bad thing for the stations and will the ratings go up or down?
It does not even have to be partisan, just focused on the changing agenda of the President and all the things we know he wants to change/do/eliminate.
The one consistent thing we know is that we DON'T know what he's going to do.
This could be interesting to watch and see if regulations change to put stations back in the hands of smaller companies/owners to get more diverse opinions/news coverage.
From my viewpoint, the best opportunity for a more diverse radio dial comes through the group owners versus the mom and pop.
I wonder if the radio ad (buyers) world will suddenly see the relevance of the demographics they have let go to TV and other avenues.
There have been some interesting studies that show that reaching the "new" younger demos is about as tough (and as costly) as the "older" demos because of their buying habits being drastically different from those five to ten years older.
What this election shows is that the decision power (and majority of the wealth) is still more active than they/we are given credit. Thoughts/debate on this welcome. I get the conventional wisdom. The truth, though, as I have said from my vantage point, done right (it is tough) - them old people will buy stuff. If radio cannot justify it's costs for the younger demo in the next five years, there is a serious age narrowcasting financial problem ahead. That one scares me.
The one thing we've learned from the infinite dial is that more voices don't mean more diverse opinions. It means more people saying the same things.
Also, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. Forcing radio into the hands of smaller companies by regulation will simply make radio smaller and less important in a world where all other unregulated media is allowed to get bigger. No one is forcing or regulating Pandora into the hands of smaller companies.
I do think there is going to have to be a come to Jesus meeting on this and how the media flat out bullied and distorted this election. Maybe it does not matter after the election.
Thanks for the LARGE PRINT, David. I know what you are saying is correct and "the way it is." Does this election seem to prove the adage that we may be old, but we ain't dead and more money get's spent past 40 years old? (Thanks for saying 54 years of age is still valid. By the skin of my teeth.)
Good, fair comments here. I think some of you know my "love" for dictator-owned mom and pops that skew OLD. It's tough, but not as tough as trying to swim in a sea of 100kw young formats and revenue. David, do you or anyone else, see something positive that could show the power of a format skewed to an older, but loyal local format and get some more ad money from non-local agencies? One good thing - market #44 is about to jump to the upper 30's market, so that ain't a bad thing. Keep them tourists moving in.