Heh heh heh. It is, isn't it.
When Salem carries outside hosts, those hosts or their networks usually pay for the time. I would think Piscopo is paying for his slot on WNYM and selling his own time, unless he attracts way more ad revenue on his own than Salem can get carrying Hewitt (unlikely). In that scenario, Piscopo is his own promoter, hence the over-the-top rhetoric.
Host-voiced commercials are just that. Paid announcements; not to be taken seriously. Most listeners get this. (Though I guess enough don't in order to make the ads worth the money to slot them.)
Brokered revenue is likely why WNYM chops up Prager and Gorka's shows and runs Hewitt on a 21-hour delay. Gallagher is reportedly Salem's highest rated show on its conservative talk stations, but even his first hour runs delayed on WNYM.
Follow the $.
I hope Piscopo isn’t actually paying Salem to do his show, which would be sad considering his career highpoint of being on Saturday Night Live.