Claire Byrne: Troublemaker

American broadcasters justifiably complain and fret about the FCC’s content regulation. But here’s a reminder that it could be worse.  A lot worse. Dublin-based  Newstalk 106-108 was recently censured by Ireland’s version of the FCC because morning co-host Claire Byrne called spinster singing sensation Susan Boyle “a freak” and “not right in the head.”   The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland called the comments “inherently offensive,” “disrespectful” and (my favorite) “not editorially supported.”

Newstalk was also found guilty of hosting a “one-sided” panel discussion on an issue related to Ireland’s role in the European Union.  While the station faces no fines or other immediate consequences as a result of the BAI censures, such actions no doubt have a chilling affect on the already mild version of talk radio practiced on the Emerald Isle.

On the flip side, a Newstalk guest recently let loose a full-throated “Bullshit!” in the middle of the broadcast day, and I’m told that incident will likely bring no grief to the station.

So, they have that going for them.

RADIO URGED TO SUPPORT WOUNDED WARRIOR FAMILIES DURING MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH

FEBRUARY 26, 2010 — Fisher House Foundation, which provides accommodations and other services to the families of wounded warriors being treated at military and VA hospitals, is asking radio stations to support its important mission during May, which is Military Appreciation Month.

“Helping military families in their time of deepest need is a cause that resonates with all Americans,” said Fisher House Foundation President David Coker. “In our experience, people are especially attuned to the cause during May because of Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day and Military Spouses Day.”

Fisher House Foundation has donated to the U.S. government 44 “comfort homes” on the grounds of military and VA hospitals across the country.  These facilities allow families to be near a loved one who is receiving treatment for wounds or illness.  There is no charge to stay at a Fisher House, regardless of the length of stay.

Fisher House welcomes any level of support, from PSAs and web ads (both of which are available from Fisher House) to news and public affairs interviews to fundraising events and campaigns. The Fisher Houses’ reliance on community support makes this a great local cause.  Donations generated during a fundraiser for Fisher House can be designated to benefit a local Fisher House.

Among the radio stations already committed to support Fisher House are WIOD/Miami, WMAL/Washington, WOAI/San Antonio, WFLA/Tampa, WRVA/Richmond and WLAC/Nashville.

For more information on how a station, group or network can support Fisher House during Military Appreciation Month, contact Randall Bloomquist at (404) 551-2340 or randall@talkfrontier.com.

Victor Kong Named CNN Radio VP

In his new role, Kong (pictured) will manage development of new audiences, partnerships, and content for digital platforms and the network’s original audio news service to broadcast radio affiliates. He’ll be based at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters and report directly to Susan Grant, EVP/CNN News Services. Kong was most recently EVP/Sales and Business Development for Hoodiny Entertainment Group. Prior to that he served as VP of MySpace/Latin America, and before that as VP/Growth Strategy and New Media Sales for MTV Networks/Latin America. “We are excited to have Victor lead CNN Radio’s original audio news content in the media landscape,” said Grant. “He brings a dynamic skill set from his multi-media career and a proven track record building partnerships, growing audiences and integrating digital media.”

According to Jacobs, whose firm designs and creates radio apps through its JacAPPS division: “Too many broadcasters forget that radio no longer dominates location [listening]. People don’t have Walkman radios anymore and the iPod took radio out of the [portable audio] mix. But people take their phones everywhere, and they are always on.”

Thus, Jacobs says, radio apps should be built around live streaming and on-demand audio.  It’s also good  to include access to personality blogs, videos and any other unique content generated on-air or on the website.  Some station apps include features such as direct connections to call-in lines, geo-location functions, soundboards or an alarm clock function to take advantage of research indicating more people are using their smartphones as, ummm, wake-up devices.  Jacobs encourages stations to be creative, noting that buzz generation is a hallmark of most successful apps.

Good custom-made iPhone apps start at between $2,000 and $3000.  Creating companion versions for Blackberry and Droid phones will add at least that much per platform. The cost can be offset by selling ads on the app.  Another option is to use a design-your-own-app website such as Swebapps.com Asking Jacobs about this approach is like asking a barber what he thinks of the Flowbee.  Still, Jacobs raises some legitimate issues: DIY app sites typically offer limited features, may require the user to pay a monthly fee to use the app, and/or place their own ads within the app.

While Jacobs acknowledges the value of “umbrella apps” like I Heart Radio, he firmly believes it’s better for a station to have its own app on the smartphone screen, which he describes as “beachfront property.”  Being on-screen is akin to having the station on a car radio’s pre-sets.  What’s more, Jacobs adds, stations with their own app get to bask in glory of other brand names represented on the screen.

Of course, none of the above matters unless smartphone users know about your app. “You’ve got to promote it on-air on a constant, steady basis,” he says. “Remember, new smartphone users are potential new cumers.  And people are buying new phones all the time.”

The CBS Radio stations used to feature a ton of their own sound on their home pages.  Not sure why they stopped doing that.  WCBS-AM does makes some of its audio news available just one-click from the homepage. But I hate sitting through a 15-second pre-roll EVERY time I click on a new story. that’s a lot of time to think whether I really want to spend time listening to the piece.   How about just a billboard instead?

It’s no surprise this significant milestone has gone largely unnoticed.  Radio is all about forward motion, we tend to focus on what’s next, not what just happened.  KABC.com does have a dated but interesting history video that traces the stations early days as a talk outlet.  Funny how some things never change: In that video Ben Hoberman, the GM who oversaw KABC’s move to talk, recalls that while listeners were fascinated with the new sound, advertisers were slow to embrace a radio format that was so, well, different.  (Former KABC GM George Green once told me that revenue from Dodgers play-by-play kept KABC in the black during the first few years of the talk format.

So take a moment to drink a toast to Ben Hoberman, KMOX’s Robert Hyland, and the bosses who backed their play — sometimes grudgingly, I suspect.  These were courageous guys who saw opportunity in something entirely new, and stuck with it until it paid off.

We owe them our careers, and more.

Read it and heed it.

The Daily Beast

Daily Beast writer Samuel P. Jacobs consulted with Talkers publisher Michael Harrison and unnamed “national radio hosts” to compile the list.  I love me some Michael Harrison, and I have great respect for every host on the list, but, umm, well…  take a look and see what you think.

According to Young’s opinion piece at Philly.com, Air America and most other liberal talkers have copied the pedantic, almost authoritarian style of conservative talk radio — a style that doesn’t appeal to the liberal audience.  As Young writes:

“[T]he crux of liberal talk’s inability to match up to right-wing talk isn’t the business plan or the lack of a Limbaugh. It’s a failure to understand its audience… Before Limbaugh, talk radio was about wanting to know what you think. Today, it’s telling you what you should think. The liberal audience doesn’t work that way; reaching a consensus on the left is like herding cats.

Wouldn’t it make sense to go to your strength, not try to mimic your opponent’s? The left needs to pay attention to the success of Comedy Central’s one-two punch of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. They don’t necessarily reach the numbers of Limbaugh, Beck, or Sean Hannity, but they have cornered the market on political satire, and there’s no denying their influence.”

Of course, comedy isn’t the only way to reach a liberal audience.  Young fails to mention the one radio network that enjoys great success with a style that owes nothing to Rush, Glenn or Sean.  It’s called National Public Radio.