Early Morning radio is a tough sell – for AM stations just barely clinging to life, the 6-9 AM morning drive is the only time they can make money to pay the electricity bill. They are not going to turn that time over to a nationally syndicated show coming from far away.
In case you haven’t heard of Doug Stephan’s Good Day, the network feed begins at 4 AM ET. The first hour is usually, but not always, Talk Radio Countdown where Doug plays clips and segments of things other hosts said yesterday, and then Doug tells you why they or their callers are wrong. Then, up until 10 AM, he does an ensemble show from his New England farmhouse talking about various topics of the day.
Doug casts himself as a Republican – he likes money – but his political views are to the left of even New England Republicans. This becomes most apparent near election time. Doug is 68 years old, and mentioned a few months ago that he has had serious financial problems – I think he said he lost his farm. His attempts to donate his AM radio station in Ohio to his alma mater fell through.
Molly Paige is a relatively young California based news reporter. She worked for a while for Talk Radio Network’s America’s Radio News, then went to westwood One’s failed attempt to revive the NBC News brand on radio. She now will join the morning crew of Good Day, which means staying up late if she stays in California – rather than waking up with the cows.
Even though carried nationally, the show has a tiny audience. Many of the affiliates are on the west coast who just think they need noise on the air at 2 AM. East Coast affiliates are mostly low power AM stations in tiny markets too small to support a local host for 3 hours a day – just treading water until a religious broadcaster agrees to take the station as a tax write off or the 85 year old owner dies in the nursing home.
Hadn’t heard of either Doug or Molly. Here in CT, we’ve got a local host, Brad Davis who has been doing the morning drive on WDRC for, well, forever. WTIC has Jim Vicevitch, another local. I listen to him as I wait for Rush’s program to start.
Those stations only recently starting streaming. They were one of the last larger market talk stations without streaming. For some reason the Buckley family didn’t want to do it.
I lived in the New Haven / Bridgeport area from 1997-2012. The morning host on WELI (Clear Channel) got has butt thrown out of New Haven for pointing out the city was turning into a third world country after the City declared itself a Sanctuary City (not birds, illegal immigrants).
The host ended up eventually on WDRC. His name was Jerry Kristafer. He was replaced with Don Imus who didn’t last terribly long. Kristafer apparently is working now for a Catholic station. I wonder if anyone told him it is the Cztholic church operating the Sanctuary movement flooding the U.S. With illegals…
http://www.nhregister.com/media/20131104/jerry-kristafer-joins-catholic-radio-station-wjmj
I occasionally listen to WJMJ for Lich. I used to listen to him all the time on WHCN during afternoon drive. Met him several times. One of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.
WJMJ is an interesting station (off my radar until today). Most radio stations owned by Catholic lay groups or directly by the church just carry EWTN 24×7 with maybe a few hours a week local programming.
You probably know that Mother Angelica who appeared on TV had a massive stroke in 2001, from which she hasn’t recovered. Hearing her shows from 15 years ago is a bit uncomfortable.
The station is owned by the diocese, but appears to mostly be playing nostalgia music. My best experience in a hospital was a catholic hospital in Michigan City Indiana where I had emergency surgery. While they offered religious comfort if I wanted it (I declined), they only mentioned it once. The staff seemed to be sincerely motivated, not checking to see the stock price of their for profit company stock options
Wow! I had no idea Mother Angelica was still alive! Didn’t know about the strokes. She looked so old when she hosted her show, I just assumed she passed on a long time ago. Good to see she’s still around!
They roll her out in the wheelchair during fund drives, I hear. A lot of people remember her, not so many know her situation
Molly is already on board
http://www.dougstephan.com/site
I don’t see any affiliate list. The last video is from 2012. My guess is they’re doing the show via Skype