Online Radio Network Business - Looking for sound advice.

God Of Radio · 27-08-2008 5:36pm #1

This may be a little lengthy, but I want to try to be as detailed as possible.

I have been to major city, major radio stations. I have been a talk show host in San Francisco (San Jose proper), Dallas, Orlando, Detroit, Orlando, St. Louis and more. I've been syndicated in many markets while in Dallas on Rock (AOR) radio stations all over the Country. I'm 38 and live in St. Louis now. Due to my wife and I A) having a 4 year old

My wife & I owning a business and C) the crappy radio market right now, we've decided to stay in St. Louis unless the perfect opportunity presents itself. (Even then, this business outlined below is still a major interest of mine.)

I do a radio show online from my studio now on www.blogtalkradio.com. They provide a medium that makes it extra easy to do shows. Many of the people there are novices that are beginning their love of talk shows. From Novice to Expert though, its a great service with some incredible technology.

OPINION: I think MEN between the ages of 25-54 are under served on commercial radio. I also think finding something for them to be compelled to is hard online as well. You either have A) EXTREME LEFT, porno type with cussing every other word or

EXTREME RIGHT with staunch political babble, ultra conservative views being shoved in your ears.

There isn't much in the middle.

I want to have my own radio station online. <<< There, that's the bottom line. I want to program it. What "PROGRAM IT" means is that I will find the talk shows, make the imaging (drops and things during commercials), make the identifiers, etc. In other words, my specialty is making everything come out of the speakers, producing content, finding shows, etc. My idea is to find shows that are "in the middle". I want to find some shows (already have found a few.) that talk about, and to be specific so you know exactly what I mean:

Politics - Sometimes Politics gets boring, so it should be presented in an entertaining yet well read fashion.
Women - Men love women, but does it have to be so crass? You can't get around this topic, but without all the filth. I want to make sure this gets understood. Saying so and so is HOT is one thing, but going into detail about every body part wouldn't be what we're about.
Entertainment - Knowing a little about a lot is key here. The hosts would talk about what interests them on TV, movies, stand up, etc. I personally am working on getting an entertainment director for my own show.
News and Current Events - Main brunt of the shows.
Jokes - Having a sense of humor and being able to relate humor is a maassive part of the "network". People should always think FUN and FUNNY when they think of our network.
Sports - Self explanatory. Sports talk without the stats. Who cares!?
Technology & Gadgets - From games to gadets to gizmos.

All shows on the "NETWORK" or "CHANNEL" will have those elements built in to their shows.

I want a 24 hour network (or "channel") of shows on the internet. At night, after say 10, I would like to have some specialty programming like UFO talk, ghost and paranormal talk, etc. I also have an idea for a FLEA MARKET or TRADE type show where people call up with items they want to sell or buy. This could be a GLOBAL phenomenon. That's done in local markets, but on an internation or National scale, I've neveer heard it before. (Kinda like EBAY, but LIVE!!)

Also, I want to have a talk show about VIDEO GAMES. Finding someone that knows about GAMING is easy, but finding someone who knows about gaming who can communicate it on a talk show is going to be a challenge. However, this done well and correctly, can be a HUGE money maker!!

Now.

I've outlined my idea. Now I need help on the business semantics of this. I am not a business person. I need someone to help with getting the original business plan off the ground.

BTR (blogtalkradio.com) has a 24/7 streaming option for a RADIO STATION. Problem is its $2500, which is very high!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/docs/BlogTalkRadio-Stations.pdf

There are other services, streaming, for much much much less.

A lot of commercial radio talk stations have gone syndicated or changed formats all together because they are expensive to run because of all the talk shows. They have to hire producers, phone screeners, and the talent. We're bypassing the producers and phone screeners, so that will save a lot on the money. Since this will be a start up operation, in the beginning, the talent (shows) will have to understand that we're working on something greater and that the money will come. (Hopefully)

The advertising will be on the actual shows done with personal endorsements from each of the hosts. I don't believe in charging someone online for a produced commercial unless that's what they want. Selling something a host can believe in is much better and more effective advertising than some bland commercial. AND IT IS EFFECTIVE as long as we believe in what we're selling. THAT IS KEY!

I KNOW what I'm doing on the programming end. Now I need a business person that is SOLID and can get us started on some level.

I also need someone who is savy on the TECH end and who can help us build this baby!

This is a serious post (message)! There is a LOT of money that can be made from this, and the potential is there due to the absolute branding opportunity that exists here. Contact me by email at thekramershow@yahoo.com My Yahoo messenger is the same. I'll give you my Skype phone number upon request via email. MY show can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/the-kramer-show - - - listen to a few and see what *I* do, and imagine more of that TYPE of show all day long. (With co hosts and callers.)

I look forward to seeing what you have to say. Even if you can't help, maybe you know other avenues of networking to help, and that would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Kramer