I’m on the management team of a local radio personality. His show is doing quite well on AM, and we’d like to make the jump to satellite (i.e., national presence) as soon as possible.
What do I need to do to get him on satellite? Any advice, links, and info would be much appreciated–TY!
No insider information–but I do listen to satellite radio all the time. I think the thing you want to demonstrate to satellite companies is that your guy can convince people to buy satellite subscriptions. This is the financial model for satellite (subscription-based, not ad-revenue-based, like terrestrial radio), and what is really going to speak to them.
Also–you may have trouble convincing them to pick him up if he’s still broadcasting on AM at the same time. One of the supposed selling points for satellite subscriptions when it comes to radio personalities is exclusivity. (Why pay for him on satellite when you can listen to him on AM for free?) But then again, the entire satellite radio industry is still very young, and no one has entirely figured out what’s drawing customers and what’s not (aside from Howard Stern being a draw). Opie and Anthony are, I believe, semi-simulcasting (they do a satellite-exclusive hour, I believe) on XM and on their FM channels; Oprah is broadcasting on XM, but is obviously still available everywhere else for free.
In general, I think you face a tough fight–the Satellite channels are pretty well filled up, and they’re not likely to bump anything they have unless the incoming show can be shown to attract new paying subscribers. Your best bet, IMO, would be to go the traditional national-affiliate route (a la Rush, Stern, Dr. Laura, O & A, etc.) on terrestrial radio first and then “defect” to satellite with a larger, national audience.
But that’s just my opinion.
Thank you for those insights!
Any further insights?