NationStates Jolt Archive


Jane Fonda to start "Chick" radio network

Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 06:54
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004847379

Fonda, Steinem Launch All-Women Radio Talk Network

September 13, 2006 1:55 p.m. EST

Julie Farby - All Headline News Staff Writer

New York, NY (AHN)-Greenstone Media, a radio company whose founders include social activist Gloria Steinem and actress Jane Fonda, has launched an all-women, all-talk network across the United States.

The network, which is run by women, aims to provide an alternative to current radio talk, which Steinem describes as "very argumentative, quite hostile, and very much male-dominated."

In an interview with Reuters, Steinem says, this network "has a different spirit. It has more community. It's more about information, about humor, about respect for different points of view and not constant arguing."

But, chief executive officer of Greenstone, Susan Ness, hopes the company will attract male listeners, saying "We do have male voices on the network. It's much better to have a mixture of voices."

Steinem pointed out that the idea of an all-women network stemmed from a company survey showing an 18 percent decrease in female listeners over the past seven years, telling Reuters, "Women are really fleeing from AM talk radio and now FM music because people get their music in different ways. So there's an enormous window of opportunity, and we're diving in."

I give this about a week. Let's face it, Conservative do dominate the AM Dial, and if Jane Fonda and the rest of her crew want to be able to take a corner of that market, they're going to have to grow some fangs and claws. Having a radio show like "The View" will not fly on the AM dial. I don't think that the current hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Jeff Katzs, and Neal Boortz should call her names and bully the network, however they shouldn't cut any slack either. They should let Jane Fonda find out how competative the News Talk Radio business is.
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 06:57
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004847379



I give this about a week. Let's face it, Conservative do dominate the AM Dial, and if Jane Fonda and the rest of her crew want to be able to take a corner of that market, they're going to have to grow some fangs and claws. Having a radio show like "The View" will not fly on the AM dial. I don't think that the current hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Jeff Katzs, and Neal Boortz should call her names and bully the network, however they shouldn't cut any slack either. They should let Jane Fonda find out how competative the News Talk Radio business is.
But if that 18% of women listeners tune in so they don't have to hear the growling and snarling...

They got themselves a nice marketshare.
The Black Forrest
15-09-2006, 06:58
We shall see.

People did scoff when she started those silly exercise videos.....
Neo Undelia
15-09-2006, 06:59
“That’s what I need more of in my car. Opinionated women.” ~ David Letterman.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:00
But if that 18% of women listeners tune in so they don't have to hear the growling and snarling...

They got themselves a nice marketshare.

It depends on who their backer is, and how much they want in return profit. If 18% doesn't cut it, then they're going to have to pull the plug. Air America already found out how tough this market is. Of course Air America made it through, so we'll see.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:01
“That’s what I need more of in my car. Opinionated women.” ~ David Letterman.

ROFL! I love him.
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 07:01
It depends on who their backer is, and how much they want in return profit. If 18% doesn't cut it, then they're going to have to pull the plug. Air America already found out how tough this market is. Of course Air America made it through, so we'll see.
18% of the US woman's market would make anyone drool.
Vetalia
15-09-2006, 07:03
It depends on who their backer is, and how much they want in return profit. If 18% doesn't cut it, then they're going to have to pull the plug. Air America already found out how tough this market is. Of course Air America made it through, so we'll see.

I don't know, even Air America seems to be in trouble. They're laying off people and they're running out of cash; they might go bankrupt soon unless they're bailed out.

This is one hell of a tough industry to get in to, especially when you consider Air America's resources and talent pool. If they can't break through especially given the less-than-friendly attitude most people feel towards the right and President Bush, that just goes to show that it is not easy.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:04
18% of the US woman's market would make anyone drool.

Yea, but women make up 50% of the population.

Ok let do the math.

You have 100% population, half man, half woman. Let's ignore the man part for now.

now you got 50%. Now TV and the internet takes up a big chunck of that 50 percent. I would say about 40%.

So that leaves Jane Fonda with 10% of the women's market.

Add that back into the overall population, and throw in 5% of the men, we're looking at 15% of 100%. So... we'll see.
Neo Undelia
15-09-2006, 07:04
But if that 18% of women listeners tune in so they don't have to hear the growling and snarling...
They prefer bitching and moaning, I suppose.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:05
I don't know, even Air America seems to be in trouble. They're laying off people and they're running out of cash; they might go bankrupt soon unless they're bailed out.

This is one hell of a tough industry to get in to, especially when you consider Air America's resources and talent pool. If they can't break through especially given the less-than-friendly attitude most people feel towards the right and President Bush, that just goes to show that it is not easy.

Exactly. I think the only reason shows like Coast to Coast AM made it, is well, it's something new and intresting, it's a nice break from the politics and sport talk.
The Black Forrest
15-09-2006, 07:06
They prefer bitching and moaning, I suppose.

What's wrong with moaning?
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:07
What's wrong with moaning?

It gets old, very fast.
Greill
15-09-2006, 07:08
When I saw the title of this thread, I was thinking that it was possibly a reference to Jane Fonda starting a network about Jack T. Chick of "You're going to burn in Hell for all eternity if you don't accept Jesus as your personal lord and savior" Bible tract infamy. I'm not sure if any kind of radio waves, AM and FM, would be able to carry that much conglomerated evil.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:10
When I saw the title of this thread, I was thinking that it was possibly a reference to Jane Fonda starting a network about Jack T. Chick of "You're going to burn in Hell for all eternity if you don't accept Jesus as your personal lord and savior" Bible tract infamy. I'm not sure if any kind of radio waves, AM and FM, would be able to carry that much conglomerated evil.

I think it's going to crash and burn.
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 07:14
Yea, but women make up 50% of the population.

Ok let do the math.

You have 100% population, half man, half woman. Let's ignore the man part for now.

now you got 50%. Now TV and the internet takes up a big chunck of that 50 percent. I would say about 40%.

So that leaves Jane Fonda with 10% of the women's market.

Add that back into the overall population, and throw in 5% of the men, we're looking at 15% of 100%. So... we'll see.
One, your math seems off.

Two, Rush get's 4.2 of the market and is considered the most sucessful broadcaster.
Avika
15-09-2006, 07:15
The only way her radio thing can survive is if she makes it entertaining. Since we're talking about radio and not tv, where you can see what's going on, that rules out the male and possibly lesbian markets. I mean, they want boobies.

Why are conservatives so successful here? Because they make it entertaining. Liberals laugh at them like the conservatives were Homer Simpsons and Cosmos. Conservatives will practically watch anything conservative. Whoops, I meant listen.

If she wants any portion of the straight male market, she'll go on tv and show us some boobies, unless she's ancient. Then she must rap like the grannie she might be. She is old, isn't she?
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:18
The only way her radio thing can survive is if she makes it entertaining. Since we're talking about radio and not tv, where you can see what's going on, that rules out the male and possibly lesbian markets. I mean, they want boobies.

Why are conservatives so successful here? Because they make it entertaining. Liberals laugh at them like the conservatives were Homer Simpsons and Cosmos. Conservatives will practically watch anything conservative. Whoops, I meant listen.

If she wants any portion of the straight male market, she'll go on tv and show us some boobies, unless she's ancient. Then she must rap like the grannie she might be. She is old, isn't she?

http://marilyn.typepad.com/california_fever/images/270pxjanefonda.jpg

She's in her late 60s.
Neo Undelia
15-09-2006, 07:20
TBecause they make it entertaining.
Rush Limbaugh’s introduction to his show is hilarious. “Wiping away liberals’ tears with both hands tied behind his back.”
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:20
One, your math seems off.

Two, Rush get's 4.2 of the market and is considered the most sucessful broadcaster.

Yea I just suck at math. What I was trying to get across was that this is a competative market, and what you have to do is be entertaining and yet informative at the same time. That is very hard to pull off. Even Air America is havig troubles, so that just shows you how hard it is.
Neo Undelia
15-09-2006, 07:21
http://marilyn.typepad.com/california_fever/images/270pxjanefonda.jpg

She's in her late 60s.
All the plastic surgery on earth won’t help you in radio.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:22
Rush Limbaugh’s introduction to his show is hilarious. “Wiping away liberals’ tears with both hands tied behind his back.”

Say what you want about Rush, but he is a very good broadcaster, he knows how to keep the audience entertained and yet be informative. Rush is one of the few broadcasters I know that can pull that off. Art Bell and George Noorey pulled it off too.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:22
All the plastic surgery on earth won’t help you in radio.

lol!
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 07:24
Yea I just suck at math. What I was trying to get across was that this is a competative market, and what you have to do is be entertaining and yet informative at the same time. That is very hard to pull off. Even Air America is havig troubles, so that just shows you how hard it is.
I didn't say it wasn't hard, but the thing is that they aren't trying to lure men into listening to this market, they're going after women who have been turned off by the attack markets.

So it doesn't matter what Rush does or Air America does, or if she shows off her boobies or not. It's like saying that Oprah fails because she doesn't pull away the NASCAR male viewers.

Methinks it's because it's being started by two well known liberal women that is promting this thread... unless you normally watch and listen to womens' stations.

Not that there's anything wrong with watching Lifestyles of course. ;)
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:28
I didn't say it wasn't hard, but the thing is that they aren't trying to lure men into listening to this market, they're going after women who have been turned off by the attack markets.

So it doesn't matter what Rush does or Air America does, or if she shows off her boobies or not. It's like saying that Oprah fails because she doesn't pull away the NASCAR male viewers.

Methinks it's because it's being started by two well known liberal women that is promting this thread... unless you normally watch and listen to womens' stations.

Not that there's anything wrong with watching Lifestyles of course. ;)

I realize that men aren't the targeted audience, but I've heard alot of women callers call into Rush's show and several other Talk Shows that I listen to.
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 07:32
I realize that men aren't the targeted audience, but I've heard alot of women callers call into Rush's show and several other Talk Shows that I listen to.
I know there are women who listen to them (Just like there are men who watch Operah), but the article quotes something like an 18% drop in female listenership, which shows something is going on in terms of satisfaction. That's the market they're aiming for and it seems to be a nice big one IF they can get a format that works and attracts them.

They still aren't going head to head with Rush and co. unless the start drawing off their female listenership.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:36
I know there are women who listen to them (Just like there are men who watch Operah), but the article quotes something like an 18% drop in female listenership, which shows something is going on in terms of satisfaction. That's the market they're aiming for and it seems to be a nice big one IF they can get a format that works and attracts them.

They still aren't going head to head with Rush and co. unless the start drawing off their female listenership.

You know, it's not because she's a liberal or anything, but I would like to see where they got that 18% drop from. Also, yea they are going head to head with Rush, as well as every other talk radio show personality out there. They're even going head to head with Air America and Randi Rhodes.
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 07:42
You know, it's not because she's a liberal or anything, but I would like to see where they got that 18% drop from. Also, yea they are going head to head with Rush, as well as every other talk radio show personality out there. They're even going head to head with Air America and Randi Rhodes.
*sighs*
Steinem pointed out that the idea of an all-women network stemmed from a company survey showing an 18 percent decrease in female listeners over the past seven years, telling Reuters, "Women are really fleeing from AM talk radio and now FM music because people get their music in different ways. So there's an enormous window of opportunity, and we're diving in." (From your article)
From there, so it sounds like they are compeating against FM music and trying to get them back to the AM dial.

But they still are not really compeating as Rush and co. aim for much different markets (in Rush's case I'm told this is the 25-45 year old males). They obviously want women.

I don't think Rush even caters to women (note, I said cater, not that women don't listen in, but it's obvious who Rush is aiming his message at).

Here's a bit more from Routers:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060912/media_nm/media_greenstone_women_dc_3
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
Tue Sep 12, 5:59 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Greenstone Media, a radio company whose founders include social activist Gloria Steinem and actress Jane Fonda, has launched an all-women, all-talk network across the United States.

Steinem said the network, which is run by women, aims to provide an alternative to current radio talk, which she describes as "very argumentative, quite hostile, and very much male-dominated."

This network "has a different spirit. It has more community. It's more about information, about humor, about respect for different points of view and not constant arguing," Steinem told Reuters in an interview.

But Greenstone also hopes to attract male listeners.

"We do have male voices on the network. It's much better to have a mixture of voices," said Susan Ness, chief executive officer of Greenstone, which got its name from a children's book by Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple."

The network's broadcasts have aired since July in selected stations, such as on WIIN in Jackson, Mississippi, WXCT in Hartford, Connecticut, a station in Flint, Michigan, and is launching a broadcast in Albany, New York. It is trying to partner with some satellite radio outfits.

"We expect that people will be able to also get us on mobile phones, cable radio, I-pods and every distribution vehicle," said Ness.

Steinem pointed out that the idea of an all-women network stemmed from a company survey showing an 18 percent decrease in female listeners over the past seven years.

"Women are really fleeing from AM talk radio and now FM music because people get their music in different ways. So there's an enormous window of opportunity, and we're diving in," she said.

Currently, the network does nine hours of programming daily, which should increase shortly to 12.
Wilgrove
15-09-2006, 07:49
*sighs*
(From your article)
From there, so it sounds like they are compeating against FM music and trying to get them back to the AM dial.

Well if they succeed, Kudos for them, but honestly the people who are on the FM dial wern't really AM listeners in the first place.


But they still are not really compeating as Rush and co. aim for much different markets (in Rush's case I'm told this is the 25-45 year old males). They obviously want women.

Any time when you want to take a slice of the market, you are competing with people who already has shares of that market. JCPenny may be selling mostly women stuff, but they're still competiting with other stoires that sell jewerly, clothes, and accessories. Spike TV may cater to men, but they still compete with every other network on TV.


I don't think Rush even caters to women (note, I said cater, not that women don't listen in, but it's obvious who Rush is aiming his message at).

True.
NERVUN
15-09-2006, 08:00
Well if they succeed, Kudos for them, but honestly the people who are on the FM dial wern't really AM listeners in the first place.
Or maybe they just didn't find what they wanted?

Any time when you want to take a slice of the market, you are competing with people who already has shares of that market. JCPenny may be selling mostly women stuff, but they're still competiting with other stoires that sell jewerly, clothes, and accessories. Spike TV may cater to men, but they still compete with every other network on TV.
Not really, Hot Topics is, for obvious reasons, not compeating with JCPenny's for the same market even though they both sell jewerly, clothing, and accessories. They are aiming at different shoppers and while there may be small overlap, you just don't see many 40 year old professional women shopping at Hot Topics for their clothing and jewerly (thought it would be really interesting if that happened).

It sounds like these gals are aiming for an area that is very different from the normal talking heads, for now. As they grow, they may change that idea and go after other areas.

If anything (from the sound of it), they are compeating with the advice shows.