Reply #3: It's A "For Profit" Business

[KharmaTrain]

Unfortunately, we regularly see posts here about another AAR station changing format. The reason cited is almost always lack of revenues. Operating a full-time network of that scope isn't cheap. Besides the air talent's salary, there are producers, technicians, marketing, sales people and so on...along with the costs of distributing their programming (satellite time). It ain't cheap and political talk formats run into problems that many agencies and advertisers shy away from any controversial format. Finally, radio is suffering from a self-induced economic disaster...large debts, shrinking revenues and greater competition. Personally, I'm glad I'm no longer directly connected to this world...it was tough making a living in the good times.

I'm grateful for any advertiser on my local AAR station...it means money to keep the format alive another day. I'm old enough...and I would image most other listeners are...to determine what is a "good advertiser" and who isn't.

Now, if you're willing to make up the revenues AAR loses or find alternative ways for the network to keep the lights on, I'm sure they'd be all ears.