NBC Talknet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NBC Talknet was the name for a programming service consisting of several talk radio programs aired on the NBC radio network during the evening and overnight hours in the 1980s and early- to mid-1990s. Talknet consisted of advice-oriented programs, and was one of the first to introduce national talk radio to the American radio audiences.
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[edit] History
Prior to the late 1970s, AM radio was still largely dominated by all-music formats. Many individual radio stations had introduced some talk programming to their lineups, but it was almost universally locally produced. The concept of national talk radio, broadcast over a radio network, had not been tried. In 1978, Larry King began broadcasting six hours of talk programming nightly on the Mutual Broadcasting System. His success in the field proved to radio programmers that there was an audience for both late-night talk programming and national talk radio programming. Both NBC and ABC were quick to enter the late-night talk radio market. ABC launched a nightly block of programming called TalkRadio and NBC launched Talknet.
[edit] Programming
At the time when Talknet was introduced, the Fairness Doctrine was still in place, requiring radio and television stations to, among other things, give equal time to both sides of controversial issues presented on the air. As a result, it would be some time before openly partisan radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh began to appear and prosper. All of the programming of Talknet was instead advice-oriented, with listeners calling into ask questions and receive help with various issues and problems in their lives.
The initial Talknet lineup consisted of two hosts. Bruce Williams hosted the 7-10 pm Eastern timeslot and answered questions from listeners on issues related to money, personal finance, investments, business and other similar topics. Williams continues to host a similar program to this day on the Lifestyle Talk Radio Network, albeit with news and political items added to the mix. Sally Jessy Raphael hosted the 10 pm-1 am timeslot and spoke to callers about issues involving relationships and their personal lives.
Williams was a tentpole of the Talknet lineup and continued with the service until its demise. Raphael, however, remained as host for a total of six years, from 1981-1987. Following her departure, several other hosts filled the 10 pm-1 am slot, dispensing personal and relationship advice. These included Michael S. Broder.
[edit] Demise
In 1986, NBC along with its parent company RCA were purchased by General Electric. GE purchased the company primarily for the NBC television network, and shortly thereafter sold the company's various other assets. The NBC radio network was sold to Westwood One. NBC radio continued as a programming service through 1989. After that date, the NBC brand name continued to be used on some programming, but NBC radio did not exist as a separate programming service. Westwood One continued the "Talknet" programming through the mid-1990s, but eventually dropped the "Talknet" name as well as the 10 pm-1 am personal advice programming.
Bruce Williams remained with Westwood One hosting his own individual program from 7 pm-10 pm for some years more, but eventually moved to the Talk America network in 2001.
