What about Women?
The last few months the Houston sports radio scene has changed. Hosts have left one station for another. A fourth 24-hour sports station is set to begin in a few weeks. Questions are being asked whether the city of Houston is big enough for four 24-hour stations. Through each of the changes; attempted changes; and articles written about the changes, time and time again I've seen and heard about the key demographic each station is trying to attract and maintain for its advertisers: men who are between the ages of 25 to 54.
I have a question...
...What about women?
I'm not going to cite the surveys and census reports; but, I know I've seen, heard, and read, there are more women living in America than men. I'm not naive to think more women listen to sports talk shows than men; but, this new era of "guy talk radio" seems to be based on a belief women do not listen to sports talk radio shows at all. Perhaps the women who listen to these shows need to become more active in calling the shows and voicing their opinions (informed and uniformed) as their male counterparts.
The Chronicle's David Barron analyzes the sports talk radio landscape in Houston in today's paper. In the article, Barron also lists the more than two dozen radio personalities who have hosted regularly scheduled weekday sports talk shows in Houston over the past decade. Of the list only one person is a woman -- Kris O'Donnell. Kris was a co-host of SportsBeat on KTRH 740 AM with Tom Franklin from 2000 to 2001. By the way, I appeared on that show as a basketball analyst.
Based on the list, I guess we have to assume either women aren't interested in hosting sports talk shows or women are not getting the opportunity to host sports talk shows. Whichever reason is true is disappointing to me because I know lots of women who are very knowledgeable about sports. My mom is a huge sports fan; and, her love of sports is a big reason I'm hooked on sports. One of my best friends can talk and analyze sports better than most of the people I know; and, as she always reminds me, I've never won an argument with her.
I grew up listening to Anita Martini discussing sports on KPRC 950 AM in the 1970s and 1980s; and, though I didn't agree with everything Anita said on the show, I did enjoy listening to her on the radio. It seems to me more and more girls and young ladies are participating in sports; but, the opportunities for those same women to get jobs in sports (hosting radio shows, becoming head coaches, etc.) is declining.
Women work. Women earn money; and, women spend money. If the numbers are correct and women outnumber men and spend more money than men, why are women seemingly ignored when it comes to sports talk shows?
A silent majority is vulnerable to a vocal minority.
I have a question...
...What about women?
I'm not going to cite the surveys and census reports; but, I know I've seen, heard, and read, there are more women living in America than men. I'm not naive to think more women listen to sports talk shows than men; but, this new era of "guy talk radio" seems to be based on a belief women do not listen to sports talk radio shows at all. Perhaps the women who listen to these shows need to become more active in calling the shows and voicing their opinions (informed and uniformed) as their male counterparts.
The Chronicle's David Barron analyzes the sports talk radio landscape in Houston in today's paper. In the article, Barron also lists the more than two dozen radio personalities who have hosted regularly scheduled weekday sports talk shows in Houston over the past decade. Of the list only one person is a woman -- Kris O'Donnell. Kris was a co-host of SportsBeat on KTRH 740 AM with Tom Franklin from 2000 to 2001. By the way, I appeared on that show as a basketball analyst.
Based on the list, I guess we have to assume either women aren't interested in hosting sports talk shows or women are not getting the opportunity to host sports talk shows. Whichever reason is true is disappointing to me because I know lots of women who are very knowledgeable about sports. My mom is a huge sports fan; and, her love of sports is a big reason I'm hooked on sports. One of my best friends can talk and analyze sports better than most of the people I know; and, as she always reminds me, I've never won an argument with her.
I grew up listening to Anita Martini discussing sports on KPRC 950 AM in the 1970s and 1980s; and, though I didn't agree with everything Anita said on the show, I did enjoy listening to her on the radio. It seems to me more and more girls and young ladies are participating in sports; but, the opportunities for those same women to get jobs in sports (hosting radio shows, becoming head coaches, etc.) is declining.
Women work. Women earn money; and, women spend money. If the numbers are correct and women outnumber men and spend more money than men, why are women seemingly ignored when it comes to sports talk shows?
A silent majority is vulnerable to a vocal minority.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 11:01 AM
2 Comments:
At July 30, 2007 6:29 PM,
Coopsback said…
Very nice, Kris.
Seems to me "Houston" never is very creative in just about anything.
For the record, before the Comets existence, I listened regularly if not daily (Rockets glory years 94-95). It has been a slap in the face the way they don't cover the Comets; therefore, I don't listen and I don't respect them that much.
At August 9, 2007 2:34 PM,
Ontario Emperor said…
Just listened to the comments of Don Martin, program director for several Clear Channel stations in Los Angeles, including the sports station KLAC. Martin differentiated between the hard core sports demographic and the general male 25-54 demographic, who is interested in a variety of things. Martin works on appealing to the latter, as well as people outside of that demographic. His crop of hosts include a former accountant (Tracy Simers), a former music industry peson (Matt "Money" Smith), and one long-standing sports reporter who also hosts a weekend show on the liberal talk radio station (Joe McDonnell). I don't know the demographics of KLAC, but I assume the target is to get some higher numbers in the 25-54 female demographic also.
Martin also discussed sophomoric humor. His hosts have varying views on using it, but Martin's attitude is to let the hosts be themselves, and if the viewers don't respond, then the hosts are fired. (Martin's attitude is that he has never fired anyone; the viewers have. This assumes that Martin doesn't play political games with his staff.)
In regards to your main point, however, Tracy Simers is the only female co-host on weekdays - not sure about weekends. Not sure if that makes much of a difference in attracting women, however.
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