February 2nd, 2010 — Media Buying
We’ve been working with stations in Cleveland for a while now. We asked Account Executive Sandy Lyon to answer a few media sales questions for us.
What station do you represent?
WMJI, WGAR AND WMVX
What Market are you in and what is the rank of this market?
Cleveland We are in the top 30 markets
What makes your station stand out in your market?
WMJI’s classic Hits and WGAR’s Country format are exclusive formats in Cleveland. WMVX has an Adult Contemporary format. It’s about reliving the past and being part of the present. Playing music from MTV, but also hits from the 90’s and today.
What is your current position with your station?
Account Executive
What brought you to radio?
The energy and constant change. It always keeps me on my toes.
How long have you been with your station?
With the group 24 years
Are you the only person at the station that sells the ½ hour blocks?
In my group yes. We have three other stations in the cluster.
Are there other stations in your group that offer ½ hour blocks? If so which ones and if not why?
WTAM offers ½ hour blocks.
Has your station ever sold out of block time?
They are always sold out.
Have you found that more direct response companies are looking to buy more time right now?
Yes
We hear all the time that ad revenue for all the major radio groups is falling. In what categories are you losing the most ad revenue?
In 2009 Auto had the largest decrease. In 2010 we are seeing a resurgence in the category.
Have you seen the long form and other direct response advertisers pulling back due to the recession?
No
In your experience what has long form media brought to your station. Has it been positive or negative?
In the right time slot it’s great.
What feedback have you received concerning the half hour programs that run on your station?
I really don’t get any feedback on the programs.
Are there certain topics of infomercials that you prefer to have on your station? Are there any topics that your station will not play no matter what? If so, what are they?
There are no shows on that can cause any controversy at all.
If stations don’t currently sell ½ hours to clients like 2 Lights Media would you recommend that they add this form of programming to their stations?
Yes, in an appropriate time slots that work for the programming of the station.
Do you find it easy to work with long form DR companies or are they more difficult?
In some cases more difficult.
Do you think your listeners would prefer to have a different show each week?
No, but I think there is a fine line between frequency and over kill.
How does your station calculate rates for half hour blocks?
What the market will bear and return on investment for the client.
Do you track your listenership through a service like Arbitron?
Yes.
And if so, have you seen an increase or decrease in listenership during 30 min blocks since they switched to the PPM?
There has only been one book with PPM. I think there needs to be a few more books before we can actually get a good handle on the numbers.
November 10th, 2009 — Media Buying
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The relationship between a radio sales representative and a media buyer involves a lot of give and take. Most of this give and take focuses on negotiating rates and times. As a media buying agency, 2 Lights Media engages in those standard relationships between sales reps and media buyers. However, we also like to give our media partners as much information as possible about what’s going on in our neck of the woods. We’ll chat with you about the weather (the fall is so gorgeous here in Maine!), but we also want to let you know what programs we have ready to air on your station.
2 Lights Media is unique in that we work very closely with Knockout Strategies, a media production company. Due to our close relationship, we have access to high quality 30 to 60 minute programs for a wide variety of new clients. We’re not trying to air the same shows as everyone else. The content we have is brand new — most clients are just breaking onto the radio scene — so your listeners are sometimes hearing it for the first time.
And our client list never stops growing. In order to keep our media partners up-to-date with what shows we currently have and ones that we are looking at in the near future, we created this email newsletter. We hope that this newsletter does for you what our programs do for your listeners: informs and entertains.
Does your station want to work with 2 Lights Media? Send us an email with your available times and rates. You can also reach us by phone: 207-591-6079.
October 20th, 2009 — Media Buying
Sticking with the Texas theme, we asked Senior Account Manager Robert Reese from KPRC some questions about his station and their relationship with block programming.
1. What station do you represent? KPRC-AM
2. What Market are you in and what is the rank of this market? Houston, TX #6
3. What makes your station stand out in your market? Heritage Talk station (and oldest station in market)
4. What is your current position with your station? Senior Account Manager
5. What brought you to radio? Luck!
6. How long have you been with your station? 8 years
7. Are you the only person at the station that sells the ½ hour blocks? Yes
8. Are there other stations in your group that offer ½ hour blocks? If so which ones and if not why? limited on KTRH, though spaces are rare
9. Has your station ever sold out of block time? yes
10. Have you found that more direct response companies are looking to buy more time right now? yes
11. We hear all the time that ad revenue for all the major radio groups is falling. In what categories are you losing the most ad revenue? Auto
12. Have you seen the long form and other direct response advertisers pulling back due to the recession? no
13. In your experience what has long form media brought to your station. Has it been positive or negative? positive
14. What feedback have you received concerning the half hour programs that run on your station? Listeners like most
15. Are there certain topics of infomercials that you prefer to have on your station? Are there any topics that your station will not play no matter what? If so, what are they? Financial, real estate, and health are all great fits
16. If stations don’t currently sell ½ hours to clients like 2 Lights Media would you recommend that they add this form of programming to their stations? It is a great fit and revenue source for Talk/News
17. Do you find it easy to work with long form DR companies or are they more difficult? Quite easy and willing to help us
18. Do you think your listeners would prefer to have a different show each week? Absolutely
19. How does your station calculate rates for half hour blocks? Lost spot revenue dictates the base rate. Demand drives that rate.
20. Do you track your listenership through a service like Arbitron? And if so, have you seen an increase or decrease in listenership during 30 min blocks since they switched to the PPM? Flat
August 25th, 2009 — Media Buying
Angela has been working with Craig Beisel for a long time. Recently he stopped by Maine to say hi to us.
Hey, Craig, did you enjoy your recent trip to Maine?
Craig: I enjoyed seeing you all and your office… the weather, yikes.
Would you recommend other station reps come visit us at 2 Lights Media?
Yes. I believe in doing business in person, face to face. I think in this day and age with all the technology available we’ve gotten away from that.
What station do you represent?
KSEV AM
What Market are you in and what is the rank of this market?
HOUSTON TX , 10TH
What makes your station stand out in your market?
Locally owned and independent. Very community oriented.
What is your current position with your station?
Director of Sales
What brought you to radio?
Insanity…..no, my wife was an on-air personality. I began my career in sales for Anheuser Busch. I was always interested in what she did but did not want to be behind a mic…..had to do with talent mainly or lack thereof…..well, radio has sales departments so I interviewed in 1993 and got the job.
How long have you been with your station?
16 years
Are you the only person at the station that sells the ½ hour blocks?
No
Are there other stations in your group that offer ½ hour blocks? If so which ones and if not why?
Yes. We have recently purchased a news/talk in Dallas.
Has your station ever sold out of block time?
Yes
Have you found that more direct response companies are looking to buy more time right now?
Yes. While overall spot business is down some long-form and DR are up.
We hear all the time that ad revenue for all the major radio groups is falling. In what categories are you losing the most ad revenue?
Auto
Have you seen the long form and other direct response advertisers pulling back due to the recession?
No
In your experience what has long form media brought to your station. Has it been positive or negative?
I would say somewhere in between leaning towards positive. I would like to see some of the creative be a little better.
What feedback have you received concerning the half hour programs that run on your station?
Usually the calls we receive are for phone numbers…..so that’s good.
If stations don’t currently sell ½ hours to clients like 2 Lights Media would you recommend that they add this form of programming to their stations?
Sure
Do you find it easy to work with long form DR companies or are they more difficult?
Easier
Do you think your listeners would prefer to have a different show each week?
Variety is always better, although weekly might not be necessary.
How does your station calculate rates for half hour blocks?
By recent history and demand.
Do you subscribe to Arbitron or something similar to track your listenership numbers?
Yes
July 31st, 2009 — Radio Production
2 Lights Media is partnered with Knockout Strategies — a long form radio production company. Because of this we have access to fresh, new content. Recently we went behind the scenes and asked their Audio Engineer, Phil DuBois, a few questions about how radio infomercial production works.
Q: How did you get involved with 30 minute production?
I have nearly 20 years of experience in the audio, radio and marketing fields and joined Knockout Strategies nearly 5 years ago to produce top notch radio productions.
Q: How long have you been creating radio infomercials?
I’ve been producing long form radio in particular for almost 5 years.
Q: How many 30 minute radio shows do you think you have produced?
I’m not sure of the exact number, but I would say that it’s in the hundreds.
Q: Are most of theses shows still running?
I believe that many still are.
Q: What goes into recording editing and producing at 30 minute radio show?
Normally we will have a rehearsal where we run through the show so that the spokesperson can become acclimated with the surroundings and get comfortable in our studio. At that point we’ll usually do 2 complete recordings and get as much content as we can. From there, we sift through all of the recorded material and begin selecting the best of the best with which to build the show.
Q: Do you find that the experts are easy to work with while producing shows?
Absolutely. Our spokespeople are always knowledgeable, polite and prepared which makes it an enjoyable process.
Q: Do you find it easier to edit a 30 minute show than you would a spot? (meaning that after the test period do you find it easier to make changes to a 30 minute show or a spot)
The only real difference between a traditional “spot” and a long form production is the time involved, simply because of the amount of material. Spots go quicker just because there is significantly less content.
Q: How long does it take from start to finish to get a 30 minute radio show ready for the airwaves?
This really can vary from show to show, but normally we can record, edit and post a show in a couple of weeks tops.
Q: Is a thirty minute show easier to create than a :30 or :60 spot? Please explain.
Each of these entities has its own unique challenges and purpose. Spots mean you have a lot less time to get a listener’s attention and to put forth your message so the copy and creative has to be direct and to the point. With a 30 minute show, we have the liberty of taking the listener on a longer ride and providing great detail about a product, its background, development and benefits.
Q: Do you think people react better to a thirty minute show or a quick spot?
Our shows are informative and educational, where spots are more of a quick hit. I believe that there are audiences who respond to both, so ultimately, utilizing both forms makes for an effective marketing stance.
Q: In your opinion what are the benefits to producing a 30 minute radio show over just a spot?
A long form spot allows us to truly educate listeners, in some detail, about a product that we have. I don’t think there’s any substitute for a well educated consumer.
Q: What feed back have you heard about the shows you have produced?
Well, certainly the listeners “speak” every time they pick up the phone or go to a website and order products. But from a station standpoint, we know that they look forward to our productions for a number of reasons: 1. The technical quality is always excellent 2. Our shows are well produced and reflect positively on the station identity 3. We have varied content so we’re not pigeonholed into one type of show. The variety is a plus, no doubt.
Q: What advice would you give a company who is interested in having a long form radio show produced for them? (Checklist of what to do to prepare for example).
Call Knockout Strategies! Very seriously, we are the leader in long form radio productions and can guide clients through the process from start to finish. So have a good product and a solid spokesperson, and we’ll take care of the rest!
Q: Would you be more inclined to call these 30 minute programs or would you call them infomercials?
I actually like to refer to our shows as programs, for the reasons I’ve mentioned previously. It’s not a “yell and sell” format. Our programs are informative and engaging and we make every effort to appeal to audiences on a more cerebral plane, because we know that, especially in this current economy, the public is more skeptical than ever, but a the same time, also are searching for ways to improve their lives and the lives of those around them.
Q: Do you find it easy to work around the station clocks?
This is an area where we excel. Instead of making stations work with our content, we have the expertise to customize our shows to accommodate each station’s clock.
Q: Have you ever produced a 1 hour show and how does this compare to the 30 minute shows?
In the past months, we have been producing 1 hour shows which have been very well received by the radio stations and their listeners.
Q: Be honest and tell everyone how you feel about Angela the buyer?
Angela, and our entire team, is second to none. We are a group of caring and creative people, which is evident in every aspect of what we do.
June 29th, 2009 — Media Buying, News
2 Lights Media is proud to welcome Rob Weimer to the media buying team.
We asked Rob a few questions about his media buying style.
Q: How long have you been buying media?
A: I have been a media buyer for about seven years
Q: How did you get started in the media buying industry?
A: Well, I was working in a call center and I was on a break. I was looking at the company job postings on the wall when somebody came up behind me and asked which of the jobs I thought I could do. I had been in sales for years and the idea of spending money instead of trying to convince people to give me money appealed to me so, I told him I thought I could be a media buyer. What I didn’t know was that he was the manager of the media department, and a week later I was a media buyer.
Q: What do you like about media buying?
A: I would say first and foremost the people. I have made some great friends over the years. But, I also take a great deal of satisfaction in taking a product, negotiating the buys and helping it become a success.
Q: What do you as a buyer look at when purchasing time for your clients?
A: Price! There is no such thing as bad media, just bad media pricing.
Q: How do you know if a station has been a success for your client?
A: Generally as a buyer, my clients are most interested in cost per call.
Q: Where do you purchase half hours for your clients?
A: I currently handle the western United States, roughly west of the Mississippi River.
Q: How do you find open times for your stations?
A: When I first started as a buyer, I used to spend most of the day on the phone or reading and sending faxes but, now it’s lots and lots of e-mails with the occasional phone call.
If you’re west of the Mississippi and have some open avails, feel free to send them along to Rob at robw@2lightsmedia.com.
June 29th, 2009 — Media Buying
1. What station do you represent?
a. News Radio WORD – 106.3FM / 1330AM / 950AM
2. What Market are you in and what is the rank of this market?
a. Greenville #59
3. What is your current position with your station?
a. Account Manager / On-Air Talent
4. What brought you to radio?
a. I became addicted to talk radio as a teenager to the point that my friends hated to ride in the car with me when we went out. I couldn’t get enough. Fast forward to college; I needed to graduate and I couldn’t do math so I had to pick a major that didn’t require any – hello broadcast journalism! One intern-ship and a few years later, I’m here in sales full time and I actually tricked them into giving me my own weekend football show!
5. How long have you been with your station?
a. A little over 3 years now
6. Are you the only person at the station that sells the ½ hour blocks?
a. No, but I handle about 95% of block placement.
7. Are there other stations in your group that offer ½ hour blocks? If so which ones and if not why?
a. No. We’ve 4 music stations in our cluster and none offer block programming. Likely because it deviates too much from normal format. (music)
8. Has your station ever sold out of block time?
a. Yes, it typically remains sold out and availabilities are becoming fewer and further in between.
9. Have you found that more direct response companies are looking to buy more time right now?
a. Yes. Harsh economic times have led some radio clusters to be more open to different NTR streams. This new-found flexibility has given Direct Response companies a lot more business. Beyond this, however, Direct Response marketing delivers results. It’s an innovative form of marketing that seems to be growing rapidly across the country. It certainly wouldn’t be blowing up this big if it wasn’t working for advertisers.
10. We hear all the time that ad revenue for all the major radio groups is falling. In what categories are you losing the most ad revenue?
a. Automotive, National, and Retail
11. Have you seen the long form and other direct response advertisers pulling back due to the recession?
a. On the contrary; we’ve seen more. These days, people are getting exposed to more forms of advertisements in their daily lives than ever. Advertisers need to get innovative, and think outside-the-box. Long form media is a great form of reaching people and showcasing products that require a little bit of audience-education.
12. In your experience what has long form media brought to your station. Has it been positive or negative?
a. Positive.
13. How do your listeners respond to this type of programming?
a. Our listeners, like many News Talk formats, are very loyal. We monitor our block programming to make sure that they are appropriate for the station.
14. If stations don’t currently sell ½ hours to clients like 2 Lights Media would you recommend that they add this form of programming to their stations?
a. I would recommend that any program director not running ½ hour blocks at least consider the benefits of working with Angela and 2 Lights Media.
15. What makes your station stand out in your market?
a. We are the heritage News Talk station in this market, have no real competitors, and offer loud and stimulating political opinions in a politically charged atmosphere. Controversy. It’s what we’re all about.
16. Do you find it easy to work with long form DR companies or are they more difficult?
a. Most long form DR companies that do business with me are very easy to work with.
17. Do you think your listeners would prefer to have a different show each week?
a. I believe very strongly that long-form and DR marketing works much better if show content is updated on a weekly, if not daily basis.
18. How does your station calculate rates for half hour blocks?
a. We have a set rate for each available time slot that is occasionally adjusted slightly due to demand.
19. Do you subscribe to Arbitron or something similar to track your listenership numbers?
a. Yes, we subscribe to Arbitron and Scarborough research.
20. Have you had a positive experience working with 2 Lights Media (be honest)
a. Angela is seriously one of my favorite clients to work with. She understands radio, how it works, and possesses a genuine spirit. I’d highly recommend doing business with her to any sales representative or long-form advertiser.
May 7th, 2009 — Media Buying
We’ve been working with WPGB Pittsburgh for quite some time now. Recently we asked Senior Account Executive Marcy Rigby some questions about her experience working in the radio industry.
Q: What station(s) do you represent?
A: 6 stations…. WPGB FM, WDVE FM, WWSW FM, WKST FM, WXDX FM, WBGG AM
Q: What market are you in and what is its rank?
A: Pittsburgh #22
Q: How long have you been at your stations?
A: 11 years
Q: What brought you to radio?
A: The magnetic forces of earths’ gravitational pole. Many years ago I worked at an area ski resort in marketing and events, which opened up many close working relationships with area media outlets. After years of building exciting programs for these media partners, the Radio Station recruited me. Radio has turned into an exciting and rewarding career.
Q: Are you the only person at the station that sells the ½ hour blocks?
A: No – however I do handle a good majority of it …. THANKS to Angela at 2 Lights Media, “my rock star agency”!!
Q: Do the other stations in your group offer block programming? If not, why not?
A: WPGB, WDVE, WWSW, and WBGG do block shows. WXDX & WKST do not currently as these are younger 18-34 formats.
Q: Has your station ever sold out of block time?
A: WE SELL OUT ALL THE TIME! In fact we have an extensive Waiting Listing for those wanting to get on. In addition to pre recorded programs, we host numerous local live block shows from area doctors to financial experts that renew annually!
Q: Have you found that more direct response companies are looking to buy more time right now?
A: Yes, I have seen increased demand for direct response in the past year.
Q: We hear all the time that ad revenue for all the major radio groups is falling. In what categories are you losing the most ad revenue?
A: Auto and mortgage are the main two. Thankfully for me, the Pittsburgh market has been stable with growth and renewal despite the national trend.
Q: Have you seen the long form and other direct response advertisers pulling back due to the recession?
A: No – In fact I’ve experience just the opposite. I’ve personally received a 14% increase over the last 5 months with DR and LF accounts.
Q: In your experience what has long form media brought to your station. Has it been positive or negative?
A: Very positive. Not only do these programs entertain while providing a service to the listener, it is a great revenue provider for the station. It’s a Win/Win all around.
Q: How do your listeners respond to this type of programming?
A: Book after book the ratings stay consistent. So people are loyal listeners to these programs.
Q: What makes your station stand out in your market?
A: It’s the only FM (not AM) News Talk Format!
Q: Do you find it easy to work with long form DR companies or are they more difficult?
A: Very very easy to work with. It’s very turnkey: Orders arrive in ample time, payments are made on time, and the shows are quality programs.
Q: Do you think your listeners would prefer to have a different show each week?
A: I believe mixing the shows up are better for listeners, so yes.
Q: How does your station calculate rates for half hour blocks?
A: Factors include the Day of week or weekend being sold, and time of show. The ratings are factored but basically it boils down to Supply and demand.
Q: Do you subscribe to Arbitron or something similar to track your listenership numbers?
A: Yes Arbitron.
Q: If stations don’t currently sell ½ hours to clients like 2 Lights Media would you recommend that they add this form of programming to their stations?
A: Yes, I most certainly would.
Thanks, Marcy! If you’d like to be featured on our blog and in our newsletter, drop us a line at info@2lightsmedia.com
April 6th, 2009 — Media Buying
Here at 2 Lights Media we are forming relationships with several stations across the US. Recently we asked Chip White, Senior Account Executive at WABC in New York a few questions about his experience with radio and block programming.
2 Lights Media Wants to Know…
Q: What station do you represent?
A: 77WABC NewsTalk Radio.
Q: What Market are you in and what is the rank of this market?
A: New York. Number 1.
Q: What brought you to radio?
A: I spent my first 10 years in Ad Agency Management. It took that long to realize I was sitting at the wrong side of the desk. I enjoyed listening to sales pitches and felt selling was my real calling. Bill Burton, a radio legend, hired me at Eastman Radio. Within two years I was a top seller.
Q: How long have you been with your station?
A: 3 years and 3 months. Before that I was 12 years with CBS Radio at both the station group and the Rep firm.
Q: Are you the only person at the station that sells the ½ hour blocks?
A: Anyone at the station can sell block, however, one other seller and I currently control most of the available inventory.
Q: Are there other stations in your group that offer ½ hour blocks? If so which ones and if not why?
A: Block programming is up to each stations programmer and management team. This includes when the block will air and whether or not there is synergy with existing programming. The Citadel Communications Radio Group operates 165 FM and 58 AM properties. Long form is usually associated with AMs, however, not all of our stations accommodate block.
Q: Has your station ever sold out of block time?
A: Every week. I don’t believe there has ever been an unsold block. The demand for time is huge. WABC is also a 50,000 watt clear channel so we are heard nationwide at night. That’s a lot of listeners who buy product.
Q: Have you found that more direct response companies are looking to buy more time right now?
A: Absolutely. Long form programming offers unlimited sales possibilities. We have clients who have been with block for years and would not think of leaving. Plus they won’t be able to get back on any time soon. Their slot would be sold right away. PI advertisers are also looking for 60 second spots. WABC carries a limited number of units per hour and demand is high. We simply don’t have the inventory to accommodate PI outside of block.
Q: We hear all the time that ad revenue for all the major radio groups is falling. In what categories are you losing the most ad revenue?
A: WABC is actually up in just about every category. We aren’t waiting for Madison Avenue to return. We are working with companies in every field to develop web and on air programs to help in their sales effort. This includes clients that have never used radio and who are now seeing great results. Our local and retail sales are up significantly.
Q: Have you seen the long form and other direct response advertisers pulling back due to the recession?
A: Not all products do well in block all the time. During a recession, it’s up to the advertiser to select which of their products is going to be impactful. The listener is still there. They just have to be motivated to buy.
Q: In your experience what has long form media brought to your station. Has it been positive or negative?
A: Block brings a good amount of revenue to the station so I have to say positive. We confine the block primarily to weekend evenings and overnights. During the week we have local and syndicated personality based programs that are in high demand with advertisers. The News Talk format is just that; news, information and stimulating talk.
Q: How do your listeners respond to this type of programming?
A: I can only base listener response on client sales from long form programming. If sales are up, the listener must be happy.
Q: If stations don’t currently sell ½ hours to clients like 2 Lights Media would you recommend that they add this form of programming to their stations?
A: That depends on the station and format. It works well for WABC.
Q: What makes your station stand out in your market?
A: WABC is the exclusive News Talk format in New York. We have the best and most listened to personalities in the country; IMUS, Joe Scarborough, Rush, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Curtis Sliwa. There is something for everyone. News Talk equates to long time spent listening. Commercials are part of the programming and are not lost in the clutter. We are News and Stimulating Talk. That make us unique.
Q: Do you find it easy to work with long form DR companies or are they more difficult?
A: As long as the copy arrives on time and the bills are paid promptly, everything flows smoothly. Rarely is there questionable copy and our current client list is a pleasure to work with. There is a synergy that blends nicely with our format.
Q: Do you think your listeners would prefer to have a different show each week?
A: Variety is always good but if there is a particular show that brings good results, clients tend to stick with what works best for them.
Q: How does your station calculate rates for half hour blocks?
A: Demand plays a big part in our rate structure, however, we do work with our long term clients when appropriate.
Q: Do you subscribe to Arbitron or something similar to track your listenership numbers?
A: Yes. Our ratings are generated by Arbitron’s Portable People Meter, or PPM, which tracks what consumers listen to on the radio. We can see who is listening and when.
Thanks, Chip! If you’d like to tell us more about your station, send us an email!
April 2nd, 2009 — News
For those of us who work in the radio industry, we all recognize Paul Harvey as a radio icon. And, we were all saddened by his recent passing at the age of 90.
Paul Harvey had a long and distinguished career in radio. He started working at KVOO in Tulsa, OK at the early age of 14. While attending the University of Tulsa, he continued working at KVOO, first as an announcer, and later as a program director.
Harvey’s big break came when he moved to Chicago in June of 1944 where he began broadcasting from the ABC affiliate WENR. He quickly became the most popular newscaster in Chicago. In 1945, he began hosting the postwar employment program Jobs for G.I. Joe on WENR. Harvey added The Rest of the Story as a tagline to in-depth feature stories in 1946. The spots became their own series in 1976. On April 1, 1951 the ABC Radio Network debuted Paul Harvey News and Comment “Commentary and analysis of Paul Harvey each weekday at 12 Noon”. Paul Harvey was also heard originally on Sundays; the first Sunday program was Harvey’s introduction. Later, the Sunday program would move to Saturdays. The program continued until his death.
On May 10, 1976, ABC Radio Networks premiered The Rest of the Story as a separate series which provided endless surprises as Harvey dug into stories behind the stories of famous events and people. Harvey’s son, a concert pianist, created and produced the series. He was the show’s only writer.
Harvey was known for catch phrases he used at the beginning of his programs, such as “Hello Americans, I’m Paul Harvey. You know what the news is, in a minute, you’re going to hear … the rest of the story.” He always ended, “Paul Harvey … Good day.” A story might be “This day’s news of most lasting significance.” At the end of a report about someone who had done something ridiculous or offensive, Harvey would say, “He would want us to mention his name,” followed by silence, then would start the next item. The last item of a broadcast, which was often a funny story, would usually be preceded by “For what it’s worth.”
Harvey died on February 28, 2009, at the age of 90 after being taken to a hospital in Phoenix. He died while surrounded by family and friends. His son, Paul Harvey Jr., said “millions have lost a friend” in response to his father’s death.
