I’m not an angry listener, but I play one on radio!

This was brought to my attention a few days ago.

You're driving home from work listening to a pundit on your radio, pissed that the car in front of you won't JUST GO! The pundit is rambling on and on and opens up the phones to callers. Just then a man named Don gets on agreeing with the pundit and offering personal experience to back up the pundits views!

Wow, you think. That guys story is exactly what the pundit said was happening. The screener really found the right person to put on didn't they?

We all know about screeners, who talk to the phone ins before they actually go on the air so it's never been a surprise when someone who agrees with the host gets through and those that do not agree seem to be people who don't really know what they are talking about. But it seems the truth is much much stranger and even more devious.

Enter Premiere On Call

“Premiere On Call is our new custom caller service,” read the service’s website, which disappeared as this story was being reported . “We supply voice talent to take/make your on-air calls, improvise your scenes or deliver your scripts. Using our simple online booking tool, specify the kind of voice you need, and we’ll get your the right person fast. Unless you request it, you won’t hear that same voice again for at least two months, ensuring the authenticity of your programming for avid listeners.”

In other words, you can pay this service to call up your radio program and deliver any scripted or non scripted dialogue you wish. That's right, these are paid plants posing as callers for radio programs. This way you can get exactly the message you want out to the people you want to hear it, in just the voice you want it delivered.

And who is Premiere On Call? Why it's none other than Premiere Radio Networks, the largest syndication company in the United States and a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications.

Fox News handles all the "news" for Clear Channel Communications more than 100 of Clear Channel’s news/talk stations.

* Reaches more than 154 million people, or 75% of the 18+ U.S. population.
* Operates over 800 radio stations reaching more than 97 million listeners every week.



So the next time that caller gives you the anecdotal fodder you need for your next political discussion. Keep in mind, they just might be paid to deliver the message.

- source