(CMR) Straight Talk Drive at Five once a daily weekday talk show started by former talk show host and MP Austin Harris has now been relegated to a once per week show only one year after its current host took over the reins. The 5:00 pm drive time show has gone through several changes including hosts and was reduced by an entire hour.
The latest change in format began in November and comes at an interesting time in talk radio when the market is seeing yet another noticeable shift. The once-per-week show essentially allows the show's only sponsor Health City to continue to appear on Medical Mondays.
The show has struggled during the last year to gain any real traction with viewers. On Medical Mondays it now averages low double-digit views on social media with several shows only having 15 views on Facebook. There were talks of a potential host replacement again but management has decided to change the format again.
Industry experts speculate it is designed to fulfill the duration of the contract with Health City and that the writing is still very much on the wall for the once-popular program.
Talk Show host Catherine Tyson took over the show from Ruthanna Young back in September 2020. Young expressed a desire to focus on her family and pursue other professional opportunities. Until the general election, she worked in the office of the Leader of Opposition and is also a real estate agent. Young can sometimes be found co-hosting with Tyson. However, that did not appear to make a difference in viewer participation.
Recently Compass Media canceled its long-running morning talk show Cayman Crosstalk after purchasing Rooster 101.9 as part of its Hurley's media acquisition late last year and firing popular host Woody DaCosta.
CMR understands that a community station is coming to the airwaves soon via DMS Broadcasting and could feature various talk show options in its program lineup.
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