Call-in Programs

DEFINITION: Radio and television talk shows that feature telephone conversations with audience members

SIGNIFICANCE: No-holds-barred attitudes among hosts and callers have combined with relaxed government regulations to create unprecedented freedom of expression in broadcast media

Talk radio featuring audience participation began in 1933 with a Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) program called Voice of Experience, on which listeners contributed to a fund for the “less fortunate.” By the late twentieth century, the format was a major growth area for radio stations—particularly AM radio stations, whose music formats could not compete with those of FM stations, which have better quality broadcast signals. Broadcasters have found such shows unusually profitable: Though inexpensive to produce, they bring in high ratings and more advertising revenue.

Individual call-in shows have historically focused on narrow subject areas, such as news, music, sports, and personal and social issues. Many listeners are attracted by the excitement of being heard on the air and conversing directly with famous hosts. The shows thrive on controversy and unpredictability. Hosts such as Howard Stern, noted for pushing the limits of what was considered indecent and obscene, became known as “shock jocks.” Stern’s broadcast company was even willing to pay large fines to the Federal Communications Commission because of the increased ratings for the stations that aired his controversial call-in show.

Although stations monitor calls to screen out libelous remarks and obscene language, callers can still say almost anything. Broadcasts are delayed about seven seconds by digital recording devices that enable hosts to stop profanity and libelous statements from reaching the air. However, the imperfection of broadcasting safeguards fosters audience perceptions that outrageous remarks might be uttered at any moment.

Talk show hosts and “screeners,” who are the first people to answer telephone calls from audience members, determine who has access to the airwaves. The screeners typically block calls from people who are confused or inarticulate, those with strong accents or who sound very old, and those who seem dangerously hostile or contrary. Studies have indicated that less than 3 percent of call-in show listeners get on the air.

Controls on the content of call-in shows come primarily from the policies of the broadcasting networks. Sun Radio Network, for example, did not permit discussion of controversial political topics or the promotion of causes. Within the United States, government controls have focused on obscene language, particularly during hours when children may listen. The demise of the Federal Communications Commission’s Fairness Doctrine after 1987 made it easier for programs to discuss controversial issues. The courts have generally rejected government efforts to extend limits on obscene programming. Modern technologies such as cable and satellite transmission are not covered by the same regulations as over-the-air stations. The satellite-delivered messages of Digital Audio Broadcasting would be outside government control.

In the twenty-first century, several call-in programs remained relatively popular. National Public Radio (NPR) continued producing several call-in shows, including Your Call Radio, Think, and Talk of the Nation. Many religious groups also produced call-in programs, particularly EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. By the mid-2020s, traditional call-in radio shows, especially in political talk and sports, remained popular. However, their influence was eclipsed by interactive online formats, such as livestreams, podcasts, and social media broadcasts, where audiences participated through chat, video, and text as well as phone calls. Many programs also simulcasted across radio, YouTube, and podcast platforms. While the FCC continued to regulate indecency on over-the-air broadcasts, most digital and satellite content operated with fewer restrictions, contributing to the growth of highly partisan political call-in programs and niche-topic shows with nationwide and international audiences.

Bibliography

“History of Commercial Radio.” Federal Communications Commission, 17 Oct. 2023, www.fcc.gov/media/radio/history-of-commercial-radio. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.

"How to Create an Effective Call-In Program." Farm Radio International, 27 May 2024, training.farmradio.fm/how-to-create-an-effective-call-in-program. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.

Kandra, Greg. "The Voice of Experience." CBS News, 9 Oct. 2006, www.cbsnews.com/news/the-voice-of-experience. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.

Milewski, Kathryn. "How Did Call-In Talk Radio Start? (Live365 History of Radio)." Live365, 9 Sept. 2022, live365.com/blog/how-did-call-in-talk-radio-start. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.

"Radio Call-In or Shock Jock Programs." Federal Communications Commission, 13 Jan. 2021, www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/radio-call-or-shock-jock-programs. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.