Demise
Tunick: "I left Talknet in late 1985 (November 4, 1985) after being recruited by ABC Radio where I became Vice-President of Programming for the ABC Talkradio Network. I stayed close to Sally during the next year, knowing she had one year remaining on her contract. In late 1986 the radio world was shocked to learn Sally Jessy Raphael was jumping to ABC Radio. I also hired the legendary Tom Snyder to make Sally (7-10) and Tom (10-1) the new bookends of nighttime listening."
In 1986, NBC, along with its parent company, RCA, was purchased by General Electric. GE purchased the company primarily for the NBC television network, and shortly thereafter sold the company's various other assets. The NBC radio network was sold to Westwood One. NBC radio continued as a programming service through 1989. After that date, the NBC brand name continued to be used on some programming, but NBC radio did not exist as a separate programming service. Westwood One continued the "Talknet" programming through the mid-1990s, but eventually dropped the "Talknet" name as well as the 10 pm-1 am personal advice programming. The time slot is currently held by Jim Bohannon, a carryover from the now-defunct Mutual Broadcasting System (which was also acquired by Westwood One).
Bruce Williams remained with Westwood One hosting his own individual program from 7 pm-10 pm for some years more, but eventually moved to the Talk America Radio Network (then owned by IDT) on June 25, 2001, and later Business Talk Radio Network until 2008. From 2008 to 2010, he self syndicated the show, which included a relay on the Sirius-XM channel also called "America's Talk" as well as on the Cable Radio Network. Williams retired in March 2010.
Raphael focused her efforts on television, but after her TV show was canceled, relaunched her show as "Sally JR's Open House," originally an Internet-only effort, but later transferred to radio syndication. Raphael's last radio show aired July 7, 2008.
Read more about this topic: NBC Talknet