Bill McGee’s many innovative sales ideas have earned him the title of a “pioneer” in modern broadcast marketing.
— Robert C. Pritikin, Award-winning ad man and author of Christ Was an Ad Man
Bill McGee lucidly and accurately recounts a critical era in the evolution of American electronic media for readers who relish contemporary history as well as for scholars.
– From the Foreword by Richard C. Block, former president, Kaiser Broadcasting
LUCKY ME Series – How To Succeed in Business Without a Formal Education (2-book series)
About The BROADCASTING YEARS
Bill McGee pulls back the curtain on his exhilarating 32-year career in the high-stakes world of broadcast marketing and sales—a world filled with razor-sharp competition, creativity, relentless deadlines, whirlwind travel, and, of course, the legendary three-martini lunches.
In 1958, when Bill set his sights on the entertainment industry, he envisioned a career as a director or producer. But a timely piece of advice from a Hollywood director changed his trajectory: “Get into sales.” Armed with a track record of proven natural sales and deal-making prowess, Bill took the advice and never looked back.
The BROADCASTING YEARS: A Career in Four Acts
Part I: Syndicated Television Program Sales (1958-1962)
Part II: National Radio and Television Station Rep (1962-1967)
Part III: Television Station Management (1968-1970)
Part IV: The BMC Story (1971-1989)
The heart of the book lies in Part IV: “The BMC Story”, where Bill took two of Henry J. Kaiser’s favorite sayings—“Find a need and fill it” and “Problems are opportunities in work clothes”—and built his own brand. In 1971, he founded Broadcast Marketing Company (BMC) to revolutionize sales training for local and national TV station managers and their sales teams. With innovative seminars, groundbreaking sales materials, and industry-leading strategies, BMC set a new standard in broadcast marketing and cooperative advertising.
Bill’s contributions to the industry earned him numerous awards, including 1982’s induction into Broadcast Pioneers, an honor recognizing his impact on the world of television and radio since 1958.
The BROADCASTING YEARS
Memoir of a Television Pioneer, 1958–1989
Lucky Me Series – How To Succeed in Business Without a Formal Education (2-book series)
by William L. McGee with Sandra V. McGee
BMC Publications, 2018
Paperback & eBook
Available from Amazon
Lucky Me Series – How To Succeed in Business Without a Formal Education
From the Author:
I’m not a celebrity, but I wanted to write my business memoirs in hopes of inspiring anyone who, like me, did not pursue a formal education with how they can still succeed in the career of their choice.
I’m a high school drop out and a college drop out. In 1942, I dropped out of high school in the tenth grade to get into the fight and contribute to the war effort. After the war, I tried college on the G.I. Bill and dropped out in my second semester. I couldn’t keep my head in the books.
But look at me as a guy who never quit. I was a self-starter, ambitious, willing to learn whether on the job or on my own. I read books and industry newsletters about the career I was interested in. And I kept in mind two of my favorite sayings by Henry J. Kaiser: Find a need and fill it and Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.
Henry J. Kaiser, a man I looked up to, dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help support his family. He was reportedly “quietly proud” of his success in spite of not completing his education.
I’m proud of my success, too—perhaps not so quietly. This is my story of how I still succeeded in business—and life—without the benefit of a formal education. I hope you enjoy the read.
—William L. McGee
Also in the Lucky Me Series
How I Learned to Sell and Make Deals 1950-1958
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Reviews
“In the seventies, Bill McGee enticed me to be on the creative team for what turned out to be two highly-successful broadcast sales presentation films, Get It On! Get It On Radio Now!! and How To Make Effective Low-Cost Television Commercials. These films were the first of their kind in the industry and just one of Bill’s many innovative sales ideas which have earned him the title of ‘father of modern broadcast marketing.’”
– Robert C. Pritikin, Award-winning ad man and author of Christ Was an Ad Man
“Bill McGee revolutionized electronic media sales. His creative approach, focusing on retail sales cycles and local sales promotions using co-op dollars to switch a portion of the retailer’s newspaper ad budget to broadcasting, was a paradigm shift. Today, many of those same techniques are used in large and small markets. I will forever be indebted to Bill McGee, a gifted writer and my mentor. Great insights into broadcasting syndication and sales during the early years.”
– Elaine Clark, former Co-op Director, Jefferson-Pilot Retail Services
“As someone who spent a long career in advertising, I highly recommend this book for anyone considering a career in communications or business in general. It gives you a good understanding of the ups and downs of both business and life.”
– Joel Lewis, Lewis & Partners Advertising
“The Broadcasting Years, 1958-1989 brings back great memories of coworkers and friends from a glorious past when I was in the business and when advertising and broadcasting in San Francisco were the center of my universe. . . . (And I write this considering I only got one mention in the book; the fragile ego takes yet another hit.) This is a story of a remarkable individual, who we called ‘Bill McGee from Tennessee’ even though he was from Montana. McGee’s broadcasting memoir explains that succeeding in broadcasting and advertising takes more than just being a pretty face with a great personality. Darn, I wish I had known that then.”
– Howard “Howie” Reed, former San Francisco advertising executive, and author One night, while out Drinking with the Fat Swede
“As someone who spent a decade in sales with IBM followed by three decades as a self-employed consultant in the computer industry, I particularly related to “Part IV: The BMC Story” where the author tells in detail how he grew his own company–Broadcast Marketing Company–from launching it in his apartment with a desk and an answering machine, to building it into a nationwide broadcasting sales business over a thirteen year period. The author’s creativity throughout his 32-year career is inspiring. Though the entertainment industry has changed since the author’s retirement in 1989, his memoir will provide anyone who wants to work in the industry with ideas for different ways they can use their talents on the other side of the camera.”
– Donald K. Ilfeld, “History and Evolution of Computer Technology”, Changes, Challenges & Opportunities in The New Electronic Media, by William L. McGee
“A must read by spouses whose spouse was or is in the broadcasting business. My limited knowledge of this business increased a thousand fold after reading this fascinating memoir. An easy read that leaves me asking for more.”
– Sally Corr
“This book should be required reading on the subject of entrepreneurship in business schools”
– Jane Z., Beta reader