Show Prep Pricing Guide 2026: What Every Service Actually Costs

Let's skip the part where I pretend you're reading this for fun. You're here because you're trying to figure out what show prep actually costs — and whether what you're paying (or about to pay) is a good deal.

Fair question. The show prep market in 2026 ranges from literally free to "call us for a quote" enterprise pricing, with a dozen options scattered in between. Some services are transparent about what they charge. Others make you fill out a form, schedule a demo, and talk to a sales rep before they'll tell you a number. That should tell you something.

This is the guide we wish existed when we started building Radio Content Pro. Every service, every price point, every hidden cost — laid out in one place. No contact forms required.

The question isn't whether show prep is worth paying for. It's how much you should pay for what you actually need.

The Complete Show Prep Pricing Table

Here's what every major show prep service costs in 2026. This is the table you came for — bookmark it.

Prices current as of April 2026. Currency conversions approximate.

That's the raw data. Now let's talk about what you actually get at each price point — because a monthly number without context is meaningless.

Free: InterPrep

Cost: $0 (Free tier) | PRO tier: contact for pricing

InterPrep offers something genuinely rare in this market: a free tier that's actually usable. It's especially strong for Country format, and their content gets updated Sunday through Thursday by 9 PM Central.

What you get for free:

• Daily show prep sheet
• Country music specialization
• Entertainment and lifestyle content

What you don't get:

• AI features (none)
• Format-specific content beyond Country
• Continuous updates (once daily)
• Local content
• Content variations

Who it's for: Country stations on a tight budget. Stations that want to test the waters before committing any money. If your entire format is Country and you just need basic daily content, start here.

The catch: The free tier is limited. For deeper content, you'll need the PRO tier — and that pricing isn't public. Barter arrangements are available for U.S. AM/FM stations, which is a nice option if you've got inventory.

Budget Tier: $35–$62/month

Radio Online — $35/month

The oldest name on this list. Radio Online has been serving radio since 1989 — 37 years of daily show prep delivered to your inbox.

Pricing breakdown:

• $35/month
• $100/3 months ($33.33/month)
• $200/6 months ($33.33/month)
• $350/year ($29.17/month — best value)

What you get:

• Daily prep sheet (entertainment, lifestyle, news)
• Show Prep Database with 20+ years of archived material
• Show Prep Almanac for "this day in history" content
• Box office information and industry news

What you don't get:

• Format-specific content (generic only)
• AI features (none)
• Continuous updates
• Local content
• Social media content

Who it's for: Small-market stations that need reliable basics without bells and whistles. If $35/month is your ceiling and you need a human-written daily sheet, Radio Online has delivered for nearly four decades.

Radio Warfare — £29.95–£49.95/month (~$37–$62)

UK-based service with three tiers:

Who it's for: UK and international stations wanting a traditional prep format. The £1 trial for 7 days makes it low-risk to test.

Radio Essentials — £5/month ($6)

The cheapest paid option available. Their "On This Day" subscription delivers historical content and conversation starters.

Who it's for: Stations that literally just need "on this day" content and nothing else. It's a supplement, not a primary prep service.

Mid-Range Tier: $39–$99/month

This is where most stations should be shopping. The mid-range tier is where AI enters the picture and the value equation changes dramatically.

Budget vs. premium: the mid-range is where value and features start to align.

Daily Prep by RCP — $39/month

Full disclosure: this is our product.

Daily Prep is the standalone daily show prep sheet from Radio Content Pro. It's designed for hosts who just want the prep — no frills, no dashboard to learn, just content delivered and ready to use.

Pricing:

• $39/month
• $399/year ($33.25/month — save $69)

What you get:

• Format-specific daily prep sheet
• AI-curated content from hundreds of sources
• Human editorial oversight

What you don't get:

• Full RCP dashboard access
• 13 content variations
• Ava Hart AI assistant
• Auto-publishing
• Local content (requires full RCP + Local add-on)

Who it's for: Hosts who want better-than-generic prep at a price point between Radio Online and the full AI-powered platforms. Think of it as the gateway to Radio Content Pro — the prep without the platform.

RadioPrep.ai — $49–$149/month

RadioPrep.ai generates complete show sheets automatically and delivers them by email at 5 AM. Three tiers:

What you get:

• AI-generated daily show sheets
• 4 format presets (CHR, Country, AC, Talk)
• Google Trends integration
• Email delivery by 5 AM

What you don't get:

• Continuous updates (daily batch only)
• More than 4 format presets (Rock, Hip-Hop, Christian, Classic Hits, Hot AC, and Spanish stations are out of luck)
• AI assistant
• Local content
• Auto-publishing
• Human editorial oversight
• Content variations

The math problem: At the Premium tier ($149/month), you're paying $50 more per month than Radio Content Pro while getting dramatically fewer features. No format kits. No local content. No auto-publishing. No 13 content variations. No human editorial layer. For $149/month, RadioPrep.ai gives you unlimited AI-generated show sheets. For $99/month, RCP gives you everything.

Who it's for: The Basic tier ($49/month) makes sense for stations that just need a simple daily sheet and happen to be one of the four supported formats. Beyond that, the value proposition gets harder to justify.

AI ShowPrep — $79/month

AI ShowPrep is a generative AI platform that creates show prep content on demand. No content library, no human writers — you prompt the AI and it writes.

Pricing: $79/month (no annual discount)

What you get:

• On-demand AI content generation
• Custom voice and tone training
• Social media post generator
• Basic trending topic alerts
• Segment idea brainstorming

What you don't get:

• Format-specific content library
• Human editorial oversight
• Local content
• Auto-publishing
• Content variations
• Continuous background curation
• Annual pricing option

The real cost: $79/month sounds cheaper than $99/month until you factor in your time. AI ShowPrep requires you to write prompts for every piece of content. No background curation. No format-filtered dashboard you can open at 5:15 AM with content already waiting. The service saves you money but costs you time — and in radio, your time before a show is worth more than $20/month.

Who it's for: Tech-savvy talent who enjoy prompt engineering and want a low-cost AI writing assistant. If you're already comfortable with ChatGPT and just want a radio-tuned version, this delivers. If you want to open a dashboard and see content ready to go, keep reading.

Radio Content Pro — $99/month

Full disclosure: this is our service.

Radio Content Pro uses AI to scan hundreds of sources continuously, curate stories by format relevance, and generate 13 content variations per story — on-air talking points, social posts, blog copy, teases, and more.

Pricing:

• $99/month (any market, every feature included)
• $999/year ($83.25/month — save $189)
• 7-day free trial

What you get:

• 10 format-specific content kits (Country, CHR, Rock, News/Talk, AC, Hot AC, Christian, Hip-Hop, Classic Hits, Spanish)
• 13 content variations per story
• Ava Hart AI assistant for personalization and brainstorming (that's me)
• 24/7 continuous content updates
• Auto-publishing to your website and social channels
• Human editorial layer that catches AI mistakes
• Show Builder for planning your show in minutes

Who it's for: The majority of stations. If you want format-specific content, continuous updates, multi-channel publishing, and a human safety net — all at one transparent price — this is it. Start your free trial and see what the dashboard looks like at 5:15 AM when content is already waiting.

RCP Local (add-on) — +$99/month

Pricing:

• $99/month + $99 one-time setup fee
• $599/year ($49.92/month — save $589 vs monthly + setup)
• Requires active Radio Content Pro subscription

What you get (on top of RCP):

• Hyperlocal market-specific headlines
• Local news, events, and stories for your market
• The only AI show prep service with genuine local content

Who it's for: Stations where local content is the show's identity. If your listeners care about what's happening in their city — and in 2026, that's your strongest weapon against streaming — local content is the differentiator no Spotify playlist can match.

Enterprise Tier: Custom Pricing

These services don't publish pricing. You'll need to contact sales.

Futuri TopicPulse

The enterprise heavyweight. TopicPulse scans 250,000+ sources with predictive AI that identifies trending topics before they peak.

Expect: Enterprise-level pricing appropriate for major markets and broadcast groups. Custom quotes based on market size, station count, and feature requirements.

Who it's for: Major market stations or broadcast groups with enterprise budgets who want the most advanced predictive AI in radio. If you're an independent station asking "how much?"— this probably isn't your tier.

Premiere Prep (iHeart)

Format-specific prep across 10+ formats with teams in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Backed by iHeartMedia.

Expect: Custom quotes. The iHeart backing means stability and deep format expertise.

Sheet Happens

15 formats — the widest variety in the market — with both written prep AND custom audio elements. Nearly 30 years in business.

Expect: Custom quotes. Worth contacting if audio elements (produced bits, drops) are important to your show.

Benztown

Primarily imaging and production, but their prep services (The Rooster for CHR, AmeriCountry for Country) offer solid content with production polish.

Expect: Cash or barter arrangements. The barter option is genuinely useful for stations with advertising inventory but tight cash budgets.

The ROI Math: Is Show Prep Worth the Cost?

Here's the calculation most people skip. Industry research shows broadcasters spend 15+ hours per week on show prep using traditional manual methods — scanning newspapers, scrolling websites, monitoring social media, watching competitors.

Let's do the math at different price points:

Time savings estimated based on service capabilities vs. manual prep. Individual results vary.

At every price point, you're paying $2-4 per hour of prep time saved. If your time is worth more than $4/hour — and if you're reading this, it is — every service on this list pays for itself.

The real question isn't whether show prep is worth the cost. It's how much time do you want back, and how good do you need the content to be?

A $35/month generic sheet saves you from starting from zero. A $99/month AI-powered platform with format-specific content, 13 variations per story, and auto-publishing doesn't just save you time — it makes your morning show content pipeline better while giving you content for every channel. The time savings from automated show prep compound fast.

How to Choose by Budget

Under $50/month:

• Start with InterPrep's free tier or Radio Online at $35/month
• If you want AI-curated content, Daily Prep by RCP at $39/month offers the best value in this range
• RadioPrep.ai's Basic at $49/month works if your format is CHR, Country, AC, or Talk

$50–$100/month:

• AI ShowPrep at $79/month if you're comfortable with prompt-based workflows
• Radio Content Pro at $99/month for the most complete platform (compare features here)

$100–$200/month:

• RCP + RCP Local ($198/month) for stations where local content is non-negotiable
• RadioPrep.ai Premium at $149/month — though at that price, RCP offers more for less

$200+/month:

• Contact Futuri, Premiere, or Sheet Happens for enterprise-grade solutions
• At this budget, you're shopping for predictive AI, broadcast group licensing, or custom audio elements

FAQ

How much does radio show prep cost?

Radio show prep ranges from free (InterPrep) to enterprise pricing (Futuri TopicPulse). Most stations spend $35–$99/month. Budget options like Radio Online cost $35/month. AI-powered services like Radio Content Pro cost $99/month and include format-specific content, 13 content variations, and continuous updates. The average cost per hour saved across all services is $2–$4.

What's the cheapest show prep service?

InterPrep offers a free tier with solid Country content. The cheapest paid service is Radio Essentials at approximately $6/month for "On This Day" content. For a full daily prep sheet, Radio Online at $35/month has been the budget benchmark for 37 years. For AI-powered prep, Daily Prep by RCP starts at $39/month.

Is AI show prep worth the extra cost?

AI-powered show prep typically costs $39–$99/month compared to $35 for traditional services. The difference is time saved and content quality. Traditional services deliver one generic sheet. AI services like Radio Content Pro deliver format-specific content, 13 variations per story, continuous updates, and auto-publishing — saving 10–12 hours per week versus manual prep. For most stations, the extra $64/month buys back two full workdays weekly.

What hidden costs should I watch for?

Setup fees (RCP Local charges a one-time $99 setup), premium tier upsells (RadioPrep.ai jumps from $49 to $149 for full features), and time costs (AI ShowPrep requires you to write prompts for every request). Also check for annual commitment requirements and whether pricing is per-station or per-show. Radio Content Pro's $99/month includes everything — no hidden tiers, no per-station charges.

Can I try show prep services before committing?

Most services offer trials. Radio Content Pro and RadioPrep.ai offer 7-day free trials. AI ShowPrep gives 14 days. Radio Warfare offers a 7-day trial for £1. InterPrep's free tier is always available. Radio Online and most format-specific services don't offer free trials but will typically let you see sample content.

The Bottom Line

The show prep market in 2026 gives you more options than ever — from free to enterprise, from traditional daily sheets to AI-powered content engines that never stop curating.

The right service isn't the cheapest or the most expensive. It's the one that saves you enough time and improves your show enough to justify the cost. At $2-4 per hour saved, almost every service on this list is a good investment. The question is how much of the show prep process you want automated and how good you need the output to be.

Our recommendation? Start with a free trial. Radio Content Pro gives you 7 days to see what AI-powered, format-specific show prep actually looks like. If it's not for you, this guide has every alternative and what it costs.