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In reply to the discussion: Progressive AM Radio [View all]
 

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)
28. "...they subsidized it to start it..."
Fri Feb 1, 2013, 02:09 AM
Feb 2013

What does this mean? I went into the radio business many years ago. I don't know where you are getting your ideas about what is happening in radio, but most of it is a misconception on your part. The programming decisions in radio are driven by profits and that means isteners and ratings. Limbaugh went national in 1988 with about 50 stations. Within a few years he had hundreds of affiliates, all of this happened when Clear Channel Communications was a company that owned 14 radio stations. That was the limit by federal law. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 changed the law so there was no limit to the number of radio stations and individual or company could own. (That was a HUGE mistake.) Clear Channel overpaid for many of their broadcast facilities and sold them off at a loss. Their stock has taken a huge hit. The reason Limbaugh is on so many stations is because he attracts listeners. There is no conspiracy, it's business. There are many people smarter than me who have tried to figure out why progressive radio has not attracted large audiences. Even m y own Senator Al Franken was unable to get a big enough audience to make Air America a success. Much of their problem was a chicken and egg sort of thing. They couldn't get stations with large coverage areas to air their programming until they got a large audience and they couldn't get a large audience with the marginal AM stations that were willing to take a chance on the progressive programming. Like it or not, Rush Limbaugh pretty much save AM radio from a slow death starting in the 80s. (I confess to listening to his program for a few weeks during Operation Desert Storm. It was all about kicking Iraq's collective ass and not about politics.)

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Progressive AM Radio [View all] SHRED Dec 2011 OP
I doubt it. ProfessionalLeftist Dec 2011 #1
Not a conspiracy... kwikset Dec 2011 #2
It is indeed a green eyeshade business ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #4
you mean in a country that voted overwhelmingly for obama 95% want limbaugh? certainot Dec 2011 #6
You confuse talk radio listeners with the electorate ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #7
i recognize the difference but his 'popularity' is not a reflection of the 'market' certainot Dec 2011 #8
Independent radio station owners I know would disagree with you ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #9
that was a political move, getting ready for the elections. and plenty of progressives are making $ certainot Dec 2011 #10
You have still not answered the economics for the stations ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #12
so you're saying 95% of talk radio listeners are racist idiots who like blowhards who've been wrong certainot Dec 2011 #14
Why KGO was blown up LTR Dec 2011 #16
i'm not very familiar with the KGO situation except that is looks like they replaced some certainot Dec 2011 #18
PS limbaugh IS the republican party so he is going to get that in any location. certainot Dec 2011 #11
+10 shcrane71 Mar 2012 #22
i don't think you're right on that first sentence. certainot Dec 2011 #5
"...they subsidized it to start it..." Jenoch Feb 2013 #28
I disagree in the case of 1360 KLSD in San Diego SHRED Dec 2011 #13
But was the bottom line better? ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #17
Here is my take on the situation mrdmk Dec 2011 #3
Clear Channel's always been about money more than politics LTR Dec 2011 #15
if that was the case 95% of talk radio wouldn't be right wing certainot Dec 2011 #19
if that was the case 95% of talk radio wouldn't be right wing certainot Dec 2011 #20
" the profit driven market argument makes no sense- it's an excuse that's used all the time to shcrane71 Mar 2012 #23
no-holds-barred mike malloy just pointed out they're under assault, need funding, sponsorship certainot Mar 2012 #21
But we have progressive radio in our area. occupy this. Mar 2012 #24
Is that on the AM dial? Where do you live? shcrane71 Mar 2012 #25
Detroit Progressive Talk Radio WDTW GONE! Downriver Doc Jan 2013 #26
Ick - freerepublic! Here's a better source... cyberswede Jan 2013 #27
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