I’m not a talk radio kind of a guy. I used to listen to Mike & the Mad Dog when I was painting houses or driving in my car. They’re New York sports radio guys. I listened to Imus in the Morning a little bit back when I commuted to work. And I listened to the Sean Hannity Show during the 2000 recount, just to see what the other side was doing. But that is about the extent of it. I tried listening to Air America and I just hated it. So, I don’t really care about talk radio. And I’ve never heard this Michael Smerconish clown, even though he is based in Philadelphia. I’ve never heard Ed Shultz either. I know Larry Johnson thinks Schultz is a jerk and won’t do his show.
Smerconish has Schultz on as a guest today. He’s filling in on MSNBC for Tucker Carlson. So, we have two syndicated talk radio clowns doing talking head teevee. And Smerconish is trying to tell Schultz that the corporations would put a communist on the radio if he got good ratings. Schultz points out that he beats Hannity in Denver, Seattle, San Diego, and other cities, but he doesn’t get picked up by any Infinity or ABC affiliaties. Basically, Schultz is living proof that left-wing opinion is not valued the same as right-wing opinion. People could make more money airing Schultz than Hannity, but they don’t do it. Smerconish insists this is rubbish. Schultz says he is offending him. Whatever. More idiocy on the television.
The reason corporations are willing to lose money by airing Hannity over Schultz is because they figure the real money isn’t in some crummy three-hour syndicated radio program. The real money is in having Republicans in power. It is not that complicated.
That is why people should support bloggers.
The reason corporations are willing to lose money by airing Hannity over Schultz is because they figure the real money isn’t in some crummy three-hour syndicated radio program. The real money is in having Republicans in power. It is not that complicated.
that’s why GE bought themselves a TV network.
When Lou Dobbs is a populist you the know the game is fixed.
So do they actually lose money doing conservative talk radio? I didn’t think they did. I’m pretty sure it’s profitable. And liberal talk radio of that sort is not.
While I really believe we need to return to the “Fairness Doctrine,” I was under the impression that conservatives were the only group that liked the “circle-jerk” atmosphere of talk radio and that’s why it was so successful. I’ve never known many liberals who actually like that type of programming (just reinforcing the established in-group opinions/beliefs.) We (liberals) are more drawn to NPR and the like, where we might learn something new that’s not just opinion. Or real comedy/entertainment that isn’t preaching an ideology – or – maybe just listen to music. Imagine that – Music on the radio!
But seriously, do you all remember the days when if a station made any kind of commentary about any public affairs issue, they had to invite others with opposing views to come on down to the studio and offer an opposing viewpoint? That made it rare that they would try to influence opinion and just stick to real verifiable facts in their news reporting. Shows like Limbaugh just weren’t even allowed in that environment, unless it allowed for the alternate view to be expressed.
Yeah, Hannity is profitable. But the point here is that Schultz has higher ratings in many markets where they compete directly. Yet Hannity is carried by over 200 stations and Schultz by only a handful.
So, logic suggests that stations could get higher ratings by dumping Hannity for Schultz, or adding Schultz instead of whatever they have right now.
And that would mean more money.
It’s the same reason they fired Donahue even though he had MSNBC’s highest rated show. Ultimately, there was more money in maintaining their brand and keeping the ruling party happy.
listen carefully- the reason that conservative radio talkies kick ass and the progressive talkies are still looking in through the window is simple- now listen- it is called profit. It is called secure branding. It is call power. And of those three- Power trumps. And fear of losing power trumps everything.
And if you are looking for a historical background just look at what happened after Nam.
The big guys saw how close they came to losing their power and they decided to never let it get that close again. So they BOUGHT THE MEDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!