AM Radio Comments in Mobile Press-Register

[Mario500]

In the "Sound Off" column published in today's Mobile Press-Register, one caller agreed with comments published yesterday about Mobile in need of more AM talk radio. The caller said, "If you don't like nasty talk and stupid jokes, you have no real AM talk radio in Mobile." Another caller, who listens to progressive radio talk shows on XM Satellite Radio, said "it sure would be nice if we had stations like this on our local stations instead of that Rush Limbaugh drivel."

I have been suggesting that WNTM-AM airs "Leo Laporte the Tech Guy" during weekend programming and WABB-AM returns "The Joey Reynolds Show" to overnight programming instead of airing "The Midnight Radio Network". According to WABB’s former program director “Jammer”, “The Joey Reynolds Show” was removed due to low ratings. Both of these shows don't focus on news that is normally reported and discussed on the radio and they would make a great addition to radio in Mobile. WNTM-AM continues to air FOX Sports Radio programming on the weekend along with NASCAR race broadcasts and WABB-AM airs re-runs of "The Clark Howard Show", "The Sean Hannity", and "The Neil Boortz Show".

Radio listeners in Mobile truly deserve something better.

 

[Nate Wesley]

If I wait for a local broadcaster to give me the progressive talk radio and non-local-yokel sports talk I want to hear, I'll probably be waiting forever. Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, 2 Live Stews, NPR News' Tell Me More, Le Show. Satellite radio, online streaming, and podcasting, baby. And in most cases, I'm willing to pay for the privilege.

New radio wins, old radio loses.

 

[tomservo]

I'm with Nate on this one - you're gonna have to look to alternative means.

"Big City Radio" has never been about niche programming. They'll only do what makes them money. And unfortunately for those who like lib talk, that genre isn't much of a moneymaker yet in many places.

Leo Laporte is da man. I dunno if his radio show is available through podcasts or not, but he does an hour-plus long podcast called "This Week In Tech" that is one of my weekly "must listens".

Funny thing is, you're complaining about re-runs of Hannity, Clark Howard and Boortz. Heck, I'd just like to have a talk affiliate in my area that carries any of them! Not that I listen to Hannity, but the other two are often entertaining. At least Clark Howard has embraced podcasting.

 

[whit979]

"Big City Radio" has never been about niche programming. They'll only do what makes them money. And unfortunately for those who like lib talk, that genre isn't much of a moneymaker yet in many places.

More like it isn't a moneymaker anywhere. Highest ratings for Air America in the country are a 3.7 share on a station in Portland. Not to mention, that entire entity filed for bankruptcy protection just 2 years ago 'cause they can't get anything going. Looking at those numbers, and considering Alabama is a red state all the way, I'd bet left-wing radio in Alabama would more than likely be ratings suicide.

 

[Nate Wesley]

More like it isn't a moneymaker anywhere. Highest ratings for Air America in the country are a 3.7 share on a station in Portland. Not to mention, that entire entity filed for bankruptcy protection just 2 years ago 'cause they can't get anything going. Looking at those numbers, and considering Alabama is a red state all the way, I'd bet left-wing radio in Alabama would more than likely be ratings suicide.

I don't know about it 'not being a moneymaker anywhere', but Portland station you mentioned, along with prog-talkers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Madison, Wisconsin (on FM) are all Clear Channel stations, some with local hosts. The ones that have survived and thrived have probably relied much more on local advertising than national buys--but they're still there. One common mistake is confusing Air America as the only provider of progressive talk radio, when it isn't. Jones Radio syndicates Bill Press, Stephanie Miller, and Ed Schultz, the last of which has the most nationwide listeners. Jones, who also syndicates Clark Howard and Neal Boortz, certainly hasn't gone bankrupt , though it has been purchased by Triton Media Group.

Alabama as a whole is red, but there are a lot more purple places than you'd think. I would love to see one AM broadcaster in both Birmingham and Montgomery put an honest effort in marketing a progressive talk format for a year or two, and see what the results would be. We'll never know absolutely for sure until someone tries, but it's likely no broadcaster will because of the aforementioned risk involved. Alabama based callers have chimed in on both the Ed Schultz and Thom Hartmann midday shows, with XM & Sirius listeners and listeners online--and its through those subscriptions where the format's long term success probably lies.