Did KRLA Pull Out Of "The Debate After The Debate" Prematurely?

[DToTheJ]

Last night, immediately following the second Presidential debate between Obama and McCain, KRLA and KTLK-AM hosted a debate event at a local theater with two of their own hosts representing their stations, Dennis Prager and Stephanie Miller, respectively.

The moderator, KNBC's Fritz Coleman, clearly said that the debate was being simulcast on both stations. The event was even promoted on both stations' websites.

I was listening on KTLK's online stream. However, at the halfway point, just after 8 PM (PT), some sensor at Clear Channel master control must have triggered a stopset to fire on the online stream, abruptly interrupting the debate. (I am assuming it only affected the stream, and not the terrestrial signal; the debate did resume on the stream after a few minutes.)

So in the interim, I decided to check out KRLA's online stream in an attempt to catch up, but when I tuned in, I heard, not the debate, but what appeared to be the start of "live post-debate coverage" hosted by Kevin James.

Compared to the issue with the KTLK stream, this was no computer issue, by any means. A local host was doing a show during the time allotted for the debate. It makes me wonder if KRLA decided to pull out of it early, and why...

 

[groovyjohnnybravo]

DToTheJ,

Fritz was incorrect in stating the debate was being simulcasted on both stations. KRLA never had any intention of broadcasting the Prager vs Miller debate.
They favored airing live post debate coverage with Kevin James.

I tuned into KTLK online stream as well and I had the same issues as you experienced.

 

[nmoore6676]

Last night, immediately following the second Presidential debate between Obama and McCain, KRLA and KTLK-AM hosted a debate event at a local theater with two of their own hosts representing their stations, Dennis Prager and Stephanie Miller, respectively.

The moderator, KNBC's Fritz Coleman, clearly said that the debate was being simulcast on both stations. The event was even promoted on both stations' websites.

I was listening on KTLK's online stream. However, at the halfway point, just after 8 PM (PT), some sensor at Clear Channel master control must have triggered a stopset to fire on the online stream, abruptly interrupting the debate. (I am assuming it only affected the stream, and not the terrestrial signal; the debate did resume on the stream after a few minutes.)

So in the interim, I decided to check out KRLA's online stream in an attempt to catch up, but when I tuned in, I heard, not the debate, but what appeared to be the start of "live post-debate coverage" hosted by Kevin James.

Compared to the issue with the KTLK stream, this was no computer issue, by any means. A local host was doing a show during the time allotted for the debate. It makes me wonder if KRLA decided to pull out of it early, and why...

I was under the impression that this like the other events sponsored by KRLA and other stations too were community forums and were not for broadcast. I am in North Hollywood so even after sunset I can receive KRLA but not KTLK. I wish I had known because I would have liked to hear the debate. As to online streaming they are almost always automated and because of performance rights many times they have different content during the breaks than the on air broadcast. I suspect that KTLK had their system set to replace the normal content at the hour, as usual, and that they did not bother to reset or override it for this event. Generally steaming web casts are not on the top of the attention ladder though Clear Channel overall does make a serious attempt to market and promote their streaming with commercials directed to computer users and geeks.

 

[DToTheJ]

I was under the impression that this like the other events sponsored by KRLA and other stations too were community forums and were not for broadcast. I am in North Hollywood so even after sunset I can receive KRLA but not KTLK. I wish I had known because I would have liked to hear the debate.

I believe a podcast of it is available (or will soon be) on KTLK's website.

By the way - did anyone hear Dennis Prager say the word "a**hole" during the debate unedited? Steph was playing an edited clip of that on her show on Wednesday. The irony is that she had to remind him that they were live on the radio... and this is a woman who once dropped the F-bomb on C-SPAN several months ago!

 

[nmoore6676]

I was under the impression that this like the other events sponsored by KRLA and other stations too were community forums and were not for broadcast. I am in North Hollywood so even after sunset I can receive KRLA but not KTLK. I wish I had known because I would have liked to hear the debate.

I believe a podcast of it is available (or will soon be) on KTLK's website.

By the way - did anyone hear Dennis Prager say the word "a**hole" during the debate unedited? Steph was playing an edited clip of that on her show on Wednesday. The irony is that she had to remind him that they were live on the radio... and this is a woman who once dropped the F-bomb on C-SPAN several month

Thanks I will check for the pod-cast.

Was is Stephanie or was it Randi Rhodes? In any event C-Span is cable and not over the air so the usual profanity rules don't have to apply, though generally they are. It annoys the bedickens out of me when Comedy Central bleeps into unwatchability certain comedians known for using profanity. If they are going to bleep it don't carry it!

This protecting of the children is stupid, especially in live coverage of certain events where certain things just get blurted out. To any kid today the eff word has become the universal noun, verb, adjective, adverb, you name it. I personally believe in letting the audience determine what they want. If we all tune out it goes off and so long as there are more than one outlet we can choose those we prefer. I am certainly not a prude but I can also control my language as appropriate for where I am, but on the other hand if someone or something gets me really angry I might have a verbal slip.

 

[DToTheJ]

I believe a podcast of it is available (or will soon be) on KTLK's website.

Thanks I will check for the pod-cast.

Was is Stephanie or was it Randi Rhodes? In any event C-Span is cable and not over the air so the usual profanity rules don't have to apply, though generally they are. It annoys the bedickens out of me when Comedy Central bleeps into unwatchability certain comedians known for using profanity. If they are going to bleep it don't carry it!

Steph was on a panel of talk show hosts, including Rev. Al Sharpton, for the Radio & Records Talk Radio Seminar discussion of talk radio which was carried on C-SPAN. Sharpton himself said at one point - albeit jokingly - during the panel that he was "offended" by something she said.

As far as Randi Rhodes... you're probably thinking of when she used profanity to describe Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro at an Air America event. This led to Rhodes' eventual exiting of Air America and jumping to her current radio network, Nova M.