Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy returns

[kaufcom]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

9) Don't give control of your radio network to a Guam Republican.

Really, nearly all of AAR's travail comes down to the original investors believing Evan Montvale Cohen when he told them that he had $45 million available to burn through while AAR built its audience. Their 2004 business plan was built upon that premise. If he had been telling the truth, AAR would be recognized as a modest success story today.

Not true! The great majority of the items on the Bankruptcy filing occurred after Cohen left AAR.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

What seems to be different here is they seem to have abandoned the advertiser-supported model for the donor-supported model (not necessarily listener-supported), not unlike what religious broadcasters use. I don't much like it myself but they do have a "gospel" they want to preach and if they come right out and say "our agenda is completely political - not commercial - Help save the country; send money." - it might work. They could even incorporate as a non-profit and avoid paying taxes. No frequencies on AM are set aside for non-commercial use, so they could still sell spots. All they have to do is be upfront - for a change - about what they intend to do. Their fund raiser got big bucks online for a candidate nobody had heard of. Sounds like he might be able to get money for a dark horse progressive talk network even if nobody can hear it.

I disagree. It appears that Nova M is being set up in the model of a plain old syndication company. It will not be top heavy with management, have high priced talent, costly production etc. The only reference to the "donor supported" model that you suggest is an appeal for start-up investors. They made with appeal in a letter on their website.

Nova M Radio is seeking partners to capitalize on this business opportunity to own, operate and broadcast progressive content from a conglomerate of stations in markets across America.

There is no suggestion that they are planning to be listerner supporter network.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

There is no suggestion that they are planning to be listerner supporter network.

Then why did they hire a fund-raiser?

 

[kaufcom]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

There is no suggestion that they are planning to be listerner supporter network.

Then why did they hire a fund-raiser?

I'm going to go out on limb on this one. To raise funds?

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

There is no suggestion that they are planning to be listerner supporter network.

Then why did they hire a fund-raiser?

I'm going to go out on limb on this one. To raise funds?

And that is the suggestion they are planning to be a donor supported network.

They may solicit funds from listeners, but based on their web-site announcement - and the type of work Joe Trippi has done, they plan to raise money from politically-involved people who support the concept of progressive talk radio (whether they actually listen themselves or not).

That does not rule out selling ads, as well. Nor does it mean they will have anything like public radio pledge drives. It does suggest they have concluded (perhaps rightly) that a large-scale, national progressive talk operation can't be sustained only by ad revenue (at least, not yet).

And there is no parent company (like Salem with its news-talk network, News Corp with FNC, GE and Microsoft with MSNBC, or even TBS with CNN) who can carry the cost of the operation until it can pay its own way.

So, they are going for donor support.

Similar to "investors" in Broadway plays, what might happen here is sort of a donation with equity. If lightning strikes, Broadway Angels may get some money back some day. But Angels' motivations are not really investment-oriented. And the appeal of an investment/donation in Nova M would also be much more political than financial.

 

[tbetz]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

9) Don't give control of your radio network to a Guam Republican.

Really, nearly all of AAR's travail comes down to the original investors believing Evan Montvale Cohen when he told them that he had $45 million available to burn through while AAR built its audience. Their 2004 business plan was built upon that premise. If he had been telling the truth, AAR would be recognized as a modest success story today.

Not true! The great majority of the items on the Bankruptcy filing occurred after Cohen left AAR.

Not true. The largest single item, the $20 million to Arthur Liu, was the result of Cohen's contract for the LA and Chocago stations, and the bungling of the handling of that contract when Cohen ran out of money. It was the failure of the renegotiation of this debt that resulted in AAR filing Chapter 11. In fact, nearly all of AAR's financial problems were cause by the contracts that were in place on the basis of Cohen's lie.

 

[fred flintstone]

It sounds like you guys don't agree on which was the first domino.
It sounds like you do agree that Cohen pushed it over.

_ _ _ / / | | | | |

If Drobny had not bought Cohen's earlier lie, Cohen would not have been there to screw things up with Arthur Liu. Logically, that would be the prime cause: Drobny being a sucker for Cohen.

 

[fred flintstone]

UPDATE: Nova M Radio Adds Shows

Media Week reports that Nova M will distribute three weekday programs originally on two stations it currently leases (KPHX in Phoenix and KDXE in Little Rock).


Mike Newcomb 9am-12pm EST (against Stephanie Miller, Jerry Springer and Sam Seder)
Peter B. Collins 6pm to 9pm EST (against Rachel Maddow and Politically Direct/EcoTalk)
Mike Malloy 9pm to 12am EST (against Lionel and Jon Elliot)

Both stations will are Joe Zogby's Pulse of the Nation on weekends.

KDXE in Little Rock currently airs the Pat Lynch Show between 10am and noon from the Supertalk Arkansas Network. No word on the future of this program or Arkansas AM on KDXE. The station also airs Al Franken and Randi Rhodes from AAR between noon and 6 pm Eastern.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: UPDATE: Nova M Radio Adds Shows

Two observations: Newcomb has a snowball's chance in Phoenix in August going up against Stephanie Miller for station clearances.

The Collins-Malloy combo might work. Here AAR is vulnerable. Rachel Maddow is not that strong. Jon Elliot is unfamiliar and not a sure thing. And AAR has EcoTalk/Politically Direct stuck in there to fill an hour because they can't come up with anything else to do. Collins has a good show and a good track record in San Francisco and Northern California. And for most progressive talk stations and listeners, late night is Malloy's time-slot (always has been). The Collins-Malloy combo could be an attractive package for progressive talk stations, especially those that don't carry Randi in the evening.

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

Great moments in Mike Malloy history: Conservative Pol. Action Convention asks him to attend (Al Franken
had broadcast from it in the past) and Malloy responded by calling them Neo-Nazis, etc. The woman who
sent him the invite--a Jewish-American who had relatives killed in the Holocaust--was stunned by his
vitriol. Classy move Mikey...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/19/AR2006011903457.html

 

[dampier]

Re: UPDATE: Nova M Radio Adds Shows

Two observations: Newcomb has a snowball's chance in Phoenix in August going up against Stephanie Miller for station clearances.

The Collins-Malloy combo might work. Here AAR is vulnerable. Rachel Maddow is not that strong. Jon Elliot is unfamiliar and not a sure thing. And AAR has EcoTalk/Politically Direct stuck in there to fill an hour because they can't come up with anything else to do. Collins has a good show and a good track record in San Francisco and Northern California. And for most progressive talk stations and listeners, late night is Malloy's time-slot (always has been). The Collins-Malloy combo could be an attractive package for progressive talk stations, especially those that don't carry Randi in the evening.

EcoTalk and Politically Direct scream weekend shows. They are completely lost at 9pm. It's a total loss of flow and there is no good reason to run either one of them. Maddow would do better to co-host with Seder and bring her comedy antics onto his way too serious show.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

Not true. The largest single item, the $20 million to Arthur Liu, was the result of Cohen's contract for the LA and Chocago stations, and the bungling of the handling of that contract when Cohen ran out of money.

I don't know where your getting your data from, but if you look at the Bankruptcy filing on smokinggun.com you will see that Lui's company Multicultural Broadcasting is only seeking $550,245 which represents about 2% of the total $20,266,056 in liabilites that AAR reported.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: UPDATE: Nova M Radio Adds Shows

The Collins-Malloy combo might work. Here AAR is vulnerable. Rachel Maddow is not that strong. Jon Elliot is unfamiliar and not a sure thing. And AAR has EcoTalk/Politically Direct stuck in there to fill an hour because they can't come up with anything else to do. Collins has a good show and a good track record in San Francisco and Northern California. And for most progressive talk stations and listeners, late night is Malloy's time-slot (always has been). The Collins-Malloy combo could be an attractive package for progressive talk stations, especially those that don't carry Randi in the evening.

Yes, it might work, but those early and late hours are virtually worthless. It might get some buzz for Nova M, but would not generate much revenue.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: UPDATE: Nova M Radio Adds Shows

Yes, it might work, but those early and late hours are virtually worthless. It might get some buzz for Nova M, but would not generate much revenue.

In the short-term, they need some buzz. There's a whole world outside of Radio Geek Land that has not reason to care about any of this. But you are right, they still have the same problem AAR has always had: How to get money coming in. It is still highly questionable whether a progressive talk production and distribution company can operate outside of a larger and more profitable entity over the long haul.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

Does this make the Nova M venture roughly the libtalk equivalent of RadioAmerica? Or USA Radio?

Wow.

Collins is a pro, and Malloy is also a pro and has a name in the nascent world of progressive talk.

But I'd have to agree with the Man from Bedrock here - Mike Newcomb's going to get his lunch eaten by Stephanie Miller. Heck, even by Seder and Springer!

I heard him when I was in Phoenix a couple of years ago. The show, at least at that time, screamed "brokered radio". It just wasn't that good. Good luck to him...

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: Drobny's Nova M Radio to begin new progressive talk network; Mike Malloy ret

Does this make the Nova M venture roughly the libtalk equivalent of RadioAmerica? Or USA Radio?

Wow.

Collins is a pro, and Malloy is also a pro and has a name in the nascent world of progressive talk.

But I'd have to agree with the Man from Bedrock here - Mike Newcomb's going to get his lunch eaten by Stephanie Miller. Heck, even by Seder and Springer!

I heard him when I was in Phoenix a couple of years ago. The show, at least at that time, screamed "brokered radio". It just wasn't that good. Good luck to him...

Maybe. If AAR = Salem Left, then Nova M = Radio America Left. Not sure where that leaves Tom Athans. Maybe Lifestyle/Business Talk Radio Network Left. Jones is Jones Left and - unfortunately for progressive talk - that's as good as it gets.

Medicare Mike apparently suffers from the delusion common the medical profession: Thinking he's an expert on everything and not recognizing the limits of his training, education and expertise. His website reeks of BS: He runs two health care companies, has a practice and even makes house calls and in his spare time, runs for governor, does a talk show, manages a radio station and starts a syndication company. (On the seventh day, Newcomb rested.) And he does all this because he "cares" about the "aged and infirm" and public issues sooooo much. Of course, it's not about money or ego. This guy shows up as a hustler in a white coat. First Cohen, now Newcomb. Drobny sure can pick 'em.

 

[fred flintstone]

Nova M Update - Malloy Talks about being Fired

Two stations (Phoenix and Little Rock);
Three Shows (Malloy, Collins and Newcomb).

New Liberal Radio Network Is Formed
CBS News, New York
(AP) The co-founders of Air America Radio have formed a new liberal talk radio network that promises to promote freedom and social justice. ...

Mike Malloy is b-a-a-a-a-c-k
By Sheila Samples

"Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking." --John M. Keynes

Much to the dismay of the Bush Crime Family and the Flying Monkey Right, their most fervent nemesis, talk-show host Mike Malloy, will return to progressive airwaves on Monday, Oct. 30 -- a whole week and one day before the mid-term elections. When you consider the corruption and scandals oozing like slime from the right over just the past week and one day, Malloy's return is not a moment too soon...

Other tidbits: Rummy got Malloy fired from AAR. Malloy quoted as saying AAR's big problem is DLC "fifth columnists."

 

[fred flintstone]

Malloy Over Miami

As you probably know, Air America Radio, of which AM940 is an affiliate, fired Mike Malloy. You made it clear you weren’t happy with that decision. Neither were we. Air America heard from all of us. Still, he didn’t return. Some of you have picked up on the fact that Mike is hooking up with Shel and Anita Drobny, two of the original investors in the concept that became Air America, as well as Dr. Mike Newcomb, a Phoenix area physician and talk show host.

The company the Drobny’s and Dr Newcomb have formed is planning to syndicate Mike’s program, weeknights 9 – 12MID ET. We wan’t you, True Believers, to know we are on it, and are working to bring Mike Malloy’s program back to AM940. Still some work to do to make it happen, but we wanted to make sure you were aware. Thank you for all your supportive e-mails and calls; we look forward to giving you the good news soon.

I wonder if other Clear Channel progressive talkers are looking to take Mike Malloy? Not much chance here for Newcomb (most already are doing well with Steph) or Peter B. Collins (almost all take Randi on delay in that slot). What would be really bad news for AAR would be if KLSD 1360 clears Malloy (and bumps or dumps local weekend host Jon Elliot, now filling Malloy's slot on AAR). KLSD's website program schedule lists the time as "Air America Radio" - not exactly a vote of confidence in Elliot.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: Malloy Over Miami

What would be really bad news for AAR would be if KLSD 1360 clears Malloy (and bumps or dumps local weekend host Jon Elliot, now filling Malloy's slot on AAR). KLSD's website program schedule lists the time as "Air America Radio" - not exactly a vote of confidence in Elliot.

I seriously doubt that KLSD was not supportive of Jon Elliotts spot on AAR. By the way Jon start his fourth consecutive week as AAR's "interim" late night host. KLSD is real proud of Jon's success in syndiation. He does his show from KLSD's studio and they get compensated for this. I think it's totally ridiculous for you to say that KLSD management does not have confidence in Elliott.

 

[clbuck]

This blog site (http://malloyspeaks.livejournal.com/2006/10/28/) allegedly received an email from KLSD's program director saying that they will soon be carrying Malloy. It doesn't say when they'll start airing the program, or whether it'll be live or tape-delayed.

Jon Elliot could still be doing the weekday national AAR gig, while his own home station airs Malloy instead; that'll be kinda interesting.

Also, KPTK AM 1090 in Seattle (owned by CBS Radio) has a message on their site that they will start airing Malloy in the "next week or two".

Some Clear Channel progressive talk stations who aired Malloy previously may very well carry Malloy's new Nova M program. Now that Randi is an hour shorter and Malloy starts an hour earlier, it could be very convenient schedule-wise for those stations who carry Rhodes delayed from 6-9 PM ET after Ed Schultz, to air Malloy live at 9 PM ET.

We'll see what happens...