New KTSA Imaging: "The Revolution has begun..."

[daypart]

KTSA's new imaging makes it clear that they're aiming to be the most strident, hardcore right-wing talk station in town.

"The Revolution has begun."

It has bothered me for a long time how infrequently all of our local talkers discuss local issues. KTSA used to run circles around WOAI, by having regular interviews with the mayor and city council. Aside from the weekly interview with the mayor, that focus on local issues has mostly fallen by the wayside since the last city election.

In recent months, I've noticed KTSA's talkers spending more time pushing the anti-Obama, anti-Washington stances. The station was an official sponsor of the last local Tea Party event. Now the imaging fits the chatter.

 

[mmnassour]

Hate sells.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Hate sells.

I am no fan of right-wing talk radio; however I am tired of the political left labeling anything they disagree with as "hate speech."

This is just the same (and the reverse of) the 1950's when right-wingers would blast anyone they disagreed with as a "communist.

 

[mrob75]

It has bothered me for a long time how infrequently all of our local talkers discuss local issues. KTSA used to run circles around WOAI, by having regular interviews with the mayor and city council. Aside from the weekly interview with the mayor, that focus on local issues has mostly fallen by the wayside since the last city election.

Please. If people in SA are interesed in the topic, doesn't that make it a local issue? Seriously. In the age of Twitter and the Internet, people consume WAY more news and stories that interest them that may or may not have ANYTHING to do with their city. Just because it happens in SA doesn't mean you HAVE to talk about it. If no one is interested, why bother?

Oh, really? You have a city council member on to talk about whatever's on their docket this week? Click. Changed the channel. Maybe I stick around for a minute. But more often than not, I'm switching to something else.

And if KTSA used to "run circles" around WOAI, how come WOAI always had more than double the ratings of KTSA? If by doing more local interviews with city council members and driving away listeners in the process you mean "ran circles around WOAI," well, then maybe you're right.

 

[1st of 5]

What do you mean, 'no local issues'? Where were you last week when all three of their "live and local" stooges were ceaselessly yacking about those houses sliding into that sinkhole? Yesterday morning that Boston Yankee was harping about a manslaughter charge brought against some irresponsible clown who killed a jogging Dr, almost to the point that it gave one the impression that his people were slighted that similar criminal charges weren't brought against that other irresponsible driver who killed two bicycle riders Hwy 16. But most of the time they do discuss the same national gossip topics that are running on the internet or cable TV that morning/day. So it doesn't matter what time you tune it, its basically the same lame discussion featuring the same moronic imbeciles calling in to broadcast their intelligence levels. But al least its not as offensive as that bellowing *hole Pags or the morning readings of National Enquirer news stories and sensless trivia contests. And if KTSA is so low in the ratings, then why do they have so many more commercials than WOAI?

 

[mmnassour]

Sorry...I apologize for throwing a bomb and then running.

I've been to some of the Tea Party rallies and the feeling in the air was aggressive at best, vicious at worst. If KTSA has decided to throw its lot in with the worst of these folks, then perhaps hate is too strong a word....but demagoguery is not.

And that does not serve the public interest. If we had an FCC with any balls, such stations would forfeit their licenses.

What's happening in this country is that as talk radio has moved to the right, some outlets have decided that the further right you are the better your ratings will be. Unfortunately, in certain markets, that's proven to be the case.

If KTSA is indeed going this route, dragging our political discourse further into the gutter, then it would say a lot about San Antonio if its ratings remained in the gutter...with its content.

I do so hope I'm wrong, as I have many fond memories of KTSA over the years.

 

[daypart]

What do you mean, 'no local issues'? Where were you last week when all three of their "live and local" stooges were ceaselessly yacking about those houses sliding into that sinkhole? Yesterday morning that Boston Yankee was harping about a manslaughter charge brought against some irresponsible clown who killed a jogging Dr, almost to the point that it gave one the impression that his people were slighted that similar criminal charges weren't brought against that other irresponsible driver who killed two bicycle riders Hwy 16. But most of the time they do discuss the same national gossip topics that are running on the internet or cable TV that morning/day. So it doesn't matter what time you tune it, its basically the same lame discussion featuring the same moronic imbeciles calling in to broadcast their intelligence levels. But al least its not as offensive as that bellowing *hole Pags or the morning readings of National Enquirer news stories and sensless trivia contests. And if KTSA is so low in the ratings, then why do they have so many more commercials than WOAI?

I have sampled Trey's 9:00 hour a lot lately. He's constantly hammering on the issue du jour from Washington. He gets downright nasty with callers, too. No more "open mind time" like his show featured a few years ago.

I can't remember the last time I heard Kevin Wall discuss something local with callers during PM drive. For a long time I suspected they were piping him in from elsewhere.

Today I heard Jack bring in San Antonio hero Eric Alva for a well-nuanced discussion of the changes to ""Don't Ask Don't Tell." That was a nice local angle on a national story. Npw that you mention it, I do recall hearing Jack discuss the sinkhole story a few times.

 

[daypart]

It has bothered me for a long time how infrequently all of our local talkers discuss local issues. KTSA used to run circles around WOAI, by having regular interviews with the mayor and city council. Aside from the weekly interview with the mayor, that focus on local issues has mostly fallen by the wayside since the last city election.

Please. If people in SA are interesed in the topic, doesn't that make it a local issue? Seriously. In the age of Twitter and the Internet, people consume WAY more news and stories that interest them that may or may not have ANYTHING to do with their city. Just because it happens in SA doesn't mean you HAVE to talk about it. If no one is interested, why bother?

Oh, really? You have a city council member on to talk about whatever's on their docket this week? Click. Changed the channel. Maybe I stick around for a minute. But more often than not, I'm switching to something else.

And if KTSA used to "run circles" around WOAI, how come WOAI always had more than double the ratings of KTSA? If by doing more local interviews with city council members and driving away listeners in the process you mean "ran circles around WOAI," well, then maybe you're right.

If the local talkers are discussing the same damn thing from the same perspective that the national talkers on WOAI or KLUP or KPWT are discussing, what's the point of having local talkers or local stations, for that matter?

I can use my Internet radio and hear talkers in other cities discussing local issues in their cities. I want that here, too. That's my vision of revolution... not a 4th version of what the competition is doing.

 

[fredcantu]

Interestingly, I heard the 99.5 morning show talking about the sinkhole and problems at other subdivisions. KLBJ-FM in Austin is also big with local issues. OMG... the shock jocks have become our local talk show hosts.

 

[mrob75]

What do you mean, 'no local issues'? Where were you last week when all three of their "live and local" stooges were ceaselessly yacking about those houses sliding into that sinkhole? Yesterday morning that Boston Yankee was harping about a manslaughter charge brought against some irresponsible clown who killed a  jogging Dr, almost to the point that it gave one the impression that his people were slighted that similar criminal charges weren't brought against that other irresponsible driver who killed two bicycle riders Hwy 16. But most of the time they do discuss the same national gossip topics that are running on the internet or cable TV that morning/day. So it doesn't matter what time you tune it, its basically the same lame discussion featuring the same moronic imbeciles calling in to broadcast their intelligence levels. But al least its not as offensive as that bellowing *hole Pags or the morning readings of National Enquirer news stories and sensless trivia contests.

The sinkhole story is fine. Hooray! A local story people are interested in! Yes!

But my original comment was directed at having council members, etc., on every other day. You don't have a local sinkhole story every week (or month for that matter). My comment was directed at the mundane talk with local leaders when nothing really big is grabbing local headlines. There's no sense in being hyper-local just for the sake of saying you're more local than someone else. Would you rather talk about Obamacare or listen to a council member talk about the community center on the South side that has to close down because they have no funding?

Same thing goes for the sports stations: would you rather talk Cowboys or UIW football? Which appeals to the larger audience? That's the only point I'm tryingto make.

And if KTSA is so low in the ratings, then why do they have so many more commercials than WOAI?

Maybe because WOAI doesn't have to stuff their hours with commercials because they can charge more, seeing as how way more people listen. Whereas KTSA has to sell out more inventory to make a profit because their commercials are cheap? I dunno... just throwing it out there.

 

[sdh483]

I HATE political talk. I don't even bother DXing KTSA or WOAI here in Houston anymore. KKYX does sound great here though...and...NO POLITICAL TALK! YEA!

 

[mmnassour]

Well, apparently you're in the minority. That's what's kept AM from going under completely.

 

[formeraa]

Sorry...I apologize for throwing a bomb and then running.

I've been to some of the Tea Party rallies and the feeling in the air was aggressive at best, vicious at worst. If KTSA has decided to throw its lot in with the worst of these folks, then perhaps hate is too strong a word....but demagoguery is not.

And that does not serve the public interest. If we had an FCC with any balls, such stations would forfeit their licenses.

What's happening in this country is that as talk radio has moved to the right, some outlets have decided that the further right you are the better your ratings will be. Unfortunately, in certain markets, that's proven to be the case.

If KTSA is indeed going this route, dragging our political discourse further into the gutter, then it would say a lot about San Antonio if its ratings remained in the gutter...with its content.

I do so hope I'm wrong, as I have many fond memories of KTSA over the years.

Thank you for a well-reasoned view of the current state of talk radio in America. Apparently, all you have to do is talk loundly and condemn everyone who has a centrist and/or left wing viewpoint and you get HUGE ratings. That (together with the rising popularity of Sarah Palin) says a lot about where America is today.

 

[nojustice]

If left wing liberal radio was what anyone (nice, vicious, or otherwise) wanted to hear...then why was AIR AMERICA SUCH A FLOP? TWICE.

Why is it ok for Liberals to laugh at Palin and Bush and tell us all how dumb and uneducated they are, but when the Tea Parties get loud...well that is just plain agressive and mean?????????

DOUBLE STANDARD.

This country is split...Pick your side...It is only gonna get worse. There is no reasoning with people who have none.


How is that change treating you now?

 

[grantchester]

The country is not split. It is fragmented.
Air America failed because the people they thought they would appeal to do not appreciate a discussion of issues degenerating into name calling, distortion and invective. Likewise, once you get past the over-the-top antics of Glenn Beck, Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh, there aren't many if any conservative hosts who can draw much of an audience. How's that KLUP lineup doing, anyway?
The next big thing will not be a new polemic, it will be entertainment.

 

[mmnassour]

If left wing liberal radio

Leave your politics at the door. There are plenty of places for your to spout.

 

[fredcantu]

Air America failed because it could not attract and keep an audience big enough to raise the money needed to pay the bills and the debt. The politics doesn't matter. All commercial radio works the same way.

 

[Alamoboy]

nojustice is correct, there is a huge double standard!

 

[1st of 5]

Does that recent promo bragging about how advertisers trust local and national hosts to promote their products have anything to do with this 'new imaging'? Does anyone remember that Body Solutions sham and those who were paid cheerleaders, spreading falsehoods, fabrications and propaganda for a product that was eventually exposed as a fraud? Anyone remember the head mouthpiece, whose own father refused to endorse or promote that crap? I think a few others refused to do any adverts for that snake oil, like Rikki W, Carl W and Brad M, but I don't remember who did and who didn't, besides that early morning bible thumping pillar of morality. After the sham was busted, did he ever apologize? After that display of currency over common sense are we supposed to trust him? It seems that if they are paid enough money, they'll say anything, with no regard to their integrity, reputation or self respect. But then again, Hunter S. Thompson once described that those who worked in radio were similar to those who are employed in the world's oldest profession. Only the cash matters.

 

[Leebo65]

Hunter S. Thompson once described that those who worked in radio were similar to those who are employed in the world's oldest profession. Only the cash matters.

KTKR was pushing that stuff big time. I went to one of the remotes filled out a chance for 2 seats in the Clear Channel Suite at a Spurs Game... I won, It was awesome.