NEW LIBERAL HOSTS IF FORMAT TO SURVIVE

[KFNNradioFan]

While I am not an advocate for progressive talk (nor any political format for that matter, just good radio), progressive talk has been losing hosts since its inception, and is now down to just a few syndicated voices:

Hartmann
Miller
Schultz
Malloy
Rhodes
Press
Maddow
Air America (don't know who they have. Lionel?)

The lineup on most liberal stations is stale, w/ inferior ratings.

Compare that to conservative stations that constantly change their lineups, and also integrate local hosts rotating through various dayparts, weekdays and weekends.

The programming philosophy of liberal stations seems to be the same in every market, whereas it is markedly different on conservative stations.

Indeed, it seems that liberal stations just do what other liberal stations are doing, by offering the same syndicated hosts, w/o refining their lineup to maximize ratings and revenue, and the requests of their listeners.

Liberal talk stations need both new syndicated and local hosts to increase ratings. One might consider hosts who have departed the liberal airwaves in recent years, or who have limited roles as substitute or part-time hosts or on Genesis:

Arnie Arnesen
Peter B Collins
Angie Couro (see San Francisco board today)
Christine Craft
Jay Diamond
Jeff Farias
Enid Goldstein
Erin Hart
Karel (KRXA 540)
Micheal Jackson (fomerly KABC LA)
Rev. Barry Lynne
Mark Maron
Allan Prell
Mark Ryley
Bryan Styble (independent w/ some liberal views)
Stacy Taylor

 

[livingfruitvirus]

Compass Media just launched Norman Goldman into syndication. He's on from 6-9 PM Eastern, and has been an Ed Schultz fill in. Other than that, I can't think of many others.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

The problem with the format is not the selection of hosts...

It is the failure to start the format locally. Those who are true believers in this format need to buy or LMA some sticks and get it going.

Success will lead to copycats.

That is how it works, with talk radio and music formats.

Popping up a radio network and saying here I am was never going to work and now the whole brand is tainted.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Wow! A post by UW on which we can agree!

And besides that, the sun is shining brightly here today.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Wow! A post by UW on which we can agree!

And besides that, the sun is shining brightly here today.

You can't be wrong all the time.

 

[Ultimajock]

Jeff Farias

...are you putting us on? Farias couldn't even hold onto his KXXT (religious) show after all his sponsors flocked back to KPHX (progressive) once 1480 went back to the format. That two-faced fool is lucky he's running a webcast!...

...maybe, since Lyndon LaRouche used to do a show from his prison (back in the days of Chuck Harder's PRN), maybe Bernie Ward can give it a try! ;D ...

 

[NewsStud]

The problem with much "liberal talk" or so-called "progressive talk" is that it fails to be entertaining.

The people they find to host these shows are so busy promoting an agenda they fail to give anybody looking to be entertained a reason to stay tuned.

Successful talk radio hosts are the ones who can entertain. Sometimes that means informing, sometimes it means making you laugh. Rush does that. Glenn Beck does that. Jay Diamond can do that. Lynn Samuels was great at it.

Air America's main goal was to combat the likes of Rush. It continues to go nowhere, real fast.

 

[ctkatz]

problem with that. lynn samuels is as progressive as obama (iow, not very) and she rails on him every day plus the sounds like fingernails grating on a chalkboard. the few sirius left listeners will tell you that. some have even said that they wish they had the america left xm lineup rather than sirius left BECAUSE of samuels.

jeff farias is a good one. when he was still on kphx he on technically a local show got calls from across the nation. he also filled in for mike malloy a time or two when nova m was still in existance.

the major problem with progtalk is that none of the major radio companies that owns the stations is not going to give local progressive voices a chance. the one message that most of the big progtalkers have is against big business and pro labor unions which is something that for most of these conglomerates is against what they want because it affects the bottom line. i don't think being entertaining has much to do with it. ed shultz and randi rhodes can be as bombastic as rush limbaugh. mike malloy can be as over emotional and irrational as glen beck and michael savage weiner. out of all of those, i personally find malloy entertaining because he has his points where he is hilarious. and notice that all of those people are syndicated. these radio corporations don't give local voices a chance period. if the format is going to survive and grow and thrive, an independant station with a decent signal is going to have to put a progressive voice on their airwaves and we all know the chances of that happening are very small.

how do i know this? my city of louisville, kentucky has two ford plants (union), a ups hub (union), a progressive democrat as a federal congressional representative, a relatively progressive mayor and ZERO progressive/liberal/democratic talk shows on all of its radio stations. i know for a fact that rhodes, shultz, miller, and possibly malloy would do well here. but we get instead limbaugh, beck, hannity, ingraham, dennis miller, savage weiner, etc. instead. why, i have no idea.

so considering this fact, that there are only a small pool of syndicated progressive voices out there doesn't bother me. i would rather have a small group of really good progressive radio people that everyone carries than progressive talk not being carried at all. that there are only a few progressive stations to begin with helps with not thinning out a group that cannot afford to be diluted inside the same market.

the only way to grow the talent pool (for now) is for the fill-ins for the established hosts to get their own shows. it will be a slow progress for sure.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

The problem with much "liberal talk" or so-called "progressive talk" is that it fails to be entertaining.

The people they find to host these shows are so busy promoting an agenda they fail to give anybody looking to be entertained a reason to stay tuned.

Successful talk radio hosts are the ones who can entertain. Sometimes that means informing, sometimes it means making you laugh. Rush does that. Glenn Beck does that. Jay Diamond can do that. Lynn Samuels was great at it.

Air America's main goal was to combat the likes of Rush. It continues to go nowhere, real fast.

Stud, get with the program. Air America is yesterday. The leader in progressive talk is Dial Global, which also carries some conservative talkers such as Neal Boortz and Michael Smerconish.

Ed Schultz is about to start his 7th season. Stephanie Miller is in her 6th season. Bill Press will finish his 5th season next spring. And Thom Hartmann made the smart move by leaving Air America and joining Dial Global. None of them are agenda-driven, which was indeed a problem with many of Air America's earlier hosts.

The only agenda Ed has promoted considerably both on his radio show and his msnbc show is real health care reform, and he's been very critical of the Obama administration and Democrats in the Senate for compromising too much. Now, if you want entertainment...Stephanie can dish it out with the best of them. And it appears, Stud, you could use a few fart jokes right now.

 

[KFNNradioFan]

The problem with the format is not the selection of hosts...

It is the failure to start the format locally. Those who are true believers in this format need to buy or LMA some sticks and get it going.

Success will lead to copycats.

That is how it works, with talk radio and music formats.

Popping up a radio network and saying here I am was never going to work and now the whole brand is tainted.

Locally Indeed. Hal Ginsberg bought KRXA 540 in Monterey and has hired many hosts that the Big Boys have fired (Karel, Basham, and see the San Francisco board about Clear channel's Angie Couro)

 

[KFNNradioFan]

Jeff Farias

...are you putting us on? Farias couldn't even hold onto his KXXT (religious) show after all his sponsors flocked back to KPHX (progressive) once 1480 went back to the format. That two-faced fool is lucky he's running a webcast!...

...maybe, since Lyndon LaRouche used to do a show from his prison (back in the days of Chuck Harder's PRN), maybe Bernie Ward can give it a try! ;D ...

Hmmm.....Then why doesn't Farias get on 1480 KPHX? ??? You are implying that HIS ADVERTISERS moved from KXXT to 1480, so if that's the case, it would be good for 1480 to hire Jeff and get that revenue.

 

[Ultimajock]

Jeff Farias

...are you putting us on? Farias couldn't even hold onto his KXXT (religious) show after all his sponsors flocked back to KPHX (progressive) once 1480 went back to the format. That two-faced fool is lucky he's running a webcast!...

...maybe, since Lyndon LaRouche used to do a show from his prison (back in the days of Chuck Harder's PRN), maybe Bernie Ward can give it a try! ;D ...

Hmmm.....Then why doesn't Farias get on 1480 KPHX? ??? You are implying that HIS ADVERTISERS moved from KXXT to 1480, so if that's the case, it would be good for 1480 to hire Jeff and get that revenue.

...they have the revenue without having to bring Farias back into the building. The advertisers dumped Farias (the karma train strikes again) to go back to KPHX. And there's no way Standard Media Group wants an administrator of Drobny's Folly back on their property (at least until the Drobnys pay what they owed by this time last year, heh heh)...

 

[NewsStud]

The problem with much "liberal talk" or so-called "progressive talk" is that it fails to be entertaining.

The people they find to host these shows are so busy promoting an agenda they fail to give anybody looking to be entertained a reason to stay tuned.

Successful talk radio hosts are the ones who can entertain. Sometimes that means informing, sometimes it means making you laugh. Rush does that. Glenn Beck does that. Jay Diamond can do that. Lynn Samuels was great at it.

Air America's main goal was to combat the likes of Rush. It continues to go nowhere, real fast.

Stud, get with the program. Air America is yesterday. The leader in progressive talk is Dial Global, which also carries some conservative talkers such as Neal Boortz and Michael Smerconish.

Ed Schultz is about to start his 7th season. Stephanie Miller is in her 6th season. Bill Press will finish his 5th season next spring. And Thom Hartmann made the smart move by leaving Air America and joining Dial Global. None of them are agenda-driven, which was indeed a problem with many of Air America's earlier hosts.

The only agenda Ed has promoted considerably both on his radio show and his msnbc show is real health care reform, and he's been very critical of the Obama administration and Democrats in the Senate for compromising too much. Now, if you want entertainment...Stephanie can dish it out with the best of them. And it appears, Stud, you could use a few fart jokes right now.

Relax Seanie... Have yourself some 18-year-old Jameson. And bring on the fart jokes because nothing makes me laugh harder.

Yes, Dial Global seems to be having luck with their liberal talk hosts. But that has to do with their hosts actually having the ability to entertain people. Ed, Stephanie, etc... they are true pros who have a desire to do a good radio show. The ideology is second to the entertainment. That's why it works. Glad you agree with me.

I never said Air America was the premiere source for progressive talk. In fact, I was stating why it never was, is, or will be.

I've made the same argument before regarding Salem's syndicated lineup of Conserva-yakkers. Too worried about pushing an ideaology. Not enough engaging, informing, entertaining conversation. When's the last time you enjoyed listening to Bennett, Medved, Prager, et. al?

 

[KFNNradioFan]

Michael Medved is very passionate and engaging with his callers and guests especially if they are of the opposite political persuation. Medved is Salem's best host from a stylistic standpoint, even if you disagree with his views.

Is Medved Salem's #1 Syndicated Talk Host?

 

[smedge2006]

Michael Medved is very passionate and engaging with his callers and guests especially if they are of the opposite political persuation. Medved is Salem's best host from a stylistic standpoint, even if you disagree with his views.

In Tampa, the SALEM-OWNED station pre-empts the first hour of Medved every day to run a brokered show hosted by a semiliterate stockpicker. Not exactly a sign of respect or accomplishment.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Michael Medved is very passionate and engaging with his callers and guests especially if they are of the opposite political persuation. Medved is Salem's best host from a stylistic standpoint, even if you disagree with his views.

In Tampa, the SALEM-OWNED station pre-empts the first hour of Medved every day to run a brokered show hosted by a semiliterate stockpicker. Not exactly a sign of respect or accomplishment.

It's not a sign of disrespect either. It's a business decision. A stupid one, but a BUSINESS DECISION.

 

[NewsStud]

Michael Medved is very passionate and engaging with his callers and guests especially if they are of the opposite political persuation. Medved is Salem's best host from a stylistic standpoint, even if you disagree with his views.

In Tampa, the SALEM-OWNED station pre-empts the first hour of Medved every day to run a brokered show hosted by a semiliterate stockpicker. Not exactly a sign of respect or accomplishment.

It's not a sign of disrespect either. It's a business decision. A stupid one, but a BUSINESS DECISION.

Salem's syndication outlet in Tampa is doing horribly, despite their brokered programming. The problem isn't their signal, because it's somewhat decent. The problem isn't promotion, because they've had billboards all over the place in the Cigar City. The problem is content. It's boring.

Medved does a boring show. If it weren't boring, he'd have more listeners. This doesn't mean Medved is dumb, stupid, etc. It just means he does a boring show. I think he and Dennis Prager are very intellegent. I even love Prager's books. But during their shows they sound like humorless, lifeless professors.

I just think that style of talk radio (right or left wing) doesn't win anybody; converts don't come and detractors don't even listen just to hear what is said.

Salem probably as a whole doesn't care all that much, as their conservative talk offerings are their second-tier product. Their moneymaker is the Christian programming. Always has been. I'd bet a penny that many spots on the conservative syndication and stations are thrown-in as "added value" to those advertisers spending a certain amount on spots on the religious programming.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Michael Medved is very passionate and engaging with his callers and guests especially if they are of the opposite political persuation. Medved is Salem's best host from a stylistic standpoint, even if you disagree with his views.

In Tampa, the SALEM-OWNED station pre-empts the first hour of Medved every day to run a brokered show hosted by a semiliterate stockpicker. Not exactly a sign of respect or accomplishment.

It's not a sign of disrespect either. It's a business decision. A stupid one, but a BUSINESS DECISION.

Salem's syndication outlet in Tampa is doing horribly, despite their brokered programming. The problem isn't their signal, because it's somewhat decent. The problem isn't promotion, because they've had billboards all over the place in the Cigar City. The problem is content. It's boring.

Medved does a boring show. If it weren't boring, he'd have more listeners. This doesn't mean Medved is dumb, stupid, etc. It just means he does a boring show. I think he and Dennis Prager are very intellegent. I even love Prager's books. But during their shows they sound like humorless, lifeless professors.

I just think that style of talk radio (right or left wing) doesn't win anybody; converts don't come and detractors don't even listen just to hear what is said.

Salem probably as a whole doesn't care all that much, as their conservative talk offerings are their second-tier product. Their moneymaker is the Christian programming. Always has been. I'd bet a penny that many spots on the conservative syndication and stations are thrown-in as "added value" to those advertisers spending a certain amount on spots on the religious programming.

With Larsen going away they need to bring in some local programming.

 

[NewsStud]

With Larsen going away they need to bring in some local programming.

Different station, I think. Though knowing the owners and management at that station, they will do whatever costs them least.

If a recently-purchased, 50-thousand watt tree falls in Tampa Bay, and no one is listening... did it make a sound?

 

[johnbasalla]

I respectfully disagree regarding Dennis Prager and Michael Medved as talk show hosts. Dennis is very engaging to me as he defends his positions very well, with opinions that I don't come up with. He also talks more then politics. I can see how some people could view him as dull, because there's no cartoon-drama on his show. Just straight talk, which I appreciate. The one troubling are with Prager is, he doesn't take enough calls on most occasions. He feels a need to get his message out there, in such a specific fashion, that it eats away at time. By the time he's ready to take a few calls, he's lucky to get 2 or 3 in before the segment is over.

As for Michael Medved, the fact that he relishes taking calls from those who disagree with him, makes his shows entertaining to listen to. Unlike Michael Savage, Medved doesn't cut them off before they've had adequate time to make their initial point. He always has lively debates, whereas things usually are more sedate on Dennis Prager's show. His "Disagreement Days" and "Conspiracy Days" are shows I really look forward to. Then he does good, concise produced movie reviews, which is unique amongst conservative talkers that I've heard. If I have a slight complaint, it would be that he stutters over words rather often, particularly when he begins making a point to a caller.