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Petition drive helps bring Air America to Baton Rouge

F

FightingIrish

Al Franken and other liberal talk-radio hosts are coming to Baton Rouge's airwaves starting Tuesday, thanks to the efforts of six women interested in having liberal talk radio in the area, an organizer said.

Vicki Lancaster, a Baton Rouge statistician, said her group of private citizens months ago started a petition campaign to bring Louisiana left-leaning radio programs like those Air America offers.

"These are public airwaves," Lancaster said. "We have a Democratic governor, Democratic senator. Why don't we have … liberal talk radio?"

About 1,500 signatures later, listeners will be able to hear the likes of left-wing comedian Franken and Bob Shultz, host of "Straight Talk from the Heartland," on WYNK 1630 AM on weekdays until sundown. On the weekends, the station will cover all the Air America programs, Lancaster said.

If Air America, launched in 2004 to rival a plethora of conservative talk programs, plays well in Baton Rouge, Clear Channel officials have told Lancaster progressive radio could hit other Louisiana cities, she said.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/071005/new_politics001.shtml

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2005/07/petition-gets-liberal-talk-radio-in.html<P ID="signature">______________
The Liberal Talk Radio Update</P>
 
> > > WYNK 1630 AM
> >
> > It's 1380 am. Another great job by the Advocate.
> >
>
> And is 'Bob' Schultz Ed's brother?
>
> Who edits that stupid rag?
>


Probably the same people who got their information from the sponsor of the petition Vicki Lancaster according to the article... Now it's to find out who misquoted first...lancaster or the paper...

But what was real funny is the blog is just a re-post of the newspaper article and at the right corner of the website is YNK's correct frequency.

But considering the abysmal ratings WYNK has had over the past few books, anything that could get it ratings is a welcome and 1500 people promising to listen is a good reason enough to try AAR....


Now it's to figure what station is next (probably in New Orleans next)

RFLA
 
> But considering the abysmal ratings WYNK has had over the
> past few books, anything that could get it ratings is a
> welcome and 1500 people promising to listen is a good reason
> enough to try AAR....

Can the programming attract enough sustaining advertising dollars and ratings? My guess is no.

A petition of 1500 delivered by two militant feminists would scare a behemoth corporation like CC which doesn't want controversy. So Dick Lewis puts it on the underperforming WYNK-AM, it does just as poorly if not worse, and he can get rid of it for something else in a few months. In the meantime, the programming is barter, so he hasn't spent a dime. They have nothing to lose and it makes these irritant activists go away.

> Now it's to figure what station is next (probably in New
> Orleans next)

Why would you think that? CC has only two AM stations there, one of which is highly rated gospel, the other being all sports.
 
> > But considering the abysmal ratings WYNK has had over the
> > past few books, anything that could get it ratings is a
> > welcome and 1500 people promising to listen is a good
> reason
> > enough to try AAR....
>
> Can the programming attract enough sustaining advertising
> dollars and ratings? My guess is no.
>
> A petition of 1500 delivered by two militant feminists would
> scare a behemoth corporation like CC which doesn't want
> controversy. So Dick Lewis puts it on the underperforming
> WYNK-AM, it does just as poorly if not worse, and he can get
> rid of it for something else in a few months. In the
> meantime, the programming is barter, so he hasn't spent a
> dime. They have nothing to lose and it makes these irritant
> activists go away.
>

I figure it would give CC something to try to bring up this station in the cluster considering it's performance in the ratings 12+ ain't too hot being under 1.0 for awile... But yeah with AAR picking up the tab, it will be interesting to see.. It might last as long as someone is picking up the tab... But given AAR's past, it could disappear just as fast



> > Now it's to figure what station is next (probably in New
> > Orleans next)
>
> Why would you think that? CC has only two AM stations
> there, one of which is highly rated gospel, the other being
> all sports.
>


Cause CC only has stations in New Orleans,Baton Rouge,Shreveport,and Alexandria last I remember... The last two are conservative to the point I'd see it never succeed there. New Orleans would be the only other choice (considering it does have more left leaning residents than anywhere's else IMO) and actually I figured one of the religious or low performing stations would have sold to someone to put AAR on before CC in BR....

But yeah CC doesn't really have a place to put it on in NOLA unless CC decides to LMA a station if it does show to be a ratings bonanza (but my guess is 1.0 at most in NOLA IMO) and I don't think they'll see it here in Louisiana (since most people are either middle of the road to conservative in most of Louisiana with some pockets of liberals mainly in New Orleans)....

RFLA
 
CC has been flipping under performing AMs in a lot of markets to AAR. The Portland, OR flip was a HUGE success. The AM went to the top of the book. It has not worked in every market, but given the options for an AM, it is worth a try. Especially, if it is a station with a marginal signal.
 
> CC has been flipping under performing AMs in a lot of
> markets to AAR. The Portland, OR flip was a HUGE success.
> The AM went to the top of the book. It has not worked in
> every market, but given the options for an AM, it is worth a
> try. Especially, if it is a station with a marginal signal.
>

For the record, the number one station in Portland Oregon is KEX-AM, which is CC's News-Talker. Yes, it has Rush Limbaugh and sits on top with a 5.4.

The next-biggest news talker is locally-owned KXL-AM with a 3.9. They have Bill O'Reilly, Tony Snow, Don Imus and Michael Savage.

Finally, Clear Channel's "other" talker is KPOJ, which has the Air America lineup. It's currently a 3.3. Better than the 0.4 it used to have, I'll give you that, but hardly "top of the book". They're actually down while the others are up. They did spike two books ago but things have leveled off.

They are beating a fourth talker, KPAM. who has a 2.1. But as you might have guessed, this station has the likes of Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Larry Elder.

Conservative talk has a combined 10.4 in Portland, versus Air America's 3.3. And this is in a market noted for being left-leaning. This is not surprising; Air America hasn't lit up the dial in NYC.

The problem is that liberals don't understand its not just about having a Colmes to counter Hannity; conservative talkers understand radio better. Limbaugh is a master communicator and his program is compelling. Franken is smug, unenergetic and condescending to his audience. Just because he was on the original Saturday Night Live doesn't mean he can do radio. The same goes for Chuck D., Janeane Garafolo and Jerry Springer. Randi Rhoads may work in South Florida but she has yet to crack nationwide. Liberals must learn how to entertain or no one will listen to them much less consider their ideas.
 
Sorry, I was referring to the spike and yes, Portland is definately a liberal market.

There are so many AMs out ther that have zero ratings, and AAR is worth a shot. In some markets, AAR will be like a foreign language... not a lot of people listening, but better than zero.

I am in Lake Charles every other week, and have thought about what AAR would do there. Knowing the people, it would not be a great ratings grabber, however, if someone had an AM stick that was under performing it would be worth a shot. Probably would not happen since there are so few AM signals in Lake Charles.

Will it work in Baton Rouge? I don't know. Will be interesting to see.
 
> > WYNK 1630 AM
>
> It's 1380 am. Another great job by the Advocate.
>
all hail the advocate. its always right :)...now how can 1380 play all the weekend programs. ifs its only a 12 hour station?<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
> > > But considering the abysmal ratings WYNK has had over
> the
> > > past few books, anything that could get it ratings is a
> > > welcome and 1500 people promising to listen is a good
> > reason
> > > enough to try AAR....
> >
> > Can the programming attract enough sustaining advertising
> > dollars and ratings? My guess is no.
> >
> > A petition of 1500 delivered by two militant feminists
> would
> > scare a behemoth corporation like CC which doesn't want
> > controversy. So Dick Lewis puts it on the underperforming
>
> > WYNK-AM, it does just as poorly if not worse, and he can
> get
> > rid of it for something else in a few months. In the
> > meantime, the programming is barter, so he hasn't spent a
> > dime. They have nothing to lose and it makes these
> irritant
> > activists go away.
> >
>
> I figure it would give CC something to try to bring up this
> station in the cluster considering it's performance in the
> ratings 12+ ain't too hot being under 1.0 for awile... But
> yeah with AAR picking up the tab, it will be interesting to
> see.. It might last as long as someone is picking up the
> tab... But given AAR's past, it could disappear just as fast
>
>
>
>
> > > Now it's to figure what station is next (probably in New
>
> > > Orleans next)
> >
> > Why would you think that? CC has only two AM stations
> > there, one of which is highly rated gospel, the other
> being
> > all sports.
> >
>
>
> Cause CC only has stations in New Orleans,Baton
> Rouge,Shreveport,and Alexandria last I remember... The last
> two are conservative to the point I'd see it never succeed
> there. New Orleans would be the only other choice
> (considering it does have more left leaning residents than
> anywhere's else IMO) and actually I figured one of the
> religious or low performing stations would have sold to
> someone to put AAR on before CC in BR....
>
> But yeah CC doesn't really have a place to put it on in NOLA
> unless CC decides to LMA a station if it does show to be a
> ratings bonanza (but my guess is 1.0 at most in NOLA IMO)
> and I don't think they'll see it here in Louisiana (since
> most people are either middle of the road to conservative in
> most of Louisiana with some pockets of liberals mainly in
> New Orleans)....
>
> RFLA
>
i am only guessing here but i am willing to bet AAR doesnt even make the ratings. at all!!0.0<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
Petition will not be needed in New Orleans

Petitions may be needed in BR or Shreve or even Alex but in the Cresent City, CC will not be the one bringing AAR to this area....might want to pay attention to 1350 in the next 3 or 4 weeks
 
> > But considering the abysmal ratings WYNK has had over the
> > past few books, anything that could get it ratings is a
> > welcome and 1500 people promising to listen is a good
> reason
> > enough to try AAR....
>
> Can the programming attract enough sustaining advertising
> dollars and ratings? My guess is no.
>
> A petition of 1500 delivered by two militant feminists would
> scare a behemoth corporation like CC which doesn't want
> controversy. So Dick Lewis puts it on the underperforming
> WYNK-AM, it does just as poorly if not worse, and he can get
> rid of it for something else in a few months. In the
> meantime, the programming is barter, so he hasn't spent a
> dime. They have nothing to lose and it makes these irritant
> activists go away.
>
> > Now it's to figure what station is next (probably in New
> > Orleans next)
>
> Why would you think that? CC has only two AM stations
> there, one of which is highly rated gospel, the other being
> all sports.
>


So, am I to imply that the thinking is that WYNK-A will only cater to "militants" and "feminists?" Sorry, folks, but Baton Rouge is....


1. A Government city (democrats, republicans, and all the in-betweens live there).

2. A university town (full of liberal professors and free-thinking students)


There's a potential for a big audience. As for New Orleans, we all know that city's home to the largest non-republican population in the state. So SOMEBODY'S gotta realize the potential. It's just nice to hear something OTHER than the right-wing point-of-view on the airwaves. I firmly believe THIS is where the republicans snuck up and overpowered the democrats - on the airwaves. When the 'Fairness in Broadcasting' doctrine was tossed, the Limbaughs and Hannitys of the world pounced and propagandized.


Now that some markets will get both points of view, maybe Americans can again get back to the business of deciding for themselves instead of having their political thinking "programmed" into 'em on a daily basis from one side of the aisle.


Another problem AAR has to (or hopefully will) overcome is their philosophy of not allowing smaller markets to carry some instead of "all" of their programming. I know of a small market (non-metro) AM that wanted to air several, but not all, daily AAR programs, and AAR told 'em it was "all or nothing."
 
> i am only guessing here but i am willing to bet AAR doesnt
> even make the ratings. at all!!0.0
>



I couldn't disagree more.

Baton Rouge is a GOVERNMENT and UNIVERSITY town. That means there are intelligent people of all makes, models and ideologies living there. There are democrats in governement, there are liberal-thinking professors and students at LSU, Southern, etc., and at LEAST 35% of the general population that think the way Air America leans.
 
It's sad that republicans have to "entertain" their audience to get 'em to think.


Reminds me when I was a kid and all the churches would try to lure kids to THEIR church with kool-aid & cookie parties, swimming parties, roller-skating nights, etc., and slip in some church.


I find Garafolo and Randi Rhodes to be VERY entertaining, but that's because I find 'em to be informative.


The problem with Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc., (and Janine and Randi, too, really...) is that they all tell ONE side without an educated and informative rebuttal. I'd like to see a Rush v. Garafalo program, or a Hannity v. Rhodes radio show. Now THAT'd be worth tuning in to!
 
> I couldn't disagree more.
>
> Baton Rouge is a GOVERNMENT and UNIVERSITY town. That means
> there are intelligent people of all makes, models and
> ideologies living there. There are democrats in
> governement, there are liberal-thinking professors and
> students at LSU, Southern, etc., and at LEAST 35% of the
> general population that think the way Air America leans.
>

I agree Br is a government and University that is diverse. But Baton Rouge is more like the rest of Louisiana in my opinion in that it's a middle of the road to conservative state with some liberals as you said mainly around government and the universities. But 35% liberal lean? The only thing I've seen in numbers is 20% of americans consider themselves liberal (But my question would be, how many would actually listen to AAR talk radio? Only just over 8% 12+ listen to what is considered mainly conservative talk radio currently in BR (WJBO,WIBR,WWL,and WYNK)

But still for 1% of the market, you are looking at needing roughly 5200 12+ listening to a station that is a daytime only station that probably won't be promoted outside of the liberal scene in Baton Rouge (considering CC's promotion of this station (YNK-am) in it's other formats or even on it's other stations) and I am wondering if the station will see that (depending upon promotion more than anything IMO). That's roughly 1% (+/-.3) after the initial "roadtesting" by people has been done (people who normally will try something new and conservatives trying out the competition for some good material to argue about)


But I like your war of the minds you spoke of Ron, and would be interesting to listen to but neither side would want to give up loosing the faithful in a fight....

RFLA<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by RFLA on 07/12/05 04:03 AM.</FONT></P>
 
6 monts and we shall see

well we shall see. if nothing else listen to al franken. hes an idiot. but a funny idiot :)..i can hear air america in stereo on xm..but prefer to listen to alan colmes. a liberal that has a head on his shoulders..




> > I couldn't disagree more.
> >
> > Baton Rouge is a GOVERNMENT and UNIVERSITY town. That
> means
> > there are intelligent people of all makes, models and
> > ideologies living there. There are democrats in
> > governement, there are liberal-thinking professors and
> > students at LSU, Southern, etc., and at LEAST 35% of the
> > general population that think the way Air America leans.
> >
>
> I agree Br is a government and University that is diverse.
> But Baton Rouge is more like the rest of Louisiana in my
> opinion in that it's a middle of the road to conservative
> state with some liberals as you said mainly around
> government and the universities. But 35% liberal lean? The
> only thing I've seen in numbers is 20% of americans consider
> themselves liberal (But my question would be, how many would
> actually listen to AAR talk radio? Only just over 8% 12+
> listen to what is considered mainly conservative talk radio
> currently in BR (WJBO,WIBR,WWL,and WYNK)
>
> But still for 1% of the market, you are looking at needing
> roughly 5200 12+ listening to a station that is a daytime
> only station that probably won't be promoted outside of the
> liberal scene in Baton Rouge (considering CC's promotion of
> this station (YNK-am) in it's other formats or even on it's
> other stations) and I am wondering if the station will see
> that (depending upon promotion more than anything IMO).
> That's roughly 1% (+/-.3) after the initial "roadtesting" by
> people has been done (people who normally will try something
> new and conservatives trying out the competition for some
> good material to argue about)
>
>
> But I like your war of the minds you spoke of Ron, and would
> be interesting to listen to but neither side would want to
> give up loosing the faithful in a fight....
>
> RFLA
>
<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
Let me clarify, then.

I meant to presume that at LEAST 35% of the population in that market is probably non-conservative, whether they be a moderate republican, independent, moderate democrat or liberal democrat.

And I wouldn't read too much into those poll findings where 20% of Americans respond favorably to being termed a "liberal."

The right-wing mouthpieces have spent the past decade or two taking the word and demonizing it. It's a maligned term.
 
> Let me clarify, then.
>
> I meant to presume that at LEAST 35% of the population in
> that market is probably non-conservative, whether they be a
> moderate republican, independent, moderate democrat or
> liberal democrat.
>
> And I wouldn't read too much into those poll findings where
> 20% of Americans respond favorably to being termed a
> "liberal."
>
> The right-wing mouthpieces have spent the past decade or two
> taking the word and demonizing it. It's a maligned term.
>

That I can understand a lot better Thanks for the reply Ron. Yeah I think the 20 % was hard line left liberal (It was taken from an article talking about the Liberals in media and was in the Christian Science Monitor (That's 20% of all americans consider themselves liberal).

From what I've read and seen of the AAR group, most are hard line left like Rush is hard line right but I know in BR it IMO is a moderate to fairly conservative town with some independents and liberal thinkers.

I think the independants and moderates may listen in, just like they would do to the conservative side, But they will flip flop... True hard core listeners however I think as I said will be fewer in number....

But at least,if all the petitioners who signed up will listen, at least that's a .3-.4 share right there (give or take)


RFLA<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by RFLA on 07/13/05 02:01 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> > i am only guessing here but i am willing to bet AAR doesnt
>
> > even make the ratings. at all!!0.0
> >
>
>
>
> I couldn't disagree more.
>
> Baton Rouge is a GOVERNMENT and UNIVERSITY town. That means
> there are intelligent people of all makes, models and
> ideologies living there. There are democrats in
> governement, there are liberal-thinking professors and
> students at LSU, Southern, etc., and at LEAST 35% of the
> general population that think the way Air America leans.
>

I think most conservatives forget that over 50% of the US really didnt want Bush and the repubs in....AAR will do fine because there will be an alternative to the vast right wing conspiracy - hannity, rush, beck, etc...all of those guys speak the same without discourse/debate - AAR has some interesting options....i think it will do fine even in northern LA ...id like to see KNOE move to AAR in MOnroe...not sure about Shreveport or Alexandria for options
 
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