L.A.'s half-assed "progressive" radio station to become full-assed, rightwing, dubbed "the Patriot"

[villager]

Knew this was happening in the Bay Area, but didn't realize this was happening to KTLK -- the former Air America outlet -- here in L.A.

It's Clear Channel, of course, but at least Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity will be on a weaker signal now. I stopped listening to the station after they dumped Thom Hartmann....



<snip>

UPDATED: The move could be a blow to liberal talk radio as Clear Channel rebrands as "conservative" two stations currently featuring left-wing personalities like Stephanie Miller and Bill Press.

Rush Limbaugh will leave major AM radio stations in Los Angeles and San Francisco in order to help anchor some lesser-known channels in those markets that will be rebranded as conservative talk, people familiar with the plans from Clear Channel Media and Entertainment said Thursday.

The strategy could leave some left-wing talkers, such as Stephanie Miller, Bill Press and Thom Hartmann, without a home in a couple of very large, liberal-skewing markets.

In Los Angeles, Limbaugh's top-rated show will no longer be heard on KFI AM 640 beginning on Jan. 2 and instead be on KTLK AM 1150, which is to be rebranded "The Patriot" with an all-conservative lineup that will include Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity, which means the latter will be leaving TalkRadio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, according to insiders. Also in the lineup is Clark Howard, known less for politics and more for doling out advice to consumers.

Beginning the same day, KFI will become a channel that focuses more on local issues. Limbaugh's 9 a.m.-noon slot will be filled partially by Bill Handel and partially by Bill Carroll, according to insiders.

<snip>

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rush-limbaugh-switch-stations-los-662588

[itsrobert]

1. Randi Rhodes will have her own station on the IHeartRadio app

Live and tape shows playing 24 hours a day. IHeartRadio app is from Clear Channel who owns KTLK/KFI. The app is available for free for both Apple and Android devices.

[SunSeeker]

8. It's already there, I just added it as a favorite. I hope Stephanie Miller gets a station too.

I can't believe L.A. Is losing its progressive talk station. I guess progressives must not listen to AM radio.

[Cleita]

2. Welcome to the media desert those of us in less populated areas of

California are already experiencing. However, listening to Rush and Glenn lately, only when I'm commuting, because that station is the one I need to get local news, like weather and traffic on, I'm becoming strangely amused. These guys are nothing but carnival barkers, but instead of the two headed snake, lizard man and naked ladies that the carnies bellowed about, they are trying to pass off their lipsticked pigs as real movers and shakers. P. T. Barnum would be so proud of them because they know there's a sucker born every minute and you have to give the rubes what they want in order for them to open their wallets. It's so obvious.

[villager]

4. Yeah, my drives up I-5 (or sometimes highway 99) are slightly terrifying in that regard...

...and mostly I try to find some classic country, if I'm using the radio for tunes...

And as Itsrobert points out, there are certainly alternatives, but when the agitprop swill so easily fills the airwaves, it seems those who could most benefit from a little de-hypnosis won't seek those alternatives...

The one thing I'll say about this move, though, is they're putting those rightwingers on a much weaker station. All the crowing righties seem not have noticed that....

[Cleita]

12. There isn't even good music anymore. It's like their

playlists were made a decade ago by DJs in a coma.

[villager]

13. True -- that's getting harder to find as well.

If I'm in a rental with a satellite radio, I might tune in "Willie's Roadhouse," but it's a shame there's so little good "local" programming.

of course, most of it isn't really "local" anymore, is it?

[Cleita]

15. No it's not. It's seems to come out of some boiler room

out in Utah or some other such place.

[Live and Learn]

3. Guess I'll just shut the radio off.

What an awful way to start the new year.

[Cleita]

14. That's what I've done except when driving and I need road and weather

information and in emergencies like earthquakes and power outages.

[mountain grammy]

5. Listened to Steph on KTLK (I heart radio) on my tablet..

Changing to 92.1 the out of Madison, Wi., also on iheart radio.

[SunSeeker]

7. Thanks for the tip! nt

[U4ikLefty]

6. Thank goodness for KPFK (90.7 FM)

Shame about KTLK. I will miss hearing Stephanie Miller on my way to work.

Looks like KTLK will be removed from my dial as of January 2.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

9. of course, AM radio is quickly becoming a relic

podcasts, youtube, streaming are quickly overtaking it.
Half the reason talk radio is taking another rightwing lurch is because only the aging Boomer GOP base is still listening to it.

[villager]

11. True -- it's just that rightwing agitprop becomes the default background noise for these people

...further hardening their spiritual arteries, and insuring a divided country...

[w8liftinglady]

10. I remember when that happened in Dallas.

Yes we had a liberal radio AM station that became a station that LOVES the right.Thank God I Had Rachel Randi and Mike Malloy when my kid was in Iraq.