ABC Nightline 4/1: MEDIA IMBALANCE: Can Liberal Radio Find an Audience?

[Bozita]

 
Nightline Daily E-Mail
April 1, 2004


TONIGHT'S SUBJECT: Conservative talk radio is an enormous media phenomenon. It is an integral part of the Republican party's political infrastructure. And it is a huge financial windfall for stations and networks. So why hasn't the same been true for liberal radio? A new venture launched this week seeks to balance the radio dial politically. Does it stand a chance?

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Name some successful conservative talk radio hosts.

Of course, there's Rush. And, Sean Hannity. Bill O'Reilly. Michael Savage. Oliver North. G. Gordon Liddy. Cal Thomas. Laura Ingraham. Michael Medved. The list goes on...

Now name the successful liberal radio hosts.

Stuck?

Several prominent liberals have tried and failed to make a go in talk radio. A few have achieved success in local markets. But no liberal radio voice has succeeded on the national level of a Rush or a Hannity or an O'Reilly.

You may have heard that a new liberal radio network, called "Air America Radio," made its debut yesterday. It is making the biggest stab yet at balancing the phenomenon of conservative radio with a liberal alternative. Air America boasts some well known names, some new to radio: actress/comedian Janeane Garofolo, rapper Chuck D and comedian/writer Al Franken, who, in a jab at O'Reilly, has named his program: "The O'Franken Factor." Franken, whose first book was titled "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations," has the flagship program on the network, running head to head against Rush Limbaugh's timeslot.

The station has a sizable financial launch, supported by a former HBO and America Online executive and a Manhattan financier. But so far, finding the network on your radio dial isn't so easy. It is only being carried in a handful of markets so far, albeit major ones like New York, LA and Chicago. By comparison, Rush Limbaugh is heard on more than 600 stations.

Can liberal radio succeed this time? Is there something about liberals, and their broad range of issues, that dooms success in talk radio? What is the right mix of humor and political advocacy that equals success on talk radio? Tonight Chris Bury will report on the launch of the liberal radio network, and the enormous success of conservative radio. Ted Koppel will talk to a panel of guests--we're still working that out.

We hope you'll join us.

Sara Just and the Nightline Staff
Nightline Offices
Washington, D.C.

[Bullshot]

1. Now tell me,

Given those facts and figures on the saturation of conservative radio talk shows on that Nightline intro, how in the hell can anyone look at you and whine about the "liberal" media?

[Doctor_J]

2. None have succeded?

Malloy was winning his timeslot in Chicago when he was shit-canned for insulting the Lying Coward in the WH. Oh, yeah, I forgot. Nightline is the program that used to advertise Rush "The polar ice caps melting won't raise the sea level" Limbaugh as an "environmental expert".

[wyldwolf]

6. They're right

no liberal radio voice has succeeded on the national level of a Rush or a Hannity or an O'Reilly.

Of course, none have really been given the opportunity.

[Chitown_Dem]

14. Yup

and several of the other DJs on that station succeed well because they parrot all of the PNAC talking points. I sometimes think Roe Conn receives his paychecks directly from the WH. I used to listen to Roe and Garry regularly - they are both talented, but they've both turned into big chickenhawks since 9/11.

It's the right time for Air America - they have a potentially huge national audience in my opinion (starting with anyone who gets their news from alternative sources like the internet), and can build an international following as well. I can't say enough how refreshing it is to hear things you will never hear on CNN, or FOX, or elsewhere on the radio dial.

[LibDemAlways]

3. "Does it stand a chance?"

The ABC whores are so out of touch that they apparently think there's no audience for left leaning radio. My God, look at Franken and Moore's book sales. When I showed up in Pasadena at a Hillary Clinton book signing, the mob was so huge that many (including me) were turned away. Al Gore won by a half million votes in 2000.

There are millions of Democrats who've gone way too long without a public forum. Now we have one, and the whores are wringing their hands. As Stossel would say on that very network, "Give me a break."

[fearnobush]

4. Whores, I just heard one of them (Peter Jennings) admit to

destroying Dean on Larry King. His excuse was, "thats politics." He's full of shit, My reply is: Thats the whore Bush media at it's best. (If your a Bush Fan)

[rumguy]

5. the corporate media doesn't understand how pissed we are at them!

I know I'll listen.

[Bozita]

7. coming up after the Daily Show

[Cush]

8. kick

[linazelle]

9. Who is that unfortunate looking woman in the interview? A face for radio

if I've ever seen one.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

10. Blanquita Cullum-Plastic Surgery Train Wreck

I'd feel bad for her if she weren't so odious.

[SoCalDem]

11. Blanquita......poor thing.. and her "sis"?????

Meet Blanquita Cullum
Blanquita Cullum, a twenty-two year veteran of radio and television, began her national syndication of the BQ View in April of 1994.

BQ is the current President of The National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts and was named by Talkers Magazine as one of the Top 100 Broadcasters and by USA Today as one of the 25 most influential talk show hosts in the nation.

A single head of household, Hispanic woman, she is unique in her ability to express a 'common sense' conservative point-of-view. She was awarded the 1996 Corporate Achievement Award by Vista Magazine for paving the way for Hispanics in broadcasting. Blanquita has also served in the Bush administration as a White House liason and was a member of The Virginia Commission for the Arts under the appointment of Governor George Allen.


Blanquita is a frequent political commentator, panelist and guest host on programs such as CNN & Company, CNBC's Equal Time, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, Montel Williams, C-Span, CBS Nightly News and America's Voice.



Young American Broadcasters
1030 15th Street, NW Suite 1028 Washington, DC 20005
Phone [phone] * Fax [phone]

Click here for the BQ View

[proud patriot]

17. Ahhh that chiquita banana lady arghhhhhhhhh!

I really don't like her .

[MikeG]

12. Douche-Bag Blanquita and F**khead Cal Thomas.

Al Franken creamed them with ease.

[imax2268]

13. well...

if you ask me...I think it's up to us to constantly be in contact with Air America and also that we stay on top of it...get people who don't know about to listen...

plus...you know what they say...any news is good news...this will spark peoples curiosity and they will start listening...

I say let them keep doing their reports on it...good or bad...it only adds to the people that will listen...

It's like the Howard Stern show...more people that don't like him listen to hear what outrageous thing he can say next...I think this will be a big thing for Air America...look at how much some of us listen to Rush or Hannity to hear what they have to say and cuss them out...I think it's going to be the same here...

or...I'm a dreamer...!

[Dover]

15. Malloy was successful. But it seems the far Left progressives have been

silenced even though it truly does seem to tap into the "angry Dem" DEMOgraphic that AA says it speaks to. But maybe the center/right elements in the party (which Franken represents) don't really WANT to stir that pot of anger, because it spills over into the far right Dem's territory and asks all the questions no one seems to want to answer. Otherwise why isn't Malloy in the new "liberal" AA lineup?

[King_Crimson]

16. LISTEN UP...

Ole boy here's 53 years old! Been Democrat all my life! Seen this party get drug by the bootstraps out the door! BUT NEVER...have I seen this party as energized and ready to TANGO WITH THE REDASSES as I see it now! :bounce: