WKOX/Boston is dropping AAR, liberal talk

[LTR]

WKOX/WXKS (1200&1430AM) are flipping to a Spanish language format after December 22.

In fact, just yesterday evening, station listeners received an email, enlisting their help in determining their new lineup, even after the station announced their changes last week. The email encouraged listeners to vote for who they thought should be on during the 12-3PM ET shift, since Ed Schultz was moving his syndicated show to that slot. The choices were Schultz (who the station had already announced as staying in his current 3-6PM slot), Al Franken (who was going to be dropped altogether) and Thom Hartmann (who would inherit the slot).

With this email, the station does a backpedal, claiming that the addition of Hartmann is temporary, and anything could happen. And they ain't kidding!

The Boston Globe reports today that the station may wind up dropping the format altogether. While Clear Channel representatives are not discussing details, the national radio group, which has been selling stations across the country, acknowledges that change is in the works for WXKS-AM (1430) and WKOX-AM (1200). Saying that details will be released within two weeks, Clear Channel vice president of programming "Cadillac Jack" McCartney acknowledged this week that changes are pending and that Air America "is history." In fact, their own website kinda reveals their hand, as they are currently looking for a bilingual sales manager for the stations, which will soon air a format called "Rumba". The last day for liberal talk will be December 22. Merry F-in Christmas, from the fine folks at Clear Channel!

Cont'd below:

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/12/mixed-signals-in-boston.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Gee... Clear Channel Radio Just Got Purchased by Willard Romney's Company

Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

Ladies and gentlemen - mark my words - Willard "Mitt" Romney is a man of extraordinary evil. Very, very dangerous.

[Captain Hilts]

2. AAR just isn't very good. I like Stephanie Miller better. Franken sleepwalks on the air. nt

[Ian David]

3. Those Boston stations carry Stephanie Miller! THEY CAN NOT DO THIS!

You know what?

I fucking hate Mountain Meadows Mitt!

[papau]

5. Until AAR, 1200 and 1430 were equivalent to college radio club broadcasts - there is

a shortage of spanish language radio in Boston - but not a big shortage. They will have a fair amount of competition.

This sounds like it is coming down from the GOP as an order - since ads are not in short supply on AAR in Boston on 1200 and 1430, it is hard to see how they will make more money with their low signal power license.

[USA_1]

11. Touche'!

Hate to say it but you're absolutely correct.

AAR spends too much time engaging in nonsense talk, allows too many reichwingers to call in and take up too much air time, and there are FAR too many commercials.

It is very difficult to pick up AM 950 here in the Twin Cities and the signal often fades into nothingness.

I greatly appreciate learning about progressive politics from around the USA. I am convinced that AAR help to inform people so that they made more informed decisions during the November elections. But AAR can do a lot better.

[w4rma]

14. Clear Channel is a partisan Republican outfit. CC refusing to air Air America reflects well on AAR.

Clear Channel is NOT only in this for the money. They are a propaganda outlet like Fox News.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Inaudible shitty am stations, who cares?

These two stations cannot be picked up most anywhere in the Boston area. Their loss is in the tree fell in the woods and nobody heard it category.

[papau]

6. Rt 1 north to Danvers and I90 west to Framingham until 4:30 pm they do get through - but only

in those areas - perhaps 30% of the immediate Boston area - and perhaps 5% of the reach of WBZ.

That is why I was impressed with the heavy ad volume they could sell via AAR.

This makes no economic sense.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. I think the poor stations are a major factor

in AAR's problems. They should have gone for quality over quantity. Of course the fact that the deregulation of broadcast media ownership rules has made access to quality stations nearly impossible might have restricted their strategy.

[CTyankee]

23. OH NO! I always listen to 1200 am when I drive to Sherborn from

New Haven to see the grandkids. I listen to New Haven's 1300 am as far as I can, then I have a bit of a stretch with nothing on Rt84 East and then I get 1200 and it's pretty smooth on the Pike to exit 13 where I get off.

Any word on an alternative? My son in law (a Dem political consultant) will be abject without his Stephanie Miller and Al Franken...

[LTR]

8. WKOX is getting a power upgrade soon

All the way up to 50,000 watts and a move to Newton.

When this will happen, who knows? But I guess it's all a moot point now.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. They were getting that upgrade soon two years ago. nt.

[LTR]

13. They finally got approval to build the tower

That's what was holding them back.

[Ian David]

18. So, here's a couple ideas

What if we started putting small AM Radio transmitters in our cars attached to our iPods that broadcast on the 1200 and 1430 frequencies? What's the most powerful AM transmitter we can use without a license?

And what if we modified those solar powered outdoor lights to power a transmitter that broadcasts white noise on the 1200 and 1430 AM frequency, and then hid those devices in trees along Route 93 and other major highways?

That's just a satirical riff, of course.

[Captain Hilts]

10. It's hard to pick up AAR in DC and the stations that play Redskin games.

So why own a radio?

[Warren Stupidity]

12. It comes with the car.

Although I've had satellite for year now and love it.

[Ian David]

17. Driving through DC, I was able to hear WBZ Radio from Boston.

But the local Air America affiliates can't broadcast as far as Providence.

[Captain Hilts]

21. I listened to WBZ in KEY WEST, FL!! We were on a bounce, I guess, so Larry Glick...

remained a part of our lives in the Keys.

No kidding!

But the stations that broadcast AAR and the Redskins are weak here locally.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

20. Actually, we hear 1200 AM down here on the east bay of RI

Until sundown at least......

[greenman3610]

15. Stephie shows the way on liberal radio

She is freaking funny and entertaining!!

This is what AAR never got. Just because we agree
with someone, doesn't make us want to listen, more,
it doesn't make people who DONT agree want to
listen.
Closest thing to this on AAR is Randi.

Stephie has a formula that really moves and
keeps you interested.

[Captain Hilts]

16. We'll win over more people with humor than anger.

Tony Kornheiser's radio show was also flagrantly liberal.

In fact, on his and Michael Wilbon's Pardon the Interruption, on election day, all the screen stuff that is normally red, was changed to blue.

[Marrah_G]

19. GREAT

The ONE fucking decent talk channel in southern New England is going SPANISH MUSIC????? WTF?????????????

There are a butt-load more Liberals then in Eastern Mass then there are big fans of "Rumba".....including, most likely, our hispanic population. They just put zero money into letting people know the station was there.

This really really really pisses me off. So now we are back to the republican talking heads shoving thier filth down our throats again if we want to listen to talk radio. Jay Severon makes me want to puke. And you KNOW that republican talk is NOT turning a profit here.... paid for by the righties to try and brainwash the last bastion of sanity left in this country.

~breathe~

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.......... My long drives on the weekend will now completely suck.

For Note: I live in Attleboro and I pick up 1200 just fine. AFter dark I lose the signal unless I am in the car driving to the north shore.

[Ian David]

22. Many Spanish radio stations carry "racy" material

The only reason they don't get fined by the FCC very often is because not enough right-wing christian fundies speak Spanish.

I propose that if the station switches formats, we make it a point to monitor the content and report any indecency to The FCC.