They Replaced Air America in Rochester, NY

[Liberalynn]

with Sports News. I called and told them on their voice mail, that they are disgusting and America needs to hear both sides more than ever, given how much the Republicans have destroyed the country.

They'll just dump it I'm sure, but I just had to call. Oh well at least I can still listen to Stephanie Miller on the Web.

[erpowers]

1. Interesting

It might be good for Rachel Maddow that she was given a show on MSNBC.

[Liberalynn]

4. I know.

Thank God for MSNBC.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. That's too bad - Rochester's a pretty progressive city...

...I'm amazed that a prog/lib talk station couldn't make it there.:shrug:

[Liberalynn]

5. Me too.

I thought it was pretty popular here. I heard a lot of people listening to it listening to it, when I've been out and about.

Now the closest Air America station is in Buffalo.

[dionysus]

13. nott hat it couldn't make it, i heard the new owners (Entercom?) are GOP and shut it down.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Seven years ago, same thing happened in NYC, when WEVD,

the radio station started in the memory of Eugene Victor Debs, was purchased by ABC media network and turned into the flagship station ESPN radio, WEPN at 1050 on September 1, 2000. There is already another sports radio station, WFAN, and WEPN does not rake in stellar ratings, but it still exists. Progressive radio morphed into sports radio.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WEPN

By the mid 1990s, WEVD had a talk format with a liberal emphasis on weekdays, with ethnic programming at night and on weekends. Talk hosts included New York sports legend Bill Mazer, former New York mayor Ed Koch, Jay Diamond, Sam Greenfield, and Alan Colmes.

-snip-

In 2001 WEVD entered into a local marketing agreement with ABC/Disney and added ESPN Radio's The Dan Patrick Show to the talk lineup. Despite a public campaign to save the old format, on September 2, 2001 WEVD began running ESPN Radio fulltime, albeit having simulcast WABC's coverage of the September 11 attacks nine days later.

[Liberalynn]

6. This is now an ESPN station too.

We also have other sports radio and tons of Republican stations.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. This may be a pattern with the parent company to target progressive stations

to replace out of all the other formats from which to choose. I don't think ABC still owns the stations for its radio network, but the new owner may have similar antipathy toward progressive stations.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Radio On The Cheap...

Sports talk is one of the last refuges for a dying AM radio band. Sadly Progressive Talk doesn't attract the quick easy money from stiffie drugs, bars, gambling casinos and stock speculators, but Sports Talk and Hate radio does.

[MorningGlow]

27. Good point--and if they just got bought by Entercom, as was posted above, that explains a lot

Entercom is eviscerating the stations they bought here. They have made some idiotic decisions in the name of the bottom line--axed the most popular morning host of another (dinosaur rock) station who's been on the air for, like, 30 years...broke up another morning show team that the mommies loved to listen to ("it's safe for my kids to listen!" :eyes: )... They also took control of a great music station, ("Fickle") that plays all kinds of music--really obscure stuff, or they'll follow up a new rock song with a '70s novelty song or a disco tune. Wanta bet they'll murder that one too?

[SethInUpstateNY]

9. Just an observation.

I'm very disappointed in 950 WROC's decision to drop progressive talk. The problem with the station in my opinion is they did virtually zero promotion of their progressive shows. I also noticed when they were doing "The Wall Street Journal Report" about a month ago, they were the same update for 2 weeks. It was like "Groundhog Day".

I'm fortunately able to pick up 1520 WWKB out of Buffalo on my radio. I've noticed that unlike 950 WROC, they promote their progressive shows like Bill Press, Ed Schultz, and Stephanie Miller.

Why they think they can get any better ratings with sports talk is beyond me.

[Liberalynn]

11. This is true.

I never saw them promoting at any events or advertising at all.

[MorningGlow]

22. Was that the time when they repeated the Wal-Mart union threat story for like five days in a row?

I posted in GD about that. It felt like they were trying to get us to memorize that story! :tinfoilhat:

You're right that they stopped publicizing their programming--they did in the beginning, though. If I may be cynical for a moment, I wouldn't doubt that they got calls from the WHAM contingent griping about "lib-rul radio", and they backed off. Cowards! Cowards, I say!

[SethInUpstateNY]

34. You're correct on the

Wal-Mart union story. You may be on to something about WRNC...I mean WHAM. That wouldn't surprise me in the least if that was the case.

[Romulox]

10. The few times I tried to listen to AA radio, it sounded just like rightwing radio

but with a different target for all the hate.

No thanks. Don't need all the vitriol while I'm driving.

[dionysus]

15. are you smoking crack? air america radio is nothing like RW horse shit...

:eyes:

[Romulox]

16. The shows I sampled had a LOT of name calling, and a LOT of commercials.

Can't listen to that, whether it is characterized as LW or RW.

[Fluffdaddy]

21. Yep, Send that guy to drug rehab.

[kgnu_fan]

12. You need to start a community radio in your community

You can do it. We have been running KGNU (www.kgnu.org) for the last 30 years. We are all volunteer powered, listener supported radio station. We have been a FM station but we bought an AM signal about four years ago ($4 million price tag) As long as we rely on corporate media, democracy will not survive.

Why don't you go to www.nfcb.org and check out (National Federatio of Community Broadcasters) I think there are other organizations that can help you walk the path of community radio... It is really fun to have your own radio! I listen to it every day!

Good luck,

[Liberalynn]

20. Thanks for the links

I will check out the site

[dionysus]

14. fellow rochesterian here!!

what part of town are you in?

:hi:

[Liberalynn]

18. Hello Neighbor

:hi: I actually live in Canandaigua but since our radio station just plays golden oldies, I listen to Rochester radio.

[dionysus]

25. it sucks I can barely pick up the buffalo air america affiliate...

you in wine country?

[Liberalynn]

26. Yes

Naples isn't too far from here.

[Rob H.]

17. Similar thing happened here in Memphis

AAR was replaced by Fox Sports. I blame local management; it's hard to understate what a a terrible job they did promoting and running the station.

[MorningGlow]

19. I just posted in the NY forum

SUCKS, doesn't it? Sports--the last bastion of radio cowards. Well, now that MG Jr. is starting kindergarten, I won't be driving a great distance each morning, so I can listen to Steph online. And I'm in Caledonia, so I can pick up the Buffalo station when I need to. But day-um, what idiots at WROC. They had a good thing going.

[Liberalynn]

23. They sure did have a good thing going.

and yes it sure does suck. I tried getting the Buffalo station here in Canandaigua but the local oldies station signal is so strong it comes in over the Buffalo signal.

I think I am going to end up subscribing to the Steff cast.

[MorningGlow]

29. Were they really part of the Entercom buy, like someone else posted upthread?

If so, that explains a LOT, what with Entercom axing Wease and busting up Tony and Dee. They're operating solely on what their bottom line is, which is damned foolish in this day and age, when it comes to radio. I'm just waiting to see how they destroy Fickle...because I just know they will...

[Liberalynn]

30. Yes. Their websiste lists Entercom as the owners now

I was also ticked about their axing Dee and Brother Wease and also the "Mayor" Pete Kenedy whom I went to high school with.

Entercom has been the worst thing to hit Rochester radio in a long time.

[dionysus]

32. isn't the wease decision monumentally stupid?

anyone with half a brain would have realized he's the king of rochester radio.

i hear he's going to clear channel (shudder), but it will be nice to have him back.

[lpbk2713]

24. Obviously they don't know they are going against the curve.

Voters are deserting the rethuglican party in droves and the
conservative movement is headed for history's dust heap.

Go ahead and let that station fade away just like the GOP.

[Liberalynn]

28. Agreed.

I hope their ratings and their fortunes tank.

[Habibi]

31. Holy crap!

I've been out of town a lot this summer--I had no idea WROC had changed hands. And they axed Brother Wease? I didn't listen to him, but wtf?

Not that I listened to WROC a lot, either (can't stand the commercials), but I do luhs my Stephanie when I'm running errands.

Crap. I'll look at the community radio site as well.

(Btw, hi upstate neighbors! I'm in the Upper Mount Hope 'hood, right here in Rachacha.)

[dionysus]

33. lake avenue here!

:hi: