Posted on 02/17/2009 6:54:55 PM PST by rface
Just in case yesterday’s conversation with Megyn Kelly (or his long friendship with Hugh Hewitt) didn’t teach Bill Press about the free market in radio, today’s news about libtalker network Nova-M should. Brian Maloney reports that the syndication network has collapsed, thanks to a lack of revenue:
Libtalk network Nova M Radio has been shut down, according to the attorney for Randi Rhodes, Robert V Gaulin of New York. … Moments ago, Gaulin sent this letter to your Radio Equalizer:
Randi Rhodes’ on-air home for less than a year will shut its doors. In an email message of February 17th from counsel for Nova M Radio, Inc. to Randi’s entertainment attorney, Robert V. Gaulin, the company is said to have been advised to file for bankruptcy protection next week. All payroll deposits were reversed on Tuesday, leaving Nova’s employees unpaid for the past two weeks.
On Sunday, Nova received a letter from Mr. Gaulin asserting that the contract with Ms. Rhodes was terminated due to material breaches and other reasons. Ms. Rhodes had not broadcast for over a week prior to this time, a situation which was diplomatically referred to as a “problem” that was solely within Nova’s control to solve. A few days earlier, Sheldon Drobny, founder of Nova M, and a co-founder of Air America Radio, attempted suicide and is hospitalized in Chicago.
Drobny’s wife Anita confirmed his breakdown and reports that he is receiving treatment. Of course, we hope he recovers, and we’ll keep the family in our prayers.
Brian and Michelle did a lot of reporting on Air America in 2005-6, which included the Drobnys. They attempted to buy up Air America after its first collapse, but got outbid. Instead, they focused on building Nova-M as a syndicator rather than creating a radio network. Apparently, they have had a very difficult time finding enough markets for their talent to turn a profit.
The collapse of Obama 1260 in Washington DC reflected what has been a consistent trend among libtalkers: they don’t get ratings. Bill Press complains that libtalkers get locked out of markets, but Obama 1260 had a good signal in a territory known for its liberal political support. (When was the last time DC voted Republican? Never.) After the election, its ratings disappeared, when one might have expected the wave of support for Barack Obama to result in people flocking to his brand. The owner had to change formats to get advertisers to buy time on the station.
Press claims that ownership is the hurdle for libtalkers and that the government should enforce “fairness” through licensing, but again Obama 1260 is a prime example of why that’s rubbish. The same owner also has a conservative talk station in the same market, which means that he offered the “fairness” that Press demands. Listeners flocked to one station and ran screaming from the other — which is why libtalker syndicator Nova-M just went under.
The show hosts on Nova-M now have to find new syndication, which Brian reports they’ve already begun doing. It’s hard to see how they’ll have much success. If they can’t convince DC residents to listen to liberal radio, they’re not going to find many others outside of San Francisco and New York City.
they should try Boston.......maybe Philly.......maybe ....well - I am out of ideas.
Time for a bailout.
they should try Boston.......maybe Philly.......maybe ....well - I am out of ideas....”
Oh, don’t you know, the “Fairness Doctrine” will fix it. The libs are so loved.
Yuck! I saw Bill Press on one of the weekend shows, Beck I think. He is living in la la land.
Socialism can't exist unless it can suck the life out of a profit making enterprise.
When all of those are gone, socialism collapses.
Today "Nova-M", tomorrow the USSA.
Where are the liberal advertisers at to support these programs? You’d think that Starbucks, Whole Foods, Suburu, would all be anxious to get their message out on a “progressive” program.
Kelly KICKED BILL’S BUTT!!! It was truly a thing of beauty.
What? Couldn’t they find someone else to hate besides Pres. Bush?
They probably would advertise but when the listeners can be counted on two hands and they are stoned even lib business
types say: “No Way”.
NYC’s voting patterns can’t be ignored but LibRadio like Air America is a dismal failure here. Three stations WOR 710, WABC 770, and now 970 thrive on conservative hosts. The only successful, entertaining, and interesting lefty talk jock I have ever heard has been Ron Kuby. He has something most lib jocks don’t have, a true sense of humor, and not just a snarky mean spirited sarcasm.
They can always go on over to NPR ..... You don’t have to produce to draw a paycheck there...!
And it didn't help.
What? Couldn’t they find someone else to hate besides Pres. Bush?
_________________
They are doing their best to channel it to Gov. Palin and Rush.
However Palin is 6000 miles away, and mentioning Limbaugh on their program is counterproductive as he hosts a competing program and mention of him would increase interest in the Rush program.
Strange as it may seem and having lived in New York City my whole life, this city is/was never very left-wing radio friendly. The talk radio successes in this town are almost all conservative.
I agree about Ron Kuby and his sense of humor. While he was far-left in philosophy he was funny. His rants about his commie mother were hilarious. He was sucessful, despite being dropped by WABC, more because of his entertainment value than his philosophy.
Bill Press is the quintessential liberal Ahole. No amount of evidence that liberal talk radio is and will be a failure will change his mind. Nothing will. That’s a trait of liberals. They will ignore truth even when staring them right in the face. Logic and reason will never work with them.
The owner of Air America had a nervous breakdown and tried to KILL HIMSELF???? OMG! Liberalism IS a mental disease....
they should try Boston.......maybe Philly.......maybe ....well - I am out of ideas.
Even the libs & lefties & homos in those cities don't want to listen to liberal talk radio!!! Why listen to more liberals on talk radio when the liberal lunatic mainstream media, including PBS, is shilling for demoRATs & socialism 24/7 ??? Even liberals get fed up with non-stop propoganda!!!
Their message is boring & repetitive for the last 80 yrs since FER, and can be summed up in 3 simple phrases...
Tax more, Spend more, and Control more
.
The Fairness Doctrine is just welfare for liberal talkers. They can’t sell market share, so they will get paid to flap their gums while no one is listening.
A liberal can vote seventeen times in one election.......... but only counts as one listener to a radio station......
The states where liberals bomb out on election day, are states that have rigorous control of legal only voting.
:}
Nope. Not Philly. Air Amerika already flopped there.
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