Posted on 02/10/2011 7:47:47 PM PST by ejdrapes
by John Avlon Info Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Rush Limbaugh are losing fans in a key market. John Avlon on why listeners and station managers are sick of anti-Obama tirades—and who bucks the trend. Here’s another sign that the tide might be turning against the Wingnuts—Glenn Beck’s TV ratings are down 50 percent and major market radio stations are dropping him. That’s not all—a look at radio ratings shows that hyper-partisan talk has been declining or flat-lining between ‘09 and ‘10, despite the intensity of the election year. There’s a demand for something different—smart, un-predictable, non-partisan news is gaining market share because it stands out from the pack. And leading industry analysts say there is a market for more independent voices. “There are a lot of program directors whose radio ‘spider-sense’ is tingling,” says Randall Bloomquist, a long-time radio executive and president of Talk Frontier Media. “They're thinking ‘this conservative thing is kind of running its course. We're saying the same things from morning 'til night and yes, we've got a very loyal core audience—but if we ever want to grow, if we want to expand, we've got to be doing more than 18 hours a day of ‘Obama is a socialist.’”Is Right-Wing Talk Dying?
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
The listeners peak during election years, and fall off after the new Congress or President is sworn in. It is a natural cycle. I can remember this same discussion and they probably just dusted off the paper this was written on and changed some names.
What about their web traffic, though? The broadcast radio side is just one element of their respective programs.
I like Mark Levin and Steve Marlzberg. But to answer the question - NO!
Coming from Daily Beast...... ROFL
Certainly seems so in the Seattle area where there were one two stations. The once leader, KVI, has turned to rock oldies. The national leaders have all consolidated to the remaining station. There is very, very few local conservative talkers on local issues.
No, but possibly saturation is reached. It was worse back in 2006-2007ish. But Rush is doing great and has more influence than ever. Still, he’s competing with mp3’s, satellite, pandora, etc.
The left is sure hoping this is true.
That said: are they still going to force the Fairness Doctrine?
If he backed up his assertions with links to Arbitron rather than Media Matters, I’d be more interested in what he has to say.
If there is dilution of the markets, maybe it is due to more conservative talk choices, rather than disinterest.
Versions of this basic news story have been circulating since the late 1990s. The details change but the message is always the same.
I could see some third tier guys not making the cut, but in most major cities local radio has a conservative voice (or two, or three), and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Wait and see.
“No, but possibly saturation is reached. It was worse back in 2006-2007ish. But Rush is doing great and has more influence than ever. Still, he’s competing with mp3’s, satellite, pandora, etc.”
Exactly, there is a limit. A 5.4 share in NYC is nothing to sneeze at, at all.
“They’re thinking ‘this conservative thing is kind of running its course.”
yea, FREEDOM is so yesterday...
However not all spoken word formats are suffering. All news radio has been faring well in the PPM era.
Nice font....the rest is warmed over s—t
If you haven’t heard him try Andrew Wilkow, same station as Mark Levin right after Glenn Beck. He has a great show!
Ho-kay.
Hannity, Levin, Savage—these are all poor excuses for a good show. Only Rush has ever been, and continues to be, great. Part of that is Rush’s humor, none of the others has ever shared.
Hannity has always been well-intentioned, but until more recently, he didn’t ever appear to have a single brain cell in his head. Everything was a rehash of what he had heard from Rush’s show.
Levin’s voice almost drives me up the wall, while Savage simply has nothing going for him but his yelling.
>>but if we ever want to grow, if we want to expand, we’ve got to be doing more than 18 hours a day of ‘Obama is a socialist.’”<<
I breathe and live “Obama is an fn kommie puke” 24 hours a day and my fire hasn’t extinguished. Coming from the lib Daily Beast, this doesn’t surprise me.
Keep on dreaming Beast Boy. Right now, everyone is catching their breath and reloading. You stay tuned. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet Skippy!
It isn't there yet, but if Obama wins a 2nd term, I'm sure I will take another break.
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