Posted on 02/18/2003 6:19:14 PM PST by blam
Radio station to give American liberals a voice
New network to offer alternative to rightwing hosts
Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Wednesday February 19, 2003
The Guardian (UK)
A liberal radio network in the United States that would challenge the current supremacy of conservative talkshow hosts could be on air by the autumn. The plan has been prompted by the success of the Republicans in last November's mid-term elections and a feeling that the national agenda has shifted to the right. The idea is to create a radio network that would make use of the liberal leanings of the entertainment world to try to change the climate of political debate.
For years, the right, with the likes of the Rush Limbaugh Show or programmes hosted by Oliver North and G Gordon Liddy, have set the agenda, according to supporters of the new network. Now, they say, is the time to fire some broadsides from the left.
Behind the plan are venture capitalists based in Chicago, and Jon Sinton, an Atlanta-based broadcaster, who will be its chief executive. There is already $10m (£6.3m) invested and there are hopes of raising up to $200m.
Two previous attempts to launch such a network, featuring the former New York governor Mario Cuomo and the maverick Texas politician Jim Hightower, failed, though those behind the latest plan are optimistic they will find listeners.
"We believe this is a tremendous business opportunity," Mr Sinton told Associated Press. "There are so many rightwing talkshows, we think it's created a hole in the market you could drive a truck through."
Al Franken, a satirist and writer, has been touted as a possible contender for the role of liberal talkshow host and he is said to be considering the idea. The hope would also be that big-name comedians or actors would also become involved.
Mr Sinton said the idea would be to entertain rather than preach. "We want to take an issue and make it funny and engaging," he said.
Rush Limbaugh reaches 15 million listeners with his syndicated show which taps into conservative issues, currently the French and their position on Iraq, and also such topics as gun control, affirmative action and gay rights.
National Public Radio, the closest thing in America to the BBC, is funded by foundations and subscribers and has 12 million listeners for its Morning Edition programme, and 10 million with All Things Considered, but these are news magazines that aim to give a voice to both sides of an argument. NPR is often accused by the right of having a liberal agenda, a charge routinely levelled at the US media by conservative commentators in much the same way that the Thatcher government accused the BBC of a leftwing bias.
There is already an established leftwing radio network - Pacifica Radio - which, for more than half a century, has given a voice to the left in Berkeley, Los Angeles, New York, Washington and Houston. It runs extensive news and discussion programmes and provided live coverage of the big anti-war rallies in the US last weekend. But Pacifica is short of cash and it is not possible to tune in in many parts of the country.
The left lacks a talkshow host with the charisma of Oliver North, who was convicted of lying to Congress over the Iran-contra affair and who turned his notoriety into a successful radio career with Common Sense Radio. As well as Limbaugh, there is G Gordon Liddy, the former FBI agent jailed for his role in the Watergate burglaries but now boasting a syndicated show broadcast on 232 stations.
Michael Moore, whose film Bowling for Columbine has been nominated for an Oscar, has been mentioned as someone with a liberal agenda who is also funny and can hold his own in an argument.
The plans for the new launch will provoke an argument about the definition of "liberal" - often used as a term of abuse by the American right. A series of best-selling books has claimed that the US media is in the grip of liberals but commentators on the left point to the increasing corporate control of the major media outlets and, for instance, their failure to report the growing anti-war movement until recent days.
As with liberals, the operative word is always "give."
KLIE
KFIB
The only way they make it on radio or Tv is whern they are:
1) Subsidized.
2) There ARE NO alternatives.
When this fails (and it will) look for them to try to bring back the "fairness doctrine" or some version of it..
Host: Republicans are so stupid and mean. I hate them. Let's take a call.
Caller: Hi, I'd just like to say that Republicans are really stupid and mean.
Host: Interesting point, caller. I agree. In addition. They are not very bright or nice.
Caller: I really hate them.
Host: Thanks for that great call! Next caller...
Let them get their stations, while we plan on buying out at least two of the free networks and they sink slowing down the tubes for lack of audience.
Hillary's
Elitest
Loser
Liberal Network
Actually, the "agenda" has been set by the following:
- government-loving politicians of both parties: LIBERAL
- major media, both news and entertainment: LIBERAL
- public schools: LIBERAL
- universities and colleges: LIBERAL
Limbaugh, Liddy and the others have merely attempted to voice some kind of opposition to these entrenched systems and political values. In the bigger picture, they are mere lonely voices in the wilderness. The idea that they've "set the agenda" is laughable. But then, the pronouncements of liberals do tend to be something of a joke.
Michael Moore, whose film Bowling for Columbine has been nominated for an Oscar, has been mentioned as someone with a liberal agenda who is also funny and can hold his own in an argument.
(Yawn) Yeah, this'll go over real big...
How many dead ad spots do Ben & Jerry's and Snapple want to flush down the toilet?
KTRD
KCRP
Rush gave an excellent example today. How can they parody the likes of Brokaw, Jennings etc, like Rush can? (They have the same message)
"Two previous attempts to launch such a network, featuring the former New York governor Mario Cuomo and the maverick Texas politician Jim Hightower, failed, though those behind the latest plan are optimistic they will find listeners."
A word to the wise. Don't invest any capital in this venture.
Notice they didn't say popularity. LOL!
Conservatives go to talk radio for information that they can check out and think about.
Liberals might go to talk radio for emotionally charged topics.
They wouldn't be competing with us, they would be competing with Oprah!
What are you listening too, there, Al?
I'm listening to Hillary on K-TURD.
What did I miss?!?! Is PBS off the air and going back on in autumn? Apparently none of the liberal shows are liberal?!?
CONSERVATIVE.... Conservatives listen to the Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz, Lee Rodgers, Melanie Morgan, Matt Drudge, Roger Hedgecock, Ken Hamblin, GG Liddy, Alan Keyes, Oliver North, Mike Reagan, and many more on talk radio.
WENR
WIMP
All Clinton. All the time.
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