The only reason CC had AA in the first place is to keep the Feds off of their backs. They really gave AA a chance. I don't see how they can afford to run.
Exactly--keep the feds from bringing back the (Un)Fairness doctrine...
This thread on a radio discussion board has an interesting post:
http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,41332.msg278348.html#msg278348
on it, "fredflintstone" says:
"The article points out WCKY has shown declining numbers since it launched a year and a half ago and "The Homer" has shown consistent growth...Apparently, Parks has not figured out that Jerry is a big part of the problem - the problem with numbers and the problem with shrillness...Sports talk also avoids the challenge facing ALL political talk radio - major advertisers who do not want to seem associated with controversy and who will not buy political talk radio.
...If a progressive talk station is not performing well, CC execs (like radio suits everywhere) will look elsewhere to place blame: Progressive talk is not right for the market. The format has peaked. AAR's product is shrill."
I might add that when a show gets great numbers, advertisers may overlook the "controversy" factor. (See Stern, Howard--for a diff. type of "controversy", among others)