Posted on 01/12/2005 4:25:23 AM PST by truthteller9000
WKVT-AM 1490 in Brattleboro will replace four of its weekday syndicated conservative talk shows on Jan. 17 with programs from the fledgling liberal radio network Air America, which launched in March.
The station will be the second in Vermont to broadcast Air America programs, which include shows hosted by comedian Al Franken and actress Jeanne Garofalo.
The Brattleboro area is highly liberal in its political beliefs and the Air America shows will be a better fit for the station's listeners than the conservative programs hosted by Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, said WKVT program director Peter Case.
"We're calling this a right-to-left switch," he said. "For many years, our programming leaned to the right, but Brattleboro is a very liberal area and our lineup had to reflect that."
Added to WKVT's lineup Monday will be "Unfiltered," hosted by Rachel Maddow, Lizz Winstead and Chuck D; the "Al Franken Show;" the "Randi Rhodes Show;" and the "Majority Report," hosted by Garofalo and Sam Seider.
The Air America programs will replace daily radio shows hosted by Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Howie Carr and Joy Brown, Case said.
"This is the 'clearing the air' campaign," Case said. "These new shows will be a better fit for the area."
(more at the link)
From The Washington Post...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49905-2004Dec8.html
Air America Landing In Washington D.C.
(Al Franken and several other AAR hosts will be broadcasting LIVE from the inauguration) Air America, the liberal radio network that had a rocky takeoff last spring, has struck a deal to land in Washington.
The arrangement with WRC-AM comes as the fledgling network is gaining altitude, announcing yesterday that it has re-signed star personality Al Franken to a multiyear contract, raised $13 million in new financing and named Rob Glaser, chief executive of RealNetworks, as its chairman.
From The Cincinnati Post...
http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/11/broad011105.html
Galvin to be Springer's sidekick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Springer will have a sidekick when his local talk show debuts at 9 a.m. Monday on Cincinnati's new liberal talk radio station being launched by Clear Channel. He is Gene Galvin, teacher, writer, longtime worker for the Democratic Party, former talk host on WDBZ-AM (1230) and a 35-year buddy of Springer's.
"We started hanging out in 1970 along with our wives," Galvin said about working with Springer. "I'm excited on a personal level; our chemistry is pretty good."
Starting Monday, what is now WSAI-AM (1530) will drop its oldies format picking up the frequency's historical call letters of WCKY-AM (The WSAI letters will go back to 1360, which is now known as the "Sports Animal/Homer").
The new liberal talker will be known as "1530 WCKY: The Revolution in Talk Radio."
The Springer/Galvin show will be the only local component on the station, which will air a heavy dose of programming from Air America, the national liberal talk radio network that came on the air last April, including Al Franken (noon-3 p.m.) and Randi Rhodes (6-10 p.m.).
The station will anchor its afternoon drive with Ed Schultz, perhaps the hottest liberal talk show in the country. His North Dakota-based brand of heartland populism is getting even more attention this week since he debuts on a Washington, D.C., station -- his first major market -- with his barely year-old syndicated show.
Galvin, who played a wonderfully flaming liberal talk host on WDBZ in the evenings a couple years ago, says Springer will be the star of this show. But he admits to being thrilled that a full-time liberal radio talk format is a dream come true for this market.
"It's great for what we think is the 40 percent of this town that think the way Springer and I think," he said.
The new role as Springer sidekick will cause Gene to leave, "Those Stupid Galvins," the long running radio show he has co-hosted on 10 p.m. Sundays on WVXU-FM with brother Jerry.
Said Jerry, a former columnist for The Post, "I'll somehow manage to continue without him"
And Al Franken has stated that they'll soon be on in Detroit, apparently. Your thoughts?
Why?
Welcome to the forum. Big fan of Al Franken's?
Where are my manners? I am sorry, welcome to FR.
Thank you for this extremely exciting news about curing insomnia, and welcome to Free Republic.
i thought that these guys flopped? sounds like they are gaining traction
Am I supposed to be pissed about this?
Some AM station in a highly liberal area wants to play liberal propaganda?? I'm SHOCKED!!!
Other traditionally liberal markets will be braodcasting as well? OMG - The sky is falling!!
BTW - Welcome to FR - if this was an agitation post, I hope you enjoy the smell of ozone - if it was informative - enjoy your stay . . .
I think "in traction" is probably a more accurate description of Err Amerika.
Let's see if the new programming can make it in ratings and revenue generation. That's where the rubber meets the road.
Sounds like a big business mistake to me.
On Drudge now:
'AIR AMERICA' RATINGS TURBULENCE IN NY CITY: Surprising many observers who expected it to shine during election season, all-liberal upstart WLIB (1190 AM) -- base station for Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo -- actually headed south, shedding 15% of its summer audience to finish fall at 24th place in just-released ARBITRONS
The ratings are weak, but no worse than other weak stations. Also, it could be that the sugar daddies know that they need something like this in place for a few years before it gets credibility. Also, they get to practice.
However, most liberals, and conservatives who want to keep up with such things, will listen to NPR, which has real radio people, instead of recycled comedians.
Welcome. If you'd like your first and only post (on your first day) to be viewed as legitimate, I suggest you share some insight on this thread you started (as opposed to the hit 'n run tactic so often used by...)
Do you wanna bet that the Brattleboro station is either owned by libs or is being dumped by Limbaugh for a stronger station, and decided to change formats?
Everytime Air America gets a slot somewhere, its portrayed as the death of right-wing media. But you never hear about the close-down (due to lack of advertising) six months later.
Anyway, where are my manners? Welcome to Free Republic!Thanks for posting this - always good to see what's going on in the media.
WCKY. I dont know who picked those call letters , but they are perfect for a liberal talk show. WCKY Whacky radio.
OK, you tell us right now! What have you done with truthteller1000-truthteller8000! You spill the beans, and you spill'em right now!
they're on in Boulder...Mike Rosen said they essentially give it away, and the ad revenues go to the station. The previous format was a consistent money-loser. Why would a successful program need to raise new money?
...or "WCKY rhymes with icky..."
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