Dead Air (America)

Human Events ^ | 04/25/05 | Pat Sajak

[smoothsailing]

Dead Air (America)

by Pat Sajak

Posted Apr 25, 2005

Air America, the much-ballyhooed Liberal radio alternative to Rush and Sean and all the other Righties who are successfully dominating our airwaves, doesn't appear to be gaining much traction. It's on the air in only about 50 markets and, even in the "blue" states, its ratings are generally paltry despite reams of free publicity and plenty of financial backers who want this enterprise to succeed. Meantime, Bill Bennett, former Drug Czar and Education Secretary, can be heard in over 100 markets, with a show that launched about the same time as Air America with virtually no mainstream press notice.

How do these things happen? Isn't AA's Al Franken at least as funny as Bill Bennett? (Although, to tell you the truth, when Al was part of the team of Franken & Davis on Saturday Night Live, I wondered how a comedy duo could survive with two straight men.) Don't Liberals listen to the radio? Why isn't anybody out there?

As someone who has been involved in a TV project or two which went largely unnoticed, I think I can answer the question. Conservative radio succeeds, in great measure, because a major segment of the population perceives a need for it. There is no need for mass media with a Liberal slant, because it is already all around us. When I did a late-night talk show on CBS more than 15 years ago, we modeled it after Johnny Carson's show on the supposition that he was about to retire. He didn't, and people went right on watching him. Heck, I watched him. Putting aside any talent deficiencies I might have had, there was no need for Pat Sajak when Johnny Carson was there.

If history had been different and the media centers of the country had been located in Nebraska and Georgia instead of New York and California, they would likely have taken on a more Conservative look over the years.

Liberals would have been screaming about the lack of balance when it came to coverage of news, politics and social issues. In that atmosphere, a dozen Air America-type programs would have sprung up by now, and Conservatives would be bemoaning their success and looking for alternatives. If Rush Limbaugh went on the air in that "alternate universe," he might very well have failed. Who would have needed him? Conservative thought would have already controlled most of what we were watching, reading and hearing.

In short, what Air America is selling is available in too many other places. It's the same dynamic that made a success of Fox News Channel and a failure of Phil Donahue's attempted comeback on cable TV a few years ago. What will eventually kill Air America is its redundancy.

Copyright © 2004 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.

[raccoonradio]

It's a shame when they displaced GOOD radio stations with the Air America format. Listeners of "music of your life" WXKS in Boston were given Al Franken instead. The classic country sounds of KYCW in Seattle now feature Scare America instead. Oldies, "standards", country, _conservative talk_ (hello, WKVT in Vt.)...all displaced by liberal hate radio.

[GOPJ]

Meantime, Bill Bennett, former Drug Czar and Education Secretary, can be heard in over 100 markets, with a show that launched about the same time as Air America with virtually no mainstream press notice.

No HBO special? NO breathless interviews? No endless free press? I'm shocked I tell you. Shocked.

A double standard is no standard.

[Fido969]

The'll keep trying, though, different formats, different personalities - they aren't giving up on this yet.


http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050422/dcf036.html?.v=6

[Vision Thing]

Libs are either hostile to or ignorant of market-economy theories. Otherwise, they'd know the basics of supply and demand.

Right now, there is an oversupply of liberal media. As a result, those who demand it are more than satisfied. It's why Air America is not doing so well.

If the founders of Air America had any clue about market economies, they'd know that their product would be hard to sell in the current marketplace.

[GOPJ]

Air America, the much-ballyhooed Liberal radio alternative to Rush and Sean ...

Speaking of Rush and Sean, the libs have changed their M.O.

Now instead of saying, "I've been a Republican for my whole life" and then going on to trash everything conservative, they've changed tactics.

Now the liberal trolls call and say, "I really like you, you're wonderful, and normally I agree with 100% of everything you say, BUT THIS ONE TIME IT'S DIFFERENT". Then they go on to bash Bush, all conservatives, etc. Do our guys check out their screeners before they hire them? The percentage of trolls to real people is getting waaaaaaaayyyyy too high.

Liberals have two options - they can compete with us fairly, or they can cheat. Take a guess ?

[joesbucks]

Bennett does have a built in advantage. HE is airing in many cases on stations owned by his syndicator, Salem Media. Kind of tough if your own company didn't air you. To the best of my knowledge, Jones owns no stations.

I'm not saying based on content. I'm saying based on commercial appeal.

[GOPJ]

not to mention the fact that there is already a left-leaning radio station out there: NPR.

Radio "station"? More like network - NPR is in every radio market in the United States, and it's paid for, in part, with your tax dollars. Isn't that special?

[L.N. Smithee]

When I did a late-night talk show on CBS more than 15 years ago, we modeled it after Johnny Carson's show on the supposition that he was about to retire. He didn't, and people went right on watching him. Heck, I watched him. Putting aside any talent deficiencies I might have had, there was no need for Pat Sajak when Johnny Carson was there.

We all have Pat Sajak to thank for having a show on which Rush Limbaugh made his first national appearance. He was a guest host while Sajak was either off or on hiatus, and the Gay-stapo caught wind of it, and a bunch of disruptors in the studio audience caused such a clamor that Rush finished the show before empty seats; the producers had to clear them out.

It was after this appearance that I heard of Rush for the first time, ironically, while listening to the Larry King late-night radio show! King had never heard of Limbaugh, and when the caller related what happened, he also predicted that King would be displaced as the king of radio by Rush. And it came to pass.

[GOPJ]

BINGO -- Liberal radio is "subsidized" radio - on a level playing field, liberals always lose:

What is killing AA is WHAT IT IS, not redundancy. Liberal talk radio has failed so many times, you would think the writer would have noted that. Radio succeeds when its advertisers make money from the audience. That is why they have never been able to attract and hold mainstream advertisers. Most marketing people are smart enough to know their markets and they know the sector of our society that needs to be fed liberal anti-truths. They are not interested in that sector.

[katana]

To be fair, they also did one of the funnier bits on SNL. It was a series of back and forth (progressively more) negative political ads between two candidates. It aired around thirty years ago and I believe that was the last time Franken was involved in anything remotely funny and/or entertaining.

[katana]

To be fair, they also did one of the funnier bits on SNL. It was a series of back and forth (progressively more) negative political ads between two candidates. It aired around thirty years ago and I believe that was the last time Franken was involved in anything remotely funny and/or entertaining.

[raccoonradio]

Tagliani vs. Adcock...one of them gets shot in the end. I think Adcock (Davis) is accused of being drunk and he is shown in an ad, intoxication. "Now, I have here....(slurring his words)...solid evidence..."

[GOPJ]

Right now, there is an oversupply of liberal media. As a result, those who demand it are more than satisfied. It's why Air America is not doing so well.

I suspect that, like dried up old dog poop, real "demand" for any liberal media is low.

Knock out the artificial supports on most of it and ya got nothin'.

[raccoonradio]

And here are some of the descriptions for PRO-Air America groups on yahoo. Made me laugh:

1 air_america_sucks
6 Members, Archives: Public
After a year, why can't Air America and "progressive radio" get more than blips in the ratings? Can Al Franken unseat Rush Limbaugh? Don't hold your breath. "In 5 years we'll be on 600 stations"--Jon Sinton, Air America radio

Air_America_Radio

This group will be used as a forum to discuss Air America radio, its on-air personalities, guests, and content. The network went on the air on March 31, 2004, and promotes a progressive and humorous agenda. Among its hosts are: Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Lizz Winstead, and Chuck D, as well as the great Randi Rhodes.

(humorous??)

Air_America_Rising

This group will be established to support the rise in Progressive Radio and to bring attention to the writings and speeches of Progressive and Liberal Pundits. Its time for Progressives and Liberals to make their voice heard. You are invited to share your thoughts about Air America Radio, its hosts and the content of its shows.

Air_America

This is a discussion group regarding Air America Radio. Are you one of the growing number of people who love to listen to Air America Radio? If you are... come on in and join the discussion. There is no waiting, so members can subscribe and unscribe as they wish. NO CONSERVATIVES!­!! This group is for people who enjoy Air America Radio. Trouble makers will be eliminated from the group. To avoid the problem of spam and possible trouble makers, initial posts will be moderated.

(freedom of speech--for liberals!)

Air_America_Radio_in_San_Francisco_Bay_Area

A group to discuss the liberal views presented on Air America Radio. I would also like to (eventually) organize rallies and gatherings in San Francisco to support our views and the __only liberal station on the air__.

(Evidently your radio can't pick up NPR)

LeftWingRadicals

NO rightwing garbage! Get lost, losers! This is a sanctuary from the b.s. rightwing Nazi noise machine!!! Join and post if you are a leftwinger, or even if you are an independent or whatever else...NO RIGHTWINGERS! Go back to freeperville, dorkos. NO FLAME WARS! You people have plenty of other places to go and be stupid! Also, make use of the LINKS section! Tons of great stuff, like links to how to listen to LIBERAL talk radio like Randi Rhodes & other Air America shows (Al Franken, Majority ...(

>>b.s. rightwing Nazi noise machine

Er, Nazi is short for National SOCIALIST

>>Go back to freeperville, dorkos
No, YOU go back to DUmmyland.

[raccoonradio]

oops--ignore the first one, which is ANTI-air america :)

[AFPhys]

IF the libs succeed in reinstating the UN"fairness doctrine", AM radio will revert to gardening shows, and Internet radio feeds of Rush and Hannity will skyrocket.

[wbill]

Air America is failing? Who wouldn't want to listen to its witty reparte?

Franken: "Let's take some calls.....You're on the air."

Caller: "I'd just like to say that George Bush SUCKS!"

Franken: "You are sooooooo right. Next Caller, please"

Caller: "Umm, I'd like to say that I think George W. Bush sucks, too."

Franken: "Great point, worth restating. Next caller?"

Caller: "Um, I just called in a second ago, that whole Bush sucking comment? Well, I forgot to say that I think he's dumb, too...."

Franken: "Cogent point. Let's explore this whole 'Bush is stupid' topic after a commercial."

.....And so on.

[dangus]

>> Then a child runs out of the audience and screams at Franken, "I hate you, daddy!" <<

It could be taken as satire on the excesses of liberal blame-shifting: The child is innately horrified, and he blames conservatives for his own daughter's words.

[motzman]

To be fair, they also did one of the funnier bits on SNL. It was a series of back and forth (progressively more) negative political ads between two candidates. It aired around thirty years ago and I believe that was the last time Franken was involved in anything remotely funny and/or entertaining.

It's the ONLY thing I've ever seen that hump Franken do that even somewhat funny.

I found it funny that Davis was accusing Franken ("Pete Tagliani") of being a homosexual, with a picture of Franken talking to another man while using a urinal.

I found it funny because I was about 9 years old at the time.

[eric_da_grate]

Transcript of any given Randi Rhodes show:

And this:

"Uhhh....it's...it's just so amazing to me. YouknowwhatImean?"