Liberal-Leaning Radio Network Planned

AP | 2/18/03 | WILL LESTER

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON, Feb 18, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A group planning a liberal-leaning radio network says the idea hasn't caught on in previous attempts because it wasn't marketed properly and wasn't entertaining enough.

Now venture capitalists from Chicago and an Atlanta radio executive are behind an effort to start just such a radio network that would offer an alternative to conservative talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh.

"We believe this is a tremendous business opportunity," Atlanta radio executive Jon Sinton said Monday. Sinton, who would be the network's chief executive, added, "There are so many right-wing talk shows, we think it's created a hole in the market you could drive a truck through."

The group, led by Anita Drobny, consists of investors who have financially supported Democratic candidates. Hoping to start the network by this fall, they are talking with comedian and author Al Franken about working with the network and hope to attract other entertainers and political guests.

Their group will be called AnShell Media L.L.C. and they are initially investing $10 million while hoping for assistance from like-minded entrepreneurs.

Sinton said those who lean to the right are great at haranguing Bill and Hillary Clinton, but those who lean left have better connections to the entertainment world in Hollywood and New York.

"We want to take an issue and make it funny and engaging," he said. "Our intent is to engage and entertain as a way to enlighten, engage in skit comedy, parody, political satire."

Sinton said earlier programs have failed because they were placed in time slots between more conservative programming and weren't entertaining enough. Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo also tried his hand at a liberal-oriented talk show.

Sinton said he's confident he can come up with solid content for his network.

"My business strategy is that there are underperforming radio stations in all the markets. These underperforming stations are looking for a compelling broadcast day," he said.

While questions have been raised about who could be host on a liberal talk show, the bigger question may be the difficulty of mobilizing an audience for such a show.

A sign of the liberal dilemma is the code word that they like to use to describe themselves these days - "progressive" - which allows them to avoid the word "liberal," which has become almost an epithet when used by conservative politicians and pundits.

"Part of the impetus for this angry conservative bent of talk radio is the notion that the press is unfair, that it's part of a liberal establishment conspiracy," said Tom Rosenstiel, director for the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

"Progressives historically don't run in a pack," Rosenstiel added. "There's a kind of independent streak to the left wing in America that there isn't in the right wing."

Communications specialist Kathleen Hall Jamieson, who was involved in a study of talk radio in the mid 1990s, said the conservative radio audience is easier to mobilize because it is more likely to see liberals as very distant from their own views. And there are more people in polls who identify themselves as conservative than identify themselves as liberal.

"The search for the liberal equivalent of Rush Limbaugh may be misunderstanding how Limbaugh starts from a natural advantage," said Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. "His audience is already polarized. The liberals don't need a host, they need a different audience."

By WILL LESTER Associated Press Writer

[InShanghai]

Ah, what the heck? Let's see if they can shoot themselves in the foot with this one too!

[Rainbow Rising]

"Progressives historically don't run in a pack," Rosenstiel added. "There's a kind of independent streak to the left wing in America that there isn't in the right wing."

Yeah, liberals are so independent. I guess it's just a coincidence that they all just happen to come up with the exact same talking points whenever it's time to debate an issue.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"There are so many right-wing talk shows, we think it's created a hole in the market you could drive a truck through."

Or...could it be there are so many "right-wing" talk shows because this is what the marketplace demands?

[Calico Cat]

I'm wondering who the advertisers will be. Why do advertisers shell out dollars to buy radio ad-time? To attract customers. Who are the big-ticket advertisers that radio seeks to attract? Why, those who are trying to sell to people with jobs and discretionary income. Who are the radio listeners with jobs and significant discretionary income? CONSERVATIVES--at least, those who are fiscally conservative. Why would an automobile dealership, for example, buy ad time on a radio talk show that deplores the American system that enables them to stay in business? Who's going to take out ads on a liberal talk-show--non-profits? Head shops? A hemp emporium? Yeah, lots of money THERE.

[KaiserofKrunch]

This represents total panic. The left has the traditional media in a lock that would make Dr. Goebbels proud. So what happens?, the vast market of centrist and right leaning media consumers is shut out, ignored. When these message consumers finally get a quality product (in this case the TRUTH), it is snapped up with abandon.

Why do the socialists need more airtime if they already control the bulk of the important media outlets? I would posit that their market segment is presently OVER served.

Though the right has only made small gains in traditional broadcast parity, it has an extremely salient message-an essentially American one. In addition, nontraditional outlets like the Internet have helped destroy the socialists' monopoly on discourse.

The left's problem is not that their message is failing to get out, or that it isn't packaged as well as Hannity, Rush, "The G-Man," or others. The left is failing because their programming is BAD--akin to "My Mother The Car."

[goldstategop]

That's the LIBERAL theory of Rush Limbaugh's success. Just fool the audience and you'll rake in millions. Actually that's how liberals think of their lessers: how can we fool them now? viz substituting the "progressive" for the "liberal" label. For them its about slick marketing and PR, not telling the truth to their audience. Nope, they don't get and never will why Rush has 20 million listeners and that dooms the emergence of a liberal Rush Limbaugh long before this liberal radio network ever gets off the ground. Oh and it speaks volumes about liberals' desperation and inability to connect with the average American that despite their control of the Big Three and CNN and taxpayer funded National Public Radio that they feel besieged. What they don't get is collectivism just doesn't sell in America and what the heck they won't take my advice so its gonna be fun to watch them piss millions down the drain spoon-feeding their arrogance to us poor plebs. At the end of the day they'll be no wiser than they are now.

[rightofrush]

The target audience is watching soaps, "reality" tv, Jerry Springer, and nature shows.

The great liberal unwashed does not want to be bothered ideas that reqire cogitation for assymilation. Their attempts will be fun to watch.

[johnny7]

... they like to use to describe themselves these days - "progressive"

“Progressive” is not another term for liberal... it means socialist.

[driftless]

I don't know, he might have a point. I suspect that many liberals are too busy sucking on their bongs or ingesting other mind-altering/destroying substances to pay attention to political programs (ha,ha). Think Ozzie Osbourne.

[driftless]

Similar to people who can't read books without pictures.

[laredo44]

"Progressives historically don't run in a pack," Rosenstiel added. "There's a kind of independent streak to the left wing in America that there isn't in the right wing."

Well, of course. Communism and socialism have always been about the triumph of the individual over the state.

[swilhelm73]

[i]Progressives historically don't run in a pack," Rosenstiel added. "There's a kind of independent streak to the left wing in America that there isn't in the right wing. [/i]

What a load of crap. Sure the people who've brought us speech codes, political correctness, and the united front are independent minded.

Leftwing radio shows don't work because they've got almost all of the major newspapers and TV news departments. Rightwing talk radio works so well because where else can one go to get non-leftwing news and discussion?

And BTW, 'Rage Against the Machine' is their old name...they are now 'Rage Against my Daddy's Trust Fund.' ;)

[zygoat]

"Progressives historically don't run in a pack" I must disagree with this author, They were in a pack when they vandalised stores in San Francisco, they were in pack mode in New York, and many other cities. I have seen pink for peace packs,naked skank packs,pointy headed french packs,not in our name packs, and the new Hollywood RAT pack.In fact, they frequently overestimate the size of their packs in an attempt to look like a LARGER pack! Too bad they don't all pack up and go join the human shield pack.Or move to Pakistan.

[goldstategop]

Or join Cretin in Canada :)

[Man of the Right]

Daytime radio listeners are predominately working people and small business owners. These are the people screwed by the left. I hope the two fools take the enterprise public so I can short the stock.

[Cuttnhorse]

I look forward to this scheme...what a hoot. I keep saying the more the goofy left is in the spotlight the better it is for conservatives. This will go on and attract the curious for a few months then will fail and will require life-support from the Hollyweird types.

It should be good theater with everyone knowing the ending before it starts.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Liberals will dump complex issues into the blender of idiocy, add a dash of delusional self-righteousness, and spoon out the pablum of stupidity to feed the lowest common denominator that comprises their slack-jawed zombie followers.

Oh, they are going to use the television model.

[goldstategop]

Make it such that people can stay angry at the world for the rest of their lives. Good luck to the sponsors for trying to get that line of infotainment to work.

[Lion's Cub]

This is really good news! I enjoy watching these dimwits lose money :)

[Hamilton2]

Billy Bob Clinton must just LOVE it when he says something stupid, and the press picks it up and runs with it.

To say the reason the libs don't get their message out is becuz they don't have a liberal radio talk show is ludicrous...the libs have ABC, NBC and CBS as well as NPR. What Clinton is trying to do is take the heat off himself........HE IS THE REASON THE LIBERALS DON'T HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY. HE IS THE REASON WE HAD 9/11....HE IS THE ONE WHO BASTARDIZED THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM BY GIVING ALL THOSE PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS..... HE IS THE ONE WHO IS THE POSTER BOY FOR THE LIBERALS AND THE PICTURE IS AN UGLY ONE. It was his behavior that became sooo bad that even the liberal press couldn't put a good spin on it. Let's keep the focus where it belongs and that is on CLINTON.

I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't coaching France and Germany right now, the slug.