An interesting debate over the recent Center for American Progress report concerning conservative dominance on the radio transpired on Thursday’s “Tucker” when the moderately conservative Michael Smerconish, acting as guest host, took on liberal radio’s Ed Schultz.
The discussion ended up being a classic battle between a capitalist who believes that free market forces are determining programming on the radio dial and a leftist who feels ownership is to blame for the scarcity of liberal talk shows.
In fact, Schultz actually was rather hypocritical in his position as demonstrated by the following (video available here):
It‘s the old concept, Michael, when you are in business and you make a product and you have a product and it‘s successful, what do you do? You make more of it…But I take issue with those in the industry that say liberals can‘t talk and can‘t be entertaining and can‘t do commerce.
When we started in January of 2004, we started on two stations and 500 people listening on the Internet. We have grown to 100 stations. It‘s all about ratings. It‘s all about revenue. And you have to show a consistent growing audience. Now, we have been able to do that.
The point being here is you have to be able to sell advertising. You have to be able to hold an audience.
Makes sense, right? Yet, Schultz quickly changed his tune:
SMERCONISH: I am all for what you are saying. You are giving me the free market pitch. Look, I wish there were more - I wish there were more - - I‘ve got to say this. I wish there were more classic rock on the radio. But I don‘t think the government should get involved to give me more Led Zeppelin and Yes.
SCHULTZ: Well, wait a second now. When you are talking about the spoken word, it influences a lot of people and it influences election in this country. There is no question. We are talking about market opportunities. Right now the liberal progressive format in this country—we are all fighting over the same 100 stations. Michael, I offer to you that ownership is an issue.
There are conservative broadcast companies in this country that do not broadcast one single second of liberal talk radio.
SMERCONISH: But Ed, I have to tell you something—
(CROSS TALK)
SMERCONISH: CBS would fire me in the morning and replace me with a communist if that communist would get them more revenue. It‘s all about the scratch.
SCHULTZ: That‘s not true. Michael, that is not true.
Interesting change of heart, wouldn’t you agree? At first, Schultz was saying the success of his show was “all about ratings,” “all about revenue,” and how “you have to be able to sell advertising” as well as "show a consistent growing audience."
But, the reason there aren’t more shows like his is because “conservative broadcast companies in this country…do not broadcast one single second of liberal talk radio.”
What a crock.
A partial transcript of this segment follows.
MICHAEL SMERCONISH, GUEST HOST: I‘m Michael Smerconish, in for Tucker. I am a talk show host based in Philadelphia. And my guest is Ed Schultz. He‘s a nationally syndicated talk show host. And we‘ve got something else in common; we were both mentioned in a new study by the Center for American Progress and Free Press. That group asserted that talk radio, our domain, is dominated by conservatives. And they want the government to do something about it.
These folks say that more regulation of the air waves would create more balance, that more diverse ownership and less consolidation in the radio business would balance radio politics. Me, I don‘t deny conservative dominance. I just think that the research is flawed.
Ed, here is my question. I am a pro choice guy. I am in favor of an Iraq exit timetable. And when it comes to same sex couples, I have a live and let live mentality. So ideologically, what does that make me?
ED SCHULTZ, LIBERAL RADIO HOST: Well the question is, are you entertaining? Yes. Do you have good commentary or do you have good content? Do you have good guests on the air? You have to have a lot of different elements to have a good radio show. I think that when Limbaugh started, he had a lot of success, opened the door for a lot of others.
It‘s the old concept, Michael, when you are in business and you make a product and you have a product and it‘s successful, what do you do? You make more of it. I don‘t think there is any doubt that he paved the way for a lot of conservative talkers. And the industry evolved to what it is today. But I take issue with those in the industry that say liberals can‘t talk and can‘t be entertaining and can‘t do commerce.
When we started in January of 2004, we started on two stations and 500 people listening on the Internet. We have grown to 100 stations. It‘s all about ratings. It‘s all about revenue. And you have to show a consistent growing audience. Now, we have been able to do that.
The point being here is you have to be able to sell advertising. You have to be able to hold an audience.
(CROSS TALK)
SMERCONISH: I agree with you. My beef, and maybe it was too much inside baseball, I just think they were too loose with these labels. I get lumped in as a conservative. And here‘s another sort of thorn in my side, you are a progressive. What am I? A regressive. I am for regressive policies. I love how it‘s no longer liberal, it‘s progressive. It‘s not a trash man, it‘s a sanitation engineer.
SCHULTZ: You know, I think the talk radio industry is right now a little confused and searching for identity, because the country basically has shifted on a lot of different key issues. We are at a philosophical cross roads in America on how we feel about health care, how we feel about, how we feel about foreign policy, taxes, the economy, foreign debt, all of these things.
So to take a label and put it on a talk show host right now is pretty dangerous. The question is, does the talk show host get ratings? Does the talk show host sell advertising?
SMERCONISH: I am all for what you are saying. You are giving me the free market pitch. Look, I wish there were more - I wish there were more - - I‘ve got to say this. I wish there were more classic rock on the radio. But I don‘t think the government should get involved to give me more Led Zeppelin and Yes.
SCHULTZ: Well, wait a second now. When you are talking about the spoken word, it influences a lot of people and it influences election in this country. There is no question. We are talking about market opportunities. Right now the liberal progressive format in this country—we are all fighting over the same 100 stations. Michael, I offer to you that ownership is an issue.
There are conservative broadcast companies in this country that do not broadcast one single second of liberal talk radio.
SMERCONISH: But Ed, I have to tell you something—
(CROSS TALK)
SMERCONISH: CBS would fire me in the morning and replace me with a communist if that communist would get them more revenue. It‘s all about the scratch.
SCHULTZ: That‘s not true. Michael, that is not true. I have got one of the top talk shows in Seattle, and I am only on one station in the country with Infinity. That‘s not true. We are not being given the fair market opportunity.
SMERCONISH: I just don‘t see it that way. I think it‘s totally demand driven. And if were there a demand for whatever the program happened to be, believe me, they would put it on the air, because all they want to do is sell advertising and there is nothing wrong with that.
SCHULTZ: You know, Michael that‘s almost insulting me. I beat Sean Hannity in Denver. I beat him in Seattle. I beat him in Portland. I beat in San Diego. How many markets do I have to beat Hannity in before I get 200 or 300 stations? It‘s an ownership issue. Salem Radio, Infinity does one, ABC owns Hannity. It comes down to ownership. Actually, Clear Channel has been better than any of them.
The fact is, it‘s market opportunities and liberal talkers, progressive talkers are being held to a totally different standard than conservatives.
SMERCONISH: I respectfully disagree. But I am thrilled to have you in here so folks get both sides. I‘m a free market guy, and I think, if the market demands it, you will be everywhere, including in Philly. Thank you for being here.
SCHULTZ: Well, thank you. You bet.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
First comment
June 23, 2007 - 20:46 ET by E4PukeSo the government must intervene and endorse liberal speach? Wow great one.
I've heard this argument a
June 23, 2007 - 22:01 ET by BacchusI've heard this argument a whole different way. Liberal talk radio hosts, like Schultz, are competing with the rest of their liberal media for audience-share.
Got that? He's not competing with conservative talk radio hosts for audience. Conservatives flock to talk radio because they can't get conservative news reliably anywhere else. That's why conservative talk radio sells well to advertisers and liberal talk radio doesn't. We're surrounded with left-leaning news in newspapers, magazines, and on TV. What more do these libs want? Cry me a river, Schultz!
So the government must inte
June 23, 2007 - 22:09 ET by ArcherBThey already do. It's called NPR and it's run by PBS. Oh, and they thank you, the tax payer, for your support.
If you hamper the war effort of one side, you automatically help out that of the other. --George Orwell
Unless conservatives show t
June 24, 2007 - 05:21 ET by sarcasmoUnless conservatives show the moral character and courage to let the free market decide NOT just in the cases of PBS/NPR, but also in the case of the bloated, censorious, Constitutionally-challenged FCC, things are NOT gonna change. Getting rid of the government bias agencies of the left will not be enough, we need to scrap the crap -- all of it -- if it's unConstitutional, whether it's the FCC and "decency" on the political right or the proposed forced speech wanted by the "fairness doctrine" left. Some of us see NO moral difference (see Bozell column for details).
JMR
ArcherB Says: They already
June 24, 2007 - 08:11 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsArcherB Says: They already do. It's called NPR and it's run by PBS.
Gotta love that pledge drive.
Here's how I deal with that.
Pick up phone and call PBS.
PBS: Hello, thank you for calling. Would you like to make a pledge today?
Me: Ummm, no, I'd like my money back please.
PBS: Excuse me?
Me: I'd like a refund please.
PBS: Ummm, I'm not sure what you mean. Did you make a pledge earlier and you want to cancel it?
Me: No, I want my tax dollars back. PBS is supported by my tax dollars and is supposed to reflect public sentiment and I feel it doesn't represent my sentiments so I want a refund.
PBS: I'm not sure I can help you.
Me: If you could just give me my money back, that would be a big help.
PBS: I'm going to hang up now.
D
Go here and here to let your reps know what you think about the shamnesty bill!
There's a lot of hate in them
June 25, 2007 - 01:48 ET by Andrew H.There's a lot of hate in them eyes, a whole lot of hate.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
I am so tickled this is on he
June 23, 2007 - 20:52 ET by bigtimerI am so tickled this is on here...I saw part of this so am looking forward to listening to all when I get done with a show and dinner.
I know very well who good ol' leftist Schultz is from his introduction to the world...presented as the leftist Rush Limbaugh on some shows who was going to become a smash for the left....
He is a smash alright....typical leftist...he will never get the numbers that Rush and some others do...
He is so far left he could hit the ground if his shadow made a sudden left turn.
BT
June 23, 2007 - 20:57 ET by Noel SheppardBT,
I'm pleased to make your Saturday better. Actually, this has been a great day for me as well, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful evening.
As you can see, for a change, I didn't spend my entire Saturday writing. I guess I needed a little break...and it felt goooooood.
About to head to dinner, maybe relax a little more. Gives one perspective. :-) ns
Over at Ankle Biting Pundit
June 24, 2007 - 06:39 ET by motherbeltOver at Ankle Biting Pundits there was a posting yesterday entitled
REPORT: The Right Wing Domination Of
Talk Radio And How To End It
From the Center for American Progress (what a shocker eh?) came this money quote:
The new report — entitled “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio” — raises serious questions about whether the companies licensed to broadcast over the public radio airwaves are serving the listening needs of all Americans. (emphasis mine).
Got that? Who cares what we want to listen to? They will decide what our "listening needs" are. (And serve to fulfill them, by the way).
In other words: shut up and eat your vegetables; they're good for you.
Air America got started with donations....couldn't make it in the free market, folded, came back thanks to more donations. It's just a glorified NPR; any day now they will have "pledge week" to keep going.
If they had decent programming, that people want to listen to, they would be getting support from advertisers, not donors.
And therein lies the difference between Liberal and Conservative talk radio.
So far left
June 23, 2007 - 20:58 ET by E4PukeHe makes me wish the world was flat, then he would have fell off the left side of it years ago.
The Liberals are making foo
June 23, 2007 - 23:25 ET by shawn228The Liberals are making fools out of themselves by trying to limit peopes free speech. The Ed Shultz show ain't so bad bigtimer. You are right and he is ultraleft but he is actualy enertaining. I would say out of popular Liberal Talk shows go, he would probably be the top along with Rachel Maddows. There listeners are dwarfed by Rushes but they have the highest Ratings out of Liberal talk shows. They have okay ratings because they are fun to listen to and light hearted instead full of hate like Al Franken, Randi Rhodes and Montana Lyons.
}}----> Audience as god
June 23, 2007 - 21:12 ET by Cool ArrowCain: "Hey God, why don't you accept my offerings to you?
God: "Cain, offer something that is pleasing to me like your brother Able does"
Moral: The Liberals can't make it on Talk Radio because they are not Able.
gov't media
June 23, 2007 - 21:35 ET by NortoBeliever
All I can think of is that they think they are "entitled" to success. Just like welfare, which I believe should be for only the very neediest(they are not entitled, but in need). Welfare should be scrapped as it now is delivered, and the government should now be deciding which media outlet is good for the people.
The market has decided already. Sakes alive, they won't admit it or agree with it, but they control a huge percentage of that market now. They can't win in an exchange of ideas, so they have to control the way their ideas are presented. Their ideology is wrong or they would not have to eliminate the opposition.
Shultze, like all liberals, w
June 23, 2007 - 21:47 ET by Dave RShultze, like all liberals, wants it both ways. If the free market works for him, then fine. However, if he perceives an imbalance, then the government must step in immediately and correct said imbalance. Otherwise, it woudn't be "fair."
Problem is, the broadcast and print media go on unhindered, biased as ever. I'm not hearing any complaining about that from lefties like Mr. Schultz, Hillary Clinton or Barbara Boxer.
Personally, I think that the (my apologies) piss-poor ratings for "progressive" talk radio actually reflect the true status of liberalism overall in this country. Talk radio is, to a certain extend, an interactive format. The TV and print media, in comparison, really aren't.
_______________________________________________________
If liberalism was as popular as many on the left want us to believe, then their radio programming should at least be as successful as that of conservatives-ignoring and discounting for a moment, the fact that most libs require pictures.
This is what I think really bothers them.
Yo, Dave R
June 23, 2007 - 22:06 ET by Cool ArrowAgree completely.
Can you imagine the wall to wall anecdotal sob story filler Liberal talk would have to throw.
A 24 hour Jerry Lewis telethon would be easier to listen to. Complete with local celebrities.
Oh, I forgot. PBS. "We'll get back to Yanni Rocks Red Rocks but first let's remember your pledge to support Hillaryous Health Care would heal every case of AIDS, Emphysema, Psirosis of the Liver, and many other diseases for which there is no known cause.
Once upon a time in Liberal Talk Radio
June 23, 2007 - 22:14 ET by Lame CherryMost people do not know the Ed Schultz I once watched on television in North Dakota shooting Sand Hill Cranes like a normal midwestern guy. I actually liked him as many people did.
Then a few years ago he started raising hell and jumped stations and the rest is basically history in people who have heard Schultz program in being uninformed and having on some of the most ignorant people on who surprisingly know how to dial phone.
I honestly don't know what happened to Ed, but if you watch another malevolent guy in the region named Tony Dean who claims he likes the outdoors, but runs ads for Senator Gun Grabber Tim Johnson (this is the democrat who had a brain malfunction and his staff keeps releasing press statements along with Tony Dean saying he is just fine, but is hid from the public as he is basically paralyzed on this right side, can not speak effectively and since he could vote from a wheelchair there is logical deduction he is not functioning normally.) All of these RINO or whatever Ed Schultz once was all seem to have a chip on their shoulders and taking it out on the world.
Olberman at MSNBC, I honestly do not think he is convinced of half of what he says. He just found out screaming about icon Limbaugh and O'Reilly makes him look like a star. Sort of like Kato living with OJ gave him fame. This Schultz brigade though considering where they came from speaks of a different psychopathy. I know of local people who are banned from "letters to the editor" from the oddball garbage they reprint from Moveon.org, so maybe this is Schutlz's problem.
He once was a likeable guy. Now he is just a bully being an ass. It would be nice if he would get back to his roots, but local Tony Dean is just as big an ass who seems to enjoy keeping the outdoors for himself and the rest of the world to watch him fishing walleyes.
That of course is what the globalist plans were. See while you people here were not caring about the original global warming scam of lead shot being banned for steel shot. You never bothered with the Russian Soviets buying up all the lead deposits in the world and the US government allowing it to happen. The end result has been the end of a generation of hunters who would be gun owners. That means no gun confiscation. It simply means guns and licenses out priced of the public reach. No Winchester, no guns means in the end no rights for America and it didn't happen by coincidence.
So that is the saga of Ed Schultz, he either sold out or went crazy in betraying the heritage of Teddy Roosevelt.
You never heard anyone passing laws when it was non stop Cronkite communism, but the effective mediums just like lead shot they come for first.....first it will be talk radio and the Conservative pulpit.....then it will be sites like Newsbusters in being shut down, especially blogs like this which points things out which not even Conservatives are bothering to look into.
*Oh good news America, South Dakota and West Viriginia just signed a reciprical concealed carry permit. There are 23 states now honoring other gun ownership states to protect citizens.....no thanks to Tony Dean or Ed Schultz.
This is Conservatives by God at work.
agtG
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Schultz's side of this "discu
June 23, 2007 - 22:20 ET by Sonny LykosSchultz's side of this "discussion" is just one of many preparations for when the Socialists in Congress do try (and probably succeed) in dampening conservative talk radio. We all gotta remember the Communist Goals of which one is to control the media, and all that's left of the media they don't control is talk radio and the Internet.
So over the next 1-3 years, expect the attacks to come hard, strong, and repeated, and in various deceitful, manipulative, and spinned ways.
Then, they'll come after text
June 24, 2007 - 01:07 ET by mattmThen, they'll come after text messaging, IM-ing and personal conversations over land-line phones.
OK OK you paragon of fact
June 23, 2007 - 23:50 ET by upcountrywaterOK OK you paragon of facts
Yup you are than bigger than Sean Hannity here in this BROADCAST zone of KAOI in the middle of Kucinich county . LMAO DUH
Oh and by the way I CAN HEAR YOU NOW !, KUZ you are broadcast here, in your totality ,what is it now MR. ED? NPR ish blatherings 3- 4 hours per day?! HINT: i change the dial to anyone else.. GET IT MR. ED
Liberals get TV, Conservati
June 24, 2007 - 01:27 ET by wiwfLiberals get TV, Conservatives get Radio. Where's the issue?
Oh riiiight, conservatives used capitalism to get where they are today, and liberals used terrorism to get to where they are.
If your beliefs aren't getting you enough attention, you don't need to change the system, you need to change your beliefs!
The fairness doctrine is just another example of how big gummit destroys the country.
AM Radio
June 24, 2007 - 10:39 ET by pbthinkerDoes anyone remember when AM radio was dead? When Rush Limbaugh first started, in 1988, there were few programs compelling listeners to use the AM dial on their radio. If Liberals had the foresight, at that time, that Conservatives did, things might have been different. Conservatives told the AM radio stations, "what have you got to lose, your ratings are down anyway, give us a shot" and they did.
Liberals can't survive a debate if there is any opposing opinion. Until Liberals can get people out there that can debate their ideas they will continue to be second rate, when it comes to talk radio. Air America doesn't debate, they trash Conservatives, not the way to "win" a debate.
I can remember when the great Mario had his own show. He was supposed to be the best the Democrats had to offer as far as expressing liberal ideals, his show failed. So, what this amounts to is they want it all so they don't have to explain their positions on the issues, since most of their positions are unexplainable.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
AM Radio
June 24, 2007 - 10:45 ET by Cool ArrowAM was pretty much abandoned. I remember Larry King late at night before he went under Ted Turner's desk.
Liberals don't have any ideas, they have a playbook.
June 24, 2007 - 10:46 ET by acaiguanaLiberals don't have any ideas, they have a playbook.
Their 'take' on issues always depends on distortion of the facts.
Pesky facts.
For example, their solution to Iraq is to cut and run. Can't be put any other way. Their solution to talk radio is to demand equal time, forget audience, making all radio unprofitable due to the lack of radio stations to justify dead air space.
They have no plans, other than to force human behavior change through legislation that cannot be enforced.
For example, the current standing immigration laws, according to Liberals, cannot be enforced.
So...
Why would I be stupid enough to believe a new law will be enforced?
This is where Republicans have lost their minds (leadership Republicans) because when I am told we cannot deport 12 million people under current rules and the last amnisty, then what is to cause me to believe a new amnisty and a new law will ever work?
Kinda makes me out to be really really really stupid.
Wouldn't ya think?
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Ed use to be a republican,
June 24, 2007 - 08:59 ET by charlietexasEd use to be a republican, till he married a liberal. then his hair fell out and he got wrinkles all over his face. Thats what the left does to you. He needs to get out from under the thumb of hypocrisy. Ed's dreaming about beating Hannity. I've never seen him listed in any ratings. Poor man.
Palm Beach County Radio
June 24, 2007 - 10:31 ET by pbthinkerI can't speak for the rest of the country, but I can speak for Palm Beach County. WJNO is the big talker in the county and was the original station that carried Randi Rhodes. Their line-up is Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, and Sean Hannity. SOunds like the liberals have their chance here, doesn't it?
Now, if there were really a free market, with no politics involved, someone would be putting Sean Hannity on at the same time as Randi Rhodes just to see who has the better ideas. To date, no station, with a signal as powerful as WJNO, has done that. WHY? My guess is politics and someone wanting to get Ms Rhodes on the air to provide another point of view. That isn't the free market that's politics.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
To pbthinker...putting Sean
June 24, 2007 - 16:33 ET by leeproTo pbthinker
Seems to me that there is no single station who has the capability to schedule two separate shows simultaneously.
WJNO
June 24, 2007 - 22:29 ET by pbthinkerThat's not exactly true. There are 3 stations, in this area, that could pull off a direct showdown between RR and Hannity, one in Palm Beach County, one in Broward and one in Dade. Two of them had Hannity on at 6.p.m. but he was preempted quite a bit for the Heat games.
To me, it's broadcasters making a decision that, even if they were to win, there would be people out there looking at the fairness doctrine, just because RR ended up losing.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Fairness doctrine? Give me a
June 24, 2007 - 11:22 ET by zfFairness doctrine? Give me a break, life isn't always fair. If it was, all basketball players would be able to play like Micheal Jordan, everyone would be as smart as Stephen Hawking, every writer would be as popular as J.K. Rowling and I'd look like Tom Cruise.
The reason that liberals don't work very well on talk radio is because they suck at it. Conservatives don't. On talk radio, Conservatives Equals Cash. And if lefties can't compete, too bleeping bad!
First, all the cities that SC
June 24, 2007 - 12:32 ET by drillanwrFirst, all the cities that SCHULTZ listed where he has the #1 show are NOT small markets, and are obviously liberal/democrat areas. Seems the guy was bitching he wasn't in a network that could peddle his show to more cities that are NOT interested.
The city where I live in NE Ohio has more than a handful of radio and TV stations. They claim to be "independents" (the local radio talk show hosts, AND the local news casters) but seem to spew the DNC/liberal talking points and gripes. While on they slam conservative talkers Rush and Savage (both of whom the bigger AM radio station carries) and Hannity (who they don't) when on air. Then it's BDS the rest of the time, when they aren't griping about local issues they can't seem to get a grip on (this area has been a democrat / union strangle-hold for generations ... dem presidential hopefuls roll in here, snuggle with union hounds, campaign, promise everything ... deliver NOTHING when in office. And don't get me started on the unions here ...)
Anyhow, I'm sure burger joints like Hardee's could make the same gripe that McDonalds gets too much business, and demand the government limit how much business McDonald's can take in, and mandate they close stores and replace them with Hardee's and alternate business days so sales could be "fair" ...
SCHULTZ and the like have NO head for business in this country, and how it's driven by the public by the product's quality, not quantity. I'm sure the "dollar stores" don't rake in as much money as K-Mart or Walmart ... but them's the breaks. Rush's ratings grow because he has a product there is a growing demand for.
Liberals don't listen to talk radio because everything they espouse and believe is reflected in all other media ... the MSM's news and entertainment programs, as stated most ALL PBS works, music radio via the jocks and the song material and its artists. Hollywood celebs and their movies. The newspapers and magazines ... If anyone has a monopoly (and yells free market when called on it) it's the liberals.
Unemployment, the markets, Wall Street, housing market, etc. ... ALL have been more than better than they were under the Clinton administration. But is it covered even half as stridently or vigorously during this administration (by the news medias) as it was crammed down our throats during Clinton ... "The economy's good ... It's the economy, stupid." ??? Does the MSM care to explain how/why it's not being covered as diligently under Bush?
Fairness? It's another case of liberals "not keeping score" in sports, or NOT celebrating academic excellence in the public schools because it makes the underachievers feel bad ...
BOO-FRACKIN'-HOOO!!!
Whether liberal or conserva
June 24, 2007 - 16:13 ET by ckc1227Whether liberal or conservative, what's fair about forcing a station owner to carry content he/she doesn't want to carry, content his listeners don't want to hear, and content advertisers don't want to advertise on?
Your "burger joint&quo
June 24, 2007 - 16:36 ET by leeproYour "burger joint" analogy is brilliant, drillanwr!!! Sad story, though, is that that may not be far behind. Slippery slope.
And Shulz has no quality. I
June 25, 2007 - 01:41 ET by Andrew H.And Shulz has no quality. If I were in a market area and he's all I had on AM talk, I would replay John Boy and Billy CD's over and over and over... Shultz is a a dolt and a lying one at that.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
CBS goes conservative?
June 25, 2007 - 03:43 ET by Parker1227Its all supply and demand. Over the last 3 decades liberals have had an over-abundance of media producers promoting and catering to their liberal beliefs (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, BBC - and Hollywood). AM radio simply met the political needs of conservatives who had been intentionally ignored by the fore-mentioned liberal monopoly.
Finding and supplying unserved customers equals successful business.
Air America was trying to pull customers from an already over-served pool of liberals.
Fox News also benefits from this same historic pro-Liberal disparity in the media. They are the lone conservative news channel in town and have the ratings to prove it.
If CBS wanted to start pulling in huge crowds, it would become the "Fox" of traditional broadcast media.
(Is this when hell freezes over?)