I should have included "lingering" in the title.
Last Thursday the news of Air America's demise wasn't as shocking as it was inconvenient. One of our stations had been airing liberal talk for the last three years. Air America version 2.0 was the backbone of that station making 24/7 progressive talk practical regardless of the drama surrounding the network and it's inconsistent talent line-up. Air America's failure to deliver on it's promise spelled rapid death for that radio format.
People might think this happened because of disappointment with the liberal agenda throughout the nation but actually it was the result of a poor business plan and a lack of understanding about what makes radio work.
Rush Limbaugh could talk about anything and be a hit. The man knows how to entertain as well as inform. Successful talk show hosts on radio are a breed apart from other types of entertainers. Successful radio networks scout out people who are already on radio somewhere in the country and are popular ratings winners in their markets. Air America never really got this fact. The only true star they ever had was Randi Rhodes and they threw her aside over political nonsense. The rest were just names with no talent for a media that is unique. If the owners of the network had hired more broadcasters and listened to them they might still be around today.
Ah, Tom, just because you air Rush Limbaugh does not make him any thing more than a mid day entertainment talking head. Poor Rush makes his
ReplyDelete$40 million a year without actually presenting himself as a candidate for public office. Like lots of people who comment on how things ought to be without actually understanding the situation, Rush is simply full of himself == and full of gas.
At least, Dr. Laura helps the unfortunate soles that are too stupid to solve their own problems or too poor to pay someone for the same service.
Speaking of being full of it???
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteYour analysis fits with one of the smartest and most genuine things Limbaugh ever said: people should look at his show as strictly entertainment.
Only a fool would get news there. See the second page of the Oregonian today?