Reply #31: The Best To You As Well... [View All]

[KharmaTrain]

I was around at the "birth" of Rushbo back in 1988...he "succeded" in a time slot that was one of the least productive for many AM radio stations...mid days. He was cheap, easy programming...stations could, and did fire local talent and just hooked up to his slimefest...whatever money could be made was gravy. Yes, Rushbo is controversial and if you listen around most the commercials are "generic"...Gold Bond or Motel 6...or by investment dudes (seems like dittoheads love to throw money at these vultures) or some other local dittohead...the rates are generally very cheap.

A revisit to Telcom '96...one that was originally required in 2002 but never done is long overdue...and I hope that a Michael Copps-run FCC will start that ball rolling. A good sign was the Senate's repeal of the last giveaway of the broadcast spectrum that could cost Rupert Murdoch a lot of money. Yes, local ownership is the key, but so is the evolution of radio.

Satellite is just one element of the future...and dare I say, a small one. Again, it lacks a local identity that has always been radio's biggest and strongest asset. Wireless Internet radio is about to burst on the scene...turning your cellphone or PDA into a radio and opening up radio just like cable did to TV...and with it the monopoly of the Clear Channels will begin to subside (if they don't go belly-up first...they're an Enron just waiting to happen).

Thank you for a very enlighting discussion...

:toast: