Hell Freezes Over: More Clear Channel Stations Going Liberal!

[dbt]

(Radio and Records, 8/30/04)-- Sports outlets KKZN/Boulder-Denver and KABQ-AM/Albuquerque are the latest to join in the company's march to liberal talk in numerous markets across the country. KKZN is now "AM 760 Boulder's Progressive Talk" featuring most of Air America Radio's lineup including Al Franken and Randi Rhodes and Jones Radio Networks' Ed Schultz. A similar lineup and slogan also debuted today on KABQ. (Emphasis added.)

A little more here...

The latest print edition of R & R carries a story that CC is converting 4-6 more stations to what they call "Progressive Talk," but said article does not appear at the R & R webshite.

Bottom line? CC will never stop supporting bu$h, but they have realized what DUers have known all along: there's MONEY to be made from serving a LIBERAL audience!

:bounce:
dbt

[prodigal_green]

1. To quote our recovering hero

it's the economy stupid (not calling you stupid btw). There's gold in them thar hills! Conservativism is so declasse now.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. We have no progressive talk in Boston

unless you count low-wattage Boston College station WZBC which has Democracy Now on everyday, and has a Free Speech radio program on Saturdays.

It's all RW talking heads all the time here!

[meegbear]

3. Of all places you'd think we would have it

Fuck You Howie Carr!

:hi:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. I know-and Jim Braude, the Alan Colmes of Boston,

is on for an hour a day. Even Sports Radio 850 is WIngnut Radio!

[RedEagle]

5. Bush hurts the media too

Keep in mind that if people aren't buying, ad money becomes more scarce. Sometimes they'll push advertising more, but only for so long without a return. Broadcasting depends on that ad money.

They'll play both sides of the isle if it improves the corporate bottom line. You'll know things have changed if the flagship programming becomes progressive.

I'd keep an eye on media moguls attempting to buy-up or buy-in to Air America, then changing it. That would be the normal route.

The only exceptions to that I think are NBC and ABC. NBC with its General Electric ownership has the military industrial complex involved. ABC, through Disney, of all things, I think has those same ties.

I don't think CBS does, which may be why they don't shill quite as much as the others. Of course, FOX is owned by a RW guy.

[htuttle]

6. The CEO of CBS's parent corporation, Viacom, donated to Kerry

I think he was on the list of those CEOs who came out backing Kerry a few months ago.

[mopinko]

7. there was a brief mention on randi

the other day that clear channel wants her show back. deal is in the works. i cannot think of a better person to balance rush on armed forces radio, if that ever comes to pass. (anybody know what's up with that?)

[Love Bug]

8. Money talks, bullshit walks!

[dbt]

9. More stations:

From the R & R print edition of 9/3/04:

"And this week (Clear Channel) flipped Oldies WCOL-AM, Columbus OH and Hot AC WXXM, Madison, to the format."

(Other stations include WINZ, Miami, KLSD, San Diego, KTLK, Santa Barbara CA, and WHNE, Ann Arbor MI.)

"Asked about ongoing rumors of additional format flips in numerous other Clear Channel markets, (CC VP/News, Talk and Sports Programming) Gabe Hobbs said, 'Don't be surprised if CC has a couple of dozen progressive Talkers on the air by the first of the year.'" (Emphasis added.)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Is CC expecting a new tenant in the WH or just trying to grub the extra buck? This will bear watching!

:freak:
dbt

[gratuitous]

10. Alternate headline: Money doesn't just talk, it shouts

Clear Channel can see there's money to be made, and as toolworthy as they are, making an extra buck means that ideology becomes a very fluid concept.

It will be very interesting to see if the FCC takes any action over the next eight weeks in Clear Channel's direction.