Alert the (Bill) Press: Nova-M goes under
posted at 6:05 pm on February 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Just in case yesterday’s conversation with Megyn Kelly (or his long friendship with Hugh Hewitt) didn’t teach Bill Press about the free market in radio, today’s news about libtalker network Nova-M should. Brian Maloney reports that the syndication network has collapsed, thanks to a lack of revenue:
Libtalk network Nova M Radio has been shut down, according to the attorney for Randi Rhodes, Robert V Gaulin of New York. … Moments ago, Gaulin sent this letter to your Radio Equalizer:
Randi Rhodes’ on-air home for less than a year will shut its doors. In an email message of February 17th from counsel for Nova M Radio, Inc. to Randi’s entertainment attorney, Robert V. Gaulin, the company is said to have been advised to file for bankruptcy protection next week. All payroll deposits were reversed on Tuesday, leaving Nova’s employees unpaid for the past two weeks.
On Sunday, Nova received a letter from Mr. Gaulin asserting that the contract with Ms. Rhodes was terminated due to material breaches and other reasons. Ms. Rhodes had not broadcast for over a week prior to this time, a situation which was diplomatically referred to as a “problem” that was solely within Nova’s control to solve. A few days earlier, Sheldon Drobny, founder of Nova M, and a co-founder of Air America Radio, attempted suicide and is hospitalized in Chicago.
Drobny’s wife Anita confirmed his breakdown and reports that he is receiving treatment. Of course, we hope he recovers, and we’ll keep the family in our prayers.
Brian and Michelle did a lot of reporting on Air America in 2005-6, which included the Drobnys. They attempted to buy up Air America after its first collapse, but got outbid. Instead, they focused on building Nova-M as a syndicator rather than creating a radio network. Apparently, they have had a very difficult time finding enough markets for their talent to turn a profit.
The collapse of Obama 1260 in Washington DC reflected what has been a consistent trend among libtalkers: they don’t get ratings. Bill Press complains that libtalkers get locked out of markets, but Obama 1260 had a good signal in a territory known for its liberal political support. (When was the last time DC voted Republican? Never.) After the election, its ratings disappeared, when one might have expected the wave of support for Barack Obama to result in people flocking to his brand. The owner had to change formats to get advertisers to buy time on the station.
Press claims that ownership is the hurdle for libtalkers and that the government should enforce “fairness” through licensing, but again Obama 1260 is a prime example of why that’s rubbish. The same owner also has a conservative talk station in the same market, which means that he offered the “fairness” that Press demands. Listeners flocked to one station and ran screaming from the other — which is why libtalker syndicator Nova-M just went under.
The show hosts on Nova-M now have to find new syndication, which Brian reports they’ve already begun doing. It’s hard to see how they’ll have much success. If they can’t convince DC residents to listen to liberal radio, they’re not going to find many others outside of San Francisco and New York City.
Update, 6:35 PM: I forgot to add the link to Brian’s post. Also, I don’t think timestamping updates will work well, but I’m willing to try ….
Update 11:18 pm: Oliver Willis dropped me a note to say that Obama 1260 actually didn’t have a good signal, and he lives in the area, so I’ll trust his judgment on this.
Blowback
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Off topic: Ed & Allah: would you mind trying to add what time you make “Updates” when you do? Oftentimes, comments just don’t make sense with the updates in the post. A simple timestamp on the update would be appreciated. Thanks.
Abby Adams on February 17, 2009 at 6:09 PM
They probably had all of 32 listeners in the audience.
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Not surprising. Air America also folded in Austin, TX. Anybody familiar with Austin knows it’s just as leftist as Frisco. Yet still no ratings for Left-talk radio.
These geniuses just don’t get it. Every major network out there IS left-talk radio. That and the fact the USA IS a center-right country.
Undisguised socialism does not sell here…
Ace ODale on February 17, 2009 at 6:11 PM
The Bill Press media blitz the past 10 days proves two things: There’s zero need for a Fairness Doctrine and Bill Press is a sanctimonious twit who’s deservedly unemployed.
JammieWearingFool on February 17, 2009 at 6:12 PM
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Gosh, now what is DCMike going to listen to? It was those mean D.C. Conservatives refusing to listen to Programming designed to educate and enlighten them.
Bwahahahahahaha!
kingsjester on February 17, 2009 at 6:12 PM
But it does seem that this sham is taking a mental toll. I wonder how soon before it spreads?
genso on February 17, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Maybe if they put a sticker on it, and charge people 15.99 to listen, they will get an audience.
MDWNJ on February 17, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Isn’t what Bill Press (and others) are hoping (or hinting at) is that the U.S. Government demand that all talk radio stations must carry liberal talk shows; i.e. for every hour of “conservative” talk radio their will be an hour of “liberal” talk radio.
They are not interested in the free market – this is the era of nationalization; first the banks, then the media. Bill Press is hoping all media becomes NPR media.
albill on February 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM
It scares me, but I think the Fairness Doctrine is going to get through. Seems like the Dems want it, which means Snow and Collins will let it happen.
But if it is, can we look up all of the arguments that the nutroots used derisively when discussing the “Patriot Act” and just recycle them for something equally Orwellian as the “Fairness doctrine”?
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Well they have a web presence and a web feed. No audience?
Skandia Recluse on February 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Wow, that’s terrible.
Randi Rhodes, Satan’s spawn, is off the air. DAMN IT!!!
The Wall on February 17, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Bill Press is hoping all media becomes NPR media.
albill on February 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM
I’m telling you- It’ll be the Juan Williams NPR comedy hour.
anniekc on February 17, 2009 at 6:18 PM
I just buzzed it, and want to repeat what I said there: “Once again, liberal radio is proven to be a failure in the marketplace of free ideas. That’s why the Democrats want the “fairness doctrine” brought back. To silence the hugely successful conservative networks which embarass them by telling the truth to their lies.”
Listening to disingenuous hypocrites like Schumer talk about how “fair” it must be because the airwave licenses are *FREE* makes me want to vomit. What he really resents is some business getting a bargain, as well as how well conservative radio shows him to be the lying jerk he really is. Him and others, like Dodd (still hasn’t released his documents), Barney Frank lying about Fannie & Freddie, Maxine Waters praising that crook Franklin Raines et al.
Webrider on February 17, 2009 at 6:18 PM
I used to be a brainwashed liberal and used to listen to Air America, but I stopped because they were always angry. Not just upset like when Kerry lost, but bordering on insanity. They would talk down to people and just make fun of Republicans. It was simply too negative. And this was impression of Air America when I was uber liberal. Liberal talk radio is devoid of content. Not too surprising that they can’t stay on the air.
MrX on February 17, 2009 at 6:18 PM
At this rate they will have to pay the listener to hear that garbage.
grapeknutz on February 17, 2009 at 6:19 PM
The irony here? Nova-M’s slogan is “The Future of Progressive Talk”.
amerpundit on February 17, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Exactly, Rush makes the dollars because he is entertaining. Who wants to listen to 3 hours of some whiny liberal cry about the military-industrial complex?
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Earth to libtards, your radio products suck.
Figure this out please.
G-man on February 17, 2009 at 6:23 PM
MrX, most people have a well developed ability to tell when they are being lied to. That and the fact that “progressives” never have ideas that make sense, only half baked thoughts that “feel good”, and the rest of their rhetoric is just trashing ad hominem attacks on those who’s ideas they *cannot* refute. Progressives and the left are not intellectual at all, in the way they process information. The are merely emos who can’t think but can “feel your pain”, to quote one of the famous lying lefties.
Webrider on February 17, 2009 at 6:23 PM
According to Wikipedia: “Since September 2005, [Bill] Press has been hosting a daily liberal syndicated talk radio program which is broadcast nationwide live from 6-9 AM ET. The show is syndicated by Dial Global. In addition to terrestrial stations, the show is heard on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 146 and XM Satellite Radio channel 167 America Left.”
Press also authored books with such disrespectful titles as “Spin This!” and “Bush Must Go!” He clearly does not want to even hear points of view that may disagree with his own. No small wonder, then, that Press fantasizes about revival of the Fairness Doctrine.
The guy has no credibility or even a veil of objectivity. He’s just another whiny liberal loser. That anyone would listen to what Press has to say is beyond me. But hey, if the free market allows him to survive economically, so be it. That is what the 1st Amendment is all about. And if the free market terminates another liberal station, then that should be respected, as well.
OneVision on February 17, 2009 at 6:24 PM
This is just awful. I hope that gentleman recovers quickly. If you are lucky your work is your passion but it must be a business first. It’s hard for me to believe that there isn’t an audience of their message so I have to assume that their business model is wrong. Maybe a radio syndicator who is doing well should offer to give these folks some pointers. Certainly not worth killing yourself.
Cindy Munford on February 17, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Maybe Randi Rhodes drank all their profits away.
That or the more obvious- between NPR, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, the NYT, CNN, etc the market is already saturated with enough liberal content that an upstart liberal radio program is not needed.
Hollowpoint on February 17, 2009 at 6:26 PM
BUSH LIED, SHELDON ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Sorry to kick a woman when she’s down, but Anita Drogny’s statement is just further proof of the absolute state of delusion these people live in: “we tried as hard as we could to bring another voice to our nation…i guess we failed…” Oh, you mean another voice besides every TV news outlet but one, and every newspaper other than, I dunno, five or six? Obama wins, the Democrats control Congress, and this silly goose is complaining because nobody wants to listen to their horrible radio shows.
Jim Treacher on February 17, 2009 at 6:27 PM
I’ll bet if anyone reads the whole “stimulus” bill, they’ll find that Osama Obama and his cohorts have stuck a few bucks in somewhere for Bill Press….
He was a POS when he was only on their air locally, and he’s still a POS.
At the rate he’s going, he’ll soon be too dull for PBS.
MrScribbler on February 17, 2009 at 6:27 PM
You could have just said “Liberals are devoid of content” and it would have been a much shorter and accurate post.
Glad you eyes were opened…
right2bright on February 17, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Drobny, not Drogny. If I’m going to cruelly mock a distraught woman, I should at least spell her name right.
Jim Treacher on February 17, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Right on. Five or Six is about right. We’ve got Washington Times, Fox News, Wall Street Journal…
I can’t think of any more off the top of my head.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Ed wrote:
Don’t forget about WHJJ in Providence, RI. Here’s a station with a strong signal in a deep blue state that switched from a successful conservative talk format to Air America’s programming in the fall of 2003. By 2005, they dropped the lib-talk format because their ratings crashed.
ironman on February 17, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Press should start his own Lib syndicated radio network. I’m sure all the markets like, DC, Chicago, Seattle, et.al. will welcome him with open arms.
PappaMac on February 17, 2009 at 6:31 PM
The fairness doctrine has nothing to do with getting libs on the radio but everything to do with get conservatives off the air.
patrick neid on February 17, 2009 at 6:31 PM
All I can say is that if this happens I really hope sirus xm can make a go of it because at least there I can just listen to Amercia Right and not have to worry about it.
tee866 on February 17, 2009 at 6:33 PM
The problem with Lib radio is that they expect their listeners to buy things from advertisers.
Listeners won’t buy anything without being given a government voucher to pay for the product.
PappaMac on February 17, 2009 at 6:34 PM
If there’s such huge demand Bill, why don’t you get some investors together, start up radio stations in those markets and make millions?
You won’t because there is no demand because you suck and to keep yourself in a job you want the federal government to determine what should and should not be on the air.
Also hilarious to see that Obama station dumping after the election. IE fair-weather libtards who only focus on the spectacle, not issues.
GG America.
MarcusBrody on February 17, 2009 at 6:34 PM
They could give Chrissy M a radio show so he can describe the tingly/stimulus B Hussein O gives him on a daily basis.
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Hooray! I finally got onto HotAir (I’ve been an avid reader ever since Ed shut down CaptainsQuarters).
The reason that Conservative talk radio is so successful is because our entire popular culture is controlled by liberals. So it’s a place that conservatives can go to vent about what their kids are being taught in our liberal run schools, what they’re seeing on liberal run primetime TV shows, what they’re seeing on liberal run major network news shows, what they’re seeing in their local shopping malls in the windows of stores like Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch, who have liberal PR departments and employ liberal ad agencies, etc, etc.
Rush Limbaugh spends a good portion of his show dissecting the liberal slant that the major networks put on their coverage of particular news stories. Yes, it’s related to politics, but it’s actually a critique of a pop culture industry as opposed to nuts and bolts political talk. And a lot or Rush’s listeners are as interested in this stuff as they are in nuts and bolts politics.
The liberal talk radio shows aren’t able to this. All they can talk about is political issues, political campaigns and politicians. They have nothing else to complain about since they control every other aspect of our popular culture. So their only appeal is to liberal political junkies, and how many people fall into this category? Most liberals only consider themselves to be liberals because our popular culture has convinced them that if they’re smart, enlightened, and kind hearted, then they must embrace liberalism and reject conservatism.
ardenenoch on February 17, 2009 at 6:38 PM
As a famous man once said, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” Bill Press tried his hardest to put lipstick on Lib talk radio and…well…oink!
RadioFreeUSA on February 17, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Liberty media is making a play to keep Sirius/XM afloat. This is the group that also owns DirectTV.
genso on February 17, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Press will just blame it on “bad financial decisions” and not on lack of popularity. Look at the bright side though – Rhodes will have more time to walk her dog – and more chances of bumping into a conservative that will push her down!
RMCS_USN on February 17, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Liberals are just unhappy people by nature. With total control of the government, they still aren’t satisfied and want to own the the last medium they don’t control. Most liberals have a serious problem debating an issue even amongst themselves. Rush Limbaugh made his program evolve in the 80′s by simply repeating a liberal commentary, and letting his audience disect it.
Rovin on February 17, 2009 at 6:45 PM
You can,t even give liberal talk radio away much less sell it.It has to be force on people.
thmcbb on February 17, 2009 at 6:45 PM
I couldn’t believe Bill Press when I saw him spar with Da Megyn yesterday – she whipped him btw. He was a good little drone and did what he was sent to do:
use up the air time by spinning the talking points; side stepping pertinent questions and revealing nothing to the public. Obama’s people have an extra technique:
They obfuscate with “Well, I don’t want to say anything about that…I haven’t seen the bill/ talked to the president/etc….our team are in a process and we’ll be revealing our plan soon.
Nobody is accountable. Nobody will reveal anything, but they’re going to have another meeting soon at your expense.
Rishika’s Rule of thumb: Whatever the liberal hordes say on camera, the situation is exactly the opposite. Viparyaya.
rishika on February 17, 2009 at 6:46 PM
This is the dumbest argument. The reason conservative talk radio works is that with the exception of Fox, the net and a few print outlets, there is no other voice for conservative points of view. The reason liberal talk radio doesn’t work is that there is no need for it…liberal points of view exist throughout the MSM. Why would libs got to radio when they can have their feelings of moral and intellectual superirority reinforced virtually anywhere they turn. Conservatives only go to radio because there are very few other places to turn…
AmericanUnderground on February 17, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Conservatives actually buy the products advertised on talk radio.
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 6:50 PM
You have to give Sheldon Drobny credit. At least he didn’t chop off his wife’s head that that guy that started the Islamic TV station…
darwin-t on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Slight O/T,
Observation: Obama just landed in Arizona….he doesn’t seem to like his new home where he’s “parked” the wife and kids, then off to some other part of the country while thinking he’s still on the campaign trail. Next thing you know, he’ll be building another Flamigo hotel in some remote desert. You just get the feeling he really doesn’t know how to be a leader of the free world. (Pay-grade reality check) And Bill Press is still a putz.
Rovin on February 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM
There’s a lot of truth in what you say. The talkers I listen to cover a wide range of topics and not just politics. It does come from a conservative perspective but they make their shows interesting and entertaining. I only listened to Air America a couple times and it was a constant stream about how evil Bush and co. were like a continuous Olberman worst person in the world rant.
goat on February 17, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Liberals just can accept responsibility for anything.
The only horrible economy is due to a horrible product causing ‘no listeners, no advertisers, no money’.
Helloyawl on February 17, 2009 at 7:08 PM
If their listenership reflects my “liberal” friends and family – that explains the complete lack of listeners.
I love ‘em…. but geezuz they are an apathetic bunch. My sister – said she was against Palin because she was “anti-abortion” – without having any clue that Biden was Catholic – both anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage.
A girlfriend.. who has proudly never voted in a Canadian election “because it just doesn’t matter” considers herself an Obama fan. Why? She can’t really answer.
My husband’s best friend spoke against Mcain during the recent US elections – and I mentioned the Ayers/Wright connection to Obama.. and they said “Well Mcain has had some scandals too.”
What where they? He couldn’t answer.
I think the majority of liberals consider themselves so because it feels good to be Liberal. Tolerant. Live and Let Live. Progressive. Group hug, anyone?
It’s certainly not because they are informed… at least in my unscientific examples. It’s *work* being informed… reading opinion – even opinions that you may find distasteful… but make you think. It’s work seeking out new ideas and theologies and deciding if they actually work or are just new.
The silent majority have been spoon fed the leftist pablum and seem to like it. It’s easier than digesting a lot of hard information and coming up with your own opinion.
sharkibark on February 17, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Libtard talk should exclusively cater to alcohol producers and use Randi Rhodes as their Spokes-Lush-Person.
Drooler lefties are too busy communing in their pity pot-parties and getting wasted to hear the adverts on libtard radio. That and they’re too stupid to find the stations on the dial.
44Magnum on February 17, 2009 at 7:12 PM
You’re argument would matter a damn if leftist gave a hoot about free expression of ideas. They don’t. They care about control of information, specifically the control of opposition information.
Bill Press wants his opponents shut out. Nothing more. Nothing less.
spmat on February 17, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Welcome.
You’re good.
You’re very good. Rush introduced me to the conservative view of life. I blame my Mother and my teachers for everything that came before. This cultural conservatism explain Medved, Ingraham, and some of the daily warfare here at HotAir (Allah’s culturally cross-polinated).
Great analysis. Never really thought of it that way.
Francois on February 17, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Good luck with that.
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 7:23 PM
I’m not so sure. He might not even be that much of a man. I think maybe he is just looking for government to create the audience his talent doesn’t warrant.
Francois on February 17, 2009 at 7:23 PM
He was “outbid” for the collapsed AirAmerica???? Who looked at that balance sheet, Stevie Wonder???
marklmail on February 17, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Ya get what ya pay for. Nothing = Nothing
GarandFan on February 17, 2009 at 7:32 PM
This is why those dirtbags want a “Fairness Doctrine” . . . the only way to get anybody to listen to their mindless crap is to force them under threat of prosecution.
rplat on February 17, 2009 at 7:38 PM
I really hate to break it to you, but Biden is about as Catholic as Nancy Pelosi is.
pannw on February 17, 2009 at 7:39 PM
No. he wants equal time on the same station, not a separate but equal station. He wants libs to have a chance to force a captive Rush audience stuck in their cars to swallow their propaganda.
tommylotto on February 17, 2009 at 7:42 PM
They’re as Catholic as Obama is a Christian.
Attending racist anti-American rallies every week for 20 years doesn’t qualify you as a Christian.
Mojave Mark on February 17, 2009 at 7:44 PM
The best illustration of how the fairness doctrine will work is Hannity & Colmes. Fox gave half the air time to Alan who literraly ruined his half of the show on a nightly basis.
Now that the C has been removed from H&C, the show is twice as entertaining and twice as much fun.
DrW on February 17, 2009 at 7:48 PM
What a shame for Ms. Rhodes first the assault (was it last year?) and now this. Sadly, it sucks being her.
Mason on February 17, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Now THAT sucks. You were paid, then it was taken back? I hope that all of the employees paid their bills so that the attempts to “reclaim payroll” bounced. I’ve heard of checks bouncing, but taking it back AFTER it was paid out? Disgusting.
cannonball on February 17, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Hey why stop at talk radio? Every time I drive across Nebraska and spin the AM dial, all I get is cattle reports, bible preachers, and country music. IT’S NOT FAIR!!! I DEMAND that congress institute a fairness doctrine to ensure that I can listen to some nice Bebop and Swing in my journeys. It’s in the public interest I tell you!!! The airwaves are not FREE!!!
PackerBronco on February 17, 2009 at 7:53 PM
The “fairness” doctrine won’t force anyone to listen to libtard radio. Radio stations will simply stop broadcasting ANY talk radio because of the PITA factor, just like they did before Ronaldo Maximus ended it in the 80s.
That’s the point. Killing conservative radio. They couldn’t care less if the libtards are on the air or not. Nobody will listen anyway.
Let’s roll…..my pitchfork is on order (Amazon has a 3-fer for under $30)…AND BOYCOTT MAINE (LL BEAN AND LOBSTERS!)
ex-Democrat on February 17, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Respect her rights?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAH HAH HAH HAH A HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
HAAAAAAHAHAHAHA HA HA HA ::snort::
BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
cannonball on February 17, 2009 at 7:54 PM
WOW another failing industry just waiting for my tax dollars. Where do I send my money?
Constitution1st on February 17, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Here is the Nova-M response to Rhodes’ all-caps whining.
cannonball on February 17, 2009 at 7:57 PM
There was never any proof of an assault by anything but 14 Bloody Marys and a sidewalk.
Jim Treacher on February 17, 2009 at 7:59 PM
When you guzzle a whole quart of Ketel’s vodka in an Irish Pub and go out for a smoke, make sure you watch where the step is so you don’t get “assaulted” by the curb and sewer grate. LOL!
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Obama has just landed here in Phoenix and tomorrow he’ll announce the latest government plan to “save” the housing industry. Let’s see how the government has done so far in ‘saving’ this vital industry:
1. Rolled back the loan limits at FHA, cutting off millions of homeowners from using the best loan program there is.
2. Eliminated Seller funded Down Payment Assistance programs, cutting off millions of first time homebuyers from buying homes which would in turn help stabilize housing prices nationswide.
3. Issued TARRP funds directly to banks instead of using TARPP as an incentive based loan insurnace program or as a means of buying the toxic loans and their collateral as long term investments as we begged last Fall. The 20 largest banks receving TARPP funds have actually reduced their lending exactly as we predicted.
4. Instituted new appraisal rules that will put all small appraisal firms out of business in the Summer of 2009, eliminated countless thousands of jobs and making Conventional and FHA appraisals just as unreliable and poor quality as VA appraisals.
When being ‘saved’ looks like this, I prefer to sink or swim on my own.
DrW on February 17, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Check this out. Bank nationalisation gains ground with Republicans
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2ad3b750-fd27-11dd-a103-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
We are SCREWED!
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Well, I guess that explains his fascination with KP and Sarah. Doesn’t explain the Darwin thing, though.
platypus on February 17, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Let’s face it, idiots don’t sell. Rhodes is the best example.
d1carter on February 17, 2009 at 8:39 PM
The only way Liberal radio survives is if it has government support, e.g. NPR. Liberal radio cannot compete on commercial stations. End of story. We won.
DrStock on February 17, 2009 at 8:48 PM
What I have yet to hear anyone talking about is the oh and by the way the Internet needs to be controlled as well as conservative talk radio. (Chucky Schumer) I can’t imagine what they might have planned as it relates to “regulation” of internet content. Pornography is fine but not conservative opinion.
Any thoughts out there regarding how the right to post conservative content may be preserved?
Especially in view of the fact that all the 1st Ammendment rights defenders from the 60′s have apparently grown up to be the protectors of free speech (theirs but not yours) We are truly living in “interesting times” (old Chinese curse)
guspapa on February 17, 2009 at 8:48 PM
I tried to listen to her on a clip over at MM’s website, but her voice quickly got on my nerves and I had to stop the media player.
OmahaConservative on February 17, 2009 at 8:49 PM
I hope no one’s noticed this before, since I didn’t read all the other comments first:
The REAL REASON that they want to bring back the FD is to get conservative talkers on liberal stations! That way, they actually get advertisers and listeners!!! Think about it!!!
n0doz on February 17, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Here’s how I would justify not running a regular lib program in response to “fairness.” Rush spends the better part of each show talking about what the libs are up to. The fiarness is already built in. After all, the alphabet networks and the cable lib networks tell America what the conservative point of view is, in their own slant.
TugboatPhil on February 17, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Why should they listen to them? They can hear the same stuff all day long on mainstream media outlets.
Dr. ZhivBlago on February 17, 2009 at 9:23 PM
What scares me is the similarities to other socialist/communist countries… get control of the education/youth, and get control of the media, and you can control the people!
misterk on February 17, 2009 at 10:12 PM
“Randi’s entertainment attorney, Robert V. Gaulin, the company is said to have been advised to file for bankruptcy protection next week”
WOW!
Must be one heck of a bar tab!.
DSchoen on February 17, 2009 at 10:21 PM
He knows better. He certainly wants a bigger audience, but this isn’t about getting the liberal message out. It’s about silencing conservative voices.
ddrintn on February 17, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I don’t know what his Arbitron ratings are, but Talkers Magazine calls Joe Madison, The Black Eagle a “Washington powerhouse”. And I suspect Press might have trouble calling Madison conservative.
I guess Press is concerned about white liberal radio disappearing.
eeyore on February 17, 2009 at 11:05 PM
I LOVE this story! There is nothing sweeter than watching these lunatics fall flat on their face, if you count “they didn’t ask the right questions” Burris, this makes two in one day.
TampaBayBull on February 17, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Aside from there being only limited other outlets for conservative viewpoints than talk radio, the other major problem liberal talk radio has is their starting point on how they view the nation they’re trying to syndicate their shows to — i.e., flyover country. They either hate it and/or think the people are too stupid to understand what’s good for them. And since those are the people with greatest access to radios during the day (urban area liberals also tend to be pedestrians or mass transit riders more than conservatives), the lib talkers are alienating a lot of their potential morning/afternoon/early evening audience.
Also, think about the U.S. military activities during Clinton’s presidency, like Haiti or in the Balkans. Conservative talk radio questioned why U.S. troops were there, but when the U.S. mistakenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Serbia there weren’t howls of protest that America was committing war crimes or that Bill Clinton was more evil than Slobodan Milosevic. But when a Republican is in the White House, it’s not just Bush who is evil (or before that Bush 41, Reagan, Ford, Nixon), it’s the U.S. military that’s evil and U.S. foreign policy that’s imperialist. Outside of San Francisco and a few enclaves in other major cities, who wants to sit and listen to that, even if you’re against the Iraq war?
If Rush’s show was nothing but “I hope Obama fails” three hours a day, five days a week listeners would start tuning him out as well, because it would just be a non-stop gripe-fest. He succeeds because he balances his anger with mocking those on the left and is able to hit his target with humor that doesn’t get overly mean and cynical (if he did that he would have fallen into the Bob Grant trap that limits your audience size, and which Rush’s buddy Mark Levin suffers from — even if you’re right on the issues, you can only grow your audience so big if you come off as perpetually angry on the air).
The left talkers can hate on Bush or other Republicans all they want, but as long as they can’t hide their disdain for other parts of America, their rage is best suited for the hit-and-run stuff on television or in print, not for three-hour harangues every weekday.
jon1979 on February 18, 2009 at 12:14 AM
No one wants to listen to liars.
Johan Klaus on February 18, 2009 at 12:22 AM
This post brought to you by the Hotair Department of Redundancy Department.
gryphon202 on February 18, 2009 at 2:02 AM
nutroots couldn’t care less for fairness
i belong to a couple “right” websites and lefties are given free reign—but the several “left” websites i’ve joined have always booted me soon after a few tiny “test the waters” posts
one of ‘em booted me after my first post—in which i gave a dempol kudos for something or other
devadevadasa on February 18, 2009 at 6:25 AM
Priceless.
hillbillyjim on February 18, 2009 at 6:36 AM
At the end of a so-called conservative talk show segment, run these ads “And, now, in the interest of fairness, we will bring you 5 minutes of a liberal saying George Bush sucks……..Bush sucks! Bush sucks! ad nauseum” We now return you to your regular programming.
riverrat10k on February 18, 2009 at 8:29 AM
Will Randi Rhodes end up in the White House? I would not be surprised…
djn on February 18, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Bill Press is lying plain and simple. He cannot compete in the world of advertising dollars so he wants the government to step in and FORCE radio stations to put them on. Lib Talk radio is not able to survive because it cannot get ad revenue. I own a business and advertise on the radio. I REFUSE to buy time on liberal talk shows because Liberals are ANTI CAPITALISTS. Why should I support liberal/socialists that are anti business? Also, their listeners are few and I will not get the biggest bang for my buck. People that support the so called FD have never had to “Meet a Payroll” or run a successful PRIVATE BUSINESS. Hey Press and all the rest of you spineless liberal whiny losers…. Stop complaining, drop the Beta Male tendencies and create a PRODUCT that will attract listeners. Then you will get Ad Rev to support your program.
RandyKowalski on February 18, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Ed, a bad reception for a radio station would mean that the it would likely to soon go under, not undergoing the process of changing formats. Apparently, like the magic grits in My Cousin Vinny, only financial news can make good reception in DC from 1260, eh?
I question your judgment if you’re not questioning that moron’s judgment.
rjwest21 on February 18, 2009 at 8:50 AM
You silly, silly people.
Evidence, facts are irrelevant. The market is irrelevant. Results are irrelevant.
All the pols care for is what perception they can place in the publics mind about how the “right” has it all. More and more Dems will jump on the bandwagon, the MSM will parrot their talking points and we’ll be fighting legislation to reinstate some type of censorship within the next few months, surely by the ends of the year.
catmman on February 18, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Whoever suggested timestamping thank you. I’ve been wanting to say something but forget once I get on a comment roll. It will work. It’s hard to know what comments apply to what information and I don’t like having to read all the comments sometimes especially in those 1,000 comment threads. Thanks Ed!
Sultry Beauty on February 18, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Liberals don’t care about the free market and they don’t care about the law or the Constitution.
they care about what they want and nothing else.
Press wants to make money talking about his looney ideas. So, despite the fact that he seems outwardly to be a mature, reasonable guy, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Just like the criminals in Congress.
notagool on February 18, 2009 at 9:31 AM
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