Mike Malloy FIRED from Air America Radio

[fred flintstone]

Progressive Talker "Terminated" By Air America

AIR AMERICA RADIO pulled the plug on the MIKE MALLOY SHOW yesterday (8/29). MALLOY had been scheduled to fill in for vacationing program host RANDI RHODES through 9/2.  When listeners tuned in this afternoon they found instead THOM HARTMANN, hosting the program from the studios of KQKE/SAN FRANCISCO.

Meanwhile, this message is currently on the mikemalloy.com homepage: "There will be no Mike Malloy program today - or any day - on Air America Radio as we have been terminated. We are as shocked as you are. We are told it's a financial decision." No word on how the termination affects the two-year contract he has stated recently signing with AAR.

[Scribbler]

And before somebody mentions it, I think Thom Hartmann would be nuts to even consider a late night slot with limited clearances and strong competition.  He's better off doing his Portland morning show (and fill ins)  until Franken jumps ship.

Funny you didn't mention that Hartmann also does a AAR-syndicated show from 9 am to Noon, Pacific Time, that's doing very well in Seattle, for one.  Which reminds me -- after KPTK picked up Hartmann live and moved Franken to PM drive you confidently predicted that more and more stations would "dump" or "bump" Franken for Hartmann.  That was last year some time and it hasn't happened.  But I'm not saying that a similar move would be a bad idea for other stations -- it seems to work in Seattle.

[NewsVet]

Funny you didn't mention that Hartmann also does a AAR-syndicated show from 9 am to Noon, Pacific Time, that's doing very well in Seattle, for one.

When Air America started they didn't have a live show in the slot that was later occupied by Malloy -- they just re-ran Franken.  Now they could fill the slot with the Hartmann show they're already syndicating. Hartmann could continue doing his local morning drive show in Portland, followed immediately by his syndicated show, although I don't know how he does it -- especially on days when he also does the Rhodes show.

[fred flintstone]

Funny you didn't mention that Hartmann also does a AAR-syndicated show from 9 am to Noon, Pacific Time, that's doing very well in Seattle, for one.  Which reminds me -- after KPTK picked up Hartmann live and moved Franken to PM drive you confidently predicted that more and more stations would "dump" or "bump" Franken for Hartmann.  That was last year some time and it hasn't happened.  But I'm not saying that a similar move would be a bad idea for other stations -- it seems to work in Seattle.

As I recall, I wondered if more stations would take Hartmann live and said I thought they should because I consider Hartmann has a better show (except on those occasions when Franken has a live audience and comes to life).  And according to Hartmann's website, Thom gets better share numbers in Seattle in his time slot than Franken does delayed to afternoon drive.  However, I don't think Hartmann's show (with a 10 hour delay) is a good choice for late night; it just doesn't have that late night edge.

Hartmann's website claims he is on 65 stations but the wording implies he is including AAR stations which take his "best of" weekend program on the network feed.  My rough estimate is maybe a dozen or so stations take his show during the week.  In addition to Seattle, stations in Eugene, OR, Massacusetts (3 stations) and Bennington, VT bump Franken for Hartmann; stations in Pittsburgh, PA, Grand Rapids, MI, Charlottesville, VA and State College, PA take Hartmann (although Franken is available and not carried in those markets).  In Phoenix and Anchorage, Franken is live and Hartmann is bumped to a later time slot).  Hartmann's website listing of "affiliates" is incomplete and has some inaccuracies, so there may be other examples.  Bottom line: He is not exactly burning up the syndication market.  One wonders if Tom Athans is even bothering to show up for work and if he has any qualification to head AAR's "syndication division" other than being married to a Democrat Senator.  It does not appear AAR is doing anything to market Hartmann's show to stations and he basically functions as the network's spare tire.  He's got his day job in Portland (morning drive on the top performing progressive talk station in the US - nothing to sneeze at), does fill in and is locked in in case Franken quits (as he keeps talking about).  So no, I don't think Hartmann's "syndication" is worth mentioning.

[Phillip Dampier]

I think it's a safe bet Rachel Maddow may assume the timeslot.  She was talking on her show this morning that her program was moving (but she wasn't specific).  With Malloy being shown the door (and I thought he had a contract extension), it seems likely she will end up there.

I think Malloy's show was for true believers.  I personally found his program a novelty at the beginning, but I stopped listening mostly because a lot of his stuff was way out there on the fringe.  Our local station carried his show only during the "best of" overnight repeats, preferring Lionel instead.

It's clear Malloy wasn't going to do anything to attract additional clearances, so now they are trying to rework 7-12 to find something better that can attract more clearances.

I can say this move is going to infuriate a lot of AAR listeners, many of whom are STILL ticked at the dropping of the original Unfiltered program more than a year ago.  But such is the evolution of the format - finding what works and what doesn't with the audience.

[Phillip Dampier]

From Sam Seder's Majority Report Show tonight:

Speaking of insanity, uh, (long pause) on mike malloy.com, Kathy Malloy has announced that Mike malloy hase been fired from AAR.

That's what I've heard. Mike was not on filling in for Randi today, he was scheduled to, he was sceduled to fill in for Randi tomorrow, and frankly I'm pissed off about it. I have made it clear to anybody here that would listen to me that I'm pissed off about it. I think it's a huge mistake. I don't know if it's definitive, because AAR to my knowledge has not made any official announcement. My hope is that it's not.

My understanding is that alot of people have been calling here, and emailing here, and I've noticed that people have phone numbers and emails posted in the comment section of our blog at MajorityREportRadio.com. As I was trolling the web I noticed it at the Democratic underground and I noticed it stuff at Mike Malloy.com

Certainly I have other avenues to express my frustration at this thing, but I imagine those who don't will probably go to those addresses. I think it's stupid. A bunch of horse crap....

[Scribbler]

As I recall, I wondered if more stations would take Hartmann live and said I thought they should because I consider Hartmann has a better show (except on those occasions when Franken has a live audience and comes to life).

Well, since you seem to be denying what you said last year, it took me about twenty seconds to find the exact quote from one of your many screen names, mwebster (from December 22):

With these results from Seattle, it will be interesting to see if other markets dump or bump Franken for Hatmann.  AAR's signing of Hartmann may save the company's sorry butt (put another way, the tail may rescue the dog)... Meantime, after the fall books are out look for more stations to dump Jerry in favor of Steph (and Al in favor of Thom).

But no more stations have "dumped" Al for Thom.  Actually, I find myself listening to Thom more than Al, but I think there's a place for both of them on AAR.

[Scribbler]

I think it's a safe bet Rachel Maddow may assume the timeslot.  She was talking on her show this morning that her program was moving (but she wasn't specific).  With Malloy being shown the door (and I thought he had a contract extension), it seems likely she will end up there.

It's been widely reported that Maddow will be following a three-hour Rhodes show, and will be on from 6 to 8 pm, ET.  With Seder moving to 9 to Noon, ET, that makes sense.  I sent an e-mail to Peter Werbe today, asking if he'll continue on in the 10 pm - 1 am ET slot after this week and he replied with a cryptic "maybe."

[Phillip Dampier]

Perhaps Malloy can sign with Sirius, considering their Left channel has plenty of room. 

[fred flintstone]

As I recall, I wondered if more stations would take Hartmann live and said I thought they should because I consider Hartmann has a better show (except on those occasions when Franken has a live audience and comes to life).

Well, since you seem to be denying what you said last year, it took me about twenty seconds to find the exact quote from one of your many screen names, mwebster (from December 22):

With these results from Seattle, it will be interesting to see if other markets dump or bump Franken for Hatmann.  AAR's signing of Hartmann may save the company's sorry butt (put another way, the tail may rescue the dog)... Meantime, after the fall books are out look for more stations to dump Jerry in favor of Steph (and Al in favor of Thom).

But no more stations have "dumped" Al for Thom.  Actually, I find myself listening to Thom more than Al, but I think there's a place for both of them on AAR.

I believe the operative words here are: "It will be interesting to see if." 
As I mentioned Thom gets a better share in Seattle than Franken.  And Thom is up against Dave Ross on KIRO, the guy who does commentaries for both AP Radio and CBS Radio, is the regular sub for Charles Osgood, and was a Democratic candidate for congress in the last election (won the primary, lost the general election).  Hartmann is also up against "The Commentators," which has a liberal host paired with a conservative."  Franken is up against personality talkers Ron and Don on KIRO, whom I would not consider direct competition for the progressive talk audience, and the conservative host from "The Commentators."

You like Thom's show.  I like Thom's show.  What's the disagreement here?  I'd think we'd both be wondering why the show hasn't gotten more clearances.