Libtalk/sign of things to come?

[KJCB]

Steph Miller has added WVAA/Burlington-Plattsburg, VT today. A quick check shows that she's replacing Jerry Springer, whom I would continue to say is a short-term act. Also, WVAA has slotted Franken evenings from 7-10, when Majority Report is the only live liberal show; Thom Hartmann gets the live noon-3 shift vs. Rush. Although they're running Loveline from 10-midnight on the east coast next day delay... what's with that?

[robmidmi]

According to this page on the WVAA Web site, they are running:
* "Air America Mornings" is from 5:00 AM - 9:00 AM (live from AAR).
* They still list "Springer On The Radio" in the 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon, but as you said (and WVAA's home page verifies) this is now Stephanie Miller's slot.
* Thom Hartmann is from 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM.
* Randi Rhodes is from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM (live from AAR).
* Al Franken is from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM.
* "Loveline" from 10:00 PM - 12:00 Mid (Sunday - Thursday).
* Mike Malloy is Monday thru Thursday (actually it's Tuesday - Friday mornings) from 12:00 Mid - 1:00 AM and Friday from 10:00 PM - 1:00 AM (live from AAR).

Several ARR programs are aired live on Saturdays and Sundays.


> Steph Miller has added WVAA/Burlington-Plattsburg, VT today.
> A quick check shows that she's replacing Jerry Springer,
> whom I would continue to say is a short-term act. Also, WVAA
> has slotted Franken evenings from 7-10, when Majority Report
> is the only live liberal show; Thom Hartmann gets the live
> noon-3 shift vs. Rush. Although they're running Loveline
> from 10-midnight on the east coast next day delay... what's
> with that?

[mwebster]

Getting past the use of the RW cheap-shot perjorative "libtalk" ...

One station does not a trend make.

There appears to be an inverse relationship between audience size and the amount of comment a market or station gets on R-I. Some posters have a fascination with small markets and obscure stations.  Burlington is Market number 136.  It is not likely to a trend-setter.

This is, however, the first report of a progressive talk station bumping Franken for Hartmann.  Will other PT stations be watching the results in Burlington?  Not likely.  Will AAR's "syndication division" move aggressively to market Hartmann to stations and exploit any vulnerabilities in Franken's numbers?  Also not likely; a "slight" conflict of interest here.  Hartmann signing with AAR was like RC signing with Coca Cola to distribute and market RC Cola - unless either (1) AAR is hedging its $2 million dollar a year bet on Franken or (2) Franken's exit is already in the cards and Hartmann is designated heir apparent.  Some people think Hartmann is not ready for prime-time (but then Franken isn't ready for even small market radio).  Even if Hartmann fails to deliver numbers equal to or better than Franken's, he's a lot cheaper and therefore could be more profitable.

However, Steph is doing well elsewhere.  This morning RadioDailyNews.com reported: "  Debbie Greenbaum at  Jones Radio Networks reports that  Miller's show has shown substantial numbers increases at several affiliates, including KTLK in LA, WWRC AM Washington DC, KIST AM  Santa Barbara, KPTK in Seattle, WTPG Columbus, KTNF AM Minneapolis and WCHL AM Chapel Hill."  The Jones Radio website adds: "The Stephanie Miller Show posted quadruple share increases on KTLK-AM in Los Angeles and is now the #1 rated program on WWRC in Washington, D.C., with
M18-49, M25-54, and A25-54."

Numbers like this may be more indicitive of a trend and may be bad news for Jerry Springer (who, of course, still has trash TV to fall back on).

[KJCB]

> Getting past the use of the RW cheap-shot perjorative
> "libtalk" ...

More shorthand than perjorative.

> One station does not a trend make.

That's why I asked.

> There appears to be an inverse relationship between audience
> size and the amount of comment a market or station gets on
> R-I. Some posters have a fascination with small markets and
> obscure stations.  Burlington is Market number 136.  It is
> not likely to a trend-setter.

Who's going to play a song first, Burlington or New York?

Although KPTK has added Hartmann live, bumping Franken to PMD (which translates roughly to his current slot on WVAA). WVAA's lineup is likely no trend, considering it has a hot talk/sex show in late nights (probably one of few AM affiliates for the show). But the trend I'm referring to is stations that signed up for Springer dumping him specifically for Miller; KQKE/SF dumped him for two local shows, so that could be included in part of this possible trend. The other trend is not necessarily that Hartmann take over the noon-3 shift, but that stations aren't using Franken. Maybe they program locally, maybe Hartmann, maybe whichever one, Springer/Miller, doesn't get 9-noon goes on delay, who knows. But it seems Jerry Springer and Al Franken, while not in immediate danger, aren't on the upward track.

[tbetz]

WXXM-FM in Madison is showing substantial gains, as well, rated #7 overall 12+.

And this ratings period is mostly before the introduction of their new two-hour local morning show, leading in to Stephanie Miller.  It will be interesting to see how its presence changes things next quarter.

______________
also known as tombetz.

[barooosk]

Keep in mind that Hartmann is from Vermont so this is station actually serves his home market.

> Although KPTK has added Hartmann live, bumping Franken to
> PMD (which translates roughly to his current slot on WVAA).
> WVAA's lineup is likely no trend, considering it has a hot
> talk/sex show in late nights (probably one of few AM
> affiliates for the show). But the trend I'm referring to is
> stations that signed up for Springer dumping him
> specifically for Miller; KQKE/SF dumped him for two local
> shows, so that could be included in part of this possible
> trend. The other trend is not necessarily that Hartmann take
> over the noon-3 shift, but that stations aren't using
> Franken. Maybe they program locally, maybe Hartmann, maybe
> whichever one, Springer/Miller, doesn't get 9-noon goes on
> delay, who knows. But it seems Jerry Springer and Al
> Franken, while not in immediate danger, aren't on the upward
> track.

The vast majority of AAR affils will not touch Franken, but Springer's spot is fair game for pre-emption by Miller or local talkers.

______________
http://talkingradio.blogspot.com/

[OldAkronite]

> Keep in mind that Hartmann is from Vermont so this is
> station actually serves his home market.

Congratulations, baroosk, please pick up your prize at the door!

Yep, I looked twice as well at the new WVAA lineup, with Thom Hartmann live pushing Al Franken into nights.  But as you mention, he's from Vermont, so it's almost like he's the home team up there.  (I can't remember where he's from there, off the top of my head, but White River Junction comes to mind.  Of course, he's now based in Portland, Oregon, at Clear Channel's KPOJ/620.)

A brief snippet of today's Stephanie Miller program...I heard her say she had a whole bunch of new affiliates on the way.  Whether they're on the order of Burlington, Charlottesville and such, or larger, I don't know.

Her only semi-large market bad news came earlier this week, where we found out that she'll lose an hour right here on Akron's WARF/1350 starting in a couple of weeks.  But that's a unique situation...the station went after a long-time local liberal host and had to put him SOMEWHERE, so they carved out a 2 hour slot between Steph and Franken.  (I'd have pre-empted Franken for 2 hours based on my own personal taste, but personal taste doesn't run stations, and neither do I. )

BTW, I've used the "libtalk" term before, and I don't personally consider it pejorative.  I've also used "conservatalk" as shorthand before, usually when referring to Salem's secular conservative talk lineup.

-OA

______________
Ohio Media Watch - http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com

[Oldbones]

> Getting past the use of the RW cheap-shot perjorative
> "libtalk" ...
>

Why is it a cheap shot?  Maybe you prefer "progressive" to describe it, but to my ears there's very little about left-leaning talk radio I'd call forward-thinking.

[Gnarlodious]

> "This is, however, the first report of a progressive talk station bumping Franken for Hartmann. " ...

No, I don't think so. Seattle's KPTK 1090 has Hartmann rather than Franken and from what I hear is a very popular show. Plus it's a Viacom station. Wow, do they have a great webstream!

______________
• K5ZN

[dickfry]

> > Getting past the use of the RW cheap-shot perjorative
> > "libtalk" ...
> >
>
> Why is it a cheap shot?  Maybe you prefer "progressive" to
> describe it, but to my ears there's very little about
> left-leaning talk radio I'd call forward-thinking.
>

Libtalk=talk shows by liberals

Contalk=talk shows by cons, and future cons.
as contrasted to
Con job=job done by a bunch of cons.

Come on you CONS, step up and own it. You don't even have to steal it, it's freely offered.


-Dilettante Dick