AAR off in Madison: could it happen here?

[raccoonradio]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=107021&ntpid=4

"beginning on Jan. 1, one of the most liberal cities in the country will be without a commercial radio network of the same tilt."

Clear Channel is dumping Air America from a Madison, WI station (a fairly liberal town--whad ya know?
not much, you?, to quote a Public Radio International show that emanates from that city). Fox Sports
and local sports coverage will air instead. What's interesting is the fact that THIS station has ratings
about 6 times as high as WKOX/WXKS has in Boston and comes in 11th in the 12 +s for Madison (see
article). If CC figures AAR won't make them money on a station with those ratings, what does that
portend for WKOX and WXKS?

The article says it's puzzling given the recent election results that AAR would be pulled. It also quotes
the program director for WXXM who had said awhile back that (even if AAR went under) progtalk
radio would still be around, from a variety of syndicators.

There could be a call to bring back the (un)Fairness Doctrine but it's not like liberal talk is non-existent
without Air America. There's NPR (anyone care to cite a conservative talk show on that network?
is there the equivalent of a Rush or Ingraham there?), "Democracy Now", and other syndicators like
Jones (Steph Miller)

[Varulven]

Raccoon, raccoon, raccoon, Clear Channel is not in AAR's corner.

Side note: I might drop by the station tomorrow as I have to pick up the North Shore Sunday.
Will you be there, Bob?


http://www2.townonline.com/lynnfield/opinion/view.bg?articleid=614630&format=&page=1

[raccoonradio]

>>Clear Channel is not in AAR's corner.

it's possible they were putting AAR on because either a) who knows? could be successful, or
b) they wanted to make sure the Fairness Doctrine didn't try to make a comeback

I don't know if I'll be there. orig. I was gonna fill in for Doug because he was going to go to the Patriots game
but he has leg problems (cellulitis--I've had it 4 times myself) and doesn't want to put too much of a strain on the leg going up that long ramp at Gillette. I called him a couple times asking if he's going to do the show tomorrow or not; no response
yet, and who knows, I may pop down there and throw some songs on but I've been tired lately and have some
stuff to do around here. It's possible we may just let the computer keep us going

[OhioMediaWatch]

As I wrote you in the comments section of OMW...

I don't think the situations are analogous.

1200/1430 could be vulnerable for other reasons, regarding A) their overall performance, B) their current signal problems, and C) their future better signal - does CC want to keep the format and try it on a better signal when 1200 goes to their new facility?

Does 1430 keep the format and 1200 go to something else?  And what of the MetroWest listeners who will be getting a worse (or no!) signal from the 50KW CP on 1200?

Lots of questions here, and it doesn't really have anything to do with Madison.  That station is flipping, it would appear, to garner sports-related income in a market which they think they can get more money from that format (x2).

The unspoken here:  Is the format advertiser-friendly enough to do well commercially?  WXXM has moved to just below the top 10 in Madison just before it blows up (12-plus - don't know how it's doing in demos).  Is it more difficult to monetize that on a station where at least some of the hosts are blasting business interests?

I said "some".  The Jones Radio hosts (Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz, etc.) don't seem to have that problem.  Their shows are more advertiser-friendly/traditional style shows, though anyone will tell you that a lot of advertisers don't do talk radio PERIOD, of either side.

[raccoonradio]

Well, Madison could show a trend that CC may want to part ways with AAR if possible and go with something else.

>>Is it more difficult to monetize that on a station where at least some of the hosts are blasting business interests?

Hmm!

True about Jones radio etc

If CC thinks the "antenna closer to Boston" will help it may stay with AAR/liberal radio once that tower
move takes place.

[robbbc]

The Madison station was FM; you really can't compare. Not a good situation as talk isn't lucrative enough for a good FM signal. AM1670 would be a good fit in Madison.

My guess is that after the power upgrade WKOX will drop libtalk leaving it on WXKS (which gets more listeners right now than WKOX 1200). Maybe an HD-3 simulcast with an FM station.