Liberal Talk Radio, Madison Cancellation Protest, The Mic

MADISON MALCONTENTS

Despite Lack Of Sponsors, Protestors Fight For Libtalk







Even when advertisers have failed to support it, do so- called "progressives" see their talk radio format as something companies should be compelled to carry?

That sure seems to be the message coming from a protest held in Madison yesterday, where demonstrators are fighting a decision by Clear Channel Communications to dump libtalk in one of the nation's most extreme lefty markets. Though The Mic FM generated fairly decent ratings, company executives pointed to a lack of advertiser support, both nationally and even locally.

With several hundred protestors, including groups such as the Madison Pagan Unity Council said to have gathered outside the company's local offices, the event even made national news, with this AP coverage:

Clear Channel's format change draws backlash in Madison

(Published Wednesday, December 13, 2006 10:22:41 AM CST)

By Ryan J. Foley
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - Hundreds of liberals rallied to protest Clear Channel Radio's decision to ax a popular progressive radio station Tuesday night, urging the company to back away from a planned format change to sports Jan. 1.

Local activists, politicians and business owners said the Texas-based radio giant's decision to replace its highly rated progressive talk station with Fox Sports Radio simply doesn't make sense. They said the station, known as The Mic, provided a voice for progressive causes and helped inform the public in a city long known for its liberal views.

"This can't happen. The airwaves belong to us and we will take them back," said Valerie Walasek, a 28-year-old listener who organized the rally that filled the High Noon Saloon in downtown Madison to its capacity of 400 people. She said more than 5,000 people had signed an online petition asking Clear Channel to reconsider.

Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin threatened to file numerous complaints with the Federal Communications Commission against Clear Channel's local stations in the coming years if the company didn't "tear up its contract with Fox Sports."

"For every ounce of energy we put into it, we can create a pound of aggravation for them," he said. "The secret is convincing them that's not the way to go. That's what we got to do today."

But so far, the company shows no signs of backing down from the planned format change.

The com- pany's market manager in Madison, Jeff Tyler, said too many advertisers stayed away from 92.1 FM because of opposition to the 2-year-old format, which mixed nationally known liberal talkers such as Al Franken with local hosts who discussed everything from city politics to animal rights.

The station is making money but has consistently ranked dead last out of 14 Madison stations who report earnings, Tyler said, noting that liberal talk has faced similar problems nationwide. Air America Radio, the progressive talk and news network that provided some programming to the Madison station, filed for bankruptcy protection in October.

Isn't it interesting how left wing activists threaten to go to the FCC not just to fight against conservative programming, but also when their own shows aren't airing?

In a similar instance from last year, a California- based station owner complained of the same lack of local advertiser support for his libtalk station:

KOMY radio station finds it hard to sell ads
While listeners like what they hear, businesses aren’t buying air space

By SHANNA MCCORD
Santa Cruz Sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ — Even in the nuclear-free zone of Santa Cruz, left-wing talk radio doesn’t sell well.

Since programming content for local AM sister stations 1080 KSCO and 1430 KOMY made the great political split July 18, the liberal arm has been slow to hook advertisers.

It’s so slow, station owner Michael Zwerling went on the air recently with an ad of his own threatening the future of progressive shows on KOMY.

"For liberal programming to continue ... you need to support it," his ad said.

Zwerling said his ad was designed to "get in people’s face" and remind listeners that radio is a commercial business, and if ad space is available, they need to know about it.

"You can’t be coy in this business," said Zwerling, who shifted his personal politics right of center in the 1970s when faced with the burdens of government bureaucracy while building a house in Santa Cruz. "You have to spell it out, especially in Santa Cruz where everybody thinks they deserve everything."

KOMY, the new home to the Air America network featuring Al Franken and Randi Rhodes, lags in advertising appeal, Zwerling said, especially compared with Rush Limbaugh, who has ruled the KSCO airwaves for more than a decade blasting conservative tirades.

As far as we know, libtalk is still running on KOMY, at least based on this website schedule.


In Madison, however, it seems unlikely that protestors are going to undo Clear Channel's decision, unless they are willing to find some major sponsors for the station. And from the company's standpoint, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask why local businesses weren't willing to advertise on The Mic during the lengthy period of time it was on the air?


Losing Money, Mic images: David A Lunde

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