Air America; Is it working?

[DawnCt1]

Conservative talk radio has given new life to A.M radio, not only nationally with such hosts as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, but locally with Howie Carr in the Mass. area and Jim Vicevich in the Hartford/NY area. I have only had a couple of opportunities to hear Air America, both times while driving home from Boston. I don't recall the name of the host but it was a woman who sounded unhappy, angry and took calls from like minded people who sounded certainly as angry. They seemed to be steeped in their conspiracy theories. Maybe I didn't hear the best that they have to offer and so my views could not be representative. Locally, ratings for WTIC radio are the highest in the Hartford market between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. Programming at that time is a local conservative talk show host, Jim Vicevich followed by Rush Limbaugh at noon. At 3 pm, when the liberal team of Colin McEnroe and Bruce Stevens come on, listenership drops off to the other alternatives in the listening area. Any opinions as to why conservative talk radio is winning the ears and advertizing dollars of America?

 

[eclectics]

Perhaps because the majority of Americans are busy working during the day and the people that can stay home and listen during that time slot (and take the time to let the radio station know they listen) fit the conservative leaning demographic. I'm sure the commute 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm slot still belongs to the shock jock crowd.

 

[MosMom]

I don't recall the name of the host but it was a woman who sounded unhappy, angry and took calls from like minded people who sounded certainly as angry.

Ahhh yes, because Rush Limbaugh is always so happy.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Unfortunately, we don't get Air America up here. It would be a nice breath of fresh air.

Rush Limbaugh is a callous ***. I just heard about the following this morning (mind you, the incident in Lake George just happened a couple of weeks ago):

"During a discussion of Oregon's assisted suicide law on the October 5 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh suggested alternative ways individuals could choose to end their lives, including "[a] six pack, and hose, and go sit in your car, and wave sayonara. You can take a cruise ship on Lake George in New York." The Oregon law is currently under review by the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in the case on the morning of October 5.

Limbaugh's comment about Lake George is an apparent reference to an incident in which a tour boat on the upstate New York lake capsized, killing 20 passengers."

 

[nuke]

And that Savage idiot is so happy-go-lucky.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Maybe it's all of the "family values" he espouses, like when he called Chelsea Clinton "the Clinton family dog", when she was still a little girl. Lovely man, really...if only America had a little more Limbaugh, this great land of ours would truly be a shining example of all that is good with the world...his positive message should be freely broadcast to other lands to show how inherently kind and loving, dare I say Christ-like, we Americans are!!

Honestly, could it be that maybe Rush Limbaugh has had a 20 year head start on Air America and plenty of time to build a good, strong listener base? Naww...it's more fun to spin it that liberals are clueless. Well done, Dawn!!

 

[Holly]

I can tell you one way it isn't working.... Bush's approval ratings!

 

[Free4Life11]

To be honest, I didn't think anyone listened to talk radio period. There aren't many things I'd want to spend my time doing LESS than listening to talk radio.

 

[cardaway]

While certainly not his best, Air America is a pretty decent Mel Gibson movie. I suggest people check it out.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I can tell you one way it isn't working.... Bush's approval ratings!

Hey...with Republican leadership in Washington, from DeLay and Frist, to Bush, Rove and Scooter, either under investigation, under fire or under indictment, you've got to give the far right someone to cheer for!! I guess El Rushbo seems to be the man to fit the bill!! Yea, Rush!!! As Harriet Miers would say, "You're awesome!"

 

[Mugg Mann]

Locally, ratings for WTIC radio are the highest in the Hartford market between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. Programming at that time is a local conservative talk show host, Jim Vicevich followed by Rush Limbaugh at noon. At 3 pm, when the liberal team of Colin McEnroe and Bruce Stevens come on, listenership drops off to the other alternatives in the listening area. Any opinions as to why conservative talk radio is winning the ears and advertizing dollars of America?

Please provide a verifiable link to back up your claims. Here's a link with verifiable numbers from the Air America station in the NY market (the nation's #1 market);

WLIB’s Summer Book ’05 Shows Significant Success

NEW YORK – October 17, 2005 – Air America Radio announced today that there were strong signs of growth in its flagship station, WLIB 1190 AM, according to Arbitron Summer 2005 Metro.

Mon-Sun 6a12m, AQH, Share and Cume have all increased for both Persons 12+ and Adults 25-54. For Adults 25-54, WLIB’s target audience, AQH is up 29%, Share increased 40% (from 1.0 to 1.4) and Cume increased 9%; for Persons 12+, AQH is up 6%, Share is up 20% and Cume is up 11%. WLIB ranks #2 in A25-54 TSL MSu6a12m (10h30m per week), a 20% increase since the Spring 2005 book

In plain English, Air America's ratings have been growing steadily in only it's second year. Here's another article concerning actual ratings as opposed to what Dawn chooses to believe;

Conservative talk radio isn't what it used to be.

The format that has routinely pumped up ratings for stations that include L.A.'s KFI-AM (640), and made a broadcasting legend of Rush Limbaugh, fell a couple of notches locally in recently released ratings for the spring quarter.

KFI, which carries Limbaugh and fellow GOP talker Bill Handel, as well as the local conservative duo of John & Ken, slid to sixth place in the Arbitron Inc. ratings for the spring 2005 quarter, from third place in the winter quarter.

In fact, only one L.A. talk station--KTLK-AM (1150), which switched to a liberal "Air America" format--gained market share.
Source: Los Angeles Business Journal http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_31_27/ai_n14926535

Now, check out Fox news' ratings this year:

Tuesday, Apr 26
FNC's 25-54 Prime "Downward Spiral"
April '05 marks "the sixth consecutive month where FNC declined versus prior month in M-F, primetime P25-54 (every month since Nov '04)," CNN's press release says. The 25-54 demo is coveted by advertisers. One insider called it a "downward spiral." FNC still has more demo viewers than CNN, though (443k vs. 304k in April). Here are FNC's month-by-month weekday primetime averages in the 25-54 demographic:

Oct. 04: 1,074,000 / Nov. 04: 891,000 / Dec. 04: 568,000 / Jan. 05: 564,000 / Feb. 05: 520,000 / March 05: 498,000 / April 05: 445,000
Source: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/fncs_2554_prime_downward_spiral_20939.asp

So, let's summarize to make it easy for those who can't be bothered with facts;

Air America Radio; Gaining audience
Fox News & Conservative Radio; Losing audience

Those pesky facts just keep popping up when you least expect them, don't they?

 

[daddydisneyworld]

dropped last week in philly.

 

[DawnCt1]

Air America Radio; Gaining audience
Fox News & Conservative Radio; Losing audience

Those pesky facts just keep popping up when you least expect them, don't they?

Air America Radio gaining? I understand that they aren't operating in "the black" yet. And, when you start from a couple of stations, where else is there to go but up. I think its unsustainable.

 

[DawnCt1]

I'm sure the commute 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm slot still belongs to the shock jock crowd.

Actually the 3 to 6 pm slot seem to belong to Hannity and Carr.

 

[crcormier]

Wow. So you give an anecdotal example of one station in the Hartford area that's ratings drop going from Rush to a liberal team, and that means that nobody listens to liberal talk radio?

I listen to Air America and Rhandi Rhodes in particular (the 'angry woman' you spoke of) every day. And yes, she is can be quite angry, but then again, the things she reports are worth getting angry over. And no, she doesn't spout conspiracy theories. She never presents an idea or accusation without the source to back it up both verbally and on her website. You should really give her a listen. She is an excellent debater.

As far as ratings go, I think talk radio ratings aren't really very trustworthy anymore. I listen to Air America and other radio at work over the internet which isn't included. I also have satellite radio so when I'm in my car, that's how I listen, which also isn't included.

 

[crcormier]

Air America Radio gaining? I understand that they aren't operating in "the black" yet. And, when you start from a couple of stations, where else is there to go but up. I think its unsustainable.

Didn't Fox News take six years to not operate in the red?

 

[DawnCt1]

Rush Limbaugh is a callous ***. I just heard about the following this morning (mind you, the incident in Lake George just happened a couple of weeks ago):

"During a discussion of Oregon's assisted suicide law on the October 5 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh suggested alternative ways individuals could choose to end their lives, including "[a] six pack, and hose, and go sit in your car, and wave sayonara. You can take a cruise ship on Lake George in New York." The Oregon law is currently under review by the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in the case on the morning of October 5.

Limbaugh's comment about Lake George is an apparent reference to an incident in which a tour boat on the upstate New York lake capsized, killing 20 passengers."

The context of the discussion was physician assisted suicide and the concept that one human being should not be asked or required to participate in the suicide of another human being, thus the tongue and cheek suggestions, including the Lake George comment that he retracted as soon as he said it.
Clearly Imus, et al, have indeed made more shocking comments for the purpose of making a point than that particular comment.

 

[RadioNate]

Conservative talk has had 18 years to grow and develop. Rush didn't happen overnight. It took him a LONG time to gain the audience that he has right now. Air America has had a less than two years. Given time, with the right approach and development, they can gain ground. But, Rush, Sean, etc didn't happen overnight and neither will AA.

Also...since AA is a "liberal" network --- they need to win over the hearts and "radio presets" from the NPR crowd---not from the conservative radio crowd. And NPR listeners are VERY loyal ... that's going to be a tough battle for them.

If NPR were included in the ratings, there would be a lot of markets in which NPR would blow the consertative talk stations out of the water.

OK ratings...WTIC has monster numbers but I'd like to see their demo's to get a better idea of how they really do. 12+ numbers are often deceiving. Have you seen WTIC's breakouts? I can't imagine w/out insider knowledge you'd know their hour-by-hour stats. Rush gets HUGE ratings, there is no doubt about that, but anyone is going to get a drop from Rush's numbers. I'm not certain it is a liberal v. consertative thing but more of a Rush v. not Rush thing.

There are several Air America stations getting good numbers KPOJ in Portland Oregon is one. It debuted at #1 and has held onto top 5 positions 12+ and in their key demo's. It is a 1/2 of share point behind the traditional consertative talker.

Let's talk about reach. AA has 70 affiliates, Rush has more than double that. It is only natural that Rush would have more listeners, his reach is bigger.

As for your opinion of the "angry woman" believe me Rush, Sean, Savage, those guys aren't angry and unhappy??? You've got to be kidding right?

 

[RadioNate]

Air America Radio gaining? I understand that they aren't operating in "the black" yet. And, when you start from a couple of stations, where else is there to go but up. I think its unsustainable.

Believe me there are PLEANTY of traditional consertative talk stations that aren't operating in "the black" but rely on their parent companies and other stations in the cluster to sustain them.

Hannity has been in a downward slip for ages, very few in radio (aside from maybe Sean himself) think that Hannity will be a long term ratings giant.

Air America the network may not be the answer but "liberal talk" is already successful and in a lot of cases MORE successful than consertative talk. Yep, I'm talking about NPR which if they were included in the ratings would blow the consertative competition out of the water.

 

[eclectics]

Actually the 3 to 6 pm slot seem to belong to Hannity and Carr.

Up in Hartford perhaps, but trust me, not many coming home on the LIE are listening to Hannity