The report I read says that WLBY (A small 500 w Class D station owned by Clear Channel) will switch to carry the lineup of Business Talk Radio Network. What the story didn’t mention was what it’s current programming is – Air America
Today could be the defacto final day of Air America. This is Thom Hartmann’s last day, Rachel Maddow’s show is just a tape of TV show from the prior day, and the remaining shows (Lionel, Ron Kuby, Clout) don’t have many affiliates and lack critical mass because they don’t stay in one time slot long enough to build an audience.
I predicted to a person inside the industry that Jason Lewis is being syndicated in preparation for Clear Channel dropping Air America today, which would effectively end Air America. Let’s see if my guess is right.
WAAM, the former home Ann Arbor home of Progressive talk (5 kw day/night) is proudly announcing on their home page major rating gains since dumping their progressive programming and switching to Conservative talk (Bennett/Ingraham/O’Reilly/Beck/Savage. Ann Arbor is the home of the University of Michigan. If Progressive Talk can’t make it there, it doesn’t have much of a future anywhere. College students don’t listen to AM radio.
When Lionel was on that New York City radio station he was comical. Lots of fun to listen to.
Then, he began altering his persona. His show became more anti-Bush and steered away from fun and frivolity immersed within a few serious issues.
Ultimately, Lionel became fixated on politics and led to my loss of desire to hear his show any more.
Departing the NYC station (where he was syndicated and could be heard via several radio stations across the land) and moving to Air America Lionel become extremely dreadful and boring and tiresome and I believe lost many listeners.
I predict Lionel will eventually fade away and disappear forever from the radio waves.
No loss in my opinion.
But, I DO miss the “old” Lionel show where his unique humor provided a wondrous listening experience.
Air America announced today that Montel Williams is going to have a show from 9AM – noon starting April 6th. That’s the time slot currently when Lionel has his show.