Comments on: D.C. Listeners Tune Out Talk Radio

By: ProcessBear

ProcessBear — Mon, 09 May 2005 22:58:33 +0000

I think all of us are better off when we challenge our views and belief and not always go to places that reinforce what we believe. Although we could all use more languages, WOL is in English but the signal is too weak in some directions.

There is something happening in the country that many would not agree with but a lot of important issues are flying under the window. With so many tied more to party and affiliation more than principle, I think we need to be careful. There are those out there who will deny 2 + 2 = 4 if it does not support their agenda.

I appreciate your perspective and your initiating the discussion.

By: ProcessBear

ProcessBear — Mon, 09 May 2005 22:53:36 +0000

I guess my frustration was more with the Post. I do not listen to WOL as much as I used to, but they should be counted. Also, talk has never faired as well as people would think in DC. I think the 1260 line up should have been introduced before the election. Also, they are trying to target a niche with their name. They have a disadvantage in that their name alone will drive away listeners. When Rush first started, he was something new and different. Even though he claimed to be a concervative, it was not every break and second. So, someone that might partially agree with him would not be instantly repulsed by name alone.

I definitely do not listen to Rush much anymore. Sean's TV program turned me off to his radio showt that I used to like.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Mon, 09 May 2005 22:06:22 +0000

No doubt. Still, a station that markets itself as a "black station" is explicitly acknowledging that it's not after non-black listeners. I don't listen to any of the many Hispanic stations in D.C., either. I'm not sure if I've picked up WOL or not--only a couple of the AM stations have a decent signal--but my tour of DC talk was just the three AM stations I've picked up on a regular basis and the talk stations at the front of the FM dial. I don't listen to the high 100's FM station that carries Howard Stern and similar programming, either.

By: ProcessBear

ProcessBear — Mon, 09 May 2005 21:54:31 +0000

I see your point, but by that logic, you could be talking about WMAL, WTNT, or WMET. It does not excuse the Washington Post's not including them. That "niche", if by that you mean ethnicity, that ethnicity is more than a small part of the population in and around DC.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Mon, 09 May 2005 21:39:34 +0000

If a station is marketed to a niche demographic, it's unsurprising that other demographic groups are uninterested.

By: ProcessBear

ProcessBear — Mon, 09 May 2005 21:18:06 +0000

Why is WOL never counted for the DC area ? It is 1450 AM dial. I know it is a weak signal, but it is a talk station and it is mostly political. I know their ratings have to be equal to at least that of WTNT ! I can guess why both this listing and the Washington Post seem to think they do not count.

By: Junior Bradfield

Junior Bradfield — Fri, 06 May 2005 03:24:40 +0000

3:00pm is like a deadzone for me in NYC. The Two Irish tenor washerwomen "Shill O'Realy and Oprah Hannity" force me to take a 1 hr radio break. They I, I, I, I, so much and mention their own name so many times ya gotta flush! SeanHannity Website, SeanHannity Book, SeanHannity CD, SeanHannity DVD, SeanHannity Tour, SeanHannity concert... a little self centered?, grandiose?, They both say they are humble??? hak,hak,hak! It's been passed down for generations in my family that any man who tells you he is humble ,is lacking it completely. Thank God for 4 O'clock and the Godfather of talk radio WOR's "the ORIGINAL" Bob Grant. If anyone questions my allegience or needs a right-wing laugh check out the free MP3 comedy downloads at my website by clicking my name.

By: Rich

Rich — Tue, 03 May 2005 03:33:00 +0000

May I suggest another possible ... and, I think, plausible ... reason for the dramatic ratings decline: it's wrong. I don't live in Washington, but I've worked in radio for over 30 years. Arbitron's ratings methods result in questionable results all the time. I've seen audience drops even more dramatic than these in the cities I've worked in, and then in the next ratings book ... poof, all the numbers suddenly are back to where they'd been for years. Does a roller-coaster audience swing like that really come and go in 90 days? No. Stop all this analysis and consider the simple answer: the numbers are just wrong.

By: My View of the World

My View of the World — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 01:11:50 +0000

Talk Radio Loosing out to Blogs? Not here
I found this via Michelle Malkin, originally posted at BizzyBlog: Talk Radio in Beginning of Decline? Blame Blogs?

The question is, are Bloggers talking away talk radio listeners? I think it's a good question, but one we here in Milwaukee have a un...

By: Random Thoughts From Marybeth

Random Thoughts From Marybeth — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:26:24 +0000

Talk the Talk Some of the talk blogging today is about talk radio. (Here and here.) I don't listen to the radio much, usually only when I'm in the car, and if I do listen to talk radio it's usually public radio. I...

By: GordoM

GordoM — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 01:56:49 +0000

This article is a perfect example of why many have quit any hope of getting any real info from the MSM. The writer obviously had an adjenda. No real numerical comparisons, no info on new entrants into the market, no differentiation between the different types of "talk radio". Totally worthless exhibit of MSM tripe. Only the blogs flech the stories out. Sad.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:08:25 +0000

Well,

I used to listen to WMAL for the trip home from work and enjoyed Sean Hannity. For a month around Terry Shavio, his show was focused almost exclusively on her case. He lost me as a listner. I have been listening to Ed Schultz (except the signal dies around Centreville) and have enjoyed it despite disagrreing with everything he says....he is Hannity's polar opposite with the same weaknesses.

By: Steve Ryan

Steve Ryan — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 21:27:07 +0000

I have lived in Manassas since 1992, but grew up in Baltimore County, so I have a perspective about talk radio in both Baltimore and DC.

WTNT: Imus is a sleazeball, love Laura Ingraham, haven't heard Scarborough or Beck enough to form an opinion on them. Michael Savage has some valid points, especially on illegal immigration, but is generally too mean-spirited for my taste.

WMAL: Michael Graham is a wuss. Why they dumped Dr. Laura for him I don't know. Still like Rush and Sean, but they can be too predictable at times. Chris has no "Core" convictions. Do enjoy Tammy Bruce and Drudge on the weekends.

Michael Reagan is back on WMET-1160. They also have Linda Chavez, Tony Snow, and I think Liddy is there too. Hard to get at night, though.

In Baltimore, the situation is not a whole lot better. I used to really enjoy WBAL's Ron Smith when he was a Reaganite conservative, but in recent years, especially since 9/11, he has gotten extremely cynical, negative, and seems to traffic in the paranoid conspiracy theories of the far right. Chip Franklin is a comedian. Rob Douglas (ex-MAL) used to have a good weekend show, but had to give it up due to his PI work.

WCBM-680 carries Liddy, Hannity, and Savage, but the only local hosts they have are Tom Marr and Les Kinsolving, both of woom IMHO give conservatives a bad name.

WITH-1230 has Bill Bennett's morning show (no DC outlet), along with Laura Ingraham, Michael Medved, and a few others.

By: Sooziecc

Sooziecc — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 20:25:24 +0000

Try Ed Schultz from 3-6 on 1260 in DC as an alternative to Hannity's inanities. Even some of you righties might like him.

By: Fernando

Fernando — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 19:59:13 +0000

Reading a blog is a different experience than listening to talk radio

True, but some talk radio shows are just like blogs; these are likely to be hurt by the blogosphere. I used to wait for Limbaugh to discuss the news of the day, but now, after reading my morning blogs, I find his opinions old hat. I don't listen to him much anymore.