Got a blog tip? Contact us
« Piracy is Good? | Main | Reminder: Wizard People screening Tues. in Brooklyn »
NY Times on Clear Channel
Anyone who doubts that Clear Channel was behind the "pirate" radio station in Ohio mentioned earlier should doubt no more. The New York Times got one of the company's robots on the phone, who explained that the company launched the station to promote a format change. Says the robot (Mr. Lankford to you):
"Clear Channel, as I see it, is dedicated to entertaining radio and to getting results for our advertisers," Mr. Lankford said, noting that the company owns both conservative and progressive talk radio stations. "There's a hole in the market here and we're going to fill it."
...and that hole is (drum roll, please) progressive talk. Yes, I will say that again: Free Radio Ohio is to be a progressive talk station! Now if you'll excuse me I think I'll go shove an icepick in my ear.
(Thanks, William Moree)
p.s. Can anyone recommend any noncommercial (or at least non-Clear Channel) progressive talk radio in Akron? Email me or post comments and I'll add your suggestions here.
Posted by carrie on 05/30/2005 | Permalink
Comments
Air America Radio lists "WJMP 1520 AM" as their affiliate in Akron, so that might be worth checking out.
Posted by: Valerie | May 30, 2005 1:00:16 PM
The thing that really gets me about this whole story is that it shows that Clear Channel obviously thinks the general public is nothing but a bunch of morons.
Even beyond the fact that there was an obvious attempt at subterfuge (although Clear Channel has said there wasn't), I'm just floored at how insulting it all is.
My questions is this: If they feel they can promote the station in an untruthful way, how can anyone feel that the content will be honest?
Posted by: andy | May 30, 2005 1:08:52 PM
The best way to control a debate is to present a false opposition. Apparently Clear Channel knows this all too well. It is the classic principle of Hegelian Dialectic. Problem > Reaction > Solution.
Problem: corporate conglomerate radio sucks
(controlled)Reaction: pirate radio station decrying the evils of Clear Channel
Solution: listen to the new corporate conglomerate created anti-corporate conglomerate station
Clear Channel has shown their willingness to create false opposition in order to control and/or placate disgruntled consumers. Do you think their so-called progressive talk programming will itself be anything short of controlled opposition?
Posted by: positronik | May 30, 2005 3:03:15 PM
Good job on busting the corporate giant's attempt to trick the public.
I just blogged about this at my site.
Posted by: Scott Butki | May 31, 2005 12:01:23 AM
Personally, I'm going to miss the sportstalk station. Now we get to listen to people posting an alternative view, which ends up being a bunch of garabage. Tune into 1420 or 90.3 for Brainfood from different perspectives. Do we really need this junk?
Posted by: Bob | May 31, 2005 2:25:58 PM
Personally, I gave up and subscribed to Sirius satellite, and despite not being "small town", at least I don't have to listen to the stupid, annoying commercials. How sad is it in america when you would rather pay than listen to free radio, just to get away from the advertisements.
Posted by: James Dylan | May 31, 2005 3:26:13 PM
Thom Hartmann is on four CC stations, so apparently they don't control content. www.thomhartmann.com if you haven't heard him.
Posted by: Bill | May 31, 2005 10:40:10 PM
First off I have to say kudos to Clear Channel on a pretty entertaining scheme. Now, I'm just mad about 1350 no longer being a FSR affiliate. The thing is that I dont mind it being all national except for aeros and zips events. If I want local sports i head over to 850 in Cleveland... or listen to the local HS football show 1350 had. Where I now have a problem is in their nighttime programming since i work nights and Lionel stinks out loud. I want to hear Jorge Sedano on those nights when C2C is just too weird for me. Either way, i like the attempt at alternative programming if not the godawful results. And why is Rollye still only two hours??? I want my third hour back! Also, I want to hear Free Talk Live (http://freetalklive.com) on... and the problem isnt with radio behemoths ruling the airwaves, its with the FCC for making it so hard to start a radio station without the big bucks backing you up.
Posted by: Paul Wilson | Jun 1, 2005 10:53:16 AM
... the problem isnt with radio behemoths ruling the airwaves, its with the FCC for making it so hard to start a radio station without the big bucks backing you up.
You don't think that those two things are related?
Posted by: Charles Star | Jun 1, 2005 11:03:21 AM
The Air America affiliate here in Madison, WI is a Clear Channel station. The explination I got from the manager was "Clear Channel is a business, we're here to make money. If the money is good from 24 hour pig futures, then we'll do 24 hour pig futures." Sounds like capitalism to me. That doesn't excuse the awful political "statements" they've made. But I have no problem with a company making money (unless it's harmful, like Wal Mart or W.R. Grace).
Posted by: David | Jun 1, 2005 11:15:12 AM
He's more conservative than liberal, but Alex Jones presents an anti-establishment viewpoint from 6:30-8:30 AM on AM 900 out of Canton (can also be heard in Akron after sunrise). Michael Moore got most of his material for Fahrenheit 911 from Alex Jones.
Posted by: John | Jun 1, 2005 3:44:33 PM
If you exclude NY, Clear Channel stations account for 75% of Air America radio listeners. Without the coverage provided by Clear Channel stations, AAR (the leading provider of liberal talk radio)would be out of business and we would be stuck with Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and about 4 or 5 dozen other right windbags.
Posted by: barooos | Jun 2, 2005 2:27:12 AM
I have mixed feelings about this. I hate to support ANYTHING that is run by Clear Channel. However, the views expressed on 1350 are mostly equivalent to mine. Where ELSE is someone to go who wants a change of pace from NPR from time to time. 1520 (Air America out of Kent) isn't strong enough to pick up, and 1530 (Air America in Covington, KY) only comes through at night, and then, not all the time.
Posted by: Jim | Jun 15, 2005 10:50:21 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
