PROGRESSIVE TALK RADIO TAKES A HIT

AS THE AIR AMERICA NETWORK CLOSES SHOP 

The talk radio network that catapulted Al Franken to the US Senate and Rachel Maddow to prime-time on NSNBC has shut its doors. In a statement given to The New York Times, Charlie Kireker, the network’s chairman, said, “Our painstaking search for new investors has come close several times right up into this week, but ultimately fell short of success.” 

Growing to 100 affiliate stations since its founding six years ago, the network is one of the few that aired in opposition to the right-wing talk show hosts that have proliferated throughout the country. As such it represents a serious loss to the partisan balance of the air waves. 

Any loss of talk show broadcasts is a loss for authors who regularly seek invitations to the shows to help promote sales of their books.

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AS LOCAL RADIO & TV STATIONS GAIN POPULARITY,

THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR THE IDEAL PLATFORM 

There’s a good deal of disagreement among local radio and TV executives as they cast about trying to find the formula that will help them capitalize on the growing popularity of local broadcasting. Some support copying the combative approach of the cable news stations with ideologues ruling the local airwaves. 

Others worry over backlash from their audiences if they shift the balances of their presentations to the left or the right. They believe that the close identification of listeners with their local stations

puts them at risk if they incorporate any polarizing content into their broadcasts. 

However, that concern doesn’t seem to rule out on-air editorials, particularly as disappearing opinion pages leave a void with more newspapers closing their doors.  

Hopefully the stations won’t miss this unique opportunity. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that 44% of the public believes that TV stations are best at uncovering local news stories, while newspapers trail behind at 25% and online news sources at just 11%. 

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LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO

GETS A BOOST FROM CONGRESS 

After extended pressure from groups like Free Press, a subcommittee of the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly last week for a bill that would open the airwaves to hundreds of local independent radio stations. 

The activist group is determined to see the bill, Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147) move swiftly through the balance of the legislative process. The present subcommittee approval is the furthest it has ever reached in any of its past attempts.  

The goal is to secure support from 90 bipartisan co-sponsors, and the group is asking for $25 contributions to bring independent local stations to communities across the country. Click on to

www.freepress.net to donate to this very worthy cause.

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INTERNET RADIO POSTS MAJOR GAINS THIS YEAR-

IS IT THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE FOR BROADCASTING? 

Internet radio is posting impressive gains this year as the financial picture for terrestrial radio dips to all-time lows, according to a study, “Internet Radio Makes Waves” produced by the experts at eMarketer. The report anticipates double-digit losses in ad spending with the terrestrials’ ad revenue expected to drop 18%.  

Internet radio combined with podcasting is on target to increase revenue by 28% over last year. Of course, the raw totals are far, far below terrestrial, but they are rising swiftly. 

A study by Arbitron and Edison Media Research done during April reveals that 42 million people over the age of 12 listened to online radio in a given week. That’s an increase of 17% over the 33 million who listened in 2008. 

Increasing numbers of authors enjoy interviews and book reviews on Internet radio stations these days. Perhaps our earlier concerns that we were wasting time talking to miniscule audiences are over. Never let any broadcast opportunity pass you by.

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FOX  LOST NO TIME IN WELCOMING

MISS USA RUNNER-UP TO ITS PROGRAMMING 

On the same day that controversial beauty queen Carrie Prejean appeared on Fox & Friends along with Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss USA competition, the TV program invited her to return as co-host for a day.  

Suzanne Scott, the Fox News vp of programming, justified the choice in the Washington Whispers column written by Paul Bedard. She explained that the channel was “just using her one time to sit with the boys (co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy) and have some fun.” She went on to point out that Prejean “had become a national celebrity and it’s a fun thing to do and a good way to try to get a little buzz and fun for the show.” 

Prejean, of course, was the center of a controversy that began with her opposition to gay marriage that she stated when answering a question from blogger Perez Hilton, one of the Miss USA judges.  

It is amazing that a major broadcaster would stoop to this “cheap shot” just to put “a little buzz and fun” into its early morning show. That’s pretty FOXey,

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LOWERED ROYALTIES MAY AFFORD A

TEMPORARY FINANCIAL FIX FOR WEB RADIO 

Web radio station owners have battled for almost two years to halt the increases in royalties they must pay for music used on their stations. While this is particularly relevant to all-music stations, it can impact those talk shows that offer a mix of interviews and music. Talk shows are a valuable promotional outlet for authors and publishers.   

Web radio can’t generate audio advertising unless it can offer a substantial listenership, something few can promise. Pop-ups and other visual advertising aren’t available on radio. Several stations have attempted a donation solicitation similar to Public Radio, but with a small listener base, that can’t generate enough to cover costs. 

The government’s Copyright Royalty Board has to re-evaluate its royalty rulings to keep pace with the changes in the broadcast arena. It must afford a fair balance between royalty payments to stations of all sizes, tempering the advantages given to larger stations. Satellite radio pays far lower royalties than web radio and large broadcasters pay none at all. The broad promotional reach the big boys offer a composer are considered adequate payment. 

It’s time to update to the digital age and strike a livable balance for all. 

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RLTV IS GROWING IN POPULARITY & REACH

BUT IT NEEDS A STRONG BOOST FROM INTERESTED AUTHORS

RLTV is growing steadily throughout the Mid-Atlantic and North East regions, but no where fast enough for those of us whose books address older Baby Boomers or the Senior crowd. Many regions, like my own, served by Cablevision, do not include  RLTV in their programming. In fact, they offer few if any programs geared to older Americans, the target niche for RLTV.

I urge you to join the numbers of potential viewers who have sent petitions into their cable suppliers urging them to include RLTV. Enter RLTV in your search engine and then click on “Get RLTV Now” in the navigation bar and find a form to submit. Fill it out, and the company will do the rest. This segment of the population has been ignored to a great degree by the broadcast media. Help get them back on track serving the fastest growing segment of the American population.