Glenn,
If the masses were actually clamoring for a liberal radio network, in other words, if it were an economically viable proposition
I don't agree with your opinion. I've seen far too many instances where the agenda is being set by upper management of the over-powerful and sneeringly fascistic dominant media companies.
Here's the classic example. Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" was a profitable venture for ABC, but when Bill got too honest about 9/11 and didn't kiss the ass of the Bush propaganda machine, he got canned. Not because he didn't have an audience. But because of a right wing hysteria which couldn't tolerate the truth.
How about the censorship we just witnessed on the mildly critical mini-series on Ronald Reagan on CBS? Another perfect example of a liberal opinion which was not suppressed because of a lack of audience interest, but rather because of another act of censorship from the right wing.
And what is one of the most popular cable network programs at 11 PM weeknights? Why it is Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart which is ironically about the most honest information we'll get about the Bush team blunders on the entire dial. And they got a fine audience.
Liberal radio will be the same. It will be viable when people know that they have a "home" station that they can tune to. After all, Pacifica radio has successfully maintained stations in Berkeley, LA, Houston, New York and other cities for decades. There is an audience. But what has to happen is there has to be station that is consistent in its content. The failure of Mario Cuomo's and Jim Hightower's programs was ascribed to the fact that they were sandwiched into rightwing hate radio formats. Which meant that it was a jarring note for a hostile audience. Besides which, I'm sure that Clear Channel and the other pig networks have had no interest in furthering a liberal agenda. Just look at the "Dixie Chicks" brouhaha to see fascist management in action. They censored the Dixie Chicks off a 250 station network, and couldn't dent the phenomenal success of this past summer's sold out tour season for Natalie and her pals. Try as they might, the fascists lost that one. |
