Has your AAR affiliate changed its lineup lately? Ours did - very badly!

[PSPS]

The AAR affiliate in Seattle is KPTK AM 1090 (one of five stations in Seattle owned by Infinity.) Their original program lineup had a very good flow to it, and it turned out that it was the only radio station I listened to (except when Mike Webb is on local flamethrower KIRO AM 710 from 9 PM - 1 AM)

A month or two ago, they ran a promotion asking for "listener input"� on their weekend lineup. But, lo and behold, they've now changed their weekday lineup in a way that really cuts the station's appeal off at its knees, as far as I'm concerned.

The original lineup during my waking hours went like this:

6AM - 9AM: Morning Sedition
9AM - Noon: Al Franken
Noon - 3PM: Ed Schultz (via Jones Radio)
3PM - 7PM: Randi Rhodes
7PM - 10PM: Mike Malloy

Their new lineup is like this now:

6AM - 9AM: Stephanie Miller
9AM - Noon: Thom Hartmann
Noon - 3PM: Ed Schultz (via Jones Radio)
3PM - 6PM: Al Franken
6PM - 10PM: Randi Rhodes
10PM - Midnight: Mike Malloy

I really miss Morning Sedition, but they play that now from 3 AM - 5 AM when I'm snoring. Stephanie Miller's show is too silly and flippant, and I usually tune to another station now in the mornings.

Thom Hartmann's show is excellent and deserves a place in the lineup. But Franken's show, which I also like, really fit in the post-drive AM slot it used to have. Putting Franken on during PM drive is a big, big mistake. The tempo of his show is all wrong for that time slot.

To me, Ed Schultz is bad - very bad. I know a lot of people like his show and I suppose he has a place in all of this. But I don't go for his forced theatrics and insincere bombastic tone. This might be a good place for Hartmann, but I think Jones has purchased the time slot.

Randi Rhodes' show is perfect for PM drive, but they moved it and put Franken here. Like I said, Franken's show (which I do like) is made for post-drive AM and is a real bad fit here.

Mike Malloy is another show I don't listen to much. It's pretty much a one-note show delivered in a monologue, so it doesn't really deliver much information. His show is probably OK where it is, as its nature is more attuned late-night.

So, my question is, have other AAR affiliates around the country changed their lineup in a way that, in my opinion, really undermines its listernership?

[KharmaTrain]

1. Seems Like They're Upgrading Things

Steph's doing very well ratings-wise in LA, and Hartmann's right down the road in Portland. This sounds more like an attempt to give a more regional sound. Also I suspect they're probably going to find a local host in the near future.

The station's ratings have been solid and it appears Clear Channel is upping their investment in some of their bigger stations.

Also shows are purchased on a contractual basis...some from AAR, others from Jones and other radio networks. If a show is doing well and making money, it's renewed...if it's not, something else is tried.

Consider these growing pains...

[proud patriot]

2. Down here the SF station plays Morning Sedition too Early

so I catch the archive via Air America Place everyday.

[merwin]

3. I HATE the fact that they put Randi on late at night.

I agree with you 100% on the Franken/Randi thing. 6 hour time delay for both shows is nuts.

I now don't listen to it on my drive home, since i stream franken at work. They effectively lost a listener.

[Rainscents]

6. We should all write to them and complain!

[merwin]

12. I have written and called :-)

[Rainscents]

4. I like the line up axcept the Al!

This is new line up. I been listening to this since they started this last Monday! I wished, they should put Randi Live also! (3p-7p) and get rid of Al!

6-9 Stephanie Miller
9-12 Thom Hartmann (Live)
12-3p Ed Schultz (Live)
3-6 Al Frankin
6-10 Randi Rhodes
10p-1am is Mike Malloy

Sometime 7-10pm they have colleage football. Tonight they're running football.

[Lefty_the_Right]

5. Same here

I agree with everything you said.
It amazes me how wrong the decions they made were.

The point of radio is that it is immediate, and now most of the shows are delayed.
If there is a breaking event, my local Air America station won't be the one that anyone will be listening to.

How could anyone make such a huge mistake.

Other than Gob Bluth that is.

[WA98296]

7. Totally agree with original post...except

KPTK solicited for opinions on the "NEW" weekend hosts...leaving us to assume that we didn't need to comment on the MUCH BETTER existing weekend shows like Laura Flanders...or giving us ANY indication that our comments would affect the lineup. This was deceitful.

My guess, they've gone for cheaper choices.

Steph Miller, nothing to offer -- simply mocks the administration. And OH MY GOD I am SO TOTALLY SICK of hearing her opinion that she is good looking. Apparently she feels that her looks are somehow important to us.

Hartmann is great, when Al is senator from Minnesota, Hartmann should take over the morning slot. Randi in drive time is perfect, Mike at 7 is good.

I'm hoping someone will buy a local FM station and put it all right. Soon as I win the Mega Lotto you can all be looking for that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Welcome to DU *Wave*

[LaPera]

8. At least you guys have an AAR affiliate...Here in Humboldt County we're

stuck with the moderate clown Ed Schultz, Dr. Laura, some right-wing asshole (don't know, nor give a fuck what his name is) and Dr. Dean Edell... can you fucking believe this line up here in liberal Humboldt County?

But the channel (KGOE) does offer the great Thom Hartmann from 9 am to noon!!!!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Don't forget "Coug Talk!"

:grr:

[Quixote1818]

11. Ed Schultz is the leading Progressive host so he is going to

get the best time slot. I sure would like to hear more Thom Hartmann! I wish they would drop Jerry Springer here in Albuquerque and put in Hartmann!