Rhodes, Nova M up in the air

[babsbunny]

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2009/02/rhodes-nova-m-up-in-air.html

After a vague, unexplained standoff that has seen Randi Rhodes absent from her syndicated Nova M Radio show for the past week, without explanation, her future at Nova M Radio is unclear.

From Nova M's site:

To all of Randi's listeners;

You are all correct - I have not had the option to disclose what has been happening between Randi and Nova M..

[ShortnFiery]

1. No!!! I love Randi Rhodes! At the least, put on Ed Schultz instead of Nancy Skinner?

Nancy Skinner is an intelligent and good persons/democrat, but a Radio Host - she is NOT. :shrug:

[madaboutharry]

2. Don't take this the wrong way, but

Randi has always struck me as somewhat of a drama queen. I hope they straighten this out.

[ShortnFiery]

4. True, Randi can step on her own ego, but she does the best research, second only to Thom ...

Hartmann. She is both educational and entertaining albeit, at times, she can be too curt - many of us know her and enjoy her greatly, faults included. :shrug:

[valerief]

6. Well said. She's a fountain of information. And I enjoy how it's delivered.

I like the ego, the yelling. More call-in dummies/rightwingers should be called out for stupidity/propaganda on the air.

And Thom Hartmann is a gem.

[shellgame26]

3. Randi is the best thing on radio

if she goes I'll have to start listening to music on my ipod again.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Progressive Talk Radio Is On Life Support

Sad to say, but that's the case. These networks...Nova M, Air America were never very well funded to start with and with the implosion of radio...advertising is at rock bottom and going lower, these networks will be hardpressed to remain going. If it's not the affiliates who either will change formats to grab whatever money they can, they'll be going off the air altogether. These networks have zero credit to borrow money to keep going and unless someone like a Green family or the Drobnys self finance them, they're not going to survive on their own.

Looks like Randi went into safe harbor...took a sure job (as sure as a Cheap Channel job is these days) along with benefits. Things are real tough out there and one has to do what one has to do to survive. Randi's show hasn't been heard here in Chicago for over a year. I wish her the best of luck and health.

[NightWatcher]

7. I predict that true progressive radio will survive on in local markets and on the web

I have to stream everything I get, so it's no problem for me to grab talkers that are not even on terrestrial radio.

I listen to Head On, Jeff Farias, and a few others that only exist on the innertubes

[terip64]

9. I agree, I have to stream what I listen to and it really isn't a big deal. It is the future. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

10. Then let's make sure those "local markets" provide streaming audio and LIST them on DU? eom

[KharmaTrain]

11. There's Very Little Local

We have 5 Progressive stations in this town...with almost NO local programming. The owner is notoriously cheap and avoided doing any local shows, relying on cheap satellite programming. If he doesn't sell the station, bets are if he loses he cheap AAR programming, he'll find another.

In other markets, especially those which have a Cheap Channel station, Randi is the very rare exception. On inauguration day, the company let 10% of its staff go and more cuts are on the way. Other companies are in just as bad or worse shape...one company I have been watching has seen their "market cap" or their estimated net worth fall from 500 million to 17 million in less than a year. Few companies can take that type of hit and pull through...and that doesn't take into account the billions in debts these companies took on and then "rescheduled" while the economy "boomed". The clock has now struck midnight and the bill collector is at the door.

I'm a big advocate of Internet Radio (personal interest)...and I see it as the future of radio, but that time isn't here yet. While more and more people are listening on their puters, it's still not a very profitable operation. The advantage is that operating expenses are lower than "conventional" radio, but few, if any, on Internet radio make a dime from what they do, yet enough to pay for a staff or even for their own living expenses. I see that changing when new Wi-Fi networks come on line (now pushed back to later this year thanks to the digital TV delay) that will provide mobile coverage for these stations...letting you listen on a walkman or IPOD or car radio.

Cheers...

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. Like you, I can only stream, and am an avid Jeff Farias fan. I also

love Randi. However, I'm not a big fan of all of Randi's personal stuff. Usually, the day she returns from a vacation, it's three hours of who she rubbed elbows with. The latest development in her personal life is "HOWARD", and I cut her some slack the first day she talked about him, but it got old quickly. That being said, I hope Randi lands on her feet, and hopefully I'll still be able to stream her whenever she returns.

[ShortnFiery]

8. It's not due to Market Driving Forces! The Public is ready for Progressive Radio and there's

a treasure trove of talent. We must NOT let it die. I've supported NovaM and Stephanie Miller. I'll give some to Ed Schultz too now.

We must not let their voice go silent. THE PUBLIC enjoys this - it SELLS! :patriot:

[KharmaTrain]

12. Miller & Schultz Are Jones...A Different Animal

Sadly...no Progressive Radio doesn't sell. Hate radio is also having big troubles too. It's a "labor intensive" format that relies not just on the talented host, but an equally talented producer and sales department to put it all together. It's a luxuary many stations who are up to their eyeballs in debt and seeing revenue all but vanish can afford.

Advertisers in the best of times stayed away from political talk radio and the few that did aren't providing anywhere near enough revenues to support a network. When you hear a lot of Cash4Gold commercials, what you're hearing are PI or commercials where the station will only get money if someone actually calls the 800 number and buys something. It's a last resort of an industry that all but ate itself alive.

Schultz and Miller are part of Jones Radio...a subsidiary of Premier (same network that spews out Rushbo) which is in a far better financial situation than either Nova M or AAR. They have far greater access to putting their shows on the air and the talk network is just one of several that either are breaking even or making money. In essence, they're the big leagues, AAR and NOVA M were fringe players at best.

I would love to see Progresive Talk thrive and grow...and it still can, but under a whole different scenario. One big step would be to "re-regulate" the public airwaves and break up the large chains...returning control of ownership and content to the local level...returning radio to its roots and where its always performed best.

[1776Forever]

13. I stopped listening to Randi when she sided with Melissa Etheridge "forgiving" Rick Warren!

It really got to me that she would just overlook everything that has been reported about his hate filled gay messages from his protege's in Africa have been spewing! Progressive she is not! I think she lost a lot of people after that. Randi also would have more tirades then usual with her callers and was actually rude to many of them even more then she used to be. She seemed to have developed a "holy then thou" complex even with the callers who where on her side at times.

I know Nova M has money issues too because they had viewer support money that I am sure has dwindled down because of the economy. One of my favorite talkers on Nova M, Jeff Farias, has gone to a radio group called Roots Up Radio. If you want to check him out from 6 pm to 9 pm est go here:

http://www.thejefffariasshow.com/

Check out Jeff - I would like to see more support for our liberal radio media talkers!

:applause:

[ShortnFiery]

14. I don't always agree with Randi but she is highly intelligent and entertaining. To not have her ...

show syndicated would be a true tragedy.

[Baikonour]

15. Randi seems to have a problem with management. Or authority.

Come on, Randi. The radio show and all the people you reach out to goes way beyond you and your ego.