BlatherWatch

The incredible shrinking seattle talk radio... or ... why we don’t have much to write about any more

Conservative talk radio was invented in Seattle, now it’s as endangered as the wild Puget Sound salmon. and let’s face it, save Dave Ross, there ain’t no local liberal talk.

With the KVI’s elimination of Kirby Wilbur, another block of local airtime went to out-of-town, out-of-touch, syndicated blabbermeisters- sending a butt-load of ad $ somewhere else.

Must-listen radio: komo takes drivetime listeners to italy for the amanda knox verdict

We haven’t followed the Amanda Knox case too closely, but this car radio button-pusher was glued to KOMO1000 as they simulcast Channel 4’s Dan and Kathy with a live feed from Peruggia in the wait for the verdict.

Green shoots for fisher radio?

Fisher radio (KOMO, KVI, KPLZ) is looking better despite a 3rd quarter report that contains this dreary bullet point:

Radio revenue decreased 49% in the third quarter compared to the third quarter of 2008. Excluding the financial impact of the Seattle Mariners broadcast contract in 2008, radio revenue declined 21% over the same period.

Will KPTK step up to radio reality?

Seattle liberal-interest money groups have long talked up the possibility of buying a radio station to counter the overwhelmingly conservative news talk stations in a market that's overwhelmingly liberal.

That's probably not a good idea, since it's been proven many times that radio should be left to radio professionals...Oh wait, that's right, a generation of professionals put radio where it is today: in the shit.

Ask Billy Bob: what would you do to fix "the KIROs?"

(Billy Bob (whose name is neither Billy nor Bob) worked long in the Seattle radio market wearing a suit. He says the experience heightened his sense of irony, and diminished his circle of friends. Recently, he and his faithful readers had a chat about how to fix KIRO, the station that threw it 

(photo: Mr. Bob; thanks, Diane Arbus)

all away by flipping to FM, and leaving a sports talker in their heritage AM blowtorching spot on the dial).

TBTL, R.I.P. 2008-2009

It was too beautiful to live. Turns out that the little show that could, couldn't, at least on terrestrial radio.

Too Beautiful to Live (KIROFM m-f, 7-10p) it's the little show that might've. After risking its life 5 days a week for one year and nine months, KIROFM has cancelled the quirky, smart radio world created by Luke Burbank, Jen Andrews, and Sean DiTore.

Another sign the end is near... KVI junks 'cop talk radio'

Effective immediately- if you were listening last week, you heard the last show.

We speak sadly of KVI's Cop Talk Radio (Saturdays 6-7p), another victim of media hard times in general, and KVI's problems in particular.

Is Fisher for sale?

 Is Fisher Communications (KOMO radio, & teevee, KVI, more) primping itself up for sale?

John DeRosa, former Fisher Web Development Director, is reading what seems to us more than tea-leaves on his blog, Seek Nuance.

(photo: CEO Colleen 'twice her annual salary, plus" Brown)

Seems Fisher just notified the SEC of changes in their Change of Control agreements with their top suits.

Seattle ratings breakout shows more trouble for conservative talk radio

Right-wing talk stations are missing in top 15 rankings in Seattle (where you'd expect) but also in the rest of the market as well (including Arlington, Mount Vernon, and Bellevue).

A fascinating breakout of Seattle's July radio ratings has been posted by Eric Lacitis at the Seattle Times. (Seattle for the ZIP codes from Greenwood to Seward Park compared with the Metro region including King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Skagit and Island counties).

UPDATED: The KIROFM mourning news: more fear and loathing

It's getting ugly over there. At ratings-lagging KIROFM, everyone is bracing for the next round of cuts, and we're not the only ones who believe will be happening soon.

We've been apprised that our sunny prediction that maybe news staff will be re-expanded to compete with the high-riding KOMO is totally wrong.