Our cursory glances at the new Arbitron ages 25 to 54 rating book for last Winter, shows local Air America station KPTK statistically tied with former news talk leader, KIRO.
(The 25-54 is the all-important "money demo" used by advertisers. Radio (and TV) lives or dies by this survey. It's stupid, really- how many 25-year olds do you know who listen to the same stuff on the radio as a 54-year old? I come up with the same number- zero to none. Yet the listening habits of both ages are bunched up together, crunched in a million different ways, and the broadcast world hinges on the results. This isn't the only reason it's called the Arbitrary-tron rating by snide insiders).
"Time spent listening"- (TSL) numbers show that KIRO's average listener between the ages of 25 and 54, spends less than 5 hours a week tuned to the station during the day, 6a-7p.
That means they spend less than an hour a day listening to the morning news, Dave and Dori.
People are sampling KIRO, tuning in for a traffic report or hourly newscast, and then fleeing. KIRO's TSL is only marginally better than KOMO's, but KOMO's product is designed to offer elements at predictable times so listeners know exactly when to tune in for traffic or sports.
KIRO's abysmal TSL has allowed KPTK catch up. Between 6a and 7p, KIRO ranked 11th among people 25-54. KPTK ranked 12th, but ITAL it was behind by only 200 listeners. Statistically, that's a tie.
KIRO has three times as many unique listeners as KPTK, but KPTK keeps its listeners for more than 2 1/2 hours a day.
Based on TSL, KPTK has the most loyal audience of any Seattle station, which is why it might be tough for Dave Ross to win back many of the people who left for Thom Hartmann. The 9 ta noon breakouts show that Hartmann's listeners stay with his show for about an hour and a half.
We love it when KPTK does well. Just think what they could do if they had some local jocks cementing them to the community!
While we've always listened to Brian Maloney, The Radio Equalizer on subjects he knows about, but we take him with a big hit of PeptoBismal when he talks about politics or Air America.
When the ex-KVI, KIRO talk host writes about the former, well- whaddya gonna do? He's a hardass conservative who's hurting America.
And about the latter? Brian's obsessive. He hates Air America- especially Al Franken. There's just no discussing it without him getting all sweaty. Maloney devotes about 90% of his bandwidth to microscopically analyzing the fledgling network, predicting constantly its demise.
His latest dire prediction for AAR- that it would lose its flagship NYC affiliate on April 1- has once again proven apocryphal.
On March 3, he reported:
In a development sure to rip the heart right out of the liberal radio network's already ailing body, it appears extremely likely their leased New York City flagship station WLIB-AM will soon abandon Air America programming.
He concluded: "If [Air America] Radio is airing on April 1, trust us, it won't be an April Fool's Day joke."
Eric Boehlert on Eric Alterman's MSNBC blog space wrote: "Maybe he meant April 1, ITAL2007."
Brian should give AAR a rest. His lengthy analyses of the Girls & Boys club "scandals," never amounted to anything over the months he spent on it.
The little company had a rocky start because Evan Cohen, the shady first AAR CEO, told everybody he had enough money to keep the start-up going for 3 years when actually he only had enough for 3 months.
While screwing over other investors in a web of lies and finaglings, he "borrowed" 875k from the Gloria Wise Boy's & Girls Club in New York City, and fedit into the infant Air America.
After Cohen's house of cards collapsed, a new company, Piquant was formed with new investors- real investors- led by Seattle's RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser. When the B& G Club scandal broke out, Piquant agreed on principle, to pay back the money- they were not legally bound to do it. It was just another flaming bag of dogshit left at the doorstep of the struggling start-up by Cohen.
Brian and the viperific Michelle Malkin made it a cottage industry for months reporting on every twitch of the "scandal," finding conspiracies and damning evidence in Al Franken's jokes and bemoaning that the MSM conspiratorially ignored the story.
They created a volumes of text made to look like volumes of scandal. But when you blew away the fluff of stern adjectives and self-righteous partisan glee--there was nothing left but the sad story of a corporate asshole sticking it to his investors and employees.
I'm a formal kind of guy, Fremont.
Actually, it's all I know. Sadly, the majority or my Spanish speaking experience has been limited to classrooms, Italian-speaking grandparents and those with mental issues on blogs. All the Espanol I know went straight from a text book to my lips (or fingertips). Unless I'm talking to a matador, I sound like a total nerd.
I have only been to Mexico once and that was years ago.
Posted by: toryrogan | May 12, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Ive sent emails to KIRO regarding their programing:
Send Dori to KTTH where he can spread the truth; he doesnt talk much about Bushie anymore, (rememeber he was a huge supporter of Bush and the war and the weapons of mass destruction?)he can join madman Michael Medved. They can both wear their blinders together...two nitwits in a pod..
Give Ron Reagan the 12-3 time slot
Dave needs to get some of his old subjects back: Like Robbie Bahktra
Expert econonmist: I spelled Robbies name phonetically, sorry
:( and other well known guest...
Dave talks about some dumb things lately, Thom Hartmann gets you involved, calling your Congressman, Senators, he gets a variety of people in the know both from the left and right, and does it respectfully when he debates.
Dori and Dave, their are stuck in their own demise. Ive have gotten many people turned on to KTPK including my 23 year old daughter.
She has turned many of her friends on to Steph Miller, BigEd and Al Franken.
There are 25-54
yr olds who converse with many people of this age group. Thom Hartmann gives great Civics lessons to the under 30 crowd and KTPK gets their listeners involved Like the June 10th show that is sold out about The Changing Media in America....my daughter and I are going maybe we will see Dori or Dave their....but I doubt it
Oh I also told the KIRO manager to change the call letters to DORI AM, since he does 90% of the commercials and I too press my P1 button back to KTPK. It was just a thought!
Posted by: Jeast | May 12, 2006 at 12:41 PM
Ah, bummer, Joans, I was going to invite you for a veggie-burger....I'll see you there June 10, Jeast...I'll be the one wearing the batiked bell-bottoms and the "FUCK BUSH" t-shirt! I think pot-smoking will be allowed...
Posted by: Fremont | May 12, 2006 at 01:09 PM
Bien, ToRo...tu hablas muy bien el espanol. I'm going to Mexico in September, so I've burned the entire Pimsleur Spanish program onto mp3's. I want to be glib when I barter..."Mas barato, idiota, no quiero pagar!" "Estoy Americano/a, todo el mundo es mio!"
Posted by: Fremont | May 12, 2006 at 01:19 PM
Trans: "Cheaper, you idiot! I don't want to pay!" and "I'm an American...I own everybody/thing!" I'll be a real hit in Mexico...
Posted by: Fremont | May 12, 2006 at 01:22 PM
That show has been sold out for weeks...another time maybe
Posted by: sparky | May 12, 2006 at 05:05 PM
Talk show hosts, including Schultz and Rhodes, on Larry King live right now....
Posted by: Fremont | May 12, 2006 at 06:18 PM
Veggie burgers awaited for you, too, Sparkola...double bummer!
Posted by: Fremont | May 12, 2006 at 06:20 PM
yes..watching Randi single handedly whip their asses! It is amusing to watch Randi and Big Ed actually agree with each other since they have kind of a feud going..
Posted by: sparky | May 12, 2006 at 06:39 PM
That would be worth the price of admission! What is the feud about? Do you know?
I do think Randi gets a little full of herself. She's talking to Jonathan Turley (SP?) who is a Constitutional lawyer/professor who has been all over the media recently and he's been setting her straight on some things.
She doesn't listen at all - she's even interrupting him if you can believe it - and I get tired of her constant monologues.
But, I do listen to her off an on.
Posted by: joanie | May 12, 2006 at 06:52 PM
Sparky, are you a vegetarian or vegan? I like my meat but I also love the critters we kill. What a dilemma! Life is so complex these days . . .:)
Posted by: joanie | May 12, 2006 at 06:54 PM
i wont eat veal because of how they treat the calves to make them tender...but i eat everything else. Love short ribs and a nice juicy steak....
I buy organic when I can, and ONLY organic hamburger--no antibiotics, hormones or dead-cow parts in the feed....
Posted by: sparky | May 12, 2006 at 07:42 PM
re: the Feud
Randi thinks that Ed sold out when he accepted some money to improve his broadcasting possibilities. He heard about what she said about him and he disses her show whenever he gets a chance. Neither one of them admitted that the other one was going to be on Larry King tonight--made it sound like it would be them solo against the conservatives...lol...
Posted by: sparky | May 12, 2006 at 07:46 PM
Yeah, I heard it billed as each, solo, too! No faces for me, Joans, and foodstamps won't support the higher organic prices. Pay more taxes, please!
Posted by: Fremont | May 12, 2006 at 07:56 PM
That's so funny! I saw her interview with Brian Lam on CSpan and she said that a group of democrats invited her and Ed to dinner and talked to them about how to do talk radio and then "passed the hat" so to speak. Netted a couple hundred thousand dollars. She told Brian that she didn't take the money because she didn't want anyone to own what she said. She'd say what she thought. Brian asked her if the other guy accepted the money and she said yeah.
I wondered if that might cause a problem. . .
Regarding veal, me too. I've never eaten it and will never eat it. My mother was raised on a ranch and she didn't like it and advocated against whenever someone would listen.
"You don't eat babies" she said.
Posted by: joanie | May 12, 2006 at 08:14 PM
First, if you are going to have a debate, please give each equal time! Maybe a big gong to let them know that their time is up!
I notice John, the host tended to always go to the Conartists first, almost everytime and ended the show with the Conartist with the last gasp! Then it was Rhodes hyper-ventalating. Rhodes did pretty good on interupting the Conartists. Big Ed, was basically left with one... maybe two first off questions, (Can't remember, my Margarita was taking affect.)
Conartists were basically given the first opportunity to spread the manure...it appears Big Ed's mind was somewhere else, maybe his son's college graduation that he supposedly missed. Rhodes had a good point telling the little punk with way-to-much comb over of his hair. Why wasn't he over in Iraq searching for those weapons of mass destruction?
Ah yes, following in the footsteps of famous Conartists who never served, i.e. GW, absent while partying, Dickie, Got my Gun, Rush Limpboy, Insanity Hannity, and many more Republicons, ect, ect ect....
Larry King is trying to show the talk show debate, well, set it up like a real debate, when the time is up, whack'em on the head or strap their mouths shut with duct tape and rip it off (especially the hate talk hosts, right before they answer, the pain will contort their face and leave them speechless... ah, such a fantasy!
Posted by: Jeast | May 12, 2006 at 10:15 PM
I like your style, Fremont. As an alternative, might I also suggest "No me moleste, soy de aqui." (A loose translation of Bill Murray's delightful "Don't Hassle me, I'm Local" t-shirt in "What About Bob".
Posted by: toryrogan | May 12, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Fremont,
We will (my daughter and I) be watching for those hip (batiked) bell bottoms and FB Tish-Tishirts and we will take in the very progress air atmosphere...June 10th!!
Posted by: Jeast | May 13, 2006 at 12:25 AM
Oops, sorry I butted in on the meat discussion, Joans...it was addressed to Sparks (as many of your posts are, I notice...). My apologies....
Posted by: Fremont | May 13, 2006 at 12:05 PM
If Bla'M were to ask for donations, how would you respond?
Posted by: Fremont | May 13, 2006 at 12:07 PM
jump right in with your carving knife and fork Fremont...
I might just toss in a few coins if BLa'M decided to do something ambitious...
Posted by: sparky | May 13, 2006 at 12:27 PM
Frem't, I usually only address to Sparky when curious about something pertaining to her comments or your comments to her etc etc etc . . . I love any and all responses . . . can't you tell?
Besides, you were the one who mentioned veggie something-or-other and I got curious so asked Sparky!
BTW, between us, we all three seem to address our posts a bit. I think it feels more personal. When I look back at my posts, I seem to address them often to whichever post triggers my reaction.
Just ask poor "Klueless." He probably thinks I'm stalking him . . . (LOL)
What makes you ask about donations? I already offered but he didn't take me up on it. :)
(OK, OK! I"m a little analytical!) Love you all!
Posted by: joanie | May 13, 2006 at 01:03 PM
"see a newly hatched eyas take a spill!"
Posted by: joanie | May 13, 2006 at 01:30 PM
HA! Bla'M refused your donation?!? I once saw him at Dick's Drive-in trying to fleece Mike Webb! (I think Bla'M's prurient interest in Webb might have something to do with Webb's resistance...)
Posted by: Fremont | May 13, 2006 at 01:40 PM
Thanks again, Joans! Every time I look, the tykes disappear...(BTW, falcons eat baby bird-meat! It's an approach-avoidance conflict for me....)
Posted by: Fremont | May 13, 2006 at 01:44 PM
Didn't the link above give you a picture of the babe falling backwards?
Posted by: joanie | May 13, 2006 at 01:49 PM
nesting bald eagles behind my house make several trips a day to the large body of water across the street to get fish for their two hatchlings up there...they are fun to watch fly over the house with a fish in their talons...
Posted by: sparky | May 13, 2006 at 01:53 PM
Honestly, Fremont, I can't figure out why you never see them. Right now the four cameras all show a small eyas lying in the left side of the box drenched because there is a thunder and lightning storm going on in Rochester. It is kind of scary. I wish mom, Mariah, would pull that little one under her.
Also, there is a picture of an egg - the last one to hatch - that has a hole in the top very visible. I think it is called a pip. There is just so much going on right now!
"Finally, if you are really interested, check out the Yahoo discussion group where lots of pics are posted and questions answered. Also, I'm a viewer rather than a poster . . . you have to ask to join."
Posted by: joanie | May 13, 2006 at 01:59 PM
"Fremont, I have one more link which may be the best - you get a minute by minute movie of everything in the nest box. It is delightful!"
Posted by: joanie | May 13, 2006 at 02:24 PM
I've never heard of KPTK, but I'll look it up and program a button. KIRO and Dori have certainly gone down the tube. Dave wrote to me once and told me that the second half of each hour (at 5) contained 8 MINUTES of programming! When they bought that stupid noise machine that practically drowns out the traffic report, it was basically over for me. There's a little jingle, noise or tune for everything. It really gets annoying.
When I hear the same commercial more than twice I bail. Dori's show isn't too bad when it's entertainment. It's when he plays Libertarian Journalist that I have to head for the toilet. Find out what being a true libertarian (and Christian) really entails. You have to wonder how many of his opinions are being dictated by the advertisers. Journalist my arse.
Anyway, thanks for the tip on KPTK.
Posted by: Bill | May 26, 2006 at 02:10 PM