Why have so many liberal radio talk shows gone bankrupt? Should our taxes support them?

Question

Since they can't make it in the free market?

Holy Cow, NPR already gets our tax dollars.

Jim W, Air America is liberal talk radio

Silverkris, maybe Rush did urge listeners to buy his sponsors products, but I don't think he ever asked listeners to send him money. Liberal talk radio has.

Answer 1

Our taxes have been supporting NPR for years. So what else is new?
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 2

You're wrong on all counts, and let's put this into perspective here.

Liberal or left-leaning talk radio is relatively new in the marketplace. It's still in its infancy, and it IS getting more and more viewers. There are shows such as Randi Rhodes and Ed Schultz, in some markets, going up against right wing stalwarts such as Hannity or Rush in the same time slot getting a bigger audience share. Rightwingers like yourself have crowed that it isn't going to last, and you are dead wrong on that.

Don't forget, when Rush was starting out, he didn't have much of an audience, and he implored his viewers to go out and support the sponsors of the show. He's succeeded. There's no reason why Thom Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz and others can't do the same. And in fact, they are doing that! And I've heard that Randi is beating Rush in audience right in his homebase, Palm Beach, FL (They've both Florida based, btw).

That tax support issue is simply a strawman comment. Left wing shows are making it in the free market and often beating the righties at their own game. And in some cases, some rightwing talkies who have gone past the pale of good taste, such as Michael Savage have lost sponsorship due to public pressure and the recognition that hate talk is bad for business.


In a related matter, the right wing Washington Times paper has been losing money ever since its inception and is kept going by Rev. Moon's many millions. Yep, free market indeed.

Answer 3

As a liberal, I'm a little biased.

But, if one half of the nation's political spectrum can't make it on the nation's airwaves, then what's going on?

Remember, the Democrats (mostly Liberal) took back Congress, and lost the last two presidential elections by just a couple of percentage points. But they can't get a radio show to work?

I think the problem is that Liberalism doesn't translate very well on Radio (similar to how Conservatism doesn't translate very well in movies.)

Answer 4

Maybe a fairness doctrine approach should be applied to the snoozefest at NPR.

Liven things up a bit.

Answer 5

Contrary to what silverskirts says, no one is listening to lwr.

Answer 6

Wrong.

There is no liberal radio, only Neo-Nazi crap.

or music.

Duh!

Answer 7

Please give examples of those wanting your taxes.