Re: More outrageous? (NGC)

"Chris Bellomy" <puevf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0T40n9v3Ime1N34@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"\"R&B\"" <noneofyourbusiness@xxxxxxx> wrote:

There's one big difference between MSNBC's decision and the one facing
CBS
Radio. If MSNBC drops his show (as they have), only MSNBC has to
scramble
to come up with replacement programming to fill that hole. However, if
CBS
Radio drops his show, they will be essentially throwing a couple of
hundred
affiliate radio stations under the bus, forcing each of them to scramble
for
replacement programming to fill their morning drive hole. Since morning
drive is, by far, the most valuable air time on radio, for CBS to do such
a
thing to so many radio stations -- just a couple of weeks before the
Spring
Arbitron Ratings Period begins -- would be tantamount to signing their
own
suicide note.

I call BS on this one, Randy.

First of all, if they keep sending the Imus show out but with
no network ads, and the affiliates can no longer sell local ads
for that show, then they're not doing the affiliates or themselves
any favors by keeping him. And that's the direction this is headed
at the moment.


Oh, I will grant you that completely. I'm not saying they'll keep him on
the air forever. All I'm saying is that they may keep him on the air *for a
while* to give affiliates enough time to find replacement programming.

In today's radio environment, a lot of stations -- especially those that
carry network programming -- don't have bodies around to do the air shifts.
They may not even have a board op during the pre-office hours time that the
show is on the air. It's all run by a computer, with no one in the
building. And the alternative morning shows that are out there may or may
not even be available in their market. Could be that their competitor is
already running the syndicated morning show they'd most want to carry if
Imus came off. Honestly, there aren't that many options for the stations
carrying Imus.

There are a lot of reasons why stations would be left scrambling. All I'm
saying is that CBS's language thus far in their statements have been
carefully worded, and give no indication that they're prepared at this time
to make a long-term commitment to Imus. It sounds to me like they're
hedging their bets right now, sending a signal that no final decision has
been made, in hopes that their affiliates will get the signal and start
looking for a replacement. Behind the scenes, I'd bet that CBS Radio may
even be peddling alternative programming to some of their affiliates right
now while all this is going on, and are waiting until they've made contact
with all their affiliates and helped them make other arrangements before
they pull the plug on the show. They can't just take the show off and leave
their affiliates scrambling for something just to keep the needle moving.
That's all I'm saying.


Secondly, CBS could have an interim replacement show for Imus up
easily by the time he's scheduled to be back from suspension.


Which means nothing. When Howard Stern came off the air to go to Satellite
Radio, his replacements on terrestrial radio did not hold many of the Stern
affiliates. A lot of stations defected, and sought out replacement
programming from another provider. Stations sign up to run a particular
show. If you take that show off, they're under no obligation to continue
carrying the replacement host(s) you put on. Listeners are tuning in to
hear the guy they're used to hearing. When he's gone, the listeners usually
leave.

Say what you will about Imus, he has a loyal following. Those who are
abandoning him now are mostly guests who can ill-afford to damage their
political careers by appearing to endorse his bad behavior by making another
appearance on his show. They now seem to want to distance themselves from
having ever appeared on it.

But we haven't heard from any Imus *listeners*. And we probably won't.


In fact, they must have an interim show up while he's on suspension
in the first place, so there's nothing keeping them from keeping
that on the air until a new offering for morning drive is put
together. I hear that Sam Seder is looking for a gig.


I would imagine CBS *will*, indeed, offer a replacement show. They should.
Morning drive is too lucrative a daypart not to compete in that arena. But
that doesn't mean anyone will carry the show. Some will. But how many?


I don't think there's any way that CBS keeps Imus after this nor
do I think there's any good reason why they should.


I happen to agree with you.

I think you've just misunderstood me. I believe Imus will come off, and I
believe it will be sooner rather than later. The question is how much time
do affiliates need to find something else, either from CBS or some other
programming provider (or, <gasp!>, even originate it themselves).


He's been a cancer on the airwaves for far too long and it's time
to leave that miserable era behind finally.



I don't disagree. And I hope this is only the start. I hope we see the
same kind of recalibration of the broadcasting industry that we saw in the
aftermath of the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction.

I have no problem with talkradio being mostly right-wing propoganda. It's a
free country. But I do have a problem when some of these right-wingers spew
racist views, and try to couch them in a way that gives them cover.

A perfect example of this is Neal Boortz, whose parent company, Cox, is
based in Atlanta, a predominantly African-American city, and which employs
thousands of African-Americans here in its hometown where Boortz is based.
Boortz has called former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney "a ghetto ***," and
just last Tuesday was whining about the fact that blacks can use the "N"
word, but whites can't. Not so subtle was the implication that he was
complaining that that he can't use it. The part he doesn't get is that
anyone with an ounce of decency knows this and is okay with it.

When people like Neal Boortz are finally removed from the air and silenced
forever, then I'll be satisfied that we've turned a corner. Replace him
with another right-wing nut job. I don't care about that. Georgia is a
fire-engine red state, and WSB should be entitled to cater to that audience.
But it's not 1957 anymore. It's time broadcasters take a zero tolerance
stance with their air talent for racist remarks.


Randy


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