BREAKING: Randi Rhodes to Return to Talk Radio

[BradBlog]

Source: BRAD BLOG, Green960



BREAKING: Randi Rhodes to Return to Talk Radio
San Franciso's Green960 announces 'Queen of Progressive Talk' to be syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, home to Limbaugh, Hannity and other rightwing talkers...

Following a nearly two month absence from the airwaves, Progressive radio talker Randi Rhodes is set to return, according to an announcement this afternoon from John Scott of San Francisco's Green960 (KKGN). She will be syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks as reported in a video-taped announcement just posted on the Green960 website.

Premiere is known for their national syndication of far-right talkers such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Dr. Laura and Glenn Beck. Rhodes, known among fans as "the Queen of Progressive Talk", had formerly been with NovaM radio, which folded when she left, and at Air America Radio prior to that...

FULL STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7094


Read more: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7094

[LSparkle]

1. WHOO-FUCKING-HOO!!!! Welcome back, Goddess!!!! n/t

[CatWoman]

3. what happened?

why did she leave in the first place?

[Javaman]

7. I think it was a money issue. they didn't pay her, so she left.

She was apparently owed all sorts of money. She got tired of waiting and bailed.

[BradBlog]

10. Not true in the least. It wasn't a money issue...

I'm not going to go into the details, because I'm compromised in being friendly with all sides here, and will let Randi, or the NovaM folks discuss the details as they wish.

But just wanted to say it was NOT a money issue, as you suggest.

[baldguy]

13. Can't wait for May 11

[Javaman]

40. Oh okay, it's just what I had heard rumored. I too wait for the real story. Thanks

for the correction. :)

[defendandprotect]

63. NOVA didn't have financial issues . . . ???

[BradBlog]

83. Whatever probs they had, it didn't have to do with the Randi sitch

Like all independent progressive media outlets, NovaM was certainly struggling. Fighting against the big media corporate stranglehold is no easy feat. But that struggle didn't have anything to do with the sitch with Randi, which was another issue all together. Sorry to be so cryptic. But as I said, I like the folks on both sides, so don't want to talk for any of them. And as to simply *reporting* on that stuff, as mentioned, I'm compromised because of my relationships having worked directly with all of them, so I don't think it's appropriate to do that either.

Reporting on her return, however, is pretty straight forward stuff, and I was able to largely gather material from announcements made by others and share that with you.

Hope that makes sense.

[GregD]

137. Brad - was there a liability insurance issue involved?

That's one tid bit I noted that could have influenced the situation. It was suggested that 3 different legal opinions stated that she should stop work.

[WriteDown]

2. Oookay....

"Premiere is known for their national syndication of far-right talkers such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Dr. Laura and Glenn Beck"

[LSparkle]

5. Doesn't necessarily mean she'll be on the same stations ...

Just means she shares the same syndicator. It may open some
doors to her that were previously closed, though. !!!!

[WriteDown]

6. Sounds like they thought she was a good money making

investment. Its always about the benjamins.

[LSparkle]

8. Absolutely ... Like her or not, she's the Hymon Roth of progressive talk

She's ALWAYS made money for her bosses. With the power
of Premiere behind her, she may end up on some stronger
signals that are less likely to switch formats to polka
or sports ... or some other lameass excuse for just
wanting to jettison liberal talk radio.

[Canuckistanian]

24. O God, yeah. I hate the all-Polka format

And exactly HOW many sports stations do you need? Flip through the AM stations in any region and you're guaranteed to pick up at least THREE.

I just can't see how they can make money by saturating one market while starving the progressive market.

[wryter2000]

11. I'll bet you're right

I wonder if this isn't a good sign for progressive radio...the suits realize it can make them money.

[Frisbee]

60. Keith, Rachel and Tweety...

have proven there is a market for progressive viewpoints. I suspect this is a trend we will be seeing more of for the next few years until something approaching equilibrium occurs.

[shellgame26]

18. she's gonna kick their asses

Can't wait to hear what she has to say!

[roguevalley]

25. radio is about money. if monkey chants made money they would

syndicate it.

[Chisox08]

36. The last time I listened to conservative radio

it sounded like monkey chants to me.

[defendandprotect]

59. TV has proven it's not about money, so I think there's also a question re radio . . .

ESPECIALLY re liberal talk -- and Randi Rhodes, in particular.

TV/NBC cancelled it's most popular show in Phil Donahue -- #1
No one wants the crap that's on -- and look at the destruction of PBS and NPR
over decades by the GOP! Who possibly thinks that the GOP were creating TV
that the public wanted? No, they were there to destroy NPR and PBS.
And, they've succeeded quite well.

Look at the guy from Texas . . . Hightower . . . fantastic --
Liberal talk is much too danger to the existence of the right wing.

Meanwhile, I would suggest that Democrats aren't either very happy because
liberal radio is progressive -- and much of what the Dems have been doing over
the last decades is moving to the right to comfort their campaign contributors!

Not too long before Randi was "swiftboated" in the HRC fakery . .. she was talking
about the need to move the Democrats to the LEFT and she stressed that would have
to be done by getting closer to third parties. And within this 09/12 time frame.

[saigon68]

106. Randi was "swiftboated" in the HRC fakery

You bet those scum sucking dogs are still at it.

[Egnever]

74. Not buying that RW talking point thnx much.

Did Rush accrue hundreds of local radio affiliates across the country because his political views are mainstream? That's obviously not it. OK, so why IS his show so "popular?" Why do hundreds of stations around the country carry his show, the most widely syndicated talkfest in the country?

Glad you asked.

The real story is not generally well-known. The only reason I know is through my covering the business of radio for years for several major daily newspapers and also, for industry trade magazines like Radio World.

It's because -- ready for this? -- Rush's show was, and presumably still is, given away for free to many local radio stations.

This shocker is because of a little-known practice in broadcast syndication called a "barter deal." (Barter deals were briefly mentioned in Michael Wolff's first-rate recent piece on Rush in Vanity Fair).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-mann/limbaughs-dirty-little-se_b_185965.html

[certainot]

78. combine that with the fact he's sold trillions in deregulation, war profiteering,

and global warming denial and THAT is what he and hannity are paid 600MIL $ for, and the fact he and his wannabes have been wrong about everything important and it is very clear that the RW radio monopoly does not reflect 'market values' for political talk.

and unfortunately, while randi is a classic, satellite and podcasting don't do the trick we need to break up the monopoly. we can't have a real democracy until then.

[annabanana]

4. Oh WOW... There are sure going to be some SURPRISED

wingnuts one of these days!

I would be a fly in the car of some rw loonie accidently tuning into Randi!

[SeeHopeWin]

9. ROFL...

[wryter2000]

12. I'll see your ROFL

And raise you a guffaw. :rofl:

[defendandprotect]

65. Will we be able to hear her in our cars . .. without Sirius, that is?

[cooolandrew]

82. Probably be a podcast via white rose just hook up the ipod to the car stereo really.

[otohara]

114. Just Because She's Signed w/ Premier Doesn't Mean

she'll be on the RW stations - Clear Channel owns many of the progressive stations now also. She will return most CC stations she was on before.

[stevedeshazer]

14. EXCELLENT news

I've really missed Randi.

[Peace Patriot]

15. Great to hear it! Welcome back, Randi! nt

[winyanstaz]

16. Welcome back Randi :)

We still need you Randi, glad your back on the air.

[LSparkle]

17. "Broadcasting from Washington, D.C." .... hmmmmm ....

She relocated for HOWARD! LOVE IT!

[byronius]

19. YYYEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[defendandprotect]

66. They should run like a two-week Randi Rhodes Marathon so we can all catch up--!!!!

[byronius]

93. Can't wait for the Story.

Man, I've missed her.

[byronius]

20. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

[ejbr]

21. COOL!!! n/t

[Dappleganger]

22. Anything to piss off Rush and Hannity

is OK in my book.

Go Randi!

[valerief]

23. kick

:kick:

[Emillereid]

Thanks to god. I need my Randi Rant fix daily!

[defendandprotect]

67. My brain gets no real exercise without her . . . she is very, very good -- !!!

[Duer 157099]

26. Hey Brad...

I'm thrilled beyond words that Randi is coming back, but I have to ask you, since I noticed yesterday on the 960 poll, that *you* were listed as an option!

So, do you have mixed feelings about Randi returning...? (just kidding - I know that Peter B. was No. 2 in the polls; but who was #3?)

:thumbsup:

ETA: oops, Frangela was #3. #4?

[Iliyah]

27. Rushiepoo

will have a fit

[BradBlog]

31. Couldn't be more delighted...

While I would have be delighted to take the slot on Green960, I'm thrilled to see her back nationally and perhaps even in a LOT more locations now that she's got Premiere behind her. Believe it or not, I think that's a GREAT thing for progressive talk radio at this point!

The video at Green960 says (if I'm remembering correctly)the order was:

Randi
PBC
Frangela
Rachel Maddow
Brad Friedman
Sam Seder
Others...

(I think)

[ronnykmarshall]

46. Will XM Left pick her back up?

I am THRILLED KTLK will have her back!!!

FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!!!

I can't wait to hear ..... "IT'S FRIDAY Y BASTIDS!!!"

Get them boobies ready to BOUNCE!!!!

[BradBlog]

85. Don't know, but...

....with media juggernaut Premiere behind here, I'd think there's a LOT more possibilities across the board now.

[pstokely]

100. Contact XM

nt

[ronnykmarshall]

115. Done did it!

Whooo! Hoooo!

[Rosco T.]

104. For XM probably not America Left.

Guessing XM158, XM152 or XM165. Clear Channel provides most of the programming on those three.

[pstokely]

133. They need a 2nd progressive talk channel

probably won't happen

[Duer 157099]

131. 5th is a respectable position Brad!

Especially considering the competition. I really had difficulty with that vote (well, except for the #1 spot, which I would always hold for Randi, even if she personally said there was no chance in hell that she would ever return to radio -- yeah, I'd still vote for her), but the 2nd and 3rd choices were difficult. Well, all I really knew was that I didn't want that person they had filing in right after Randi left.

Anyway, it's still good hearing you when you're on as a guest with other 960 talkers!

:hi:

[Mithreal]

28. Damn good news. A couple of the newer progressive radio hosts aren't doing it for me. nt

[defendandprotect]

68. Schultz has a TV show . . . based on what???? Randi should have two TV shows --- !!!

[Optical.Catalyst]

29. K&R

[KaryninMiami]

30. Hooray- it's about time. As for the syndication company-- really?

Boy, we were surprised (and grateful) that Clear Channel ran her show for as long as it did here in Dade County but having Premiere Radio Networks - that's even more surprising. Great news, though- really great news. I've missed her clear voice for a long time now.

[defendandprotect]

69. Anything interesting to know about Premiere owners . . . right wing?

Well financed . . . ?

Later I'll try to look up something on them!

This from Wiki --


It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications and it was headed until recently by Kraig Kennith Kitchin who is currently transitioning out, handing the reins over to CC Executive Charlie Rahilly.

Premiere syndicates some of the most famous names in American broadcasting, including Rush Limbaugh, Coast to Coast AM, Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Dr. Laura, Leo Laporte and Glenn Beck. Premiere programs are carried on over 5000 radio stations worldwide, primarily in the United States and in Canada. The network also provides the rights to streaming audio for participating shows' premium services (e.g., Rush Limbaugh's Rush 24/7 and Glenn Beck's Insider) through their Streamlink system.

Several programs are carried on XM Satellite Radio, which is the exclusive satellite provider for Premiere.

Randi was previously with Clear Channel . . .

She was doing better than Rush but they wouldn't syndicate her because Rush was threatening
to leave if they did!!

Dr. Laura, Glenn Beck!!! But they also have Art Bell/Coast to Coast which I have probably
ever heard more than 10 minutes of -- never think to tune in but interested in the subjects.

[marshall]

108. At least she's on a network that knows how to finance itself

They're all about making money, and that's the bottom line.

[defendandprotect]

116. The capitalistic yardstick of the dollar bill as the bottom line . . .

is what's turning the world into hell -

making "harvesting of slave labor" primary.

Time to dump capitalism -- it's a ridiculous "King-of-the-Hill system" ---

PBS -- before the attacks by the right wing which put it in the hands of the

petroleum industry -- wasn't about making money, but about providing news services.

So was NPR which has also now been turned around as a tool for propaganda.

Our relationship with our families, loved ones -- and with nature -- cannot be

based on a dollar bill as the bottom line!

[WriteDown]

122. Maybe Randi should work for free?

Or maybe she should refuse to work for Premiere? C'mon. She's a talented girl who deserves to be paid well.

[rocktivity]

32. Told you so!!!!

CUE THE VONAGE THEME!!!

:woohoo:
rocktivity

[BattyDem]

33. It's about f**king time!

:woohoo:

My boobies are already bouncing! :bounce: :bounce:

[toadzilla]

34. YAY!

[Tarheel_Dem]

35. Welcome back Randi! You've been missed more than you'll ever know.

I think AAR will finally be put to sleep, except perhaps for their online ventures.

[Ranting_Wacko]

37. Thank Goodness for Web-Radio and Green960

The local "progressive" station in Dallas has made it clear they have no interest in backing serious liberal talk radio. They cut Stephanie Miller to one hour (and moved her to 11 pm at night!) in order to give the local guy 4 hours in the morning and only air one hour of Big Ed at 6 in the evening.

Good to have Randi back!

[ShortnFiery]

38. Oh yeah! I'm doing a happy dance.

:woohoo: Go Randi!

[mr11]

39. Hmmmm....

and who is this?:shrug:

[PBS Poll-435]

41. Looks like now, she is a fucking corporate whore

:evilgrin:

[byronius]

95. Karl?

[PBS Poll-435]

107. No, strangely her name is Randi

And between knocking out her teeth last year (on a bender,) and injecting herself into the primary process poorly with her SanFran rant, I got tired of defending her.

She is responsible for her problems, not any of us.

[byronius]

113. Good to know you're better than human.

That's what I appreciate about her -- she's human. No helmet-head teleprompter reader is she. Just the facts.

Some people like their news regurgitated and spoon-fed to them by pretty faces with perfect lives, I guess. Not me.

[givemebackmycountry]

80. You have a computer. There is this thing called Google.

Use it before you ask a stupid question like that.
Sorry, I'm suspicious of anyone with 8 posts that can not do 30 seconds of basic research.

Either your a freeper, or just plain lazy.

Welcome to DU.

We don't tolerate fools.

[mr11]

120. Nah I'm okay.. after reading some post, doesn't sound interesting to me.

I won't waste my time! I still don't know who she is (want explain more to me?) Thanks though:) I knew someone like you would answer my question :toast:

[mr11]

121. By the way Thanks! I appreciate your welcome

:hug:

[SalviaBlue]

128. Listen and Learn

[Doctor_J]

42. I have sort of gotten hooked on Schultz

after Hartmann goess off the air. He's much better than Randi, IMO

[Yavin4]

43. To Paraphrase The Movie Predator, "If She Streams...

then we can hear her."

[ronnykmarshall]

44. YES!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS9FJwMoJaM&feature=related

[mzmolly]

45. Fabulous! Congrats

to one helluva progressive voice. :D

[daughter of liberty2]

47. Go Randi!

You kick ass!!!:woohoo:

[bjobotts]

48. "The Queen of Progressive Talk Radio???"-hah, what a joke.

[bjobotts]

49. Like a freakin female Hannity...with good intentions.A progressive authoritarian

[bjobotts]

50. Have to be nice 'cause she claims to be a progressive.Surprised her ego fits on broadband.

[bjobotts]

Sorry but there are so many progresive out there who aren't an embarrassment

[bjobotts]

53. She's the only one I have to turn off as she so often becomes obnoxious.

[bjobotts]

54. The past 2yrs she's become undeserving of her reputation.She's become an egomaniac.

[bjobotts]

57. Maybe she isn't too old yet to learn or get some class in her presentation

[PBS Poll-435]

58. Best Self-Rant Eva

:applause:

[ronnykmarshall]

119. That was great!

[He loved Big Brother]

79. Started drinking early today, eh?

You don't need to start a new reply for every sentence. It all fits in the box down here. See?

[Lorien]

112. Translation:" A woman who who speaks her mind ? Save my little

misogynist soul! What HAS the world come to"?! Don't worry dude; there are plenty of bloated male talking heads out there for you to tune in to.

[LanternWaste]

124. Like various posters on DU, yes...?

"Maybe she isn't too old yet to learn or get some class in her presentation"

Like various posters on DU may not be too old yet to learn or get some class, yes...?

[shellgame26]

70. talk to yourself much?

[orleans]

76. seven bitchy comments in a single thread? jealous? n/t

[rocktivity]

51. I suspected she had deal wrapped up

If she had no alternative, I think she would have set up a deal similar to what Mike Malloy has.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[eirteacher]

52. Best news I've heard all day.

[defendandprotect]

55. Randi Rhodes -- from DC -- beginning May 11th . . . !!!

[OmahaBlueDog]

56. Randi, this is Rush, Rush, this is Randi.

That ought to be an interesting company holiday luncheon. I suppose she could talk sports with Jim Rome.

[Honeycombe8]

61. I've never heard her. Maybe our local rightwingnut station will carry her.

I don't know if it's owned by Premier or not. It's an AM station.

[byronius]

96. She's brilliant. The Best. Hyper-smart.

Walter Cronkite called her the next Walter Cronkite.

[womanofthehills]

62. Yea! Go Randy

She's my favorite of all the progressive radio talkers.

[shellgame26]

71. yup! She keeps it real

She's not afraid to let EVERYONE know when they're full of crap, liberals and conservatives alike. She's not concerned about stroking egos. (apparently that hurts some people's feelings: see above bjobotts self rant)

[ColbertWatcher]

64. Excellent news! k+r, n/t

[pjt7]

72. I almost always enjoy listening to her

& really want to hear her take on Obama's administration.

[davidinalameda]

73. I've missed her!!!!!

welcome back!!!!

[Egnever]

75. hmmm so now she will make money for the folks that have shoved rush and others down our throats?

I miss randi but I am not sure this works for me.

[Garbo 2004]

105. She's made money for Clear Channel for yrs & CC owns Premiere Networks.

She was a Clear Channel employee on a local station in FL before she went to AAR & Nova M. And CC affiliates like her "home station" WJNO in FL carried her program when she was syndicated by AAR and later Nova M. So she's had a relationship with Clear Channel and CC affiliates for years. Now CC's syndication arm has signed her.

[orleans]

77. great news. thanks brad.

now i go to your links and there is a problem w/the server? crap!

well, i'll have to just hang on and check this out tomorrow.

i'm thrilled to hear she's coming back--i was getting worried about her.

[BradBlog]

86. Server's (mostly) back. Got slammed...

Sorry for the outage. I assure you it drove me crazier than it did you :-(

[orleans]

89. thanks brad--& thanks for reporting & then posting this. made my day/night. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

125. oops

[cooolandrew]

81. Amen to the Rhodes I am not worthy . =) Yay!!!

[bbgrunt]

84. great news!!

[grahamhgreen]

87. Great! But who is that totally smoking hot blonde babe you have posted a picture of???

;)

[orleans]

88. oh...that would be me...

}( :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

90. YES!!!!!!!!

Damn, but I have missed her like crazy! I am so glad she is coming back!!!

[carlos3k]

91. YAY!

I'm dancing on this inside. I've been waiting for her return since the day she went dark.

<3

[cboy4]

92. Until she apologizes for acting so ugly toward

Hillary during the primaries (something I know she won't do), then I have no desire to listen to her anymore.

I was disgusted by her behavior.

[Bette Noir]

98. Heck, that was the best part.

[cboy4]

101. No it was low rent

:puke:

[Jim Sagle]

103. Fuckin' A.

[JVS]

94. Yay!

[Bette Noir]

97. Gawd, will I ever be glad to have her back!

She wasn't my favorite, but her replacement, on the two stations I listen to, really sucked.

[pstokely]

99. Will she anywhere on XM or Sirius?

Subscribers contact them

[librechik]

138. yes xm165

also sirius, I suppose, but different channel

[onestepforward]

102. Excellent news!

[stlsaxman]

109. I would LOVE for her to get her show on KMOX jusr after The Vulgar Pigboy!

but i doubt Rush and his minions would have her here.

[nilram]

110. Should make for an interesting holiday party at Premiere... -nt

[felinetta]

111. Sorry, I'm not that thrilled to have her back and I will tell you why -

I don't dispute her knowledge and drive to tell the truth. 
But she absolutely drives me nuts with her vanity.  I can't
stand when she goes on about herself. She also tends to scream
at callers and interrupts her guests when they are speaking
because she thinks sometimes she has something more important
to impart. Again, her big fat ego. When you have a guest on,
you let them talk. Hell, she's on the air three hours every
freakin' day. She can talk after they leave.  I've tried many
a time to give Randi the benefit of the doubt, but she can
always talk nonsense. Does anyone else remember all the time
she wasted talking about her niece getting a piercing?  To put
it bluntly,
I don't give a fucking shit!  There are too many important
issues for out nation and this is what
she graces us with.  I can only imagine what she'll talk about
for the first week.  I have a 
an idea it could be "all about Randi".  Yuck.

[defendandprotect]

117. I'd suggest before you begin to discuss . . .

the EGO of a female, there must be a few million male egos you trip over first?

Start with sports programming -- note the musical accompaniment -- !!!

Randi has gone thru a few things -- Air America bankruptcy, her "accident" --

the HRC "swiftboating -- and her time with NOVA ending in the revealing of NOVA's

shaky financial standing.

Who knows what's really been going on --

And, meanwhile, Randi seemed to be under greatstress for a while reflected in her

hollering at callers -- that seems to be long over now and every listener wants it

to stay that way!

Meanwhile, I hope there is a Randi marathon when she gets back -- lots to learn about

her take on what's been going on.

[ronnykmarshall]

118. Lots o' bobbie bounces!

[defendandprotect]

134. Love the opening song --- !!!

[latebloomer]

123. Totally agree

I find her unlistenable.

Yes, it's always "all about her."

She beats up people who are on her side, rants and raves about the same topic for hours on end, and connects everything to herself. I have the feeling she's a very troubled person, and I hope she gets help, but I cannot stand to listen to her.

[SalviaBlue]

129. Randi is very focused. She has an agenda.

I think she is brilliant at mapping out the agenda (homework, rants, etc.) She does not let callers go off track too far.

I am glad she is not meek and mild. Having a big ego is a plus. I think most people enjoy hearing about HER, and it is the RANDI RHODES SHOW.

[grahamhgreen]

126. Where/when/how do we sign up for the podcast?

[SalviaBlue]

127. YES!! Can't wait to hear Randi again. Yay!!!

[lumberjack_jeff]

130. Pity. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

132. Thanks for link.....

[AllieB]

135. She returns to the air today.

FYI. :-)

[tinrobot]

136. Whatever - she's a drama queen.

I agree with her politics, but I hate listening to her. Her shows are all about creating conflict so she can prove herself right and others wrong.

I'm much happier listening to Stephanie Miller or Thom Hartman.