LA Times: Conservative talk radio on the wane in California

[marmar]

Conservative talk radio on the wane in California
The economy's downturn has depressed ad revenue at stations across the state, thinning the ranks of conservative broadcasters.

By Michael Finnegan
6:11 PM PDT, March 14, 2009


Tune in to conservative talk radio in California, and the insults quickly fly. Capturing the angry mood of listeners the other day, a popular host in Los Angeles called Republican lawmakers who voted to raise state taxes "a bunch of weak slobs."

With their trademark ferocity, radio stars who helped engineer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise in the 2003 recall have turned on him over the new tax increases. On stations up and down the state, they are chattering away in hopes of igniting a taxpayers' revolt to kill his budget measures on the May 19 ballot.

But for all the anti-tax swagger and the occasional stunts by personalities like KFI's John and Ken, the reality is that conservative talk radio in California is on the wane. The economy's downturn has depressed ad revenue at stations across the state, thinning the ranks of conservative broadcasters.

For that and other reasons, stations have dropped the shows of at least half a dozen radio personalities and scaled back others, in some cases replacing them with cheaper nationally syndicated programs.

Casualties include Mark Larson in San Diego, Larry Elder and John Ziegler in Los Angeles, Melanie Morgan in San Francisco, and Phil Cowen and Mark Williams in Sacramento.

Two of the biggest in the business, Roger Hedgecock in San Diego and Tom Sullivan in Sacramento, have switched to national shows, elevating President Obama above Schwarzenegger on their target lists. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-talkradio15-2009mar15,0,39114.story

[FLyellowdog]

1. We can only hope. n/t

[originalpckelly]

2. That's really too sad...

where oh where will people get their ignorant bigoted commentary from bitter white middle-aged men?

[Gabi Hayes]

3. lots of NED/OPD/USIA (bringing it back, I heard) work to be had these days in

Venezuela

[deacon]

4. So they supported bush policies, still do and ended up laid off. Genius bunch they are. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. The unanswered question is what is taking their place...its sure not liberal talk

[Tabasco_Dave]

6. I wonder how many of these unemployed talk show hosts,

will collect those evil socialist unemployment checks.