There are rumors floating around that Air America Radio is revamping their schedule next month. Among the proposed changes are:

•Moving Sam Seder to mornings at 9 AM-noon ET (which will probably not be carried on KPOJ, due to Thom Hartmann's local show)
•Moving Rachel Maddow to evenings 6 PM-8 PM ET
•Reducing Randi Rhodes to 3 hours from 3 PM–6 PM ET
•Adding two hour-long weekend shows (Politically Direct, and EcoTalk) from 8 PM–10 PM ET
•An all-new morning drive show for the network

This will change KPOJ's schedule quite a bit, especially in the evenings.

When will Elvis return to 620?

I'm happy for Seder. He will do well in the morning slot. I'll miss listening to him a few times per week in the evening though. Was a great follow on to the RR Show.

Clearly Thom needs to stay as does Schultz, so no Cedar at all here in Ptown. Bummer.

I'm not sure his programming will go head to head with big ed as well as AAR thinks it will. That's a big part about what was cool about having him in the evening time slot. Different atmosphere that allowed the show to develop without too many expectations.

That's all changed now. Who knows, maybe he will be up to the task.

Not sure what I think about moving Maddow into the slot after RR. Might be too much estrogen every weekday. Ed, RR, Sedar was a nice variety.

Jerry Springer's show is awful. I had the opportunity to listen to it on a New England road trip recently. He's terrible and should stick to trash TV.

I've gotten to like Sam Seder's show - he's much better off without the annoying Janine Garofalo. It's too bad we wouldn't get Seder in Portland anymore, however, unless they just keep it on tape delayed a few extra hours. Rachel Maddow's show is funny - I've listened to it a few times. Her show is simliar to Stephanie Miller's. I would probably still listen if KPOJ carried Maddow instead of Seder.

Andrew

This new schedule may also give KPOJ an opportunity to move Mike Malloy up two hours to the 8 PM–11 PM slot on a 1-hour delay, since KPOJ may not want to carry the two hour-long shows after Rachel Maddow.

However, KPOJ initially had Malloy live from 7-10 PM for the first few weeks of his show, but moved him to 10 PM–1 AM, because some listeners thought he was too extreme.

We'll see what happens when KPOJ announces their schedule...

Clbuck, I had hear that Malloy was moved back to 10-1 not because of how extreme he was but because fans of the Majority Report were very upset at the move.

Missing, neither Ed Schultz nor Thom Hartmann's local show are carried on Air America Radio, so the schedule shuffled at AAR will have no effect on them. I don't KPOJ will make any changes to their shows' broadcast. (Hartmann's national show is not broadcast live on KPOJ but "best of" compilations of it are aired on weekends from his national show. Lately, however, Hartmann is recycling interviews from his national show for the local one, so it's "recycled" anyway.)

Andrew

Lets put oldies back there!

Tiger Tom Murphy is available again.

They should get the On-Air talent of KPOJ and KPAM and have them "duke" it out UFC style. "Extreme Opinion Fighting" You could air the promo on it as....you know them as Extreme talk show host's, and they are....There's a Left and There's a Right, Down goes Frazier oops wrong fight...you get the picture.

By 62kgw on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 3:58 pm:
Tiger Tom Murphy is available again


I checked 440 international and I thought he was "at" Chicago's oldies station. Did he leave there?

It looks like the expanded band Chicago Oldies station will bite the dust after September 17.

The staff of WRLL "Oldies 1690" have already been let go.

ww sez: "Lets put oldies back there!"

aw geez, not again! I guess its true, you can't teach an old mail man. . . oh, never mind!

Why not? Airhead America is a sinking ship. I hear that its New York station has gone under!

They have changed their New York flagship but AAR has very little to do with what is now an established station remaining successful. KPOJ isn't about to throw strong 25-54 numbers out the window. Speaking of ships, the first decade ship has already sailed and I don't think it will be returning to shore.

wayne, how many times has a smooth jazz station became a sinking ship in portland and flipped?? apparently there aren't enough smooth jazz listeners to make a smooth jazz station a powerhouse in portland -- but yet you don't hear people clamoring for the demise of the station because there are people that love SJ like yourself even though there are people like me that think the frequency is wasted.

so how about having at least one prog talk station in PDX for an alternative to the talk garbage, ahem, programing on KXL and KPAM, hmm?

Yeah, right.
I won't listen to smooth jazz, but I don't care if it's on. It's not like it's in my presets so I land on it while surfing. Actual jazz, absolutely. Pretend homogeneous jazz, never. One could even argue that with a real jazz station in town, we don't need a poor imitation. I don't care. Let it stay on forever. My guess is it won't, but who knows?

If everybody totally thinks at least one station is a complete waste, we are a lot closer to the diversity we need on the dial!

If the mixed crowd here ever all became happy with the dial, there is some serious cause for worry.

Hey Wayne, how come you are so afraid of another opinion? You don't have to listen.

It's a threat. Just the idea of listening means accepting the reality that one is quite likely to be drinking some kool-aid. If proggy talk leaves the AM dial, it's a lot easier to believe one is hearing the truth, instead of being entertained only.

Hey! I think a lot of stations are a total waste of bandwidth.

On FM: everything below 92 except KMHD, KTRO, KPDQ, KNRK, Jump and Jive 95, Chuckie, KUPL, The Wuf, The Station Formerly Known as KQFM, KUFO (except for Adam Toyota), Les Sarnoff, KKCraigWalker (Except Murdock is passable), The Halibut, The Bug (except Dr. Doug, Daria and Skippy), K-JIZ.

On AM: Everything 1080 and below, everything 1080 and above...and especially 970 from noon to 3 p.m. and 750 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Why isn't KPOJ carrying PSU sports this year?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Semoochie on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:09 am:
They have changed their New York flagship but AAR has very little to do with what is now an established station remaining successful. KPOJ isn't about to throw strong 25-54 numbers out the window. Speaking of ships, the first decade ship has already sailed and I don't think it will be returning to shore.


I don't think the oldies format failed. K-Hits success proves that the format is alive and well. But the younger listeners are why the format was changed.. Once you are older than 54 you are dead according to the rating surveys. The fact is that many of the baby boomers are that old or older and there are a great many of us still alive and remember the oldies when they were new. I wish the station would put the Westwood One version of the adult standards that 1520 used to have. What they have now is a money loser and always has been and George Soros keeps bailing them out.

Is KPOJ losing money?

I think KPOJ is easily the most successful "progressive talk" station in America and will continue in that format for a long time, even if Air America itself goes out of business. They already have Hartmann and Schultz - wouldn't take much to fill the other slots.

Andrew

Maybe a 620 sales rep can chime in and let us know whether they are making more money selling air as Air America or Elvis. I'm willing to bet some of the sale reps are now driving nicer cars than compared to the days of Elvis.

nice article in 8-30 Willamette Week about
Thom Hartmann

IMHO, they could easily become a proggy super station. Export their content, same as AAR does, or partner with other established networks willing to carry the programming and share the load.

Schultz is doing fine and not a part of AAR. You can bet Rhodes would find a station willing to do the same for her that KPOJ does for Hartmann.

How well AAR does really has little impact on things longer term. The big step was getting to the realization that proggy talk is viable on the AM dial in many markets. Probably will be viable in more markets as time goes on and people have a chance to experience the programming.

Do the same sales reps also sell 1190 (limbaugh)? How is that for consistancy?

"wouldn't take much (*) to fill the other slots"
*=Intellegence
All you need to do is memorize 4 or 5 bumper stickers and the present 620 listeners are satisfied.

The H.D. equipment couldn't even take much of it.

Time to re-experience Elvis.

kskd sez: "It's a threat."

Yep, we have another winner! Come down and pick up the keys to the Buick (or whatever it is that wayne drives!

Can anyone from Clear Channel chime in and give us an idea of whether KPOJ is bringing in more revenue now as compared to when it was oldies?

Pete,
This is not about money. Its the principal.
Don't knock the Rock.

Last time I checked, radio stations are not in business for princples, they are in business for profit.

"they are in business for profit." Hence, the problem. Money rather than serving in the public interest, as stated when these stations go for license renewal time.

So which is it? A business, or a non-profit organization??

Air America finally fires Mike Malloy!

Hooray

http://www.mikemalloy.com

The Oldies concept isn't at issue here; it's the "first decade" approach. I'm 53 and remember first hand, very little before 1962 and not all that much before Beatlemania! I know the earlier songs and like them because I heard them played as Oldies when I was a kid but my wife, who's the same age doesn't feel that way at all! She doesn't really connect before the Beatles. Another problem with the first decade is that it attracts several years of pre-boomers so it can't be well targetted in the first place, even if your target is 55-64.

Hey Nevertime,
Rick that you are so jealous of is on 11:00-3:06, not 12-3.
Just for the record.

Wayne: The ratings company have no problem with anyone of any age at all. They rate and report all demos. More ratings diaries are filled out and returned by those 55+ than by any other demographic. It is the ADVERTISERS who have not interest in directing their message to folks 55+.

Hey Angryprick...

Maybe you miss my point...maybe I think Rick's show is okay from 11 to noon. Didn't think of that did you Angryjerk.

In case you didn't notice I said I dislike all talk radio...not just Prick Emerson. Jealous of Prick...hardly.

You Emerson toadys get me. Is it a gay thing with you? Do you loooove Prick? Does he get your blood boiling? That's it isn't it Angrydork?

While I've never been much of a fan of Mike Malloy's over-the-top style...the message on his site about being nice to Peter Werbe shows real class.

Yes.

I have mixed feelings about Mike Malloy. While he comes across as an incredibly angry guy - not the sort of constructive approach for progressives in my view - it was also kind of amusing to listen to him. The phrase "Bush Crime Family" that he originated has caught on in some circles. Sometimes I wondered if he would just lose it, right on the air, and his head would explode.

Malloy's show wasn't one I would normally listen to unless I was in the car and nothing else of interest was on (e.g. 10PM-1AM - not much). I wouldn't have to turn off his show the way I usually must with Randi Rhodes now. I wonder what will replace him on KPOJ?

Andrew

Sucks about Malloy getting canned - I rarely listened due to the timeslot but I thought he was one of the most entertaining hosts on AA. If the conservative gasbags can be far-right, why can't AA host a far-left host? Not everyone has to be a moderate.

There was something...compelling about Malloy, but I decided to try to avoid getting sucked in. I wouldn't call his attitude hateful per se (even though he said more than once that, "I HATE these people [Bush Administration]!" I'd call it more angry - but it's not something I wanted to listen to regularly.

And like Randi Rhodes and sometimes Sam Seder, Malloy dabbles too much in the Looney Left Conspiracy Theories for my taste. At least Al Franken seems to avoid this.

Andrew

By Tdanner on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 8:12 am:
Wayne: The ratings company have no problem with anyone of any age at all. They rate and report all demos. More ratings diaries are filled out and returned by those 55+ than by any other demographic. It is the ADVERTISERS who have not interest in directing their message to folks 55+.


We have more money than the younger folks do don't we? Why can't they target us? Don't we have more power to spend than the younger folks do? It makes no sense that they avoid us!

You are going to buy anyway and you are not going to be buying that much longer.

The younger people are going to buy, but can be branded. ROI on the AD impression is higher, because the loyalty can remain over a longer time.

Bummer Huh? We all get there and it's all gonna suck.

Even though I am to to the left of the average US talk radio listener,I thought Malloy was ,to paraphrase one of the above,too involved in conspiracy theory garbage to my taste.And ,while I'm at it,even though I agree with where her heart is,I cannot STAND Randi Rhodes for much of the same reason. I do not see her adding much that is contstructive to the dialogue that needs to be going on in our society.......I love Al Franken and Ed Schultz,though--any new Franken rumors,anyone?

Agree about Randi Rhodes, Greenway. Although I can't begin to take the conspiracy crap seriously, either, sometimes I find it amusing...until I realize that they DO take it seriously! Kind of scary. I think it's unfortunate that a few hosts like the former Malloy and Randi Rhodes (and sometimes even Thom Hartmann) encourage this kind of thinking.

I can't imagine Al Franken doing this show for too much longer. His show really went downhill once Katherine Lampher left and has never really recovered. He still has some good guests, but when it's just him and Billy talking the first hour, it's awfully dull! I was listening to the Franken Show the car today and got guest host Lawrence O'Donnell in for Al; O'Donnell was surprisingly good, mixing it up with his right-wing friends/guests. I think I enjoyed today's show more than any Franken show for a long time.

Let's take a guess that Franken bails afer the 2006 election?

Andrew

That's a pretty safe guess IMHO.

Anyone know why she left?

Katherine Lanpher (sorry, misspelled her name above)? I'm guessing she left because Air America management renigged on the promises (financial) made to her when she started. Of course, that first year was really rocky and the management after year one didn't resemble the original people who started AAR. Her on-air stated reason for leaving was that she was offered a great book deal, but that was seems like an excuse. Then again, maybe she just liked New York, and the show was going to move back to her native Minneapolis, probably what she signed up for at first. But it's odd that she hasn't been back on if she left on good terms.

Her book is supposedly coming out in October, according to WikiPedia.

Andrew

KPOJ has now removed all traces of Mike Malloy from the website schedule, and on the air. At 10 PM, they now use a generic "You're listening to Portland's progressive talk station, AM 620 KPOJ, and 620kpoj.com" liner coming in and out of the breaks.

Incidentally, the network aired a Thom Hartmann rerun in the 10 PM slot, since they had to air *something*, and there wasn't a planned fill-in host, due to Labor Day. Perhaps KPOJ may air Thom Hartmann's national show tape-delayed at 10 PM, similar to how KXL airs Lars Larson's national show delayed at 9 PM?

Amazingly enough, Air America itself hasn't bothered to remove Malloy's show info from their home page.

I'm guessing KPOJ will air whomever replaces Malloy in their 10-1 slot. Hartmann's national show is already re-run (two days of it) on Saturday and Sunday. And lately, he's been recycling interviews from his national show on the local show. I don't think we need to hear them twice on one day.

Andrew

I heard part of the Hartmann rerun last night on KPTK and was reminded again of one of the reasons I really like Thom H. He goes out of his way to book guests who strongly disagree with him. That often makes, IMHO, really compelling talk radio. It's surprising to me how rare that dynamic seems to be in talk radio now.

Thom is a great talk show host, very knowledgeable and he does not need to shout or talk over his adversaries and a good listener. He seems to run his own sound bites and a board-op to do it.

Agreed. We need more like him.

I heard Thom do a talk about his new book "Screwed" at Powell's tonight. He's a pretty animated speaker. He talks with his hands alot - obviously that doesn't come through on the radio. The place was packed, beyond overflowing. I suggested to someone that KPOJ try to have some sort of regular listener event - it would be popular.

Andrew

Just got done with the book, BTW.

You are correct Andrew. Long time listeners are going to have much of the content down, as it came from his efforts to produce better advocacy on his radio program.

It's valuable for new listeners though, and it's an easy read, broken into nice chunks for those wanting to just digest it a bit at a time.

One particularly valuable element is the many notes in the back. Unlike some authors, he does supply many solid references, but does not let them get in the way of the overall flow of the main text. This was refreshing.

What moved me most was the time he spent on our early history and what the intent really was. I suspect a lot of people really have a distorted view of what America really is supposed to be about. I found myself wanting more of that actually. It really speaks to the ideological differences we are faced with today.

The reality is that none of this is really new, it's just choices. The founding of this nation was the last really new political move and it's influenced many other nations. We squander this today and do not even realize it. Also our founders were influenced by the native Americans more than I realized at least.

Some good stuff there, for those interested in core national things.

The entire book does a solid job of addressing Andrews point about having a solid discussion about what the role in government should be and why it matters for the majority of us.

I would do a listener event for sure --just to meet some people. BTW, I'm seeing a steady increase in the proggy talk stickers in town.

we'll be back with booknotes on OPB after this brief monetary solicitation...

Guilty!

Was following up on a conversation on another thread. It's outta place here, sorry all.

So what did you think of Jon Elliott? (He's the post-Malloy fill-in host on AAR...

Last night Sam Seder mentioned that there isn't a permanent host chosen to replace Malloy yet. He said there are rumors, but they aren't true. I presume he is talking about Rachel Maddow taking over.

Thom Hartmann did his show today from Air America studios in NYC this morning and will do the same tomorrow. He could be there to promote his new book or maybe to talk to the big wigs at Air America about taking Malloy spot. I guess we will need to wait and see.

I think Hartmann's book reading in NYC had been announced before Malloy was fired, but no doubt, he'll be talking with AAR suits there. Still, it makes no sense to move Hartmann to evenings. He seems to be happy in Portland (he has family here), and his local KPOJ show is popular. My own guess is that there may be discussions about him taking over Al Franken's slot after the election (Franken must be getting tired of it). Then maybe Thom could do a local hour 8-9AM on KPOJ and his national show 9-noon. Purely speculation on my part - we'll see.

Andrew

Here is the new weekday program lineup for KPOJ:

2A - 3A The Mark Riley Show
3A - 6A The Young Turks
6A – 9A Thom Hartmann and Heidi Tauber
9A – 12P The Al Franken Show
12P – 3P The Ed Schultz Show
3P – 6P The Randi Rhodes Show
6p - 9p The Sam Seder Show
9p - 12a Thom Hartmann - Nationwide!

That's a great lineup.

I'm happy we have Seder here in the PM. I'm often running around then and often listen. I like his show a lot. Thom on at night is a solid replacement for Malloy too.

So has Rachel Maddow been dumped by Air America? Too bad - although I am rarely up that early, I enjoyed her show the few times I listened to it.

Don't think we need 6 hrs of Hartmann every day especially because some of the interviews on his national show get recycled for the local show. I hope KPOJ could find something else to run there. Too bad Stephanie Miller is now tied up with MAX 970 or whatever it's called now...

Andrew

Solid State Radio, I believe.

Rachel Maddow is still on the network; her new show will air from 6 PM–8 PM ET, after Randi's live timeslot (3-5 PT), but KPOJ opted not to carry her show.

Sam Seder will be on a 12-hour delay with this new lineup, instead of a 3-hour delay.

It seems that KPOJ has ripped a page out of KXL by airing Thom's national show delayed at night (similar to how Lars Larson's national show is aired).

Didn't realize Seder had been moved to mornings. Twelve hours is probably too long to delay a political show, especially when lots can happen during the day to make it stale. It's too bad they didn't carry Rachel Maddow LIVE 3-5PM then just delay Randi Rhodes from 5-8PM, then Seder 8-11, instead of airing Hartmann delayed at all. To me, the more live radio you can do, the better.

Andrew

Midnight to 2AM is open. Do the oldies go there?
If not, perhaps Victor Boc is available?

The Majority Report is gone!!!!
THANK GOD!

Janeen got to you as well huh?

I liked the name "Majority Report", but Sam deserves the self-titled show he has now.

Janeane left "The Majority Report" at least a month ago but has been part-time for over a year. I won't miss her, either.

Andrew

She just plain sucks! I can't stand her as a talk show host or an actress.... YUCK!

I think it was the beginning of the end for her when they had a big blow up on the air a few months back. She just couldn't back off. Sam tried to pull it together, took a break and obviously hoped she'd drop it when they came back... she didn't. It sounded like a train wreck. The whole episode reminded me what a risk it is to put someone without radio experience on their own show. I don't think Sam had experience either, but he's learned.

>If not, perhaps Victor Boc is available?

Nah, he probably went back to playing poker.

Sam Seder has really blossomed on the radio. He comes across sounding both informed and fresh, unlike some of the other AAR show hosts.

Andrew

Agreed. His show is trendy, relevant and engaging. What I like most is his passion for what he is talking about. It comes across well. Even if I don't always agree, it's good listening that's thought provoking.

In particular, I like his focus on the Internet media. Those interviews are often very interesting.

620kpoj.com now officially has the schedule up. It's exactly what was posted above, with the addition of Rachel Maddow from midnight-2 AM.

heard Thom H at Annie Bloom's tonight; packed house with people standing in the street.
His new book, "Screwed" undeclared war against the Middle Class.

On Hartmann's show this am, David Limbaugh (Rush's brother) guested. Limbaugh's written a book, too. Evidently, they battled one another on air, with Hartmann confronting Limbaugh about what conservatives HATE about liberals. Surprisingly, Limbaugh agreed.

LimBLAH didn't have any choice.....

Bumping this thread up a bit...

Ed Schultz will be moving to noon-3 PM ET (9 AM-noon PT) soon, according to this site (http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Ed_Schultz_show_to_move_headtohead_1130.html)

This will most likely mean that Ed will be moving to Al Franken's current spot from 9 AM-noon, and Randi moving live to the noon-3 PM slot.

Elvis anyone?

Yesterday, Lars and Bill Orielly were discussing making a bid to puchase it (Airhead network) at the bankruptcy auction.

Why would Ed move to the 9-noon time slot on KPOJ? KPOJ management doesn't seem to care if their broadcasts are taped or live, although it kind of bugs me. I'm guessing they'll just broadcast Ed on tape at 12-3 and leave the schedule alone, assuming Air America stays in business. If AAR goes away, then sure Ed would probably move up to 9-Noon.

If they do anything, they should swap Randi and Ed so at least one of them is life (Randi Noon-3 Pacific), but I think they like Randi on tape 3-6 better than Randi live noon-3.

Andrew