On Mar 30, 1:19*am, "D. Peter Maus" wrote:

* *There is no Progressive format. There is Progressive CONTENT. But
Not a Progressive format.

* *Progressive content in the US has existed since the US. What set
Air America apart from the current, previous, and future content, is
that they put politics before the sound business model. It's been
demonstrated multiple times that progressive content may exist in a
profitable business model. Air America's undoing is that they did
not establish a working business model before they opened the doors.
Had they done THAT, they would be in business, today.

* *Several things they did that were their undoing, of which the
most significant: They did not build their network based on a stable
of broadcasters. Of their prime players, only Randi Rhodes was a
broadcaster. And she was the only one who had made a commitment to
Radio as a career. Al Franken, the anchor of the network, went on
to say...on the air, no less...repeatedly that he had only signed a
short term contract, and did not know how long he would be remaining
in Radio.

* *Radio audiences are based on longevity, and loyalty. Radio
viablity is based in the ability of advertisers to be found to
support the operation. That support requires a solid listener base
to attract advertisers. And Franken made no secret that he was
counting the days. A listener base will not form around a host who
will not be there at the end of a short term contract. An advertiser
base will not form without a listener base, nor a solid and stable
operation. Franken was the Big Fish at AAR. He set a tone. He
established a foundation. And his repeated comments about the
temporary nature of his presence there prevented the formation of
both listener and advertiser commitment at the outset. It also
prevented his stablemates from making a commitment, as well. And Air
America was doomed before it launched, as a result.

* *By comparison, Rush, Hannity, Beck and their contemporaries are
broadcasters first. They've made a commitment to both the medium and
the listener. They understand that Radio IS after all a business.
And they operate their shows as a business: Providing content FOR
SALE. Advertisers can sign on with some confidence that there will
be at least an attempt at stability. And though the content can be
as raving and pedantic as AAR's, the business model is solid.

* *It's also easier to sell Conservative Radio, because of the
nature of Radio. But that's not to say that Progressive Radio can't
be sold. It can. It's just not as easy.

* *By contrast, NPR, and its similars, also have a working business
model. *They, too, provide content for sale. The difference is that
NPR and its similars provide content for sale to local stations, and
the stations raise funds to pay for it by asking for donations from
their listener. Further operating funds are provided by corporate
grants and donations, and grants from public foundations. But the
business model is still sound. And the business model was in place
BEFORE the launch of the content.

* *Air America simply didn't do that.

* *Progressive content has been around for centuries. It can, it
does, and it will survive. Because it was, is, and will be, content
offered FOR SALE. Air America forgot that simple element. And
failed. Conservative Talk Radio is operated as RADIO: as a business
first. It's content provided by broadcasters, who know and
understand the Business of Radio, for sale. Air America's founders
were not broadcasters. Air America's support staff and manglement
were not broadcasters. Air America's talent were mostly not
broadcasters. And without that understanding about how broadcasting
works, they failed before they launched.

* *The failure of Air America was the failure of Air America's
business model. Run by broadcasters, as a business first, there may
have been a different outcome.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I really like this description. It is probably applicable to far more
formnats than just political radio, or radio in general for that
matter.

Bruce