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Joined: 12/12/2007 Posts: 90
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Some time ago, John Servais at NWCitizen hinted that there may be a liberal talk radio station coming to Bellingham soon. It appears that day has arrived. Local stations are reporting that AM 930 is going to be converting to a new format that is more in line with "the majority" in Bellingham. Given the hint dropped by NWCitizen, and the fact that the majority in Bellingham does identify with the liberal philosophy, it seems logical to conclude that AM 930 is that station. The conversion is scheduled for February 1st.
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Joined: 1/9/2008 Posts: 139 Location: Zeta Reticuli
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930 AM...never heard of it. must be publically funded. 1170 KPUG rules, all other non jock radidio stations drools...
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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Joined: 12/13/2007 Posts: 103 Location: Bellingham
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I think 930 is the local AM station that plays all the oldies. I listen to it once in a while, but not real often. I'm wondering if this station will make it. Liberal oriented talk radio doesn't have a real good track record, but then Bellingham is a unique community. It may just be the anomaly. We'll see.
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Joined: 1/9/2008 Posts: 139 Location: Zeta Reticuli
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They will still need advertisers to keep it floating. Does the hemp emporium, record shops and new "tobacco" house actually make enough profit to afford advertising?
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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Joined: 1/11/2008 Posts: 256 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Well, I believe people will advertise, if it can be shown that there is a listening audience. That's the key. Will there be a listening audience? What draws an audience to talk radio? Why is conservative talk radio so successful and liberal talk radio unsuccessful? Can that be said for local radio? Joe Tehan has had his Liberal Outpost for a pretty good run now, and there are still advertisers.
Mark Twain wrote: A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
Mark Twain
Baron Miller wrote: Grace ruins the idea that you are fully in charge.
Baron Miller
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Joined: 1/9/2008 Posts: 139 Location: Zeta Reticuli
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How many business that advertise at the Cascade Radio Group actually request their ads to be placed specifically on his show? I may be wrong, but I heard that there is a discounted rate for that time slot. I'm sure that someone who pays for advertising will correct my supposition as I have no real figures to support my speculation.
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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Joined: 1/11/2008 Posts: 256 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Hmmm, you raise a good question. If I buy an ad package, I may not have any say in where those ads go. Yet, Joe's show has been on for awhile, and they have not canceled it. It must be generating a listening audience, or I suspect they would cancel it. Perhaps it isn't and they will. I listen once in awhile, mostly because Joe is my next door neighbor, and I am curious what he is doing and saying. I'll say this: As much as he and I disagree on just about everything political, I couldn't ask for a better neighbor.
Mark Twain wrote: A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
Mark Twain
Baron Miller wrote: Grace ruins the idea that you are fully in charge.
Baron Miller
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Joined: 1/9/2008 Posts: 139 Location: Zeta Reticuli
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Good folks transcend political affiliations and viewpoints. Too bad my poor progressive neighbors who moved in long after me can't say the same for me. I like them, but they sure don't like me, me and my buddies' motorcycles, my kid's fledgling welding and mechanic business. THey are already excited about the new radio station. How does one measure listenership? One can't track recievers for airwave signals. I have never figured that one out. The few times I have listened to Joe's show, it seems that very few folks call in. He may be a very class act guy, but the home repair guys on the weekend get more call ins, and that usually sounds like a ghost town. Uh, not that listen, uh, 'cause I only listen to sports radio....
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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Joined: 12/13/2007 Posts: 103 Location: Bellingham
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I've been listening today because both Rush and Bill had fill-ins. It's not looking good so far.  Where there should be ads, there is endless "fill" music. That is not a good start for the station's first day on the air, and even worse is the reality that the syndicated programs they are airing have been around for a good while and should have well-established lists of advertisers.
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Joined: 2/1/2008 Posts: 32 Location: Bellingham
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That's not sounding very encouraging. I haven't had an opportunity to listen in yet today. I will admit, though that I had hoped for more local programming--not just one hour of local programming. I'm disappointed and I haven't even listened yet! Argh.
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Joined: 1/11/2008 Posts: 256 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Brat wrote:That's not sounding very encouraging. I haven't had an opportunity to listen in yet today. I will admit, though that I had hoped for more local programming--not just one hour of local programming. I'm disappointed and I haven't even listened yet! Argh. Brat, First of all, welcome to EoW! I also listened, and it got better in terms of advertising. It seems the program that was without advertising was the syndicated Air America program. Another gentleman followed that, and he had some ad sponsors. The interesting thing about that show (sorry I don't recall the name) is that the first hour played again in the second hour. I don't know if that is going to be standard, or if it was just a first day glitch. Joe's program should start here in about 10 minutes. Perhaps as the station continues to operate, more local shows will be added. I'd suggest you contact station management and let them know you would like that. I'm sure others would favor that as well.
Mark Twain wrote: A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
Mark Twain
Baron Miller wrote: Grace ruins the idea that you are fully in charge.
Baron Miller
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Joined: 1/9/2008 Posts: 139 Location: Zeta Reticuli
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I think that I will stick to KPUG. SPORTS RULE!!! THese guys at KBAI are even more left than that leberal fella from KGMI. I think that Liberal fella's name is RUSH something or another...
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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Joined: 2/1/2008 Posts: 32 Location: Bellingham
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Thanks for the warm welcome DJGray. I did contact management with my hopes of more local programming. I understand Joe's show will eventually only air on AM 930 (probably in the Spring). I'm neither a full blown liberal nor thoroughly conservative so I enjoy listening to both types of programming. I think it is healthy for everyone to try to hear all sides of discussions so I like the opportunity this station brings.
Luckily we don't have to worry about ratings of the station since Saga Communications/Cascade owns all the local stations. This gives it a better chance of staying around while they work out the kinks.
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 Rank: Administration Groups: Administrator
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Joined: 1/11/2008 Posts: 256 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Brat wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome DJGray.
You're welcome. Brat wrote: Luckily we don't have to worry about ratings of the station since Saga Communications/Cascade owns all the local stations. This gives it a better chance of staying around while they work out the kinks.
Well, that may be valid, but I have to think if the station is not profitable, they will have to re-evaluate the decision to move to this format. I listened to some vegan show this morning that was just SO over the top I was verbally reacting to the guy as I drove to church. I'm not a big fan of hyperbole on either side of the aisle. Now, when it is well done as humor, it can be pretty funny stuff, but this guy was just way over the edge, calling Ronald McDonald a terrorist and Jack in the Box, Jack the Ripper in the Box, and referring to "Death Burgers" and it wasn't just an occasional reference. It was non-stop with multiple references in one sentence. Now, even those on the left aren't going to want to listen to an endless stream of that sort of drivel, any more than I would listen to that sort of thing from the right. In fact, that’s precisely why I don’t listen to Michael Savage. He’s just as over the top from the right. It’s not enjoyable to listen to. Now, you mentioned Joe’s program. Joe is coming from the left, and is proudly liberal. I just disagree with him from so many angles, but the guy is pretty funny, and each time I choose to tune in his show, I do indeed find myself laughing. The various Bushisms he uses to intro the program… I don’t care who you are, or what your political persuasion is, those are just funny! If you can’t laugh at those, then you’re just an idiolog.
Mark Twain wrote: A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
Mark Twain
Baron Miller wrote: Grace ruins the idea that you are fully in charge.
Baron Miller
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Joined: 1/9/2008 Posts: 139 Location: Zeta Reticuli
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Yet over at KPUG, (The only real radio station in Whatcom County) Roger "the Rocket" Clemens seems to be on the hot seat. Now what about that twisted undercover detective who has kept the rocket's DNA samples in a freezer for 5 years? pretty wierd...
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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