There’s an article in the Herald on the growing fledgling efforts to reverse the loss of Air America and Jones Radio Networks in the Boston area, radio shows that Boston’s airwaves are missing now thanks to a recent format change of AM 1200/1430 to Spanish music.
I’m on the email list and these guys are serious about this – they’ve already almost ready to launch a website and had a meeting of 20+ people in the first week of their existance. Clear Channel, of course, tried to switch format without fanfare to avoid exactly this sort of grassroots organizing – which caused them to reverse their decision in Madison, WI.
Not to belittle other progressive radio stations or shows in the area (hell, I host one!) but it was the dumbest decision in the world to pull Boston Progressive Talk. Despite the terrible signal, the lack of interest in selling ads, among other stupid business decisions by Clear Channel, BPT had lots of loyal fans and the audience would have only grown larger with time, a better signal, and more advertising.
It’s time to fight back from lackluster deliberately-weak business decisions from companies like Clear Channel and show that the bluest state in the nation deserves and wants progressive talk – all sorts, nationally syndicated and locally-grown! There will soon be a petition, or if you can’t wait, sign up for the Yahoo discussion list (warning, high traffic, these people want to work this problem so there’s a lot of activity).
[Cross posted as always – you know where to look!]
Rachel Maddow’s fill-in last night (whom I heard on WHMP in Northampton) was a local talk-show host from Madison WI who said that a grassroots movement has succeeded in reversing a decision to change their Air America station to another format. He spoke about the need for similar movements in Boston and Columbus. (I didn’t hear too much beyond that because he unfortunately wasn’t a very interesting radio performer, but it was good news.)