Station Manager of KTLK in LA Rebuts LAT AAR Article

[kaitykaity]

http://wegoted.com/news.view.html?newsItemId=1870

04/19/2005
John Quinlan Response to LA Times
John Quinlan, Station Manager, KTLK 1150 AM
Responds to LA Times Editorial

Re: "Why The Liberals Can't Keep Air America From Spiraling In" by Brian C. Anderson April 18:

Mr. Anderson's negative rant sounded like every other conservative commentator or radio talk show host. That is, reckless manipulation of facts and a large dose of truth stretching.

First, it is not fair to compare conservative pundit Bill Bennett's talk show's success with that of Air America. There are several hundred conservative talk stations across the United States and for Bennett, an established name in conservative circles, to land on 124 of them, is not that big a deal. In order for Air America programming to be heard on any radio station, that station must first take the significant step of changing its format. Stations have switched from all-Caribbean formats (WLIB in NY) or all-sports (KTLK in LA) or nostalgia (KQKE in SF) in order to carry the Air America programming.

Getting more than 50 radio stations to change everything they broadcast, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the opportunity to carry Air America's programming is far more substantial an accomplishment than getting 124 right-wing radio stations to switch out one three-hour conservative talk show for another.

Anderson goes on to write, "In the liberal meccas of San Francisco and Los Angeles, Air America is doing lousier still." This statement is false. The truth is, in San Francisco KQKE AM has only been on the air six months and has shown steady increases in a market with the some of the strongest talk radio competition. In Los Angeles KTLK AM has not even been on the air for a full ratings period, thus making the "lousy" claim just a bit premature.

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[Montauk6]

1. That deserves a Neil Rogers "AW-RAHHHT!!!!"

[yorkiemommie1]

2. Good!

I would like to see if the LA Times has published this response. Air America has lots of sponsors here in LA.