Making sense of Malloy's firing

[LTR]

Now, mind you, I don't get the opportunity too much to hear his show live, but I do download podcasts of his entire shows from White Rose Society.

One thing I've noticed from listening to them (which appears to be the straight AAR network feed), as well as listening to him on terrestrial stations is that I hear very few network advertising spots on his show. Often it's generic background music (which AAR plays when they have no ad inventory to air at that time). What that's telling me is that advertisers aren't buying time on Malloy's show. Perhaps this is the "financial reasons" that he was let go.

And speaking from someone who has worked in radio, this does make sense. That, and the fact that his termination was so sudden. This happens in the business. Radio is different than other types of jobs in that respect.

I'm not posting this to slam Malloy. I think he does a good show, and while he is very controversial, he does have a rabid following. I'm just wondering if advertisers were scared away from him, and AAR is running into resistance from them over his show's content. Remember, AAR is a business, and while they do some things that make me scratch my head and wonder who's smoking what over there, they've gotta make money.

Please, no flaming. Again, I'm nod dissing Malloy. Just trying to post something rational here.

[PresidentWar]

1. Thank you for some common sense in the uproar.

I'm amazed at how many people refuse to see or understand the mechanics of a radio enterprise.

[shireen]

8. i think the biggest problem is

that many local stations don't pick up Mike's show due to that time slot, 10-1eastern. Revenues for AAR come mostly from local stations. The internet audience, which is quite sizeable, is not part of their financial equation. If they figured out a way to sell ads for their internet stream, I think they'll get a lot more money.

[LTR]

11. AAR is offered via barter to affiliates

Meaning that AAR makes its money selling national ad time, and offers programming for free to affiliates. This is the most common means of syndication available. The number of affiliates and listeners (ratings) help AAR to decide the rate for advertising.

Outside of AAR ad time, affiliates can slot in their own advertising.

[alarimer]

13. Yes we don't get him here most of the time

There is local programming instead of Majority Report and then usually some local sports on in the evening.

I hope that Mike Malloy finds space on Sirius or XM or some other network.

[AspenRose]

2. The radio business is not for the squeamish or faint of heart

That's for sure.

[thoughtanarchist]

3. If that's the case...

I hope they'll be moving Thom Hartmann to a drive time slot!

There's no shortage of willing advertisers for his show...

His format is really good. Intelligent, reasoned, and highly entertaining!

[shireen]

4. internet streaming and ads

One thing I've noticed from listening to them (which appears to be the straight AAR network feed), as well as listening to him on terrestrial stations is that I hear very few network advertising spots on his show. Often it's generic background music (which AAR plays when they have no ad inventory to air at that time).

The generic music you hear on the internet stream are placeholders for local stations to insert their own advertising. There are occasionally ads on the internet stream, but those are from national sponsors, and are heard on all local stations.

The few times I've listened to Mike on a local radio station stream (a Wisconsin station, I think), I never heard any filler music. All commercial spots were taken up.

[longship]

5. This has nothing to do with the bumper music on the podcasts

In many cases, that's the way it's done these days. It has something to do with ad accounting, or something like that.

Same with the KGO streaming. Bernie Ward and Ray Taliaferro are wildly popular, but if you stream, the ads are zapped out. All of them.

It has *NOTHING* to do with the lack of advertisers.

[LTR]

10. As I said before

I've heard the same music before on the radio (mostly on Laura Flanders' weekend night show).

During a break, national ads air on both the stream and on-air (AFAIK). The interlude music is for local ad time. Only thing is during those breaks, I often don't hear any AAR inventory.

[quiet.american]

6. "Rabid following" -- I guess sponsors feel the same way.

"Righteously outraged" is more how I would put it -- I wonder if those who do not want to advertise on a program that correctly identifies the Bush Crime Family as being such advertise on any right-wing programs, such as Bill Bennett's or Rush Limbaugh's.

Anyway, the image of AAR as being outside the box is slowly slipping away, moneymakers or no.

[spatlese]

7. FCC rules?

Does anyone know whether 'son-of-a-b1tch' is on the FCC censor list? I hear Malloy say it on yesterday's show when he was subbing for Randi and maybe this has something to do with the 'financial decision'?

*Just speculatin...

[Hugin]

9. It would've been better if AAR had gone with a donation model.

It would've cut out that ridiculous 'generic background music' and allow the
hosts to keep talking and the callers to keep calling.

[GreenTea]

12. What could he of possibly said/ That they fired him in a scheduled week

as Randi's replacement?

[Horse with no Name]

14. My take on it?

I've listened to Malloy--I enjoy him. I'm not one of his usual fans because I don't listen with enough regularity.
I have a hard time listening in the evening and night.
However...I said this a long time ago. When Clear Channel starting snarfing up the AAR stations--it gave them clout. Enough clout to strongarm AAR into taking him and whoever else they want off of the air.
AAR is milquetoast these days...I don't listen nearly as much as I used to.
Our affiliate put Ed Schultz on in Randi's place...so my choices were Jerry, Al and then Ed. I'm not a centrist and I don't enjoy that particular programming.
It just seems that the center is taking front stage and the rest of us are being cast aside. So much for the fucking big tent.
I've read some say that the programming is designed to convert listeners.
I'm guessing that is what Rush does.:sarcasm:
How about a grand idea? Why not KEEP the left base energized?
Instead they want me to move to the middle to appease some ignorant ass Republican who will only vote against Republicans because his pocketbook has finally suffered...and not because it's the right thing to do.
The only thing I'll do is silently turn the dial on my radio.

[LTR]

15. Not necessarily

The only real clout CC has is by cherry-picking the shows it puts on their stations. And that's done at the local level, from what I've heard and observed.

A CC strategy has been, with the late-night shift, to put Lionel in the slot in more conservative markets (like Cincinnati) and Malloy in the slot in more liberal markets (like Madison). If local CC market managers don't like an AAR show, they merely show their displeasure by picking up another show (like Ed Schultz, Steph Miller or Lionel) and airing that instead.

Regarding your other point, AAR exists as a business, and that is what it should be doing. If they don't have a successful business plan, and just program as a propaganda engine, the network will be just one big money pit. Conservative talkers know this (many of them aren't even conservatives, but will be to make money and entertain the masses). And I'm sure Jones Radio Networks (syndicators of Schultz and Miller) knows this as well.