Sad news: Boston's Progressive Talk to change format 12/22

[LTR]

WKOX/WXKS (1200&1430AM) are flipping to a Spanish language format after December 22. No more AAR.

In fact, just yesterday evening, station listeners received an email, enlisting their help in determining their new lineup, even after the station announced their changes last week. The email encouraged listeners to vote for who they thought should be on during the 12-3PM ET shift, since Ed Schultz was moving his syndicated show to that slot. The choices were Schultz (who the station had already announced as staying in his current 3-6PM slot), Al Franken (who was going to be dropped altogether) and Thom Hartmann (who would inherit the slot).

With this email, the station does a backpedal, claiming that the addition of Hartmann is temporary, and anything could happen. And they ain't kidding!

The Boston Globe reports today that the station may wind up dropping the format altogether. While Clear Channel representatives are not discussing details, the national radio group, which has been selling stations across the country, acknowledges that change is in the works for WXKS-AM (1430) and WKOX-AM (1200). Saying that details will be released within two weeks, Clear Channel vice president of programming "Cadillac Jack" McCartney acknowledged this week that changes are pending and that Air America "is history." In fact, their own website kinda reveals their hand, as they are currently looking for a bilingual sales manager for the stations, which will soon air a format called "Rumba". The last day for liberal talk will be December 22. Merry F-in Christmas, from the fine folks at Clear Channel!

Cont'd below:

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/12/mixed-signals-in-boston.html

[welshTerrier2]

1. bummer if true ...

i've been a regular listener ... that really stinks ...

[rox63]

2. ARGH!!!!!! n/t

[valerief]

3. I got XM so I could listen to AAR on my drives. I hope it doesn't

disappear from XM, but I fear it will. Without AAR, there's NO news show to listen to. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

[benny05]

4. Well, there is Bob Edwards

But not the same thing as Air America Left.

[sandyd921]

5. 6 years of Bushco, the rightward drift of NPR and

being able to tune into AAR and other progressive shows whenever I want via streaming and downloading (I live 40 miles or so away from the nearest terrestrial low-powered AAR station, although depending on where I drive and the time of day, I can hear it in my car) have totally spoiled NPR/Bob Edwards for me (and they have lost me as a contributor). Now I can't imagine life without AAR and I am hoping that I won't have to find out.

[benny05]

6. Mitt Romney is one of the new owners of Clear Channel

Don't you just love it?

>>>Sarcasm<<<<

[LTR]

7. Actually, he won't be

Romney cashed out of Bain in 2001:

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2001/08/20/daily27.html
http://www.bizforward.com/bos/issues/2001-07/firstforward /
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain_Capital

Each of the new individual investors in Clear Channel will have probably less power over programming decisions at individual stations than, say Kirk Kerkorian had while on the board of GM. Meaning, not as much as they think.