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If there is any solace in the wake of the greatest catastrophe to affect the State of Ohio since, well, the November elections, it’s that Err America Radio is out of Columbus. After two years of getting their butts kicked in the ratings by the likes of WLW (who, by the way, don’t even broadcast from Columbus), WTPG 1230 decided to adopt a format more successful than the left-wing lunacy of Randi Rhodes. This is no different from station managers in larger markets around the country that have dumped Err America for formats people would be more likely to listen to- like music from the 1940’s. One of the many truths in this world liberals will never be able to accept (like how declassified Soviet intelligence documents proved Senator McCarthy was right) is that their brand of far-left hysteria never caught on with the American people and the numbers are there to prove it.

Unfortunately for the left, Err America was doomed almost from the start, failing even to meet their fundraising goals for startup money. Contract disputes, bounced checks, and lawsuits followed in the network’s first year. Some twenty-five markets have dropped Err America (including New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia) citing ratings that placed them just above dead air. Columbus is the fifth market in Ohio alone to drop the network for programming people actually listen to. Perhaps with fewer people listening nationwide to far-left garbage than they could be getting elsewhere from Radio Havana Cuba, it isn’t surprising that the company declared Chapter Eleven bankruptcy in October.

Here in Columbus, we’re told by the Columbus Disgrace that WTPG’s loyal listeners in the area (all five of them) weren’t taking their much-ignored format switch lying down. They formed the ironically-named Ohio Majority Radio to circulate an online petition signed by residents of Columbus and suburbs like Niagara Falls and Rochester, New York. They staged a gathering at the Capitol attended by tens of thousands (ok, maybe just tens) to save “Progressive Radio” from the forces of the market and the millions of people throughout the Columbus area who would rather listen to something entertaining or informative. They even staged a mock funeral procession for their beloved radio station. This was a typical liberal funeral in that it quickly became a political rally and forum for Bush-bashing.

What somehow didn’t come up at the protest few outside their own Yahoo group knew existed was that they were almost upstaged by conservatives! Sister station WTVN dropped the far more popular Glenn Beck at the same time and listeners- more numerous by about a power of four- were outraged. Fans of the show planned a similar demonstration of support for Beck- and in far greater numbers- for last Saturday. Thankfully for sick, twisted freaks who don’t have XM Satellite Radio, Beck was picked up by WTDA 103.9 FM. This is perhaps what is most infuriating among Ohio’s dyed-in-the-wool communists. They can win our votes, but they can never win our hearts, our minds, or our ears.

Update: Columbus losing "Progressive" Radio in 2007

It is absolutely astounding to hear the outraged liberals in Columbus, and the surrounding Central Ohio area at that, commenting and speculating on the broadcasting format change that AM 1230 WTPG will be undergoing come January 9, 2007. Given that just one week before the announcement, liberal Democratic hotbed, Buckeye State Blog, was deriding Air America for having a bad business plan, their outrage is somewhat astounding. Air America, by the way, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, and had been operating in the red for quite some time. As soon as the switch was announced, though, Columbus-area "progressives" took decisive action. Well, not exactly. In the online poll, also at BSB, asking what course of response should be taken, "Do Nothing" came in a close second.

What is ironic in this situation is that the oft-blamed culprit for the switch (Clear Channel and fellow media conglomerates) were, in effect, given the go-ahead to become huge conglomerates by Bill Clinton's Telecommunications Act of 1996. For once, this horde of the tin-foil hat crowd cannot blame it on George W. Bush, although that connection is probably forthcoming. It appears that the formulated response to 1230's format shakeup is to create an Internet petition (someone tell Al Gore his thank you note is in the mail) politely asking Clear Channel and AM 1230 to reconsider. So far, in a metro area of over 1 million people, just over 1,000 have signed their petition. And, a quick sampling of the zip codes offered by signers shows that a solid percentage of them are not even from Central Ohio. Bet the fine folks at Clear Channel are quaking in their boots! Even more comical though, is that conglomerate radio is being attacked here, in the midst of Clear Channel's sale of about one third of its radio stations. And, Clear Channel broadcasting Air America for nearly two years in Columbus was obviously just part of the master plan of the vast right-wing conspiracy.

Simply because there is not a demand for this product, and the ratings are lagging behind other stations, is not enough of a reason for a business to pull it from the shelves. There are calls for a return to the "Fairness Doctrine", where stations would have to be evenly split between viewpoints and give equal time to all opinions, regardless of the effects on the company running the station. These same people who decry the removal of an unpopular failing product want to see SUVs, an extremely popular product, removed from the automotive market simply because they think they are killing the environment. What about giving the consumer what they want there, huh? The hypocrisy never fails to amaze!

Just a quick observation about so-called "Progressive" radio: when the comedy skits involve killing the President, you are not going to win many listeners over. Just a guess there, but people do not generally laugh at such drivel. When that same host says that, "the difference between Hitler and Bush is that Hitler was elected," you probably don't gain much ground, either. Air America was the "New Coke" of radio. If the consumers think it is a terrible product, and aren't buying into it, then why in the heck should it be forced on people?

Columbus AM Radio Shakeup: Beck, Air America Out; Savage, Rome, Ingraham, and Riley In

Fans of Glenn Beck and Columbus-area listeners of Air America Radio are both seeing eye-to-eye on one thing this week: they are not happy with the planned shakeup at Columbus radio stations 610 WTVN and 1230 WTPG, beginning on January 9, 2007. At 610 WTVN, Glenn Beck is out (for now), and local host Joel Riley is in from 9 AM to noon. Rush Limbaugh will remain in his slot from noon until 3 PM; John Corby will be on air an extra hour each day, from 3 to 7. Sean Hannity moves up on 610, from 7-10 nightly, followed by Mark Levin from 10 PM to midnight. Beck will be leaving Columbus airwaves due to contractual matters, but it is my hope that he will return to some area station. This is his second market loss in Ohio, after 1100 WTAM in Cleveland booted Beck in favor of Jerry Springer in 2004. Joel Riley seems to do a good job with his current show on 610, airing from 6-9 PM, so we will see how the show does in a primetime slot. I am not the biggest fan of Sean Hannity or Mark Levin, so having them on at night simply means I will not be tuning in.

Over at 1230 WTPG, the changes are more substantial, including a change in format and in call letters. Air America Radio will be dropped, and the station will become 1230 WYTS, instead. Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage are both being picked up for primetime spots, and one of my personal favorites, Jim Rome, will bring his sports program to the air in Columbus from noon to 3 PM. Dave Ramsey, who hosts a syndicated financial help show, will also be joining the lineup, as will syndicated hosts Quinn & Rose, who take over morning drive time on 1230. I do not like Air America, obviously, but I am not a big fan of either Ingraham or Savage. As conservative as I am, Michael Savage is too far gone for my liking, and Ingraham brings nothing original to the table (the same reason that I do not listen to Sean Hannity). Jim Rome and Dave Ramsey are both welcome additions for me, though, with Rome's show being exceptionally great. Liberals in Columbus are predictably up in arms, and there is talk of conspiracy, boycott, and other ridiculous action that will not materialize.