Just after the elections in November, it was announced that The Mic 92.1 FM's format would change from progressive talk radio to FOX Sports. People in one of the bluest cities in the nation are not pleased.
The Capital Times:
The crowd at the High Noon Saloon hit its 399-person capacity at 7:20 p.m.The draw was not the usual touring band or local act, but a rally where listeners and advertisers of The Mic 92.1 vowed to continue fighting Clear Channel's recent decision to replace its progressive talk station with Fox Sports Radio.
[...]
Tom Hamer, who does door security at the bar, said 490 people in all turned out over the course of Tuesday night to listen to Air America co-founder Terry Kelly, former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, local business owners and media reformers denounce Clear Channel's move.
Clear Channel's excuse for changing the format is pretty lame.
Clear Channel:
Our research indicated that listeners want more coverage of local high school and collegiate sports, not currently carried on local radio. We have only been able to provide limited exposure for UW Badger Volleyball. We have had listener requests and interest in High School Baseball and our local Northwood’s League Baseball team (The Madison Mallards). We have also had requests to air some programming currently carried on our WTSO AM [ESPN RADIO 1070] live and not time shifted. The need and the appetite for sports in the market have only grown stronger in the past few years. The addition of FOX SPORTS RADIO on WXXM FM 92.1 starting January 1, 2007 will allow us to carry more of what sports fans in the Madison area want, more programming that highlights the local sports scene and more top sports programs live.
I didn't even know there was high school baseball. Who's requesting it? While we're on the subject of requests, put your name among the more than 5,000 requesting that The Mic stay on the air.
At the very least, it'll prove this 'request' excuse is bullshit.
Tags: news | politics | Madison | Wisconsin | media | Air America | Clear Channel | bullshit
