KABL AM moves the Sinatra music to 92.1 FM former KFJO and also runs on a station in Monterey.
Air America (no mention of Alex Bennett) goes on the air at 960 am.
The new 960 will be KQKE and will be called "The Quake". Of course that has nothing to do with "The Quake" I worked at.
I'm not a fan of talk radio. It's not a political thing for me I just get bored quickly. I'll listen a little to see what's going on, but no more than a few minutes a week for each of the yakker stations. I just don't listen to KSFO, KGO, KNEW, KQED, whatever. I have listened to AA a little (online) and it just seems to be non stop make fun of Bush. No real information, lots of conspiracy theories and lots of joking around. When it started I was hoping for at little more serious look at things but I haven't heard it there much, and now I don't listen to it anymore. It seems kind of like a left wing political Art Bell show. Anything kind of goes.
The liberal crowd here has KQED with NPR, kind of the snotty yuppie stuffy shirt crowd, KGO, who get a little more in your face and raise their voices, and now AA, definitely more entertainment oriented than the other three.
It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out. I think until the election AA will have people listening. I did for a while, but it got old and grating to me. After the election? I don't know. KGO is really good at local talk. That's what will keep the people tuned in.
And here's just a thought. I think Rob Francis has copyrighted "The Quake" name from back in the days of KQAK 98.9 FM, where we used to work. Rob had a mobile DJ business called "The Quake Sound and Light Show" and I think he owns the name. In fact a quick check finds this website www.thequake.com. Rob is a realtor now!
So will it shake up the Bay Area's talk radio scene? Maybe for a bit, until the election, but I don't see it working much past that. With local hosts? (Alex) yes, it'd have a much better shot. But hey what do I know?
So how good is the Air America signal of 960 AM? Well really good if you are is San Francisco, Marin, west of the hills in the east bay, and down to about Redwood City and it looks like the ships at sea!
KQED ... liberal? Um, not really. Speaking as a pretty liberal person, I find NPR in general to be pretty bland politically, and KQED in particular pretty much takes no chances and is pretty mainsteam. For the bay area KQED might be a little right of center, actually. Now KALW, the other NPR station, is a bit more left, but really KPFA Pacific Radio is the real liberal station.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, there. KQED may sound comparatively liberal considering what's out there in radioland but it's just balanced reporting.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping Stephanie Miller's new show is part of KQKE's lineup. I've been listening to her over the WTDY stream and her show would make a great morning show. (WTDY airs it on a tape delay but it airs at 6 - 9AM PST.) She's much more focused on humor than any of the Air America hosts and she definately suceeds to carve a different niche for herself.
Rick-
ReplyDeleteAlex isn't on AA, he's on the Sirius Sat radio's liberal channel (which seems to be him + non AA Syndicated liberals). I wish he was, I have many fond memories.
As for the content of AA, I think you'll be suprised. Bush is, of course, made fun of, but there's lots of good, hard info, and even though I've never cared for the current administration, the stuff they've done (documented, non conspiracy stuff) is appalling.
Hi Rick,
ReplyDeleteI've listened to AAR on the Internet. Some of the shows contain a lot of information and interviews. Others like Randi Rhodes and Janeane Garafalo are mostly callers and ranting. There's real variety on the station.
Try listening to the Al Franken show. He does lots of interviews and he's funny. Also, Liz Winstead and Rachael Maddeaux are both funny and informative on their show "Unfiltered".
Thanks for your blog.
Andy
In was hoping Alex bennett would get picked up as the morning show at 960, then be followed by AA. I listen to Alex now and he sounds great. He did do the morning show at KNEW 910 for the same management so if it doesn't happen now it might sometime down the line.
ReplyDeleteI check out AA sometimes. More when it just started. I'm not a fan. It's either jokes about Bush, (a pretty run into the ground topic) or like I said left wing "Art Bell" conspiracy stuff. I'm glad it is there, as the balance is much needed.
I'm not much into politics anyway, so it isn't programmed to attract me.
For those of us who are jaded by the success of extreme right wing talk radio, the simpering "don't accuse us of liberal bias" KQED, and the far from objective KPLO (kpfa) - The Quake is a really fun place to visit. They certainly do have the rants and the simpleton meanness of the Limbaugh/O'reilly but - hey - its from the other side. It's not right (pun intended) but it is refreshing.
ReplyDelete