[crossposted at Daily Kos; please visit that diary as well to increase visibility of this event]
For those of you who haven't been tuned in, Clear Channel is threatening to add San Diego's KLSD (K + Liberal San Diego) to the long list of radio stations to lose progressive talk. The company's modus operandi seems to be:
(1) Buy up as many stations as the FCC will allow one company to own (which is a lot).
(2) Stick progressive talk on the weakest signal in town and...
(3) Hope no one notices.
(4) If, despite a dearth of promotion or local staff, ratings soar and a loyal audience gathers, then flip the station to another format and...
(5) Hope no one notices.
A concerted effort thwarted this plan in Madison, however, and will hopefully throw sand in the gears in San Diego as well. A big crowd turned out for an August 27 rally, and the hope is to get even more people to show up at a rally this Friday morning (link to more details near end of diary).
Before the August rally, I interviewed Jon Elliott, one of KLSD's hosts, who has joined the struggle to save progressive talk. In honor of Friday's rally, I've interviewed another Jon involved in the battle, fellow Kos community member Jon Monday.
Rumors that Clear Channel San Diego was going to drop KLSD progressive talk format from AM 1360 apparently are coming true. SDRadio.net is reporting today that Scott Tempesta (aka Scooter) who is the producer of the Stacy Taylor morning show was fired on Friday.[Link] All indications are "AM 1360 is preparing to shift programming, most likely Monday, Oct. 15. A new set of call letters are expected to used."[Link]
Despite the best efforts of activists to show their continued support for KLSD, it appears that AM 1360 will become an all sports station within the next couple of weeks. As for the progressive talk format and Air America radio here in San Diego, it doesn't appear that right now it is going to move to another station.
On Saturday I blogged here and on Daily Kos about how we need to save KLSD, the lone progressive talk radio station in San Diego, which may be flipped to sports unless enough listeners make themselves known. I mentioned the rally that will be taking place this morning (Monday) at 7:30 a.m. Pacific time outside the Clear Channel office (9660 Granite Ridge Drive). See details on the SaveKLSD.com website.
I live near Boston myself, but every progressive talk radio station is crucial. In the words of noted radio expert Ben Franklin, we who are trying to defend progressive talk "must, indeed, hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Yesterday I spoke with Jon Elliott, a talk show host on the station, and followed up with Kate Reifers, his director of research. His show is syndicated across the country, but his residence and his heart are in San Diego. Below the fold I'll tell you about my conversation with Jon.
[cross-posted at Daily Kos -- any suggestions for other CA/San Diego blogs would be welcome]
I've been posting on progressive talk radio a fair amount this year, focusing on the efforts of our Boston group to buy a station as a solid home for progressive talk. Relying on the kindness of Clear Channel and similar media behemoths, as we have discovered, doesn't work.
While we're making good progress (hey, we're progressives, after all), many stations across the country are still dependent on the whims of these media giants.
Now San Diego's KLSD (yup, that's the real name) is in trouble. This is a call to action, not an extensive analysis, so much of the content comes from the SaveKLSD.com website. If I have a chance, I'll update it later. Thanks to NonStopRadio.com and Daily Kos member rougegorge for alerting me.
