Let’s not say that the rumors of local San Diego political talk radio’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Let’s just say that the patient is not nearly as healthy as in the past. Let’s also note that there is some hope for the future.
A quick rundown of some recent changes…
Conservative friend-of-all Mark Larson is off the air. Liberal Stacy Taylor, gone. Longtime local powerhouse Roger Hedgecock, although still broadcasting from KOGO, now has a national show, with no focus on San Diego politics. Jimmy Valentine, Hedgecock’s producer since the mid-1990s, was dismissed in the transition.
Oh, and in case anyone forgot – or never cared – KLSD 1360’s Air America died in 2007. KLSD actually stood for K-Liberal San Diego…no joke.
Media watchers blame the “death" of local talk radio on the economy and high cost of staffing local programs, as compared to the efficiency of nationally syndicated shows. The significantly reduced overhead cost to local stations makes syndicated programming very attractive, but at the expense of localized content.
Lost in the process is a forum for local issues, causes, candidates, and elected officials, which the national syndicates can’t touch, for obvious reasons. Over the years, one could pretty much count on successfully calling into Hedgecock or other shows for a quick drive time mention of some local happening or cause.
Yet, as much as the national radio hosts may agree with saving the Mt. Soledad Cross, for instance, not one is likely to promote a weekend rally for the cause, unless it’s in 10 major cities simultaneously. And, where else but local radio can you hear an elected official from a community like National City, El Cajon or Chula Vista trying to defend a tax increase while getting pummeled by the host?
The weekday lineup at KFMB-AM 760, self-dubbed “San Diego Talk Radio,” hasn’t changed of late, but exemplifies the non-local flavor. When conservative, local saber-rattler Rick Roberts finishes his four hours at 9 a.m. – just when most working folks are tossing their emails from the night before – he is followed in order by Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, and Mark Levin. Conservatives all, but if it’s a local focus you desire, you best be awake and alert for Roberts.
At KOGO-AM 600, “San Diego’s News and Talk Station,” Chip Franklin competes directly with Roberts in the 5-9 a.m. slot, but like a pattern the lineup then goes non-local, with Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, Hedgecock’s new national program, and Jack Rice. (Yeah, I didn’t recognize that last one either, but KOGO indicates former CIA officer Rice will be relocating from Minneapolis back to his hometown of San Diego at some point.)
In the last few weeks, some of the media have noted the trend of the dwindling options for listeners of local talk radio (see the links below).
Considering the story’s length and details, the linked San Diego Reader piece still doesn’t note the local talk show that many Republicans and conservatives are increasingly frequenting in recent weeks. Gayle Falkenthal, a PR professional and Hedgecock’s first producer from 1986 to 1994 (prior to Valentine), had this to say:
The big surprise of the Reader story is that it doesn’t mention the only live, local talk show host broadcasting after 12 noon in San Diego – Rick Amato on KCBQ-AM 1170, weeknights 9–11 p.m.
Rick’s show is growing an audience and getting attention. It’s mostly local topics, or national topics with a local angle. San Diego’s business and political players are starting to sit up and take notice. Sponsors are getting good results. Simply put, people are finally finding the show through word of mouth and it’s being heard despite the competition from primetime TV.
Rick is one of our few rays of radio hope out there! If you believe in local radio, listen, support him and his sponsors – and call in. Rick’s website is www.amatotalk.com and you can listen live there, as well as over the air on 1170 AM.
Falkenthal notes that she has been working with Amato and often guest hosts the show herself on Thursday nights. In the spirit of disclosure, I’ve been on the show with both of them. All that honesty aside, it doesn’t make Gayle any less right.
KCBQ’s The Rick Amato Show is now one of only three local radio shows on the air in San Diego, unless one counts sports, infomercials and publicly-funded KPBS. In fact, counting KPBS, there may be only four local shows of any political stripe.
Although KCBQ also relies for the most part on syndicated programming – with Bill Bennett, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, and Mike Gallagher – the Amato Show is unique in being on at night, as well as the only area program 100 percent funded by local sponsorships.
On election eve last November, a number of local candidates and analysts called in to the show. Other recent guests include San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio and California Republican National Committeeman and fellow FlashReport correspondent Shawn Steel.
Take a listen, weeknights 9–11 p.m. on 1170 AM. As well, for those wanting local San Diego talk radio like The Rick Amato Show to continue, please consider supporting the sponsors, or please contact the show to become a sponsor yourself.
Shameless but needed plug aside, have a great week!
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Referenced Links:
VoiceofSanDiego.org – San Diego Killed the Radio Star, by Randy Dotinga
San Diego Reader – Why Local Radio is no Longer, by Thomas Larson
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January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Barry:
On Sundays……. conservative host Steve Yuhas is heard on KOGO,
am-600, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, and he often focuses on local issues.
January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Good point, Jim. I was concentrating on the weekday lineups, but you are right to note that we do have some local focus on the weekends. Steve Yuhas does a great job…and readers can listen to him this evening
January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Thanks for shining some much needed light on this situation, Barry. Steve Yuhas is also a terrific talent. I wonder why he didn’t get a permanent evening time slot at KOGO. I must point out though that Yuhas lives in Los Angeles. I’m not sure whether he’s broadcasting at KOGO’s studios in San Diego or remotely outside the county – which would STILL make Rick an increasingly rare commodity: a San Diegan doing a talk show in and for San Diegans. Rick’s originally from Pittsburgh but no one’s perfect.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Shameless plug; in this economy we all need one in radio. The only political talk in Scramento is 1380 KTKZ’s Eric Hogue at 12PM each weekday. Please support and spread the word.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Barry’s on to something important.
Without local talk shows the 2003 Recall would not have got off the ground. Melanie Morgan and I first announced the idea of Recall on KSFO. When Ted Costa and I served Notice of Recall on Gov Davis, Eric Hogue was the first to push the movement.
Soon over a hundred local talk show hosts made the Recall its primary focus. We got over 100,000 “free” signatures in the first 30 days. Through the genius of Costa, the Recall was the first petition anywhere that could be downloaded and circulated.
What makes conservatives strong are talk shows. Some 20 million + tune in each day.
Nationalizing talk radio is good for national politics. With the reduction of local talk radio conservatives will have to invest replacement communication systems.