Do Republicans Own The Airwaves?
Do Republicans Own The Airwaves?
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE: CCU), owns more than 1200 radio stations in the USA. In my city they own 5 stations. At any given hour you will most likely hear constant talk radio formats on these stations. All of their talk radio programming seems to be right wing (Republican) rhetoric. It’s like listening to a Republican party political ad 24 hours a day.
This is an extract of an article in the free press:
“Part of what may be fueling speculation about the company's motives is the close relationship that its executives have with the Republican Party and the Bush administration. In the 2000 and 2002 election cycles, for instance, the company and its officials donated slightly more than $300,000 in unregulated money, almost all of it to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, an organization in Washington that monitors political contributions.
In addition, Tom Hicks, the Texas Rangers™ owner who has longtime ties to President Bush, is a top executive at Clear Channel." To read the complete article go to http://www.freepress.net/news/4047.
To me, this seems rather unfair. Americans now rarely have an opportunity to hear both sides of an issue. The fledgling left wing radio network, Air America, has recently filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
How will Americans now obtain information from both left and right in America? Does it seem fair that Clear Channel can dominate the radio airwaves with unbridled Republican propaganda?
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No, it would actually be
No, it would actually be more fair if the government regulated what was to be talked about by whom and at what time.
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Part of the problem might be
Part of the problem might be that, for whatever reason, those on the left simply don't seem to like to listen to talk radio (at least in large numbers). Although I do think that there is some scheduling bias (meaning, yes to some degree right wing talk radio exists because of owner-influenced desires - but the large numbers of people who listen, often devotedly, clearly indicates that these programs' success goes beyond mere owner influence), I think that if left wing talk radio attracted enough listeners to be profitable, there'd be more left wing points of view presented.
But How Many Left Wing Stations Are There?
The problem is that most of the radio stations are owned by large, right wing, conglomerates. Clear channel is one of the biggest. There is a limited venue for left wing talk radio to participate.
The same songs played over and over and over
Clear Channel is trying to control what everyone listens to. Will play only the music that is "promoted" by record companies. Same will be true for the news. Advertiser driven radio..See my post that shows how Clear Channel and the National Association of Broadcasters are influencing politics. Not just Republicans. Democrats too..They are fighting tooth and nail to stop the Satellite Radio merger, yet at the same time claiming they are not direct competition. I think what they fear is cutomer driven radio as opposed to advertiser driven radio.
Suffering From ADP - Another Corrupt Politician
Phillips Phile
This program is on a talk formated station (104.1 and on XM somewhere) in Orlando and they host Jim Phillips as well as the rest of the staff are rapid democrats. This is also a Clear Channel station. So it is not universal although there are many more Rushes and Seans out there.
Government control?
I'm not in favor of the government going that far. I just think they need to limit how many radio and TV stations one company can own. There used to be a limit.
Personally, I listen to Air America radio. The other network.
http://www.airamerica.com