Why is there no liberal talk radio, and why do liberal news stations fall behind fox in the ratings?

Question

I think it's because liberals can think for themselves. Plus they read books and value education hence they dont need talking heads to tell them the "truth" or what to be afraid of.

Answer 1

It's actually because of geography and demographics.



I lived out in the country for most of my life, around hunters, fishermen, farmers and campers.



Even today and especially back then you couldn't really get reliable cable or satellite. You pretty much had two or three channels (the only televised news we had was local). Growing up if we wanted world news or even national news we generally had to turn on the radio.



Now, it is no secret the Conservatives have strongholds in rural areas like where I grew up.



The hunters, fishermen, campers and farmers are rural types, and other than the paper and radio their links to the world are few.



Liberal Talk Radio is unpopular not because it falls on its face, but because in rural communities Radio still holds a significant portion of the population who rely on it for their national and world news.



You're not going to make money selling tank tops to the Inuit. Know your customer base-that's key in business.



Now onto your second question, which is actually related to the first.



The issue as I pointed out above has nothing to do with content and all about the demographics of listeners.



Because Radio holds sway in Rural areas, Urban areas (which are largely Liberal, again-no secret there) has a Cable and Satellite Dominance. This means that Conservative channels will be few. However, it is wrong to say that Rural areas are 100% Conservative of that Urban areas are 100% Liberal.



Since there is only one major Conservative channel, it's natural that this channel is going to be what Conservatives all watch, therefore-if there were only two channels, one Liberal and one Conservative, the Liberal one would actually have more viewers simply by demographics.



It has nothing to do with quality of content in either respect.

Answer 2

There's virtually no liberal talk radio because it's not a communications format liberals favor.

Liberals normally read the news for themselves, either on printed newspapers or the Internet.



So they don't need talk radio for getting informed, and they prefer other formats for political humor, like left-wing political comedians á la Bill Maher or satirists like Michael Moore or Stephen Colbert.



As for Fox's ratings, Fox is pretty much the only conservative channel. Thus most conservatives watch Fox News. Liberal news is a market with more competition, so the audience is spread out.

Answer 3

Bill, you make a wonderful point. I don't listen to any political commentary on the radio or cable TV. The only show I watch is Sunday's Meet the Press. Contrary to what conservatives claim it is very fair and balanced, and always presents all differing opinions. You know how I know this, because they usually can be counted on to have at least two or three viewpoints that really piss me off. I'm a liberal Democrat that is slowly but surely moving toward Socialism, just to counter all the hateful, destructive behavior of conservatives.

Answer 4

Conservatives listen to the radio when working or when driving. It is a choice. You can listen to music with the DJ's and Jerry Springer or Oprah on TV.



You also choose to read from certain authors. Do you not realize everyone has some slant or opinion?



There is no liberal talk radio because they don't get enough audience to pay for the air time. Even libs don't want to listen to their message.



Fox News is popular because the audience likes to hear their news AND opinion shows.

They allow differing point of views and people interested like that.



Conservatives are interesting to listen to, the ratings prove it.

Libs are just too nasty and condescending.

Answer 5

It is all based on the number of viewers and listeners, whom ever has the most viewers can charge the most for commericals. Before cable you only had the three major networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, there was no right wing view on TV. You only had Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and Chet Humphries. It really was very one sided. You had a few conservative newspaper opinion columnists.



The more the merrier I say.

Answer 6

Liberals are intelligent people. This means they open their minds. This means they are educated in many ways. Right wing media is like a cult. They use brainwashing to get & keep their listeners. This people believe the drug companies are good rather than learning that they make a drug that makes something appear to go away while really they are just masking something & adding to a person's dis-ease. http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Cancer-Inside-Mike-Anderson/dp/B00132XZFQ I am watching this video right now. I would not waste my time listening to loud, nasty, empty headed people like Rush, Palin & Hannity. There are man dvd's that republicans can get free from the public libraries but they refuse to listen to anything else. Just like a drug addict won't stay home & have a healthy meal when they can go out & use drugs. Fast Food Nation, Food, Inc. are also ones I have watched recently. Liberals/dems. most likely know about what is contained in this videos but I still encourage them to get this & watch cause we need to take care of ourselves & the innocent people in this country & world from the capitalist who are brainwashing people just so they can make a buck.

Answer 7

I think the best news show that isn't really a news show is the Daily Show. It may be left leaning, but it is hilarious and exposes a lot of idiocy aired on Fox etc. It would be hard for any liberal talk show or news program to beat it. The Colbert Report is right up there as well. They currently have a Glenn Beck board that shows him climbing an mountain everytime he says that God is telling him what to do. You just can't make this stuff up.

Answer 8

Heard Alan Colmes on the radio the other day doing his thing. So it does exist.



I do, however, think that those on the political right do like the echo chamber while liberals like the jury chamber (where people debate). So the reason they fall behind is because, strangely, of the other side. No Repubs watch liberal shows (or shows they have decided are liberal) while Leftists will watch conservative shows to argue with.

Answer 9

It's simple marketing actually...



Conservatives, by nature, are "buyers"...they want something tangible in which to believe and support (and yes, sometimes parrot). But from a marketing standpoint this keeps a radio or TV station going because it can support its programming with target advertising.



Liberals, by nature, are "sellers"...they want others to see and understand their perspectives. Despite their claims of "open-ness" this creates a dilemma for marketers: They must either try to appeal to an incredibly broad scope of tastes without offending any (for example, a simple commercial featuring a mom and dad taking their kids to McDonalds could deeply offend Gay Rights people for "selling stereotypes" .... it could also offend the "Meat is Murder" crowd and turn off the "anti-Corporation" crowd...)



Again, despite their claims of "open-mindedness", self-proclaimed liberals...from a purely marketing standpoint....are often quickly dismissive of other points of view....as your little add-on about being able to "think for themselves" illustrates so well..

Answer 10

We don't need our opinions to be given to us by the likes of Rush Lump 'O or Calamity Hannity, or Glen "Crybaby" Beck. We're smart enough to form our own opinions.



Conservatives are addicted to their emotions, so that any whacko liar out there who knows how to tug at heartstrings or arouse righteous anger MUST be right. "It's right because I feel it is." To hell with reality. They let the mouthpieces at False News set the list of important stuff.

Answer 11

Because the majority of Americans can see thru lies and are smart knowing the true history and how socialism only makes more people poor..



If Socialism is so GREAT! Why didn't Obama run on Socialism, why did he have to hide it, lie about it? He knows most Americans wouldn't have voted for him.!!!

Answer 12

More likely, it's because no one with more than half a functioning brain considers Liberal talking heads to be entertaining, much less reliably informed.

As a Conservative, most likely for longer than you've been alive, I feel the necessity to remind you that most of us on the Right do read extensively, have attended college, and usually do our own research in addition to what we hear on the radio or TV, something many on the Left apparently do not do.

Answer 13

I mean I just know that I personally would rather read something, process it and come to a logical conclusion about it as opposed to someone else telling me what to think and get mad about.

Answer 14

liberals are smarter than that



they formulate their own opinion based on truths and facts



they dont need a cult leader brainwashing them like sheep through the hatred spewed from the talk radio

Answer 15

Broadcast radio is controlled by transnational corporations, they are not very keen on progressive views on capitalism. There is plenty of progressive radio on the internet and on satellite

Answer 16

Because all the liberals listen to Rush and the other right wing pundits. Liberals are suckers...hook, line, and sinker.



Good radio hosts know how to build a big audience. And you don't just get audience from your fans.