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To "Laura" or not to "Laura"

By Tim Bremel ( Contact )   March 25, 2008

ImageAbout once a week, someone writes in telling me how much they hate... or love.. the Laura Ingraham Show which WCLO runs from 6-9pm weekdays and repeats on weekends when we are lacking in the sports department.

Sometimes the comments are harsh, but those are almost always quite obviously, from people who have a more liberal view of the world than she does.

As Program Director, I'm constantly looking at our line-up and how to fit all the pieces of our complicated contractual agreements together. As we come up upon renewal time for our contract with Laura Ingraham, I thought I'd let you play program director... but you have to play the game with the same rules as I do. So, here they are:

1) You cannot hire more staff than we currently have.
2) Any contract you sign with any other program provider must allow you to "dump" their program more than 100 times each year for sports event coverage.
3) You may not air a program already airing in the Madison Market (almost always a market exclusive condition applies).
4) The program may not be a music program.
5) You must take into account that your personal preference and those of your immediate circle of friends is not necessarily representative of the entire listnership to which WCLO is trying to appeal.
6) The program must be able to be aquired and run with our existing satellite reception and automation equipment.

Now, obviously you won't know the technical stuff. But this gives you an idea of what you're up against.

So lets have it -- your ideas, your thoughts. We might have already tried it -- or it might not be possible, but often times, listener ideas are the ones that move mountains.

reader COMMENTS (22)
wleong
Apr 16, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.
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patriot1.....like no one else, other than Laura, supports the military?

BTW....Stan is a Vietnam Vet...thank him for his service!

patriot1
Apr 3, 2008 at 9:05 a.m.
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I love "Laura"! She is one of the most entertaining shows on the radio. She is in full support of our military and that goes a long way with me. And, she IS better looking than Stan!

stupidisasstupiddoes
Apr 2, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.
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Laura is better looking than Stan!!!

wjbecky
Mar 29, 2008 at 6:28 a.m.
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I listen to Laura like I listen to Stephen Colbert - I laugh at her, clearly, joking about being "news" versus opinion.

tbremel
Mar 28, 2008 at 6:56 a.m.
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I appreciate the discussion here. Thanks to those of you who offer productive ideas. Unfortunately, there's no good that can come out of the terse and cutting comments some folks are choosing to post.

I'm glad to see recognition of the contrast between Stan Milam and Laura. That was actually one of the many reasons we chose her in the first place.

Progressive talk is something we continue to explore... but with little success due to our sports schedule.

Sporting news radio is one for us to look at.

And unfortunately, other than CNN Headline news, I am not aware of any other news network that offers 24/7 programming we could latch on to.

Keep the discussion going. Thanks!

elmooso
Mar 28, 2008 at 6:21 a.m.
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I'd rather listen to fingernails across a chalkboard than Ms. Ingraham's program (it would be more informative also)

In1Accord
Mar 27, 2008 at 5:26 p.m.
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Laura is good balance to Stan's liberal views, although I prefer a local flavor. Obviously, no one will agree with everything someone says, but she is very thought provoking. I am just sorry it can't be a live program. I use to turn WCLO off at night when previous programing was on.

whybesad
Mar 27, 2008 at 10:12 a.m.
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Keep Laura on. If you want to listen to far left thinking just listen to Stans show in the morning he seems to like to bring in democrats more than conservatives.

janesvillefirst
Mar 27, 2008 at 8:10 a.m.
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Let's keep Laura. She's a way to keep Janesville a bit more balanced regarding things political. Ed Schultz is just to "off the wall".

NVgrf
Mar 26, 2008 at 10:51 p.m.
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Ed Schultz is #1.

jbrown
Mar 26, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.
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Sporting News Radio. At least if you have to interrupt for Brewers, Bucks, Badgers etc., you're going from sports to sports. http://radio.sportingnews.com/

I do like Jim Bo 9 to Midnight however.

Lucky
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.
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Laura is by far so far right she should fall off the map. I want to listen to someone who is not so far right or left but someone who listens to both sides. I shut WCLO off and would rather watch paint dry than listen to that. She is a female Rush Limbaugh. I listen to Wclo usually from 9:30am till 5pm at certain times

hannah
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:45 p.m.
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more gardening with k&w would be great

hannah
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:45 p.m.
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sorry I like to pass on politics-

wleong
Mar 26, 2008 at 2:53 p.m.
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How about Rachel Maddow, Stephanie Miller, or Ed Schultz? Let's get some "Progressive" views!

mdleclasadvte
Mar 26, 2008 at 12:29 p.m.
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I have to turn the station when Ingram comes on because she's so one sided, and if you don't agree with her, in her eyes you are wrong. Besides that, three hours of politics per night is way too much. I would much rather hear other sports programing from other markets or some sort of business programing, such as the Bloomberg Radio Network.

muadeeb
Mar 26, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.
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I'd say Glenn Beck, but he airs 8a-11a central. Dunno how you'd automate that.

proartist
Mar 26, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.
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Thought provoking radio? Democracy Now, please.

rooster
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:12 a.m.
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the IMUS program

JvlResident
Mar 25, 2008 at 11:19 p.m.
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I must admit I think Laura has some very good points. Although I dislike how she clearly screens her calls. She will dump listeners, then tell them they went against what they told her producers. I get so mad I change the station. Sorry advertisers. I understand the challanges maybe consider re-airing Stan in the evenings.

garrison
Mar 25, 2008 at 10:52 p.m.
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I can't listen to Laura. It goes beyond her politics; I just don't think she's entertaining. P.J. O'Rourke is a funny conservative; Laura is just plain annoying.
I had no problem with you running CNN audio during the evening hours a few years ago. That or a similar news service (but not Fox's version of the news) would be great. Does AP have a radio news service?

ray53511
Mar 25, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.
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That would be a very tough job for me to do since i don't listen to Madison I don't know what is playing in their market.I have actually found Laura to be entertaing and thought provking @ times. Although i don't listen to her nitely. When I do I do not always agree or disagree with her. Laura is much better than other radio or tv talk programs.

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