Nightline Daily E-Mail

April 1, 2004 -- TONIGHT'S SUBJECT: Conservative talk radio is an enormous media phenomenon. It is an integral part of the Republican party's political infrastructure. And it is a huge financial windfall for stations and networks. So why hasn't the same been true for liberal radio? A new venture launched this week seeks to balance the radio dial politically. Does it stand a chance?

Name some successful conservative talk radio hosts.

Of course, there's Rush. And, Sean Hannity. Bill O'Reilly. Michael Savage. Oliver North. G. Gordon Liddy. Cal Thomas. Laura Ingraham. Michael Medved. The list goes on...

Now name the successful liberal radio hosts.

Stuck?

Several prominent liberals have tried and failed to make a go in talk radio. A few have achieved success in local markets. But no liberal radio voice has succeeded on the national level of a Rush or a Hannity or an O'Reilly.

You may have heard that a new liberal radio network, called "Air America Radio," made its debut yesterday. It is making the biggest stab yet at balancing the phenomenon of conservative radio with a liberal alternative. Air America boasts some well known names, some new to radio: actress/comedian Janeane Garofolo, rapper Chuck D and comedian/writer Al Franken, who, in a jab at O'Reilly, has named his program: "The O'Franken Factor." Franken, whose first book was titled "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations," has the flagship program on the network, running head to head against Rush Limbaugh's timeslot.

The station has a sizable financial launch, supported by a former HBO and America Online executive and a Manhattan financier. But so far, finding the network on your radio dial isn't so easy. It is only being carried in a handful of markets so far, albeit major ones like New York, LA and Chicago. By comparison, Rush Limbaugh is heard on more than 600 stations.

Can liberal radio succeed this time? Is there something about liberals, and their broad range of issues, that dooms success in talk radio? What is the right mix of humor and political advocacy that equals success on talk radio? Tonight Chris Bury will report on the launch of the liberal radio network, and the enormous success of conservative radio. Ted Koppel will talk to a panel of guests--we're still working that out.