Stephanie Miller showed up on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” about ten days ago and hinted at a nefarious plot on the part of conservative radio station owners to bring down the “highly successful” lib talk juggernaut.
“Well, you know – I just did a panel on the Fairness Doctrine,” the unfunny Miller said. “I have to tell you, I brought ratings information. And people like me and Ed Schultz are consistently beating conservative shows in many, many markets. And yet – there is 10 percent liberal radio in this country. Ninety percent of the stations are conservative. You just cannot argue anymore it’s because liberal radio can’t compete.”
That would be impossible – and she knows it – for one very simple reason: neither Miller nor Schultz air in “many, many markets.” If the information on her website is up-to-date:
- Miller has affiliates in just 50 markets (a dreadful total after years of flogging this dog in syndication)
- She has affiliates in only nine of the Top 50 markets.
- Eight of those nine have ratings below 1.0 (again, dreadful is the only appropriate word)
- Three of her Top 10 market affiliates have zero ratings.
- Eight of her 50 affiliates air her program only on weekends.
- Thirteen of her 50 affiliates air only a portion of her program or air it at odd hours (or both).
- Twenty of her 50 affiliates are in markets ranking #120 or smaller
- Twelve of her affiliates are in markets too small to be rated.
Even worse for Miller, her syndication efforts are going full speed in reverse. She’s lost a startling 62.5% (15 of 24) of the Top 50 affiliates she once had and her problem seem to be accelerating. In the last few months she’s lost affiliates in Miami, Phoenix and Columbus and gained none.
The bottom line is pretty clear:
Stephanie Miller’s talk show is a ratings disaster. Instead of blaming “conservative” station owners, she should put the blame where it belongs. On herself.
AN ADDED NOTE: Is it our imagination or is Miller beginning to look just like Gloria Allred?
Source: NewsBusters
