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Wisconsin Radio Station Explains Why It Dropped Beck's "Unacceptable" Show

February 25, 2011 5:24 pm ET by Joe Strupp

The Madison, Wisconsin, radio station that dropped Glenn Beck's program this week issued the following statement to Media Matters when asked why the decision was made:

WTDY can no longer carry the Glenn Beck program. Over the last 12 months, the show has devolved into plugs for Fox News (the radio version of which is aired by our direct competitor), his books, and other personal endorsements. The lack of actual content becomes more apparent daily. Monday's program was the final straw; his unabashed deriding of Madison is unacceptable for broadcast in our community.

Tags: Glenn Beck, Glenn Beck Program

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    • Author by bintx (February 25, 2011 5:27 pm ET)
      83 1
      Bravo.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mari2jj (February 28, 2011 1:00 am ET)
        4  
        If Beck's slanders were not so disgusting, they would be good comedy about him. Errr, it is already making him look like a stupid comedian. He just exaggerates all the time and never ever checks the facts. I am wondering what ghost is whispering this off the wall stuff in his ear or does he just dream up these garbage lies out of thin air?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Imbecile (February 25, 2011 5:28 pm ET)
      68  
      Guess who's going on Glenn Beck's Chalkboard of Impending Doom?

      Aside from that, I like it when independently-owned radio stations aren't afraid to speak their minds.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by montanabuddha (February 25, 2011 5:28 pm ET)
      34  
      Very Nice
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    • Author by m.welker (February 25, 2011 5:31 pm ET)
      53  
      The lack of actual content...


      How refreshing
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      • Author by Egbert Souse (February 25, 2011 7:48 pm ET)
        35  
        "[Beck's] lack of actual content." That's like saying night is dark. What took the station so bloody long in grasping the obvious?

        From Jan. 26, 2007, WaPo profile of Beck by David Segal:

        "Listen to a few of Beck's shows and what strikes you most is the enormous ratio of words to substance --- how Beck can monologue for minutes at a time and leave behind almost nothing except the impression of great vehemence."

        Report Abuse
        • Author by TheDayV (February 27, 2011 9:30 pm ET)
          3  
          From the same article while discussing pundit culture:

          "This is a system based on 'I'm right, you're wrong, now get out of my way,' " says Beck, sitting in his office last Friday before the taping of his 7 p.m. TV show. "But that's not who I am, and it's not what I'm entertained by. I know what I believe, but I'm not an ideologue. I will ask, not just on TV but in the privacy of my own home, 'Gosh, is that right?' "

          Certainly, this is not what we're seeing now.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by takemycountryback (February 25, 2011 9:23 pm ET)
        25  
        Shame on them for implying that at one time there perhaps was actual content.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by m.welker (February 25, 2011 5:31 pm ET)
      24  
      The lack of actual content...


      How refreshing
      Report Abuse
    • Author by MidnightWriter (February 25, 2011 5:32 pm ET)
      35  
      Let's just hope that others come to realize that Beck's unique brand of hate, fear, falsehoods, and over the top self aggrandizing is unacceptable for broadcasts in any community.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by soze169880 (February 25, 2011 5:45 pm ET)
      29  
      ZOMG U GUYS FIRST THEY CAEM 4 TEH JOOS!!!11!!!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by txthinker (February 25, 2011 5:50 pm ET)
      31  
      ... his unabashed deriding of Madison is unacceptable for broadcast in our community.
      WTDY obviously believes in the license requirement about "broadcasting in the public interest". If other stations did, Becky would have no radio outlets whatsoever.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by mindoro33 (February 25, 2011 5:51 pm ET)
      24  
      SWEET!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by reanna-mator (February 25, 2011 6:04 pm ET)
      17  
      Bravo! Home sweet home.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Apodixis (February 25, 2011 6:07 pm ET)
      4 26
      From Liberal Talk Radio Wiki:

      **In the fall of 2004, in a preemptive strike against WXXM, the station briefly positioned itself as progressive talk, and briefly aired Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz.**

      http://ltradio.wikia.com/wiki/WTDY

      Also Read Zaitchik*s biography of Beck in Salon, on Beck*s early radio career, about how talk radio programming constantly bounces around.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by IntelSebastian (February 25, 2011 6:15 pm ET)
        22 2
        Whatever helps you sleep at night duder
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Apodixis (February 25, 2011 6:18 pm ET)
          2 38
          It*s got nothing to do with me. Just presenting the facts.

          From the WTDY announcement:

          **his unabashed deriding of Madison is unacceptable for broadcast in our community.**

          A way to appeal for audience.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by n'est-ce pas (February 25, 2011 9:42 pm ET)
            21  
            Because you cannot imagine doing things for the benefit of your community, you also cannot imagine anyone else doing something for the benefit of their community. That's a sad, sorry little life you're leading. Seriously.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by m_mayhem (February 25, 2011 10:27 pm ET)
            19  
            Heaven forbid a radio station trying to serve their community.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Apodixis (February 26, 2011 12:17 am ET)
              2 14
              No doubt that station does serve the community.

              They currently carry Dennis Miller and Laura Ingraham.

              For the benefit of the community they should bring back Stephanie Miller in Beck*s former time slot.

              Report Abuse
              • Author by highlyunlikely (February 26, 2011 1:04 am ET)
                11  
                cryptic as all get-out is this one.
                Report Abuse
              • Author by kabniel (February 26, 2011 4:10 am ET)
                7  
                Look this is simple. Beck is a liar, Beck is a moron and Beck is clinically insane. The sooner broadcasters understand that Beck has NOTHING to offer of service to the public the better
                Report Abuse
          • Author by Maimon (February 27, 2011 12:19 pm ET)
            4 1
            LMAO..I love when people say " I'm simply presenting the facts". Like they somehow are the gate keeper of truth.

            Why not present a fact like: Glenn Beck misleads his listeners to support his political views and to sell his wares.

            The reality is Beck is simply s shill for GOP, Fox, Koch industries, etc... It is propaganda, that is repeated to give it authority. He tries to be the teacher with his chalk board, pointer and glasses. This is an attempt to appear as " The Sage" The reality is he disinforms people for money.

            He,like many on the right, are able to balance being philo-semitic and anti-semitic all at once. He supports Israel, yet think jews are flawed or need to be perfected. A classic case of disonance and doublspeak.

            Facts are slippery things, especially when they are defined differently by various groups. It is much like the concept of truth. Many claim to have it, but few can demonstrate it...

            Report Abuse
            • Author by Apodixis (February 27, 2011 2:40 pm ET)
              1 6
              Facts are slippery things, especially when they are defined differently by various groups. It is much like the concept of truth. Many claim to have it, but few can demonstrate it...

              Here is a demonstrable fact: In the quote in the header of this topic the radio station stated in reply to MMfA*s question about its decision for dropping Beck:

              **the show has devolved into plugs for Fox News (the radio version of which is aired by our direct competitor)**

              That the reasons for dropping Beck are multi-factorial, as is also factually evidenced by the entirety of that quote.

              Facts and the truth do not change because words are defined differently by various groups. Words are not the same thing as the reality they refer to, and an objective truth is ascertainable.

              ( Love the Cat )
              Report Abuse
      • Author by highlyunlikely (February 25, 2011 6:17 pm ET)
        17  
        I read that Salon bio when it was first published. It was anything but flattering.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Apodixis (February 25, 2011 6:22 pm ET)
          3 15
          It was very interesting and informative. It is online.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by indigo1968 (February 26, 2011 12:48 pm ET)
            11  
            I read the Salon article in question as well. It is interesting in so much as it shows what Beck is doing now is little different than when he was a two-bit morning zoo DJ.

            The article also cemented by belief that Beck will say or do anything to make a buck. He's both a pimp and a whore wrapped up in the same pudgy white body.

            Report Abuse
          • Author by Maimon (February 27, 2011 12:23 pm ET)
            3  
            I've read several biographies on Beck. they are not very flatering. Also, his ratings surged about 18 months ago and have been in constant decline since that time.

            He will re-invent himself and continue to make money, but he will always be a propagandist, nothing more, nothing less.

            Report Abuse
      • Author by titoista (February 25, 2011 6:17 pm ET)
        24  
        he was on the air in Phoenix,my home city,and was arrested and/or fined for extremely childish pranks,like putting a live animal in a bank vacuum tube and sending it to a teller....P.O.S.!
        Report Abuse
      • Author by congero6189599 (February 26, 2011 12:55 pm ET)
        5  
        Thats intersting using Alexander Zaitchek who wrote a book about Beck titled "Common Nonsense;Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance."
        Report Abuse
      • Author by congero6189599 (February 26, 2011 12:58 pm ET)
        3  
        Thats intersting using Alexander Zaitchek who wrote a book about Beck titled "Common Nonsense;Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance."
        Report Abuse
    • Author by highlyunlikely (February 25, 2011 6:15 pm ET)
      21  
      Well, that announcement certainly gives Beck enough material on his TV gig and what's left of his radio empire for the rest of the year. I wonder what kind of threats that radio station is receiving from his loyal minions as we speak. Not that he instigated any, of course...
      Report Abuse
    • Author by akmikeus (February 25, 2011 6:23 pm ET)
      1 45
      And the WI Gov't is dropping the Unions.

      Everybody wins!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by highlyunlikely (February 25, 2011 6:58 pm ET)
        30  
        again, jokes with punchlines even the other cons don't get.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by kabniel (February 26, 2011 4:11 am ET)
        12  
        WOW. That was possibly the stupidest statement ever written in the English language
        Report Abuse
        • Author by MJPollard (February 26, 2011 2:38 pm ET)
          8  
          Consider the source and it makes perfect sense. To him, anyway.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by LKL (February 26, 2011 6:40 pm ET)
          7  
          WOW. That was possibly the stupidest statement ever written in the English language

          So you would think! But I think it's topped by the bizarre nonsensical "Eschew preconception" comment below. Never underestimate the ability of our resident trolls to make absolutely no sense whatsoever!
          Report Abuse
      • Author by Maimon (February 27, 2011 12:30 pm ET)
        3  
        -And you will be the first to have a 7 day work week
        -You only get paid for 40 hours of the 70 hours you work each week
        -We can fire you without reason
        -Work place safety is too pesky, we only lost 47 employees last year
        -Your boss will tell you how to vote
        -Your company will monitor your facebook page to make sure you are a good little employee
        -Hey maybe your 10 year old kid would do better at the factory than at school

        Few today realize that the union has been a positive force for the worker for many years. They have to change and they seem willing to in Wisconsin. Walker is simply trying to kill the unions financially, so they don't help the democrats. I would ask Walker if he would give up all teh lobbyist money and financial support if teh union gave up collective bargaining?

        You know, the NRA would not be allowed to lobby or donate money to Republicans. Ahhh that must be what utopia looks like....
        Report Abuse
    • Author by equality7-2125 (February 25, 2011 6:34 pm ET)
      11  
      hehehehehehehehehehehe
      Report Abuse
    • Author by PsychGrad (February 25, 2011 6:40 pm ET)
      23  
      Well done. I wonder if there was an outcry from the GB followers in that area regarding his cancellation? I mean, since the majority of Americans agree with him, and this is just an obstacle of "free speech" and all... I'm surprised the streets aren't filled with people DEMANDING he be put back on the air. Oh, no? No protests? No outrage? lmao Nice
      Report Abuse
    • Author by spacemoth (February 25, 2011 6:42 pm ET)
      17  
      anybody else hear glen's chickens in the near distance to their roost?

      *faint clucks*
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Unshriven (February 25, 2011 7:44 pm ET)
      7  
      That's great, but why were you carrying it in the first place?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by johnbrown (February 25, 2011 8:34 pm ET)
      10  
      If actual content was the criteria of having right wing radio on the air there would be no right wing shows on.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Penon (February 25, 2011 9:43 pm ET)
         
      A nice first step, but what replaces the 3 hours of doom each day that is Beck's radio show? If they choose just another extremist blow hard spinning lunatic theories on how society is being destroyed by everything that is not Republican, I don't see where that actually benefits Madison.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by villabolo (February 25, 2011 10:14 pm ET)
      5  
      First crack in the dam?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by WestMassman (February 25, 2011 10:34 pm ET)
      8  
      Wisconsin Radio Station Explains Why It Dropped Beck's "Unacceptable" Show

      Thank you

      Now if more stations would follow that lead and apply it to the other nuts, radio would have its act cleaned up
      Report Abuse
    • Author by mediadoesmatter (February 26, 2011 12:13 am ET)
         
      In addition to posting kudos here....go to their website and let them know your feelings:

      http://www.wtdy.com/



      Report Abuse
    • Author by little poncho (February 26, 2011 8:10 am ET)
      8  
      if all of the hate mongers were taken off the air, from both radio an tv, for 6 months, we all would see a much better country, for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by akmikeus (February 26, 2011 11:44 am ET)
        1 22
        Oh yeah, lets deny everyone the first amendment rights, heck we might as well just trash the whole constitution and start over.

        What do you think?

        I mean, this whole republic thing is not working out very well anyway.

        Maybe we can all start wearing brown or red shirts and pants.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by MidnightWriter (February 26, 2011 11:53 am ET)
          19  
          Is it really necessary to explain to you that the First Amendments prevents the government from restricting your right to speak?

          A privately owned, commercial radio station making the choice to no longer carry a syndicated, commercial program . . .? Not even close to a violation of Constitutional rights.

          I'd say it falls into all things, "let the market decide." A consumer has decided they no longer wish to purchase Beck's product. Capitalism in action, dontchaknow.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by ptluzzi59 (February 26, 2011 12:27 pm ET)
            13  
            It's like talking to a wall trying to explain facts to people like that.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by Apodixis (February 26, 2011 3:19 pm ET)
              10
            I'd say it falls into all things, "let the market decide." A consumer has decided they no longer wish to purchase Beck's product. Capitalism in action, dontchaknow.

            Precisely.

            Eschew preconception.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by overmars jr. (February 27, 2011 12:25 pm ET)
            6  
            Ya ever notice how the most super duper patriotic "Real-mericans" haven't the foggiest clue whenever it comes to any constitutional or American concept, the same ones they so relentlessly prattle on about as if that alone proved their American-ness stood over yours?

            They intentionally do not understand anything. It's willful ignorance.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by ilikeike (February 27, 2011 1:34 pm ET)
            5  
            when did everything the right wing disagrees with become an"attack on the constitution". yes there have been some misguided posters here who have claimed that fox or rush should be banned from the airwaves. but they are a small minority and this is not what anyone is talking about today
            Report Abuse
        • Author by kh510 (February 26, 2011 12:53 pm ET)
          4  
          Good idea. It's nothing but a go**amn piece of paper, after all.
          /Snark
          Report Abuse
        • Author by MJPollard (February 26, 2011 2:40 pm ET)
          6 1
          Everyone has the right to speak. No one has the right to a radio show. How many times does this fundamental concept have to be explained to you morons before it actually sinks through the solid mass of bone that's taken the place of your brains?
          Report Abuse
        • Author by lather (February 27, 2011 10:28 am ET)
          5 1
          I love how Idiots scream about the Constitution but have no clue as to what it really means..

          The "Right" on this site as so funny.. They show how clueless they are every time they talk.

          Please, Please, For the Love of God.. Say Something worthwhile, Do you guys have ANY legitimate arguments?
          Report Abuse
        • Author by Maimon (February 27, 2011 11:21 pm ET)
          2  
          Hmm..well the republic became an empire. Empires that allow themselves to fall into wars all the time, seldom last. Also, allowing corporations to run the country is foolish. Plutocracies don't work either.

          The constitution is a good starting point, but it is not all seeing like many think it is. Also, the constitution is for the people, not the coporations. We seem to have fogot that. We think we are a a capitalist country, but that is only how our economy works.

          And Beck is not being denied his right to free speech.If statiosn don't want to carry him, they don't have to.

          I say its about time. Who wants to listen to propaganda?
          Report Abuse
        • Author by WestMassman (February 27, 2011 11:59 pm ET)
          2  
          Oh yeah, lets deny everyone the first amendment rights, heck we might as well just trash the whole constitution and start over.

          But the Republican't Potty only cares about the second Amendment. To hell with the rest
          Report Abuse
    • Author by little poncho (February 26, 2011 12:34 pm ET)
      8  
      the beckturd is a hollow head moran,he wants to divide this country, and unite himself & $$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!! make sure you order his seeds, for spring planting $$$$$$$$$$$$..
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Camera (February 26, 2011 2:42 pm ET)
        8  
        And gold.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by WestMassman (February 28, 2011 12:03 am ET)
        1  
        make sure you order his seeds, for spring planting $$$$$$$$$$$$..

        Yes! Goldenrod and Crabgrass seeds are had to find. But rest assured Glenda will sell them to you
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mptwain (February 26, 2011 2:02 pm ET)
         
      So why did this take so long? At what point is enough really enough? How sad that this threshold has been pushed ever higher to the point of abject insanity.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dwendt44 (February 27, 2011 12:59 am ET)
      6  
      "if all of the hate mongers were taken off the air, from both radio an tv, for 6 months, we all would see a much better country, for everyone!!!!!!!!!!! "

      Unfortunately, most radio networks are owned by conservatives or Republicans who think it's just dandy to fill the minds of gullible listeners with garbage.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Maimon (February 27, 2011 12:08 pm ET)
      4  
      It took them this long to figure out Beck is an oppurtunist, who lies and manipulates for personal gain.

      Okay, at least they figured it out but man it took this long?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Cruncher (February 28, 2011 11:00 am ET)
      1  
      That is great news. Now others can follow suit.
      Report Abuse