So The Savage Nation’s once-flagship station, KNEW in, as Michael Savage would say, San Fran-Freako, has unceremoniously dumped the blowhard host.
Giving listeners only a brief statement — “Here’s your no-spin direct answer; we have decided to go in a different philosophical and ideological direction, featuring more contemporary content and more local information.
The Savage Nation does not fit into that vision” — station management lost no time in introducing the duo who inherit Savage’s prime drive-time slot.
My friend Brad Kava, the SF Radio Examiner, notes today that the station has been mired in 29th place in Arbitron ratings, and Savage’s high-priced show was doing nothing to help that. he postulates that the decision was based less on philosophy and more on economics. He knows that scene, so I defer to him.
Brad also speculates that Savage may show up again on rival KSFO, where Savage got his start.
What I find really interesting is the response this move has generated from Savage Nation listeners outraged over their host’s booting.
Not surprisingly, many are posing “Big Government” conspiracy theories as the reason for the move. Amazing. As if the Obama administration even cares about Savage and his spittle-filled rants. Do these people reproduce?
On a related note, Savage also got a beating in court. Some time ago, he and his syndicator, Original Talk Radio Network, succeeded in strong-arming YouTube to take down an anti-Savage video posted by Brave New Films, in which BNF highlighted some of the anti-Muslim rants made by Savage.
Now, remember, this is the guy who says he’s in a battle to protect everyone’s freedom of speech. Unless, I guess, that free speech irritates Savage. What a lying hypocrite.
Anyway, again according to Brad Kava, OTRN issued an apology today, saying they “made a mistake by asking YouTube to remove Brave New Films’ video “Michael Savage Hates Muslims” from the YouTube site. Upon further examination, it is clear that video should not have been included in OTRN’s September 29, 2009 take down notice. OTRN apologizes for this error.”
BNF didn’t get any cash, but they did get the apology.
Not a good day for the Mad Savage. He should be particularly prickly now.
Keep the faith.
