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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMan buys AM radio station-to fashion into a hub for Black and progressive listeners
Tavis Smileys #MeToo exile didnt last. Inside his comeback on L.A. radiohttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-08/tavis-smiley-radio-kbla-pbs
By James RaineyStaff Writer
March 8, 2023 5 AM PT
SNIP
Smiley strode onto the national stage, hosting his own talk show on BET, then on NPR before settling at PBS. He interviewed presidents, potentates and the worlds biggest stars. The New York Times dubbed him a world-class talker.
Then Smileys talking at least the public kind went silent. PBS dropped the nightly talk show that bore his name five years ago, accusing him in a lawsuit of sexually harassing multiple women. He lost a court fight with the broadcaster and kept mostly out of the public eye, seemingly another alpha male permanently banished from the public stage by the #MeToo movement.
SNIP
For the last 20 months, the 58-year-old has forged a comeback path as the majority owner and morning host on KBLA 1580, an AM radio station that he is determined to fashion into a hub for Black and progressive listeners.
SNIP
There has been no independent measure of the size of KBLAs audience. Smiley concedes the 50,000-watt station would trail many of its dozens of competitors in the crowded Southern California market, if he bothered to pay to be measured by the Nielsen ratings service. (Which he hasnt.)
SNIP
Smiley strode onto the national stage, hosting his own talk show on BET, then on NPR before settling at PBS. He interviewed presidents, potentates and the worlds biggest stars. The New York Times dubbed him a world-class talker.
Then Smileys talking at least the public kind went silent. PBS dropped the nightly talk show that bore his name five years ago, accusing him in a lawsuit of sexually harassing multiple women. He lost a court fight with the broadcaster and kept mostly out of the public eye, seemingly another alpha male permanently banished from the public stage by the #MeToo movement.
SNIP
For the last 20 months, the 58-year-old has forged a comeback path as the majority owner and morning host on KBLA 1580, an AM radio station that he is determined to fashion into a hub for Black and progressive listeners.
SNIP
There has been no independent measure of the size of KBLAs audience. Smiley concedes the 50,000-watt station would trail many of its dozens of competitors in the crowded Southern California market, if he bothered to pay to be measured by the Nielsen ratings service. (Which he hasnt.)
SNIP
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We could use more of this!!!
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Man buys AM radio station-to fashion into a hub for Black and progressive listeners (Original Post)
diva77
Mar 2023
OP
diva77
(7,667 posts)1. Here's link to his station's website
Baitball Blogger
(46,769 posts)2. .
diva77
(7,667 posts)3. This is why I posted this yesterday:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217709551
Serendipity that the article about Tavis's station was in the LA Times hours later!!!
Serendipity that the article about Tavis's station was in the LA Times hours later!!!