Consolidation: A Local Case Study In Failure

The business model doesn't work--the consolidated media business model, that is. Look no further than your own back yard (from the Watauga Democrat):

Aisling Broadcasting LLC, parent company of a group of six local radio stations including WECR and WATA, is undergoing receivership proceedings.

Superior Court Judge James L. Baker appointed George Reed, managing director of Media Services Group, receiver for Aisling Broadcasting two weeks ago and radio station staff members were notified last week.

...

Simply put, Aisling overpaid for the six radio stations that they purchased--just like many of the national media chains did after deregulation allowed them to go on a consolidation binge.

Aisling brought most of the stations together under one roof, consolidated news operations, and relied on cheap syndicated programming instead of producing truly local content to round out the programming day. Many of the syndicated talk shows (and the lone locally-produced political talk show) carried on Aisling stations skewed conservative--a trend that was clearly out of step with the increasingly progressive nature of the High Country area (see local elections in Boone and Watauga County).

So now a broker is going to try to sell the stations. The question is, who will buy them? Will the stations be sold off individually, or as a group? Will the stations be purchased by a huge national chain like Cumulus or Clear Channel? Pat Robertson? High Country Media? Or will a local buyer step up?

The broker trying to sell Aisling works for an outfit called Media Services Group. Here is a listing of some of the other deals they have done.

Q: Is profit maximization compatible at all with quality journalism, or the FCC mandate that broadcasters operate in the public interest?

Q: What is the likelihood of any new, locally-produced, diverse programming being heard on our public airwaves as a result of Aisling's sale?

Q: Can we look forward to world or national news coverage that actually provides some context (as opposed to WATA's 5 minutes of hourly "news coverage" provided by Doug Limerick of ABC Radio--complete with wailing sirens in the background as Doug plays audio from the latest suicide bombing in Iraq or Israel)?

How nice it is to wake up to that in the morning.