Dr. Mike out at Nova M
Mike Newcomb, a long time fixture in Phoenix talk radio and most recently a principal in Nova M Radio, the company that brought liberal talk radio back to the Valley of the Sun, is off the network and his role with Nova M appears to be over.
In a press release issued today by Nova M CEO Anita Drobny two programming changes were announced at KPHX, Nova M’s flagship station in Phoenix. Stephanie Miller takes over Dr. Mike’s slot, broadcasting from 7 am to 10 am mst and Jeff Farias will host a daily show from 4 pm to 6 pm mst.
Also added to the Nova M schedule is John Loftus, who signed on with liberal talk network several months. Loftus' show will run from 6 pm to 7 pm mst. Loftus, a former Justice Department prosecutor, once held some of the highest security clearances in the world, with special access to NATO Cosmic, CIA codeword, and Top Secret Nuclear files. Loftus' show will start on February 26, and Farias' show will debut on March 5.
Peter B. Collins, who currently occupies the 8 pm to 11 pm mst slot will be moved to a late position -- probably after the Mike Malloy Show, which is carried from 11 pm to 2 am mst.
Dr. Mike has hosted a talk show in the Phoenix market for several years. His show was originally carried on KFNX, however he moved over to Air America Radio affiliate KXXT in April, 2005.
When that station was sold to a Christian broadcater in January, 2006 Newcomb and liberal talk was temporarly out of the Phoenix market. However, by way of a on-line fund raising campaign, lib talk, Dr. Mike and AAR reappeared latter in the year on KPHX. Soon after, Dr. Mike teamed up with Drobny's to form Nova M.
Newcomb, who is a medical doctor specializing in caring for the elderly and impoverished, also ran for Governor of Arizona as a Democrat in 2002.
Farias, who is the director of programming and production at KPHX and was the producer of Dr. Mike’s daily show, has hosted a weekend show called "Truth to Power." It was not clear from the Nova M press release whether he will continue doing that show.
Farias’ show, which will be offered for syndication by Nova M will compete during the early early evening time slot against AAR’s Rachel Maddow Show. Drobny pointed out that Farias will be "one of the few progressive liberal talk show hosts in this time slot nationally to be focused on the listener call-in format." Maddow, who does a news commentary show, usually do
es not take calls.
es not take calls.The press release did not say mention why Newcomb was dropped by Nova M or whether he will continue to have a roll in the new liberal talk network.
Nova M is attempting to build a national progressive talk radio network It is a partnership between Sheldon and Anita Drobny, the founders of Air America Radio Network, Joe Trippi, ex-campaign manager to Howard Dean, and John Zogby, the president and ceo of Zogby International.
Nova M has had some success syndicating the Mike Malloy Show. The show, which is offered in Malloy’s usual late night time slot -- 10 pm to 1 am et, is currently carried on ten stations. Dr. Mike’s show had limited success in the syndication market.
The Nova M press release also confirmed that Malloy will soon be carried on XM Satellite Radio. His show is already offered on Sirius.
14 comments:
Dr. Mike had a terrific following here in Phoenix. He was a good talker. I think he was more popular than Jeff Farris. Since he was one of the founders I think he should have had a say in whether he would stay or not.
Who knows what these crazy investors have in mind.
Mike Malloy is on from 9 pm to Midnight, ET, NOT his old Air America hours (10 pm to 1 am).
I wonder what happened? I loved Dr Mike on the air, and listened to him nearly every weekday. I am truly saddened that our local voice is gone. Jeff Farias is great, but I don't know if he has quite as much passion as our good doctor. Will the freedom express continue? We will have to wait and see.
Classic example of a guy whose ego exceeded his talent.
We will have to change the old joke: St Peter showing a newbie around heaven and introducing him to various celestial beings. Finally they see a distinguished gentleman with a flowing white beard and hair, a stethoscope stuck away in his pocket and wearing headphones. St Peter says, "That's God. Now he thinks he's a talk show host."
Dead On regarding the ego on that guy. He had a small group of dunces who would call in day after day just to agree with anything he said. Never any real diverse opinions whatsoever. You ought to see his message board. Whoa... Now that is a train wreck. There is some guy named adam who must have been logged on 24X7. Really gives us libs a bad name. Jeff Farias is just a kook. I bet he lasts 30 days max. I would have expected him to bow out when they cut Newcomb loose. He owes everything he has to Newcomb. That guy just proved he has no honor.. Anyway, maybe now this Phoenix station will get some ratings now that Mr. Dr. Ego has left the building. Peace out.
Yeah, the whole site gave libs a bad name, nothing but glowing support for our Great President and his successes after Katrina, the Great work he has done in Iraq, Iran and North Korea, and his fight to kill those who attacked the United States on Sept 11. and their leaders in Iraq.
Yeah, the whole site gave libs a bad name, nothing but glowing support for our Great President and his successes after Katrina, the Great work he has done in Iraq, Iran and North Korea, and his fight to kill those who attacked the United States on Sept 11. and their leaders in Iraq.
As Churchill said- when the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber. I have heard Dr. Mike entertain the rants of conservatives- with class-yet he was never successfully countered in an argument (that I can recall). Ego? Wow, what is the litmus test here. If you want to here people with identical opines listen to Rush--while some liberals may lack in their ability to call in and make cogent points on air--I never heard liberals call themselves ditto-heads Besides- what do you expect at 0600?). Now- when Thom Hartmann leaves- so do I. But come on-Dr. Mike was a straight talker, a mensch. I miss his honesty.
Mike go to KGO in San Francisco
Farius is a conspiracy-theorist wack-job. I listen to the station until he comes on. Dr. Mike was never very good, and not what I'd call controversial. I agree with the previous post that he had the same handful of people call in, and his shows lacked any pizazz. So many times when I saw a good point to be made from something a right-wing caller would say and they (Jeff or Mike) would totally miss the opportunity.
Dr Mike and Jeff Farias are both infinitely better than the right-wing wackos who believe that 2 of the strongest steel and concrete buildings in the world could collapse at free fall speed from carbon-based fires, when NO high rise buildings have ever done so, let alone at free fall speed, before or since 9-11, and that a 3rd high rise would collapse when no plane touched it! Lol!!!!!!!!
I am a new listener to Nova M Radio, and I'm listening in Stockholm in Sweden.
Of all the talk show host's i have lsitened to, I think Jeff Farias is the most enjoyaable.
Jeff Farias let his callers talk to the end and don't cut them, like other talk radio hosts.
I learn something new every time I'm listening.
Where is Dr.Mike now?Will he be coming back to talk radio soon?The Democrats could use his on target comments in the midst of this close election.
Dr. Mike,
I really love the song that you always play just before the first break, it says something like "someday i wish upon the star..."
Can you tell me the artist? I really want to have that song.
You can email that to me at inno91@gmail.com. Thank you...
Keep it up!!
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