And why should I care what he has to say?

There's a lot of debt hanging on several large corporations...Current being one of them. The network has never gotten much traction under Hyatt & Gore and it really hasn't gained subscribers or grabbed hold in a demographic to be marketable. It's not as though they haven't tried...its just very difficult to launch such a people-intensive type of operation in a tough economy and in a highly competitive field where there are too many established competitors. Unlike a faux that can rely on other divisions to make up the slack for the news operation, Current is all alone...and has to live and die on what the market will bear. A noble experiment that I hope continues but right now it's treading water at best.

Another network I expect to see some big changes is CNN. Once the top rated network it is regularly beaten by faux and MSNBC and the numbers continue to slide. Playing faux lite is just not working and the entire network needs a drastic makeover.

The real downfalls next year will be in radio where terrestrial radio continues to lose listeners and revenues while debts pile up. Bain/Cheap Channel has over 14 billion in debts and face a continuously shrinking advertising market and rapidly decelerating "stick values" or the value of their thousands of broadcast licenses. They paid top dollar and, just like the real estate bust, they are worth a fraction today with no chance of ever rebounding. The industry has belt tightened beyond suffocation and now stations are starting to pull the plug. Internet and satellite radio have also made big inroads...people are closer to a computer today than a radio.

I worked in the "biz" for over 25 years and am grateful to be an observer these days....

they just moved it to a higher tier a week or so ago. If I wasn't so devoted to The young turks
I would have let it go cause I really can't afford another $10 a month-not to mention I HATE paying for a whole crapload of horrible movies on the awful movie channels I'm forced to buy now. So, what does it usually mean when a station is moved to a more expensive package? I thought it was a good sign for Current-maybe the powers that be are a little threatened-maybe that explains this WSJ (rightwing rag) article?

I'm watching Stephanie Miller on Current right now...and it appears she's done well with the show, but availability is a major problem with Current. They've always been offered as an upper-tier service on my system and I'm fortunate I can afford the $130 a month to get this channel and HBO (for Bill mahrer)...a long way from the $10 a month I paid back in the 80s. I know too many people who can't afford $30 a month yet $100 or more...and this is hurting channels like Current as the cable companies lose business and try to hang on to what they have by having the "most popular" channels on their basic services.

The article is disengenuous in only one regard...Current isn't the only channel that is having financial problems. "Deregulation" had turned the terrestrial and now cable channels into a plantation operated by a handful of large corporates. They're emphasis on quick ratings and revenues have destroyed broadcasting.

I will way that Current has missed a great opportunity by not streaming their programming live and drawing an audience that way.

Cheers...

because Spitzer is actually really good. Granholm and Cenk are pretty good as well. That Behar nonsense at 10pm has got to be a drag on the evening ratings though.

I think things have picked up since this article was written in June.

Here's the announcement about Fugelsang's show

New Friday Night Addition, Entitled “John Fugelsang: So That Happened,” Takes an Irreverent Look at the Weekly Headlines

Fugelsang's Nightly Series to Premiere Later This Year

New York, October 1, 2012– Beginning Friday, October 5, Current TV will introduce a new weekly show to its lineup entitled “John Fugelsang: So That Happened.” Airing at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET, the hour-long program will serve as a precursor to the comedian's highly-anticipated nightly series, which will premiere later this year. Fugelsang will be commenting on the week's events in news, pop culture, politics and the web, using plenty of video to share his selected highlights and lowlights from the week just ending. Comedian Frank Conniff, best known as Frank from “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” will serve as head writer and will be a frequent contributor to the series.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/01/john-fugelsang-to-host-new-current-tv-show-john-fugelsang-so-that-happened-beginning-october-5/150910/

And as her radio listeners tune in, they stick around for the other programming. I watch Current more now than MSNBC. I hope they hang on; they're doing a great job. John Fugelsang is the best.

It is BS.

Current must be scaring someone for this to reappear right now.

Really, check out the network if you can. It has terrific programming and is getting stronger every month, adding great new shows all the time.

same author, it was going down and under in 2012

And, based on all the donation ads for RMoney that are on that web site, why do you supposed they would write a piece on Current that goes like this?

Al Gore’s Current TV was on life support even before it fired its only bankable star, Keith Olbermann, in March following a set of battles with the host over his perks. He was replaced by serial talk show host failure Eliot Spitzer. Compared to Olbermann’s March figures, Spitzer’s ratings in April were down nearly 70%, according to TV audience measurement firm Nielsen. At the time, The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “Replacement Eliot Spitzer pulled an anemic 47,000 total viewers in the first outing of Viewpoint, with just 10,000 among adults 25-54. The weeks since saw an early rebound, particularly in the demo, but in its four weeks on air Viewpoint has steadily declined in both respects.” Reuters recently reported that Current TV’s audience had fallen enough that cable giant Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) may have the right to discontinue carrying the channel. The closest Current TV has to a star is talk show veteran Joy Behar, a former cast member of “The View,” who had her own show canceled by CNN’s HLN in November. Gore does not have the pockets to keep a network with no future going.

ANYONE who watches Current has seen Olbermann's replacement in his 8 PM slot do nothing but great commentary with INTELLIGENT discussion/moderation. Wall Street fucking HATES ELIOT SPITZER for calling Wall Street out before the Occupy Movement.

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They want Current

Spitzer's show is my only must-see. It is the most intelligent serious news and commentary show on the air today.

And, if Fugelsang keeps up his current (ha!) pace, his will be the most intelligent irreverent news and commentary show. He reminds me so much of Dick Cavett back in the day.

Current TV is doing great work. It galls me that so many on "our side" so readily take up mainstream media's mocking attittude toward Al Gore. He is a national treasure.

Remember that speech at Constitution Hall back during the dark days of Bush II? I sure do. And now he's doing what needs to be done regarding the media, in addition to trying to get us to save the planet.

Jennifer Granholm. JENNIFER GRANHOLM! 10:00 PM Now wartless (or mole or whatever) and very beautiful. Sharp and intelligent. And slices up republicans, rightists. idiots, etc. in a very enjoyable way!

Should have read the whole thread before posting a comment.

I'm actually glad to hear that this is probably BS. I am so in hopes that it will not go the way of Air America - decent and truthful media has to prevail if our democracy is to survive.