Liberal Talk Radio To Shut Down in Madison

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Clear Channel Radio says high school and college sports are a better fit for listeners here than liberal talk radio.

Those are fightin' words in Madison, a place where ''Impeach Bush'' yard signs are common.

The decision by the nation's largest operator of radio stations to replace its highly rated liberal talk station here with Fox Sports Radio has sparked a major backlash. Some advertisers have threatened a boycott, more than 5,000 people have signed a petition and a rally urged the San Antonio-based company to reconsider.

''There is a mix of shock, outrage, disbelief and a little bit of anger,'' said Valerie Walasek, a 28-year-old listener who helped organize the movement to save the channel.

But so far, the company shows no signs of backing down from the format change planned for Jan. 1.

The company's market manager in Madison, Jeff Tyler, said too many advertisers stayed away from The Mic 92.1 FM because of opposition to the 2-year-old format mixing nationally known Air America liberal talkers such as Al Franken with local hosts.

If liberal talk radio can't make it in the big government town of Madison:where can it?