Nova M Radio
Encyclopedia
Nova M Radio, later known as On Second Thought, was a radio syndication service providing progressive talk programming. Founded as Nova M Radio by Sheldon
and Anita Drobny in 2006, its stated purpose was to purchase, own, and operate underperforming radio stations in small and medium sized markets. These stations would then broadcast progressive talk radio
content, particularly programming from their own network, as well as from Air America Radio
and other organizations. On February 18, 2009, the network was bought out by Mike Newcomb, a former on-air personality and business partner with the Drobnys; it was Newcomb who gave the company its final name.
On Second Thought had planned on using 1190 Nova M KNUV
Phoenix as its flagship station, however on March 2, 2009, KNUV's doors were reported padlocked closed, and on March 5, 2009 KNUV returned to a Spanish-language news/talk/music format. Since the network's operations were based at the studios, the network was shut down.
(LMA) with Continental Broadcasting, owner of KPHX in Phoenix, Arizona
, bringing the progressive talk programming formerly carried (since the fall of 2004) by KXXT
(1010 kHz AM) with them.
On October 18 of the same year, following the Chapter 11 filing by Air America, Nova M announced that it would form its own radio network featuring personalities including Newcomb, Mike Malloy
, and John Zogby
. The eventual Nova M lineup had only two hosts, Malloy and Randi Rhodes
. KPHX served as the flagship of Nova M's new network until the end of 2008. Network General Manager, Arthur Mobley, facilitated the purchase of KNUV in order to save the network before the LMA with KPHX was due to terminate. Mobley cocordinated the move to KNUV 1190 AM and the network was briefly simulcast on KNUV. When the LMA ended with KPHX, the station switched to an Adult standards
music format and KNUV became the new Nova M flagship station on January 1, 2009.
The company operated KDXE in Little Rock, Arkansas
, under a similar agreement until early 2007. Nova M originally planned to lease stations in other cities, but later, the Drobnys urged local groups to organize to purchase or lease stations for progressive talk radio.
Rhodes' last show on Nova M before an abrupt break was February 3, 2009. Political commentator and one-time Congressional candidate Nancy Skinner hosted the show in Rhodes' absence beginning February 5. Following this, Anita Drobny of Nova M Radio posted a message on the Nova M site saying that they were unable to disclose details of what is going on due to Rhodes' having complete control of the show, and that Rhodes "now has to make her decisions as to what she must do with her career". Mrs. Drobny has also said, "People are saying it's about money. It's not about money at all. I just could not fulfill one of her requirements." She did, however, note the financial impact of Rhodes' departure: "I looked at [our] site, and I see that because Randi Rhodes isn't on, there are so many people leaving the Founders Club [which involves a fee paid to Nova M]. And you can't operate without people's participation." Rhodes' own Web site was also taken down, and replaced with a letter from Rhodes to supporters stating that the entire situation was within Nova M's control, that any implication that Rhodes is responsible for the disruption is false, and that Rhodes' show will be "seeking a new home" in light of the recent developments. According to an individual familiar with the issue, Nova M agreed to provide certain standard legal protection for the popular radio host, but Rhodes had to leave the air and Nova M following a discovery that Nova had not lived up to its contractual promise. Subsequently, on February 19, 2009, Nova M Radio announced that they would be filing for bankruptcy liquidation, but no such filing occurred.
Stephen Lemons, a blogger for the Phoenix New Times
, has suggested that On Second Thought has also ceased to exist,, and radio station KKGN, which airs Mike Malloy's show, reported on its blog that Malloy is now self-syndicated. Records available from the Arizona Corporation Commission
, however, indicate that the LLC, which was originally formed in 2003, remains a going concern.
XM Satellite Radio
aired content syndicated by Nova M and On Second Thought on the America Left
channel. Randi Rhodes was broadcast live until Nova M collapsed. She was replaced by Nancy Skinner, who was broadcast live until the closure of On Second Thought. Mike Malloy was broadcast on a one-hour delay until February, 2009.
On Second Thought's final syndicated offerings consisted of three weekday shows, hosted by Skinner (weekday afternoons), Newcomb (weekday evenings), and Malloy (weekday late nights).
, the distribution subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
. Malloy began self-syndication of his program; this continues to the present.
Sheldon Drobny
Sheldon Drobny is an American accountant and successful investor, best known for forming the company that later became Air America Radio.-Career:...
and Anita Drobny in 2006, its stated purpose was to purchase, own, and operate underperforming radio stations in small and medium sized markets. These stations would then broadcast progressive talk radio
Progressive talk radio
Progressive talk radio is a talk radio format devoted to expressing liberal or progressive viewpoints of issues, as opposed to conservative talk radio...
content, particularly programming from their own network, as well as from Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
and other organizations. On February 18, 2009, the network was bought out by Mike Newcomb, a former on-air personality and business partner with the Drobnys; it was Newcomb who gave the company its final name.
On Second Thought had planned on using 1190 Nova M KNUV
KNUV
KNUV is a Spanish-language station broadcasting from studios located in midtown Phoenix; the station is licensed to Tolleson, Arizona. It is owned by New Radio Venture .- History :...
Phoenix as its flagship station, however on March 2, 2009, KNUV's doors were reported padlocked closed, and on March 5, 2009 KNUV returned to a Spanish-language news/talk/music format. Since the network's operations were based at the studios, the network was shut down.
History
In late March 2006, Nova M entered into a local marketing agreementLocal marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
(LMA) with Continental Broadcasting, owner of KPHX in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, bringing the progressive talk programming formerly carried (since the fall of 2004) by KXXT
KXXT
KXXT is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Tolleson, Arizona, USA, the station serves the Phoenix area. The station is currently owned by Communicom Co. of Arizona, L.P..-History:...
(1010 kHz AM) with them.
On October 18 of the same year, following the Chapter 11 filing by Air America, Nova M announced that it would form its own radio network featuring personalities including Newcomb, Mike Malloy
Mike Malloy
Michael Dennis Malloy is an American radio broadcaster from Atlanta, Georgia. Previously his show has been carried by WSB Atlanta, WLS Chicago, the I.E. America Radio Network, the Air America Radio network, Nova M Radio and the On Second Thought network. He is now self-syndicated...
, and John Zogby
John Zogby
John Zogby is an American political pollster and first senior fellow at The Catholic University of America's Life Cycle Institute. He is the founder, president and CEO of Zogby International, a polling firm known for both phone polling and interactive, Internet-based polling.-Early years:Zogby...
. The eventual Nova M lineup had only two hosts, Malloy and Randi Rhodes
Randi Rhodes
Randi Rhodes is an American progressive talk radio personality, formerly featured on Air America Radio and Nova M Radio and now on Premiere Radio Networks. Her eponymous program, The Randi Rhodes Show, airs live Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm Eastern Time.-Early life:Rhodes was born in...
. KPHX served as the flagship of Nova M's new network until the end of 2008. Network General Manager, Arthur Mobley, facilitated the purchase of KNUV in order to save the network before the LMA with KPHX was due to terminate. Mobley cocordinated the move to KNUV 1190 AM and the network was briefly simulcast on KNUV. When the LMA ended with KPHX, the station switched to an Adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
music format and KNUV became the new Nova M flagship station on January 1, 2009.
The company operated KDXE in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, under a similar agreement until early 2007. Nova M originally planned to lease stations in other cities, but later, the Drobnys urged local groups to organize to purchase or lease stations for progressive talk radio.
Rhodes' last show on Nova M before an abrupt break was February 3, 2009. Political commentator and one-time Congressional candidate Nancy Skinner hosted the show in Rhodes' absence beginning February 5. Following this, Anita Drobny of Nova M Radio posted a message on the Nova M site saying that they were unable to disclose details of what is going on due to Rhodes' having complete control of the show, and that Rhodes "now has to make her decisions as to what she must do with her career". Mrs. Drobny has also said, "People are saying it's about money. It's not about money at all. I just could not fulfill one of her requirements." She did, however, note the financial impact of Rhodes' departure: "I looked at [our] site, and I see that because Randi Rhodes isn't on, there are so many people leaving the Founders Club [which involves a fee paid to Nova M]. And you can't operate without people's participation." Rhodes' own Web site was also taken down, and replaced with a letter from Rhodes to supporters stating that the entire situation was within Nova M's control, that any implication that Rhodes is responsible for the disruption is false, and that Rhodes' show will be "seeking a new home" in light of the recent developments. According to an individual familiar with the issue, Nova M agreed to provide certain standard legal protection for the popular radio host, but Rhodes had to leave the air and Nova M following a discovery that Nova had not lived up to its contractual promise. Subsequently, on February 19, 2009, Nova M Radio announced that they would be filing for bankruptcy liquidation, but no such filing occurred.
Stephen Lemons, a blogger for the Phoenix New Times
Phoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
, has suggested that On Second Thought has also ceased to exist,, and radio station KKGN, which airs Mike Malloy's show, reported on its blog that Malloy is now self-syndicated. Records available from the Arizona Corporation Commission
Arizona Corporation Commission
The Arizona Corporation Commission is the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Arizona, established by Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution. There are currently five members of the commission . Arizona is one of only a handful of states with elected commissioners...
, however, indicate that the LLC, which was originally formed in 2003, remains a going concern.
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
aired content syndicated by Nova M and On Second Thought on the America Left
America Left
Sirius XM Left is located at channel 127 on Sirius XM Radio and carries a progressive/liberal talk format. The channel is programmed by Don Wicklin.-America Left :...
channel. Randi Rhodes was broadcast live until Nova M collapsed. She was replaced by Nancy Skinner, who was broadcast live until the closure of On Second Thought. Mike Malloy was broadcast on a one-hour delay until February, 2009.
On Second Thought's final syndicated offerings consisted of three weekday shows, hosted by Skinner (weekday afternoons), Newcomb (weekday evenings), and Malloy (weekday late nights).
Aftermath
Newcomb eventually regained an outlet for his show in the Phoenix market. KPHX currently airs Newcomb's show in drive-time. The Mike Newcomb Show is being offered nationally. Rhodes currently hosts a program on Premiere Radio NetworksPremiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
, the distribution subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. Malloy began self-syndication of his program; this continues to the present.