Reader: Rick Barber's KOA overnight show is missed by listeners from well beyond Colorado

• I still hear from people who miss Rick all the time, Big Al. Thanks for the post.

• Eventually people that are listening to other stations will just stay at at the other stations for the rest of the day. That is too bad for Stephan and April, Mike Rosen, and Dave Logan, who will probably start to suffer in ratings. Every time I even try to listen to Coast to Coast, it's all about UFO's and conspiracy theories and flying dragons. Rick Barber was real and sincere and should be brought back. It's not too late.

• Coast to Coast and Red Eye Radio have a virtual monopoly or at the very least, an oligopoly of the late night radio airwaves.  No different than the Soviet Union's TASS programming.  Talk radio is dead in the U.S., as there is little to no choice for the listeners. For all practical purposes, there are but three choices, Coast to Coast, Red Eye Radio or ESPN Radio. With this limited syndicated programming, the voice of the audience is all but silenced.  Calls from the listeners are scrutinized and screened, where it seems the few telephone calls that are taken, are either sycophants for the host or the guest and if the caller has a dissenting opinion, their call is either mysteriously dropped or at the hint of sharing a contrary opinion, the caller is cut-off before they can share their opinion. Considering all of the events taking place today, where the American-way-of-life is in peril, where our liberty interests are being eroded, the subject matter of these shows, especially Coast to Coast select such inane topics as ghost stories, alien abduction, astrology, dream interpretation, Bigfoot and other non-sense, where the guests, rather than honorable investigative reporters, are more akin to a carnival barkers at a 'freak show'. Sure once in a while, Coast-to-Coast will have sincere guests who present material that is cogent to the survival of the nation, but these guests and the time allotted for these presentations is minimal. Where most of the time, the topics are a complete fiction; these topics are beyond the realms of even a child's imagination.  Comparatively speaking, the story line of "Alice in Wonderland", by C.S. Lewis would be a historical fact as compared to the non-sense expressed by most of the guests on Coast-to-Coast.

• What can I say other than agree with those who have responded. I normally leave the house from Confier at 4:00 in the morning and looked  forward to tuning into and listening to last hour of Rick. I agree with the others. This Coast to Coast is not a very good show. Will I quit listening to KOA. No! To do so would be lowering myself to same level as those who deciecded to take his show off the air. I might add, allowing me and the others to comment about this is nothing more than a means of appeasing the listeners. Nothing will become of our comments and I would be very surprised if when I look at this again to even see my comments. Clayton - Conifer, Clorado

• Clear Channel really should be called Not Listening Channel. Do they even know or care how many listeners have left them since Barber and Caldara were taken off? Not everybody is interested enough in UFOs and that crap to listen to it every night. Whatever they were paying Rick(probably not enough), he was so much better than George whats-his name. He stinks!

• You're right on about cost-cutting, Chester. Thanks for the post.

• Barber got the shaft as a result of corporate radio cutting costs to line their own pockets.  That's all there is to it.  It is happening in cities all over the country.

• It's just driving me totally nuts that Rick Barber is no longer my near-constant companion

• KOA certainly knows how to take the "Personality" out of talk radio. -Steve barta

• Can hardly stand what they've done to the late nite programming ... KOA has lost us as listeners & we moved from there almost 42 years ago & felt that connection w/the local talking heads on there, after all these years. So disappointing! That show that's on there is a bunch of hooey anyway ... who needs that!?@&!!

• Shame on you KOA for silencing one of the best voices on radio.  I looked forward to his show as I do my first cup of coffee in the morning. Always interesting and will informed.  Coast to Coast is garbage. 

• Rick Barber was the "Pilot of the Air waves" for the early morning hours on KOA in Denver. This show is really being missed. Bring it back now and you will keep a powerful group of listeners happy.  B VanHoose

• Missing Rick, Big Steve, Fred.  Can't say the same for others. 

• I am missing Rick Barber.  I don't know why he is not on anymore.  You get someone on and and then off they go.  I do not like this George that you have on now.  I dion't listen to KOA anymore. I have changed and listen to Bill Bennet on another station.

• It's definitely a trend, RenoShark. Thanks for the post.

• Axing long time, local talk radio  show hosts is happening nation wide!  The corporations have taken over the local airwaves. KGO in San Francisco; KOA in Reno; KOA in Denver...all have terminated entire talk show staffs in order to boost corporate profits.  The problem now is; there is no more local/community radio interaction. I have now gone to pod-casts; some local & interesting.

• Thanks for weighing in, Nancy.

• Rick  Barber was the best of talk radio. He made me think, laugh and night after night very engaged in the show.  Please find a place for Rick . Surely the mindless babble isn't what everyone wants.  Coast doesn't cut it.  Nancy in denver

• Rick Barber's show was the only reason I listened to KOA and will now also sign off.

• I have listened to Rick Barber for many many years, now that you have put the crappy show coast to coast on I will never listen to KOA again.!!!!! Where are your brains management?

• I too have listened to Rick as long as I can remember. It blows my mind to think that radio management would think some stupid crap show like what's replacing him would be of benefit ...when in fact KOA will lose hundreds if not thousands of listeners due to this change. I know I'm not the only one that's done with KOA without Rick Barber. Thanks for your company for so many years Rick. Goodbye KOA! Mischelle in Nebraska

• I was very unhappy when I turned on KOA Tue morning and heard the Coast to Coast bradcast instead of Rick Barber. I have heard coast to coast before and will not be listening to KOA at that time period anymore. Coast to Coast is just a bit too silly for me. I really don't understand how anyone could actually be unintelligent enough to listen to that show and am dissappointed that KOA is dumbing down it broadcasting and its audience.

• I have been listening to Rick Barber for nearly 30 years on KOA but because the station has taken him off the air I will no longer listen to that station.  I drive truck out of Billings, Montana and will miss Barbers show greatly.  Bill M

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