CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2009) |
CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks, sometimes simply referred to as CRN or CRN Digital Talk, is a syndicator and distributor of radio programs and talk radio networks. Its legal name, and former branding, is Cable Radio Networks, Inc.
The content is primarily talk radio programming, produced both in house and from syndicated sources.
CRN broadcasts six audio feeds. It is distributed, as its former name implies, mostly through various cable television providers, much in the way the more widely available Music Choice is distributed. However, it is also available via Ku-band satellite and on the Internet.[1]
Programming and Channels
- CRN1: This channel is the flagship of the CRN network, and the most widely distributed. CRN1 features all of CRN's in-house programs, such as Barry Farber, Lee Klein, Chuck Wilder, What's Cookin', What's Cookin' On Wine, Les' Wines and Vines,The PM Show, Sports Corner, and several weekend programs, as well as syndicated programs, such as Dennis Prager.
- CRN2: The feed used by Sports Byline USA.
- CRN3: The feed used for Salem Radio Network's programming, which includes Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt and Michael Medved.
- CRN4: The feed used by Air America Media, although Thom Hartmann and Lou Dobbs are also carried on the channel.
- CRN5: The feed used by Radio America, featuring Roger Hedgecock, G. Gordon Liddy, and Ben Ferguson. Mancow's Morning Madhouse, from Talk Radio Network, is also heard on this channel.
- CRN6: The feed used by National Radio Network. John and Jeff are the most notable hosts on this channel, with the rest of the content timeshifted from CRN1.
At one time, CRN announced new channels CRN7 and CRN8, but these never came to fruition.
History
CRN was founded in 1983 by Michael Horn, a veteran programmer and disc jockey in the Los Angeles media market. Originally offering a single satellite-delivered analog programming feed, CRN primarily featured adult contemporary music, providing cable television operators with audio programming suitable for use as a soundtrack to their 24-hour computer-generated information kiosk channels (such as the original, full-screen version of Prevue Guide). Cable operators frequently utilized CRN for secondary purposes as well, including on-hold telephone audio applications, and as background audio for public access channels during non-programming hours. In addition to adult contemporary music programming, CRN also aired nighttime talk shows, including cable television-related discussion forums such as "Cable Talk." Audio from Prime Ticket's telecasts of Los Angeles Kings hockey games, and occasional remote broadcasts from such events as the Western Cable Show and a Special Olympics fundraiser that starred comedian Rich Hall, were also featured.
Horn is still a host at CRN, hosting "The PM Show", "The PM Show With Robert Conrad," and "What's Cookin" with Paul Stern.
CRN was the home of "Talk Back" with George Putnam until Putnam's 2008 death. Up until 2006 or so, Los Angeles-based local programs such as John and Ken and The Loose Cannons were also carried on the network. Until November 2009, programming from Talk Radio Network (most notably The Laura Ingraham Show and The Savage Nation) was heard on CRN (mostly on CRN4, with overflow airing on CRN2 and CRN5), but without explanation, the two parties failed to reach an agreement to continue carrying TRN on CRN. Air America Media replaced TRN on the CRN4 channel.
Hours
The Internet feed is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hours of operation on cable companies vary from area to area. Many providers air programs only during daylight hours, before that channel is given over to public access providers. (One example is Time Warner Cable in the Los Angeles suburbs.)
