Lee Ellis, a former Vice President at CBS and Gannett wrote on FamilySecurityMatters.org on November 10, 2008 about the problems with resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine.

Said Ellis:

Radio had almost died, but then discovered format radio that appealed to what was called niche or specialty groups. It started with Top Forty popular record hits that became highly successful. This was followed by 24-hour news radio stations as was pioneered by two LA radio companies KNX and KFWB.

Finally, talk radio was started with people like the late Joe Pyne. His daily taped, syndicated radio program was heard in 254 markets and Pyne was also the number-one morning guy in LA in 1966. He was so popular he was allowed to broadcast the 6-10 AM program from his home. He also was the first outraged, outspoken voice on national television, the father of modern conservative talk shows, blazing a path for Morton Downey, Jr., Wally George, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, and many others. Radio really grew and began to dominate the marketplace in the daytime. Today there are 31 AM plus 49 FM a total of 80 radio stations in just the city of Los Angeles, all with their own specialty niche audience groups.