WMBD denying right-wing tilt
Steve Tarter talked to Greg Batton about his return to WMBD 1470
Batton acknowledges that he’s heard the criticism about WMBD making a move to the right since his departure. “But the nature of the radio business has changed,” he said.
“During the center of the day we’re a conservative talk radio station, there’s no doubt about it,” said Batton, referring to syndicated programs featuring Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
“But Rush and Hannity were also featured on WLS,” he said.
Tarter portrays program director Jamie Markley being coy about the station dropping ABC radio for national news and picking up a package from Fox that began in June. Myself, I like the Fox news. In the evening, the segments are longer than were ABC’s . And I don’t detect any particular right-wing spin, and I didn’t detect a left-wing spin in ABC’s version either.
My two cents: I find myself listening to Batton and DiOrio more than I did DiOrio and Doc Watson. I have high regards for Watson’s skills, but he and DiOrio didn’t mesh well. To use a sports analogy, DiOrio works better providing “color,” and he was doing the majority of the talking when he was on the air with Doc. There didn’t seem to be a lot of give and take between the two. Batton can more than hold his own when paired with DiOrio.
I am looking forward to hearing Doc again on Peoria radio, would some wise radio station decide to put him on the air here.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
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