Clear Channel Converts 3 Stations to Liberal Talk

Clear Channel Communications Inc. said it converted three stations to a liberal talk format and this year could double to 44 the number of stations carrying such programming.

After offering mostly conservative-leaning talk for the last decade, Clear Channel and other broadcasters are now embracing "progressive" talk to woo a listener base that is growing increasingly fragmented because of satellite, Internet radio and devices such as iPods.

The nation's biggest radio operator said underperforming stations in Washington, Detroit and Cincinnati carrying nostalgic or sports programming switched to talkers such as Jerry Springer and Al Franken.