...you're thinking in terms of old-school media models.

 Having a strong web presence is HUGE in today's media world. Being within the top 100 channels on YouTube is an amazing feat, especially considering just how many MILLIONS of channels there are on the site.

 Besides, other people have made the point that they would readily pay - and will continue to pay, come hell or high water - to hear Cenk talk. Advertisers like to hear that sort of thing, because it means people will be more predisposed to support advertisers who appear on a show they've already invested in.

As for XM's decisions: Cenk has made the point that XM has no real way of measuring their ratings - which begs the question, how can they ever quantifiably know what may or may not be popular? How will they know that Bill Press is, to put it mildly, a HORRIBLE replacement for TYT? ("Obama Generation" my ass.)

I would argue that, through good times and bad, Cenk's brand of political/social discourse has clearly proven to be popular with a wide cross-section of the public - look at the variety of opinions on this board for proof. Being a progressive moderate, Cenk has the ability to pull back some of MSNBC's current "all-liberal" stigma and allow voices from all sides to be heard.

 I think adding Cenk Uygur to the MSNBC lineup would make for a powerful block of political personalities. 1600 with David, Hardball with Chris, Countdown with Keith, Rachel's show, and Turks with Cenk to round out the evening's festivities.

I'd watch the vast majority of that block, and I know others would too. (I don't know when I'd find time to eat, but I'd watch.)

 Cenk, you have my vote. In fact, you had me at "Oh no, not again!!"

 TYT in '09!