Liberal radio "Air America" pulled from 3 markets

[cordex]

I just tried to give 'em a listen over the net. No go.

 

[Thumper]

Oh, gosh! I wonder why Rush Limbaugh doesn't have such problems.

You hit the nail on the head, Wolf. It's 'cause the radio stations pay him, not the other way around. Funny, huh?

Laban summed it up thusly:

amazing how capitalism weeds out what doesn't work.

This one gets a big

 

[RatFink]

I recently found KFNX in PHX, AZ. they have a kind of alterative line-up of hosts mostly libertarian and liberal. I find it all absolutly hilarious, some of the best comedy around. I would be sad if it went away because on the weekends when most "Conservative" stations have gardening and health shows, I can always turn to KFNX and hear the nuttyness of the left.

 

[flatrock]

It's definately amusing to see Air America having problems. However, this sounds like a contract dispute getting nasty, rather than I permenant setback for Air America. Air America has the backing of some extreme liberals with very deep pockets.

 

[DadOfThree]

To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on without warning and in the middle of discussions is the height of irresponsibility

Yeah. Both listeners were extremely distraught!!

 

[Thumper]

You guys won't believe this...

They're playing the liberal stereotype bit to the hilt! Look, now they have a judge working in their behalf.

Air America said Thursday it had obtained a temporary restraining order against Multicultural "forcing them to put us back on the air."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=sto...ap_on_bi_ge/liberal_radio_dispute_1&printer=1

 

[OF]

To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on

HA! What will people do without AirheadAmerica?! How will they survive!??

- Gabe

 

[moa]

Well, if Air America has to pay stations to be on the air, they are in big trouble if they expect to compete with conservative talk radio. Most of the big name conservatives are on hundreds of media stations. I think Rush is on 400 and Laura Ingraham is on about 270. Hannity is right behind Rush I think.

I do not think even the liberal deep pocket guys like Soros want to spend the kind of loot it would take to get the kind of media converage conservative talk radio currently has.

 

[Diggler]

We should all hook up to the streaming feed while we surf the internet. Mute it and let it play.

Bandwidth is VERY expensive.

 

[Drjones]

I do not think even the liberal deep pocket guys like Soros want to spend the kind of loot it would take to get the kind of media converage conservative talk radio currently has.

Actually, soros is on record as saying that he would spend his entire fortune if that is what it took to get Bush out of the White House.

Never underestimate the depravity of the left.

We should all hook up to the streaming feed while we surf the internet. Mute it and let it play.

Good idea!!! I just went to their website, and unfortunately you have to use realplayer to listen and I don't like it. Their software is a PITA.

On the flip side; if we did listen in just to use bandwidth, wouldn't that encourage them that they actually have people listening? (Even though they don't know that we aren't actually listening.)

 

[moa]

quote:
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I do not think even the liberal deep pocket guys like Soros want to spend the kind of loot it would take to get the kind of media converage conservative talk radio currently has.
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Actually, soros is on record as saying that he would spend his entire fortune if that is what it took to get Bush out of the White House.


Drjones, I heard the same Soros quote too, and he was discussing his seven billion dollar fortune. But he also added, he would only spend that seven billion if it was "guaranteed" Bush would lose.

Maybe Soros ought buy all the companies that make all the new voting machines, and then have the all programming rigged up so Bush cannot win. I would not put that past him.

 

[cordex]

Number of listeners can be tracked online.
Advertisers look at the number of listeners.
More listeners, more attractive to advertisers.

If you wanted to manipulate it, you'd get people to build up more and more and more and then one day get everyone to stop listening. Suddenly, they've invested in more equipment and bandwidth than they use (big waste of money) and advertisers aren't happy.

 

[c_yeager]

What is really the point of having a libaral radio broadcast in LA and Chicago anyways? Arent they sort of preaching to the choir? It would be like Kerry spending millions to air campaign ads in California and New York when he is already going to win those states regardless.

 

[ravinraven]

How to save Error America

First, I want to thank C.B. for noticing this.

"Does anyone else see the humor in Air America suing a company called Multicultural broadcasting?"

I cracked my butt laughing.

Next, I want to clear up my own mental image. I thought liberals were poor. How can these poor people have "deep pockets?"

And the solution to their problem is to get legislation passed that causes all talk radio advertising cash to be paid into a federal pot controlled by the likes of Hitlary and Chap-Of-Quick-Dick Teddy. They would pay each broadcaster whether its Rush or Joe Goebbels according to their "merit." I think that should solve the problem.

Hitlary is my senator [ ] so I'll give her a call if you think it's a good idea.

Just joking.

rr

 

[jimpeel]

They have found a friendly judge. Shouldn't judge shopping be treated at least as severely as doctor shopping?

Air America to Return to Air in Chicago

 

[Kaylee]

Um... "Air America?"

Did these people do any research on the history of that name?
Somehow the irony of a liberal talk radio setup named "Air America" is just... wow.

So far as the financial end of things... tee.. that's just funny. Poor dears.

 

[griz]

They are worse than they seem. Our local talk radio station WNIS tried to get Al Frankan's show for variety. They had a hard time contacting AA and finally resorted to writting a letter. Franken's people wrote back that they declined to sell that show alone, you had to take the entire 24 hour feed! They said it was to maintain intelectual purity or some such line.

Seems like it would be hard to defeat Bush, their stated purpose, when you only preach to the choir. Speaking of which, is it violating campaign finance laws to air a 24 hour commercial for one canidate?

 

[Andrew Rothman]

That's strange, Griz, because a Minneapolis station carries just Franken's show.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1526/4698592.html

"The O'Franken Factor" should be of particular interest to Twin Cities listeners because it is hosted by Minnesota native Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher, a former host on Minnesota Public Radio. Their presence is the primary reason WMNN (1330 AM) picked up their three-hour weekday show (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), but not the rest of the network's 6 a.m.-to-11 p.m. programming.

..and...

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1376/4722734.html

Al Franken told I.W. this week that he's steamed over a Minnesota news item suggesting he'd launched a fundraising drive here to drum up business for his new radio show. Actually, the blatant begging for bling comes courtesy of the Minnesota Production Network, which bought time on WMNN (1330 AM) to bring Franken and other shows to the Minneapolis market. Radio spots ask listeners to send money or buy ads if they like the programming. "We've had a lot of start-up costs," said MPN co-founder Janet Robert, acknowledging that the money sent -- and there has been some -- isn't tax-deductible because MPN is a for-profit corporation.

 

[HBK]

Liberals, their hypocrisy and depravity knows no bounds.

 

[Sergeant Bob]

Um... "Air America?"

Did these people do any research on the history of that name?
Somehow the irony of a liberal talk radio setup named "Air America" is just... wow.

I thought it was pretty funny myself.

 

[griz]

That IS strange Matt. The manager/morning talk guy Tony Macrini read the letter on the air and I really don't think he would fabricate it. Is the format of WMNN pretty much liberal? If so that might explain it. WNIS has a couple shows that are left, but with Liddy, Limbaugh, Hannity, and Oreilly it is predominately hard right.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

It's a pretty neutral-sounding news format station, according to their program guide at http://media.radcity.net/wmnn-am/programsched.doc

 

[w4rma]

information and an update:

…
New York state Supreme Court Judge Marylin G. Diamond found Thursday that Air America had fully paid for airtime in Chicago and ordered Multicultural to begin broadcasting Air America's programming again.
…
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/14/entertainment/main611917.shtml

…
According to Goodfriend, the dispute centers on the Los Angeles station during the period after Air America had begun leasing airtime in early February, but before the network actually launched in late March. During those months, he charged, KBLA was broadcasting Spanish-language programming provided by Multicultural.

Goodfriend said he learned last week that Liu and Multicultural had been "double-dipping," selling that same airtime to others. As a result, he said, the network declined to make scheduled payments for KBLA unless Multicultural agreed to credit Air America for the extra money Multicultural made. Air America did not bounce any checks, he said.

"They sent us an e-mail asking us to immediately restore it and go back to the negotiating table," Liu said. "But there's nothing to negotiate - they owe us the money." Liu did not return follow-up calls seeking a response to Air America's allegations.
…
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8432317.htm

…
4/26/1999 LIU, ARTHUR $1,000 National Assn of Broadcast NEW YORK,NY 10013 MULTICULTURAL RADIO
10/12/1999 LIU, YVONNE $1,000 Bush, George W NEW YORK,NY 10128 MULTICULTURAL RADIO
10/13/1999 LIU, YVONNE $1,000 Giuliani, Rudolph W NEW YORK,NY 10128 MULTICULTURAL ORG
5/16/2000 LIU, ARTHUR $1,000 National Assn of Broadcast NEW YORK,NY 10013 WPAT-AM
6/30/2000 LIU, ARTHUR $1,000 Lazio, Rick A WKDM/WNWK
6/30/2000 LIU, YVONNE S Y $1,000 Lazio, Rick A
9/14/2000 LIU, YVONNE S $1,500 Republican National Cmte NEW YORK,NY 10128
4/6/2001 LIU, YVONNE S $500 National Republican Congre NEW YORK,NY 10128
5/7/2003 LIU, ARTHUR MR $1,000 National Assn of Broadcast NEW YORK,NY 10013 WPAT-AM/MULTICULTURAL
…
http://www.blah3.com/graymatter/archives/00001286.html

 

[c_yeager]

The real question is WHY is this "multicultural broadcastic" company so keen to get this show off their air in the first place. Stations need to have content and this seems like an easy way to get it.

The only thing that makes sense to me is that the show really is THAT terrible and is costing them listeners. Or they didnt pay their bill.

It's starting to look like the latter isn't really the case which leaves...

 

[jimpeel]

Imploding in ...

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From: http://drudgereport.com/flash5.htm

PAPER: 'AIR AMERICA' MISSES PAYROLL; MORE TURBULENCE AT LIB TALK NET
Thu May 06 2004 23:59:55 ET

In yet another sign of trouble for Air America Radio, the liberal talk network entering its fifth chaotic week on the air, co-founder and chairman Evan Cohen resigned Thursday, as did vice-chairman and investor Rex Sorensen.

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE is planning to report in fresh editions: The company also failed to make its scheduled payroll, leaving its staff roughly 100 radio personalities, writers, and producers unpaid until Thursday.

The departures of Cohen, a former political operative from Guam who was among the network's initial investors, and Sorenson, an investor who owns radio stations in Guam, mark the second executive shake-up at the fledgling network in as many weeks.