Media Wars: FNC Keeps Rising, Air America Crashes

Real Clear Politics ^ | January 21, 2010 | Tom Bevan

[2ndDivisionVet]

On the same day Neilsen reported competition-dwarfing numbers for Fox News's coverage of the special election in Massachusetts on Tuesday night, Air America radio declared bankruptcy and will cease live broadcasts immediately.

In a statement posted to its web site, Air America's management explained:

With radio industry ad revenues down for 10 consecutive quarters, and reportedly off 21% in 2009, signs of improvement have consisted of hoping things will be less bad. And though Internet/new media revenues are projected to grow, our expanding online efforts face the same monetization and profitability challenges in the short term confronting the Web operations of most media companies

When Air America Radio launched in April, 2004 with already-known personalities like Al Franken and then-unknown future stars like Rachel Maddow, it was the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world. At a critical time in our nation's history — when dissent on issues such as the Iraq war were often denounced as "un-American" — Air America and its talented team helped millions of Americans remember the importance of compelling discussion about the most pivotal events and decisions of our generation.

Through some 100 radio outlets nationwide, Air America helped build a new sense of purpose and determination among American progressives. With this revival, the progressive movement made major gains in the 2006 mid-term elections and, more recently, in the election of President Barack Obama and a strongly Democratic Congress.

Meanwhile, Fox News's rise into the cable news stratosphere continues unabated. According to Neilsen, Fox News drew an astonishing 6.2 million total viewers during primetime Tuesday night, compared to only 1.5 million for CNN and 1.1 million for MSNBC.(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Who can watch MSNBC for any length of time without feeling dirty?

[GeronL]

AAR buh-hye

Air America Radio dies, nobody hardest hit

[Cyber Ninja]

reportedly off 21% in 2009, signs of improvement have consisted of hoping things will be less bad.

Kinda like the o'Zer0 recovery...

[Kickass Conservative]

Dirty????

Who can watch MSNBC without wanting to slit their wrists?

[hershey]

MSNBC isn’t running a news organization. There are no objective journalists, it’s Progressive (Liberal/Marxist), propaganda 24/7.

[peteram]

it was the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world.

And so the mis-truths continue even on their death bed. Hey bozo, you were not the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world! You're forgetting ABCNNBCBS, the NYT , the comPOST, LA Times, as well as numerous other mainstream newspapers and magazines. ALL are "progressive" leaning media outlets. Sheesh!

[peteram]

Oh and lets not forget pMSNBC of course.

BTW, I wasn’t calling you a Bozo 2nd Division Vet. Just the writer of the story ;-)

[La Lydia]

And don’t forget NPR, Pacifica Radio and PBS, which we are all subsidizing. If NPR isn’t a “full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world,” I will eat my sombrero. There are at least four NPR stations where I live that broadcast left-wing propaganda all the time, pausing only for traffic reports and The Car Guys on the weekend.

[capydick]

Air America is MSNBC is Air America

[citizencon]

MSNBC is GE’s ‘fruit basket’ to Obama.