Waiting for Al Franken [Hugh Hewitt: if liberal talk show fails, don't expect to learn why]

Mark Walsh, the CEO of Progress Media Inc., the company backing the network, said they have yet to sign any firm deals with advertisers but that several nonprofit organizations and progressive groups have promised to advertise.

Death knell.

dittos!! I never found him funny---only very annoying.
By the way, what station will he be on so we can listen and call in?? :)

Why don't they think im serious?

NEVERMIND.

Al Franken launches his new talk-radio program next week ....

Whadaya mean, 'truth' ??? How does that work, by the way ??

By the way, what station will he be on so we can listen and call in?? :)
From www.centralairmedia.com:

PROGRESS MEDIA’S “AIR AMERICA RADIO” NETWORK
TO BE LAUNCHED IN SPRING 2004

Talent and Inaugural Markets Announced for National Network
New York, December 1st, 2003 – Taking another step toward redefining the landscape of American talk radio, program production and syndication company Progress Media Inc. today announced its Central Air radio network will hit airwaves in the first quarter of 2004, in time for the election season.
            “Our success to date proves what we have known all along: a progressive radio network can be entertaining and engaging while also being a successful business venture,” said Mark Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Progress Media, Inc. and the Central Air radio network.
            Progress Media is in discussions with comedian and author Al Franken, whose book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, a current best-seller and actress, comedienne and commentator Janeane Garofalo. The company also announced the hiring of Lizz Winstead, creator of the “Daily Show,” to oversee entertainment programming; Shelley Lewis, a longtime network news producer who was most recently in charge of “American Morning” on CNN, to oversee news programming; Dave Logan, former Chicago radio executive, to serve as Executive Vice President of programming and operations and Martin Kaplan, a screenwriter and former chief speechwriter to Walter F. Mondale, to host a talk show about the news media.
            “The top talent in the country is coming together to ensure Central Air provides the most compelling and entertaining programming on radio,” said Central Air President Jon Sinton.
            Central Air will broadcast a full schedule of programming on radio stations they are close to buying in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston, five of the ten largest media markets in the country.
            “Central Air will be available in the first quarter in top markets across the country, and our distribution channels will continue to expand in the coming months,” said Sinton.
# # #

I can agree with all on this threat that this will fail, liberal talk radio is like picking one's own nose (it's lots of fun, but nobody else would do it).

There is only one reason that Franken and his ilk established this, they are are trying to get around CFR. This will be a failed piece of dung that will lose $$$, and lots of it, but it will be used for what they need it for. This is not a venture, it is a propaganda machine for the left, pure and simple.

From metromix.chicagotribune.com:

From the Chicago Tribune
Liberal talk radio to air in Chicago
By John Cook
Tribune staff reporter

January 14 2004

Ending months of speculation, political humorist Al Franken has signed a deal to host a three-hour daily talk radio program for Progress Media, a New York City-based firm that is trying to launch a national liberal talk radio network.

Progress Media also announced Tuesday that its broadcasts will air in Chicago on WNTD-AM 950. It is the company's first confirmed radio distribution deal. No launch date was disclosed.

"Quite simply, my plan is to alter the political landscape, drive this radical right-wing president from office and stand as a beacon for ordinary Americans who work hard and play by the rules," Franken said in a statement.

Franken said in an interview that he will have a co-host, whom he declined to identify, and that the show will include a mix of guests, produced comedy and listener calls.

Franken likely will go head-to-head with Rush Limbaugh, the embattled conservative radio host and king of talk radio. Progress Media Chief Executive Mark Walsh declined to say exactly when during the day Franken's program would air but did say it would be a "midday" program, which typically means 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Limbaugh airs on WLS-AM 890 in that time slot.

Progress is purchasing the rights to program 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on WNTD from Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, which is in the process of buying the station.

Walsh declined to specify terms of the deal with Multicultural Radio.

WNTD currently broadcasts Spanish language programming. Before that, it was the home of Sporting News Radio, a national sports talk network that failed to catch on with listeners.

Progress said it is close to announcing additional deals--either outright purchases of stations or contracts to air the network's programming--in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The company also announced Tuesday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will co-host a weekly program called "Champions of Justice" aimed at exploring the corporate world.

Franken, who aside from being a frequent guest has no radio experience, said his contract is for one year. He declined to disclose any other terms of the contract.

Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

Here's some 'fun' reading: campaign contributions of Al and Francis Franken

enjoy...

I became conservative by listening to a liberal guy on the radio 20 years ago. He made the mistake of always telling his audience to "think for yourself" and that is the last thing you want to tell a liberal if you want him to stay liberal.

They have no intention of having a permanent liberal radio personality...they just want someone who will bomb conservatives until election day.

Hewitt is making the same point I've made before. The vast majority of Dems don't listen to talk radio. Blacks in general certainly don't. The mass variety of cobbled together minority groups ; feminists, blacks, gays, libs simply don't listen to talk radio. The all important mushy 25% of uninformed and undecided voters don't tune in either. Those that tune in are truely interested in politics. They overwhelmingly turnout to be conservatives. No true lib radio host will ever survive long because his/her audience will be watching Opera or listening to hip-hop.
IMHO, the only lib who might be successful in such a venue would be Jeff Greenfield. He argues well, has credibility and is very funny.....but then again, his cable show flopped? Not sure if that fact makes my point.????Hmmmm.

Radio killed the video star! For now!

... and in 10 years, Franken will be broadcasting frothing scat from a rusting bucket of a static-encrusted AM radio show, slamming the Conservative broadcasting networks and FRIN (Free Republic Interactive News), while Rush assumes the wise shoes of radio's greatest, telling the world, "The way it is!" and our kids wonder what the heck a radio is.

Atos

....several nonprofit organizations and progressive groups have promised to advertise.

Sure sounds like a loser, doesn't it? Anyone want to bet that the "non-profit organizations and progressive groups" are MoveOn.org et.al. and this is just going to be a non-stop campaign advertisement for the dems?

They hope the liberal Rush Limbaugh will take off like a rocket...

"By the way, what station will he be on so we can listen and call in?? :)"

one that will be looking for new ownership after filing for bankruptcy in a few short months. :D

~~"...if~~ WHEN Franken ~~still~~ AGAIN falls on his face, there will be no excuses. A lesson will be written in stone. That lesson: The left doesn't have a popular following, only special interests addicted to benefits or power or both." ALSO, another lesson will be that Franken is nothing more than a self-serving JERK!

Hmm ?? Those URL's usually croak after a short time. Good pic, so I saved/uploaded to my site:
Al Franken
Orig. URL:
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/mgm/bandits/al_franken/banditspre.jpg

That rocket looks like Paula Jone's description of Willie Clinton's 'willie', hahahahhahaha

There is only one reason that Franken and his ilk established this, they are are trying to get around CFR. This will be a failed piece of dung that will lose $$$, and lots of it, but it will be used for what they need it for. This is not a venture, it is a propaganda machine for the left, pure and simple. 26 posted on 03/24/2004 7:11:12 PM EST by timydnuc

They have no intention of having a permanent liberal radio personality...they just want someone who will bomb conservatives until election day.

Actually, they have no need to "get around CFR." The liberalism which inheres in "objective" journalism is ratified in CFR; journalists will continue to bombard the public with the same old half-truth-at-best propaganda that they always have.

I became conservative by listening to a liberal guy on the radio 20 years ago. He made the mistake of always telling his audience to "think for yourself" and that is the last thing you want to tell a liberal if you want him to stay liberal.

I think that is a likely long-run result of this exercise as well. The quickest way to kill a bad product is to adverise it.
But I think that (leftist) journalism needs the cover of a talk show which is actually (or at least rhetorically) to journalism's left. Journalism needs that cover to "position" itself as being "neither left nor right" while it continues its business-as-usual criticism of all politicians from the left.

You mean they are going to take the same communist idiocy that pervades Pravda, KCNA, NPR and DU and get advertisers to support the subversive talent?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All Aboard...the titanic is about to set sail