LIB-eral talk network draws community's ire

NY Daily News ^ | 3/31/04 | David Hinckley

[jimbo123]

The progressive talk network Air America kicks off today, hoping to give nonconservatives a daily place to roast their ideological opposites.

Just the way conservatives do now.

Air America can be heard locally on WLIB (1190 AM), over XM satellite radio or by Internet at airamericaradio.com.

While the network hopes to stir controversy, it already has some here that it probably doesn't want.

A community rally is planned tomorrow night at 7 at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 Odell Clark Place, to protest the loss of WLIB's talk and Caribbean programming. The Coalition of Artists and Activists wants a boycott of the new network.

"Air America is in no way offering a satisfactory substitute for local community programming," says Bob Law, a veteran radio personality and long-time activist.

He says the Coalition has two major concerns: "the scapegoating of the black community" for the financial problems that led WLIB to make a lease deal with Air America, and the way he says Air America has taken advantage of a situation created by racism.

"We have no doubt WLIB isn't making money," says Law. "But that's not because the community isn't listening. It's because Arbitron does not record that listening and because advertisers won't pay what they should to reach those listeners.

"It's a system that leaves AM stations like WLIB vulnerable, and Air America is taking advantage of that vulnerability."

The least Air America should do, says Law, "is hire a prominent, respected, forceful host from our community."

He also says that if WLIB ends up being sold, "It should be offered first to buyers from our community."

Air America's lineup includes Marc Maron, Sue Ellicott and WLIB's Mark Riley, 6-9 a.m.; Lizz Winstead, Chuck D and Rachel Maddow, 9 a.m.-noon; Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher, noon-3 p.m.; Randi Rhodes, 3-7 p.m.; Marty Kaplan, 7-8 p.m.; and Janeane Garofalo with Sam Seder, 8-11 p.m.

Chuck D is reportedly signed for the first three months.

WLIB will carry local programs midnight-5 a.m. Nationally, Air America will be heard in about 20% of the country, including Chicago and Los Angeles.

[StriperSniper]

We just heard Bob Marley's "Get Up Stand Up".

A gentle transition from the old format? ;-)

Hey, I like Bob, but Peter Tosh more. :)

[keysguy]

The only true radio person they have in the whole group is randi rhodes---she was booted out of Miami and landed guess where---West Plam Beach.--ring any bells. She is slick--wont' let any right wingers on her show and twists and turns every possible topic there is to seemingly look good for lefties. IN the end she is so biased left her show falls flat.

[StriperSniper]

as in my station.

I didn't know he was on more than WABC.

Does she still insult Lee?

Once in a while, some day more, others less. ;-)

without Kevin Delaney

I've only listened recently, so I can't say.

[kidd]

[Ax]

I accidentally rolled on to Randi Rhodes' program when I first moved to Palm Beach County in 2001. The first thing I thought was "this lady is Paul Begala with PMS." She's on WJNO and follows Rush. I won't even listen to Rush on WJNO lest I leave it there and RR pops up. I listen Rush on WIOD Miami.

[kidd]

"Air America" is also a Mel Gibson movie

[Paleo Conservative]

There are deep divisions just waiting to fully form in the Left. For just one instance, in general, blacks are not at all keen on gay marriage, yet this is being pushed pretty strongly by the Left.

It'll be fun if union workers call complaining about jobs sent overseas due to overzealous environmental regulations and prohibitions. I'd like them to fight on the air about prohibition on drilling in ANWAR.

[wtc911]

Funding source? Good question. I'm sure someone here knows.

[SwatTeam]

Yeah, I liked the movie.

[keysguy]

I bought the 24/7 but am having e-mail problems reaching him.

[keysguy]

randi rhodes--paul begala with pms--very accurate.

[freeperfromnj]

I had to trun Bachelor off last night. He and Loftus were going off on some Cheney/Enron conspiracy theory about the pipeline through Afghanistan.

[Riley]

Brit Hume at Fox News recently reported on Sheldon Drobny, a multi-millionaire Liberal who is funding the first 24-hour Liberal radio network. Drobny, under the corporate umbrella of newly formed, AnShell Media, has committed some $10 million dollars to the venture which is supposed to begin providng between 14 to 16 hours-a-day of programming as early as January, 2004.

That accounts for about half of the $20 Million startup capital that they have raised.

http://radio.about.com/cs/latestradionews/a/aa102203a.htm

[FreedomPoster]

Another excellent example.

[Riley]

More on AnShell Media

http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8248

[tdadams]

What a dubious lineup of leftist malcontents. Jeneane Garafalo? Ugh.

And I thought Randi Rhodes died in a plane crash back in '82.

[tdadams]

I would be surprised if Soros didn't also have a hand in it.

[tdadams]

Unlike the Randi Rhodes of this story, the real Randy Rhodes was a joy to listen to.

[maggief]

Dubbing Air America listeners "Airheads."

[freeperfromnj]

and Janeane Garofalo with Sam Seder, 8-11 p.m.going against Monica Crowley, Laura Ingram and John Alexander.

I think WABC has a lock on all time slots except Bachelor. His frequent guests include Katrina Vandenhovel and Loftus. Lately, Bachelor and Loftus have been going off on oil/Enron conspiracy theories against Bush and Cheney - a real turn-off to WABC's loyal listeners. I think they can do better than Bachelor in that slot. Garofalo's first hour will be up against Michale Savage's second hour on WOR in the NY market - no contest there.