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.

[GOPJ]

Liberal gluttony - the kind found in the teacher's pet, or the favored child who never gets enough, once again rears it's ugly head.

Liberals have CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, CNNheadline, CNBC, National Public Radio, PBS, all newspapers but two, Hollywood cash, Hollywood movies, Madison Avenue, the entertainment industry, and 95% of the non-profits. But is it enough?

Will the spoiled brats be happy with only one more radio network? Not likely.

[cyborg]

I just turned on wLIB radio, and right now they are playing MUSIC. Give me a break.

[cyborg]

Yep!

[cyborg]

I'm sure it's a roundabout money laundered democratic party thing. Right now all AA is playing is songs with a political theme BORING.

[NewsJunqui]

What about Pacifica Radio Network? They gotta be steamed that they're not getting any Kroc money like NPR.

[FierceDraka]

Yep, Air America is short for Air Head?

I can't believe no one has come up with this one!

Hot Air America!

[FierceDraka]

I used to think J Garafolo was a little cutie, but that whole shrill communist thing is a real turnoff for me.

[Zack Nguyen]

This station will not last a week after the elections if Kerry loses. The people who are bankrolling it will immediately lose interest.

[cyborg]

If they keep playing this music, they'll be finished.

[yawningotter]

It will be like Howard Stern and his huge audience. I didn't know about his real audience size until Clear Channel dumped him. The "King of Radio" was actually on nearly 40 stations! Likewise, Air Amerika will trumpet their massive network and huge audience, and the media will lap it up, even though they will actually be on very few stations, and most of them will be so underpowered that nobody more than a mile from the tower will be able to pick them up.

[cmak9]

Just so I understand what's going on: 1) the existing radio station caters to the "Carabean community" and is losing money (d@mn those racists at Arbitron),2) so they sold it to a fabricated liberal network which is a wholly owned subsidary of the DNC that has no plans to make money, and 3)the "community" feels that instead of being sold to out of town losers, the local losers should have been given a shot at not making money first.

Ah, the joys of communism!

[jimt]

What about Pacifica Radio Network? They gotta be steamed that they're not getting any Kroc money like NPR.

They are.

But unlike National Proletarian Radio, they peddle their leftism straight and unabashedly. NPR is sneaky and insidious, with an major but hidden slant.

I'm a member of the local Pacifica station because I find the talk shows very entertaining to listen to. Usually total horsepuckey, but you know what the extreme left wing is saying.

[GOPJ]

Someone needs to compile the complete list of liberal media outlets -- then compare and contrast.

If the media wasn't giving Franken all the free press possible, his voice would be lost in an endless sea of liberal voices.

What about Pacifica Radio Network? They gotta be steamed that they're not getting any Kroc money like NPR.