US liberal radio flames out in LA, Chicago over billing dispute

Yahoo News ^ | Thu Apr 15, 4:24 PM ET | AFP

[Nachum]

NEW YORK (AFP) - A liberal radio start-up touted as a counterweight to right-wing talk radio has been yanked from the airwaves in two of its top markets amid an acrimonious billing dispute, according to network representatives.

The broadcaster that rents air time to Air America in Los Angeles and Chicago pulled the plug on the network in those two cities Wednesday, just two weeks after its much-ballyhooed launch.

Executives with Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Inc., which owns Air America affiliates WNTD-950 AM in Chicago and KBLA-1580 AM in Los Angeles, claims Air America bounced checks and fell behind on its payments, and now owes it more than one million dollars.

Air America, for its part, filed suit against Multicultural Wednesday in New York state Supreme Court, charging it with breach of contract and seeking an injunction forcing Air America back on the Chicago station.

"MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting's conduct in this matter has been disgraceful," said Evan Cohen, Air America Radio chairman in a statement posted on the network's website Thursday.

"To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on without warning and in the middle of discussions is the height of irresponsibility and a slap in the face of the media industry."

Executives for the fledgling network say they have withheld payment for air time they purchased in Los Angeles in February, prior to its March launch.

They contend that Multicultural re-sold that airtime to third parties, essentially "double-dipping," and that the network should be credited for that block of time.

The network has also used its remaining radio stations in New York, Minneapolis, Portland, Oregon, and its website as platforms to attack Multicultural and its owner Arthur Liu.

Jean Heinemeyer, general manager of Multicultural's New York station, said the station has been flooded with calls from irate Air America listeners over the past 36 hours.

And he lashed out at a tongue-in-cheek Air America "press release" in which the network was going to resolve the matter, vigilante-style, by putting a crowbar to Liu's head.

"It's more than sophomoric," said Heinemeyer. "It's disgusting and frightening."

The release was removed from the site Thursday.

[Nachum]

America "press release" in which the network was going to resolve the matter, vigilante-style, by putting a crowbar to Liu's head.

It just doesn't get any better than this...

[JOAT]

Snicker

[BerniesFriend]

US liberal radio flames out in LA, Chicago over billing dispute

I for one did not see that coming......... ;)

[Prince Charles]

And he lashed out at a tongue-in-cheek Air America "press release" in which the network was going to resolve the matter, vigilante-style, by putting a crowbar to Liu's head.

Scratch a liberal deep enough, and you'll uncover a fascist.

[cyborg]

Well I thought Al Franken was flaming, but when I heard him on day one I was wrong!

[BigSkyFreeper]

Saw on the FNC news ticker about 5 minutes ago that the judge told the owners of the 2 stations to put AA back on the air, which they did. It's over.

[Mr. Mojo]

And he lashed out at a tongue-in-cheek Air America "press release" in which the network was going to resolve the matter, vigilante-style, by putting a crowbar to Liu's head. "It's more than sophomoric," said Heinemeyer. "It's disgusting and frightening."

Yep, but par for the course for leftists.

[freebilly]

the judge told the owners of the 2 stations to put AA back on the air, which they did. It's over.

Of course. The left can't compete in the marketplace. The only way they accomplish anything is through judicial malfeasance....

[Common Tator]

Radio station licensees have total responsibilty for what airs on their stations. Sense the station bears responsibiltiy for what it airs, all stations retain the right to remove any program for any reason. That is what the Communications act requires.

Thus when Clear Channel carries Howard Stern it is the station that gets fined for what Howard does no the air.. not Howard. So the station is perfectly within its rights to pull the programs off for any reason.

The liberal network apparently bought time to promo its shows and then did not pay. They say the station did not air their spots and sold the time to other adverstisers.

I suspect the stations have demanded payment in advance. They have not gotten their pay for the spots, or the show,so they took the shows off. That is the stations right.

This was an underfunded deal doomed to fail from the start.

[I still care]

Get used to this. This is the left. From Alec Baldwin wanting to stone Henry Hyde, to St. Petersburg democrats saying to shoot Rumsfeld, to union thuggery.

They support the soldiers when they shoot their officers. The way of the extreme left is violence and disrespect of life and law.

I would never deal financially with these people.

[InvisibleChurch]

"To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on

[PUGACHEV]

Air America had to post a $125,000.00 bond to get on the air until Monday when the judge hears their case for a temporary restraining order. I wouldn't say it's over, or even looking good for the plaintiff here.

[endthematrix]

It's all those Stewart Smally pics on your hard drive!

[cyborg]

LOL

[teletech]

Liberals want everything for free and they are SHOCKED when they get a bill. If they DO get a bill, they pay with a rubber check. BWAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA!

[uglybiker]

It shall henceforth be known as Dead Air America.

[InvisibleChurch]

Liberals want everything for free

and not only that, they always threaten to beat people up then try to cover it up by saying 'just kidding'

[henbane]

Air America had to post a $125,000.00 bond to get on the air until Monday when the judge hears their case for a temporary restraining order.

Looks like they're buying time to scramble for more cash.

If they don't come up with the long green the station wants, Err America will suffer a second humiliation as the axe drops once again.

A two-fer!

[teletech]

and not only that, they always threaten to beat people up then try to cover it up by saying 'just kidding'

Just think how bad these liberals would have it if they didn't have the leftist press covering up their every screw-up!