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Air America Show Shuts LA, Chicago Sales Offices; On last legs?
Reuters ^
| May 12, 2004
| Sue Zeidler
Posted on 05/12/2004 6:58:39 PM PDT by nwrep
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Air America has shut its sales offices in Los Angeles and Chicago and is recasting its business plan, the network's president said on Wednesday as troubles beset the liberal talk show network.
With Air America not broadcasting in those two cities after a financial dispute in April, network president Jon Sinton said, "There's not much sense in having sales offices in cities where you don't control a station."
About 15 to 20 people were laid off in the closing of the sales offices, the latest sign of problems for Air America, launched on March 31 as a liberal alternative to the country's predominantly conservative talk show culture led by right-wing icons like Rush Limbaugh.
Since it started, Chairman Evan Cohen, Vice Chairman Rex Sorensen and Head of Programing David Logan have left while co-founder Mark Walsh has stepped down as chief executive to take a smaller role in the organization.
Sinton said Air America was in "high-level affiliate discussions in Chicago and Los Angeles" and other cities.
Sinton said the company had moved away from its original business model, which was to lease and totally control the radio stations in which its programing ran.
Rather, Sinton said Air America has found success with traditional affiliate relationships, under which it provides about 20 hours of programing per day in many cases in exchange for the ability to sell a certain number of minutes per hour of advertising.
"The business model has changed with our on-air success. The fact that we are moving the needle so quickly with affiliates has surprised us and negated the need for us to control our own stations," Sinton said.
After its launch, a dispute with business partner Multicultural Radio Broadcasting led to its programing being yanked from the air in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Air America, which is said to have more than $30 million in financing, is operating in about nine markets, and on satellite radio and the Internet. Its Web site said that 15 more stations will be coming in May.
"We're always looking for new financing, but the investors we have are committed and we would we like to raise more money," said Sinton, who said that certain people on the board with long-term radio experience have recently taken over key decision-making roles in a departure from the past.
Serious errors in business judgment account for Air America's problems, rather than its slate of programing, say various radio industry insiders.
"It makes you wonder why everybody is leaving the company," said Michael Harrison, editor for Talkers, a magazine about Talk Shows.
"I think the concept of liberal radio is great, but they went about it wrong. They first insisted that stations take an entire line-up. The odds of getting enough stations to take a whole line-up are so impossible."
TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections; US: California; US: Illinois; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2004electionbias; aadeathwatch; agitprop; airamerica; airamericant; airunamerican; alfranken; alfrankenneedsajob; antiamericanism; assassinationtalk; bucktoothedmoron; campaignfinance; cfr; deaththreats; dnctalkingpoints; doofus; erramerica; erroramerica; goebbelswouldbeproud; goinggoinggone; herramerica; leftwinghateradio; liberaltalkradio; lyingliars; mediasbias; paidpoliticalad; propaganda; radio; talkradio; usefulidiots; wankers
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To: nwrep
And a couple of months ago, we thought Air America wouldn't be entertaining. lol. They have turned out to be very entertaining. Short-lived, but entertaining.
61
posted on
05/12/2004 7:36:35 PM PDT
by
TomGuy
(Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)
To: nwrep
About 15 to 20 people were laid off in the closing of the sales offices..... People in the "Franken Economy" are losing their jobs at a record rate. How short were their careers at "The Amateur Hour"?
62
posted on
05/12/2004 7:37:53 PM PDT
by
Doctor Raoul
(How can they call it a "Peace March" when they unconditionally support those who kill our soldiers?)
To: Bob J; agitator
AirBag America Dead Pool PING!
63
posted on
05/12/2004 7:38:28 PM PDT
by
diotima
(Juke Box Hero)
To: bcoffey
The business model has changed with our on-air success.
"Iceberg?.... no that iceberg didn't damage the ship at all! Now, let's rearrange the deck chairs." Jon Sinton, Captain, Titanic
To: nwrep
After its launch, a dispute with business partner Multicultural Radio Broadcasting led to its programing being yanked from the air in Chicago and Los Angeles. It doesn't speak well for Air America's liberals when the Multiculturals say, "Take a hike".
65
posted on
05/12/2004 7:40:46 PM PDT
by
Doctor Raoul
(How can they call it a "Peace March" when they unconditionally support those who kill our soldiers?)
To: InvisibleChurch
"...didn't these people learn anything from coward dean's campaign?"
Ya mean it's just another "Springtime for Hitler" scam?
66
posted on
05/12/2004 7:41:14 PM PDT
by
Socratic
(Yes, there is method in the madness.)
To: nwrep
I realized this morning that my gypsy cab driver had Air America on the radio. I said, "That's Air America!" and starting laughing continuously, out loud. He was embarrassed and said, "I just play what's on."
Then he told me it was a new station just recently put on the air. I told him, "It's going to be recently off the air any day now," and continued to laugh out loud, hard.
67
posted on
05/12/2004 7:43:35 PM PDT
by
paulklenk
(FOUR MORE WARS!)
To: Doctor Raoul
People in the "Franken Economy" are losing their jobs at a record rate.
That bears repeating, Doc!
In big, bold type... ;-)
68
posted on
05/12/2004 7:45:10 PM PDT
by
nutmeg
(Why vote for Bush? Imagine Commander in Chief John F’in al-Qerry)
To: nwrep
For some reason, Franckenstein Radio is on XM (national satellite) radio. Do you think that will help their chances any?
69
posted on
05/12/2004 7:45:16 PM PDT
by
ntnychik
To: nwrep
They socialized-communized-stole- our station.... I want them to go away.
70
posted on
05/12/2004 7:47:56 PM PDT
by
Porterville
(Kerry has no gravitas!!!)
To: nwrep
71
posted on
05/12/2004 7:53:55 PM PDT
by
Alouette
(Pray for the IDF and the USA--see my profile)
To: bigghurtt
;They had a plan ?
Yah just like Austin Powers
"First I plan to soil myself.
Then I plan to come up with another plan"
I think so far they've got the first bit done.
72
posted on
05/12/2004 7:55:36 PM PDT
by
festus
To: nwrep
I have tears in my eyes and can't stop laughing ...
Serious errors in business judgment account for Air America's problems...
There's a couple other reasons but unlike Rush I'm not going to clue them in! ;-) Isn't it a lovely day?
73
posted on
05/12/2004 7:58:23 PM PDT
by
Tunehead54
(Have a nice day or else!)
To: nwrep
Of course Air America was torpedoed by the vast right wing cabal and George Bush personally with the help of Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reilly. I couldn't be that people didn't actualy want to listen to this drivel and sponsors were offended by the hate speech.
To: Paul Atreides
"LOL! And Rush is still going strong, in his fifteenth year. "can you imagine how much fun it would have been if
rush had bought "err america?"....
talkin' bout "micro-management"...
75
posted on
05/12/2004 7:59:38 PM PDT
by
hoot2
To: kstewskis
cicadas?........or maybe the sound of one hand clapping?
76
posted on
05/12/2004 8:00:57 PM PDT
by
isom35
To: nwrep
Yeah, OK, they're retooling their business plan. I can see why. Originally they'd planned to succeed.
"Where's that Franken with my putter??!!"
78
posted on
05/12/2004 8:11:46 PM PDT
by
jla
To: nwrep
"Air America should hire me immediately to do its PR. It's a dynamic network with terrific talk show hosts who will end up in the radio Hall of Fame".
(Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf, former Iraqi Information Minister)
Leni
79
posted on
05/12/2004 8:15:37 PM PDT
by
MinuteGal
(Two Week Coundown Till "Full Sails Ahead" for FReeps Ahoy FReeper Cruisers! HOO-YAH!)
To: nwrep
WLIB and hotAir America.....perfect together.
80
posted on
05/12/2004 8:23:00 PM PDT
by
OldFriend
(LOSERS quit when they are tired/WINNERS quit when they have won)
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