Posted on 05/23/2007 11:45:33 AM PDT by Zakeet
A liberal talk radio network founded more than three years ago as an alternative to conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh is undergoing a "relaunch" this week, though media analysts say "the marketplace will tell the story" of whether the revamp will succeed in the long run.
The Air America Radio Network this week began syndicating on 64 stations nationwide and XM satellite a retooled lineup of programs, introduced a more interactive website and launched an "I'm an Air American!" advertising campaign involving liberal celebrities.
It's all part of what the network in a press release called "the official relaunch of Air America 2.0."
Along with "proven veterans like Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow and the Young Turks," the network's weekday schedule now features a talker named Lionel, who is currently heard on 92 stations across the country.
"Air America is about one thing: radio," the new morning show host stated, "radio that's an alternative to the usual, bumper sticker Rush wannabe."
Other changes include a week-in-review show featuring commentators Arianna Huffington, Mark Green, Bob Kerrey and Bob Shrum.
Seeking to expand its listening audience, the network began the week by airing taped interviews with prominent Democratic politicians, including Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois and Reps. Charles Rangel of New York and Henry Waxman of California.
Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine, told Cybercast News Service Tuesday that Air America Radio is "heading in the right direction" in what he called "a very difficult business."
"You have to look at Air America in context. Too many people have said, 'Look, it's liberal. It failed,' as if that's why," Harrison said. "The fact that they're liberal or progressive is irrelevant to me. It has to do with talent and a good business plan."
"Most movies fail, most books don't become best-sellers, and most TV shows don't become hits," he said. To be successful, the network must "have good shows that appeal to listeners and sponsors, plain and simple, just like any other radio syndicator."
Harrison also praised Air America's hiring of David Bernstein as vice president of programming as "a definite step in the right direction," because "he's a true, seasoned, professional radio programmer" and "not a political operative. He has no agenda other than to succeed in broadcasting, and that's what they need."
Roger Aronoff, media analyst with the conservative group Accuracy in Media, agreed on Tuesday that the network is "making smart moves" in "attempting to reinvent and relaunch itself as a credible voice in the marketplace of ideas."
"The real test, however, will be the test of time," Aronoff told Cybercast News Service. "Will it succeed as a business, or will it require George Soros and other left-wing sugar daddies to bail it out, to keep it relevant and operating through next year's election?
"While they are sure to continue dishing out red meat to their Bush-hating audience, do they really have much to offer that isn't already presented in more moderate-sounding language on MSNBC, CNN and the other network news programs?" he asked.
"No excuses this time, Air America," Aronoff said. "The marketplace will tell the story."
Rough ride
As Cybercast News Service previously reported, Air America Radio was launched during early 2004 but encountered financial problems from the start.
By August of 2005, the network had grown from 16 stations to 70 outlets, but founder Evan Cohen was investigated by New York City regarding loans from the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, and Air America had to repay more than $800,000 it had received from the charity.
A month later, the company began a fundraising effort "to continue this great success story and start shaping the national debate the way that Right Wing talk radio does every day."
After reaching a peak of 90 stations, Air America's financial problems worsened, leading the company to seek bankruptcy protection in October 2006. At that time, comedian Al Franken left to run for a U.S. Senate seat for Minnesota.
Last March, the network was purchased by Green Family Media. "Air America is a great idea and iconic name, but it's also been an underperforming asset with unrealized potential," said Chairman Stephen Green in a news release.
"We intend to stabilize its structure, programming and balance sheet - and then to turn it around by next year," he stated. "I'm a businessman used to making money, and Air America will be no exception."
The Green family, who else? You can’t make this stuff up.
I look forward to the same lovely stories of not being able to meet payroll, liberal fingerpointing at other liberals, etc. etc. Same as before. Only thing that may be different is that it tanks faster this time.
Anyone for a pool on how fast it “tanks” this time?
I give it 6 months from the day it starts.
I think this is the bottom line on the question of "Why no liberal Rush?" Rush Limbaugh is first and foremost, entertaining. He is funny. Insightful. Sometimes dumb, but mostly entertaining.
Hannity, Medved, Laura Ingraham, similarly do their own things but do not spread hate, despite the biased disatortions of the Left.
AirAmerica was just angry and vituperative, all about hating Bush. As entertaining as a car accident on the freeway. You almost involuntarily slow down to look but don't want to linger, and you don't go back. I doubt the Bob Shrums of the world will be much of an improvement.
Absolutely. Its not just his content which includes humor, but also his delivery that no other broadcaster in the business of broadcasting (tv, radio, liberal, conservative..) can match. A 'highly trained broadcast specialist' he certainly is.
I know I’ll be breathlessly lining up for more chances to listen to that vicious hyena Arianna Puffington..... and as for the stultifying Bob Shrum, if THAT guy is on their short list of enticing aspects of this new “progressive” enterprise then Airhead America II is already DOA.
We've already succeeded; we elected Mark Dayton and Keith Ellison.
Well done, Air America. Who needs Ambien? You've come up with a guaranteed-to-work soporific.
For example, Chicago affiliate is really in Crystal Lake, 50 miles Northwest of The Loop. It has a minuscule 2500 Watt signal, and is one of the old daytime-only stations.
This is very weak station you can probably hear downhill better than uphill.
Stations are real dogs:
XM Satellite Radio ch. 167
Eastern
Ann Arbor, MI - WLBY-AM 1290 AM
Asheville, NC - WPEK-AM 880 AM
Bennington, VT - WBTN-AM 1370
Brattleboro, VT - WKVT-AM 1490 AM
Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL-AM 1360 AM
Charlottesville, VA - WVAX-AM 1450 AM
Columbia, SC - WOIC-AM 1230 AM
Detroit, MI - WDTW-AM 1310 AM
Grand Rapids, MI - WTKG-AM 1230
Greenfield, MA - WHMQ-AM 1240 AM
Huntington, WV - WRVC-AM 930 AM
Ithaca, NY - WNYY-AM 1470-AM
Miami, FL - WINZ-AM 940 AM
Montpelier/Barre/St Johnsbury, VT - WDEV-AM 550
New York, NY - WWRL 1600 AM
Northampton, MA - WHMP-AM 1400 AM
Petoskey, MI - WWKK-AM 750 AM
Pittsburgh, PA - WPTT-AM 1360
Portland, ME - WLVP-AM 870 AM
Rochester, NY - WROC-AM 1230 AM
Springfield, MA - WHNP-AM 1600 AM
State College, PA - WBLF-AM 970 AM
Washington, DC - WWRC-AM 1260 AM
West Palm Beach, FL - WJNO-AM 1290 AM
Central
Austin, TX - KOKE-AM 1600 AM
Baton Rouge, LA - WPYR-AM 1380 AM
Brainerd, MN - WWWI-AM 1270 AM
Chicago, IL - WCPT-AM 850 AM
Ely/Hibbing, MN - WELY-AM 1450 AM
Huntington, WV - WCMI-AM 1340 AM
Lafayette, LA - KEUN-AM 1490 AM
Madison, WI - WXXM-FM 92.1 FM
Marion/Carbondale, IL - WINI-AM 1420
Memphis, TN - WWTQ-AM 680 AM
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN - KTNF-AM 950 AM
New Orleans, LA - WSMB-AM 1350 AM
St. Louis, MO - KRFT-AM 1190 AM
Mountain
Albuquerque, NM - KABQ-AM 1350 AM
Denver, CO - KKZN-AM 760 AM
Phoenix, AZ - KPHX-AM 1480 AM
Santa Fe, NM - KTRC-AM 1260 AM
Sheridan, WY - KYTI-FM HD 93.7-3 FM
Taos, NM - KVOT-AM 1340
Pacific
Eugene, OR - KOPT-AM 1600 AM
Eureka, CA - KGOE-AM 1480
Fresno, CA - KFPT-AM 790 AM
Los Angeles, CA - KTLK-AM 1150 AM
Medford-Ashland, OR - KEZX-AM 730 AM
Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz, CA - KRXA-AM 540
North Bend / Coos Bay, OR - KBBR-AM 1340
Palm Springs, CA - KPTR-AM 1340 AM
Portland, OR - KPOJ-AM 620 AM
Reno, NV - KJFK-AM 1230 AM
San Diego, CA - KLSD-AM 1360 AM
San Francisco, CA - KQKE-AM 960 AM
San Luis Obispo, CA - KYNS-AM 1340 AM
Santa Barbara, CA - KIST-AM 1340 AM
Seattle, WA - KPTK-AM 1090 AM
Spokane, WA - KPTQ-AM 1280 AM
Victor Valley, CA - KSZL-AM 1230 AM
Alaska/Hawaii
Anchorage, AK - KUDO-AM 1080 AM
Honolulu, HI - KUMU-AM 1500 AM
Kihei, HI - KAOI-AM 1110 AM
Lihue, HI - KQNG-AM 570 AM
“They’re communists, for goodness sake! They don’t DO business so well.”
Do all of thier employees get “livable” wages, free healthcare, free prescriptions, Free Daycare, paid transportation, and paid family leave, like the Illegals do?
The AA folks don’t have a conversation with the audience the way someone like Rush does. They lecture.
Who the hell wants to sit through a lecture?
I used to listen to Colmes when he was on the radio. His show was hilarious because 99% of his callers were conservatives who refuted everything he said. But, hey, it was entertaining.
That Burlington/Plattsburgh station (actually located in St Albans) has a signal so weak that the ionosphere has to be optimal just to hear them 30 miles away in Burlington.
The Detroit station is so weak, can’t even listen to it after sundown. Which is good, cause I am stuck at work till 2AM.
Is that where WTWK’s antenna is? Actually I looked them up
on radio-locator.com and it looks more like it’s just south of
Plattsburgh NY (not sure how accurate...):
http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WTWK&service=AM&status=L&hours=D
>>that vicious hyena Arianna Puffington
she’s been on Hannity a few times, dahhling...remember when Sean confronted her with the fact that she flies fuel-wasting planes to events? “They are planes that are going that way anyway.” So, she can yell at you for driving an SUV but
her flying a private jet is fine (do as I say, not as I do;
and Goldberg mentioned something similar about “Gulf
Stream Liberals” in his “100 People Who are Screwing Up
America” book: Laurie David)
I was thinking they were on WRSA. Now that I think about it I am sure you are correct.
I guess these guys didn’t read Bob Kerrey’s article in the WSJ. He’s not one of them. He thinks the cut and run crowd is destroying the Democrat party.
KLSD, San Diego, is the old KGB, one of the stations where “Boss Radio” was invented and perfected in the sixties. This is going to be more like ‘radio for the unemployable’.
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