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Franken Signs Deal With Liberal Radio Venture [Oh Boy, Wonder Who Will Listen..]
TBO.COM ^

Posted on 01/13/2004 5:00:46 PM PST by Sub-Driver

Franken Signs Deal With Liberal Radio Venture By Seth Sutel The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - They haven't got a name or a launch date yet, but the entrepreneurs who dream of launching a liberal radio network have just landed themselves a lead man: Comedian and best-selling author Al Franken. Progress Media planned to announce Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Franken to host a live, three-hour daily broadcast that would form the anchor of the programming schedule, according to people familiar with the matter.

In an interview, Franken said the format of the show was still evolving, but he said he was certain that it wouldn't be akin to that used by his rival Rush Limbaugh, which Franken described as "non-guested confrontation."

"He has no one on the show but it's confrontation," Franken said. "His show is just him railing for three hours."

Franken said he planned to use a mix of interviews, calls from listeners and scripted comedy. He said he planned to have a co-host with long experience in radio, but he said that role had not been finalized.

Franken had long been rumored to be interested in a deal with Progress Media, the startup company that is assembling radio stations and talent for a radio network to challenge conservative talk show powerhouses like Limbaugh.

But Franken had been holding off in recent months, partly to promote his hot-selling book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," and partly because he had reservations about the previous owners of the venture.

"Things got more serious in terms of putting together stations and money to make this possible" with the change in ownership, Franken said.

Last November the company was bought by an investment group led by Mark Walsh, a former America Online executive and adviser to the Democratic National Committee, from the venture capitalists Sheldon and Anita Drobny.

Walsh, who serves as CEO of Progress Media, also said the new network had reached its first major distribution agreement, with the Chicago AM station WNTD. He said he expects to announce at least three other distribution deals in the coming weeks.

Walsh acknowledged that much work remains to be done on the network before it becomes a viable business, including lining up technical arrangements and setting up offices and studios.

He said that about 65 percent of the network's programming has been decided, but he declined to elaborate beyond disclosing another new show to be co-hosted by the environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called "Champions of Justice."

The network also has yet to decide on a name. Last month the company indicated it would call the radio network Central Air, but Walsh said Tuesday the company was no longer certain it would be using that name.

Putting Franken in the midday time slot of noon to 3 p.m. Eastern time is a direct challenge to Limbaugh, whose hugely successful show occupies the same time slot.

Franken, whose earlier book was called "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot," said he plans to call up his nemesis for advice on his own show since Limbaugh has often said he wonders why new radio hosts don't seek out his counsel.

"I'll ask him advice: how he approaches a show, how he frames an issue. If it doesn't happen it will be - very understandably - because he won't take my call," Franken said.

Franken said his contract with Progress Media would last just one year, after which time both sides would reassess how things were going. He also said he very much wanted to do the show during a presidential election year.

"I'm interested in doing what I can to affect this election," Franken said. "I've been thinking about what's the best use of my energies - I hope this is it."

AP-ES-01-13-04 1845EST

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAS9H7MEPD.html


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: liberaltalkradio
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To: Sub-Driver
Great site here, FrankenLies.com:

http://www.frankenlies.com/
41 posted on 01/13/2004 6:09:34 PM PST by HighWheeler (Death is better than taxes because death doesn't get worse every year.)
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To: Sub-Driver
It will be conservatives listening and keeping him on the air.
42 posted on 01/13/2004 6:09:39 PM PST by lewislynn
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To: Sub-Driver
A three hour show??? What are they calling it? Al Franken: The Cure For Insomnia?
43 posted on 01/13/2004 6:10:56 PM PST by Rainbow Rising (The Red Zone is for Cuba and un-Cuba only.)
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To: Robson
As a liberal-leaner, I'm concerned about this. I've seen a lot of interviews with Franken, and while I find him an effective writer,

Actually his writing isn't very effectual either. For someone to write a book and name it "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Liar" and then have only one page in the entire book dedicated to his allegation, that proves a disgusting attempt to reap financial rewards via the coattails of a popular radio personality........

In summation, Franken is an irrelevant little twit who has already had his 15 minutes of fame but is trying to drag it out into a half hour.......Take the advise of a previous Freeper, don't buy stock in the show!

44 posted on 01/13/2004 6:10:57 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I've dealt with stupid people for over 32 years. Haven't I earned the right to just shoot them?)
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To: Sub-Driver
This show is DOA, mark my words. As for Rush giving Franken advice; Rush is too smart to get down in the gutter with a pig........
45 posted on 01/13/2004 6:12:33 PM PST by yooper (If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there......)
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To: Bob J; diotima
ping
46 posted on 01/13/2004 6:14:57 PM PST by agitator (The 9th Amendment says what?)
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To: Sub-Driver
co-hosted by the environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called "Champions of Justice...who's first investigation for the furtherence of justice will be Ted "the fat, drunken, philandering,lying, mudering POS" Kennedy, in a reopening of the Chappaquidic murder of JoAnn Kopechne.

FMCDH

47 posted on 01/13/2004 6:15:17 PM PST by nothingnew (The pendulum is swinging and the Rats are in the pit!)
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To: Sub-Driver
Liberals don't listen to talk radio. They listen to music or shock-jock carnival programs.

Can't believe these morons trying to start liberal talk radio have not figured out this basic fact.

There is no mystery about the rise and huge popularity of conservative talk radio. It has little to do with Rush. You could take Rush out of it tomorrow and put Rodger Hedgecock in and things would go right along as usual.

Smart people eventually move towards conservatism. Deluded low-brows who want to believe in fairy-tales are the foot soldiers of liberalism being driven by manipulating Leftist charlatans.
48 posted on 01/13/2004 6:17:17 PM PST by mercy
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To: will1776
Walsh, who serves as CEO of Progress Media, also said the new network had reached its first major distribution agreement, with the Chicago AM station WNTD. He said he expects to announce at least three other distribution deals in the coming weeks.

Check out Al's Chicago station,http://www.radiounica.com/rad/home.aspx. He definietely in the Front Row!

49 posted on 01/13/2004 6:17:50 PM PST by Thebaddog (Woof!)
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To: billhilly
That's a great idea. Even I figured out Frankenstein. That's a show that would be worth listening to.
50 posted on 01/13/2004 6:19:14 PM PST by Huck (Was that offensive? I hope that wasn't offensive.)
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To: Sub-Driver
don't buy stock!

With Franken and Dean, can we sell short?

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

51 posted on 01/13/2004 6:24:48 PM PST by LonePalm (Commander and Chef)
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To: Sub-Driver
the entrepreneurs who dream of launching a liberal radio network

A liberal radio will never, ever make it! In contrast to the majority of the working class Americans, most of whom are conservative, most of the liberal americans who are being targeted are the idiots who sit home all day watching the likes of Oprah and Springer. They have no time for a.m. talk radio!

Here in the Detroit area the most noteworthy socialist hack was some joker named Likus! For some reason he ain't being broadcast around here anymore, at least not in the prime evening hours. The local guy, Mitch Albom, was supposed to have a sports show but he has now become political. He may be socialist but he certainly ain't nationwide. FWIW, he follows Rush.

52 posted on 01/13/2004 6:27:34 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I've dealt with stupid people for over 32 years. Haven't I earned the right to just shoot them?)
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To: Sub-Driver
Maybe we can get Seminar Callers. What fun would that be????
53 posted on 01/13/2004 6:28:32 PM PST by The Raven (<===Click here for more)
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To: NormsRevenge
Originally, the plan was to call it the Progressive Network, not the Progress Network. Perhaps it is a typo, but I would rather believe that someone got wise to the word "progressive". It has carried a Marxist aura ever since the days of Henry Wallace and his covy of fellow-travellers and hardline Marxists.
54 posted on 01/13/2004 6:35:10 PM PST by gaspar
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To: Sub-Driver
AM radio station "WNTD"?

Ha ha - that's a little 1,000 Watt daytime station on 950 kHz from near the center of Chicago during the day -

- and at night they broadcast from a site SSE of Chicago and a LOT closer to Hammond Indiana ...

Licensee: RADIO UNICA OF CHICAGO LICENSE CORP.

AM radio station "WNTD" FCC info here.

55 posted on 01/13/2004 6:49:04 PM PST by _Jim ( <--- Ann Coulter speaks on gutless Liberals (RealAudio files))
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To: Sub-Driver
"Oh, boy. Who will listen?"

________________________________________________________________________


People who don't work for a living, no doubt,
56 posted on 01/13/2004 6:55:09 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
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To: redlipstick
I heard that the little creep said that last night. If that's his idea of humor, I don't think he'll last very long.

I saw that "joke" -- that's pretty pathetic.

57 posted on 01/13/2004 7:00:17 PM PST by NYCVirago
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To: Sub-Driver
Chicago radio WNTD? Never heard of it.
58 posted on 01/13/2004 7:04:54 PM PST by cookcounty (A "Shaheed" is NOT a "Martyr.")
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To: Baynative
...What business oriented company would pay to advertise on a network designed to reach people who openly hate business?....

It isn't a business. It's a way to get around campaign finance reform.
59 posted on 01/13/2004 7:11:56 PM PST by Joe_October (Saddam supported Terrorists. Al Qaeda are Terrorists. I can't find the link.)
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To: Sub-Driver
"He has no one on the show but it's confrontation," Franken said. "His show is just him railing for three hours."

Typical liberal dismissing of regular folk. Rush has plenty of people on his show, they're called callers.

60 posted on 01/13/2004 7:12:06 PM PST by radiohead
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