What is the actual status of Air America radio?

[SouthernDem2004]

The other morning I was listening to a syndicated morning show and they started going off on AA. They stated they were losing money and even had to pay some stations to broadcast AA. Do they pay stations to broadcast? I know little about the radio business. Is this a common practice?

[skooooo]

1. They keep adding stations...

..so..? I think alot of this talk is aimed at discouraging and deriding the idea of liberal media.

On the other hand, maybe there's something I don't know..?

[BlueEyedSon]

2. It's BS

[journalist3072]

3. Air America is doing just fine

Like someone said they are constantly adding affiliate stations. I think their haters and detractors can't stand the fact that a progressive talk radio network is having so much success, and has found a voice with so many listeners.

[Hugin]

4. Bah!

The last I heard AAR was gaining market share... and FNC was hemorrhaging share like the stuck pig it is.

;)

You're likely to see lots of this type of talk. The C.O.N. (Corporate Owned News) is running scared as the truth of their duplicity comes out.

[Coexist]

5. HBO's Left of the Dial documentary on AAR

shows that they had a shaky start, but are on good footing now.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/leftofthedial/synopsis.html
<snip>
"Ironically, as the media exploits this latest fiasco, the on-air hosts find their groove. Rhodes is thrilled to get her own cover story in the Washington Post Magazine and a billboard in Times Square. Maron has worked through his anxieties, as have Garofalo and Seder. The New York ratings are unexpectedly high - Franken beats Rush Limbaugh, and Rhodes outpaces right-wing rival Sean Hannity. Encouraged, management is able to attract additional investors long enough to keep the venture afloat through November.

In December 2004, a new round of investors brings Air America a measure of financial stability. With 40 affiliates and counting, the voices of the left are now being heard, loud and clear, from coast to coast."

[zoeb]

7. Where can we see the ratings for

Randi? I would love to see her kicking insanity's ass. :rofl:

[Coexist]

12. sorry - don't know - Google Arbitron if you have time to research

they are the radio ratings people.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. Rhodes beats Hannity in NYC??? Too good to be true.

First of all, Randi is , for me, hard to listen to. Not as hard as Hannity, but hard to listen to.

Secondly, the ABC affiliate ( Hannity's)can be heard all over the Northeast. AAR's WLIB is hard to get outside of the city limits.

But that's fantastic if it's true.

[Hugin]

16. Satellite radio and streams can be heard from anywhere.

It bugs the MSM because the majority of AAR listeners don't
fall into the Usual Corrupted Media Monitoring systems such
as A.C. Nielson.

[havocmom]

6. Good time to remember that the malAdministration/junta got caught red

handed paying off some broadcast people for pumping the party line on other issues they were losing ground on. Seems likely all the talking heads on Rove's payroll have not yet been exposed. ALways remember that what we hear, we hear from paid mouthpieces.

[Hugin]

10. As Janeane Garofalo says:

"Expect only the worst."

and

"Watch your back."

Neocons are desperate right now... Who knows what they are
willing to resort to.

We all know full well... To these people "The ends justify the
means." Tom Delay has demonstrated they have no earthly concept
of *ETHICS*.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Check Out This Post...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3888795&mesg_id=3888834

In a nutshell...AAR is doing just fine for now. Radio is sucking eggs, just like the rest of the economy.

It could be that AAR is losing money, but so was NBC/Universal (600 million last year) and Infinity and Disney. It's called trying to make a buck during stagflation. When the economy is as bad as it is, companies are a lot tighter with their advertising dollars and radio is at the bottom of the food chain.

Yes, AAR does pay some stations to carry its format. So? Salem buys stations for their network that are bigger money losers and have poorer ratings than AAR (proof in the post above). Brokerage is a common practice in broadcasting and the way to get up a network quickly. It's also cheaper than buying stations.

Hopefully that helps you a bit.

BTW...a radio chestnut: "If another show is talking about yours, your show is better than theirs".

[still_one]

11. this is part of the right wing echo chamber

It is NOT true

XM just signed AAR up for an exclusive. I am not too happy about that because I am with Sirius, but XM is PAYING AAR for this. XM wouldn't be doing that to lose money. They are a business

This is why any left or progressive stations are so important. Their is no real news in this country without going to PBS, international sources, some wire services

[Hugin]

14. or DU:LBN!

[Hissyspit]

17. Yes, O'Lielly didn't mention XM in his bizarre rant against them. n/t

[Conker]

19. XM exclusive?

Are you sure about that?I went to Sirius' website yesterday, and they said they carry AAR as one of their channels.PBS is becoming more conservative with Tomlinson involved with it.

[Hugin]

20. I'm not sure of the details...

Since I don't have Sirius... But, XM has dropped their
"America Left" name for 167 and it's now called "Air America".

I'm taking Sirius's keeping a liberal channel as good news.
It may be that they are wanting to keep their channel open
to their own programming. So they can include voices which
aren't part of the AAR line-up... Okay by me!

One reason I've heard for the XM exclusive is so AAR
can take advantage of XM's facilities in DC.

[pstokely]

21. it's on Sirius until like July 16

[Conker]

22. That's not good.

I was considering to buy Sirius satellite radio.With the disappearance of AAR from Sirius that will leave Sirius with only 1 left-wing channel (Sirius Left), and more than two right-wing channels (Sirius Right,Sirius Patriot,and FOX News).

[still_one]

23. not true

Sirus say they will have two liberal stations. One that will replace where AAR is, unless they negotiate something with AAR

If you can get AAR OTA so much the better

The problem with XM programming is that they will delay Randi Rhodes with Ed Schultz, but the worst part is they will delay Mike Malloy to the graveyard shift with Alan Colmes live. That is a jok

[philb]

13. How does one listen to AA? what stations are they on?

[Hugin]

15. There are several ways to listen...

1. Stream it directly from the Air America web site.
2. Get a XM satellite radio... With which you can listen
anywhere in the US!
3. Look up a local station from this page: http://shows.airamericaradio.com/stations

[Hissyspit]

18. Thanks! You're too cool, Prag n/t