AAR looking to add at least four stations soon

[LTR]

Lots happening with AAR in the coming weeks.

First off, WSCC-AM (730) in Charleston, SC announced a flip to liberal talk, breaking away from a simulcast of their more conservative FM sister station. The new station, Progressive 730, will debut next week.

In Washington, DC, WWRC-AM (1260) has just signed on with AAR, and will roll out the new format on Inauguration Day, January 20th.

WSAI-AM (1530) in Cincinnati is likely to dump it's 'real oldies' format and switch to liberal talk following the Christmas holiday (they are currently playing lots of holiday music, as are many other stations of it's kind). This flip has been covered in local newspapers, and it's looking likely.

And finally, the proposed format shuffling mess in Los Angeles and San Diego seems to be clearing up. As long rumored, KXTA-AM (1150) will be breaking away from a sports talk simulcast with XETRA-AM (690) in Tijuana/San Diego. Sports will move to 570 in L.A., 570's adult standards format will likely land on 690, and liberal talk will finally return to L.A. on the strong signal of 1150 AM. No date as of yet for this one, but it could be around the start of the new year.

Lots going on here, and I'm still updating the goings-on on my site:

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/

[MrUnderhill]

1. Any updates on their finances?

[Florida_Geek]

2. Sounds like they must be doing

good, if they keep adding stations.

[oscar111]

3. D C :First entry into that area by AAR?

GOOD news.

Have an addy for AAR?

none at site, old one not work.. my2cents one .

[LTR]

5. They just got a $13M cash infusion

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0412090191dec09,0,4457299.story?coll=chi-business-hed

Air America Radio, the fledgling left-leaning talk radio network, has secured $13 million in new financing and signed its top two personalities to long-term contracts, the network announced Wednesday.

(Franken signed for two years, with a third year option, and Rhodes signed for three years)

(snip)

Glaser, New York investment banker Eugene Keilin and other investors have recently committed $13 million in new financing, Sinton added. He also said the network has signed on Geico and American Express as advertisers.

"It's a rosier picture now, and 2005 will see us become profitable," Sinton said.

[Bjornsdotter]

4. Chicago is still waiting

and waiting and waiting.

Anyone know what the tie-up is here?

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[LTR]

6. So far, no discussions concerning Chicago

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0412090191dec09,0,4457299.story?coll=chi-business-hed

Where the network isn't doing well: Chicago and Los Angeles, where the country's second- and third-largest media markets remain gaping holes for the network. Air America lost its stations in those markets due to a billing dispute with the stations' owner just weeks after Air America launched in March. Executives are promising to add more affiliates, just not in the Windy City any time soon.

"We're really in positive discussions all over the place except Chicago," said Air America president Jon Sinton.


One thing that should be noted is that WRLL-AM (1690) currently airs the same format (oldies) that it's sister station in Cincinnati (WSAI-AM) airs. It was at one time a very high profile format rollout for Clear Channel, but it's not really yielding the results that they want. It's essentially doing slightly better than the adult standards stations it was replacing, but not making a heck of a lot of money. WSAI is reported to be switching to AAR by the first of the year (CC can make a lot more money off this format, especially since it can bring in younger listeners that the advertisers like). Wonder if WRLL will be a possibility down the road. One complication is that they just signed one of their high-profile hosts to a new contract (I believe Larry Lujack).

So far, no Chicago talks reported. And forget about the 92.5/92.7 simulcast that had been rumored - they already have a new format in place.

As for L.A., as I mentioned, it will likely happen soon.

[Bjornsdotter]

9. Thank-you!

I've been wondering if it was ever coming back....I'll have to break down and buy a Sirius system.

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[bookman]

7. Houston

One rumor had a pre oldies station going AAR, but it just became the second sports station. This area really needs a counter to the several conservative stations. And I honestly think their may be an audience. I'm content to listen on Sirius.

[LTR]

8. It sounds like CC isn't really open to doing liberal talk in Texas

In this state, they're too afraid of pissing off advertisers. Remember, this is CC's backyard (they're based in San Antonio), and they're walking on pins and needles here. Theyve got lots of friends here, if you know what I mean. They'll put AAR on a powerful signal in conservative Cincinnati, but don't look for a CC-owned liberal talk station in Texas anytime soon.

That doesn't rule out other broadcasters, though. Entercom and Infinity are two other big owners that are currently doing liberal talk on their stations (Rochester and Seattle). Not to mention many others. I have heard rumors concerning Dallas, but they're too vague to really give merit to.

[Wisc Badger]

10. Any news of when Milwaukee

or Chicago (I live in the far north in SE Wisconsin) will get it?

[LTR]

11. Your best bet? WSAI out of Cincinnati

Once it flips to AAR after Xmas. That's because the Brewers have a better chance of going to the World Series than AAR has of coming to Milwaukee anytime soon.

1530 should come in well after dark, especially if you're outside of the city (I can pick it up with a little static in Milwaukee). Otherwise, don't hold your breath. I think it will be a long time before anyone does anything in Milwaukee. Forget WTMJ and WISN. They have no reason to flip. WEMP (1250) is changing formats soon, but it will be to sports (whenever they get around to it). Milwaukee's current sports station (and WEMP's future competitor) WAUK (1510) will stick it out with ESPN for awhile, but even if they did flip, they go off the air at sunset.

WOKY? Well, it's owned by Clear Channel and it airs adult standards. But it's a very well-rated standards station, and it's been around damn near forever. Plus, I doubt CC will blow it up so soon after ditching lite hits on 97.3 for the current mullet rock format that is The Brew (remember the format change stunt that hinted at AAR?).

What about the small-time players? WMCS is Willie Davis' pride and joy. They currently air African American-oriented talk, with some classic soul on the weekends. WNOV is a community-owned station that's been getting some horrid publicity lately (one of it's hosts got into hot water for bilking a government agency to pay for his show, and just last week unfortunately dropped the F-bomb on air). WNOV sounds like it's programmed by amateurs. WGLB? It's a tiny little gospel station that exists to feed Joel Kinlow's ego. WJYI? They thought about it back last spring, and were taking a wait-and-see attitude. But I'm sure they're raking in a ton bartering air time, much of it religious, especially since WEMP decided to actually take control of their station. WJYI would make a great candidate for liberal talk, if they decided to get rid of the whole radio infomercial thing.

WRRD is owned by Salem. Forget about it.

And there's always WRJN in Racine, which is the closest thing to liberal radio besides WMCS in this area. They air Ed Schultz and Alan Colmes. But don't look for AAR here. And don't look for a decent signal outside of Racine or Kenosha. It barely gets into Milwaukee.

The Chicago stations that make it up to Wisconsin are already set with whatever formats they're doing. Forget WLS, WSCR, WBBM, WGN, WMVP and WIND, which Salem just took over and littered with their conservotalk format.

So, your best bet will be WSAI when it signs on, and it puts out a helluva signal that damn near covers the eastern half of the country. Otherwise, try 1670 out of Madison, which airs some non-AAR liberal talk.

[SKKY]

12. Man, I hope they're able to stay on the air...

...with so much right leaning media, we really need AAR to take off and be viable. In addition to listening to AAR on AM 1360 in San Diego, I've purchased AAR stuff from their on-line store. Please do the same. They need our support.

[Starlight]

13. Maybe it's just my imagination...

but WLIB 1190 AM NYC seems to have a stronger signal lately. :shrug: