AAR rumored for D.C., possibly on 1260 AM

[LTR]

I posted about this in my AAR rumors thread on the 'Media' board. I'll repost it here. And with any rumor, take it with a grain of salt:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=109&topic_id=13702#13728

Al Franken hinted at AAR coming to DC:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/22/22485/3728

This site thinks it may be WWRC (1260 AM), a Clear Channel station:

http://dcrtv.com /

Lefty Talk For 1260? - 9/23 - Apparently, Al Franken said on his Air America show yesterday that he expects the lefty political network to be on in DC "soon." Clear Channel has already flipped at least 10 of its stations to "progressive talk." Will its WWRC (1260 AM) be next? In the latest ratings, sports talk-formatted WWRC pulled an anemic 0.1 share. Hmmm.....

Clear Channel also owns:

WTNT-AM (570) - RW talk. Crummy ratings.
WTEM-AM (980) - Dominant sports station in town.
WFRE (99.9) - Poorly rated country station. They also have another country station in the market.

CC is always the best bet to put AAR in a market, since they are so gung-ho over the format. But there are a lot of faltering AM stations here, so I'm shocked none of them picked up the format yet. WWRC seems like an obvious choice. The station barely gets any ratings, and the only use it has to CC is that it picks up CC's syndicated sports programming (they handle FOX Sports radio and Jim Rome). Other than that, it's a tree falling in the forest with nobody there to hear it. It cracked a 0.1 share in the ratings for the first time in almost a year. That's pretty bad, especially for a 24 hour AM that seems to cover most of the DC area (signal gets weak around Baltimore during the day, non-existant at night). Keep your eye on 1260.

As for 570, this is a powerful signal (for AM's, the lower a station is, the more powerful it is, and even 5000 can cover hundreds of miles). But it gets better ratings than 1260 (not great, though) and 1260 seems too much like a big gaping hole that needs to be filled. Stay tuned!

[soothsayer]

1. That would ROCK!

As it is, I'm always glued to my PC trying to hear Randi Rhodes and Al Franken. Thank goodness I have wireless connectivity in my laptop so it can roam around with me, but that leaves me housebound (well, I can sit in the backyard actually).

So....yeah! That would rule.

[sbj405]

2. I hope so.

Some days I hate leaving work because it means leaving Randi. :-)

[WoodrowFan]

3. please please please

As it is there is NOTHING on AM I can listen too here!!!

[Skinner]

4. Kick ass!

That's great news!

[LTR]

5. Don't get too excited yet

CC seems to drag their feet on flipping some stations.

But let's face it - the station in question doesn't even show up in the overall ratings. All it's good for is giving CC-owned FOX Sports Radio clearance in a big market. It costs them little to run. Sports formats are hard to figure out. They don't do well in overall ratings usually, but tend to be attractive to advertisers seeking male listeners. But how much can you bring in selling ads for tire shops and titty bars?

Progressive talk would probably bring in some money, and be a nice sell with other stations. They can sell these stations with their conservative talkers, and even target females and younger listeners.

Franken dropped the rumor a few weeks ago, and I haven't really heard anything since. We shall see.

[journalist3072]

6. 1260AM

Is there anyone we can write to to request that 1260AM pick up Air America Radio? I really would like to find out who makes these types of programming decisions, and start a letter-writing campaign to that person.

I have been desperate for Air America Radio to come to the DC area. This is the political epicenter of our country, and we don't have AAR.

[chimpymustgo]

7. Who do we call, write, beg?

We really do need AAR in around here.

[journalist3072]

8. My Suggestion

Use the "Contact Us" feature on Clear Channel's website: http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/Email.aspx

Tell them how much you would like to see Air America Radio on in DC.

Here's what I sent them:

I am writing to you in the hopes that Clear Channel would consider bringing the Air America Radio network to a radio station in Washington, DC.

Air America Radio began airing in syndication in March 2003, and since that time, they have continued to grow, adding on more stations.

I find it disappointing that Air America Radio cannot currently be found on any radio dial in the Washington, DC area. Washington, DC is the political epicenter of our country, and I would argue that Air America Radio's personalities like Al Franken and Randi Rhodes represent the views of many DC residents, who espouse progressive or left-of-center politics.

I believe that Clear Channel would do well to re-target its programming, and bring Air America Radio to a station in DC like 1260 AM.

[LTR]

9. Okay, looks like the rumors refuse to die

DC was mentioned as a future market for AAR today, and could take place after the holidays.

Whether this takes place or not, who knows?

http://ltradio.blogspot.com

[sbj405]

10. See today's WaPo

Looks like a done deal.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A49905-2004Dec8?language=printer

[LTR]

11. January 20th (Inauguration Day)

AAR is coming to 1260.

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2004/12/its-official-air-america-coming-to.html

[Chalco]

12. Tickets to AAR in DC?

I was listening to Al Franken yesterday and he said that tickets were available to his inaugural show in dc on the 20th. The show will be broadcasting live from the Mandarian Oriental Hotel. Does anyone know how to get tickets? I didn't see anything on the hotel's site or on AAR site.

[rogue emissary]

13. Latest from dcrtv

http://www.progressivetalk1260.com/main.html

They put up a web site, but there's not much in the way of information. Also, am I the only one that thinks Imus is no friend of liberals, or progressives?

[journalist3072]

14. Thanks

For the link to the web site. I'm disappointed though. I was hoping that 1260 AM would be Air America Radio, all the time. Oh well!