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Air America: A Sinking Ship?

For those of us who haven’t been following news on Air America, Megan McArdle provides an update on the liberal radio network’s financial troubles and other structural problems. Among some of the indications of financial instability are reports of employees not receiving reimbursement for costs to attend a swanky $70,000 Manhattan party celebrating Air America’s founding, and a fight over Al Franken’s $1 million contract. Worst of all, Air America has claimed to have raised $30 million when in fact the network has raised only $6 million.

The WSJ article is subscriber only, but I found an AP/WSJ article at MLive.com

UPDATE: The MLive.com article is down now so I guess you’ll have to find yourself a copy of Monday’s WSJ, but I found a story about Air America ratings over at Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post, which isn’t a great source but it’s still an interesting read.

  1. Neil Paz-Cruzat says:

    I would love for AAR to continue and flourish, but I will admit that it is too heavy on comedy and hate-speech…that is why, I hate to say, I listen to NPR more.

  2. Big M says:

    Being a former radioman myself, and looking at the charts and numbers…there are only 3 places in the US where Air America is really having the numbers to stay afloat, and that’s only by an oak tree’s bark of an amount.

    Portland has it at 3.3 and 12th place, however that’s 12+ and not the demo that AA is geared toward. The demo AA is geared toward is the 25-54 money demo, especially with those who are still apart of the “counter-culture movement”. That had KPOJ at #10 with a 3.7 for the total week.

    Key words: TOTAL WEEK.

    The problem is…we cannot get the 18-34 or 18-49 numbers for Portland to actually see what the breakdown is there…and if AA is actually doing the trick.

    Minneapolis is another city, with the one trick pony KTNF went from a nothing station for Infinity to a 0.9 for the local buyer of that station.

    Seattle is the only other place, and the 12+ numbers show that KPTK went from a 1.0 to a 1.5. However, it is still in 23rd place, with the only improvement for any talk station being “The Buzz” KQBZ from a 2.0 to a 2.5.

    If you want 18-34 or 25-54 numbers by daypart, contact a Portland radio station, if they’ll let you.

  3. RealityCheck says:

    “Air America is kicking ass in Portland”?

    Guess you missed the latest Arbitron ratings — just released on May 3, 2005. Sure, KPOJ is Air America’s best-rated station, but look where its numbers have gone since it signed on with the liberal network.

    KPOJ-AM
    Spring 2004 – 3.7 share, 11th place in the Portland market

    Summer 2004 – 4.0 and 7th place

    Fall 2004 – 3.7 and 8th place

    Winter 2005 – 3.3 and 12th place

    So the latest stats show a drop in listeners for the second straight ratings period — and remember, WPOJ is the jewel in Air America’s crown.

    Meanwhile, Air America’s flagship station, WLIB in New York, has slipped from a ratings peak of 1.4 in Summer 2004 to its current 1.2, good for only 24th place in the market.

    If you want the real story about how Air America is doing (not all that well, as it turns out) check out these and other markets at http://www.radioandrecords.com — click on Ratings, then click on “Portland, Oregon” or whatever city you want.

  4. Melissa says:

    Sho has offspring?

  5. Sho says:

    I love this comment thread like I love my own son.

  6. Mcminnville Dude says:

    HAHAHA. Liberal media? Oh you mean like the nation? Salon.com? That liberal media? The idea that the media in totality is liberal is the most moronic statement of all time. and for Air america sinking? Ya right. What do you guys have to say now that they are kicking ass (especially in portland).

  7. Ben Dover says:

    And Sean Hannity has a small PECKER.

  8. Melissa says:

    The only reason we know about earwicker’s mom is because her porn site is on Google.

  9. Timothy says:

    Your mom goes to college.

  10. earwicker says:

    The reason this is still getting commented on is because it’s in Google. If you’d like links to more current information, try http://www.airamericalinks.com

  11. Cora,
    Stromm says, “Your pecker…it knows no bigotry.”

  12. Cora says:

    Does anyone remember the commercial for the Sundance channel where Stromm first replies “your pecker…” Can anyone tell me the exact wording of the whole commercial. I could only understand part of it. I would really appreciate it.

  13. Timothy says:

    It’s nice to know we still turn up on google.

  14. Shawn Mars says:

    Air America is sorely needed. I believe that if they can keep going long enough, they will be a big success. They have filled the void nicely created by the demise of IE America. I thought that IE America was a great network but they didn’t have the capital.
    People need to hear the other side. Crackhead, Hannity and Baby Diaper Michael Weiner are corporate hacks who fool people to vote against their own economic good.
    The O’Frankin Factor show is actually quite good and entertaining.
    This is a whole untapped market. The history of talk radio is that is has been both liberal and conservative until the mid 90’s and the telecom act amongst other factors. Since then, half of the electorate has been catered to while the other half has been shut out. Air America will be a success.

  15. Danimal says:

    Nader, is that you?

  16. Quidam says:

    If any of the previous posters really think that AA is just spewing out mindless left-wing liberal hatefulness, maybe you haven’t really been listening. I listen on XM (which is great since I think WNTD AM950 in Chicago is back to Spanish programming) and what I hear are people who feel very passionately that things have gone to hell in a handbasket and would love to see some changes.

    I feel the same way.

    But I don’t hear the mindless Rush, or Hannity preachiness where they whip out some snippet that supports an existing position instead of spurring critical thinking.

    I think Rush’s talent-loan from God is past-due and Hannity really needs some SANE-it-tizing.

  17. Anonymous says:

    All beyond rational thinking? Zing! That told ’em, balljock9!

  18. balljock9 says:

    Beginning of October, and Air America is knocking the socks offa the Arbitron radio ratings. After a rough start and some serious financial and organizational problems, they’ve made a syndication deal with Clear Channel and are rapidly becoming one of the hottest tickets in AM radio, adding cities every week. And Rush said there’s no market for liberal radio, HA!

    This week Al Franken and Katherine Laphner are traveling around the country doing live broadcasts from theaters, with an ENORMOUS audience turnout in every city. A real radio phenomonum. They’ll certainly win kudos and industry awards for this high point in broadcasting.

    Why on earth conservatives think that liberal radio is doomed is beyond rational thinking, but then, modern-day conservative veiwpoints are all beyond rational thinking.

  19. Danimal says:

    Where did you people come from? Why has an old post on our non-liberal weblog become such a hot meeting spot?

  20. sandiavan says:

    As of August 30th, add Albuquerque. My friends and I can’t listen enough. Its about time!

  21. celtichris says:

    Oops, sorry about the double-post. Stupid Web browser.

  22. Anonymous says:

    And now add Phoenix to that list.

    Oh, and actually the ratings are excellent, particularly for Al Franken and Randi Rhodes. In the most important markets, they’re at or near the top in talk radio for 18-54.

  23. celtichris says:

    And now add Rochester, NY, and Phoenix to that list.

    Oh, and actually the ratings are excellent, particularly for Al Franken and Randi Rhodes. In the most important markets, they’re at or near the top in talk radio for 18-54.

  24. purveyor of truth says:

    Air America Radio On The Air

    Nationally:

    XM Satellite Radio – ch. 167

    Sirius Satellite Radio – ch. 144

    East

    Asheville, NC – WPEK 880 AM

    Atlanta, GA – WWAA 1690 AM

    Chapel Hill, NC – WCHL 1360 AM

    Key West, FL – WKIZ 1500 AM

    Miami, FL – WINZ 940 AM

    New York City – WLIB 1190 AM

    Northampton, MA – WHMP 1400 AM

    Philadelphia, PA – WHAT 1340 AM

    Plattsburgh/Burlington – WTWK 1070 AM

    Portland, ME – WMTW 870 AM

    Rochester, NY – WROC 950 AM

    West Palm Beach, FL – WJNO 1290 AM

    West/Central

    Anchorage, AK – KUDO 1080 AM

    Albuquerque, NM – KABQ 1350 AM

    Ann Arbor, MI – WLBY 1290 AM

    Columbus, OH – WTPG 1230 AM

    Denver, CO – KKZN 760 AM

    Honolulu, HI – KUMU 1500 AM

    Maui, HI – KAOI 1110 AM

    Kauai, HI – KONG 570 AM

    Madison, WI – WXXM 92.1 FM

    Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – 1530 AM / 740 AM

    Petoskey, MI – WWKK 750 AM

    Portland, OR – KPOJ 620 AM

    Riverside, CA – KCAA 1050 AM

    Sacramento, CA – KSQR 1240 AM

    Santa Barbara, CA – KTLK 1340 AM

    San Diego, CA – 1360 AM KLSD

    San Luis Obispo, CA – KYNS 1340 AM

    South Lake Tahoe, NV – KTHO 590 AM

    (http://209.208.176.243/pub/resStations.htm)

    Someone needs to publish a book for Bush supporters… call it:

    HOMOPHONES FOUR DUMMIES!!!!

  25. darcy says:

    Is Air America still running? Didnt they have like loads of money trouble and lose all there stations? What, are they internet-only now? I thought fer sure they’d go under. Oh well if they are still on the air I’m sure there ratings suck!

    FOR MORE YEARS!!!!

  26. donald works says:

    I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE STATIONS AND TIMES FOR OREGON, AND WHERE IS THE TV CHANNEL AND TIME FOR THE NEW PROGRAN THROUGH SUN DANCE?/

  27. Sho says:

    What is it with people adding comments to a two-month old post? What website are you coming from? Additionally, it’s a fallacy that the middle ground is always the best position, considering that I could also present any political view as “in the middle” by showing that it is a mean between two extremes.

  28. ozbald says:

    Great show that Air America. We need a radical extreme public platform, like Al, to counter the crazy extreme right, like you guys! I know you folks mean well, but I feel sorry for you. Neither side is totaly right. Any one with a brain knows that! Expand your vision and jump in the middle where rational, grounded, forward thinking people are. Ozbald

  29. Mark Hubbell says:

    Air America Radio fails to be what it claims to be – “the liberal response to Rush et.al.” because it fails to argue issues intelligently. It is a stream of angry illogical and unfounded hate speech. If this is the best response they have to the Bush Administration, they are on shaky ground indeed!

  30. I listened to Air America for about two weeks when it launched on XM radio. I’ll tel you exactly why it isn’t working. The shows are nothing but complete hate-fests. And Al Frankin is boring as can be. His female on air call screener is more entertaining than he is. The only show that doesn’t preach pure out-and-out hatred and venom is that guy Ed they have in the afternoon that tries to compete with Sean Hannity.

    I have heard outright lies, and propaganda being spewed on the rest of the shows. I’ve tried to call in to debate some of the lies, and WHOOPS; they don’t really take phone calls. I tried to call Franken’s show a few times and the phone just rings and rings and rings.

    After a couple weeks I couldn’t listen anymore. And after listening to Franken and his anti-Rush stuff, I actually began to listen to Rush instead! Something I honestly hadn’t listened to ever.

  31. Timothy says:

    My hypothesis is that the majority of the media is liberally biased, and therefore Rush et. al. have filled a niche for conservatives that doesn’t exist as much for liberals because liberals can tune into CNN (ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, NPR etc) if they want news that’s slanted their way, conservatives turn to Rush (et. al) and FoxNews, that’s it.

  32. lauren says:

    Sho, you know that NPR isn’t the same as Rush et al. I will admit it has a liberal bias, but it hardly counts as an equivalent.

  33. Sho says:

    I think there are, Blog, but they all listen to NPR.

    Actually, there is a market for Air America, but I think they seemed to have set their sights too high. They should have started out in one or two markets before trying to tackle more cities.

  34. Blog says:

    I don’t get it. Air America should be selling like audible hotcakes. There’s a million right-wing stations out there. I can’t believe there’s not enough listeners around to support a single left-wing equivalent.

  35. I’ve been following Air Idiot ever since they knocked my favorite reggae station off the dial in NYC. Their business model was ridiculous from the start, and now the “let’s kill Limbaugh, Hannity (insert local right wingnut radio host here)” Lil Rascal show in the barn has run into reality.

    Maybe if Franken decided to slash his million per year salary they could survive?

    Maybe in the morning I could wake up Italian and me mudda wouldn’t mind?

    Maybe this was just a radio 527 around McCain-Feingold from the start?

  36. gbreez says:

    What ever you label it, it is a crying shame! Here’s hoping it has some Phoenix within it.
    Keep flying, baby! We need you.

  37. Danimal says:

    That’s better!

  38. Sho says:

    Hmm, you’re right. I should have titled the post, “Air America: A Rapidly Descending Metal Tube With Wings That Is Also On Fire.”

  39. Danimal says:

    More of a plane crash, wouldn’t you say?

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