It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our Board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the Company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding-down of the business. The very difficult economic environment has had a significant impact on Air America's business. This past year has seen a "perfect storm" in the media industry generally. National and local advertising revenues have fallen drastically, causing many media companies nationwide to fold or seek bankruptcy protection. From large to small, recent bankruptcies like Citadel Broadcasting and closures like that of the industry's long-time trade publication Radio and Records have signaled that these are very difficult and rapidly changing times. Those companies that remain are facing audience fragmentation as a result of new media technologies, are often saddled with crushing debt, and have generally found it difficult to obtain operating or investment capital from traditional sources of funding. In this climate, our painstaking search for new investors has come close several times right up into this week, but ultimately fell short of success. With radio industry ad revenues down for 10 consecutive quarters, and reportedly off 21% in 2009, signs of improvement have consisted of hoping things will be less bad. And though Internet/new media revenues are projected to grow, our expanding online efforts face the same monetization and profitability challenges in the short term confronting the Web operations of most media companies When Air America Radio launched in April, 2004 with already-known personalities like Al Franken and then-unknown future stars like Rachel Maddow, it was the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world. At a critical time in our nation's history — when dissent on issues such as the Iraq war were often denounced as "un-American" — Air America and its talented team helped millions of Americans remember the importance of compelling discussion about the most pivotal events and decisions of our generation. Through some 100 radio outlets nationwide, Air America helped build a new sense of purpose and determination among American progressives. With this revival, the progressive movement made major gains in the 2006 mid-term elections and, more recently, in the election of President Barack Obama and a strongly Democratic Congress. Laws have changed for the better thanks to this revival.....but all the same our company cannot escape the laws of economics. So we intend a rapid, orderly closure over the next few days. All current employees will be paid through today, January 21. A severance package will be offered tomorrow to full-time current employees with more than six months of tenure. We will strive to assist affiliates and partners in achieving a smooth transition. Starting at 6 pm EST today, we will provide our affiliates, listeners and users a selection of encore programming until 9 pm EST on Monday, January 25, at which time Air America programming will end. We are proud that Air America's mission lives on through the words and actions of so many former radio hosts who are active today in progressive causes and media nationwide. In the years ahead, as we look back, we should all be proud of our passionate determination to assure that our nation's progressive voice would be heard loud and clear. Through the hard work and dedication of current staff, and those who preceded you, a lasting legacy was forged which will now continue through other voices and venues. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Riddance.
Now back to Rush.
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02:02 PM
frontal lobe Member
Posts: 9042 From: brookfield,wisconsin Registered: Dec 1999
I posted this comment on a NON right wing fringe dominated forum:
quote
I thought Air America died when Al Franken left to become a senator. I’m too busy living my life and harrassing crazy tea baggers to spend three hours each day listening to a mirror image of right wing hate radio. I suspect that thats why this (marginally worthy) experiment was doomed to failure from the start.
------------------
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02:14 PM
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13798 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
This reads like trying to put a positive spin on a crap show. The left leaning liberal media doesn't have all the financial support from the general public, nor the support of their advertisers. They probably expected a government bailout to keep them on the air. It must have been bad as even George Soros wasn't contributing to their cause.
quote
Originally posted by htexans1:
It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our Board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the Company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding-down of the business. The very difficult economic environment has had a significant impact on Air America's business. This past year has seen a "perfect storm" in the media industry generally. National and local advertising revenues have fallen drastically, causing many media companies nationwide to fold or seek bankruptcy protection. From large to small, recent bankruptcies like Citadel Broadcasting and closures like that of the industry's long-time trade publication Radio and Records have signaled that these are very difficult and rapidly changing times. Those companies that remain are facing audience fragmentation as a result of new media technologies, are often saddled with crushing debt, and have generally found it difficult to obtain operating or investment capital from traditional sources of funding. In this climate, our painstaking search for new investors has come close several times right up into this week, but ultimately fell short of success. With radio industry ad revenues down for 10 consecutive quarters, and reportedly off 21% in 2009, signs of improvement have consisted of hoping things will be less bad. And though Internet/new media revenues are projected to grow, our expanding online efforts face the same monetization and profitability challenges in the short term confronting the Web operations of most media companies When Air America Radio launched in April, 2004 with already-known personalities like Al Franken and then-unknown future stars like Rachel Maddow, it was the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world. At a critical time in our nation's history — when dissent on issues such as the Iraq war were often denounced as "un-American" — Air America and its talented team helped millions of Americans remember the importance of compelling discussion about the most pivotal events and decisions of our generation. Through some 100 radio outlets nationwide, Air America helped build a new sense of purpose and determination among American progressives. With this revival, the progressive movement made major gains in the 2006 mid-term elections and, more recently, in the election of President Barack Obama and a strongly Democratic Congress. Laws have changed for the better thanks to this revival.....but all the same our company cannot escape the laws of economics. So we intend a rapid, orderly closure over the next few days. All current employees will be paid through today, January 21. A severance package will be offered tomorrow to full-time current employees with more than six months of tenure. We will strive to assist affiliates and partners in achieving a smooth transition. Starting at 6 pm EST today, we will provide our affiliates, listeners and users a selection of encore programming until 9 pm EST on Monday, January 25, at which time Air America programming will end. We are proud that Air America's mission lives on through the words and actions of so many former radio hosts who are active today in progressive causes and media nationwide. In the years ahead, as we look back, we should all be proud of our passionate determination to assure that our nation's progressive voice would be heard loud and clear. Through the hard work and dedication of current staff, and those who preceded you, a lasting legacy was forged which will now continue through other voices and venues. Thank you.
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02:14 PM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27111 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
I posted this comment on a NON right wing fringe dominated forum:
I thought Air America died when Al Franken left to become a senator. I’m too busy living my life and harrassing crazy tea baggers to spend three hours each day listening to a mirror image of right wing hate radio. I suspect that thats why this (marginally worthy) experiment was doomed to failure from the start.
Yes, you're certainly endearing yourself to the folks here by compounding your insults with more insults. On the positive side for you, I'm sure you've found a nice, comfortable place to hide, full of people with as much flawed thinking, lack of facts and full of vitriol as yourself.
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02:36 PM
WhiteDevil88 Member
Posts: 8518 From: Coastal California Registered: Mar 2007
Originally posted by fierobear: On the positive side for you, I'm sure you've found a nice, comfortable place to hide, full of people with as much flawed thinking, lack of facts and full of vitriol as yourself.
And that is a nice feeling, isn't it?
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02:38 PM
PFF
System Bot
partfiero Member
Posts: 6923 From: Tucson, Arizona Registered: Jan 2002
I posted this comment on a NON right wing fringe dominated forum:
Those mean people on Air America sure did suck. Nice that you got rid of your sig. The fringe on both sides suck. And in 2010 a bunch more of those suck-ers will be unemployed. Maybe we can get this country back to the middle where it does its best.
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02:51 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25718 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
Yeah, I don't agree with the comments I've been getting on my post (at the original link), but whatever... hahah.
Both comments that are there are proclaiming that the ONLY reason why the show failed is because of lack of talent. Regardless to the point that all other liberal news outlets are also failing.
The Liberals had their own radio program, when did that happen?
It's like I've said in that original thread... it's not JUST radio... it's ever media outlet. The Dems seem to have a head-in-the-sand explaination for everything. With Air America, is because they couldn't get talent...
Democrats technically outnumber Republicans, yet EVERY SINGLE media outlet, newspaper, magazines, internet, cable news, radio... they all are failing miserably and Republican / conservative talk is growing consistently every day.
Air America failed for 2 reasons. 1. The listening audience was too small for major companies to pour many advertising dollars into it.
2. The listening audience was too small because that audience didn't need their own radio network--they already had Main Stream Media as their Voice of the Left and the Mouthpiece of the Messiah. Why bother with AA, when you can just tune in MSM and hear all the left wing drivel you wish?
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 01-22-2010).]
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11:07 PM
Jan 23rd, 2010
pokeyfiero Member
Posts: 16233 From: Free America! Registered: Dec 2003
By Seton Motley (Bio | Archive) Thu, 08/13/2009 - 16:32 ET
The International Sign of Censorship Matt Cover at the Media Research Center's News Division, CNSNews.com, has a piece out today entitled "FCC’s Chief Diversity Officer Wants Private Broadcasters to Pay a Sum Equal to Their Total Operating Costs to Fund Public Broadcasting."
This is insane. The "Chief Diversity Officer" in question, Mark Lloyd, is calling for the gross operating budget for every private radio station each year to be the fee (tax) they pay for their broadcast license for the year, with the monies going to the always liberal public stations. With whom they then must compete for listeners.
Chief Diversity Officer Lloyd is - from all we have read and are reading - virulently anti-capitalist, almost myopically racially fixated and exuberantly pro-regulation. He is a frightening guy to have having any power at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). And yet that is exactly where he currently stands, astride the private radio industry he loathes like a Socialist Colossus.
This excellent article by Cover is but the tip of the iceberg on this guy; there will be much more to follow as we continue to wade through his deeply disturbing writings. For instance, we have his farcical book on order.
When Vice President Joe Biden warned us to gird our loins, he apparently meant for us to do so in preparation for his Administration.
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12:12 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25718 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
By Seton Motley (Bio | Archive) Thu, 08/13/2009 - 16:32 ET
The International Sign of Censorship Matt Cover at the Media Research Center's News Division, CNSNews.com, has a piece out today entitled "FCC’s Chief Diversity Officer Wants Private Broadcasters to Pay a Sum Equal to Their Total Operating Costs to Fund Public Broadcasting."
This is insane. The "Chief Diversity Officer" in question, Mark Lloyd, is calling for the gross operating budget for every private radio station each year to be the fee (tax) they pay for their broadcast license for the year, with the monies going to the always liberal public stations. With whom they then must compete for listeners.
Chief Diversity Officer Lloyd is - from all we have read and are reading - virulently anti-capitalist, almost myopically racially fixated and exuberantly pro-regulation. He is a frightening guy to have having any power at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). And yet that is exactly where he currently stands, astride the private radio industry he loathes like a Socialist Colossus.
This excellent article by Cover is but the tip of the iceberg on this guy; there will be much more to follow as we continue to wade through his deeply disturbing writings. For instance, we have his farcical book on order.
When Vice President Joe Biden warned us to gird our loins, he apparently meant for us to do so in preparation for his Administration.
Hah, this is crazy... his will NEVER pass...
They obviously don't get it though... I mean... NO ONE listens to Air America?!
unlike the neo-conned sheep who need to be told what to think/believe/hate by nuts like rush or beck
liberals do not waste time on radio shows and are capable of thinking on their own
so no real surprise on air america question is when will the neo-conned wake up and understand that they are being used by evil forces who donot have their interests at heart or even have a heart
------------------ Question wonder and be wierd are you kind?
Over 1/2 the electorate was hoodwinked last Nov and fell for how many lies Ray? How many hrs of health care debate was on C-span Ray? Is GTMO closed down Ray? Iraq--still going Ray? Afghanstan still not over Ray? Full Transparency from Obama Ray?
You don't even believe your bs yourself anymore Ray--much less expect anyone else to.
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01:15 PM
GT86 Member
Posts: 5203 From: Glendale, AZ Registered: Mar 2003
unlike the neo-conned sheep who need to be told what to think/believe/hate by nuts like rush or beck
liberals do not waste time on radio shows and are capable of thinking on their own
so no real surprise on air america question is when will the neo-conned wake up and understand that they are being used by evil forces who donot have their interests at heart or even have a heart
Hey Ray,
Don't know if you have any VW stuff still, but there was a Ghia, and a couple of beetles at U-Pull-It in Davie this weekend. Also three Fieros.
Liberal radio failed because liberals didn't listen. It's not because they're all out working to pay their taxes either. Liberals just don't comprehend what is said to them especially if you confuse the issue with facts, history, or truth. We've all tried to talk sense to a liberal at one time or another and where did it get you? Liberals prefer to look at pictures which is why they like TV so much. That's why the majority of TV media is biased towards the left, because they know liberals are tuned in. Watching TV is easy for a liberal. They just sit in front of it and let the images flood their brains. To get anything out of the radio you have to be able to understand and relate to what is being said because it involves listening. To many liberals that is just too hard. One big reason talk radio appeals so much to the right is because listening to the radio is something we can do on our way to work, or while at work, a completely foreign concept to many liberals.
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07:24 AM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25718 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
Any good hippie MUST have at least ONE beat up old VW something.
I have a 73 VW Bus... it's funny that when I posted a picture of it in the middle of a political argument, people immediately layed into me that I was a hippie and a liberal! hahah...
I was like... GUYS, did you NOT see the McCain Palin bumper sticker on the rear window???
... One big reason talk radio appeals so much to the right is because listening to the radio is something we can do on our way to work, or while at work, a completely foreign concept to many liberals.
IMO that's it right there. Radio is something folks listen to in the car and sometimes while working. Now how many morning commuters do they really think want to listen to someone pontificating about how the compassionate elitists need an even bigger chunk of next year's earnings so they can take better care of us dumb *censored*s... After all, we're really only one evolutionary step above pond scum, and we should be oh so thankful to have a class of elitists to protect us from our own ambition.
Nope. That stuff sells better to the unmotivated. And as you said, they all watch TV.
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09:18 AM
D B Cooper Member
Posts: 3152 From: East Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2005
I have a 73 VW Bus... it's funny that when I posted a picture of it in the middle of a political argument, people immediately layed into me that I was a hippie and a liberal! hahah...
I was like... GUYS, did you NOT see the McCain Palin bumper sticker on the rear window???
They know you did it to make fun of Palin; You moonbat you.
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09:20 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27111 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
I have a 73 VW Bus... it's funny that when I posted a picture of it in the middle of a political argument, people immediately layed into me that I was a hippie and a liberal! hahah...
I was like... GUYS, did you NOT see the McCain Palin bumper sticker on the rear window???
Yes, but that voided your VW warranty.
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09:53 AM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25718 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Man, that warranty expired years before I was even born!!! Hah...
OK, then, it confused liberal onlookers...
"Ooooh! A VW bus. Reminds me of the summer of love...the free speech movement...Jane Fonda...wait...a McCain sticker??? What??? I'm confused. What happened??? Quick, turn on Air America...wait...someone, quick, tell me what to think!"
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10:00 AM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25718 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
"Ooooh! A VW bus. Reminds me of the summer of love...the free speech movement...Jane Fonda...wait...a McCain sticker??? What??? I'm confused. What happened??? Quick, turn on Air America...wait...someone, quick, tell me what to think!"
It really confused people when I pulled up to the parking lot of the polling center!!!
EDIT: It was a lot like that time in the 2004 election when I helped that old lady with the oxygen tank go from the back of the line all the way to the front (after asking permission from one of the pollsters if it was ok for me to help her cut in line). When I went back into my spot in line, a person who was advertising for John / Kerry (illegally on the property mind you, but no one seemed to care) said to me "That's a wonderful thing you did..."
I figured he automatically assumed I was a Democrat, after all... HOW COULD ANYONE VOTE FOR BUSH?!?! So I said, "I'm a Republican..." and then he said to me... "F**K YOU!..." with a total attitude and then immediately turned away from me.
I figured he automatically assumed I was a Democrat, after all... HOW COULD ANYONE VOTE FOR BUSH?!?! So I said, "I'm a Republican..." and then he said to me... "F**K YOU!..." with a total attitude and then immediately turned away from me.
Hahaha!!!
Hahahaha, indeed. Very telling, isn't it? Also...isn't it amazing which side is *really* so hateful?
