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So long Air America...again.
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| Shakka |
Sounds like this will be the last time we have to hear from them (Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 11). Cue the Fairness Doctrine.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/21/new...?cnn=yes&hpt=T2
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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Liberal talk radio network Air America is planning to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the company said Thursday.
"The very difficult economic environment has had a significant impact on Air America's business," according to a statement on the network's Web site. It cited a "perfect storm" in the media industry and plummeting advertising revenues.
The statement went on to say that the company's debt was piling up as its credit lines shrank.
A representative for Air America confirmed the statement's accuracy but declined to comment further.
Starting at 6 p.m. ET Thursday, Air America will broadcast "encore programming" though Jan. 25 and then cease to air. Current employees will be paid through Thursday, and severance packages will be offered Friday to full-time employees with more than six months of tenure.
Formerly known as Air America Radio, the network launched in 2004 with personalities including Rachel Maddow and Al Franken, now a Democratic U.S. senator from Minnesota.
In October 2006, Air America Radio filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection but was able to stay on the air while it reorganized. Green Family Media bought the network in March 2007, and it eventually grew to 100 radio outlets nationwide.
The network called itself "the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world" at the time of its launch, according to its statement Thursday. Air America presented dissenting views on issues like the Iraq War at a time when such statements "were often denounced as 'un-American,' " the statement continued.
But the changing media industry crippled the network's growth.
"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," the statement said. |
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| Shakka |
| quote: | Originally posted by Comrade Stalin
RIP. Unfortunately I never lived in any of their radio markets. |
All you need is satellite radio and you get it everywhere. However, considering it's little more than noise pollution, perhaps you should be grateful!;) |
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| MisterOpus1 |
They were on life support for years. This just put them out of their misery. It was an interesting project, but competing in a market that was already heavily tilted towards conservative commentary was a futile effort from the get go. I'm actually surprised it lasted this long.
And no, as much as I agree with ENFORCING the Fairness Doctrine, rest assured it'll never happen. Seriously, conservatives couldn't have asked for a better present with these spineless Dems in control right now. Don't even sweat it. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by MisterOpus1
but competing in a market that was already heavily tilted towards conservative commentary was a futile effort from the get go. |
pretty much. i dont think any country has a high enough percentage of intelligent people in order to make progressive radio work. |
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| Shakka |
| You know, it's not that much of a stretch to take the contrarian point of view that it is a relatively unpenetrated market for "progressive" talk radio. NPR does just fine with a generally left-of-center bent. I don't see why AA shouldn't have been able to reach millions upon millions of interested listeners. Why is there so little interest in supporting "progressive" talk radio? |
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| yukii |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
You know, it's not that much of a stretch to take the contrarian point of view that it is a relatively unpenetrated market for "progressive" talk radio. NPR does just fine with a generally left-of-center bent. I don't see why AA shouldn't have been able to reach millions upon millions of interested listeners. Why is there so little interest in supporting "progressive" talk radio? |
They did it wrong. |
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| yukii |
| this is krypton using my effing account btw,.+ |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
You know, it's not that much of a stretch to take the contrarian point of view that it is a relatively unpenetrated market for "progressive" talk radio. NPR does just fine with a generally left-of-center bent. I don't see why AA shouldn't have been able to reach millions upon millions of interested listeners. Why is there so little interest in supporting "progressive" talk radio? |
i cant speak for america, but over here they simply dont have the same "bite" as the 'conservative' radio programs. conservative is a loose term tho, here they're more 'redneck' than anything. and people listen to them because they're either simepletons, or they like being incensed with rage over simpletons.
whereas progressive channels are more boring and intellectual with a little more depth and honesty about the topic at hand. nobody wants to listen to that of course! its far easier and makes more "common sense" to argue 'immigrants take our jobs!' rather than examining the nature of the labour market in times of economic contraction, for instance. |
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