Air America Gets Another Week for Sale

[LTR]

NEW YORK (AP) - Air America Radio, the liberal news and talk radio network headlined by the comedian Al Franken, has another week to find a buyer.

A lawyer for the network, Tracy Klestadt, told a bankruptcy hearing Monday that the company was in "advanced negotiations with a few parties" about a sale, and expected to have more definitive news on a deal in a week.

Under its financing agreement, the network had faced a deadline of this Wednesday to have a deal in place for a buyer, but Klestadt said the network's lender had informally agreed to extend the deadline by about a week.

(snip)

It is continuing to operate in the meantime as it searches for a buyer. Klestadt declined to say who the potential buyers are.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&Date=20061120&ID=6213123

[Beelzebud]

1. Today on Franken he addressed the rumor about him leaving. It didn't sound good.

He said he was leaving for the USO tour, but didn't know if AAR would be operating when he got back. He was pretty up front about it, but things aren't looking too good for AAR.

[NYCGirl]

5. He basically said that no one knows right now what will be happening to AAR,

but there are potential buyers.

[maryallen]

17. I thought he sounded encouraged ...

My impression from what Al said was that there were several potential buyers vying for AA, and that he considered that a good thing.

Isn't it funny how we all listen to the same program and come away with totally different interpretations...

[zann725]

35. Supposedly "Franken" WAS the reason the "BIG" money backers "bought" AAR. But now, Franken

clearly is head for Minnesota politial run, backers are no doubt considering that.

Plus the programming at AAR this year is not nearly as "STRONG" and edgy as it was in the beginning. They fired the Marc Maron (and others with "honest" opinons), shifted Rhandi Rhodes to different time-slot, dropped Stephanie Miller, and Jeanine Garafalo somewhere along the way.

Instead added "lightweights" like Jerry Springer, and others whose names I don't recognize, of bland natures.

Then again, we must remember it WAS "Clear Channel" who bought AAR, with polar-opposite political leanings. That they bought the channel, then almost entirely "neutered" it...losing audience along with bland programming, and marginalizing the 'play time' of their TRUE key AAR-personalities. "Clear Channel" would be of the ilk to WANT A.A.R. to fail...(1) for a massive tax write-off, but (2) also to convince any "dissenting voices" that there is "no place for their voices"...it's a "losing cause."

Please let someone BIG who likes risks and speaking-out (like Ted Turner) intercede soon, please!

[warrens]

2. They need better programming

I seriously can't listen to it anymore. NPR and MSNBC are better for my blood pressure, and I am pissed off enough; I don't need to be egged on.

If they really want to be successful, lure On the Media away from NPR and give Olbermann a show. That's the tone I can listen to, not screaming and ranting.

[Caution]

3. I am in 100% agreement with you.

Rant radio is just not something I can stomach for any length of time, this has been my problem with AAR since it launched.

[NYCGirl]

4. Funny, the shows I listen to on AAR don't have any screaming or ranting.

:shrug:

[LTR]

11. "On The Media" is a great show

My personal favorite of all the NPR shows. But they'll never leave WNYC and NPR. NPR is way too huge.

And Olbermann already has a radio show. He's on ESPN radio with Dan Patrick weekday afternoons. I'm sure KO prefers this arrangement, since he's a big sports geek and Dan Patrick's an old friend.

[Amused Musings]

12. I understand that Air America going down sucks

But the truth is, I don't even listen to the radio anymore except for classic rock and some local college radio for new cool music. I dont think I have ever listened to talk radio. Maybe if it had more Led Zeppelin...

[sandyd921]

24. Which of the shows have you listened to?

One or two have a bit of what might be called ranting, but that does not characterize the majority of the shows.

[NewJeffCT]

6. A few things on AAR

1) I can't listen since they moved from 1190 WLIB in NY to 1600 in NY. The signal on 1190 was weak, and often drowned out by a station in Indiana, but I could hear it okay a lot of the time - especially when driving on the highway. Unfortunately, I can't listen at all now that they've switched to 1600. I'd imagine they lost a few others in CT as well. I have no interest in buying satellite radio, either, and I cannot listen at work over the internet. The bottom line is that they need more powerful stations, even if it means marketing the various hosts on an ad hoc basis to whatever stations will take them.

2) Speaking of hosts, they need people with radio experience. While I like Al Franken and all he has done for Democrats with his books, he is not great on radio. I find Stephanie Miller to be far more entertaining, and Tom Hartmann to be much smoother. Randi Rhoads, Mike Malloy, etc, are also better on radio than Franken. (Not to mention the old Mark & Mark morning show that was very good!)

[Paula Sims]

7. My dream progressive radio lineup is

(in no particular order)

Stephanie Miller
Sam Seder
Randi Rhodes
Tom Hartmann
Mike Malloy
Rachel Madow
Laura Flanders
Ring of Fire
The Lionel Show

(the last 2 on the weekends)

Paula

[Leftisalwaysright]

8. That's a great list, I couldn't agree more...

Hopefully Air America will continue and Al will run for the Senate in Minnesota. I agree that he's done great things for us, but is not quite right for radio.

[JudyM]

18. Welcome to DU, leftisright!

:toast:

[DURHAM D]

9. I vote with you. Franken is boring. n/t

[The Wielding Truth]

38. Love Franken and adore Randy. AAR is a necessity . Mike Malloy is also

a keystone in our fight for views that stand free speech up in the face of the liars that call themselves Republicans.

[Beaverhausen]

15. Great list. Stephanie Miller could save AAR

Put her on every station and watch what happens.

[Alameda]

20. Air America Radio

This is amazing....I can't stand Ms. Miller. Talk about ranting. She reminds me of Howard Stern. As for Franken, I love him.

[Ronnie]

30. I like them both

very much.

[longship]

16. Excellent line-up you've got there--comment and an addition.

I love the fact that you included "Ring of Fire" which is one of the best shows on AAR. Bobbie and Mike have a very tight and informative program. The "Pap Attack" is a weekly rant--the only ranting on the program--plays like Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World".

I would also include in that list a revival of Marc and Mark, Morning Sedition, which included some of the absolutely best issue framing I've ever heard, even if it occurred while I was laughing my ass off. I'd really like to see what Maron and his troup of players could accomplish with some support.

[ihelpu2see]

39. Rachel Maddow and Kent Jones Rock!!! nt

[SharonRB]

10. Your #2 is exactly what my uncle, a former NY DJ (Dave Herman)

said to me last April. He said Franken needs an audience -- he's not really right for radio. He thinks Randi is the best of them all because she has a radio background and really knows how to interact with the listening audience.

Stephanie and Randi are my faves. I also like Rachel, Tom and Sam.

[sandyd921]

25. You're absolutely right about Franken

The times I've enjoyed his show are the times when he went on the road and had an audience.

[PlanetBev]

13. Could somebody explain to me how these things work?

What happens if it doesn't sell? And why do they have to sell it?

I thought filing Chapter 11 gets you off the hook so you can start fresh...

[LTR]

14. Right now it seems to be a condition of the filing

I'm fuzzy on the details, but it seems like the current creditors don't have much confidence in AAR's current direction.

I don't either. Way too many egos running that place, and way too much conflict and instability.

[mcscajun]

22. No doubt they need to sell it to get someone to pay off their debt.

You buy a company in bankruptcy, you get the assets AND the liabilities; therefore, you take responsibility for their debts as well.

If a business has creditors holding enough debt on it, even when not in bankruptcy they can tell the business what to do if it wants to continue receiving credit.

[EST]

19. Franken is lousy.

He was great in helping get it all started and perhaps as an occasional host, but he is at his best as a guest on someone else's tv show.

The only way I can listen to AAR is on the net and that has gotten so busy that getting a fast enough connection anymore to allow for any sort of reasonable listening is impossible. (Dialup only, unfortunately)

So that pretty much means no aar for me.

[PBass]

21. Hmmm... different strokes for different folks...

I think Al Franken has the best show or maybe second-best show on the network. I think he's really entertaining, plus he certainly gets the best guests, hands-down. Some people say he isn't Left enough, I guess... to me that's not the point... AAR should be about starting a discussion, not outlining a manifesto. If you don't agree with a host, that's fine.

Sam Seder is (IMO) either second-best or maybe the best. He's funny and his analysis is brilliant. He can occasionally verge on ranting, but there is a lot of substance to the show which keeps it from being pure emotional ranting.

I can barely listen to Randi Rhodes any more... she's often a ranter. I don't want to listen to her talk about her dog, who she's been hanging out with, etc. I don't know, maybe that's considered "good radio" but I think it's drivel. Plus by the time Randi gets on, a lot of the day's news isn't so fresh anymore. Rachel Maddow has the same disadvantage, with her time slot, although Rachel is easier on the ears by a country mile, and her analysis is also brilliant.

Something about Laura Flander's voice bugs me.

Anyway, its good that the programming appeals to different people in different ways.... something for everyone, more or less.

I will be REALLY REALLY disappointed if AAR goes off the air!!!!!!!

[PassingFair]

26. I like Franken...

I think Springer is the weakest link.

He's BORING.

I also don't care for "Big Eddie", though I acknowledge that
he appeals to a certain segment of the public and deserves
a slot (just not evening drive time IMO).

I miss Rachel Maddow, who was replaced in my market
by the Young Turks (who are OK, better than Springer,
but not as good as some of the others). The "Turks"
lack historical perspective. Maybe they need an "Old
Turk" thrown in there for factual knowledge purposes.

[Mabus]

36. I like Franken, too. I don't always agree with him

but there's no one I always agree with any way. Sometimes I think he's a little naive and while I don't always respect the opinions of his guests I generally learn something from them.

As for his show. Somedays are better than others. Sometimes he's hitting on all cylinders. Other times he falls a little short. But, he's human. Part of his charm, for me, is that isn't polished. He's more like a local DJ at a small station that way. I don't, he's folksy.

My husband and I work out of the house most of the time so we listen on-line during the day. The two internet feeds we tap into are KPOJ (Portland) or KTLK (LA) because my husband likes Big Eddie. He's okay. At least I get a different perspective on some things.

[0rganism]

37. You know "Big Ed" isn't syndicated by AAR, right?

Some ClearChannel affilliates put him in the lineup with AAR shows, but he's syndicated with Jones Radio Network. So even though you don't like him, he'll probably be around after the bankruptcy. Ed Schultz might just be one of the only games in town. :(

[eagler]

23. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE -WE NEED IT NOW!

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0212-03.htm

How we lost it and why we need it back

[kb9vrg]

27. Well, we'll see.

Ever since AAR fired Malloy and shuffled their schedule again, I think they've managed to shoot themselves in the foot. Now that the schedule is changed, my only listening nightly is to Rachel Maddow. Occasionally will listen to Thom Hartmann on Sirius or via podcast, and try to catch Ring of Fire and State of Belief but that's about it.

Never found Franken to be funny. His style just grates on me. Used to listen to Randi Rhodes and have called into her show twice, but even she's been grating on me now.

[rocktivity]

28. I suspect that they're just crossing t's and dotting i's on a deal.

If they haven't found enough potential buyers last week, they're not going to find them THIS week!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

29. This article is over a week old

So I wonder what is going on?

:shrug:

[Qutzupalotl]

31. Two weeks.

kb9vrg saw fit to kick the thread before it died, probably because of its jolly title.

[kainah]

33. nothing new apparently

I was having trouble with the Randi Rhodes podcast download so went to see if there was any news .... and I didn't find any.

[stlsaxman]

34. i've lost the ability to get Randi podcasts also... and checked as well.

found the website down.

seems AAR is dead.

bummer!

[DuaneBidoux]

32. This has probably been said but I think the problem is progressives don't do radio.