XM 167 - Air America Radio.....

[Postman]

Is Ed Schultz taking Al Franken's spot or is Thom Hartmann getting it?

Over at Ed Schultz's website he is claiming the Noon to 3pm (ET) spot on XM 167. What gives?

http://www.bigeddieradio.com/

I was hoping that Thom Hartmann would be on XM 167 from Noon to 3pm (ET)

[hlthe2b]

1. He (Big Ed) apparently pitched enough of a fit with XM..

that they are putting him on 167 in Franken's old spot--even though that channel is AAR under exclusive agreement with AAR and Schultz is not a part of AAR. On the AAR network itself, Hartman will take the 12-3 EST spot... XM subscribers are getting screwed...

[Maat]

2. I'm glad I switched back to Sirius.

I have not closed my XM account yet, but this is the straw that will break the camel's back. I'll have it closed by the end of the month.

[hlthe2b]

7. I hope you write them to let them know specifically...

[Maat]

45. That's a good idea.

I think that I will call them to cancel, and let them know why.

[Lusted4]

8. I have two accounts so I can get AAR while I work . I drive for a living.

Sam Seder is my favorite radio host. Thom Hartmann runs a close second. XM may loose my business over this move.

[Maat]

44. I hear you (n/t)!

[Postman]

3. Why don't they create another "Lefty" channel?

They sure as hell have more than one rightwing BS channel...

I got XM so I could hear AAR, not this Johnny-come-lately money grubber...

[sam sarrha]

5. i am PISSED OFF... i only got XM to listen to AAR. i wont listend to Ed

[Liberal In Texas]

35. That's why I have it too. I've already started to email them my displeasure

about not having an AAR program on the AAR channel.

And I'm going to keep emailing them and calling them until they get this fixed.

[IndyOp]

4. Thom Hartmann is getting Al Franken's spot on the New York

flagship station. Whether or not particular affiliates pick up the show is up to them. When Sam Seder moved to mornings, not all stations picked him up.

Thom said that most stations were picking him up. You should contact XM 167 and let them know you want Thom!

:hi:

[Postman]

6. Their "Flagship" station? I live in NJ and still need deep space eavesdropping equipment

to receive their signal.

Soo much for their "Flagship" Station.

XM Radio Sucks.

How is the Serius Sat. Talk-Left Station? Is Thom Hartmann on it?

[IndyOp]

25. Well, then you are in a totally different state than the Flagship Station, aren't you?

:P :P :P

Just kidding - almost all of the Air America stations need bigger sticks.

:hi:

[hlthe2b]

9. this isn't an easy petition the affiliate issue, unfortunately...

Ed has been shunted on XM quite a bit and apparently jerked their chain so that even though 167 is all AAR under an exclusive agreement with AAR, they are going to carry him instead of Hartman. It really sucks, but if you read some of the back story in the anomosity between ES and AAR, I guess I can imagine how it came to be.

[Postman]

11. It really is false advertising...

Because Ed Schultz is not an AAR host, yet they advertise the channel as AAR.

I wish AAR had stayed at Sirius when they first started.

[thoughtanarchist]

10. Yup, that info is corroborated here:

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2007/02/cant-we-all-just-get-along.html

This blog is extremely informative. I've been up to date with more accurate info about AAR, etc from this source than any other.

It also has an excellent bio on Thom. I agree that Thom is a far superior host and does more for the genre than Ed could ever do.

Thom is a genius. Brilliant, savvy, persuasive, and, in my opinion, a genuine Bodhisattva.


Ed, on the other hand, crossed a line with this:

-------------------------------
After being informed by a listener e-mail about what Seder wrote on his blog. Schultz was livid, and spent a good part of the opening hour of his Tuesday show lashing out at Air America (mp3). An enraged Schultz accused Air America of being "unscrupulous... not good people... they undercut everyone..." and "give liberals a bad name." He accused them of "encouraging a war," and if "they want a war, I'll give 'em one." Schultz went on to blast their recent financial woes, claiming they're "hate merchants" who "raped people for $40 million," and "they never sold a commercial."

"Air America sucks, their shows suck, nobody buys them, they’re not good people, they're unscrupulous, they give liberals a bad name, and if you’ve given money to Air America you're an idiot too because they don’t deserve it," snapped Schultz. "They can eat me. They suck. They don't know how to run radio and I don't like them anymore."

[snowbear]

12. Big Eddie doesn't pick the friggin' time slots... It's up to individual stations.

Despite how some DU'ers feel, I happen to like Big Ed (and Thom Hartmann, and Steph, and Randi, and most every other show on AAR or the Jones Radio Network.

~~~~

But Eddie can't "claim" the timeslot on XM radio!

He's doing great as far as his ratings go.. but he's not doing so good that he can dictate when XM opts to broadcast his show!

[hlthe2b]

27. Actually, he's been bragging that his negotiations with XM

on that timeslot and channel have been successful... Ed's a businessman. I don't fault him for that. I do criticize his attacks on AAR, and other liberal progressives, however.


If you know former CIA agent, Larry Johnson, you might be interested in his account of his work relationship with ES and Ed's issues with not only AAR, but Keith Olberman. YOu can read it on Larry's website:
http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/from_big_ed_to_.html


Here's just a bit:
From Big Ed to Big Ego
--snip--
Ed, like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, relishes contrived controversy in order to boost ratings. But Ed likes to delude himself and deceive his audience with this humble pie act that is, in my opinion, a crock. Consider for example my own experience with Ed.

Ed's booker, James Holm, first sought me out back in 2005 because of my relationship with Valerie Plame. Shortly after testifying before Congress about the Valerie Plame matter I hosted Big Ed and his wife for dinner here in Washington. During the following year I appeared on Big Ed's Show several times. In fact, he finally started referring to me as the "intelligence analyst" for the Ed Schultz Show.

I was okay with Ed until I had the temerity to praise Keith Olbermann. When Olbermann started doing his special commentarys re the Bush Administration in August 2006 I posted a couple of pieces on this blog praising him for his courage. I subsequently noticed that Ed's booker, James Holm, stopped calling to ask me to comment on issues that they previously had asked me about. So, I sent the following email:

much more at link above..

[Postman]

31. It's more about XM Radio than Ed Schultz...

n/t

[StClone]

13. That sucks

The so-called Big Eddy always pitching the fact he's not part of AR, but now he's swinging his fat ass into a prime position on XM's a prime AR carrier. Guess that's the Post Franken AR.

[snowbear]

14. LOL LOL LOL !!!!

Big Eddie pitching that he wants to be on AAR?

Yeah.. go ahead Big Ed.. ditch a stable ownership for a day-to-day operation!

[Vadem]

15. I really don't know which one to subscribe to: Brian Lamb on...

Washington Journal on C-Span said that Sirious wanted C-Span to allow sports events to pre-emp C-Span. Brian Lamb said NO! Sports events will not pre-empt C-Span events!

I understand XM is not good, either! Where do we go from here?

[hlthe2b]

16. XM Subscribers, listen up, please

They are hearing from many of us, but they need to hear from YOU. Apparently Ed's fans have been calling for months now. So, if you want Hartman, rather than Ed on XM-167 please CALL AND EMAIL (with your account number, please) and be sure to say 1. you want Thom Hartman, as per the AAR lineup (very important); 2. you don't believe Ed belongs on AAR because he is not part of AAR. I suggest, rather than disparage Ed S. too much, you simply say he should be carried on an alternate channel.

Be polite, please... Part of what we are seeing here is backlash after the calls on the Mike Malloy situation (yes, I know emotions were running high, but some people were really on a tear when they called XM on this, and his firing WASN'T XM's decision to make)...

[Zorra]

18. Done. I was polite but told them I am considering cancelling my

account because of this.
:grr:

[Postman]

19. Good Point.. also tell them...

you'll drop XM radio like a hot rock, get an iPOD (or any other MP3), Subscribe to Air America Radio Premium and listen to the real Air America Radio Lineup.

If you bought XM for AAR, screw 'em. Get an MP3 player and catch ALL of AAR. Who needs all the other BS stations anyway....

[sam sarrha]

21. i told them it was bate and switch.. i did however refer to Ed as a bag of rancid crap and Tom a Gem

i hope it wasnt too much..other than that i just told them he didnt seem to fit on the AAR station.. and i was very unhappy

[Garbo 2004]

34. According to Sheldon Drobny at HuffPo, Malloy will soon be back on XM. n/t

[hlthe2b]

38. LOL.. I wonder if Mike will be back on AAR 167!

back in his old spot... Now, that would be ironic.

[cascadiance]

51. Priorities, Priorities!

They have the wrong ones in which deal to cut first! Should have got Mike on earlier, then they could argue putting on Ed on in a similar fashion (whether it's on a separate station or on AAR). They have the wrong priorities in my book, which is why I canceled my sub last week.

I just wish that Sirius would have gotten Thom Hartmann on full time in Al Franken's time slot first instead of KLSD, who's starting Hartmann up this Monday. Unfortunately getting Sirius won't get me much choice in the afternoon, with Schultz on both KLSD and Sirius Left at the same time! Groan! I'd hoped that KLSD would have seen the advantage of carrying both Schultz and Randi Rhodes in their live slots and Sirius go to 3 hours for Thom and then I'd have a truly complementary situation, with Randi in the afternoons and full time Mike Malloy in the evenings on Sirius too! Oh well, I'll just stay off of satellite radio for a while and see if Sirius makes any newer moves to make them more attractive soon.

[SoCalDem]

41. This is what I don't "get".. all the "lefties" are cordonned off on 167

and yet the conservos bleed over into other segments too.. Take a close look at their "divisions" click on them and look at the names..

It's nowhere near any sort of parity..

Glenn Beck is listed as an "expert" in one of them..so is Drudge..

[hlthe2b]

17. HEADS up, ALL: here's my email back from XM on the issue

Thank you for contacting XM Satellite Radio.

Due to the recent changes with Air America's programming, Al Franken has
decided to leave the network and pursue other ventures.
In place of Al Franken, XM has decided to bring back the Ed Schultz show
weekdays LIVE from 12p-3p ET with replays at midnight ET.

Ed Schultz was the first progressive talker on the XM lineup when he
launched his show in January of 2004. When Air America launched two
months later as America Left we continued to air Ed Schultz weekdays as
a supplement to the 24/7 Air America lineup. Ed Schultz has not been
cleared live on XM due to channel scheduling issues. We are proud to
welcome him back to the XM Nation live each weekday from 12-3PM ET. XM
continues to be supportive of Air America broadcasting 21 hours of
content and is the exclusive satellite radio provider of their
progressive talk shows.

We are currently working with Thom Hartmann to bring him to Air America
lineup.

Thanks for listening to Air America XM 167 and for being part of the XM
Nation.


***********************

Your phone calls and Emails might well get them to put ES on a separate channel AND to bring Harmann back.

[Liberal In Texas]

36. That's why we need to keep the pressure up. They probably have no idea about how many people only

have XM because of AAR. If AAR were on Sirius, I'd have that instead.

[hlthe2b]

37. That's absolutely true...

I rarely listen to other channels on XM--especially after they dropped MSNBC so I couldn't even listen to KO..

[hlthe2b]

20. I just found out my local AAR affiliate (largely worthless)

is going to carry Hartman!! So, I guess I can switch between XM and local AM coverage to hear what I want... YEAH... I still will be fighting to get XM to change, though...never fear.

(This affects metro Denver-Boulder folks... 760AAR is finally going to do something right, it seems, even though they scarcely carry any AAR on the weekends and won't carry Seder...
Welcome Thom Hartmann

AM760 wants to welcome the newest member of our team, Thom Hartmann. Thom comes to us from Portland where he brings us the latest progressive news and intriguing guests. Besides being a radio professional, Thom also is an internationally known speaker on culture and communications, an author, and an innovator in the fields of psychiatry, ecology, and democracy. Hartmann is the award-winning, best-selling author of fourteen books currently in print in over a dozen languages on four continents. You can find him on the air Monday through Friday, starting at 10A, right after Jay Marvin.

[Liberal In Texas]

42. At least you have a choice. The AAR station here was sold to the Catholic church and

now we have yet another station that just broadcasts religion.

[hlthe2b]

43. bummer... I hoping that liberal Denver-Boulder can keep that

from happening here, but it is a clear channel station.. And, the Bushbots do keep the pig boy and all his ilck in biz on one of the biggest AM stations. SO, we hope...

[Lusted4]

22. Mark Maron would be a good follow up to Sam Seder. nt

[hlthe2b]

23. Ahh, yes... I so miss Morning Sedition. with Maron..

I have such a hard time listening to the Young Turks... It has even made me start going back to NPR morning edition...

[Lusted4]

24. The Turks get on my nerves.nt

[hlthe2b]

28. yes... but at least they dumped Jill

She REALLY got on my nerves...

[Radio_Lady]

30. I listened to the Turks exactly three times 5AM to 6AM PT on KPOJ.

That was on Fridays through the winter.

Yuck. I am certainly not their main demographic. I went back to KBPS (classical) and KMHD (jazz) -- or watch TV while I'm getting dressed.

[hlthe2b]

32. then you may have largely missed Jill, I suspect...

She was the self-absorbed gen-x 'sexy' female that was supposed to buffer the two male personalities. Problem was, Jill is every bit the Hollywood stereotype of the rich VALLEY GIRL-- ill-informed (and unabashedly so), but willing to blurt out every stupid opinion or detail of her very privileged upbringing and sex life that the audience could ever (NOT) want to hear.

I normally like to be tolerant of women, youth, and those who are ill informed but earnest and sincerely working towards rectifying their gaps, but uggh...

Ceng Unger (the Turk) and the other guy could be obnoxious, but nothing like having Jill interject stupid questions or ignorant statements over everyone's discussions.

But, no, I agree... I'm not a fan... I listen occasionally, now that Jill is gone, because they do occasionally have good interviews. But hell, I'm in MST time zone and nothing got me up at 4AM (well before I HAD to be up) like MOrning Sedition... GOd, I miss that show...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

47. Jill is gone? Excellent!

I listened to that show a few times, didn't like it much, mainly because Jill was so ditzy and ill-informed. It might be more tolerable with her gone.

[sleepyhead]

26. It'd be nice to hear Marc Maron in the morning again

Instead of (WTF) Armstrong Williams, who is on from 6 - 9 am in NYC. Sam Greenfield (his co-host) is OK, but PLEASE! Armstrong "NCLB" Williams on a so-called liberal station?

[hlthe2b]

29. I'm hoping that now that the Greens own AAR, that MARK Green

(who is supposed to become heavily involved in management) will start turning things around... That includes seeking a better flagship arrangement and absolutely bringing Marc Maron back... (I can hope, right?)

[sleepyhead]

33. From your keyboard to the Greens' ears.

I didn't know that Mark Green would be involved in running AAR. That is great news. Fingers crossed for a better schedule and Marc's return! (And if he does come back, I am also hoping for the return of Lawton Smalls! I loved that part of the show!)

[Loki]

39. I emailed them my displeasure

We've had XM for almost 4 years and the main reason I keep subscribing is because of AAR. Thom Hartman is miles ahead of Big Ed

[Liberal In Texas]

40. Good keep it up. They're going to get real sick of hearing from me before this is over. n/t

[Maat]

46. That does it - XM is history!

Both 1360 KLSD in San Diego and 1150 Progressive Talk in Los Angeles are carrying Thom. And, I'll get Malloy on Sirius, as well as a rebroadcast of Thom.

Moreover, I like the music on Sirius better.

[mmonk]

48. I'm getting confused.

At a meet & greet with Stephanie Miller tonight, the affiliate for progressive talk that I listen to said we're getting Randi starting Monday. I heard she broadcasts at 3 pm eastern. That would be Schultz's normal slot at this progressive talk affiliate. So Ed is filling what time slot?

[hlthe2b]

49. No telling on the affiliates... we're just discussing the plans for

XM satellite... Ed Schultz, where he has been on AAR local affiliates is not always carried at the same time..

[mmonk]

50. But I thought he took live calls.

Oh well. I had thought about satellite radio since the progressive talk I listen to has signal strength issues at time for me. I guess I'll just sit tight and see what shakes out. Thanks.

[hlthe2b]

52. He'd been carried on xm satellite on delay...

previously, I guess. I think his syndicating network (Jones Network)has been broadcasting him live during Randi's time slot for those AM affiliate stations that carry the full AAR lineup.. (3pm-6pm EST). Now though, his live time for affiliates that will carry him, rather than Thom Hartman, will be in Al Franken's old time slot 12pm-3pm EST)...

I hope that helps...

[mmonk]

53. Ok

I'll actually like some of the changes I'll get. The station I listen to didn't carry Randi before and now will (that's good). I listen to less radio in the noon to 3 time period. I'm in my car alot or by the computer when Stephanie is on, so I listen to her and the next time I'm either online or in the car, I'll get Randi. That'll be good for me. I'm tired of Big Ed's AAR rant (and I've only heard bits and pieces because I'm not interested).

[hlthe2b]

54. Good for you... Just remember how many affiliates have changed

their entire format on a dime... For that reason, I'm going to keep my XM and work on getting them to make the changes we need... Until we get the FAIRNESS Doctrine or some deregulation legislation passed, progressive radio is extremely vulnerable. The commercial satellite stations are strictly interested in building profit, so they DO listen to us... While clear channel and the ilck that is buying out local stations, clearly do not... LIke Murdoch, who is willing to pour millions into unprofitable NY POST and Faux News, the conglomerates who buy up these local stations really don't care about the losses...

[mmonk]

55. This particular station i don't believe will.

It is a huge part of its community and there would be rebellion. But if so, satellite radio is where I would go.

[Liberal In Texas]

56. Yes, they're not going to take listener dissatisfaction lightly.

The squeeky wheel will get the grease.

I urge everyone at DU with an XM sub to email and call.