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AA re-ups with WLIB

T

talkjim

Guest
Air America bashers: Read it and weep! Your prayers for AA losing its home in New York are being answered in the same manner as your prayers for a successful U-S incursion in Iraq:

Air America, WLIB/NY Reach Deal
INNER CITY BROADCASTING and AIR AMERICA RADIO have reached a deal for the network to continue to broadcast on WLIB-A/NEW YORK. The parties issued a statement announcing that "over the next several months, AIR AMERICA and INNER CITY will seek to enhance and extend their long-term relationship."

“We are happy to reiterate that our NEW YORK listeners will be able to continue to hear our programming,” AAR CEO DANNY GOLDBERG said in a press release; ICBC's SKIP FINLEY added that the company "has always had faith in the mission of AIR AMERICA." AIR AMERICA leases time on WLIB to air its programs; the deal between the two parties came under question in recent weeks after reports of a dispute over the latest quarterly payment arose, but the THURSDAY statement indicates that the dispute has been settled.
 
The parties issued a statement announcing that "over
> the next several months, AIR AMERICA and INNER CITY will
> seek to enhance and extend their long-term relationship."
>
ooopsy, might wanna re-read this part
 
More of a stay than a reprieve

The brief release is interesting for what it does not say as for what it says.
<blockquote>NEW YORK-March 16, 2006- WLIB will continue to be the New York home of Air America Radio, under an agreement announced by Air America and Inner City Broadcasting Company. Over the next several months, Air America and Inner City will seek to enhance and extend their long-term relationship.

“We are happy to reiterate that our New York listeners will be able to continue to hear our programming,” said Air America Radio CEO Danny Goldberg.

“Inner City has always had faith in the mission of Air America,” said Vice Chairman of ICBC Broadcasting Holdings, Inc. Skip Finley.</blockquote>
I'm not sure what "next several months means" but it does not sound like the lease has been renewed full term.

The lease on WLIB is a huge cash drain on Air America, which it can ill afford. Ego may impel Air America's management to hold onto to WLIB, but it seems everyone's interests would be served by reaching an agreement with Randy Michaels to let him run the station as an an Air America affiliate. Michaels gets to clear Ed Schultz in New York. Air America saves what they pay in rent for WLIB while retaining a New York presence. Air America could even make an arrangement with Michaels to distribute Ed Schultz, similar to their arrangement with Clear Channel to distribute Jerry Springer. Everybody wins, including listeners. Air America could also reduce expenses by dropping the Majority Report, which does not seem to have really caught on.

Unless, of course, Michaels intends to program Radio One's Urban Talk network on WLIB. However, I am not aware that Michaels has any stake in Radio One's network and it is to his advantage to get Ed Schultz into New York. Maybe all parties just need time to work things out. This isn't politics. This is business.
 
Allow me to translate

Air America paid more money to WLIB.

Funny how most disputes can be settled that way. :)
 
> Air America bashers: Read it and weep! Your prayers for AA
> losing its home in New York are being answered in the same
> manner as your prayers for a successful U-S incursion in
> Iraq:
>
> Air America, WLIB/NY Reach Deal
> INNER CITY BROADCASTING and AIR AMERICA RADIO have reached a
> deal for the network to continue to broadcast on WLIB-A/NEW
> YORK. The parties issued a statement announcing that "over
> the next several months, AIR AMERICA and INNER CITY will
> seek to enhance and extend their long-term relationship."

Do you think this says that the deal is done? It seems to me that it says they are still negotiating and are willing to negotiate past the (reported) expiration date of their previous deal while AAR stays in place.

I don't know how the Sutton family actually owns ICBC (for example, what percentage of the equity they own, whether they have any debt, and what kind of estate planning they have done). But let me ask a question. If Salem came to ICIB and asked to buy WLIB for some huge number to put their conservative talk format on the air, would the Suttons listen? I suspect that they would if the price were high enough to provide for future generations of Suttons.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by longpets on 03/17/06 02:15 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: More of a stay than a reprieve

> Air America could even make an arrangement
> with Michaels to distribute Ed Schultz, similar to their
> arrangement with Clear Channel to distribute Jerry Springer.

Except that Randi Rhodes is doing very well in NY and will draw far more listeners that Schultz if he's cleared live. I don't see this happening, and I could see Randi heading to Jones if it's tried when her contract is up. She's already ticked off about her show being moved in many markets to accomodate the tool from the Dakotas. I think seeing her show cut back or moved in NYC would have Stern-like reactions from Randi.
 
Good Point

>
> Except that Randi Rhodes is doing very well in NY and will
> draw far more listeners that Schultz if he's cleared live.
> I don't see this happening, and I could see Randi heading to
> Jones if it's tried when her contract is up. She's already
> ticked off about her show being moved in many markets to
> accomodate the tool from the Dakotas. I think seeing her
> show cut back or moved in NYC would have Stern-like
> reactions from Randi.
>

I understand Ed is not your cup of tea but he does have a following. So does Randi. Each seems to do better in certain markets. The other major talk syndicators have multiple channels and multiple feeds of each program. I think Air America should continue to offer Randi live for stations and markets that want her live (which would likely include New York).

My basic point is I think WLIB as an independent affiliated station, would end up with a stronger program line-up and better serve the local audience. Now WLIB's main purpose appears to be serving the network. For example, I think Stephanie Miller would do better in New York in late morning than Jerry Springer does and an independent affiliate might well opt to take that show. I also believe an independent affiliate might well decide to develop a local show in morning drive and maybe even establish their own local news operation.

In fact, I'd like to see Air America encourage stations to develop their own morning shows. They could provide show prep, and feed bits and interview segments from their own two morning shows for stations to use in putting together their own local morning drive programs. In return, stations clear network spots in their local shows. Everybody wins.
 
Re: Allow me to translate

> Air America paid more money to WLIB.
>
> Funny how most disputes can be settled that way. :)
>
...their...ratings...still...suck...<P ID="signature">______________
raccoonradio5ap.gif
</P>
 
Re: Allow me to translate

> > Air America paid more money to WLIB.
> >
> > Funny how most disputes can be settled that way. :)
> >
> ...their...ratings...still...suck...
>
well if you call Randy Rhodes topping Sean Hannity M 25-54 "sucking" then I guess their ratings do suck...and I suppose we should all aspire to suck so well.
 
Re: Allow me to translate

> > > Air America paid more money to WLIB.
> > >
> > > Funny how most disputes can be settled that way. :)
> > >
> > ...their...ratings...still...suck...
> >
> well if you call Randy Rhodes topping Sean Hannity M 25-54
> "sucking" then I guess their ratings do suck...and I suppose
> we should all aspire to suck so well.

God bless her, but it's nice to hear from people who see actual ratings rather than just talking points from her show. In Los Angeles, the numbers are so bad, they make Hugh Hewitt look like a quasi-talent. The CC sales department even tells you not to waste your money with a KFI/KTLK combo! Not to say liberal talk is so bad, but let's not pretend self-serving talents are so honest.
 
> Do you think this says that the deal is done? It seems to
> me that it says they are still negotiating and are willing
> to negotiate past the (reported) expiration date of their
> previous deal while AAR stays in place.

What this means two weeks ahead of deadline is that they are very close to a deal.

>
> I don't know how the Sutton family actually owns ICBC (for
> example, what percentage of the equity they own, whether
> they have any debt, and what kind of estate planning they
> have done).

Apparently you have little knowledge of NY radio. Percy Sutton has owned WLIB since the 70's. He owns it 100% and when they bought the station they were able to come up with the cash to buy WLIB FM too. That property is now WBLS and is also fully owned.


But let me ask a question. If Salem came to
> ICIB and asked to buy WLIB for some huge number to put their
> conservative talk format on the air, would the Suttons
> listen?
Good question which I will answer with a question. If Air America came up with a billion dollars a year would Salem lease their stations in NY to Air America? Salem isn't buying anything. They already own two NY properties. If Salem wanted to lease WLIB to put on right wong hosts to bash the opposition, I'd say Sutton would tell them to go to hell.


I suspect that they would if the price were high
> enough to provide for future generations of Suttons.
>

They are multi millionaires, if not billionaires. The Suttons don't need the money.
 
Re: More of a stay than a reprieve

> > Air America could even make an arrangement
> > with Michaels to distribute Ed Schultz, similar to their
> > arrangement with Clear Channel to distribute Jerry
> Springer.
>
> Except that Randi Rhodes is doing very well in NY and will
> draw far more listeners that Schultz if he's cleared live.
> I don't see this happening, and I could see Randi heading to
> Jones if it's tried when her contract is up. She's already
> ticked off about her show being moved in many markets to
> accomodate the tool from the Dakotas. I think seeing her
> show cut back or moved in NYC would have Stern-like
> reactions from Randi.
>
And if a meteor slammed into NYC killing millions, radio listenership would fall in that region. Sound silly? You bet it is. Why does every post about Air America, made by some people have to be worst case scenario? There are a few people who have them moving from one disaster to the next, when none of it is based on fact. You don't like it, don't listen, but others have the right to listen and do enjoy their programing. All they need do is convince a few thousand people and the election outcomes will be totally different. That is the key to what bothers some people about Air America's existence.
 
Re: More of a stay than a reprieve

> All they need do is convince a few
> thousand people and the election outcomes will be totally
> different. That is the key to what bothers some people about
> Air America's existence.
>

Ya right. Their programming is so amateurish and ideological that the chance of attracting anyone but the hard core lefties to begin with is nil. Preaching to the choir.

What bothers some people about AA's existence is all the hype about this brave new network when in reality it's the same old schtik, different ideology.
 
Re: More of a stay than a reprieve

> >
>
> Ya right. Their programming is so amateurish and
> ideological that the chance of attracting anyone but the
> hard core lefties to begin with is nil. Preaching to the
> choir.
>
> What bothers some people about AA's existence is all the
> hype about this brave new network when in reality it's the
> same old schtik, different ideology.
>
Hard Core Lefty's? Who are you Mussolini? C'mon, there's no difference between the junk on AA than their is on Limbaugh or Savage or O'Reilly and the list goes on. Anyone who has a brain knows that these windbags are full of their own nonesense. As far as amateurish, that's a matter of opinion. They are no more or less amateurish and filled with missinformation than the people (or folks in O'Reilly speak) that I mentioned. It won't take many people, that's the point. If a small percentage of the younger demographic (and that's who listens to AA)
can be attarcted to vote, that's all they have to do. Get younger people interested enough so that they'll vote. Can't say that it will or it won't but with the economy zooming ahead like it is and all those new jobs out there people might just want to hear from someone other than those millionaires posing as common folk.
 
Re: More of a stay than a reprieve

> Ya right. Their programming is so amateurish and
> ideological that the chance of attracting anyone but the
> hard core lefties to begin with is nil. Preaching to the
> choir.

Yeah, here is someone who has never listened to Randi Rhodes or Jones' Stephanie Miller. Compared to a whole lot of politicals-turned-talk-radio-hosts on the right, these two know the business. In fact, both have been involved in radio for decades.

And you are telling me that left wing talk is ideological while right wing talk isn't? And how many liberals are spending their time with Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly. Not a whole lot.
 
The Right Refuses To Give Up Hope

> NY Post Radio columnist John Mainelli has posted on the New
> York Radio Message Board the Air America's lease for 1190
> WLIB, New York has been extended until August 31st.
>
> http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard//messages/282009.html
>
> http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard//messages/282015.html
>
> No weeping, please.
>
The only people who should be "weeping" are those AAR bashers who now have to face the reality that those unpatriotic lefties won't be going off the air in New York after all, despite the hopes and dreams of Baloney and his friend at the extremely right-wing New York Post. Yes, the contract with WLIB has been extended while they work out the details. And isn't it interesting that mwebster/skyeye's tearful departure from these boards was quickly followed by the emergence of a couple of new screen names, carrying on the AAR-bashing tradition. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Scribbler on 03/19/06 11:45 PM.</FONT></P>
 
An identity crisis

Interesting... the change of screen names... "Geoff" and "Franklin" and as I write this post, your profile uses "zoey." We used to hear from "mwebster" and then "skyeye," which was retired and <a target="_blank" href=http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=675562&Board=newstalk>in the last post, under that screen name, he/she admitted the change of screen names and ended with "Bye now."</a> It wouldn't surprise me if you were the same person for all of these screen names.

> NY Post Radio columnist John Mainelli has posted on the New
> York Radio Message Board the Air America's lease for 1190
> WLIB, New York has been extended until August 31st.
>
> http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard//messages/282009.html
>
> http://www.musicradio77.com/wwwboard//messages/282015.html
>
> No weeping, please.
 
More Personal Attacks

The comment about weeping is an obvious reference to "talkjim's" line in the first post "read it and weep."

Maybe just once you will reply to what somebody actually posts rather than resorting to personal attack and pathetic attempts to invade someone's privacy.

What was posted was a report from a radio columnist who said that the contract on WLIB was extended for five months. I saw no praying for Air America to go off the air. The fact is there is and always has been churn among talk show affiliates. Affiliates drop shows and other stations pick them up. It happens. That's radio. Rush Limbaugh's affiliate in Baltimore dropped his show. Somebody posts the story because it's news. Here somebody posted that the contract between WLIB and Air America Radio has been renewed. Apparently that was not true. The contract was extended. But you act like you're under attack and start hurling abuse and insults because of a minor clarification. You are sick.

I have noticed that attacking posters and trying to convince people they are really someone else is a tactic you've had tried before. Not only are you intolerant of differing opinions, you can't stand any information that fits your how you want things to be. I have never seen you reply to people's arguements - you just make up lies about people. Fortunately, other people on this board are able to let posters' assertions rise or fall on the merits of the arguements they make.

I have stayed off this board for a long time because I did not want to put up with petty mean-spirited little ______s like you. I am sure you are on this board, because if you pulled these stunts with real people in the real world, somebody would knock you on your ass.

Now, please refresh you memory about the rules of this board:

The following types of messages are not permitted ... Messages containing personal attacks, slanderous material, and similar nonsense...

I will report any such attacks in response to my posts in the future. I urge others to do the same. Let's take back this board. Let's talk about radio and let's talk about what people actually say here. There are a lot of people like me who have been lurking or who have been driven off because they don't want to get into a ____ing contest. I say enough.

Whoever any poster is irrelevant. On the content of their posts is relevant.
 
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