Air America picks up new flagship station: WWRL-AM in NYC

[FightingIrish]

From www.allaccess.com

AIR AMERICA RADIO and ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS CORP jointly announced today that AIR AMERICA RADIO will begin broadcasting on WWRL-A/NEW YORK CITY, effective SEPTEMBER 1, 2006. WWRL-A will become the flagship station for the AIR AMERICA RADIO network in what the parties called a long-term "partnership,"; AAR currently airs in a similar time-brokered agreement on crosstown INNER CITY BROADCASTING CORP. WLIB-A. ALL ACCESS hears that the deal is for five years."We are excited about our new affiliation and the platform this move will establish for AIR AMERICA in the years ahead," said AIR AMERICA acting CEO JIM WIGGETT. "We look forward to forming a long term and strong relationship with ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS." "We are thrilled about our new partnership with AIR AMERICA," added ACCESS. 1 Pres. & COO CHESLEY MADDOX-DORSEY. "It is important that we partner in offering the nation’s largest radio market a strong, progressive voice." For now, WLIB-A's programming future remain uncertain, and exactly which hours will be covered by AAR programming is also unclear, although ALL ACCESS hears that morning drive may not be included in the arrangement.

 

[Scribbler]

ALL ACCESS hears that morning drive may not be included in the arrangement.

Sounds like a good idea, although I wonder if they'll keep the current morning drive duo, Sam Greenfield and right-winger Armstrong Williams. However, WABC is doing well with a right/left combination in AM drive (Curtis and Kuby), with pure right-wing programming the rest of the day.

Has anybody out there heard Greenfield and Williams?

 

[doc9464]

ALL ACCESS hears that morning drive may not be included in the arrangement.

Sounds like a good idea, although I wonder if they'll keep the current morning drive duo, Sam Greenfield and right-winger Armstrong Williams. However, WABC is doing well with a right/left combination in AM drive (Curtis and Kuby), with pure right-wing programming the rest of the day.

Has anybody out there heard Greenfield and Williams?

Scribbler/irish

Do you think Randy Michaels will release Ed Schultz on unsuspecting nyc ears........? On the other hand, I hope Stephanie Miller can find her way into NYC, I think she has a chance there big time. If my logic is crazy, let me know why.....

 

[FightingIrish]

That's the most recent rumor I've heard. I could see it since Michaels syndicates Schultz and WLIB has already built up a reputation in the progressive talk format.

I could even see Colmes showing up there if WWRL drops him. Maybe even Thom Hartmann, if AAR goes along with it (I can't see why not).

And keep in mind, non-AAR talk is being done in some markets.

Should be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Scribbler]

That's the most recent rumor I've heard. I could see it since Michaels syndicates Schultz and WLIB has already built up a reputation in the progressive talk format.

I could even see Colmes showing up there if WWRL drops him. Maybe even Thom Hartmann, if AAR goes along with it (I can't see why not).

And keep in mind, non-AAR talk is being done in some markets.

Should be interesting to see what happens.

I thought Micheals was planning to put some local lib talkers on WLIB. That's what I would do. Who wants to hear a hick from Fargo, N.D. in NYC, especially if he's broadcasting from Fargo? But I would snap up Hartmann, if Air America would allow it -- although I'm not sure they would. Isn't he Franken's heir apparent?

 

[FightingIrish]

I thought Micheals was planning to put some local lib talkers on WLIB. That's what I would do. Who wants to hear a hick from Fargo, N.D. in NYC, especially if he's broadcasting from Fargo? But I would snap up Hartmann, if Air America would allow it -- although I'm not sure they would. Isn't he Franken's heir apparent?

That's the idea. Schultz would be the lynchpin of this station, were it to go talk. The station would be built around him. Plus, Schultz may move his homebase out of Fargo, due to lack of adequate technology needed for the show.

And I suppose local hosts would be for airshifts where there's really no decent syndicated shows available (mornings?).

If WLIB wanted Hartmann, I'm sure AAR would go for it. Hell, it's a shift in New York!

 

[Scribbler]

That's the idea. Schultz would be the lynchpin of this station, were it to go talk. The station would be built around him. Plus, Schultz may move his homebase out of Fargo, due to lack of adequate technology needed for the show.

And I suppose local hosts would be for airshifts where there's really no decent syndicated shows available (mornings?).

Huh? Schultz is already on more than 100 stations, including KTLK in Los Angeles, a market that bills considerably more than New York City. If the technology he's using now is good enough for all those stations, why would he have to upgrade it for NYC? And I really doubt that Schultz would go over in NYC -- I'm a fairly typical New York liberal (even though I no longer live in NYC) and I can't stand him.

 

[FightingIrish]

That's the idea. Schultz would be the lynchpin of this station, were it to go talk. The station would be built around him. Plus, Schultz may move his homebase out of Fargo, due to lack of adequate technology needed for the show.

And I suppose local hosts would be for airshifts where there's really no decent syndicated shows available (mornings?).

Huh? Schultz is already on more than 100 stations, including KTLK in Los Angeles, a market that bills considerably more than New York City. If the technology he's using now is good enough for all those stations, why would he have to upgrade it for NYC? And I really doubt that Schultz would go over in NYC -- I'm a fairly typical New York liberal (even though I no longer live in NYC) and I can't stand him.

Schultz has indicated that he may move the program out of Fargo, believing that the show may have outgrown the city in terms of logistics. Schultz says a move to a larger market, such as Denver, Miami, or Seattle, would allow him to have access to a television satellite uplink facility for appearances on TV news and talk programs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ed_Schultz_Show

And who knows? You may not like him, but that doesn't mean other people won't. Besides, it's a NYC clearance for P1, his syndicators. And that's what really matters.

 

[dampier]

Do you think Randy Michaels will release Ed Schultz on unsuspecting nyc ears........? On the other hand, I hope Stephanie Miller can find her way into NYC, I think she has a chance there big time. If my logic is crazy, let me know why.....

I think Stephanie is bound to pop up in NYC sooner or later, especially if her numbers continue to stay on a growth curve. Schultz is the "star player" on the other libtalk team so I think it's bound to happen. But I have a feeling he'll have a tough time fighting Randi Rhodes in NYC. As far as I'm concerned, the more choices the better.

I also relish the fact this is one more instance to remind people who enjoy quoting from the Unequalizer blog and/or Mr. O'Reilly that once again, they are both wrong about the ongoing imminent demise of libtalk, unless you consider having two libtalk choices in NYC instead of one a "failure."

 

[Radio_Realist]

"unless you consider having two libtalk choices in NYC instead of one a "failure.""

Having one, two, or ten stations with liberal hosts is irrelevant. What matters is whether or not those shows get good ratings. And good ratings happen more because the hosts are entertaining than because of their political alignment. Conservatives will listen to liberal shows, and vice-versa, if (and only if) the hosts are entertaining to listen to. Both side can enjoy disagreeing with a talk show host as much as they enjoy having their own biases validated if the host from the other side is someone who is fun to disagree with.

 

[evnlee]

I also relish the fact this is one more instance to remind people who enjoy quoting from the Unequalizer blog and/or Mr. O'Reilly that once again, they are both wrong about the ongoing imminent demise of libtalk, unless you consider having two libtalk choices in NYC instead of one a "failure."

if you think about it, this could finally be the nail in the coffin for AAR. Besides having to compete with all the usual subjects, now they may have to contend with another libtalker down the dial with a stronger frequency.

example: here in Atlanta an argument is made that having 2 sports signals dilutes the listener base, ensuring they both get smaller ratings... were one to go away and not be replaced, I think it's a fair statement to say the remaining sports talk station would see a rise in Arbi diaries.

If Micheals puts on a better entertaining lineup of hosts, with some local flavor thrown in for the NYC crowd, that could be very,very bad news for the ratings of Air American the 5 burroughs.

Not to defend Brian Baloney or OLiely, but I thought they said they would lose thier flagship station, which they did. And, they could always make the claim that AAR isn't a self-supporting format, where thier overhead is covered by ad billing.

Still, you know it's just eats at them every day, and for that, I am happy!

 

[Scribbler]

And, they could always make the claim that AAR isn't a self-supporting format, where thier overhead is covered by ad billing.

It would be a bit awkward for O'Reilly to make such an argument, since his own Fox News Channel was not "self-supporting" from 1996 to 2001, when it finally made a profit.

 

[evnlee]

And, they could always make the claim that AAR isn't a self-supporting format, where thier overhead is covered by ad billing.

It would be a bit awkward for O'Reilly to make such an argument, since his own Fox News Channel was not "self-supporting" from 1996 to 2001, when it finally made a profit.

Not necessarily. Unless I am mistaken this is a RADIO board. If O Reilly had to PAY stations to carry his RADIO FACTOR programming, rather then the other way around, then yes, he would feel awkward. For all I know, he may actually have to pay some stations, considering his radio show is terrible ( IMHO ). But even a flaming liberal like TED TURNER had to fund his cable startup, apples and oranges.

You 'progressives' or 'liberals' sure are a funny lot. When faced with the sorry fact that Air America gets yanked in a top 10 market, you guys claim ( factually baseless ) that the owner doesn't like AA's anti-semitic views. When it's pointed out that AA can't bill enough $$ to cover overhead, you guys point to some ridiculous cable tv network as a last resort. When you point out that thier cumulative ratings are in the crapper nationwide( compared to the godfather, Limbaugh) , you guys point to cherry picked markets and demo's ( AA killed in the 25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo in Portland!! )That's sad, but hey if it helps you sleep better at night, whatever.

I like to hear dissenting opinions, but bad entertainment is bad entertainment.

I hope Micheals puts on some good entertaining 'libgressives' so they can kick sorry AA programming to the curb! :

 

[FightingIrish]

And, they could always make the claim that AAR isn't a self-supporting format, where thier overhead is covered by ad billing.

It would be a bit awkward for O'Reilly to make such an argument, since his own Fox News Channel was not "self-supporting" from 1996 to 2001, when it finally made a profit.

That's an understatement. News Corp. paid a ton of money to cable systems in the beginning to get FOX News carried. Typically, it's the other way around.

And Westwood One paid large sums of money to get big market clearances for O'Reilly. No such luck in Chicago, so he's tape delayed to the wee hours on Free FM. At least they can say he's on in Chicago.

 

[evnlee]

And, they could always make the claim that AAR isn't a self-supporting format, where thier overhead is covered by ad billing.

It would be a bit awkward for O'Reilly to make such an argument, since his own Fox News Channel was not "self-supporting" from 1996 to 2001, when it finally made a profit.

That's an understatement. News Corp. paid a ton of money to cable systems in the beginning to get FOX News on local cable systems. Typically, it's the other way around.

And Westwood One paid large sums of money to get big market clearances.

true enough, but still apples and oranges. Turner spent a ton to get CNN to run 24/hr all news in the beginning, but we are talking about RADIO.

I have heard ( although I cannot confirm this, maybe someone else can ) that AAR pays thier LA signal somewhere close to 2 million for broadcasting them. If Westwood One is paying anyone anything close to that to keep O Reilly on the air, that's pretty sad too.

Let me tell you a funny story about OReilly: a couple years ago when he was promoting his 'Factor For Kids' book, he came to Atlanta, and the sports station I worked for carried his radio show. I'm not a big fan, but I know people who are, so I went out and bought 4 of those books to have him sign them when he came to the station.

Anyways, he came from a book signing in the AM and arrived shortly before noon to broadcast from our studios. I approached him~ this is the truth~and asked him to sign them for me.

His response? " Look kid, I just spent hours signing hundreds of books at a public appearance. If you wanted me to sign your books, you should have come to that. I'm here to do a radio show, not sign autographs, ok? Now run along"

Needless to say, I'm not really a OReilly fan

 

[FightingIrish]

And, they could always make the claim that AAR isn't a self-supporting format, where thier overhead is covered by ad billing.

It would be a bit awkward for O'Reilly to make such an argument, since his own Fox News Channel was not "self-supporting" from 1996 to 2001, when it finally made a profit.

That's an understatement. News Corp. paid a ton of money to cable systems in the beginning to get FOX News on local cable systems. Typically, it's the other way around.

And Westwood One paid large sums of money to get big market clearances.

true enough, but still apples and oranges. Turner spent a ton to get CNN to run 24/hr all news in the beginning, but we are talking about RADIO.

Those were startup costs. Can you show me anything saying Turner paid cable outlets to carry CNN?

I have heard ( although I cannot confirm this, maybe someone else can ) that AAR pays thier LA signal somewhere close to 2 million for broadcasting them. If Westwood One is paying anyone anything close to that to keep O Reilly on the air, that's pretty sad too.

They brokered time on KBLA at the beginning, along with the co-owned Chicago station. This went on for a month until their little spat with Multicultural Broadcasting. KTLK, their current affiliate in LA, carries the programming on the typical barter basis, like most syndicated programming. All the Clear Channel progressive talk stations do it this way.

The only place AAR currently brokers time is in New York, though Shel Drobny's company Nova M (a separate entity from AAR) is doing something like this in Phoenix and Little Rock. And leasing air time is common in radio everywhere, with religious groups and ethnic broadcasters being the primary purchasers. But the amounts I've heard for O'Reilly seem pretty astronomical, particularly for someone of O'Reilly's stature.

Let me tell you a funny story about OReilly: a couple years ago when he was promoting his 'Factor For Kids' book, he came to Atlanta, and the sports station I worked for carried his radio show. I'm not a big fan, but I know people who are, so I went out and bought 4 of those books to have him sign them when he came to the station.

Anyways, he came from a book signing in the AM and arrived shortly before noon to broadcast from our studios. I approached him~ this is the truth~and asked him to sign them for me.

His response? " Look kid, I just spent hours signing hundreds of books at a public appearance. If you wanted me to sign your books, you should have come to that. I'm here to do a radio show, not sign autographs, ok? Now run along"

Needless to say, I'm not really a OReilly fan

He only signs loofahs and falafel. ;D

 

[Scribbler]

Unless I am mistaken this is a RADIO board. If O Reilly had to PAY stations to carry his RADIO FACTOR programming, rather then the other way around, then yes, he would feel awkward. For all I know, he may actually have to pay some stations, considering his radio show is terrible ( IMHO ). But even a flaming liberal like TED TURNER had to fund his cable startup, apples and oranges

Well, yes. Somebody has to fund startups. That's my point. XM and Sirius have both been around for about five years and both have lost hundreds of millions of dollars every year, including this year (XM lost 231.7 million in the second quarter of this year while Sirius lost 238.8 million).

You 'progressives' or 'liberals' sure are a funny lot. When faced with the sorry fact that Air America gets yanked in a top 10 market, you guys claim ( factually baseless ) that the owner doesn't like AA's anti-semitic views.

Al Franken is still on the station and I wouldn't blame the owner for dropping people like Maddow, Malloy, Garofalo, and Rhodes if he's a supporter of the current Israeli government. He's free to do what he wants with the station, which he seems to regard as a hobby, not a business. And being opposed to the policies of the current Israeli government doesn't make you "anti-Semitic." As I've pointed out before, many leftist American Jews are opposed to those policies.

When it's pointed out that AA can't bill enough $$ to cover overhead, you guys point to some ridiculous cable tv network as a last resort.

Huh? I thought the Fox News Channel was the only "fair and balanced" network out there and the pride of all conservatives. That's why its the only channel on in the White House and in Dick Cheney's hotel rooms.

When you point out that thier cumulative ratings are in the crapper nationwide( compared to the godfather, Limbaugh) , you guys point to cherry picked markets and demo's ( AA killed in the 25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo in Portland!! )

If you knew anything about radio, you'd know that the most important rating, by far, is the 25-54 demo. But somehow, in Conservative Speak that gets translated as the "25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo."

 

[evnlee]

Unless I am mistaken this is a RADIO board. If O Reilly had to PAY stations to carry his RADIO FACTOR programming, rather then the other way around, then yes, he would feel awkward. For all I know, he may actually have to pay some stations, considering his radio show is terrible ( IMHO ). But even a flaming liberal like TED TURNER had to fund his cable startup, apples and oranges

Well, yes. Somebody has to fund startups. That's my point. XM and Sirius have both been around for about five years and both have lost hundreds of millions of dollars every year, including this year (XM lost 231.7 million in the second quarter of this year while Sirius lost 238.8 million).

You 'progressives' or 'liberals' sure are a funny lot. When faced with the sorry fact that Air America gets yanked in a top 10 market, you guys claim ( factually baseless ) that the owner doesn't like AA's anti-semitic views.

Al Franken is still on the station and I wouldn't blame the owner for dropping people like Maddow, Malloy, Garofalo, and Rhodes if he's a supporter of the current Israeli government. He's free to do what he wants with the station, which he seems to regard as a hobby, not a business. And being opposed to the policies of the current Israeli government doesn't make you "anti-Semitic." As I've pointed out before, many leftist American Jews are opposed to those policies.

When it's pointed out that AA can't bill enough $$ to cover overhead, you guys point to some ridiculous cable tv network as a last resort.

Huh? I thought the Fox News Channel was the only "fair and balanced" network out there and the pride of all conservatives. That's why its the only channel on in the White House and in Dick Cheney's hotel rooms.

When you point out that thier cumulative ratings are in the crapper nationwide( compared to the godfather, Limbaugh) , you guys point to cherry picked markets and demo's ( AA killed in the 25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo in Portland!! )

If you knew anything about radio, you'd know that the most important rating, by far, is the 25-54 demo. But somehow, in Conservative Speak that gets translated as the "25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo."

Scribbler~first you say Joe Weber dumped AAR because of a political mindset. When pressed to prove your allegations, you can't. Subjective hearsay.

Then you claim that the guy uses his signal as a 'hobby' . But as the AJC points out, he's a local bakery magnate that made his money being a shrewd businessman. He now owns 2 signals. Perhaps since you know so much, you can elaborate on how much his billing is? He does sell commercials, you know. Who are you to say he regards his station as a 'hobby'? If that were true, why bother buying out a stronger signal for 12 million $$ ( pretty expensive 'hobby' )? He already HAD a decent signal, if it were a 'hobby', why bother acquiring the new signal?

Then you compare XM and Siruis startup funds to AAR's. Satellite radio was in it's infacy, just as cable news was when Turner built CNN. But N/T radio was already well established. Apples and oranges again! Show me where Westwood One or other such syndicators spent so much $$ to keep thier programming ON THE AIR. Not getting clearances, but actually paying for the operating costs and overhead through something other then AD BILLING. And not just for a short time, but for 2 years. If you knew anything about radio, you would know that 'dollar a holler' is pretty sad, and equates to radio infomercials.


I guess anyone that disagree's with Scribbler or points out how awful AAR is MUST be conservative. That must be that 'open mindedness' you liberal New Yorkers are so known for :

Finally, the quote I used was the '25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo', a demo that doesn't exist. That's called satire. ( by the way, the original claim made by Franken that he Beat Limbaugh in that key demo in NYC was a classic LIE, not even a 'weasel word'. He beat O Reilly, not Rush,in a TREND, and was thoroughly debunked by RNR and Billboards record monitor.You might want to lighten, up Frances!

 

[Radio_Realist]

"That's called satire."

Understanding satire requires a certain amount of a sense of humor. One quality that is seems that most failed liberal talk hosts seem to lack is a sense of humor. I'm not talking professional stand-up comedy humor, just a bit of lightness.

Any talk show that is grim and serious all the time is going to fail. Any talk show host with no sense of humor is going to be out of work in a short period of time. It doesn't matter what that host's alignment is, no sense of humor equals no audience appeal.

Based on the replies in this forum, it seems that those who embrace the liberal point of view need to learn to lighten up.

 

[Scribbler]

Scribbler~first you say Joe Weber dumped AAR because of a political mindset. When pressed to prove your allegations, you can't. Subjective hearsay.

I said I'd read that and you've said that you've seen it on various blogs. I said that if he didn't say it, I apologized, but also said I wouldn't blame him if that was his motive. It's his station, to carry any programming he likes.

Then you claim that the guy uses his signal as a 'hobby' . But as the AJC points out, he's a local bakery magnate that made his money being a shrewd businessman. He now owns 2 signals. Perhaps since you know so much, you can elaborate on how much his billing is? He does sell commercials, you know. Who are you to say he regards his station as a 'hobby'? If that were true, why bother buying out a stronger signal for 12 million $$ ( pretty expensive 'hobby' )? He already HAD a decent signal, if it were a 'hobby', why bother acquiring the new signal?

I haven't heard either station, but it doesn't sound like he's in it for the money -- otherwise he wouldn't be running an "arts" format on TWO AM's and doing PM drive himself.

Then you compare XM and Siruis startup funds to AAR's. Satellite radio was in it's infacy, just as cable news was when Turner built CNN. But N/T radio was already well established. Apples and oranges again!

Conservative talk was already well established on AM. Most liberals regarded AM radio as poison and listened to music or public radio on FM. Liberal talk radio is also in its "infancy."

Show me where Westwood One or other such syndicators spent so much $$ to keep thier programming ON THE AIR. Not getting clearances, but actually paying for the operating costs and overhead through something other then AD BILLING. And not just for a short time, but for 2 years.

Air America is only doing this in New York City, just as Disney is doing (by leasing WQEW from the New York Times). Randy Michaels, your hope to bring down Air America, will be doing the same thing with WLIB.


I guess anyone that disagree's with Scribbler or points out how awful AAR is MUST be conservative. That must be that 'open mindedness' you liberal New Yorkers are so known for :

I'm not a New Yorker and if you're not a conservative, I congratulate you for your good sense.

Finally, the quote I used was the '25-34 year old ponytailed skateboard demo', a demo that doesn't exist. That's called satire.

Huh? Your answer to the only important rating numbers is to dismiss them as "skate boarder" numbers and then when you're called on it to fall back on "it's only satire." Right.

By the way, the original claim made by Franken that he Beat Limbaugh in that key demo in NYC was a classic LIE, not even a 'weasel word'. He beat O Reilly, not Rush,in a TREND, and was thoroughly debunked by RNR and Billboards record monitor.You might want to lighten, up Frances!

I don't know anything about that, but I do know that Premiere put out a press release last year bragging about how Rush was beating all the liberals -- but if you looked at the 25-54 numbers they showed that Franken had 2/3 the audience that Rush had in New York, on a station with a puny signal that could be heard clearly in much less than half of the market and up against a 50,000 watt flamethrower.