saveairamericaphoenix.com

[vela]

OnSecondThought Announces
SaveAirAmericaPhoenix.com
Phoenix, AZ - Mar 06, 2006 On March 1, 2006 our Air America Phoenix station was bought by a Christian Broadcasting company who immediately took us off the air. This was a “dark” day for progressive talk radio in America. You have flooded us with emails pleading to get Air America back on the radio and asking how you can help. We have heard your cries and we can get us back on the air by April 3, 2006 !

The former staff of Air America Phoenix has negotiated a deal to resurrect operations at a new home effective April 3, 2006 but we need your help! We must immediately raise money to cover our operating expenses out of the gate. Our goal of $500,000 will guarantee us a home for years to come.

Purchase Pixels for Lifetime Advertising
Each person or business who donates can have their business logo or personal message permanently displayed on our new web site, www.gotStation.com, that will commemorate you, the true patriots who rallied to our cause. This is like “buying a brick” and having your name and message inscribed on it. Instead our “building” is the web page and the “bricks” are the pixels.
Please feel free to send a check or money order in any amount to: On Second Thought LLC 28248 N Tatum Blvd B1,#605 Cave Creek, AZ 85331 If you are tech savvy and would like to upload your business logo or content directly through our website and click Buy Pixels!

Learn more...

About Mike Newcomb
Dr. Mike Newcomb is known in the media as a progressive political commentator. He is a regular contributor to the Arizona Republic newspaper, and the charismatic host of the smash hit liberal radio talk show"The Mike Newcomb Show" Mike is also a medical doctor who specializes in caring for the elderly and impoverished. He has a strong belief in the value of human health and dignity, and often treats his patients in the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

Website: http://www.mikenewcomb.net
About Save Air America Phoenix

We can do this! If the Christian broadcasters can raise money from their flock to buy airtime then so can we. As they say in the movie “Network”, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

Website: http://www.saveairamericaphoenix.com

OnSecondThought
Mike Newcomb
email: [email protected]
phone: 1-877-548-5144 Air America Phoenix
Jeff Farias
email: [email protected]
phone: 1-602-577-3837

 

[KeithE]

> OnSecondThought Announces
> SaveAirAmericaPhoenix.com
> Phoenix, AZ - Mar 06, 2006 On March 1, 2006 our Air America
> Phoenix station was bought by a Christian Broadcasting
> company who immediately took us off the air. This was a
> “dark” day for progressive talk radio in America. You have
> flooded us with emails pleading to get Air America back on
> the radio and asking how you can help. We have heard your
> cries and we can get us back on the air by April 3, 2006 !

Cry me a river. Couldn't they have signed a long-term contract with James Crystal with a provision that they would be able to stay on the air for a few months until they found a new home, should the station be sold? Are such things done in radio?

These folks were essentially renting a radio station, their landlord turned around and sold it, and the new landlord evicted them. Stuff happens.

> The former staff of Air America Phoenix has negotiated a
> deal to resurrect operations at a new home effective April
> 3, 2006 but we need your help! We must immediately raise
> money to cover our operating expenses out of the gate. Our
> goal of $500,000 will guarantee us a home for years to come.

Two questions:

1. What station?

2. They have to beg for donations? Couldn't they get a loan for that much or do they not have any colateral to cover that amount (assuming they're brokering/leasing time or doing an LMA rather than buying a station outright)?

 

[desertv]

> OnSecondThought Announces
> SaveAirAmericaPhoenix.com
> Phoenix, AZ - Mar 06, 2006 On March 1, 2006 our Air America
> Phoenix station was bought by a Christian Broadcasting
> company who immediately took us off the air. This was a
> “dark” day for progressive talk radio in America. You have
> flooded us with emails pleading to get Air America back on
> the radio and asking how you can help. We have heard your
> cries and we can get us back on the air by April 3, 2006 !
>
> The former staff of Air America Phoenix has negotiated a
> deal to resurrect operations at a new home effective April
> 3, 2006 but we need your help! We must immediately raise
> money to cover our operating expenses out of the gate. Our
> goal of $500,000 will guarantee us a home for years to come.
>
>
> Purchase Pixels for Lifetime Advertising
> Each person or business who donates can have their business
> logo or personal message permanently displayed on our new
> web site, www.gotStation.com, that will commemorate you, the
> true patriots who rallied to our cause. This is like “buying
> a brick” and having your name and message inscribed on it.
> Instead our “building” is the web page and the “bricks” are
> the pixels.
> Please feel free to send a check or money order in any
> amount to: On Second Thought LLC 28248 N Tatum Blvd B1,#605
> Cave Creek, AZ 85331 If you are tech savvy and would like to
> upload your business logo or content directly through our
> website and click Buy Pixels!
>
> Learn more...
>
> About Mike Newcomb
> Dr. Mike Newcomb is known in the media as a progressive
> political commentator. He is a regular contributor to the
> Arizona Republic newspaper, and the charismatic host of the
> smash hit liberal radio talk show"The Mike Newcomb Show"
> Mike is also a medical doctor who specializes in caring for
> the elderly and impoverished. He has a strong belief in the
> value of human health and dignity, and often treats his
> patients in the comfort and convenience of their own homes.
>
> Website: http://www.mikenewcomb.net
> About Save Air America Phoenix
>
> We can do this! If the Christian broadcasters can raise
> money from their flock to buy airtime then so can we. As
> they say in the movie “Network”, “I’m mad as hell and I’m
> not going to take it anymore!”
>
> Website: http://www.saveairamericaphoenix.com
>
> OnSecondThought
> Mike Newcomb
> email: [email protected]
> phone: 1-877-548-5144 Air America Phoenix
> Jeff Farias
> email: [email protected]
> phone: 1-602-577-3837
>
Go call Uncle Georgie "Strangelove" Soros

 

[azradioguy]

> Cry me a river. Couldn't they have signed a long-term
> contract with James Crystal with a provision that they would
> be able to stay on the air for a few months until they found
> a new home, should the station be sold? Are such things
> done in radio?

I've personally seen two owners in my lifetime (both smaller owners) add or try to add redlines to deals that protected staff and programming at radio stations (only one worked), so yes it's feasible, but in this day and age, not at all practical.


> 1. What station?

I don't know, but probably the answer to number 1 has probably got something to do with #1. Either a) it's a very weak signal AM that won't merit consideration with an SBA loan, b) they are continuing to fly by the seat of their pants looking for another stick and this is there only hope, or c) they actually believe that it only takes $500K to run a station.

Listen, I try to keep my opinions to myself, but this one just eats at me. For those of you who sincerely believe that this format is worthwhile, DON'T give them your money. Here's why.

1. Will they keep such close track of all donations that if they don't hit $500K, will they give it back?

2. "Smash Hit" as Newcomb's show was dubbed is as subjective as an opinion gets. No true "smash hit" would have to solicit donations for a commercial enterprise. Let's say this "station" costs $2.5m. If they are borrowed to their eyeballs (near or at 100%), do you think your $500K collectively will keep them profitable? Consider this. A loan of that amount amortized over 15 years with 7 year terms costs about $20-22K per month! It takes a typical business 3 years to see any kind of profitability. Consider that by the time this comes about, they'll have squandered 3-6 months off-air, so they have to rebuild a HUGE chunk of their already small audience. So, $20K (NOTE) + $25K (salaries, CONSERVATIVELY), + $15-25K Overhead = almost $700K - $1M annually to operate. Unless salaries and a facility are donated out of the goodness of hearts, $500K is the LEAST of their problems. Oh yeah, when it fails in 1.43 years, you donated your money. It's not coming back.

There's NO shortage of money in this world, and good ideas that are profitable can sell themselves WITHOUT the need to solicit donations.


> 2. They have to beg for donations? Couldn't they get a
> loan for that much or do they not have any colateral to
> cover that amount (assuming they're brokering/leasing time
> or doing an LMA rather than buying a station outright)?


I would suggest looking into being a Section 527 Org, or a 501-3B, and yelling from the DNC building on Central.

Although one positive note - if they can just hang on till Hillary starts campaigning in '07, they'll see a spike to get them to 0.8 in 12+.

 

[ajhenderson]

Again, there are stations that can be leased. But you're right on the numbers... even at a low $10k/month LMA payment, $13-15k/month licensee operating expenses, and the minimum lessee expenses possible (ie: all satellite, legal minimum staff), you're still at mid-30s a month, almost $500k/year. No sales person is going to work for such an operation, and if they hired some AEs, they would add to the expense.

Since the type of person who would donate is a true believer who just wants something to listen to, they'd be better off putting up money to get Democracy Now on KFNX or another brokered deal.

 

[azradioguy]

> Since the type of person who would donate is a true believer
> who just wants something to listen to, they'd be better off
> putting up money to get Democracy Now on KFNX or another
> brokered deal.


I noticed that funds are to be sent to On Second Thought LLC. Why doesn't Newcomb ask for donations in a more reasonable price range to buy his way back into talk? It's worked for him thus far! I hear F'nX is going for about $250/hour weekdays if you chew on 'em a bit. I'll do the math for Mike...

250 x 5 = $1,250 (wait...)

250 x 10 = $2,500 (he's gotta make it sound like a legit show, 2 hrs/day)

$10K/month - then he's only gotta make his salary and a board op!

moneydoesntgrowontreesinradio dot com.
ittakesmorethanavillageandademocrat dot net

Sorry, I REALLY am trying not to be mean - I have become accustomed to those on this board who post ideas about simulcasting KT'R on FM - It's really funny because they think it's a good idea, but THIS! This is just really desperate.

 

[ajhenderson]

> I noticed that funds are to be sent to On Second Thought
> LLC. Why doesn't Newcomb ask for donations in a more
> reasonable price range to buy his way back into talk? It's
> worked for him thus far! I hear F'nX is going for about
> $250/hour weekdays if you chew on 'em a bit. I'll do the
> math for Mike...

Multiply that figure by another whole number. Better off to just beg.

> Sorry, I REALLY am trying not to be mean - I have become
> accustomed to those on this board who post ideas about
> simulcasting KT'R on FM - It's really funny because they
> think it's a good idea, but THIS! This is just really
> desperate.

It could work if they had a well orchestrated effort that involved people with deep pockets, but raising cash $5 at a time is futile. Once you pay for the free tote bag giveaway, you're practically losing money!

How about a KPTK/Seattle simulcast on 101.5-HD2?

 

[azradioguy]

> How about a KPTK/Seattle simulcast on 101.5-HD2?
>
I like it, but for simplicity's sake;

Remember when Bart Simpson put 20 megaphones one in front of the other? Multiply that times 50.

20 x 50 = 1000 megaphones @ $14.99 each = $14,990

Jeez, $500K will buy a ton of megaphones. If you put $100K aside for staff to hold them and an Air America sign, it could work.

 

[ajhenderson]

> > How about a KPTK/Seattle simulcast on 101.5-HD2?
> >
> I like it, but for simplicity's sake;
>
> Remember when Bart Simpson put 20 megaphones one in front of
> the other? Multiply that times 50.
>
> 20 x 50 = 1000 megaphones @ $14.99 each = $14,990
>
> Jeez, $500K will buy a ton of megaphones. If you put $100K
> aside for staff to hold them and an Air America sign, it
> could work.

SStran Part 15 transmitters go for $102 each and get 1/2 to 1 sq mi coverage. Have liberals valleywide house them... sure, it's not legal to chain together more than 5 such units, but no one would be listening anyway.

 

[azradioguy]

> SStran Part 15 transmitters go for $102 each and get 1/2 to
> 1 sq mi coverage. Have liberals valleywide house them...
> sure, it's not legal to chain together more than 5 such
> units, but no one would be listening anyway.

I always wondered this... If there was no trail that could prove that these people conspired together, how could it be illegal.

For example, say I'm a liberal, and this is my plan. I could present it as an idea "wink, wink", and all of the intellectual liberals with money could each buy one, receive the signal that the first one receives, and pass it down.

Cool idea!

 

[youn]

> > Cry me a river. Couldn't they have signed a long-term
> > contract with James Crystal with a provision that they
> would
> > be able to stay on the air for a few months until they
> found
> > a new home, should the station be sold? Are such things
> > done in radio?
>
> I've personally seen two owners in my lifetime (both smaller
> owners) add or try to add redlines to deals that protected
> staff and programming at radio stations (only one worked),
> so yes it's feasible, but in this day and age, not at all
> practical.
>
>
> > 1. What station?
>
> I don't know, but probably the answer to number 1 has
> probably got something to do with #1. Either a) it's a very
> weak signal AM that won't merit consideration with an SBA
> loan, b) they are continuing to fly by the seat of their
> pants looking for another stick and this is there only hope,
> or c) they actually believe that it only takes $500K to run
> a station.
>
> Listen, I try to keep my opinions to myself, but this one
> just eats at me. For those of you who sincerely believe
> that this format is worthwhile, DON'T give them your money.
> Here's why.
>
> 1. Will they keep such close track of all donations that if
> they don't hit $500K, will they give it back?
>
> 2. "Smash Hit" as Newcomb's show was dubbed is as
> subjective as an opinion gets. No true "smash hit" would
> have to solicit donations for a commercial enterprise.
> Let's say this "station" costs $2.5m. If they are borrowed
> to their eyeballs (near or at 100%), do you think your $500K
> collectively will keep them profitable? Consider this. A
> loan of that amount amortized over 15 years with 7 year
> terms costs about $20-22K per month! It takes a typical
> business 3 years to see any kind of profitability. Consider
> that by the time this comes about, they'll have squandered
> 3-6 months off-air, so they have to rebuild a HUGE chunk of
> their already small audience. So, $20K (NOTE) + $25K
> (salaries, CONSERVATIVELY), + $15-25K Overhead = almost
> $700K - $1M annually to operate. Unless salaries and a
> facility are donated out of the goodness of hearts, $500K is
> the LEAST of their problems. Oh yeah, when it fails in 1.43
> years, you donated your money. It's not coming back.
>
> There's NO shortage of money in this world, and good ideas
> that are profitable can sell themselves WITHOUT the need to
> solicit donations.
>
>
> > 2. They have to beg for donations? Couldn't they get a
> > loan for that much or do they not have any colateral to
> > cover that amount (assuming they're brokering/leasing time
>
> > or doing an LMA rather than buying a station outright)?
>
>
> I would suggest looking into being a Section 527 Org, or a
> 501-3B, and yelling from the DNC building on Central.
>
> Although one positive note - if they can just hang on till
> Hillary starts campaigning in '07, they'll see a spike to
> get them to 0.8 in 12+.
>
So amusing to see all the neo-con nutcases in this thread whine about the political format.

You'd think the "supposed" radio people here would encourage a private start up in a world of corporate whores. Pretty much why Satellite will thrive.

 

[azradioguy]

> So amusing to see all the neo-con nutcases in this thread
> whine about the political format.

I have NO problem with the format. This is what drives me nuts about you guys. I have argued the same thing about any station. The "idea" is fine - it's this ridiculous idealistic approach that won't work. I'd love to know how much you'd like to "donate". Before throwing the word "neo-con" out like you love to do, try figuring out how to make ANY business work on your own. To determine the logic behind the original statement, apply it to any industry! Try a restaurant - try a concert hall. Either might sway personal appeal to those who enjoy it - but ask them for $500K because you don't have operating capital! You've got a lot of nerve throwing out "nutcase", when believing that this idea will work is INSANITY!! You want charity? I'll consult you (Ahem, them) for free!

> You'd think the "supposed" radio people here would encourage
> a private start up in a world of corporate whores. Pretty
> much why Satellite will thrive.

This is completely arrogant. I think everyone on this board (including myself) supports a private start up. If you weren't so defensive, I'd suggest you re-read my post about the cost of paying back a loan and operating a radio station. And don't think for a second that Satellite doesn't want to be profitable. They voice track and automate more than most local radio stations! Read a book or something before posting, and stop thinking that because someone's a Capitalist, that they're a "Corporate (BLEEP)".

Why haven't you heard of dozens if not hundreds of these pleas to raise donations when it comes to commercial radio? They don't work.

Pretty much why you WON'T thrive.

 

[ajhenderson]

> > So amusing to see all the neo-con nutcases in this thread
> > whine about the political format.
>
> I have NO problem with the format. This is what drives me
> nuts about you guys. I have argued the same thing about any
> station. The "idea" is fine - it's this ridiculous
> idealistic approach that won't work. I'd love to know how
> much you'd like to "donate". Before throwing the word
> "neo-con" out like you love to do, try figuring out how to
> make ANY business work on your own. To determine the logic
> behind the original statement, apply it to any industry!
> Try a restaurant - try a concert hall. Either might sway
> personal appeal to those who enjoy it - but ask them for
> $500K because you don't have operating capital! You've got
> a lot of nerve throwing out "nutcase", when believing that
> this idea will work is INSANITY!! You want charity? I'll
> consult you (Ahem, them) for free!

I'm all for the liberal talk format and some of its talents, and have made no secret about that here before. But the chutzpah that these people display is appalling; very few people listened, they made no money, and acted like turning a small profit is amazing... not like they were running a business or anything. Let the true believers pay hundreds of bucks a pop to listen to something they could get for free online. I can't wait to see what ideological rather than entertaining lineup they'd put on.

Best of luck to Newcomb, Goyette, and the good guys over there, but this isn't the way to go.

 

[legend_city]

Amen to that.

If its so great and wonderful, why does AAR constantly beg and plead for dough to keep it running?

If there is a market for it, it will be back, if not, too bad, but this whining campaign is crap.

 

[zumahans1]

With all due respect, listening to you rednecks yammer about liberal radio is like listening to all the Utah residents discussing how bad sin is as they walk out of the casinos at the state line.