The Deflating of Air America

[kaufcom]

Things are really heating in lib talk world. AllAcccess.com reports today that next move in the Air America bankruptcy story will be a hearing in Bankruptcy Court tomorrow (Thursday) at 10a. Included in the matters to be heard a Motion for Relief From the Stay filed by AAR flagship WWRL-A/NEW YORK which is a licensee ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS.

Another day another line-up change is announced. Again AllAccess.com reports that Clear Channel lib talk station WWRC (AM 1260) in Washington will be dumping the Young Turks and picking up Jones talker Bill Press, who appears to be on a bit of role since AAR meltdown. The change will take effect on Monday, December 11.

Meanwhile, the on again off again saga of whether WKOX/WXKS in Boston will be dropping lib talk seems to be leaning in “off” direction. It was reported in Boston Globe today that Clear Channel, VP of programming Jack McCartney said that “Air America is history in Boston.” You note that McCartney did not say lib talk was history – only Air America. So I guess we will have to wait and see on this one.

Finally, a rumor is circulating around several talk radio boards concerning the future of KTLK in Los Angeles. According to the rumor, which apparently was started by an unnamed source at Jones Radio, KTLK will soon be switching from lib talk to Spanish. Since KTLK is one of the affiliates that was being compensated by AAR, it is not surprising that they are not very happy about the bankruptcy filling. In fact, the AAR bankruptcy filing lists KTLK as one of their creditors noting that the CC station was owned $558,000.

 

[FightingIrish]

Things are really heating in lib talk world. AllAcccess.com reports today that next move in the Air America bankruptcy story will be a hearing in Bankruptcy Court tomorrow (Thursday) at 10a. Included in the matters to be heard a Motion for Relief From the Stay filed by AAR flagship WWRL-A/NEW YORK which is a licensee ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS.

Another day another line-up change is announced. Again AllAccess.com reports that Clear Channel lib talk station WWRC (AM 1260) in Washington will be dumping the Young Turks and picking up Jones talker Bill Press, who appears to be on a bit of role since AAR meltdown. The change will take effect on Monday, December 11.

Meanwhile, the on again off again saga of whether WKOX/WXKS in Boston will be dropping lib talk seems to be leaning in “off” direction. It was reported in Boston Globe today that Clear Channel, VP of programming Jack McCartney said that “Air America is history in Boston.” You note that McCartney did not say lib talk was history – only Air America. So I guess we will have to wait and see on this one.

Finally, a rumor is circulating around several talk radio boards concerning the future of KTLK in Los Angeles. According to the rumor, which apparently was started by an unnamed source at Jones Radio, KTLK will soon be switching from lib talk to Spanish. Since KTLK is one of the affiliates that was being compensated by AAR, it is not surprising that they are not very happy about the bankruptcy filling. In fact, the AAR bankruptcy filing lists KTLK as one of their creditors noting that the CC station was owned $558,000.

The Motion for Relief From Stay seems to be a formality in bankruptcy hearings. I posted a reference link on my site:

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/12/air-americas-day-in-court.html

Good move by WWRC. I was surprised Bill Press wasn't on that station. Then again, I was thinking they were still running Imus. Next, they really need to repair their facilities, as the station is notorious for its bad signal.

Cadillac Jack and company in Boston really need to get their heads screwed on straight. There are far too many conflicting stories coming out of that station. Just yesterday, I got an email from them asking listeners to decide their midday lineup, mere days after they already made that decision.

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/12/mixed-signals-in-boston.html

As far as the KTLK rumor goes, I'm very skeptical. I know raccoon is harping about it, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to flip it to a Spanish-language format. No way can an AM station in LA compete with that kind of format, especially given all the competition. XETRA 690 has practically been invisible in both San Diego and LA since they flipped to Spanish. And KHJ has also been a bottom-dweller, even after doing the format for almost two decades and residing on a legendary frequency in the market. Besides, the main calling card for KTLK is Stephanie Miller. Reportedly, her ratings are pretty good there. As for their AAR programming, they don't seem to carry a whole lot of it during their main hours (though they carry the feed overnight). Many CC stations, at least the ones that aren't bailing out of the format, are leaning more toward the Jones offerings. I also notice they run Lionel and a pretty good local show (Harrison on the Edge) in the evenings.

 

[smedge2006]

Considering what a rough year it's been for many conservative talk radio stations (WGST, WRKO, etc.), I'd say any gloating over what may be Air America's fate is a case of whistling past the graveyard. Schadenfreude because that's all that's left.

 

[mr_arbitron]

flip it to a Spanish-language format. No way can an AM station in LA compete with that kind of format, especially given all the competition. XETRA 690 has practically been invisible in both San Diego and

Irish, you have to explain the $600,000 though.. are you saying KTLK management will stand up and shriek, "I'm a believer in Lib Talk Radio!" and absorb the loss?

This isn't Clear Channel San Diego, where the corporate umbrella allows for welfare stations to exist. And I do have some knowledge in these things .. and the word is "Bet On The Mexican"

 

[FightingIrish]

flip it to a Spanish-language format. No way can an AM station in LA compete with that kind of format, especially given all the competition. XETRA 690 has practically been invisible in both San Diego and

Irish, you have to explain the $600,000 though.. are you saying KTLK management will stand up and shriek, "I'm a believer in Lib Talk Radio!" and absorb the loss?

This isn't Clear Channel San Diego, where the corporate umbrella allows for welfare stations to exist. And I do have some knowledge in these things .. and the word is "Bet On The Mexican"

I didn't realize Jones Radio Networks owed them that much money. Or WOR, for that matter.

And as I said in my blog entry today, if CC salespeople can't sell a liberal talk format in LA, of all places, then that's the station's fault and nobody else's.

 

[kaufcom]

No, Air America Radio owes that much to Clear Channel. (actually $587.333) It is listed in bankruptcy filing.

 

[ajhenderson]

WGST and, to a little lesser degree, WRKO, have been jokes for sometime. Note that they're still around and still conservative talk. Syndicated conservative talk has ticked down slightly, but the format itself is flat.

As to KTLK, it certainly makes a much better combo sale to attach to KFI, one of the top billing stations in the country, and to a lesser extent KLAC. CCLA doesn't really have anything to combo sell with an AM Spanish station.

 

[FightingIrish]

No, Air America Radio owes that much to Clear Channel. (actually $587.333) It is listed in bankruptcy filing.

I was speaking in jest. I've seen the bankruptcy papers.

For some reason, people seem to think AAR and liberal talk are one and the same. Not true. Many stations have scaled back considerably on AAR content.

 

[kaufcom]

I didn't realize Jones Radio Networks owed them that much money. Or WOR, for that matter.

Ok, I get it

And as I said in my blog entry today, if CC salespeople can't sell a liberal talk format in LA, of all places, then that's the station's fault and nobody else's.

Have you ever listened to KTLK? They have the same advertisers as KFI which is the number one station in the market. They are clearly doing combo selling for talk radio.

 

[raccoonradio]

See Boston board: CC is now advertising for sales staff of "Rumba 1200/1430", new Spanish simulcast
in Beantown. I also was wondering if progtalk might still be around, just not from AAR (i.e., shows
from Jones and other sources) but this seems to answer that question.

Donna Halper had heard the rumors about KTLK going Spanish--she was right about the Boston situation
at least and we'll see if what she's heard about L.A. might also come true. Yes, more than a few
Spanish stations there--but if it's doing well, and it "sells"...? Isn't that the format that their
country station flipped to?

 

[ajhenderson]

Jones doesn't owe KTLK money. AAR does.

Have you ever listened to KTLK? They have the same advertisers as KFI which is the number one station in the market. They are clearly doing combo selling for talk radio.

No doubt, most notably the "Traffic presented by Lexus dealers" every 15 minutes. The only thing I haven't heard is Stephanie Miller screaming "Here's my quote, where's my Honda!?"

 

[evnlee]

Considering what a rough year it's been for many conservative talk radio stations (WGST, WRKO, etc.), I'd say any gloating over what may be Air America's fate is a case of whistling past the graveyard. Schadenfreude because that's all that's left.

Smedge, your talking about individual stations, not the corporate ownership.

While it's true those station you listed are in trouble, are you saying thier ownership will be arguing in front of a bankruptcy judge anytime soon? Didn't Clear Channel recently sell off stations/assets to remain competetive?


Err Amerika remains a textbook example of how NOT to do radio. That's why Jones, et al can't run away fast enough

 

[raccoonradio]

Let's look in at a former Air America station, WHJJ in Providence...land of Peter Griffin and Patrick
Kennedy...

Their ratings plummeted with the move to AAR, and when the plug was pulled on Franken the program
director said "The Air America experiment has been a failure". More recently they had Imus followed
by Survivor's Helen Glover (a conservative so I've been told), Howie Barte (liberal) and former R.I.
attorney general Arlene Violet (liberal).They had Rhodes for awhile then replaced her with...Michael
Savage. Then Jim Bohannon and Jerry Doyle (on the conservative side) overnight.

As of tomorrow: Imus, then Quinn and Rose (conservative via Pittsburgh)...Glover, then Sean Hannity
takes over the 3 pm slot (had been on WPRO but they picked up Glenn Beck), followed by conservatives
Mark Levin and Savage, then Bohannon and Doyle, etc.

The ratings moved slowly upward after the initial AAR purge.

And yes, Clear Channel = Cheap Channel. Who needs local shows when you can "turn on the bird"...

Meanwhile, north of Family Guy-land is Boston, where another Clear Channel operation, WXKS and WKOX,
are to Rumba in sometime after Dec 22. Ratings consistently low as Prog Talk but a) hardly any promotion, b) weak
signals, and c) no DAILY local show. Even Clear Channel's WHJJ had local content daily (and still will have one local talker)! Signal is due to
improve in August but too late...

Time will tell if Boston gets AAR and Jones shows again...Meanwhile, the liberal bastion of Boston has
no prog talk station while the huge city of Burlington, VT (all 33,000 souls) does have one (a daytimer
though...the owner flipped the fulltime station to sports awhile back)