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Thom Hartmann quits Air America-goes to Dial Global

A

argentarius

Guest
Effective March 1, The Thom Hartmann Show will be syndicated by Dial Global, not Air America. This gives Dial Global 12 hours of progressive talk, unfortunantely its two best shows are on at the same time. noon-3

What does this mean for Air America? With Randi Rhodes gones, and now Hartmann, is this the end for AAR?
 
argentarius said:
Effective March 1, The Thom Hartmann Show will be syndicated by Dial Global, not Air America. This gives Dial Global 12 hours of progressive talk, unfortunantely its two best shows are on at the same time. noon-3

What does this mean for Air America? With Randi Rhodes gones, and now Hartmann, is this the end for AAR?
Click to expand...

They could always move either Schultz or Hartmann to 3 to 6 PM, ET. Or they could keep them where they are...Air America offered both Hartmann and Al Franken at the same time and a lot of stations delayed one or the other. As for Air America's future, I doubt this will mean the "end," despite the hopes and prayers of those on the right who've been predicting its demise for the past five years.
 
As a progressive talk fan, I do see the writing on the wall for Air America. Once Lionel jumps ship, the party's over.

Of the six progressive talkers Talkers magazine cited as having audiences in excess of one million, Lionel will be the only one left on Air America. He doesn't have the live clearances Dial Global's Stephanie Miller does, and he's not even heard live in New York. Once Dial Global or Nova M or even WOR, his former syndicator, give Lionel an offer he can't refuse, it's bye-bye.

The rest of the hosts will fend for themselves with little difficulty. Ron Kuby is heard in New York on WWRL (after Dial Global's Ed Schultz, not Hartmann). Ron Reagan and Jon Elliott will continue to thrive on the West Coast. And Rachel Maddow is keeping busy on MSNBC.

Air America may make it to its 5th birthday, but it won't be the leader in progressive talk. That distinction will go to Dial Global.
 
This is a blow, but it doesn't have to be a 'death blow'. The "Air America" brand still has some value. AAR could largely exist as an online media content provider: Folks are still listening online and downloading podcasts.

Air America's prospects in remaining in terrestrial broadcasting are dicier than they have ever been, but a lot of people have lost money on that bet before. They could reshuffle as a leaner syndicator of talk radio programming in the vein of TRN as they probably should have started. They still have a star in Rachel Maddow, plus notables in Ron Kuby, Jon Elliott, and Ron Reagan for daily programs.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.
 
Nate Wesley said:
They still have a star in Rachel Maddow, plus notables in Ron Kuby, Jon Elliott, and Ron Reagan for daily programs.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.
Click to expand...

From what I can understand, Rachel Maddow's show has been reduced to a one-hour show in early morning drive, that is pretty much now just highlights of her MSNBC show; it's not a traditional live radio show.
 
I don't know who AAR will plug in for the new midday slot, but it occurred to me that Lee Rayburn, former morning driver for WXXM "92.1 The Mic" in Madison, WI is free. He's filled in for both Lionel and Hartmann. He could be a choice if the network doesn't promote one of the incumbent hosts.
 
Prog talk loses Wash DC today, and its comeback in Boston may have been brief (after two months of
having to PAY to have 2 libtalk shows aired on WWZN, the shows suddenly disappeared; meanwhile,
Boston's WRKO had conservative host Howie Carr win his time slot, aft drive, last period. This in a place
where the GOP is scarce (though some in the area may consider themselves fiscal conservatives, even
if they're to the left on some social issues).
If a good product is put on, on a fairly powerful signal, then libtalk should work, but I don't want the govt.
to abridge freedom of speech/the press with a Fairness Doctrine. (We'll discuss the FD elsewhere...) I'm
all for the free market; owners/PDs who think it may work can put it on and if it works, great, but it shouldn't be by force.

There are some left-leaning hosts on the bigger Boston stations (incl. the recently resurrected Steve
Leveille; also Jim Braude and Margery Eagan on some issues) but not an entire station devoted to libtalk.
 
raccoonradio said:
I don't want the govt.
to abridge freedom of speech/the press with a Fairness Doctrine.
Click to expand...

Even when it would neuter the 'libruhl' media? ;)
 
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