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will Air America survive?

E

evnlee

Guest
Two-year-old WWAA-AM (1690), the local affiliate of progressive radio network Air America, was sold to JW Broadcasting for $12 million in late January from Intermart, a Scottsdale-based broadcasting company. Intermart says the sale was always part of their plan.

"The station's stockholders wanted to sell the station from the beginning," says Bill Brown, a spokesman for Intermart. "There have been several offers since the station has been on air. The right opportunity just came along."

Joe Weber, president of JW Broadcasting, won't disclose plans for his new purchase. Weber's company currently operates WMLB-AM (1160), an eclectic mix of opera, R&B, poetry and jazz.

"More and more people are turning to the Internet or their iPods [for radio shows]," says Jon Sinton, the Atlanta-based consultant of Air America. "We have to market unduplicated programming to see growth."

Despite the challenges of new technology, Sinton says Air America is climbing in popularity across the nation. In Portland, Air America is the No. 3 station, Sinton says, and signals in Denver, Los Angeles and Miami have seen a jump in ratings.

According to Arbitron, a media research firm, Portland's Air America affiliate received a 4.1 rating in fall 2005, while Atlanta's station received a bleak 0.4. Sinton says Atlanta's ratings show that the station has a small but loyal fan base. Al Franken affirmed that notion in December when he broadcast from Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points in front of a packed crowd.

While Weber decides whether to keep Air America programming, Sinton says the network will shop its programming around Atlanta.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

The subject header is misleading. This really isn't about Air America's survival. It is about the future of WWAA and the "Air America" programming on
1690 AM.



> Two-year-old WWAA-AM (1690), the local affiliate of
> progressive radio network Air America, was sold to JW
> Broadcasting for $12 million in late January from Intermart,
> a Scottsdale-based broadcasting company. Intermart says the
> sale was always part of their plan.
>
> "The station's stockholders wanted to sell the station from
> the beginning," says Bill Brown, a spokesman for Intermart.
> "There have been several offers since the station has been
> on air. The right opportunity just came along."
>
> Joe Weber, president of JW Broadcasting, won't disclose
> plans for his new purchase. Weber's company currently
> operates WMLB-AM (1160), an eclectic mix of opera, R&B,
> poetry and jazz.
>
> "More and more people are turning to the Internet or their
> iPods [for radio shows]," says Jon Sinton, the Atlanta-based
> consultant of Air America. "We have to market unduplicated
> programming to see growth."
>
> Despite the challenges of new technology, Sinton says Air
> America is climbing in popularity across the nation. In
> Portland, Air America is the No. 3 station, Sinton says, and
> signals in Denver, Los Angeles and Miami have seen a jump in
> ratings.
>
> According to Arbitron, a media research firm, Portland's Air
> America affiliate received a 4.1 rating in fall 2005, while
> Atlanta's station received a bleak 0.4. Sinton says
> Atlanta's ratings show that the station has a small but
> loyal fan base. Al Franken affirmed that notion in December
> when he broadcast from Variety Playhouse in Little Five
> Points in front of a packed crowd.
>
> While Weber decides whether to keep Air America programming,
> Sinton says the network will shop its programming around
> Atlanta.
>
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> The subject header is misleading. This really isn't about
> Air America's survival. It is about the future of WWAA and
> the "Air America" programming on
> 1690 AM.
>
>
>
This is a great opportunity to blow up 640 WGST and offer an alternative to the ultraconservative AM750.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> >
> >
> This is a great opportunity to blow up 640 WGST and offer an
> alternative to the ultraconservative AM750.

Not a bad idea. I just dont see Randi Rhodes or Al Franken as a lead-in to something as mainstream as Braves baseball. Assuming CC is a long-term Braves partner.
>
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> > >
> > >
> > This is a great opportunity to blow up 640 WGST and offer
> an
> > alternative to the ultraconservative AM750.
>
> Not a bad idea. I just dont see Randi Rhodes or Al Franken
> as a lead-in to something as mainstream as Braves baseball.
> Assuming CC is a long-term Braves partner.
> >
>

And Rush Limbaugh is going to be where ???

I was listening to Rush today for the first time in ages. He needs to hang it up when his contract expires in 2009, El Rushbo is so stale and irrelevant.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> > >
> > >
> > This is a great opportunity to blow up 640 WGST and offer
> an
> > alternative to the ultraconservative AM750.
>
> Not a bad idea. I just dont see Randi Rhodes or Al Franken
> as a lead-in to something as mainstream as Braves baseball.
> Assuming CC is a long-term Braves partner.
> >
>

A couple of Air America affiliates do air sports. WCKY Cincinnati has both the University of Cincinnati and U. of Kentucky. KTLK Los Angeles is the flagship for the Clippers. Liberals do like sports, but I must admit that sports on liberal talk stations do seem out of place. <P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

>Rushbo is so stale and irrelevant.

A lot of people will say the same about AA. However,
99% of America knows who Rush is. Air America is
not going to ever be a serious contender. I considered
it for an AM and by the time I finished attempting to
talk in terms of listeners to their top execs,
I realized no one there wants to think
about anything except the content. You have to put
the cart before the horse and they have not come close.

Portland should be getting those type of numbers.

When have you heard anything earth-shattering that
would get people hooked on AA?
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> >Rushbo is so stale and irrelevant.
>
> A lot of people will say the same about AA. However,
> 99% of America knows who Rush is. Air America is
> not going to ever be a serious contender. I considered
> it for an AM and by the time I finished attempting to
> talk in terms of listeners to their top execs,
> I realized no one there wants to think
> about anything except the content. You have to put
> the cart before the horse and they have not come close.
>
> Portland should be getting those type of numbers.
>
> When have you heard anything earth-shattering that
> would get people hooked on AA?
>
Apparently you never listened to Randi Rhodes. She is really informative, entertaining, and engaged.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> > >Rushbo is so stale and irrelevant.
> >
> > A lot of people will say the same about AA. However,
> > 99% of America knows who Rush is. Air America is
> > not going to ever be a serious contender. I considered
> > it for an AM and by the time I finished attempting to
> > talk in terms of listeners to their top execs,
> > I realized no one there wants to think
> > about anything except the content. You have to put
> > the cart before the horse and they have not come close.
> >
> > Portland should be getting those type of numbers.
> >
> > When have you heard anything earth-shattering that
> > would get people hooked on AA?
> >
> Apparently you never listened to Randi Rhodes. She is really
> informative, entertaining, and engaged.
>


But if a tree in a forest falls........
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

I have listened to a little of AA on 1690. I was actually pleasantly surprised about how polished some of the show are. However, Mike Malloy goes too in his hate Bush. You don't call the President ..whoever it is...a bastard on the air. If you don't respect the man you still have to respect the position. And his constant use of the phrase the "Bush Crime Family" is annoying. You can go too far...in bashing the other side...just like Hannity and Limbaugh do on the right. Its just silly to be so biased.

My mother is a democrat. We were listening to AA and Al Franken while driving from Denver to New Mexico this summer. Nobody has been more critical of Bush than my mother. But after listening to Franken....she thought he was too tough and said that wasn't helping the Democrats cause.

There may not be a Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting anymore. But you can't be 100% anti anything whether you are Franken and Malloy or Hannity and Limbaugh. Hopefully, one day the radio listener will decide enough is enough and quit listening to shows that are so biased on both sides...

After all no matter what side you are on....remember we all are on the same team.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

Great points. The polarization and simplistic arguments of both sides drive me crazy. I lean decidedly left, and I appreciate Randi Rhodes' ability as an entertainer and cheerleader. But... she unfairly simplifies issues, beats dead horses, mis-characterizes statements and positions, takes statements and events out of context, etc. (don't ask for examples, it's been months since I've listened). Furthermore, I know darn well she knows she's doing this-- she ain't stupid (and neither am I, which is why I can't take her for more than 20 minutes at a time). She is doing what conservative AM radio does, and your mother's right, it doesn't help the cause. (Hmm, come to think of it, it apparently *has* helped the conservative cause. Go figure.)

Anyway, for some relatively thoughtful commentary on complex issues (although very left), I recommend Lionel. He's out of WOR in NYC, and WCKY 1530 carries him from 10-midnight. Clear signal hear in ATL.


> I have listened to a little of AA on 1690. I was actually
> pleasantly surprised about how polished some of the show
> are. However, Mike Malloy goes too in his hate Bush. You
> don't call the President ..whoever it is...a bastard on the
> air. If you don't respect the man you still have to respect
> the position. And his constant use of the phrase the "Bush
> Crime Family" is annoying. You can go too far...in bashing
> the other side...just like Hannity and Limbaugh do on the
> right. Its just silly to be so biased.
>
> My mother is a democrat. We were listening to AA and Al
> Franken while driving from Denver to New Mexico this summer.
> Nobody has been more critical of Bush than my mother. But
> after listening to Franken....she thought he was too tough
> and said that wasn't helping the Democrats cause.
>
> There may not be a Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting
> anymore. But you can't be 100% anti anything whether you
> are Franken and Malloy or Hannity and Limbaugh. Hopefully,
> one day the radio listener will decide enough is enough and
> quit listening to shows that are so biased on both sides...
>
> After all no matter what side you are on....remember we all
> are on the same team.
>
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

Yea I have heard Lionel. Weird voice.

So I have found someone who actually agrees with me. I just don't understand why people like to listen to hosts who are so over the top in their bias.

Take Hannity...you are only a 'Good American' if you agree with him. I hate that code they use as a greeting ..for hey you are in the club. So I don't agree with him....I guess I must be a Bad American.

Hannity used to bash Clinton...now he gets upset with those who bash Bush.

No matter who the Democrat candidate for president is...Hannity will come up with a list of points he will hammer that person with over and over. What if a Democrat candidate was actually better than the republican..Would a Hannity say so...no he would play his little game...the same goes with the AA folks.

Hannity acts like he is doing a news show..he borrows the Fox Fair and Balanced for his radio show. He is no more Fair and Balanced than Mike Malloy is.

Grow up radio listeners...demand more. Make the Hannity's and the Malloy's do more for their money than just their contrived one sided biased based shows...
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> My mother is a democrat. We were listening to AA and Al
> Franken while driving from Denver to New Mexico this summer.
> Nobody has been more critical of Bush than my mother. But
> after listening to Franken....she thought he was too tough
> and said that wasn't helping the Democrats cause.
>


Is your mother Joe Lieberman?<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by FilmCritic3000 on 03/28/06 07:45 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> Two-year-old WWAA-AM (1690), the local affiliate of
> progressive radio network Air America, was sold to JW
> Broadcasting for $12 million in late January from Intermart,
> a Scottsdale-based broadcasting company. Intermart says the
> sale was always part of their plan.
>
> "The station's stockholders wanted to sell the station from
> the beginning," says Bill Brown, a spokesman for Intermart.
> "There have been several offers since the station has been
> on air. The right opportunity just came along."
>
> Joe Weber, president of JW Broadcasting, won't disclose
> plans for his new purchase. Weber's company currently
> operates WMLB-AM (1160), an eclectic mix of opera, R&B,
> poetry and jazz.
>
> "More and more people are turning to the Internet or their
> iPods [for radio shows]," says Jon Sinton, the Atlanta-based
> consultant of Air America. "We have to market unduplicated
> programming to see growth."
>
> Despite the challenges of new technology, Sinton says Air
> America is climbing in popularity across the nation. In
> Portland, Air America is the No. 3 station, Sinton says, and
> signals in Denver, Los Angeles and Miami have seen a jump in
> ratings.
>
> According to Arbitron, a media research firm, Portland's Air
> America affiliate received a 4.1 rating in fall 2005, while
> Atlanta's station received a bleak 0.4. Sinton says
> Atlanta's ratings show that the station has a small but
> loyal fan base. Al Franken affirmed that notion in December
> when he broadcast from Variety Playhouse in Little Five
> Points in front of a packed crowd.
>
> While Weber decides whether to keep Air America programming,
> Sinton says the network will shop its programming around
> Atlanta.
>
Once Joe takes over, Air America will most likely disappear from 1690 and 1160's programing will be on 1690 and 1160 goes up for sale. I would like to see
Air America on 640 and 640's programing move to 96 Rock.
 
> Once Joe takes over, Air America will most likely disappear
> from 1690 and 1160's programing will be on 1690 and 1160
> goes up for sale. I would like to see
> Air America on 640 and 640's programing move to 96 Rock.


Man, that Air America is tough to listen to for any length of time! Giving the "other side" a fair shake and trying to be informed, I make myself listen to AA a couple of times a week. I had rather change full baby diapers all day than make AA a regular habit!

I was glad to see that Mike Malloy has found a home on AA, he was just too much when he was on WSB. Too bad he could not have made an earlier connection with 640AM as its limited PM broadcast area would have his prime listening audience.

LOL, should 640 ever make the Air America switch it would be the steal in the coffin for that radio station!
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> I have listened to a little of AA on 1690. I was actually
> pleasantly surprised about how polished some of the show
> are. However, Mike Malloy goes too in his hate Bush. You
> don't call the President ..whoever it is...a bastard on the
> air. If you don't respect the man you still have to respect
> the position. And his constant use of the phrase the "Bush
> Crime Family" is annoying. You can go too far...in bashing
> the other side...just like Hannity and Limbaugh do on the
> right. Its just silly to be so biased.
>
> My mother is a democrat. We were listening to AA and Al
> Franken while driving from Denver to New Mexico this summer.
> Nobody has been more critical of Bush than my mother. But
> after listening to Franken....she thought he was too tough
> and said that wasn't helping the Democrats cause.
>
> There may not be a Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting
> anymore. But you can't be 100% anti anything whether you
> are Franken and Malloy or Hannity and Limbaugh. Hopefully,
> one day the radio listener will decide enough is enough and
> quit listening to shows that are so biased on both sides...
>
> After all no matter what side you are on....remember we all
> are on the same team.
>
Well, this a first...a talk radio fan complaining about someone being to hard on a politician. Not that conservative hosts were ever that tough on Bill Clinton...<P ID="signature">______________
Let us live so that 100 years from now, someone may be proud of us.</P>
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> Anyway, for some relatively thoughtful commentary on complex
> issues (although very left), I recommend Lionel...

I agree. Lionel is the only consistently intelligent talker I've heard on the air in the past few years. Too bad they took him off his Atlanta station.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> I have listened to a little of AA on 1690. I was actually
> pleasantly surprised about how polished some of the show
> are. However, Mike Malloy goes too in his hate Bush. You
> don't call the President ..whoever it is...a bastard on the
> air. If you don't respect the man you still have to respect
> the position. And his constant use of the phrase the "Bush
> Crime Family" is annoying. You can go too far...in bashing
> the other side...just like Hannity and Limbaugh do on the
> right. Its just silly to be so biased.
>
> My mother is a democrat. We were listening to AA and Al
> Franken while driving from Denver to New Mexico this summer.
> Nobody has been more critical of Bush than my mother. But
> after listening to Franken....she thought he was too tough
> and said that wasn't helping the Democrats cause.
>
> There may not be a Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting
> anymore. But you can't be 100% anti anything whether you
> are Franken and Malloy or Hannity and Limbaugh. Hopefully,
> one day the radio listener will decide enough is enough and
> quit listening to shows that are so biased on both sides...
>
> After all no matter what side you are on....remember we all
> are on the same team.
>

Agreed sir! We are on the same team. Seems like members of both sides may have forgetten that. And I completely agree that 100% negative really is a downer.
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

> >Rushbo is so stale and irrelevant.
>
> A lot of people will say the same about AA. >
> When have you heard anything earth-shattering that
> would get people hooked on AA?
>
Franken is so incredibly boring, that I want to fall asleep when
tuned in. Rhodes is just plain mean.. So Im hoping for a whole new
format for this freq. Im also tiring of Republican radio, even though
Im exactly that. Man radio in this town sucks.. Boring..
WGST really needs to realize it cannot be a major player in this market
anymore. They need a new signal, new rebirth. New format...
Please change the format..on 1690? Please?<P ID="signature">______________
"Part 15 radio is better than whats on the air now"</P>
 
Re: Will WWAA, 1690 Survive?

>
> >
> Grow up radio listeners...demand more. Make the Hannity's
> and the Malloy's do more for their money than just their
> contrived one sided biased based shows...
>
WOW ! Great point, thanks for someone looking at this the right way, instead of pointing fingers and saying cheater, bastard, e.t.c. Let's deal with this the
way it should be, (Radio) should be informative and entertaining. Im a so called neo con and I whole agree with this point. <P ID="signature">______________
"Part 15 radio is better than whats on the air now"</P>
 
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