For those who missed it.... AirAmerica files for Chapter 11

POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Saturday, October 21, 2006 04:59
VIEWED: 3018
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AURAPTOR

Saturday, October 14, 2006 2:30 PM

Air America Parent Files for Chapter 11
By Claire Hoffman, Times Staff Writer
October 14, 2006

Red ink finally got the better of the nation's blue-state radio network.

The parent of Air America Radio, plagued by management and financial problems since its inception, filed Friday for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The filing in New York by Piquant, the network's parent company, became necessary after negotiations with one of the privately held company's founding creditors broke down, said Air America spokeswoman Jaime Horn. She declined to identify the creditor, but Piquant has had troubles in the past with its business partner, MultiCultural Broadcasting Inc.

The liberal radio network, which bills itself as a progressive spot on the dial, will remain on the air — including on Los Angeles affiliate KTLK-AM (1150) — while operating under Bankruptcy Court protection.

"By running such a poor business they did a disservice to liberal talk radio by making it seem like the problem was that they were liberal," said Michael Harrison, the publisher of Talkers magazine, a talk-radio industry trade publication. "Before you change the world, make sure you pay your bills."

Last month, the network's star commentator, comedian Al Franken, complained publicly that his paychecks had stopped.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-airamerica14oct14,1,4062197.stor
y?coll=la-headlines-business

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Saturday, October 14, 2006 2:48 PM

What, like we're surprised?

They've been subsidized by Soro's et al, since they started this little experiment.

Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

AURAPTOR

Sunday, October 15, 2006 1:22 AM

Sort of surprised that so few have commented on this development. I realize that folks outside the U.S. may have little/no interest in this story, but for you libs here in the states, what say you?

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

KANEMAN

Sunday, October 15, 2006 1:38 AM

What can they say. Their mouths are full of crow.

Lib: "Rush, Hannity, Savage...Talk radio is so biased"....

Non retard: "Well, that's because of the free market. No one wants to listen to a bunch of whining homos for entertainment."

Lib: "You'll see!"

Non retard: " Well, shit don't you already have NPR. There's no one listening to that crap! What will make this different?!"

Lib: "This will be better. We will have comedy in it."

Non retard: "But you can't make segregation, class envy, high taxes, or welfare...Well,...funny."

Lib: "You'll see you Neanderthal!! You'll SEEEE!"

Well, it's true....Listen to the crickets in this thread....LOL!!!

HERO

Sunday, October 15, 2006 2:50 AM

"For those who missed it..." pretty much defines AirAmerica.

H

AURAPTOR

Sunday, October 15, 2006 3:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
"For those who missed it..." pretty much defines AirAmerica.

H

Well met! Can't add anything to that!

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

SOUPCATCHER

Sunday, October 15, 2006 7:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Sort of surprised that so few have commented on this development. I realize that folks outside the U.S. may have little/no interest in this story, but for you libs here in the states, what say you?

Okay, I'll play. I'm a liberal.

I listened to AirAmerica once. I was scanning across the dial while driving through LA on my way to Orange County and happened to come across one of their shows. My basic take was, "Meh." It didn't do anything for me. It's probably not surprising that I have no clue whether or not it even airs where I live.

I think the reason why it didn't do anything for me is that it wasn't emotional enough. I spent years listening to right wing talk radio before I saw the light. The reason why I kept tuning in to Rush was because he got me all good and pissed off. It wasn't rational. It wasn't even logical. But it was emotional. Rush wanted me to be angry and, by gum, I got angry. He's pretty good at that sort of thing. And he's an ideal match for talk radio.

I didn't get that vibe from listening to AirAmerica. Granted, I only listened for an hour or so. But they were overthinking things. They were actually using facts and rational-type argumentation. Talk radio, at least as practiced by the right wingers, is all about pushing buttons. It's taking the easy way out. The libs are evil. They must be killed. Black men are going to rape the white women. The Mexicans are invading. Islamofascists are hiding under your front porch. It's kind of hard to do that when you're liberal because you're not used to fostering hatred to stay in power.

What it reminds me of are the people you sometimes see at protest marches. They're carrying a sign. That's good. But the sign has five thousand words, written at less than an inch high, scrawled across the face of the sign. That's bad. It's probably a well thought out and reasoned argument but it's completely worthless. Protest signs are like bumper stickers. Short and sweet wins the day.

It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Okay, probably not worth two cents but you asked for it

.

FREMDFIRMA

Monday, October 16, 2006 5:49 AM

Quote:
It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Hire Dennis Leary.

ERIC

Monday, October 16, 2006 6:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Quote:
It's a case of not understanding the strengths of the medium. Talk radio = wild eyed ranting. Unless the liberals learn how to do that with all the hate that the right wingers have, any attempt to mimic will fail.

Hire Dennis Leary.

They had Mike Malloy...then they fired him.

DREAMTROVE

Monday, October 16, 2006 7:08 PM

It seems left-talk-radio is doomed in general.

Here are a few things that occur:

1. lefties tend not to be as economically minded.
2. A lot of corporations won' support lefty blather but they'll support right wing blather because it helps their profits, and so Rush et al get huge ad checks from pfizer et al.
3. The liberal media is liberal to begin with, so lefty talk radio is redundant. Also, because of the left-ness of the media (and people, scan your typical tv show and see how many imbedded lefty messages per hour, vs. how many right-wing, say pro-christian, pro-business, or pro-life messages, just to name a few, and I think anyone can conclude at least a 10:1 left:right bias) Anyway, as a result, right wingers are more starved for content, and so will listen to Rush rant. (just witness how fantasy fans, not to mention lesbians, were willing to watch Xena warrior princess)

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