Air America Show Shuts LA, Chicago Sales Offices

Come Back to NY · 05-12-2004, 11:51 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Air America has shut its sales offices in Los Angeles and Chicago and is recasting its business plan, the network's president said on Wednesday as troubles beset the liberal talk show network.

With Air America not broadcasting in those two cities after a financial dispute in April, network president Jon Sinton said, "There's not much sense in having sales offices in cities where you don't control a station."

About 15 to 20 people were laid off in the closing of the sales offices, the latest sign of problems for Air America, launched on March 31 as a liberal alternative to the country's predominantly conservative talk show culture led by right-wing icons like Rush Limbaugh.

Since it started, Chairman Evan Cohen, Vice Chairman Rex Sorensen and Head of Programing David Logan have left while co-founder Mark Walsh has stepped down as chief executive to take a smaller role in the organization.

Sinton said Air America was in "high-level affiliate discussions in Chicago and Los Angeles" and other cities.

Sinton said the company had moved away from its original business model, which was to lease and totally control the radio stations in which its programing ran.

Rather, Sinton said Air America has found success with traditional affiliate relationships, under which it provides about 20 hours of programing per day in many cases in exchange for the ability to sell a certain number of minutes per hour of advertising.

"The business model has changed with our on-air success. The fact that we are moving the needle so quickly with affiliates has surprised us and negated the need for us to control our own stations," Sinton said.

After its launch, a dispute with business partner Multicultural Radio Broadcasting led to its programing being yanked from the air in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Air America, which is said to have more than $30 million in financing, is operating in about nine markets, and on satellite radio and the Internet. Its Web site said that 15 more stations will be coming in May.

"We're always looking for new financing, but the investors we have are committed and we would we like to raise more money," said Sinton, who said that certain people on the board with long-term radio experience have recently taken over key decision-making roles in a departure from the past.

Serious errors in business judgment account for Air America's problems, rather than its slate of programing, say various radio industry insiders.

"It makes you wonder why everybody is leaving the company," said Michael Harrison, editor for Talkers, a magazine about Talk Shows.

[img]http://civilwarclipart.com/Clipartgallery/images/airamerica.jpg[/img]

NYJet94 · 05-13-2004, 01:48 PM

You wish! :lol: :lol:

Streaming live and well on the web at airamericaradio.com !

Seriously, why do you worry so much about Air America? Don't you have enough right wing stations radio stations to go around? :lol:

Come Back to NY · 05-13-2004, 02:58 PM

[quote][i]Originally posted by NYJet94[/i]@May 13 2004, 01:48 PM
[b] You wish! :lol: :lol:

Streaming live and well on the web at airamericaradio.com !

Seriously, why do you worry so much about Air America? Don't you have enough right wing stations radio stations to go around? :lol: [/b][/quote]
Face it...err America won't be on the airwaves much longer.

chiefst2000 · 05-13-2004, 03:32 PM

I've actually listened to that station out of curiosity. Its like a liberal love fest. They never take conservative callers. Its like their afaraid to argue their point. Also, the difference between the conservative shows and air america is that AA is set up like an infomercial. Their time is purchased. The other liberal station NPR is funded by the government.

Come Back to NY · 05-13-2004, 04:12 PM

[quote][i]Originally posted by chiefst2000[/i]@May 13 2004, 03:32 PM
[b] I've actually listened to that station out of curiosity. Its like a liberal love fest. They never take conservative callers. Its like their afaraid to argue their point. Also, the difference between the conservative shows and air america is that AA is set up like an infomercial. Their time is purchased. The other liberal station NPR is funded by the government. [/b][/quote]
I listen to it on occasion as well, as much as I can stomach at least. Forget about the callers they never have a single guest on with an opposing point of view. Like you said it's a liberal lovefest of drugs, sex and taking it in the rear!

WhoFanMe · 05-13-2004, 08:03 PM

It's on in Portland, Maine and flooded with PSAs; nobody wants to advertise. I listen just to hear the other side and they offer nothing constructive, just Bush-bashing. My job no longer allows me to listen to Rush, but I remember he liked to take calls from people who disagreed. Randy Rhodes lives to bite the head off of anybody who dares disagree with her. If I was on the fence she'd kick me over to the right in a hurry. What do you libs see in that bag of gas?

05-12-2004, 11:51 PM	#1
Come Back to NY Making lotsa $$$ off obama's stupidity... Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Charter JI Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 31,407	LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Air America has shut its sales offices in Los Angeles and Chicago and is recasting its business plan, the network's president said on Wednesday as troubles beset the liberal talk show network. With Air America not broadcasting in those two cities after a financial dispute in April, network president Jon Sinton said, "There's not much sense in having sales offices in cities where you don't control a station." About 15 to 20 people were laid off in the closing of the sales offices, the latest sign of problems for Air America, launched on March 31 as a liberal alternative to the country's predominantly conservative talk show culture led by right-wing icons like Rush Limbaugh. Since it started, Chairman Evan Cohen, Vice Chairman Rex Sorensen and Head of Programing David Logan have left while co-founder Mark Walsh has stepped down as chief executive to take a smaller role in the organization. Sinton said Air America was in "high-level affiliate discussions in Chicago and Los Angeles" and other cities. Sinton said the company had moved away from its original business model, which was to lease and totally control the radio stations in which its programing ran. Rather, Sinton said Air America has found success with traditional affiliate relationships, under which it provides about 20 hours of programing per day in many cases in exchange for the ability to sell a certain number of minutes per hour of advertising. "The business model has changed with our on-air success. The fact that we are moving the needle so quickly with affiliates has surprised us and negated the need for us to control our own stations," Sinton said. After its launch, a dispute with business partner Multicultural Radio Broadcasting led to its programing being yanked from the air in Chicago and Los Angeles. Air America, which is said to have more than $30 million in financing, is operating in about nine markets, and on satellite radio and the Internet. Its Web site said that 15 more stations will be coming in May. "We're always looking for new financing, but the investors we have are committed and we would we like to raise more money," said Sinton, who said that certain people on the board with long-term radio experience have recently taken over key decision-making roles in a departure from the past. Serious errors in business judgment account for Air America's problems, rather than its slate of programing, say various radio industry insiders. "It makes you wonder why everybody is leaving the company," said Michael Harrison, editor for Talkers, a magazine about Talk Shows. [img]http://civilwarclipart.com/Clipartgallery/images/airamerica.jpg[/img]

05-13-2004, 01:48 PM	#2
NYJet94 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 295	You wish! :lol: :lol: Streaming live and well on the web at airamericaradio.com ! Seriously, why do you worry so much about Air America? Don't you have enough right wing stations radio stations to go around? :lol:

05-13-2004, 02:58 PM	#3
Come Back to NY Making lotsa $$$ off obama's stupidity... Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Charter JI Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 31,407	[quote][i]Originally posted by NYJet94[/i]@May 13 2004, 01:48 PM [b] You wish! :lol: :lol: Streaming live and well on the web at airamericaradio.com ! Seriously, why do you worry so much about Air America? Don't you have enough right wing stations radio stations to go around? :lol: [/b][/quote] Face it...err America won't be on the airwaves much longer.

05-13-2004, 03:32 PM	#4
chiefst2000 Champion of Common Sense All Pro Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,834	I've actually listened to that station out of curiosity. Its like a liberal love fest. They never take conservative callers. Its like their afaraid to argue their point. Also, the difference between the conservative shows and air america is that AA is set up like an infomercial. Their time is purchased. The other liberal station NPR is funded by the government.

05-13-2004, 04:12 PM	#5
Come Back to NY Making lotsa $$$ off obama's stupidity... Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Charter JI Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 31,407	[quote][i]Originally posted by chiefst2000[/i]@May 13 2004, 03:32 PM [b] I've actually listened to that station out of curiosity. Its like a liberal love fest. They never take conservative callers. Its like their afaraid to argue their point. Also, the difference between the conservative shows and air america is that AA is set up like an infomercial. Their time is purchased. The other liberal station NPR is funded by the government. [/b][/quote] I listen to it on occasion as well, as much as I can stomach at least. Forget about the callers they never have a single guest on with an opposing point of view. Like you said it's a liberal lovefest of drugs, sex and taking it in the rear!

05-13-2004, 08:03 PM	#6
WhoFanMe All League Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 909	It's on in Portland, Maine and flooded with PSAs; nobody wants to advertise. I listen just to hear the other side and they offer nothing constructive, just Bush-bashing. My job no longer allows me to listen to Rush, but I remember he liked to take calls from people who disagreed. Randy Rhodes lives to bite the head off of anybody who dares disagree with her. If I was on the fence she'd kick me over to the right in a hurry. What do you libs see in that bag of gas?