Off-Air America by April 30 in LA and Chicago

[Alpha Wolf]

From the Sludge report:

www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm

Does anyone know the real story on this? Is AA really having financing problems? I'm bummed. My computer sucks for streaming audio.

[LuLu550]

1. Go tothe Air America site

for the real story and stop reading Drudge if you want to keep your sanity.

[Alpha Wolf]

2. Thanks.

I'll see if they have any better info since last week.

[Alpha Wolf]

3. Just went to the site

and I'm not finding anything about what's going on in LA and Chicago. Do you have the right link?

[kiahzero]

6. Here you go:

http://www.airamericaradio.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=resPressRelease&htmlId=725

Air America Radio is pleased to announce that it has settled its dispute with MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting with regard to WNTD AM in Chicago. As part of the settlement, Air America Radio will remain on WNTD until April 30, 2004. Listeners in Chicago should stay tuned to hear where they may find Air America Radio after April 30, 2004. Air America Radio also will announce shortly where Los Angeles listeners can tune in.

[Alpha Wolf]

10. Thanks

n/t

[papau]

4. Financing seems ok as they expand - LA/Chi are only problems

on edit added Chi as a problem as WNTD ends 4/30

On The Air

New York City - WLIB 1190

Chicago - WNTD 950

Minneapolis - WMNN 1330

Portland, OR - KPOJ 620

Riverside, CA - KCAA 1050

West Palm Beach, FL - WJNO 1290

Plattsburgh/Burlington - WTWK 1070

Key West, FL - WKIZ 1500

Portland, ME - WMTW 870

Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL 1360

XM Satellite Radio - 167

Sirius Satellite Radio - 125



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Coming Soon

San Francisco/San Jose KVVN 1400

San Francisco/Berkley KVTO 1430

Sacramento, CA KSQR 1240

Colorado Springs, Co KBZC 1300

San Luis Obispo, CA KYNS 1340

Santa Cruz, CA KPEE

Santa Fe, NM KOOT 101.5

Anchorage, AK KUDO 1080

Honolulu KAOI 1110

Boulder, CO KBAC 610

Memphis, TN WMQM 1600

Reno, NV KXTO 1550

Northhampton, MA WHMP 1400

Nashua, NH WSNH 900

Dish Network

[LuCifer]

7. Listen to WJNO *only* from 3 to 7 PM!

Unless you want to hear BAD radio! Just FYI!

[papau]

11. A bit like having WRKO for its occassional Tech show - the RW bull

is 24/7/365 except for that show.

[JimT]

5. satellite radio

Jeez, it might be time for me to get one of those satellite radios.

[oc2002]

8. confidentiality on the court rulings

We may never know what deals where made and broken between AA and MB since the court records are sealed.

Both sides are declaring victory.

I think the rat is Multiculture Broadcasting that tried to play hardball and got slapped down by the courts.

Anyway, I hope that AA management is more carefull on who it makes deals with and takes a more carefull bussness plan to avoid these bad deals and radio station sharks.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Based Upon My Knowledge Of Events. . .

. . .i would say it was AA that was pulling the plug on Multichannel. They have probably made other arrangements and agreed to take free air time in compensation for the disputed payment but backed it down from one month to two weeks.

The original dispute started when AA paid Multicultural for airtime beginning in early March, but weren't yet ready to go live. So, Multicultural sold that airtime to a current spanish language firm, but never rebated AA for the airtime that was double sold.

When AA called Multicultural on the double dipping, they were told that no compensation would be given. So, AA stopped payment on the check for the next two weeks of airtime. MC claimed AA was in default, and dropped airtime, which caused AA to charge MC with breach of contract. A judge agreed with AA.

My guess is now, AA has made other arrangements in the market, but since they were still owed SOMETHING, they took free air time until the end of April. Then, adios Multicultural.

The details of the events were very nicely covered in three staight days of stories on page one of the Business section of the Chicago Tribune, so my facts are pretty certain. My conclusions are, however, speculative, since neither side is talking about the settlement.
The Professor

[Alpha Wolf]

12. Thanks for the insights

n/t