I wrote about "Air America Radio's" return to Chicago on my blog.

[Eric J in MN]

Air America returned to Chicago last Thursday.

This is a sweet because of the history of the liberal talk radio network.

Air America Radio debuted on March 31, 2004.

It was originally broadcast in New York, Los Angeles Chicago, a few smaller makets, and over the internet.

Two weeks later, it was off the air in Los Angeles and Chicago.

The reason was a financial dispute with Arthur Liu, who owned the stations in LA and Chicago. Air America couldn't easily settle the matter, because while management promised the Air America staff it had enough money to last 3 years, it actually only had enough money to last 3 weeks (Al Franken explained this during his broadcast last week, intentionally avoiding naming names. I speculate that former chairman Evan Cohen had something to do with it.)

MORE AT "MOVE LEFT:"

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2005_05_11_the_good_air_america_radio_has_returned_to_chicago.asp

[ohtransplant]

1. Good news indeed. And the beat goes on.

Progressive radio still has a way to go but seems well on its way.

[Eric J in MN]

2. I hope that phase one is getting any presence in places

like Chicago, and phase two is getting a strong signal.

In the Twin Cities of Minnesota, we have a stronger signal now than a year ago, but not as strong as it should be.

[ohtransplant]

3. That seems like a logical conclusion

as I understand the signal in Chicago isn't as strong as the original station's.

[KharmaTrain]

4. A Couple Of Points...

First, I'd suggest if anyone wants a real good insight into what happened with Evan Cohen and AAR and indirectly on the Arthur Liu situation, watch "Left Of The Dial". HBO has been showing it, and is an excellent documentary on the start up of the network.

The Liu situation was Cohen had negotiated a contract with Liu, but hadn't put down any money. He signed a deal but he hadn't paid the first two weeks of the agreement when the network went on the air in Chicago & LA. At the same time, another group came in and had cash in hand and was ready to buy the time...and at a higher rate than Cohen and AAR. Liu notified Cohen that unless he paid up, the time would be sold out from under him...Cohen sent a check, but it was NSF. That's when Liu pulled the plug. A friendly judge negotiated to get AAR back on for an extra two weeks, but Liu could have contested and didn't. Shortly thereafter Cohen defaulted on payroll, insurance and was soon out the door.

The station is daytime only, but it's coverage overlaps with WCKY in Cincinatti that bombs into Chicago at night. The 850 signal is directional over the city's North, Northwest & West burbs and is many areas is louder than WLS (which transmits from the far south suburbs).

This station is also very blue. The owner, Fred Eychanner, is a large Democratic donor (very good friends with the Clintons and Al Gore) and station manager, Harvey Welles, comes from the hippie/progressive WXRT. It took a while to get this deal done, but hopefully it will work out for everyone. Here's hoping Fred & Harvey or the Drobnys start looking to localize the sound and really get this station flying.

[Eric J in MN]

5. What does NSF stand for? nt

nt