I don't get Air America

[forgethell]

in my location. Heck, I can't even get good reception for the Rush Limbaugh station. Maybe it's my receiver. What are some general thoughts about the quality of the programming? Is it funny; is it going to be effective? Will it last? Who is the best (most effective) commentator? Who should be gone to make room for somebody else?

I understand that some elements of the black community are upset that their programming was knocked off for this project. Will this hurt in November?

Any comments?

[cheezus]

1. you can stream it

airamericaradio.com

you need realplayer. go to real.com, but don't get tricked into downloading the non-free player

[jadedcherub]

2. why don't you listen online? (n/t)

[forgethell]

8. I'm on dial-up and

my speedy connection is a work computer. Don't want to push it.

[MikeG]

3. You can get XM radio. Channel 167.

[Wickerman]

4. Count your blessings you can't get Rush

Try streaming the AA stuff. Its very good. It will only improve.

The disenfranchised blacks? I don't attempt to speak for them, but what I understand was that a small low power station relinquished some time to AA. It affected a relatively small number of people for a short time. The primary complainer was African American. He is also a republican. Compare that to Clear Channel Communications which buys up minority owned stations on a regular basis with nary a complaint from same pol

[Jane Austin]

5. Somebody on Hardball last night

said he thought it would be a success, because it's a part of the market that has gone unserved.

Matthews keeps trying to cast the radio audience as "travelling salesmen who are republicans". I don't think he realizes how many people listen to the radio all the time at home and at work.

And he must also not realize that a lot of people are stuck in traffic as they go to and from work and errands.

[Kahuna]

12. Chris Matthews is a boob. His thought process seems to be..

part of a D.C.-think loop. Nothing that isn't said in D.C., is of any value or use to him. Also, he needs to stop listening to Rush.

[Canuckistanian]

6. AAR took over WLIB

Which I think was a Caribbean oriented station.
Website:
http://www.wlib.com/

I can't seem to pick it up here (although I get 770 WABC loud and clear)
As for hurting in November, what do you think the black community would prefer, another RW wall-to-wall racist spew-fest format or a Democratic, progressive format?
These days radio stations change formats at the drop of a hat, whatever the station owner think will get him market share. This is reality.

[NJCher]

7. hmmm, that would make sense

My construction contractor is originally from Trinidad. Last night I asked him what radio stations he listened to. He said WLIB. At first I was surprised but then he explained the station had been broadcasting a lot of stuff that was anti-bush so it seemed a natural to go to this programming.

He's an ardent fan and still listens. We talked about a lot of the interviews and some of the personalities.

He says his friends who were fans of the old format are now listening to the new format.


Cher

[Kahuna]

9. Good.. I was concerned that my West Indian neighbors would..

be put out with the format change. I'd like to think that many of them can appreciate the new format. Added benefit for me is that I won't have to listen to the loud music booming from their car speakers in my parking lot and driveway. }(

[forgethell]

10. Thank you for your comments

I'll try to see what I can do to listen to a few programs. Any other commments are welcome.

[Kahuna]

11. To answer your question.. I live in a city with a very large..

West Indian population. Native Americans are in the minority.

The neighbors in my apartment building were absolutely stunned with what happened in 2000. They were walking around like zombies asking, what happened. They hate bush. I think they will understand. I hope they will.

I'm in the WLIB area, 15 miles from NYC. I get decent reception in my car for the most part. When I head to the mountainous areas, it suffers. I can also listen at home on my radio with very little static.

[Bill McBlueState]

13. the day before the switch to Air America

WLIB ran a message saying they were the pioneers of Black talk radio (I think that was their name for it), but that format had failed to bring in the money they needed to keep the station afloat. They said that they were proud to become the flagship station for a new progressive radio network, and hoped their listeners would stay with them.

BTW: I'm about half an hour north of Springfield, Mass., and I can get WLIB quite well at night but not so much during the day. I'm hoping a Boston AAR affiliate opens soon.

[Kahuna]

14. This is true. They did have a talk format. Since I didn't listen..

I don't know when they went reggae. I do remember listening to Sam Greenfield and some other guy about a year ago. It was awful. The other man was more geared towards community issues. Whereas Greenfield is more politically inclined. Sam had a pretty good political talk radio show a few years back. It would be nice if they found a spot for Sam on AAR.