Air America Appears To Lose Flagship Station

[robcon]

I don't know whether this site can be trusted, but there is a rumor AAR is losing its New York outlet, WLIB.

"...In a development sure to rip the heart right out of the liberal radio network's already ailing body, it appears extremely likely their leased New York City flagship station WLIB-AM will soon abandon Air America programming..."

http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2006/03/wlib-air-ame...

[patricia92243]

1. I assume that means it will go off the air. The only liberal voice we had

Terrible, terrible news.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. There was another thread

about the religous wackos trying to buy up all the stations that broadcast AAR.

This happened before, about 10 years ago, when SKY went around the country and bought up the best and most liberal rock stations.

[fasttense]

3. Not sure of the accuracy of the radio equalizer

His banner clearly indicates he is a proud guest of FOX and O'Reilly. I'm not taking his word for anything.

[robcon]

4. I agree about the source, fasttense.

We'll see what happens.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. "radioequalizer" is full of shit...

Exhibit A: the picture from the article:


Like I'm gonna believe a word this nitwit says...

[sellitman]

6. It will probably be replaced with "Chistian Radio Programming"

Hey.....look on the bright side folks...at least it will get Springer off the air.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Nothing yet on New York Radio Message Board

http://musicradio.computer.net/wwwboard/nyboard1.html

On the other hand, if it's true, as far as the New York market goes:

First they came for WEVD, and I said nothing because I couldn't stand the hourlong paid commercial programming.

Then they came for Lynn Samuels on WABC, and I said nothing because I couldn't stand her voice (Note: I LOVE Lynn. This is parody.)

Then they came for Richard Bey on WABC, and I said nothing because he wasn't liberal enough.

Then they came for the liberal ministers on "Religion On Line" on WABC, and said nothing because I'm an atheist.

Then they came for Air America and there was nothing to listen to.

[still_one]

8. just the sentence itself

"...rip the heart right out of the liberal radio networks already ailing body..."

says everything about the agenda of this article

Since its inception two years ago the right wing echo chamber has been screaming that it would NOT last a year, well we are on two years right now. The number of local stations has grown to over a 85.

Even if they were going to lose the NY station what makes anyone think they cannot get another station. WE ARE TALKING NY. This is a blue state...

For two years they have been swift-boating AAR hoping that by doing so it would go away. Well, it isn't going to happen

[phylny]

9. I wish they'd get a station that actually had power to reach Orange

County. I can listen - somewhat - from Springer through Franken, although the reception stinks and I miss some of the programs. Anything before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m. is woefully unclear.

[DemNoir]

10. Gee I dunno

Looking around that site it's primary purpose seems to be smearing AAR. On the other hand, the incompetence of AAR's management is palpable, so anything is possible.

[Minnesota Libra]

11. Pray tell why every able bodied Liberal is not........

...demonstrating in every city to get and keep liberal radio and TV?? This is how the neocons get and keep control of everything. We let them have that control. Keep in mind radio and TV are money making enterprises and we could easily use that against them.

[robcon]

12. The M-Th WLIB schedule doesn't show any AAR hosts.

This could be real...

http://www.wlib.com/mon-thursched.html


6am - 10am Wake Up New York
Hosts: Art Whaley & Denise Richardson

10 am - 12pm Hit It
Host: Dr. Jeff Gardere

12pm - 1pm (Wednesdays) Dialogue with Dinkins
Host: The Honorable David Dinkins

12pm - 4pm Politics Live Host: Mark Riley

4pm - 7pm Sports Box Hosts: Larry Hardesty and Billy Taylor

7 pm - 12am Bob Frederick Live Host: Bob Frederick

12am - 6am Ian "The Goose" Eligon

[CottonBear]

16. I thought Randi Rhodes broadcasts from NYC? n/t

[DemNoir]

17. Thats an old page

Did you see the date 2000? They never changed it from before AAR took over.

[Pab Sungenis]

18. Look at the copyright date.

That's an old site.

[Armstead]

25. That's an old web page from before the AAR deal

[scarletlib]

26. "Copyright 2000" on the bottom of the page (link) you posted.

Looks like this is a page from before AAR took over the station.

Righties have been predicting the demise of AAR from its first day on air.

I hope and believe this is wrong information. Looking at AAR's web page (current) and nothing is showing anything about this.

From what I hear, from real radio ratings, Randi, Al, etc. are all rising in the radio ratings.

[adriennui]

13. mike malloy hasn't been on in NY

for over a month. maybe this is why he went so quietly.


the thought of the rightwingers glee is nauseating.

[Olney Blue]

14. This better be wrong.....

[robcon]

15. WLIB format is now African, Caribbean, African-American newstalk & music

This looks real to me. The station has changed the format back to what is was before AAR. Station's statement:

"WLIB 1190AM is the soul of New York's Black Community. It is the collective mind and experience of a people. It is the spirit and hope of the race. WLIB is the very heart of African American, Caribbean and African Culture, representing millions of residents in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metropolitan areas.

WLIB's format is News, Talk & Information, Sports and Music from a African American and Caribbean perspective. Our goal for the listeners are to enlighten, inform and inspire. Our goal for the advertiser is to increase profits, build consumer confidence and promote good will. "

http://www.wlib.com/whoweare.html

[DemNoir]

19. That page has always been there

They remained Caribbean format form 12AM to 5AM. The DU "investigative" team is at it again. You guys make FOX look good.

[deutsey]

20. That's what I thought...I remember it being there back when WLIB

joined AAR.

Besides that, if you go to www.wlib.com, the AAR logo is clearly displayed.

[scarletlib]

27. see my earlier post on a similiar link.

This is an old WLIB web link. Information from 2001 is on it as latest news. AAR did not begin until (this month) 2 yrs ago in 2003.

[annabanana]

21. consider the source...

peruse the site and make your own determination...

[adriennui]

22. i checked free republic

no mention of it there....no party hats or celebrations.

hopefully it's misinformation although i find myself listening to alot of sirius lately.

[farmbo]

23. BFD...If true, Air America will find a New York home...their ratings rock

The Fundies and RW assault squads can only deliver temporary setbacks now.

[gohuskies]

24. 'Radio Equalizer' aka Brian Maloney is a rw hack

This guy is another shrill right wing FREEPER creep. He was fired from KIRO in Seattle a couple years ago and can't get a steady radio gig, so jerks like O'Lielly, Hannity, and the rest of FAUX can upon him for his 'expert' analysis. He is a first class jerk who patterns his schtick after O'Lielly; DON'T BELIEVE A WORD THIS ASSHAT SAYS!! HE IS NOT CREDIBLE.

[Armstead]

28. This could be true --Michaels could replace AAR witn his own liberal talk

Randy Michaels is working to create his own radio empire. He could take control of WLIB and replace AAR with his own or other syndicated liberal talkers.

In other words, in New York it could be Bye Bye Randi Rhodes and Hello Ed Shultz. Bye Bye Jerry Springer, Hello Stephanie Miller.

He thereby could fill the liberal niche while dealing a serious blow to AAR as the national competition.

[HamdenRice]

29. WLIB is owned by a very solid Democratic family, the Suttons

WLIB is owned by Percy Sutton a very solid African American Democratic businessman, lawyer and politician in NYC.

Percy Sutton was a WWII hero with the Black Army Air Force -- the Tuskeegee airmen. He wasn't a pilot, but I believe an intelligence officer.

He went to school after the war and became a lawyer and politician. He was counsel to Malcolm-X, and was Borough President of Manhattan at one point.

He founded a radio business here in NYC and owns both WLIB and WBLS through the parent company, Inner City Broadcasting. I believe it is also part of a group that owns the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.

They make plenty of money from WBLS, an urban music format station, which has intermittently been the number one station in the number one market in the country. WLIB was always an African-American and Caribbean news talk format that didn't make very much money, so it was a good deal financially and politically for the Suttons to lease it to a progressive national network.

I sincerely doubt that the Suttons have somehow taken back their lease of WLIB, but I don't know for a fact. It just doesn't sound very likely. The Suttons are certainly not likely to withdraw from Air America for political reasons.

[Armstead]

30. Sutton is a businessman.

If he abanmdoned the black audience by changing the format of WLIB to AAR, why would his company not do the same with AAR and the liberal audience?

Or, it's possible, as I noted above, it's also possible that the compoany could be going for a better business deal that replaces AAR with anotehr version of liberal talk.

[HamdenRice]

32. A businessman, but a very political, progressive businessman

Pierre Sutton who is in charge now said at the time of the changeover that Black New Yorkers had stopped listening to WLIB. So it was a good deal politically and financially for the Suttons.

My main point though was that unlike some other affiliates, one thing we can discount is that WLIB is under any political or corporate headquarters type pressure to ditch AAR, because it is controlled by a single family and that family is solidly aligned with the Democratic party and progressive movement.

[Armstead]

33. I hope you're right

[Horse with no Name]

31. I had a feeling this was going to happen

prior to the midterm elections. Sorry but I don't think it is very tinfoil to think that this wasn't planned this way.
I heard Phoenix lost theirs as well.
My guess is that we will lose more to conservative based buyouts/takeovers.
They are only interested in stifling voices that aren't their own. It's so Rovian it smells like goat.

[KittyWampus]

34. For God's Sake THE OPENING POST IS BULLSHIT

I just cannot believe how easily DU'ers are mislead.

Read the damned thread. The Opening Post has been debunked as has every attempt by Opening Poster to bulster the original bullshit post.

[Horse with no Name]

35. So what about the Christian station taking over in Phoenix?

Have you debunked that too?

[dogday]

36. Some people might actually want to read what they post

before they post it....

[Moderator]

37. Locking....

It appears that this story is not true.
If you can find this story at a
reputable source, please feel free
to repost.