Air America in Seattle is playing college sports instead of Franken's finale

[upi402]

Sad- Air America on AM1090 in Seattle playing college sports instead of Al Franken's final show. Here's a bit of their email;

"It's A Catch 22!
Today, after 3 great years on the air, Al Franken will sign on for the last time. Today, we also find ourselves in a catch 22 as we will be broadcasting the Cougs / Husky game at the same time as Al's final show. We understand that this is going to be extremely frustrating to many of our dedicated listeners. Rest assured that this frustration doesn't fall on deaf ears. We ask that you please join us for Al's final show by Listening Live Online."

They air college sports A LOT! And they air yet another gardening show on weekend when I look for Bobby Kennedy and Mike Papantonio, or Laura Flanders. We are starved for truth and they feed us pap.
I wonder, is this happening in other markets? Are they _trying_ to commit radio suicide?

[AlCzervik]

1. yes it's happening here in Sacramento as well, am1320 is switching over

to sports. We had local liberal hosts and they were all dumped. I'm really unhappy about this. We have another liberal channel but i enjoyed 1320 plus the other channel put some money guy on in the afternoon and he often does interviews with Neil Cavuto from Faux-how un progressive.

[upi402]

2. This is "liberal" Seattle's ONLY progressive channel

What a sad thing thet even liberals I know don't listen, "Oh, I don't 'do' commercials" or "I should but I am really into Stern right now".

Here we go again. News and views that differ from corporatism will be snuffed.

[AlCzervik]

4. i'm sorry, i know it sucks for you and your fellow listeners. Maybe

another station will get picked up in your area?

[TheWebHead]

3. am1090 inherited WSU's contract when it was KING 1090

they've been running WSU football/basketball since the outset. But yeah, it was unfortunate Al's last 90 minutes were pre-empted. But they were in a bad spot, considering the Cougars are top 10 for the first time ever, so I'm guessing the ratings have been much better with them on. On the upside, a lot of east of the mountains conservatives may get a taste of liberal talk radio they otherwise would never have given a chance.

[Dean Martin]

5. that's because sports is all about money

and money pays their bills.

[ConsAreLiars]

6. The contract to broadcast that sports show came with the station purchase. They have no choice.

You can hear Ring of Fire and Laura Flanders, rather than the gardening show, if you listen at the time they are being broadcast. Here is the weekend schedule: http://am1090seattle.com/pages/33153.php

[upi402]

7. Thanks for the schedule, I tune in every chance I have

It's just that when I have the chance it's always football or gardening or wilderness -on weekends.
I know the WSU thing is a must-do but it's getting far more frequent.

[ConsAreLiars]

8. Despite the problems with the sports contract, they have become the highest rating talk radio

station in the city. See http://www.thomhartmann.com/SeattleARB.htm

[Union Thug]

9. I'm not a Franken fan, but, gawd, I hate sports broadcasting...

1090 weekends are often ruined by sports... blah!

[Mojambo]

10. Helps pay the bills.

If you'd like to send AM 1090 a check every month I'm sure they'd be glad to have it.