Air America is filing for bankruptcy and ceasing live broadcasts

[Missy Vixen]

per TPM...

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/air-america-filing-for-bankruptcy-ceasing-live-broadcasts.php

>It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our Board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the Company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding-down of the business.

The very difficult economic environment has had a significant impact on Air America's business. This past year has seen a "perfect storm" in the media industry generally. National and local advertising revenues have fallen drastically, causing many media companies nationwide to fold or seek bankruptcy protection. From large to small, recent bankruptcies like Citadel Broadcasting and closures like that of the industry's long-time trade publication Radio and Records have signaled that these are very difficult and rapidly changing times.<

[The Wielding Truth]

1. The devil rules . Rush and Beck thrive and the peoples voice is weakened.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[tridim]

11. Clear Channel is bankrupt too.

Yet somehow they keep on going.

Now they'll have lots of new ad revenue from their corporate sponsors attack ads.

[The Wielding Truth]

15. Yea, that proves the Pottersville analogy. Democracy may be to noble for the USA.

[RockaFowler]

2. The smaller media companies are dying

Heck even one as large as my company is barely keeping afloat. This is just not a great time to be a smaller media company - wait a large company may buy them up. But who do they have left???

[kjackson227]

3. This is so sad. But, I'm glad we still have Democracy Now .

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. Well, this might hurt Ron Reagan

But that's about the only real talent they had left. The real Air America was dead the day they stabbed Mike Malloy in the back (August 30, 2006)

Hopefully Ron can sign on with Dial Global (where Thom, Ed, Stephanie, and Bill Press are) or self-syndicate (as Mike Malloy is now doing)

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. I never listen anymore. ( Montel was sort of the last straw.) But....

... still sorry to see it go under.

What will happen to syndicated talkjocks like Hartmann and Reagan? Will any one pick them up?

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Hartman broke official relations with AAR a while ago

some stations carried him, more than just a few... but I guess he saw it coming

[Eric J in MN]

6. My local Air America station stopped emphasizing "Air America" a long time ago.

I hope this doesn't affect them much (AM950 in Minnesota.)

Most of their programming isn't from Air America.

They play Bill Press and Stephanie Miller who weren't with Air America.

Though they also play Thom Hartmann, who was with Air America.

[Owl]

18. AM950 in MN is fine (THANK GOODNESS!), however per their website

"AM950 will lose several shows distributed by Air America including the Ron Reagan Show, the Nicole Sandler Show and several weekends shows."

[Eric J in MN]

19. Thanks, I found their statement by Googling your quote.

AM950 Wishes the Best to New York's Air America Employees Affected by the Bankruptcy

AM950 is saddened to learn of the bankruptcy of Air America Media in New York. We wish the best to all their employees in this difficult time of transition. AM950 is grateful for the early work done by Air America in creating around the clock progressive talk programming.

AM950 will lose several shows distributed by Air America including the Ron Reagan Show, the Nicole Sandler Show and several weekends shows.

Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Bill Press and Mike Malloy will stay on the air along with the other local talk show hosts at AM950. As an independently owned and operated radio station, AM950 is financially profitable thanks to its talented talk show host, dedicated staff, great advertisers and loyal listeners.

AM950 celebrates its 5th successful year on the air this Saturday at the Blue State Bash at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

I'm surprised that Thom Hartmann's show won't be affected. I had thought his show was produced or at least distributed by Air America.

[DrDan]

8. been a bad week for liberals/progressives . . .

[onestepforward]

14. Yes it has...(sigh) n/t

[Subdivisions]

9. Here's hoping Clear Channel meets a similar fate... n/t

[undeterred]

13. Clear Channel sponsors the progressive station in my area.

And very little of it is Air America any more.

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. Has this been verified at all?

Not that the news would be all that surprising, but I just looked at the Air America website, and something seems fishy with this whole thing.

All you see is a generic white page with the memo, and not even an official Air America logo, or even the name of the CEO or whomever would have signed such a thing.

It looks like a website hack to me. I guess we'll know in about 45 minutes whether or not this is true (for those who are in markets that carry Ron Reagan's show live.)

[Gregorian]

16. Go with listener supported funding.

Then I would begin listening. I can't stand commercial radio. I don't care how good the commercials are.

[tishaLA]

17. But BillO told me they went bankrupt years ago!

Please don't tell me BillO was lying to me.....

[Eric J in MN]

20. In 2006, Air America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy,..

...which means re-organization.

But now they've filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means the end.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

21. We've still got NPR.