"Air America" Deal Fails in Huge Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Market!

[KoKo]

Local Air America deal fails
http://newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/3464933p-3079688c.html
By VICKI HYMAN, Staff Writer

If Air America Radio would play anywhere, it would play in Chapel Hill. And until late last week, it looked like it would. When managers at WCHL 1360 AM, the Chapel Hill talk radio station, heard about a liberal talk radio network, they were intrigued."We do know that we have a fairly progressive audience," said Christy Jones, WCHL general manager. "Certainly not everyone, but of all places in this area, Chapel Hill would be the place where that programming would meet a receptive audience."

But Air America works on an affiliate model, in which it looks for low-rated stations to take a full menu of programming, instead of syndicating individual shows to fill certain blocks of the schedule.
WCHL wanted to broadcast only "The O'Franken Factor," with Al Franken, and "The Majority Report," featuring comedian Janeane Garofalo."We obviously can't just disregard all of our local programming," Jones said.Until Friday, WCHL thought it could come to an arrangement with Air America, but the deal fell through.

Curtis Media Group, which owns the Triangle's top-rated news/talk station WPTF 680 AM, never planned to seek Air America programming. Phil Zachary, the company's executive vice president, said he has doubts about it."It seems like it is programming that is created in response to programming that was created in response to a liberal media that I'm not sure exists," he said.


WPTF airs 10 straight hours of conservative and libertarian talk, starting at noon with Rush Limbaugh. But Zachary said he isn't closed to liberal programming -- or, at least, programming hosted by a liberal. He is interested in commentator Alan Colmes, who hosts a syndicated nightly current affairs radio show as well as co-hosts Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." (SNIP)

[Mr. Jinx]

1. That's too bad

It would have been nice to have Air America (even abbreviated) near the old homestead. Maybe one day...

[BabsSong]

2. I'm wondering if this whole thing takes off if the ultimate value will

be that radio stations and tv will begin to have segments of liberal broadcasting instead of all day right wing nut jobs. Maybe they won't buy a whole package; but maybe some liberals could do syndicated slots. The key is to make sure Air America is successful because all these stations and media are always looking to make a buck.

[blingbling8ball]

3. need help with air america on windows media player

does any one know what station i can listen to air america radio on with windows media player

[Lex]

5. I think you'll have to download Real Player

to get the show. Or at least that's what I've read. I'm no techie and I was able to talk my Dad through downloading, installing, and playing AirAmerica through Real Player. He was thrilled. He lives in out in the boonies of rural NC and all he gets is rightwing garbage all day long, so he's been on the countdown for AirAmerica.

[rocktivity]

17. Here's where you can download Real Player free

http://forms.real.com/real/player/blackjack.html

:headbang:
rocknation

[Lex]

4. D'ohhhhhhh!

Son of a b*tch!

It would've been nice to be able to bear to turn on the radio and listen to talk radio on WCHL from here in Durham! I can't stand the stuff that's on now. WPTF is bad for my health (makes my blood pressure go sky high, I'm pretty sure).

I guess I should whine to the powers that be at WCHL.

[KoKo]

7. I'm going to scout around and see if anyone is working on pressuring

"Curtis Media," besides the folks in Chapel Hill. Seems like a letter writing campaign might be in order, but I'll see what I can find and post about it when I do.

[Lex]

8. Sounds good!

I'd write a letter, and I have several friends who would do so as well.

[bearfartinthewoods]

21. yesterday, i read that it was Air America who is refusing to sell

individual shows so maybe they are who we should be writing to?

[supernova]

6. Well, I'm sure they'll keep trying

KoKo, this is a business deal that fell through, that's all. Your header makes it sound like we in the Triangle don't want AA. I'm sure you don't mean to say that.

CHL fell through, oh well. It would have been nice, since the WLIB feed is really popping in and out on me today.

I haven't listened to WPTF since I was about 7 and it was an actual news station. I occasionally liked listening to "Ask Your Neighbor;" it was my grandma's favorite progrm. Boy, talk about community radio!

As for the afilliate or spec programming, maybe AA will be more amienable to it once it feels it has a grounding.

."It seems like it is programming that is created in response to programming that was created in response to a liberal media that I'm not sure exists,"

Heh Heh. Phil Zachary just admits THERE IS NO LIBERAL MEDIA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[KoKo]

9. Headline says "Deal" fell through? ??? I know Many NC'linians want this!

The Peace March in Raleigh showed that there's a huge market. It isn't just Chapel Hill, I know Durham would want it. Now...as for Raleigh..sigh. Except for the downtown native Southerners who vote Democratic, I fear my experience with the "North Raleigh Crowd" (where all the growth is) is that Limbaugh is fine with them even if he was 24/7! And this is with all the "transplants" who seem to be Repugs.

sigh...:hi:

[supernova]

16. My bad

Sorry KoKo01. :hi:

That'l teach me to post before reading the article. :P

[K-W]

10. I hope air america syndicates its shows eventually.

You could get some shows into markets that would never support an all liberal station.

[MattNC]

11. a shame

Air America should've taken the deal. WCHL's local programs are popular and shouldn't be replaced.

[robbedvoter]

12. The triumph of free market, non?

Hey, maybe all those Edwards voters may help? ;-)

[matcom]

13. Air America making a HUGE mistake!

they SHOULD let certain shows be syndicated. they shouldn't force stations to carry it all.

Imagine, you turn on the radio at say, noon...get your fill of Rush Gassbag and then, IMMEDIATELY after you get the 'real story'

just my HO

[CatWoman]

14. Hey!!! I thought I was your ho

:P

[matcom]

18. you is my FIRSTEST and BESTEST HO BBIIIIIAAAAATTTCCCHHHH!!!

:loveya:

[supernova]

15. Could we all write in to AA

and try to get them to reconsider?

I admit I don't listen to CHL,not an AM kinda girl, but if I knew that Al or Janeane would be on, I'd definitely tune in then.

[Wapsie B]

19. I say

that they should syndicate the individual shows. The beauty about AA is that they have a wide variety of shows appealing to different audiences. I for one think that Ed Schultz could have a big national appeal in working-class communities across the county. And to force a station to take the whole enchilada rather than ala carte is a bad business decision that needs to be reversed.

[redqueen]

20. lol... he's not opposed to liberal programming, but likes Colmes?

:crazy:

And WHY is Colmes syndicated?! Does he act more like a vertebrate on his radio show? :grr:

[Zinfandel]

22. All or nothing that's how Fox did it on TV with UHF and local channels.

Even with a shit product, they made it and are here to stay (unfortunately). Because Fox knew the business and the market, they stuck to their guns and only allowed local news to be aired on Fox "affiliates".

[Carolina]

23. this may be off subject a bit

but liberals, progressives, Democrats (whatever we wish to call ourselves)READ! We have tuned out the media for so long because of its rightwing Bush/GOP bias, that coming back is hard. We have become so accustomed to tuning out talk radio and TV, that now despite an opportunity and reason to tune in, the 'tune-out' habit prevails. Limited access doesn't help either. That may account somewhat for the market failure in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.

I rarely watch TV and never listen to radio. I only bother if I get the heads up from DUers that something is going to be on TV like the Dem Unity Dinner, Richard Clarke on MTP, etc. Right now, too, there so much good anti-Bush reading material ... (so many books, so little time) that radio, even good radio, may be taking a backseat.