Okay.What is the status of Air America? Are they closing up shop?

[saracat]

When will we know? Whenis their last day if they don't get a buyer? Anyone? I hear all kinds of rumors but no real info posted anywhere!

[bluestateguy]

1. There is a rumor of an investor group being put together by Doug Kreeger

This rumor comes from, of all places, Brian Maloney's Air America bashing site. I refuse to link it.

[Eric J in MN]

2. If they're still going on February 1, 2007....

...that will be a good sign.

Al Franken has said that he's not sure if there will still be an AAR when he plans to return, a couple of weeks from Monday.

[Eric J in MN]

3. On the bright side,

Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, and Mike Malloy aren't distributed by AAR.

Al Franken and Randi Rhodes are distributed by AAR, but have good enough ratings to stay in radio if they want to regardless of AAR.

Sam Seder (also distributed by AAR) probably has ideas for TV or movie projects if AAR folds, and so he'll stick around in some way.

[Mythsaje]

4. Thom Hartmann is also distributed by Jones

and on Sirius satellite radio.

I'd hate it if AAR folds, but I'm not sure it would be the end of the world. It's shown to be a successful format in some markets, at least, so something is bound to rise to take its place...at least regionally.

[saracat]

5. Truthfully, the only one I would miss is Randi.She can grate a bit but man she knows her facts

Malloy seems to hate everyone and everything.I know he has loyal listeners but he really annoys me. I can't stand Schultz.Franken bores me and I never got into Miller. I might like her though.But I would really miss my Randi fix!And I do like Sam.

[spag68]

6. AAR

I think AAR's biggest problem is that progressives, unlike rethugs, can absorb the gist of an idea and gather more facts from other sources to support it. The rethugs need to have it pounded into their heads, hour after hour and day after day. To me AAR is preaching to the choir, but I listen for the laughs.

[Dumak]

7. Why AAR is having problems

For the fascists, listening to talk radio is like being a participant in a sporting event, where you do nothing but pound your opponent into submission, over and over again. A thrill they never tire of.

For the progressives, listening to talk radio is usually more of an information-gathering experience.

Another difference is probably advertising. Most advertising is a form of propaganda. Ask yourself - what people are more susceptible to propaganda, fascists or progressives? The answer seems obvious, and explains why the right-wing stations are going to inevitably get more income through advertising.

[GreenZoneLT]

9. IIANM, it's more an advertiser boycott than anything

From what I've read, they've done OK in drawing listeners, but a lot of corporations have pulled their advertising from AAR stations for ideological reasons.

[SeattleGirl]

10. Except some of the advertisers on the AAR boycott list did NOT

ask that their advertising be banned from AAR. For example, I read in one of our local papers that REI (local to Seattle, but available nationwide) did NOT ask to not have ads played on AAR, and I've read that other companies are making the same claim. I'm sorry I don't have a link to the other companies, but I do know that REI should not belong on the boycott list (which was probably put together but some righty wingnut).

[silverojo]

8. Well, there's still Nova M Radio

So it's not like liberal talk radio is becoming extinct. :)