Air America Radio Comes to Washington, DC
Air America Radio, the liberal radio network featuring Al Franken is coming to Washington, DC on radio station WRC 1260 AM. In addition, Al Franken has signed a three year contract to continue his broadcasts on Air America Radio through 2007. Air America Radio has grown from its very weak status with only a handful of stations, some of which it lost shortly after startup, to over 40 stations nationwide. Click here to find a station near you.
WRC, a Clear Channel Communications, Inc. radio station will change its format from sports talk to all political talk radio with many of Air America Radio's liberal talk show hosts and some of its own liberal talk show hosts, as reported by Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post on December 9, 2004.
From the article:
"Air America's Beltway debut will be Jan. 20, with Franken broadcasting from President Bush's second inauguration. WRC . . . hope[s] to have many of their liberal . . . hosts broadcasting live that day from the Mandarin Hotel."
. . .
"Asked for comment, Bennett Zier, who oversees WRC . . . as Clear Channel's regional vice president, said, 'We broadcast what the people want to hear. After the election, people in this area have a lot to say and we want to make sure we're providing outlets for all opinions.' "
. . .
"The lineup, which includes actress Janeane Garofalo and radio veteran Randi Rhodes, who has also signed a new contract, has drawn respectable ratings in a medium long dominated by the right. Among listeners ages 25 to 54, Air America says, it has been in the top five in San Diego, Miami and Portland, Ore."
" 'Air America has been something of a phenomenon,' said Michael Harrison, editor of the industry magazine Talkers. 'Their accomplishment has to be measured in more than revenue and ratings. They've had a tremendous impact on changing the culture of talk radio and the way talk radio is perceived by the public. They've really opened the door to major industry licensees and program producers recognizing that talk radio has a huge potential market beyond just conservative hosts.' "
WRC, a Clear Channel Communications, Inc. radio station will change its format from sports talk to all political talk radio with many of Air America Radio's liberal talk show hosts and some of its own liberal talk show hosts, as reported by Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post on December 9, 2004.
From the article:
"Air America's Beltway debut will be Jan. 20, with Franken broadcasting from President Bush's second inauguration. WRC . . . hope[s] to have many of their liberal . . . hosts broadcasting live that day from the Mandarin Hotel."
. . .
"Asked for comment, Bennett Zier, who oversees WRC . . . as Clear Channel's regional vice president, said, 'We broadcast what the people want to hear. After the election, people in this area have a lot to say and we want to make sure we're providing outlets for all opinions.' "
. . .
"The lineup, which includes actress Janeane Garofalo and radio veteran Randi Rhodes, who has also signed a new contract, has drawn respectable ratings in a medium long dominated by the right. Among listeners ages 25 to 54, Air America says, it has been in the top five in San Diego, Miami and Portland, Ore."
" 'Air America has been something of a phenomenon,' said Michael Harrison, editor of the industry magazine Talkers. 'Their accomplishment has to be measured in more than revenue and ratings. They've had a tremendous impact on changing the culture of talk radio and the way talk radio is perceived by the public. They've really opened the door to major industry licensees and program producers recognizing that talk radio has a huge potential market beyond just conservative hosts.' "
posted by Michael | 4:43 AM
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