"Tom Betz" wrote in message
. 70...
"Frank Dresser" wrote in
:

I'm not sure how this follows. Media consolidation is in full swing.
The FCC now has loose rules about multiple station ownership. Air
America can't buy the stations they planned on buying.

Because the Clear Channels and Viacoms of this world now own so many
stations in major markets, the markets are locked up. The current rules
allow them to own some money-losers in the same markets as big money-
makers, just to maintain a lock on the market -- the big money-makers
subsidize the money-losers.

In the past, such money-losers would be more likely candidates for sale to
an upstart like Air America.

In the current climate, it will take them longer to start buying.



The big networks haven't taken over the AM band in Chicago. The 50kw clear
channel stations have always been in the networks, with the exception of
WGN. The only big daytime signal the networks have picked up is AM 1000
WMVP. There are some network smaller stations, but they hardly overwhelm
the market, maybe because the market is already overwhelmed by the big
Chcago signals. WNTD is listenable around most of Chicago, but several
other city and suburban stations are about as good, and aren't in major
networks, either.

Here's the Illinois list, maybe about a third are listenable in Chicago.

http://tinyurl.com/3xa2q

Anyway, I'm sure none of those choices are perfect, and given the short time
frame they were operating with, WNTD may have just about the only choice. I
don't know. Chicago is filled with independant time brokered stations, but
I suppose most of them have long term commitments or loyal customers in much
of the time slots needed in Air America's broadcast day. Still, I heard one
of the brokered stations soliciting programs just a few days ago.

Frank Dresser