Quoth "Stephen M.H. Lawrence" in
ink.net:

I choose to believe they've exhibited, at the least,
poor judgment in locating a suitable broadcast
outlet

I'll agree with you there. It turns out (based on a review of FEC donation
records) that Arthur Liu, who owns the Chicago and LA stations, is a sleazy
republican.

But I repeat myself...

--
"I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle; for how can they
charitably dispose of anything when blood is their argument? Now, if these
men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the King that led them
to it; who to disobey were against all proportion of subjection." - W.S.

Tom Betz wrote:

Quoth "Stephen M.H. Lawrence" in
ink.net:

I choose to believe they've exhibited, at the least,
poor judgment in locating a suitable broadcast
outlet

I'll agree with you there. It turns out (based on a review of FEC donation
records) that Arthur Liu, who owns the Chicago and LA stations, is a sleazy
republican.

But I repeat myself...

It's hard to believe that Air America couldn't find a more sympathetic
station owner to run their stuff.

tommyknocker wrote in
:

It's hard to believe that Air America couldn't find a more sympathetic
station owner to run their stuff.

Their initial plan was to buy outright six radio stations, but right now,
with media consolidation in full swing and the FCC's loose rules about
multiple-station ownership allowing concentration of ownership in few
hands, that wasn't possible.

LA and Chicago are tight radio markets. They had to do business with
someone who was losing money with what was being aired before.


--
|I always wanted to be someone,| Tom Betz, Generalist |
|but now I think I should have | Want to send me email? |
|been a wee bit more specific. | http://tinyurl.com/ps2u |

"Tom Betz" wrote in message
. 70...

Their initial plan was to buy outright six radio stations, but right now,
with media consolidation in full swing and the FCC's loose rules about
multiple-station ownership allowing concentration of ownership in few
hands, that wasn't possible.


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. Was Air America planning to buy
stations already owned by the big networks?



LA and Chicago are tight radio markets. They had to do business with
someone who was losing money with what was being aired before.


If Air America paid Liu a million dollars for two months, that breaks down
to almost $600/hr. How can a small time 1kw-5kw brokered station lose money
even if the charge 25% of that amount? The brokered 100kw domestic SW
broadcasters get by on about $25/hr.

Was a million for a couple of months the best deal Air America could cut?

Frank Dresser

"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.

--
|I always wanted to be someone,| Tom Betz, Generalist |
|but now I think I should have | Want to send me email? |
|been a wee bit more specific. | http://tinyurl.com/ps2u |

Tom Betz wrote:

"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.

I rather doubt they'll buy any stations at all...

"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