(This is how the UK press reported this story)

By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
16 April 2004

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...p?story=511873

Air America, the left-wing talk radio network that began broadcasting just
two weeks ago to counter the conservative right's dominance of the AM dial,
was reeling yesterday after its service was taken off the air in Chicago and
Los Angeles, two of its biggest markets.

The interruption appeared to be the result of a contract dispute between Air
America and its owner, MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting. MultiCultural's
chief executive said the radio network owed him $1m (£560,000) for a bounced
cheque.

Air America, meanwhile, complained that it had been the victim of a
"despicable act" that violated its contractual agreements. The network,
which has expanded from six affiliates to 16, strongly denied suggestions
that it was running out of money.

The fracas was highly disruptive for the new network as it seeks to build a
core audience and a steady flow of advertising revenue. The 17-hour-a-day,
five-day-a-week talk station features entertainers such as Al Franken,
actress Janeane Garofalo, and rap artist Chuck D.

But news that it had run into problems was greeted with glee by conservative
hosts on other stations, who have been the butt of countless jokes and
political hostilities on Air America.

Rush Limbaugh, the godfather of right-wing talk radio, likened Air America's
outlets to "1,000-watt blowtorches". Sean Hannity, one of the most
aggressive conservative voices on radio and television, mockingly suggested
that the only way liberals and left-wingers could secure a place on the
airwaves was if they were subsidised by the government.

The dispute with MultiCultural, meanwhile, headed straight to the State
Supreme Court in New York, where Air America is seeking an emergency order
to put it back on the air. In its court filing, it alleged that
MultiCultural had gratuitously closed down the Chicago station - where it
said there was no dispute - and changed the locks on the station doors to
"gain unfair leverage" in a financial disagreement going on in Los Angeles.

The LA dispute, meanwhile, centred on a tussle over air time between Air
America and an unconnected Spanish-language service - characterised by Air
America as a straight contractual disagreement that should go to arbitration
before pulling the plug.

Air America's chairman, Evan Cohen, called MultiCultural's behaviour
"disgraceful". "To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on without
warning and in the middle of discussions is the height of irresponsibility
and a slap in the face of the media industry," he said.

15 April 2004 22:43