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[Michael Czeiszperger <michael AT czeiszperger.org>]

On Mar 31, 2004, at 3:41 PM, Jeremy Portzer wrote:

> The funny thing is, the only way that "Air America Radio" could get  
> some
> of its stations to carry them is by purchasing the stations.   Other
> stations are being paid to carry the programming by the network.   Yet
> even so they are only starting off with 6 stations.

My understanding is they want to create their own network, and so by  
purchasing a station they can get their entire day of programming, much  
like a radio station could be a CBS affiliate.  It would be difficult  
to get any station to switch over to a brand new network with untested  
content, hence the need to purchase a station.

Perhaps starting with a hit show would have been the way to go before  
setting their sites on an entire network?


> This is in contrast to the conservative talk shows like Rush Limbaugh
> and Sean Hannitty which operate on a much more free market principle --
> stations pay the NETWORK for the privilege of carrying their popular
> programming.

I believe the general idea with Air America Radio is to make money in  
the normal way. This is a temporary measure to get their content on the  
air, which currently is dominated by right-wing talk radio. Radio  
stations that play conservative talk radio all day have a very strong  
disincentive to carry anything labeled as "liberal", and stations that  
don't carry talk shows wouldn't want to take a chance on both a new  
format and a new show.

________________________________________________________________________ 
_________
If you put up a large switch in a cave somewhere, with a sign on it  
saying "End-
of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH", the paint wouldn't even have  
time
to dry. -- Pratchett
        -- michael at czeiszperger dot org, Chapel Hill, NC