A much-buzzed-about liberal radio network will start broadcasting
March 31 with such well-known entertainers as Al Franken, Janeane
Garofalo and Chuck D among the hosts, executives said yesterday.
Officials at Air America Radio said the network will debut on leased
stations in four of the nation's top markets: New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles and San Francisco. They said they are also exploring buying
or leasing stations in such cities as Washington, Boston and
Philadelphia but did not provide details, and no Washington deal is
expected for some time.
With talk radio dominated by conservatives, many listeners
are "begging" for an alternative, Mark Walsh, chief executive of the
New York-based company, told reporters. He said the company had
gone "from zero to 600 miles an hour in about 90 days."
Walsh, an Internet entrepreneur, and New York venture capitalist
Evan Cohen bought the network in December from the original owners,
Democratic donors Sheldon and Anita Drobny of Chicago. They have
formed a partnership with Inner City Broadcasting for the Manhattan
station, WLIB.
Franken, who once wrote a book attacking Rush Limbaugh, will now
compete against Limbaugh in the noon to 3 p.m. slot.
He is calling his show "The O'Franken Factor" in a jab at Bill
O'Reilly and Fox News, which sought an injunction against his
book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." And he plans to
criticize the president early and often.
"We're going to take it to Bush," Franken said. "Bush is going down
in November. Then we're going to take it to the right-wing media and
hold them up to scorn and ridicule."
Network executives said they expect to complete deals with satellite
television (most likely the Dish Network) and satellite radio firms
to carry the programs nationwide, and that the network can also be
accessed on their Web site.
Air America, which will air original programming from 7 a.m. to 11
p.m. weekdays, also plans weekend programming with such hosts as
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Salon.com will contribute a daily story.
Company executives expressed hope that operating their own stations
will enable them to build an audience more effectively than trying
to syndicate liberal hosts on stations where listeners expect
conservative talk.
The O'Franken Factor
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A much-buzzed-about liberal radio network will start broadcasting
March 31 with such well-known entertainers as Al Franken, Janeane
Garofalo and Chuck D among the hosts, executives said yesterday.
Officials at Air America Radio said the network will debut on leased
stations in four of the nation's top markets: New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles and San Francisco. They said they are also exploring buying
or leasing stations in such cities as Washington, Boston and
Philadelphia but did not provide details, and no Washington deal is
expected for some time.
With talk radio dominated by conservatives, many listeners
are "begging" for an alternative, Mark Walsh, chief executive of the
New York-based company, told reporters. He said the company had
gone "from zero to 600 miles an hour in about 90 days."
Walsh, an Internet entrepreneur, and New York venture capitalist
Evan Cohen bought the network in December from the original owners,
Democratic donors Sheldon and Anita Drobny of Chicago. They have
formed a partnership with Inner City Broadcasting for the Manhattan
station, WLIB.
Franken, who once wrote a book attacking Rush Limbaugh, will now
compete against Limbaugh in the noon to 3 p.m. slot.
He is calling his show "The O'Franken Factor" in a jab at Bill
O'Reilly and Fox News, which sought an injunction against his
book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." And he plans to
criticize the president early and often.
"We're going to take it to Bush," Franken said. "Bush is going down
in November. Then we're going to take it to the right-wing media and
hold them up to scorn and ridicule."
Network executives said they expect to complete deals with satellite
television (most likely the Dish Network) and satellite radio firms
to carry the programs nationwide, and that the network can also be
accessed on their Web site.
Air America, which will air original programming from 7 a.m. to 11
p.m. weekdays, also plans weekend programming with such hosts as
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Salon.com will contribute a daily story.
Company executives expressed hope that operating their own stations
will enable them to build an audience more effectively than trying
to syndicate liberal hosts on stations where listeners expect
conservative talk.
March 31 with such well-known entertainers as Al Franken, Janeane
Garofalo and Chuck D among the hosts, executives said yesterday.
Officials at Air America Radio said the network will debut on leased
stations in four of the nation's top markets: New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles and San Francisco. They said they are also exploring buying
or leasing stations in such cities as Washington, Boston and
Philadelphia but did not provide details, and no Washington deal is
expected for some time.
With talk radio dominated by conservatives, many listeners
are "begging" for an alternative, Mark Walsh, chief executive of the
New York-based company, told reporters. He said the company had
gone "from zero to 600 miles an hour in about 90 days."
Walsh, an Internet entrepreneur, and New York venture capitalist
Evan Cohen bought the network in December from the original owners,
Democratic donors Sheldon and Anita Drobny of Chicago. They have
formed a partnership with Inner City Broadcasting for the Manhattan
station, WLIB.
Franken, who once wrote a book attacking Rush Limbaugh, will now
compete against Limbaugh in the noon to 3 p.m. slot.
He is calling his show "The O'Franken Factor" in a jab at Bill
O'Reilly and Fox News, which sought an injunction against his
book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them." And he plans to
criticize the president early and often.
"We're going to take it to Bush," Franken said. "Bush is going down
in November. Then we're going to take it to the right-wing media and
hold them up to scorn and ridicule."
Network executives said they expect to complete deals with satellite
television (most likely the Dish Network) and satellite radio firms
to carry the programs nationwide, and that the network can also be
accessed on their Web site.
Air America, which will air original programming from 7 a.m. to 11
p.m. weekdays, also plans weekend programming with such hosts as
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Salon.com will contribute a daily story.
Company executives expressed hope that operating their own stations
will enable them to build an audience more effectively than trying
to syndicate liberal hosts on stations where listeners expect
conservative talk.
