Mediaweek reports that Air America Radio will lose its New York flagship station, WLIB-AM, when its lease runs out on Aug. 31. According to the report, the lease originally ended on March 31, but the network got an extension that lasts only until the end of August. The story suggests that progressive talk programming will continue on WLIB, but with more local programming. The station will be operated as a joint venture betweeen current owner Inner City Broadcasting Corporation and P1, a company run by veteran radio executive Randy Michaels. P1 will handle the programming side of the business, and will likely launch their syndicated talk program The Ed Schultz Show, which they acquired last year from Democracy Radio.
This doesn't necessarily mean the end of Air America programming in the New York market; a spokesman is quoted as saying “to be clear, Air America will not go silent on the New York City airwaves.” Perhaps they can find a new home further to the left... lord knows there's not much happening on 570AM these days.
For more about Air America Radio, check out this post and this post from WFMU staffer and Beware Of The Blog correspondent The Professor .
Maybe they can get another $875,000 loan from the nonprofit taxpayer-supported Gloria Wise foundation and Al Franken can again deny any knowledge of it?
Posted by: stew | May 01, 2006 at 11:14 AM
The loss of WLIB would be a blow to AAR but the network has been it trouble before and made it through. I don't live in NYC but really hope that AAR can continue on. Who else would have the guts to carry the incredibly hip Marc Maron Show?
Posted by: Shawn | May 31, 2006 at 05:43 PM