Thread: Air America goes under

http://airamerica.com/


It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our Board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the Company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding-down of the business.
The very difficult economic environment has had a significant impact on Air America's business. This past year has seen a "perfect storm" in the media industry generally. National and local advertising revenues have fallen drastically, causing many media companies nationwide to fold or seek bankruptcy protection. From large to small, recent bankruptcies like Citadel Broadcasting and closures like that of the industry's long-time trade publication Radio and Records have signaled that these are very difficult and rapidly changing times.
Those companies that remain are facing audience fragmentation as a result of new media technologies, are often saddled with crushing debt, and have generally found it difficult to obtain operating or investment capital from traditional sources of funding. In this climate, our painstaking search for new investors has come close several times right up into this week, but ultimately fell short of success.
With radio industry ad revenues down for 10 consecutive quarters, and reportedly off 21% in 2009, signs of improvement have consisted of hoping things will be less bad. And though Internet/new media revenues are projected to grow, our expanding online efforts face the same monetization and profitability challenges in the short term confronting the Web operations of most media companies
When Air America Radio launched in April, 2004 with already-known personalities like Al Franken and then-unknown future stars like Rachel Maddow, it was the only full-time progressive voice in the mainstream broadcast media world. At a critical time in our nation's history — when dissent on issues such as the Iraq war were often denounced as "un-American" — Air America and its talented team helped millions of Americans remember the importance of compelling discussion about the most pivotal events and decisions of our generation.
Through some 100 radio outlets nationwide, Air America helped build a new sense of purpose and determination among American progressives. With this revival, the progressive movement made major gains in the 2006 mid-term elections and, more recently, in the election of President Barack Obama and a strongly Democratic Congress.
Laws have changed for the better thanks to this revival.....but all the same our company cannot escape the laws of economics. So we intend a rapid, orderly closure over the next few days. All current employees will be paid through today, January 21. A severance package will be offered tomorrow to full-time current employees with more than six months of tenure.
We will strive to assist affiliates and partners in achieving a smooth transition. Starting at 6 pm EST today, we will provide our affiliates, listeners and users a selection of encore programming until 9 pm EST on Monday, January 25, at which time Air America programming will end.
We are proud that Air America's mission lives on through the words and actions of so many former radio hosts who are active today in progressive causes and media nationwide. In the years ahead, as we look back, we should all be proud of our passionate determination to assure that our nation's progressive voice would be heard loud and clear. Through the hard work and dedication of current staff, and those who preceded you, a lasting legacy was forged which will now continue through other voices and venues.
Thank you.

What a shame. Guess "Hope and Change" didn't work out for them.

Too bad Al Franken was elected to the Senate before they went under.

With so many Americans either unemployed or looking over their shoulders, Nancy Unamerican & Co. are learning that their Americans Last policies aren't sitting well with the people who could vote them out of office. Look for Nancy to have an epiphany which causes her to want nothing but jobs, jobs, and more jobs.

BTW in their letter to Obama dated Dec. 9, 2009 the Congressional Black Caucus called for targeting funds for job creation, job training, and helping small businesses - with the funds targeted to "American citizens."

Originally Posted by vistalad

BTW in their letter to Obama dated Dec. 9, 2009 the Congressional Black Caucus called for targeting funds for job creation, job training, and helping small businesses - with the funds targeted to "American citizens."

That's interesting, how did "World Citizen" Obama respond?

what i find funny is that the left didn't even attempt to bail them out, guess Soros didn't wanna be bothered

Originally Posted by miguelina

What a shame. Guess "Hope and Change" didn't work out for them.

How many times is this now that they've gone down like a Tommy Hearns opponent?

Soros will probably resserect the station right before the elections in November to campaign for his commie minions. If he doesn't, it will be because he too is now feeling the pinch of the economy.

Originally Posted by Hylander_1314

How many times is this now that they've gone down like a Tommy Hearns opponent?

Soros will probably resserect the station right before the elections in November to campaign for his commie minions. If he doesn't, it will be because he too is now feeling the pinch of the economy.

Libtard talk Radio was never that big anyway, one of the main reasons they tried to push the fairness doctrine. They couldn't compete with conservative talk radio.

Well, does this mean Keith Overbite and Chris "chill up my leg" Matthews will get the axe next!?! One can only hope. Air America has been on the skids for a while now, so comes as no surprise. People see thru thier BS eventually!