Difference between revisions of "Air America Radio"
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| − | '''Air America Radio''' was founded in 2004 by Sheldon and Anita Drobny as a far-left radio network. It | + | '''Air America Radio''' was founded in 2004 by Sheldon and Anita Drobny as a far-left radio network. It was a commercial failure, losing money from its inception and failing to attract listener numbers comparable to popular conservative or moderate liberal talk show hosts. Air America began bouncing its employees' payroll checks shortly after taking to the airwaves. Bankruptcy was necessary due to the inability to attract advertisers, ratings below what was expected, declining interest in program content, and poor management. The misuse of investors' funds, and the ill-treatment of workers remains controversial. Nearly one million dollars of Air America's funds were improperly obtained from a federally-funded charity for children. <ref>http://newsbusters.org/node/8166</ref> Two executives at that charity were indicted over the matter. |
| − | Air America | + | Air America operated at a loss, smearing President [[George W. Bush]] and conservatives in general. |
| − | Some of the more familiar hosts | + | Some of the more familiar hosts included old leftist stand-bys such as [[Al Franken]], [[Janeane Garofalo]], [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]] and rapper Chuck D. |
In 2005, the secret service investigated Air America after host Randi Rhodes broadcast a warning message to President Bush followed by gunshots. <ref>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2005/04/air_america_under_investigation_for_bush_gunshot_skit/</ref> | In 2005, the secret service investigated Air America after host Randi Rhodes broadcast a warning message to President Bush followed by gunshots. <ref>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2005/04/air_america_under_investigation_for_bush_gunshot_skit/</ref> | ||
Revision as of 01:52, January 22, 2010
Air America Radio was founded in 2004 by Sheldon and Anita Drobny as a far-left radio network. It was a commercial failure, losing money from its inception and failing to attract listener numbers comparable to popular conservative or moderate liberal talk show hosts. Air America began bouncing its employees' payroll checks shortly after taking to the airwaves. Bankruptcy was necessary due to the inability to attract advertisers, ratings below what was expected, declining interest in program content, and poor management. The misuse of investors' funds, and the ill-treatment of workers remains controversial. Nearly one million dollars of Air America's funds were improperly obtained from a federally-funded charity for children. [1] Two executives at that charity were indicted over the matter.
Air America operated at a loss, smearing President George W. Bush and conservatives in general.
Some of the more familiar hosts included old leftist stand-bys such as Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and rapper Chuck D.
In 2005, the secret service investigated Air America after host Randi Rhodes broadcast a warning message to President Bush followed by gunshots. [2] Rhodes was suspended or fired in 2008 for insulting Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro. [3]
The company has filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy and is shutting down its operations.[4]