Franken, Garafolo to get radio shows (O'Franken Factor)

[BevHarris]

Talent, Programming Schedule and Inaugural Markets
Announced for National Network

New York, March 10, 2004 – Air America Radio, a progressive talk radio network, announced today it will hit the airwaves on March 31st.

"Air America Radio is launching in the top U.S. markets with leading talent that will provide compelling and entertaining programming on the radio, on satellite feeds, and on the web," said Mark Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Air America Radio. “We aim to build an important new media franchise that delivers results.”

The network’s on-air personalities represent today’s top political and popular satirists, commentators and activists. Comedian, and best selling author Al Franken, who was recently taken to court when Bill O’Reilly and Fox News were seeking an injunction to halt distribution of "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," and is known for fact-based, drug-free satire, will host a weekday show on the network called “The O’Franken Factor.”

“I’m so happy that Air America Radio will be on in three battleground states, New York, Illinois and California….no wait…those aren’t the battleground states. What the hell are we doing?” said Franken.

Air America Radio has signed actress and comedienne Janeane Garofalo, hip hop icon Chuck D, radio personality Randi Rhodes, and political humorist Sam Seder to join Franken at the network. Environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., “The Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead, and business-of-the-media analyst on the public radio program “Marketplace” Martin Kaplan will also join the network…

Air America Radio will debut its programming on radio stations WLIB (AM 1190am) in New York, WNTD (AM 950) in
Chicago and KBLA (AM 1580) in Los Angeles and a station in San Francisco to be named before launch…

Live streaming of Air America Radio shows, along with show archives, will be available at http://www.airamericaradio.com.
Air America Radio is in negotiations with satellite television and satellite radio providers. These national services will allow
potential listeners to tune in anywhere in the country. The details of these partnerships will be unveiled soon…

================

I've been watching this one unfold for quite a while now. These people know what they're doing. Fantastic news, isn't it?

Bev Harris

[mopaul]

1. excellent news!!!!!!!!

i never listen to radio, but i will now!

[Q]

2. It's a great start...

...and I'm sure they'll fine-tune it as they go along.

- I'll be in their audience.

[AP]

3. They will have no problem taking me away from NPR.

I'll still listen to Tavis and This American Life.

However, to hell with Morning Edition, ATC, Fresh Air, etc. I've been desperate for an alternative to those shows for years. It's amazing that a commercial alternative will, without doubt, be a more liberal alternative to NPR.

I bet NPR takes a big hit in listenership.

[qb]

11. Limbaugh will feel the pinch too.

He currently has a lot of non-dittohead listeners, but in a Franken-Limbaugh head-to-head, few will choose the whiny blowhard over the talented humorist.

I didn't even think about the NPR angle. I hope this encourages them to get their act together.

[AP]

13. I listened to Rush a few times in a heavily democratic state and, judging

from the commericals he VO'd for that market, they KNEW most of his listeners were Dems. The VO's generally went like this: "We disagree on a lot of things, but we don't disagree that (baldness/obesity/bad breath/etc.) is unappealing..."

So, to sell products, he had to patch over the idiocy of what he was saying during the show.

It was very telling.

Yes, I think a lot of Dems do listen to his show because there's nothing else out there discussing politics.

He'll definitely lose a lot of his audience in some markets.

[Postman]

4. buy stock in satellite radio co.'s

with this new free speech radio outlet and Howard Stern talking of moving to the satellite medium, I see a boom in the making.

[AP]

9. I understand pay TV: more channels, better reception. I don't understand

pay radio. Receptions fine, and the best content is music which isn't better on pay radio (ie, there's no Sopranos analogy in radio). The best things on the radio are actually free (This American Life, specifically). I admit that Stern is probably the most entertaining commercial thing on radio, however, I don't see him being a big draw for sattelite radio (and, incidentally, I would be surprised if that were the thing driving this whole crackdown -- that it's just a set-up to get people to buy satellite radio subscriptions).

[seventhson]

5. Hi Bev - This is just awesome and congratulations on YOUR work!

You and I have never really communicated (different threads usually) but your work has been awesome and I want to thank you for your determination and drive.

This news is awesome. I used to listen to WLIB when I was a kid and it was always my favorite station. I did not know it even still existed.

FANTASTIC news.

[BevHarris]

18. Thanks so much for the kind words

Actually, I've been being filled in on the plans for this for more than a year. I am absolutely thrilled to see the skillful way they put together the talent list. Obviously, they know how to close a deal!

[republicansareevil]

6. What about Bartcop?

I've never listened to his radio shows, but if they're as cool as his Web page, they must be great. I'd sure like to see him get a spot on a real radio station instead of going through all those headaches he seems to go through with his own equipment. Maybe we should start a letter-writing campaign to get him a spot. :)

[Woodstock]

7. Bummer, no Mike Malloy

He's the best. What are they thinking?

[King_Crimson]

20. I agree Woodstock...

Could you imagine having Malloy on opposite Limpballs? For whatever good it will do, I yesterday sent Air America an e-mail reminding them of what a mistake it would be to leave Mike floundering in the wind!

[thebigidea]

8. great that Garofalo is getting a show, that should be great

she should pull in some interesting and damn amusing guests.

Time to start sending CDs to certain ummm people. Ummm. Cough. Ummmmmm.

In other news, Alan Colmes sez: "They're not going to beat Hannity, they're not going to beat Rush Limbaugh - its not going to happen."

[chicagojoe]

19. Colmes is just a puppet, anyway.

Alan Colmes is supposed to be the token liberal on Hannity's show. But to me, and, I suspect, many others, he's just a patsy for the parade of conservos on The Sean Hannity Bufoon Hour.

[Kinkistyle]

22. Someone oughta callup Margaret Cho.

Margaret Cho and Janeane Garofalo are cut from the same cloth. Janeane's from Manhattan and Margaret's from San Fran, and they both share similar ideas with a different style of delivery. They need team up. I mean seriously. Cho recently called up Howard Stern's show to defend him and bash on Bush and the government and she was quite interesting. I think her and Janeane together would be a huge hit.

[frank frankly]

10. I bet you'll be one of their first quests, Bev! ;)

If they get a satellite radio contract, I will save a little money and buy one of those satellite gizmos!

It would be so nice to have good, commercial-free radio!!!

I can't listen to sportstalk since the commercials are almost all for "viagra" products or ads for the army or the war on drugs...

[frank frankly]

12. kick

kick

[Bandit]

14. I love the fact that they will be using comedy and satire and not just

political talk. If it is funny it will make it. Liberals are picky and not prone to much "in your face" style talk like Rush and Hannity. They are all about titilation and sensationalism and we need to be better. I pray this will become a success and spawn more of the same.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

15. great news

now if only we could get this broadcasting in Western North Caronlina. I guess we will have to do with internet feeds for now. It sounds like these guys and gals really have their act together!

[King Coal]

16. Randi is getting the low billing

But she will be a shining star. You just wait.

[sistersofmercy]

17. "The O'Franken Factor"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love it! Thanks for posting, Bev.

[CO Liberal]

21. I'm Hoping They Get an Outlet In Colorado

I can pick up stations from Denver and Colorado Springs from my house in Pueblo. And at night, I can get Tulsa, San Antonio, and Dallas.