Were they getting good ratings and making money, and they were still pulled?

Thom Hartmann, in his local Portland am slot on KPOJ this morning, commented about this situation. He said that if that progressive programming was a moneymaker, that some other station will take the programming. That makes sense to me. If you were the radio station which was # 25 in that market, wouldn't you jump at the chance to jettison the "lite" rock and instantly move up to #3?

Of course they were pulled off the air by the Christian right, who think their own interpretation of the bible should take over freedom of speech.

It's just a different type of terrorism.

The right wing wants everyone to hear nothing but their brand of radio. My recommendation is the solution I found: XM Radio.

Although it didn't involve politics, this reminds of a number of years ago when a local rock station turned into a mexican station.
They were the only station around not playing what arbitron (sp) specified. The only place to get new stuff that you didn't otherwise hear.
When they went out they did a 24hr commercial free marathon. The last song?
"I'm on a mexican radio" of course!

This is definitely out of control! What is wrong with hearing the other side! Air American kept me sane during the elections. They are my "fair and balanced" alternative. Thankfully, we can go to our computers. Wake up Phoenix you are being taken over............

I talked to the station manager there and told him I was ready to invest "$100,000 - $200,000 or more" in a new Phoenix radio station just to keep Air America on the air. We had a nice, long phone conversation. I asked him to send me info on some plans to acquire new station(s) and I would invest. I never heard from him again despite repeated phone messages and email.

as a arizona resident, i think it was bought due to the difficulty the gop is going to have in 11/06. i think they hope this will give an edge to them in the elections. another radio station needs to be bought. or why not securing some low cost xm receivers and boxes and sell them at cost. the programming could be a problem but not impossible.

i think the right christjerks are running scared.

The Religious Wrong make up 12% of our population. But they are well-organized radicals, who are good at "appearing" that there's more of them than there are. Corporate Christ, is what they are. A bunch of hypocrites who do not follow the teaching of Christ. Corporate Christ is not to be confused with the real bible.

I live here in phoenix and although we had been told that the station had been sold to a Christian-programming group we were NOT told when the last day for Air America on the air would be. So this morning instead of Charles Goyette I got some preacher............

But justjudy, fyi Phoenix is awake, alive and kicking. And having lived here for the past 5 years or so i have found that the radio stations here in town change formats more often than some people change their underwear. Air America will be back sooner than later.

On LINK TV & FSTV, I saw "Weapons of Mass Deception", anti-war rallies, a show about Corporate Christ...important things.

On ANBCNNX, I saw Lou Dobbs interviewing a bunch of Republicans.

I noticed there's no politicians on LINK TV & FSTV, did anyone notice that?

Turn your dial away from Corporate news. People of Phoenix, turn your dials away from Corporate Christ. Fight back!

Settle down there Big Dan before your heart explodes. Phoenix is doin' just fine.

Achtung Furcht -
(Attention,... Be alert/in fear of real danger.........)

Fascism -
gift wrapped in the Bible,... Praise the Lord !

SIEG - HEIL.

(Practicing up on that German - a second language
you don't want to find yourself without.)

Mitch - great comment; you summed up the reason I started DJ Moves. Right or Left, stations never let their listeners know what the heck is going on.

Even if you're not #1 in the market, you must realize that some people rely on listening to you and deserve to know if their favorite program is disappearing - and when!

Unfortunately, AM radio these days runs a lot like Bialystock and Bloom in "The Producers." You can make more money with a flop than a hit. There's a station in Phoenix that makes money renting out its studios by the hour (sort of like a brothel) to vitamin peddlers, neo-Nazis and the like. You pay, you play.

Something that would help progressive talk get more outlets around the country would be to outlaw brokered radio formats (where the station sells blocks of time for what amount to infomercials). Barring that, a drive to choke off support for brokered formats by boycotting companies that use the infomercial model to promote their products.
Force the AM's to compete for listeners rather than scrounge for vanity radio money from anyone who'll pay, no matter how unlistenable they might be.

Mitch, I'm sure Phoenix is doin' just fine!

Phoenix is a sewer, anyway you slice it.
The voters continue to support the local
Tent City Concentration Camp, with facist
devotion, seeing nothing wrong with a
jail that Amnesty International condemed
years ago. Any self respecting american
would not even live in that sewer of a city.
I lived there for 2 years, and sold the house
at a loss, just to get back to California to
civilization. Have never regreted it.
To hell with Phoenix. Let it rot, and don't
lift a finger to change it. Its a total waste
of time and effort. Remember, you can lead
a whore to culture, but you can't make it think.

I think we're thinking about this all wrong. 8 Christian channels is "balance"...offering 8 slightly different religious views. It' slike when Meet the Press has a: liberal Republican, a middle of the road Republican, and a conservative Republican! For Balance!!!

I git it!

We are living in a facist controlled state. When the people turn off their news and stop listening to the lies and propaganda maybe they will get the message. There will always be some morans who will believe anything they are told by false prophets but there is an awakening in the country happening. I just hope it isn't too late. I havent walked into a church and wont since they showed their ass during the 1rst bush presidential runnup to the stolen election. They do not have a place in God's army. They will feel the wrath soon enough. I would refuse to turn the stations on. Also I would call the advertisers and tell them how I felt and proceed to boycott them!!!!

Anyone who has trouble getting Air America in their area can download a very useful and free program called Yahoo! Widgets (a must-have in my opinion) and find a plug-in for the Air America stream.

And no, I'm not getting paid to advertise Yahoo! Widgets --- I just happen to think it's a terrific program. All the free plug-ins which are available have almost literally turned it into (to paraphrase the words of the late Douglas Adams) an all-singing, all-dancing program...

Who owned the station before the Christofacsists bought it?

The same situation exists thruout Kentucky. Illiteracy here in Hal Rogers\Jim Bunning Country (Somerset KY) is epidemic and these people get 15 hours a day of hate radio on Clear Channel and 2 local stations. (TV comes in from Lexington. ) The rest is that old time religion, country music and screaming guitars. Political discussion is impossible; if you tell these people anything they don't already know, they look at you as if you just grew horns and a tail. Then they run off and tell all their friends how arrogant you are. Even those who can think their way out of a paper bag and are Democrats have to be careful. The K Street project is alive and well here. You can't get a good job without a reference from the right wing nut churches here in town. Displaying a Dem bumper sticker will get you a traffic ticket every day until you remove it, and will get you fired from your job. No employer will permit a Dem bumpersticker in the parking lot. Might give people ideas! I an afraid to protest to my congressman for fear of losing what little security we do have. The vote here is cast on old Diebold touch screens and no one here ever heard of a problem with them. What to do?? Take back our airwaves and PBS, reinstitute the fairmess doctrine, and support Link TV.

i don't have link or FSTV unfortunitley, but i know they carry democracy now, and Amy Goodman does have politicans on from time to time, Cynthia McKinney, Kucinich, etc, but also Journalists and academics, which is way better then what the MSM gives us. In fact how often do you see a college professor as a talking head save for when it's an ex-politican or the ocasional Ken Burns documentary?

Hope to hell Phoenix can get back. There's plenty of good souls there --- I'm not surprised that the station hit #3 at all. Wherever AAR starts up, everyone listens, including the right wingers --- and then the fun starts, as everyone slowly wakes up. Just can't not happen. Too much fun.

BK's poem hit home. I'm a McClintock HS grad, ASU, worked all over downtown. I watched one night from high up in a tree in Solano Park as the police trained dogs to attack a man dressed up as a homeless person. I remember Evan Mecham, for Randi's Sake. And Joe Arpaio is going to burn in hell for the pain and misery he's brought to this planet, and the state of Arizona. Rapes and murders and torture, Oh My! And all in the name of Justice. That's Joe Arpaio, Christian NOT.

Can someone link to a copy of the comments from the GM? The new owners have a "coming soon" splash page on all of KXXT's domains.

The Christian Right Republican Gubernatorial Candidate in Arizona is Len Munsil, former President Center for Arizona “Whacko’s” Policy. His political consultant is the notorious trickster
“Nathan Sproul.” Sproul was the 8th largest expense the RNC had in the 2004 election cycle at $8.3 million.

The only truth they want us to hear is theirs.

These are the say people who think that only righteous people can elect righteous people. So stealing our vote is no problem. After all they think they’re saving our souls.

A real Arizona Republican, the late Barry Goldwater said:

“Now those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth, and let me remind you they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyranny.”

I will miss AIR AMERICA RADIO PHOENIX, and most of all I enjoyed the humorous truth telling of the McChesney Brothers “Fred & Steve.” The M & M show was the BEST!!!

Hook up on the internet and listen; screw those other people and their holy stations. ED SCHULTZ IS THE MAN. He is the truth teller.

Unfortunately, these holy rollers have the money to buy anything they want and the original owner got $40 million for this station and a couple of others. who wouldn't sell.

We need a rich progressive or liberal person/company to start buy some radio stations so they can control what is put on the airwaves. That is whats happening here, just ask Randi Rhodes what happened in Florida.

The Right Wing own all the media. Until that changes Air America doesn't have a chance except for satellite radio.

...Todd said on 3/1/2006 @ 5:24pm PT...

"Can someone link to a copy of the comments from the GM? The new owners have a "coming soon" splash page on all of KXXT's domains."

Here ya go.

WELL, STATIONS DO CHANGE HANDS AND SUCCESSFUL FORMATS ARE OFTEN TRASHED BY NEW OWNERS.

HOPE AIR AMERICAN CAN GET ANOTHER FREQUENCY IN PHEONIX WITH A MORE SYMPATHETIC OWNER.

WE NEED A RICH GUY TO START BUYING STATIONS AND SETTING UP A NETWORK LIKE RUPERT MURDOCH DID FOR THE CONSERVATIVES.

I was listening to Stephanie at midnight when they went ot the news. After the news, some Fristian, bible-babble facist was wanting money from pensioners and destitute listeners in exchange for him relieveing them of their toubles. We knew it was coming, we wrote letters and made numerous phone calls. It ws to no avail. People were tuning in to find out what the Unindicted Disgrace Bush was up to and were wondering why Kyl and McCain thought 20500 was an Arizona Zip Code. Air America Will Be Back In Phoenix before the main bout for the election starts after Labor Day. I'm an optimist.

Since it apears that a lot of people need to be 'saved' in phoenix, maybe they can tell their listeners why male prostitute Jeff Gannon has visited the White House over 200 times - after hours - who is he 'servicing' - then they can 'pray' for them!

Why is that the far right get it and everyone else just gives up. If you want a free press and openess - the dems need to buy radio and tv stations like the republicans have for years. Until the democrats start buying stations and sharing the truth, liers like Bush will continue to .....

Talk of "freedom" and "censorship" is mostly out of place in this discussion.

AM commercial radio is strictly "business." As such, it becomes a matter of the listening audience trying to actively support the businesses that advertise. It's an absolute MUST in this dynamic, because you can bet the Wrong-wingers are doing it in reverse.

For every advertiser on lib/prog talk, there is a guaranteed phalanx of Wingnuts who are calling, e-mailing and stopping in saying "I'll never do business with you as long as you advertise on that Air America station." They've been doing it for years and they're very, very good at it. And it overcomes ratings, because business men are, by definition, extremely timid where their clientele is concerned.

Thus, the listening audience who wants AAR must make its voice heard with local businesses.

Ancillarily, some folks must also take it upon themselves to letter that Religion Industry station with concrete examples of how the licensee is failing to serve the greater Phoenix audience, as well as papering the FCC with complaints. Hard work, but ultimately very much necessary.

Air America Off the Air in Phoenix is a SIN !

The most useful advice I've read here:

1. Call the advertisers and say you'll never do business with them as long as they advertise on that hate mongering/facist station

2. Liberal/Progressives with money should pool their resources and buy stations.

$ MONEY TALKS - PEOPLE WALK $

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Well now, isn't that a real christian thing to do. I'm sure I remember hearing somewhere that jesus said, "If you don't like what the truth is, just buy it out." Yea, I think that one of the nuns at catholic scool said that.

.I just had an idea. Satellite radio. Blast Air America from satellite radio outside their studios

There is an option to form micro-broadcasting stations that are relatively unregulated by the FCC. My idea would be to establish a few of these throughout the Phoenix downtown area, link them together with a VPN and co-broadcast Air America on all simultaneously on the same wavelength. Since each would be at a power too low to be regulated, they would not be. But because together they could span a much larger area than a single licensed "regular" station, it might be a better solution. After all, it would require multiple separate actions because they could be multiple separate stations to try to close down the whole thing. And in the meantime new micro stations could be created while someone is in the process of trying to close down the ones that are operating.

Big Dan #9

The "appearance" of being big is a phenomenon that attracts the deceitful.

In nature we can notice the puffer fish that sucks in air to inflate its body to several times its actual size.

It seems strange for any entity claiming to follow Jesus to try to get their way by visual intimidation.

We want Air America back in Phoenix!!!!

No biggie. There's always Serius & XM radio.

Dredd: MSM can give the "appearance" with other things, too, like when Tim Russert has 3 Republicans on his show, and zero non-Republicans. It's the "appearance" that this country is for the Republican agenda. It's time to just turn it off, and watch LINK TV & FSTV. MSM's TV news is way off the charts of what American's are really thinking. It's just that there is nothing to turn to, until now. DISH 9410 & 9415.

Everyone on BradBlog is aware of the rightwing takeover of the MSM.

On our Air America Phoenix show (The M and M Show) we described the Democratic Party of Arizona (as well as the national party) as "Professional Election Losers" who do two things: 1. Take donations. 2. Lose elections.

That no liberals stood up at any time to try to help this station succeed before, during, or after this sale is very illustrative of why we'd all better get ready for a loooooooooonng Republican rule. If there are any elite liberals in his country, they are certainly not helping the cause of taking it back from the right-wing crazies. We are getting our asses royally kicked in the media, in talk radio particularly, and this, like stolen elections and the destruction of our civil rights, seems to be met by the liberal leadership with either yawns or requests for money.

It is a sin not that this happened, but that it was allowed to happen. For the life of me, I can not understand why liberals are allowing this and many other things to happen.

Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the country, and Arizona is a red state but very divided, with huge opportunity for Democratic gains.

And, it appears no one outside the station lifted a finger to keep liberal radio on the air here.

As one who hosted a show on this station for 13 months, I am disgusted with the lack of action on the part of liberals. Rome's pretty much burned to the ground, and no one's even picked up a fiddle…

A generation from now, I think one question will be asked more than any other: "Where the hell were the liberals while this was happening?"

I wish I had an answer.

Hey y'all, I'm moving to Cairo (yes, Egypt) this summer for a couple of years. Anyone have experience with radio in that part of the world? I think that streaming is the only way I'll get Air America unless they go to satellite.

I have an idea: a reality TV/radio show just like Big Brother, except called "Peace House". It would feature AAR's local talent living in a big peace house. Al Sharpton could make the occasional visit.

Yes, but WHY is AAR off the air? Is it possible to pinpoint who made the decision? It's not enough to say that some unseen, powerful entity associated with the Christian Right is responsible. What are the facts?

Big Dan #43

I have been watching the Freedom of Speech (FSTV) network since you mentioned it.

Good stuff.

Hillary says that God told her "Christian" right wingers are terrorists. Thank God for the Patriot Act and Halliburton's detention camps.

And let's not forget, torture is now legal in the fight against terrorists. So is "sneak and peak" searches of terrorist churches. "Waco" was soooo old school!

"Hillary '08"

That'll teach 'em some respect for American values.

Have a nice day. xxoo

I live in Phoenix and am devastated that Air America has vanished!

Yesterday, I could listen to: Hannity, O'Reilly and Limbaugh!

But NO left point of view! Just more fire and brimstone from idot zealots or the right's propaganda machine!

No wonder this country is so f------up!

A travesty has befallen Phoenix!

FredM #45

You said "I wish I had an answer". Ok you get one for free.

A lot of banks are being robbed. Are the police liberals because "they allow it"?

I guess it depends on how we define "allow it". In one sense of the word the police do allow robbers to rob banks in the sense that they do not stop bank robberies.

But the more mature discussion of this issue requires a better understanding of American social concepts. We know the police do not want bank robberies to happen, and they are not on the side of the robbers, and therefore we do not prosecute the police when a bank is robbed.

We prosecute the robbers not the police.

The republican talking points over the past years, have distanced themselves from American culture, and have gone off into a very strange place where the victims are blamed instead of the perpetraitors.

For instance, the white house, the senate, the house, the cabinet, and the DOJ are republican controlled. Republicans control the chair and the majority votes in all categories, all committees, all departments.

Republicans call meetings of the senate and house committees and decide and draft legislation. They make the law because they are the majority party and that gives them supreme power in the white house and in the congress.

They, then, are the robbers in the sense that they got hold of America's money. They control 100% of the committees that handle the money.

The robbers control the bank during a robbery, and everyone in the bank is told to be quiet, freeze, or face serious and deadly consequences.

The democrats and other minority parties are the police. They must identify the robbers and charge the robbers with wrongdoing.

I do not think we should blame the police because the robbers are robbing us.

There is your answer.

It is really clear there is a desparate need for a 'voice of truth' network. It is not enough to produce content and hope it can somehow find its way to the public. Democracy in the US urgently requires a network that owns or controls the physical infrastructure at least to local distribution points.

There is, of course, the huge problem of getting cities and counties currently gourging themselves on 'cost-plus' cable rate monopoly contract. But if this can be addressed no other way, perhaps it can be circumvented by emerging wireless technologies.

Look, I'm a registered Independent, so I've got no real dog in this fight.

Phoenix is a very large market. While Arizona has voted for Bush the last two elections, it's not a far-right state. It voted for Bill Clinton in '96 and voted in a Dem governor the last time around and will likely keep her in office in '06. In other words, there are plenty of Liberals/Progressives/Democrats.

According to RadioAndRecords.com, Air America was the 5th place AM station in the Valley in the Fall'05 ratings. While this may seem impressive on its face, the difference between 1st and 5th is huge. The AM market leader, KFYI, has ratings that are 5-times that of Air America. Of all radio stations (AM & FM), Air America was consistently around 25 out of 30, while KFYI was in the top 2 or 3. In other words, Air America was not very good in Phoenix. From what I've read, they hold similar positions in most markets.

There are some questions that fans of Air America should be asking themselves.

With so many potential listeners, why hasn't Air America done better? Is it the message? Are all these people that vote Dem in the elections a little too centrist for what comes out of Air America?

Is it the messengers? Look, you can be a hater of Rush Limbaugh, but he's good at what he does. Franken is just not very good at radio. Ms. Rhodes gets rolling on these incoherent rants that touch on 30 different subjects. Her thoughts seem so disorganized. She has a bad habit of steamrolling right over her callers, even the ones that agree with her. Have any of you guys ever listened to Hugh Hewitt? I don't agree with everything he says, but man, that guy is smart. His interviews are very thoughtful and calm.

The repubs have been doing talk radio for over a decade. Maybe the dems will get better. But I've listened to both the local and national offerings from the left side of the dial and they simply aren't going to compete with the right-wingers with anybody that's on the air now.

Just my $0.02

Re #52

I have no idea what your meandering post was, but it was not an answer to my question. The current frequency (1010AM) was available for sale to Air America, and the station could have continued on as it was. No one stepped forward, and the station’s GM, Bob Christy spoke publicly about “screwing around with liberals who were full of s***” until it was too late.

Your post doesn’t even somewhat address this, and does not clarify, it confuses.

I don't understand how a profitable station can have the plug pulled...

Re #55

FredM, you said " Bob Christy spoke publicly about “screwing around with liberals who were full of s***” until it was too late. "

Did you mean to imply that Christy thinks ALL liberals are full of s*** or that the ones that he approached to buy the station are full of s***? In his letter, Christy says:

"Over the past 4 months I have tried to raise the money to buy a new station for Air America Phoenix...I have talked to more BS artists and rich guys who pretend they want to get “involved” and “progressive” venture firms that live in the world of “new media” and think that good old terrestrial radio, the kind that everyone has access to and is free 24/7, is so “over”! When I finally put together the right banker and the right investors, we were out of time! I’m mad at myself for wasting time with the charlatans, the BS artists and the dreamers."

I'm asking: Was Christy sincere in his attempts to keep liberal radio going in Phoenix, or, was this just another business deal for him?

A lot of the buzz was that even though 1010 was being bought, that Phoenix would still have AAR on another frequency. I think that more grassroots liberals would have gotten/would get involved if we had known that our link to reality would just disappear completely.

So what do we do now? Do we get behind Christy to try to find a new home, or do we have to start from ground zero to rebuild? What do we do?

The repugs. right wing hipacrite's must control every tv and radio outlet to keep the peope brain washed.they are holding on by their finger nails with all the power they can muster.Their grip is slowly slipping,it canno't be soon enough for us all. THEY ARE COWARDS THEY MUST HAVE UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO SURVIVE THEIR CORRUPT AGENDA ****

BK I understand your frustration but some of us can't afford to move. I did not even know that Air America got bought out so when I turned the station on the all I heard was false religion alternating with info on bowel movement regularity. I kept checking the radio switching channels thinking it had moved or something. I finally went on the web and found their site with the goodbye letter. Needless to say this is a bummer. No more good news analysis on the radio for us I guess... :plain:

SHOULD BE HYPOCRITE WRONG KEY CORRECT DESCRIPTION OF KING GEORGIE AND HIS CRONIES.

Hmm, just reading many of the posts, I can't help but say that I just LOVE the tolerance for other points of view on this site! (sarcasm intended)....

Celebrate diversity....of thought.

I empathize with #22, agree with #45, & want #54 to know that not all conservative talk hosts are good.
Michael Medved sucks.
He's rude, changes the subject, cuts people off, 'plants' certain callers that will agree with him, & tries to intimidate & bully callers--whenever someone makes a valid point that he can't refute.
The callers should all assume the toe-touch position before they call because that's all they'll get from him.

When will this rip job on America from the corporate world end you ask?

"The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind..."

I think progressive radio could make it if the show's were more like the Ed Schultz show. His show is fair and balanced and is entertaining. I've read quite a few responses talking about right wing hate show's. What do you call the Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy show's? Randi's 4 hour rant each day is enough to wear anyone out, and Mike's show is no better. Model your programming after Ed and I think you may have a chance!

I was in shock yesterday when Al Franken was not on. This is a travesty. Who wants to hear about vitamins and those hypocritacal preachers??

I pray that Air America is on soon. Thank God I spend the summer on Cape Cod where I can listen to Al and company.

To answer two questions posed:

James Crystal Radio in Fort Lauderdale FL sold KXXT to Communicom Corp in Denver CO. Communicom chose to change the format. (Their number is 303-759-8481 and the owner is Carl D'Maria)

Re: #63

Randy, I think you may be missing the point. Progressive radio is making profits. The programming is a winning formula for making money already. The problem is not in losing money.

The problem is that most of the money in business is being put behind the right wing agenda. For media outlets, it isn't profit on the media side, it is profit on the agenda side.

In other words, corporate america can afford to lose money on its media outlets, as long as it gains on corporate welfare (such as arms contracts, oil drilling, and port deals).

At least that's the way that I see it.

They took it off of Phila. a couple of months ago.
We have stream, but it's not like going into
another room and turning on the radio.
But I'm not an ingrate, at least we have stream.
They would not give a reason why they took it off.
I feel it's a power play by the neocons.
While Limbaugh, Hannity, etc. have lost listeners
AIR AMERICA picked up listeners.

It is a sad sad sad sad sad sad day in Phoenix today.

(However, I was amused to start my car and hear the new religious stuff. At first I thought it was one of Al's satires --- it was so cliche that I had to laugh! Callers were interpreting the bible in such weird ways that the host could only reply "er, um, okay". Reminded me of an episode of Newhart.)

#63

Ed Shultz is OK, but I get awfully tired of the "heh heh heh let's do some fishin' and how's the weather?" I think he shoots for a more lowbrow audience, and I don't mean that disrespectfully.

Randi and Mike are way on top of facts, they do their research, and because of this they are extremely pissed off. Like me. Give me these two over Ed any day.

It's a business. Perhaps a business makes money, but a new business may make more money. If it doesn't, then something else will come along and take its place. It has nothing to do with Bushco.

The Burger King next to my house was dirty and had no business. It is now a Williams Chicken. It may not make it, but it is a cleaner restaurant.

I am surprised Air America is still on the air at all.

Al Franken is just a comedian. There are funnier comedians.

Beware right-wingers lurking and peddling two falsehoods: 1. Air America is failing to win audiences. 2. The solution, like the (fake) solution for the Democrats, is to move to the center, thereby giving people a choice of Republicans and Republicans lite. Some may use tactics like #52, which puts AM and FM stations together to make AA look worse. For the record, FM's hold 18 of the top 20 spots in Phoenix, and AA built its audience with no promotion at all.

The solution is for liberals to understand what we are up against, and to know that right-wing propaganda radio will lose millions building an audience, like the local KFYI FOX affiliate did. We need media, and we need a long-term view.

The right wing BUYS market share, probably using defense money and God money. They can afford to lose money on media, as they get it back from the American people in other ways, some of which may even be legal...

:(WWAA-AM/1690, Atlanta's Air America affiliate, has been sold to the owner of WMLB-AM/1160. 1160-AM is a music format, and rumor has it that the new owner may not be a big fan of the progressive talk programming we presently enjoy at 1690-AM. We've also heard that Clear Channel (which carries Air America in some other parts of the country) will get Air America for our Atlanta market, where they have 24 affiliates. Whatever happens, 1690-AM will remain the same until sometime in April.

In a conversation I just had with the station, they still do not know if 1160 AM will keep the Air America format. They are all in the dark over there as to what is happening.

I'm not the least bit surprised. One need only read what passes for an op-ed page in the Arizona Republic newspaper, essentially the only one in town, to understand what a stranglehold the nut jobs have on politics in this state. Last year, when senators McCain and Lyl were running around the country telling lies about social security, the Arizona Repulsive said nothing. I had to read articles in the LA Times and St Petersburg Times to get any critical commentary about their obvious dissembling. HOORAY FOR BROADBAND!!!

I am so bummed out that Air America Phoenix is gone. I know, I know I can get satellite, but I am going to miss the local,alternative voices the most. I also think I'm actually going to miss honing my attention skills from listening to the programming over the crackling static.

The KXXT call letters are dead to me now, my radio will never be tuned to there again. I also hope the new station tanks.

No, it's not a business in the sense of "we'll put on whatever makes money."

Salem Communications puts only conservative talk and Christian formats on all of its stations. Even though Air America often tied or beat its hosts in the ratings, Salem will continue doing conservative talk on KKNT. Why? Because its ideology is more important than profits or ratings.

I am surprised no one has brought up that Communicom, the new owners of KXXT, kept its New Orleans station WLNO-1060 on with paid preacher tapes during the time Katrina was blowing the city to pieces. No hurricane info, no news, just those damned preacher tapes. There's a factoid that should get some exposure. Although, given the attitude of Communicom's fellow Republican occupant of the White House toward New Orleans' misery, it's no surprise.

this was the letter from the AAP website on the day off and until this morning before the website was tainted:

Posted on the Air America Phoenix's website this evening:
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a message from air america phoenix
February 28th, 2006

Dear Friends of Air America Phoenix,

Thank you to the staff, the listeners and the clients for all you’ve done in the past 17 months.

You helped take an unrated, unprofitable AM radio station and pushed it to a tie for 3rd place out of 25 AM stations in Phoenix. You took that same AM station and made it profitable in less than a year and even after the sale was announced you stood by Air America Phoenix and we kept on making money even when our future was in doubt and we didn’t know when our “plug” was going to be pulled. In fact, the last month we were on the air was the 3rd best month we’ve had financially!

Air America Phoenix has now disappeared into the ether and Phoenix is left with multiple Christian formats, some in English and others in Spanish, several “brokered’ time stations (you know the radio stations selling you vitamins, good bowel movements and financial advice) a bagful of right wing “Conservative Talk stations” featuring Rush, Sean, Laura, Bill Bennett, Savage, Medved and all of their local imitators, three “Sports Talk” stations that live off the largess