Why Air America doesn’t fly
Friday 22 April 2005 @ 3:30 pm

Excerpt from the April 21, 2005 edition of the Christian Science Monitor:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0421/p09s01-coop.html

Why Air America doesn’t fly
By Brian C. Anderson

NEW YORK - The liberal Air America Radio, just past its first birthday, has probably enjoyed more free publicity than any other enterprise in recent history. But don’t believe the hype: Air America’s left-wing answer to conservative talk radio is failing, just as previous efforts to find liberal Rush Limbaughs have failed.

Wait a second, you say, didn’t I read that Air America has expanded to more than 50 markets? That’s true, but let’s put things in perspective: The morning talk show hosted by William Bennett, conservative pundit and former Reagan administration official, launched at the same time as Air America and reaches nearly 124 markets, including 18 of the top 20, joining the growing ranks of successful right-of-center talk programs (Mr. Limbaugh is still the ratings leader, drawing more than 15 million listeners a week).

And look at Air America’s ratings: They’re pitifully weak, even in places where you would think they’d be strong. WLIB, its flagship in New York City, has sunk to 24th in the metro area Arbitron ratings - worse than the all-Caribbean format it replaced, notes the blog “radioequalizer.” In the liberal meccas of San Francisco and Los Angeles, Air America is doing lousier still. …

For the rest of the story:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0421/p09s01-coop.html

Brian C. Anderson is senior editor of City Journal, the quarterly published by the Manhattan Institute. © Los Angeles Times.

- Posted in General by jweaks   .:Permalink:.

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