Air America, Gary Krantz, Bill O'Reilly, Radio Equalizer

RETURN FIRE

A Week Later, Air America's Peculiar Response




Skirting the real issues almost entirely, a peculiar round of Air America Radio return fire was sent our way last night. Every bit as lethal as Dick Cheney's birdshot, it had us remembering to duck.

What took so long?

Instead of refuting our report that an $8 million corporate bailout from the George Soros-backed Democracy Alliance was on the way, the letter sent by Air America honcho Gary Krantz to Air America affiliates attacked Bill O'Reilly.

Since Karl Rove is the real culprit, please don't accuse the Radio Equalizer of adding the spelling errors seen below:

February 27, 2006

To: Air America Affiliates and Friends

From: Gary Krantz

Re: Recent allegations by Radio Equalizer and Bill O’Reilly

Last week on Bill O’Reilly’s cable TV show, there were allegations that were misleading regarding the state of Air America’s Business. It is not often that we respond to these things, but in this case we feel we need to set the record straight---

Mr. Reilly has been bad mouthing Air America and saying it is failing for two years.

It was not true before and it is not true now.

In interpreting the story, one should consider the source:

Air America's ratings went up substantially in the Fall 2005 book and it its affiliate base has grown from 36 affiliations in January of 05 to over 90 affiliations across the country, including internationally on the Voice of America

In the recent Fall 2005 Arbitron Survey for New York, Air America/WLIB Programming is outperforming Mr. O’Reilly in both the 12+ and A 25-54 Demo:










WLIB 2p - 4p
Hr 3 – Franken/ Hr 1 – Randi Rhodes (first box)



vs. Bill O'Reilly WOR AM (second box)


*Source: Arbitron NY Fall 2005

Financially, Air America is significantly stronger than ever. As of today, our have booked and pending business for 2006 represents 83% of the entire revenue generated in 2005. We are also up to date on all of our financial obligations. Most importantly, we have a dedicated board and investors who support our business.

There is no substance whatsoever to Mr. O'Reilly's absurd claims of “gloom and doom”.

We look forward to continuing, or beginning a successful relationship, as the Progressive Talk Format and Air America Radio grow together. Watch this space for more innovative programming from Air America.

Thanks for the support, and if you want the facts, you can call me directly at 212-817-8120

Gary Krantz
President
Air America Radio
641 Sixth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY
10011

Check out our brand new website and Premium Services at

www.AirAmericaRadio.com

Not wasting any time, entertainment industry trade publication All Access filed this report:

Air America Response To Funding Reports: We're "Stronger Than Ever"


AIR AMERICA RADIO has responded to last week's reports by the RADIO EQUALIZER blog, featured on BILL O'REILLY's FOX NEWS CHANNEL show, that the network is receiving up to $8 million in financing from the DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE to keep it on the air, with the network's President GARY KRANTZ issuing a statement asserting that "financially, AIR AMERICA is significantly stronger than ever. As of today, our have booked and pending business for 2006 represents 83% of the entire revenue generated in 2005. We are also up to date on all of our financial obligations. Most importantly, we have a dedicated board and investors who support our business."

KRANTZ also takes shots at O'REILLY for "bad mouthing AIR AMERICA and saying it is failing for two years. It was not true before and it is not true now," adding that AL FRANKEN and RANDI RHODES beat O'REILLY in the NEW YORK ratings for adults 12+ and 25-54.

The statement does not include any specifics regarding revenue figures and does not specifically address the RADIO EQUALIZER report about DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE funding but says "there is no substance whatsoever to Mr. O'REILLY's absurd claims of 'gloom and doom.'"

What's wrong with Air America's letter? Beyond simply not addressing specifics, as the All Access report notes, quite a lot.

Let's pick some of it apart. Almost none of it addresses our reporting, keep in mind:


"Mr. Reilly has been bad mouthing Air America and saying it is failing for two years."


Until six months ago, when Michelle Malkin and yours truly came forward with information about Air America's Gloria Wise scandal, where $875,000 in taxpayer funds were diverted from a community center to the company, we're not aware of O'Reilly saying much of anything about Air America.

In fact, you could rightfully accuse him of avoiding the topic until then, if that's a crime.


"Air America's ratings went up substantially in the Fall 2005 book and it its affiliate base has grown from 36 affiliations in January of 05 to over 90 affiliations across the country, including internationally on the Voice of America"


With losses in many cities, there was very little upward movement anywhere in the Fall Arbitron ratings. As for stations, it's game-playing: Air America counts every outlet that carries even one of its shows as an "affiliate". Very few run all of them.


"In the recent Fall 2005 Arbitron Survey for New York, Air America/WLIB Programming is outperforming Mr. O’Reilly in both the 12+ and A 25-54 Demo"


Perhaps, but your own figures show O'Reilly has more overall listeners, by more than 57,000.


"Financially, Air America is significantly stronger than ever. As of today, our have booked and pending business for 2006 represents 83% of the entire revenue generated in 2005. We are also up to date on all of our financial obligations. Most importantly, we have a dedicated board and investors who support our business."


How do we know? You don't provide any dollar figures. And sure, you do have dedicated people like Rob Glaser, George Soros, Rob Reiner and others ready to bail you out of trouble.

That was the very point of O'Reilly's segment.

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