New York Daily News, Air America, New York Post, Al Franken

SUCKERS!

Who Fell For Air America's Latest Transparent Deceit?





Sure as Al Franken continues to collect bloated paychecks, his employer churns out more ridiculous spin. Given the company's dismal track record, why should anyone believe it?

And what exactly is going on? How long can Air America really expect to remain on the air in New York City? Below, we have an update.


First, for past profiles in sleaziness, a quick jog down the company's Credibility Lane:


--- Air America's foolish August 2005 attempt to play dumb on the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club scandal, where $875,000 in taxpayer-funded grants instead went to the liberal radio network's coffers.

--- Even when he has nothing to do with the reports, its tedious habit of deflecting negative press attention into a blame game against Bill O'Reilly.

--- Even as Air America begs listeners for money, their constant assertions of a bright financial picture.


Given that history, wouldn't the press be well-advised to take company claims with a grain of salt?

While some media outlets yesterday correctly exercised caution, others got snookered by this press release, which appears to indicate a new lease agreement between Air America parent Piquant LLC and Inner City Broadcasting, owner of WLIB:

NEW YORK-March 16, 2006- WLIB will continue to be the New York home of Air America Radio, under an agreement announced by Air America and Inner City Broadcasting Company. Over the next several months, Air America and Inner City will seek to enhance and extend their long-term relationship.

“We are happy to reiterate that our New York listeners will be able to continue to hear our programming,” said Air America Radio CEO Danny Goldberg.

“Inner City has always had faith in the mission of Air America,” said Vice Chairman of ICBC Broadcasting Holdings, Inc. Skip Finley.

Diving in head-first was David Hinckley of the New York Daily News, with this one-sided, uncritical PR fluff-fest:

The progressive radio talk network Air America will continue on WLIB (1190 AM), the network said yesterday, dampening speculation that WLIB might switch to other programming after the two parties' original two-year deal ends this month.

No details of a new arrangement were released, with a statement from Air America saying, "Over the next several months, Air America and [WLIB owner] Inner City will seek to enhance and extend their long-term relationship."

Air America still trails longer-established talk stations like WABC (770 AM) in the ratings, but CEO Danny Goldberg said last week it is growing in affiliates, listenership and ad revenue.

The network has been the subject of periodic rumors about its shrinkage or demise, for which Goldberg blamed "conservative ideologues who have a particular interest in damaging Air America."

Especially entertaining: the idea there's even a contest between Air America and WABC in New York City.

Meanwhile, two trade publications picked up Billboard's grossly inaccurate version of events.


Where exactly do things stand for Air America in New York City? Rather than a long term lease renewal, what they really have is a short stay of execution. As New York Post reporter John Mainelli indicated here and here, it's a mere extension:

Beware of Billboard's spin on this story. In my opinion, they're in bed with former record exec Danny Goldberg, who now runs Air America and is himself a world-class spinner. Billboard called the original Post story "sensational" and Goldberg frequently bashes the paper without denying the stories.

I've learned that the AA lease extension, which was mentioned as a probability in the original long-form Post story posted on the NYRMB, is for only five months (thru August). There was no way AA was going to be "evicted" on 4/1 anyway.

The future is still wide open.

Either AA has a grace-period clause or a potential subsequent tenant isn't ready to roll yet. I strongly suspect the latter.

Another source, close to the situation, today contacted the Radio Equalizer to indicate an even shorter time frame: just three months, with "a great deal of drama" still going on behind the scenes.

One remote possibility remains losing WLIB as soon as April 1.

Has the company succeeded in painting a rosy picture for the media? So far, the results are mixed. No doubt they'll keep at it.

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Images: David A Lunde for the Radio Equalizer