Thom Hartmann, Air America Radio

DREAM ON!

AAR's Hartmann Claims Three Million Listeners







Call it Mainstream Media Magic (MMM): their unique ability to declare a favored cause a success, when it clearly isn't.

And we can't think of a better example than the long, twisted saga of Air America Radio, which still manages to enjoy favorable press coverage, even as it emerges from bankruptcy.

While the network's financial troubles have generated a great deal of attention, wildly inflated audience and affiliate assertions are still accepted by the media as factual. Would it kill them to verify some of these silly claims?

From the Associated Press today, here's a particularly outrageous example:

Portland progressive radio-talk host takes over Franken's Air America spot

By JULIA SILVERMAN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORTLAND -- The restaurant that radio talk show host Thom Hartmann -- comedian Al Franken's heir apparent on Air America -- has chosen for lunch speaks volumes.

On the one hand, it's an old-fashioned Midwestern fish-fry joint, where the perch comes battered and the fries are thickly cut, perfectly in keeping with the Michigan-born Hartmann's well-honed message of economic populism, of the sort that's been popping up with increasing frequency as both major parties try to lay claim to the country's middle-class voters.

On the other hand, the menu takes care to note that their cooks use 100 percent rice bran oil -- par for the course for a man whose broadcasting booth is virtually wallpapered with anti-right wing paraphernalia, including a poster of Dick Cheney dressed as a member of Hitler's feared SS corps.

Both sides of Hartmann's personality are about to go on much wider display beginning Monday, when he takes over the departing Franken's slot on Air America, the liberal-leaning radio network that aims to be the left's answer to conservative juggernauts.

Franken, the network's headliner since its inception three years ago, announced Wednesday that he's leaving to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Minnesota. He's leaving Air America at a pivotal juncture -- the network is being acquired by a New York real estate agent after filing for bankruptcy protection last fall.

Hartmann's show, already live-syndicated nationally on about 30 stations (including KPTK-AM/1090 in Seattle), with a listening audience of about 1 million, will now be offered to about 80 stations as the liberal network moves to right itself. The trick is to convince local stations that liberal talk radio is as viable a business model as its conservative counterpart, especially after a handful of affiliates dropped the format in its first few years, citing low ad sales.

Air America affiliates in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Miami have already pledged to air "The Thom Hartmann Show," boosting his total to around 3 million listeners.

Who are we kidding here? Only in his dreams could a snoozer like Thom Hartmann hope to reach three million listeners.

And 80 stations? We're working overtime trying to keep track of all of the outlets that are cancelling this type of programming.

Our guess: on his best day under the new scenario, Hartmann would lucky to reach one- tenth of that claimed audience. At this point, even that estimate could be quite generous. He just doesn't have the stations necessary to produce a number like that.

So where did he get these crazy figures? Perhaps, as Franken himself would say, Hartmann has "pulled it out of his butt."


Classic Franken images: Pete at IHillary, David A Lunde

Will you support the Radio Equalizer?

Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of what you ultimately purchase, greatly assist this site's efforts. Or, please consider making a contribution at the Honor System box. Thanks again!

Technorati tags: talk radio al franken thom hartmann air america radio liberal talk radio ap mainstream media portland oregon