Air America having problems paying bills, filing bankruptcy

I had concerns when this network went on the air. The formula was a risky venture, and I can’t say that I’m overly surprised to see this happen.

Think Progress is reporting Air America radio will announce filing for bankruptcy protection on Friday according to three independent sources. The company has experienced financial difficulties throughout its existence, continuing to request infusions of capital and suffering the loss of several high-profile hosts. Five employees were laid off Tuesday without severance.

The network has had several controversies since its inception including a funding scandal involving Evan Cohen. Air America Radio funneled $875,000 dollars from Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, a not-for-profit, in the form of a “loan” to fund its operations. Due to of the less-than-ethical funding arrangement, Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club has been disbanded. […]

However, the progressive talk radio format did exist with the variety of IndyMedia projects as well as Pacifica Radio. Air America, however, was the first radio that put through an entire slate of radio shows instead of syndicating individual shows. This has largely caused problems with their expansion as it required stations to pick up the entire network for 24 hours a day instead of the most popular shows. [blogcritics]

Everything has to start somewhere, and this makes the network ripe for the picking in terms of a buy out of some sort. If that were to happen, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some things change.

At the same time, the content is something that I haven’t paid enough attention to. I’ve read numerous things about people being upset about their programming, and that says something. All press is good press, but presenting alternative views on a liberial or left wing radio program in a conservative, right wing controlled nation is a delicate task.

There’s always good and not so good ways to do things, and it’s the same way that I feel about political campaigns. Attacking the other side will never work. Education and strong, valid arguments will always be better, in my opinion, than some one yelling slander into a microphone.

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