Air America Radio (XM)
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| Air America Radio | |
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| Broadcast area | United States Canada |
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| Branding | Air America |
| Frequency | XM167 |
| First air date | March 31, 2004 |
| Format | Progressive talk radio |
| Class | Satellite Radio Station |
| Affiliations | Air America Radio AP Radio News |
| Owner | XM Satellite Radio |
| Website | Air America Radio |
Channel 167 on XM Satellite Radio is branded as Air America Radio, named after the network it takes affiliation with. XM currently has exclusive satellite rights to the Air America network. Much like terrestrial radio stations that carry Air America programming, XM 167 is not obligated to, and does not, carry the network 24/7. The channel is programmed by Don Wicklin.
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[edit] America Left (2004-2005)
Channel 167 originally started out as America Left, a channel dedicated to progressive talk radio to complement the reformatted XM 166, America Right. It launched on March 31, 2004, and the lineup included hosts like Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Al Franken, Marty Kaplan, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Colmes, Lizz Winstead and Chuck D. At the time, both Sirius and XM had centrist/progressive talk channels featuring talent from Air America Radio. The lineup was constant for over a year. One complaint often voiced was that two afternoon drive hosts, Ed Schultz and Randi Rhodes, each had an hour of their shows cut off to keep both shows on and live.
On April 11, 2005, XM and Air America announced that XM would become the exclusive satellite radio provider of the network, excluding Air America Syndication, beginning in May 2005[1]. This forced Sirius to rid itself of all Air America Radio network programming. XM167's lineup didn't make any immediate lineup changes, but it did rebrand itself using the Air America name. Non-AAR hosts Ed Schultz and Alan Colmes remained on the channel.
[edit] Air America Radio (2005-)
America Left took on its new name, Air America Radio, to boast the fact that XM was the exclusive provider. No lineup changes were made until September 2005, when Ed Schultz was moved over to Clear Channel's advice talker, Ask! on 165. This allowed Randi Rhodes to broadcast her entire show every afternoon. At the end of the year, Alan Colmes also made the move to the new Fox News Talk, a channel owned and operated by Fox News Radio. For the first time, Air America Radio on XM was now 100% Air America content on weekdays. A Best of Stephanie Miller segment was carried on Sunday mornings.
There were lineup changes occurring across the Air America Network that were reflected onto XM 167, such as Mike Malloy and Janeane Garofalo's departures, the end of Morning Sedition, and the hiring of The Young Turks. Some questioned the financial state of the network and whether or not XM was wise in paying for the exclusive rights to satellite broadcasting. More information on Air America's company state can be found in its article, including the company's bankruptcy and sale.
[edit] Old faces return
In 2007, XM announced that Ed Schultz, who was airing on Extreme XM on delay and truncated to two separate hours, was going to be returning to XM 167 to fill the timeslot being vacated by Al Franken. This allowed Schultz to return to the full three hours in a live timeslot. Some were not happy about this move as it prevented Thom Hartmann from taking the slot on the channel, prompting midday host Sam Seder to ask his listeners to call XM to complain. Schultz responded on air the next day claiming that "Air America sucks, their programs suck, they give liberals a bad name," and recommended that XM play other Jones radio hosts Stephanie Miller and Bill Press on channel 167.[2][3] Schultz kept the timeslot, and Hartmann's show was eventually added to the channel's schedule. Bill Press would be added later in 2008.
In addition to Schultz, XM exclusive shows The Agenda and Left Jab were added to XM 167 weekends. These moves have led listeners to question XM's confidence in the Air America Radio network, as ex-AAR host and current Nova M Radio host Mike Malloy returned to the channel in July, weeknights at 9 PM eastern. With this rescheduling, XM moved Thom Hartmann from midnight to 6:00 PM eastern and the Air Americans, which previously aired in that time to midnight.
Despite being on a channel with the "Air America Radio" label, Schultz stated on February 13, 2007 that Air America "sucks" and he doesn't want people who listen to AAR listening to him because he is "better than they are." These comment were in response to remarks by AAR host Sam Seder, who asked his listeners to call XM and request Thom Hartmann instead of Schultz. Seder's reasoning for his action is that he believes AAR hosts should be on the 'Air America Radio' channel. Hartmann was added to the channel beginning March 5, 2007, on a tape-delay basis at Midnight ET, and has since moved to an earlier time slot on the channel.
In April 2007, XM Radio Canada added the channel to its lineup unannounced, making Air America programs available in Canada. The AAR network has also announced that Sam Seder will become a Sunday host only, and has scheduled WOR talker Lionel to replace him. Eco-Talk has also been dropped by the network in favor for a four-hour Mark Riley program, and Jon Elliot doing midnights[4]. XM has indicated that they will schedule Lionel and Seder's new timeslots.
In July 2007, Air America Radio let go of its top-of-the-hour news staff. Their reason was most AAR affiliates don't use AAR News at the top of the hour, opting for local news or another national service like CNN Radio. XM 167 was one of the few that used AAR News, and upon their removal, switched to AP Radio News.
[edit] AAR loses more time as cuts are made
Towards the end of 2007, the Young Turks were cut from the Air America lineup, claiming it was a mutual understanding. The trio plans a return through internet radio. In the meantime, XM Radio added its second Jones Radio personality, Bill Press, to the morning drive timeslot.
In April 2008, Randi Rhodes performed at an event in San Francisco sponsored by local affiliate KKGN, which included crude remarks made at Hillary Clinton. This resulted in Air America suspending Rhodes from the network. She claimed that the network was in breach of her contract, and ended up resigning from Air America. Within 24 hours, it was announced that Nova M Radio was picking up her show nationally, and hopes to retain as many affiliates as possible. XM 167 continued to run AAR programming in afternoons until a deal with Nova M Radio was made. On 2008-05-05, XM resumed broadcasting Randi Rhodes' show[5] on Air America Radio channel 167. With this addition, the channel known as "Air America Radio" now only carried 13 hours of AAR programming per day, with 2 hours being distribution only, and only 7 of those hours in the daypart timeslots.
[edit] Lineup (as of 2008-05-05)
[edit] Weekdays
| ET | PT | Show | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 3 a.m. | Bill Press | Jones Radio Network | Live |
| 9 a.m. | 6 a.m. | The Lionel Show | Air America Radio | Live |
| 12 p.m. | 9 a.m. | The Ed Schultz Show | Jones Radio Network | Live |
| 3 p.m. | 12 p.m. | The Randi Rhodes Show | Nova M Radio | Live |
| 6 p.m. | 3 p.m. | The Rachel Maddow Show | Air America Radio | Live |
| 8 p.m. | 5 p.m. | The Thom Hartmann Program | Mythical Intelligence/Air America Radio | Tape, hours 1-2 |
| 10 p.m. | 7 p.m. | The Mike Malloy Show | Nova M Radio | Tape, hours 1-2 |
| 12 a.m. | 9 p.m. | Clout with Richard Green | Air America Radio | Tape |
| 2 a.m. | 11 p.m. | This is America with Jon Elliott | Air America Radio | Tape |
| 4 a.m. | 1 a.m. | The Thom Hartmann Program | Mythical Intelligence/Air America Radio | Replay, hours 2-3 |
[edit] Saturday
| ET | PT | Show | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 2 a.m. | The Thom Hartmann Program | Air America Radio | Best-Of |
| 5 a.m. | 2 a.m. | The Air Americans | Air America Radio | Best-Of |
| 9 a.m. | 6 a.m. | Marc Sussman’s Money Message | Air America Radio | Live |
| 6 p.m. | 3 p.m. | State of Belief with Rev. Gaddy | Air America Radio | Live |
| 11 a.m. | 8 a.m. | Left Jab | XM Satellite Radio | Live |
| 12 p.m. | 9 a.m. | The Agenda with Joe Solmonese | XM Satellite Radio | Replay |
| 2 p.m. | 11 a.m. | Russ Belville | Jones Radio Network | Live |
| 4 p.m. | 1 p.m. |  Ring of Fire with Robert Kennedy Jr. |
Air America Radio | Tape |
| 7 p.m. | 4 p.m. | Thom Hartmann |
Air America Radio | Best-of |
| 8 p.m. | 5 p.m. | Clout with Richard Green |
Air America Radio | Best-of |
| 10 p.m. | 7 p.m. | Go Vegan with Bob Linden |
Air America Radio | Tape |
| 11 p.m. | 8 p.m. | This is America with Jon Elliott |
Air America Radio | Best-Of |
| 1 a.m. | 10 p.m. | Randi Rhodes | Air America Radio | Best-of |
| 4 a.m. | 1 a.m. | The Lionel Show | Air America Radio | Best-Of |
[edit] Sunday
| ET | PT | Show | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | 4 a.m. | Bill Press | Jones Radio Network | Best-of |
| 9 a.m. | 6 a.m. | 7 Days in America | Air America Radio | Replay |
| 10 a.m. | 7 a.m. | The Thom Hartmann Program | Air America Radio | Best-of |
| 1 p.m. | 10 a.m. | Left Jab | XM Satellite Radio | Replay |
| 2 p.m. | 11 a.m. | Clout with Richard Green | Air America Radio | Replay |
| 4 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Seder On Sunday with Sam Seder | Air America Radio | Live |
| 7 p.m. | 4 p.m. | State of Belief with Rev. Gaddy | Air America Radio | Live |
| 8 p.m. | 5 p.m. | Ring of Fire with Robert Kennedy Jr. | Air America Radio | Live |
| 11 p.m. | 8 p.m. | On The Real with Chuck D. and Gia | Air America Radio | Live |
| 1 a.m. | 10 p.m. | This is America with Jon Elliott | Air America Radio | Best-of |
| 3 a.m. | 12 a.m. | The Randi Rhodes Show | Air America Radio | Best-of |
- Programs airing between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. eastern time on Saturdays may be not be heard, as Air America Radio on XM 167 might be turned off in order to broadcast sports coverage.
[edit] References
- ^ XM Satellite Radio (2005-04-11). "XM AND AIR AMERICA RADIO ANNOUNCE LONG TERM AGREEMENT; XM TO BE OFFICIAL SATELLITE RADIO NETWORK OF AIR AMERICA". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
- ^ "Can't we all just get along?", LTR - The Alternative Media Resource, 14 Feb 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ "Ed Schultz Blasts Air America Radio", Talking Radio, 14 Feb 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-11.
- ^ Air America Radio (2007-04-25). "AIR AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW LINE-UP". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
- ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence. "Gambling Back at WOR", The New York Times, 2008-05-01. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
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