Awesome News For Fans Of Progressive Radio(!)

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2008/06/xm-takes-left-turn-kist-takes-fall.html

XM takes a 'left' turn, KIST takes a fall
"In a not-so-surprising move, XM Radio is retooling it's "Air America" channel (XM167). Come July 14, the satellite provider brings back its former name - America Left.

The channel will still carry Bill Press, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann and Mike Malloy. They are also adding Stephanie Miller and The Young Turks. Miller will likely take the 9A-noon shift currently held be Lionel. No word on what role the Turks, who left Air America earlier this year to do an internet-based afternoon show, play in this grand scheme. The show initially got its start on rival (and soon to be partner) Sirius. And there is no word on possible time shifts for the channel's current offerings..."

(Obviously I'm very happy for Cenk of TYT, AKA The Young Turks. I'm sure Miller fans are happy too.)

:)

different equipment? I thought about getting a satellite radio but couldn't decide between the two formats so I just forgot about it.

If I were you I would hold off getting a satellite radio until the dust settles. Both companies are bleeding hundreds of millions of dollars and probably will not survive, merger or no merger.

I despise Lionel.

What would be nice is if XM added a few more Left wing talk channels. The right wing has a few of their own on XM.

:rofl:

Poor boring baby. Stephanie is gonna kill on that channel.

maybe mine was the straw that broke the camel's back

I don't see her on the list.

Good question, where is Maddow?

And thank God Lionel is getting booted.

He's condescending and irritating. And his anti-Olbermann crusade is over the top and obnoxious.

I never listened to him, so I wouldn't know. But that's enough to tell me he's a dick. Good riddance, asshole.

Stephanie and the Mooks are wonderful. Good news indeed!

For starters, his opening song was a huge turn off. And the fact that my 4yo sings it, make me dislike the guy even more, LOL.

And really, I found him to be just annoying in general. And I caught him taking sides with the right on a few things (don't ask me what, it's been far too long), and that pretty much ended it for me.

Really though, Miller is a great option for the morning. Her show is very fast, uplifting - more like traditional AM radio/drive time. You know... Something to get you going. Lionel just put me to sleep.

But if they're still airing Thom & Mike chopped down to 2 hours each (with Thom being a full 8 hours delayed because of Schultz) then I'll still have to pass on renewing my subscription. Reality is that they have plenty of programming to fill two channels of Liberal/progressive/not right wing radio, but they simply refuse to do so.

Yet they have no problem with running all of the following:

Dedicated right wing channels
FAUX Noize - 121
FAUX "business channel" - 128
FAUX Noize Radio - 168
America Right - 166
"Family" Talk (James Dobson "Christian" crapfest) - 170

Partial right wing channels
America's Talk (Glenn BecKKK) - 158
Talk Radio (also airs Glenn BecKKK) - 165

So you have at least 7 channels spewing vile hatred, and you can't spare one more for the truth?? Maybe XM needs to take a hint from one of their own radio hosts, Mr. Robert Zimmerman, and realize that "the times they are a changin"

:kick:

:hi: I know that he'll still be on "Air America" but without XM his audience will decrease immensely. I'm sorry to see what's happened to Air America but Greene did this to himself.

Finally somebody good to listen to on the early show. Now I have a reason to renew my subscription.

She's the best thing on AAR now.

In Chicago they feed the M$NBC Show she's on and then an hour of her afterwards. I find it hard to listen to that first hour...between the tinny TV audio quality and having to endure asshats like Buchanan, Carlson and even Gregory.

Sounds more like another death knell for AAR.

and does NOT bode well for what would happen after an XM-Sirius merger.

For one thing, why is the reich-wing channel called "Patriot" and the Patriot channel is called "Left"?

Uh, no.

I'll defend TYT to the death for one, and Hartmann for another.

XM got exclusive rights to Air America.

Then XM changed the line-up, dumping Hartman for Ed Schultz.

And then, after Air America and Randi Rhodes parted ways, they put on Randi over whomever Air America put on in her place. I'm not trashing Randi here, just saying that she's no longer part of the Air America line-up, yet XM took it upon themselves to change their concept of Air America once again (whether for better for worse, who knows).

And now, XM is getting rid of even the Air America name.

After having exclusive rights to use it in satellite.

That pisses me off.

As is putting Lionel on the air and not having Maddow.

But hey, it's better than nothing, right?

God knows Air America made many, many horrible mistake.

No, wait.

Never mind.

I'm thinking that this is what their new schedule will be like:

6 AM-9 AM ET: Bill Press (Jones)
9 AM-noon ET: Stephanie Miller (Jones)
Noon-3 PM ET: Ed Schultz (Jones)
3 PM-6 PM ET: Randi Rhodes (Nova M)
6 PM-9 PM ET: Thom Hartmann (Air America, tape delayed)
9 PM-midnight ET: Mike Malloy (Nova M)

It's a pretty good lineup, resembling the lineup that many local affiliates use, with all the best progressive talkers in one place, plus all of the shows air in their entirety. Unfortunately, in order to fit Hartmann in, and not trim an hour off his show or Malloy's show, it sounds like they'll be cutting out Rachel Maddow, or burying it in the middle of the night; they don't mention her on the XM announcement at all.

As for The Young Turks, I don't know where they will fit on the weekday lineup, unless it too will be buried in the middle of the night. Perhaps XM will air the TYT on the weekends instead (like they do with Left Jab, a XM-exclusive show).

they carry Bill Press...Ed Schultz means well I guess, but he's not near the top of my list.

You've absolutely got to have Hartmann, Turks, Malloy, Maddow, Werbe, Laura Flanders (she is terrific)...who did I forget?

Randi-listener to Malloy. Now I love Jon Elliott (especially the show's introduction that is a recap of the events of the day). :)

Bobby and Pap have a great show. I wish they'd do 2 per weekend. I also agree on Laura Flanders. She's great and deserves time.

NOT a Bill Press fan x(

TYT is far more fresh and entertaining, and less whiny. Although funny enough Cenk interviewed Bill last month or so about his new book and it sounded ok so maybe I shouldn't be so harsh?

;)

Bill Press is who they put on when they made the IDIOTIC decision to take off The Turks. Fucking clowns. Every single time they send me a questionnaire (I'm an AA subscriber) I rip them a new asshole for these stupid programming changes they make.

DAMN I'd love to have the Turks back on for my morning drive!! I don't listen to AA anymore in the rush hour. Bill Press is a complete liability, good books or not. Sorry, Bill.

The only good decision AA has made was to take on Thom Hartmann, who I consider to be the Rolls-Royce of Progressive talkers. But by then I'm at work and I'm listening to him online.

I would dearly love to have The Turks back, or Laura Flanders or Rachel for drive time. Hell, bring back Morning Sedition for crissakes! I loved it!

Grrrrrrr...fucking air america.....grrr.......I have to stop now.

a few years back, and we had a lot of fans, maybe what they should do is let web radio lefties "audition" for a week each and then let the listeners decide who would make for great New Radio..

I'm sure my fellow DU'r Stranger would be up for it.. Get some new talent out there, Stranger produced an amazing show, with leadins, a new intro each time, advertising.. Sheesh that guy knows voices and recording.. We were on opposite ends of the world and he made it sound like we were in the same studio!

Replaced it with my iPod. Now I download the pod casts I want and play my music when I travel. Way better than paying these cretins 13 bucks a month.