FrankenNet: Counting the Hours
Go to FrankenNet's website. What's the first thing you see?
"11 Stations Nationwide!"
Let's take a look at that.
The stations on their list include:
- New York City - WLIB 1190
- Minneapolis - WMNN 1330
- Portland, OR - KPOJ 620
- Riverside, CA - KCAA 1050
- West Palm Beach, FL - WJNO 1290
- Plattsburgh/Burlington - WTWK 1070
- Key West, FL - WKIZ 1500
- Portland, ME - WMTW 870
- Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL 1360
- XM Satellite Radio - 167
- Sirius Satellite Radio - 125
What does this list tell us?
First, XM and Sirius aren't "stations". They're satellite operations; there's nothing wrong with that - they may or may not be viable media in the future - but claiming them as "stations" in your network is at the most like the Northern Alliance claiming webstreaming as the Second Station! in our network, and at the very least like comparing apples and axles.
But I have a hunch that even the nine remaining stations is a little over-played.
Remember - FrankenNet produces seventeen hours of original talk per weekday; most of the shows are team efforts, with two or three big showbiz or MPR egoes hosts and at least one producer (I'd bet more, given the NPR roots of so much of the network's staff) - which adds up to a lot of money. So - nine stations should be airing a total of (9*17), 153 hours of FrankenNet programming per day among them.
Let's look at the list again:
- New York City - WLIB 1190 - The website is still stuck in its pre-FrankenNet iteration, and makes no mention of the networks - although it features a screed by former WLIB personality and "Morning Sedition" co-host Mark Riley. Let's be charitable and assume WLIB carries every blessed minute of every show.
- Minneapolis - WMNN 1330 - On the other hand, WMNN carries exactly three hours of FrankenNet - the O'Franken Factor. And it's basically money-making filler for the station while they change ownership; they've been bought by a Catholic network. FrankenNet has about thirty-odd days to go (sources in the local broadcast industry say there is zero chance WMNN will continue to carry FrankenNet)
- Portland, OR - KPOJ 620 - This is actually the best signal in the whole network; this used to be KGW, a 50,000 watt blowtorch. But being in the Pacific, they are three hours behind the network's New York time. So Franken bumps Lizz Winstead and Chuck D to run live from 9 to noon, while the Fast Eddie Schultz show runs live following it. All the other shows run tape-delayed; certainly not the same as running live.
- Riverside, CA - KCAA 1050 - Far from being a FrankenNet affiliate, KCAA plays four hours of FrankenNet programming a day; three hours of "O'Franken" on tape delay, and one hour of Randi Rhodes, presumably live.
- West Palm Beach, FL - WJNO 1290 - The station broadcasts exactly four hours of FrankenNet - the Randi Rhoads show. Oddly enough, the four-pack-a-day-voiced Rhodes was on WJNO before FrankenNet, and will likely be on WJNO long after FrankenNet is long gone. For FrankenNet to claim the station as an affiliate when it's caused zero net change in the station's programming is technically correct - but still disingenuous.
- Plattsburgh/Burlington - WTWK 1070 - The station doesn't seem to have a website. There's one reference that says the station plays FrankenNet during its "daytime hours". Let's be charitable for now and assume that means they carry everything from "Morning Sedition" through "Randi Rhodes", 13 hours worth.
- Key West, FL - WKIZ 1500 - WKIZ carries 12 hours of Air America per day.
- Portland, ME - WMTW 870 - It sounds like this station plays the entire lineup.
- Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL 1360 - WCHL, on the other hand, plays exactly two hours of Al Franken per day. That's it.
So, among nine (for the moment) stations and a potential total of 153 potential live station/hours per weekday, we have a current total of 69 hours of the possible total of 153 station/hours of programming actually being broadcast. 42 of those hours are at small-market stations. 14 additional hours are tape-delayed.
So - of 153 potential station-hours of programming per weekday, a total of 83 are actually broadcast. Anywhere. At all.
Even more depressing (if you're a FrankenNet supporter) is the number of stations airing each program:
- Morning Sedition: Six stations (one shortened, one delayed).
- Unfiltered: Four stations. What must it be like, being Lizzzzzz Winstead, going on the air after leaving "The Daily Show" and knowing you're on the air in NYC (on a pot-warmer station), Portland Oregon, Portland Maine and Key West?
- Franken: Eight stations (one shortened)
- Randi Rhodes: Seven stations, one carrying one hour
- So What Else Is News: Three stations, one of them via delay
- Majority Report: Three stations, one of them via delay.
Joe Soucheray is in more markets than FrankenNet.
Worse than that? Yawping cretin and instaliberal Fast Eddie Schulz can probably claim a bigger audience.
That's gotta hurt.
Posted by Mitch at
May 7, 2004 05:48 AM
Man, Ed Schultz looks nothing like what I expected. I pictured an Ignatius Reilly-type figure, complete with ratty raincoat and powdered donut-flecked mustaches. He certainly sounds like one.
Posted by: Brian Jones at May 7, 2004 08:09 AMOh, and I've been logging paid commercial time on XM's feed of America Left vs. America Right and Fox News. There's no comparison. Almost every commercial hole on Air America is plugged with XM promos, features like "National Geographic Minute," and PSA's. America Right gets Honda commercials, bank commercials, etc.
Sure, Soros can keep cutting checks. But soon the stations are going to want a little bang for their air time.
Air America is hosed.
Posted by: Brian Jones at May 7, 2004 08:12 AMTried to listen. Crap.
Posted by: the markman at May 7, 2004 08:30 AMHey, don't be so hasty! Air America is now on TWELVE stations. AM 1240 in Sacramento. Ironically, again, a station that was formerly Spanish language. And AA is, of course, paying for air time.
Posted by: James Ph. at May 7, 2004 09:55 AMI use WJNO to listen to Limbaugh live on the
Posted by: steep at May 7, 2004 11:35 AMinternet. Maybe that's why they don't have
Franken on.
In *M*innesota, it's "M"PR.
You're welcome to your XM. It's still crappy radio.
Douchebag.
Posted by: myatch at July 21, 2004 06:24 AMHey, Everybody body on this site, i'm sure feels pretty stupid considering that as of 08/28/04 Air America is on 22 stations (not including XM) and is extremely popular. Hmmm, I wouldn't place any bets on what you guys think.
Posted by: amory at August 28, 2004 07:33 AMThis page is crap. Nothing but REPUBLICAN bull as usual. THANK God for Air America. You far right dummies are just upset that Liberal Democrates finally have a voice, telling the truth against such liars like the FOX television network! Oh, and by the way, more stations are being added all the time. SORRY LOSERS!
Posted by: Larry at September 13, 2004 09:04 PMStick it to the man!!! Franken's show now on Sundance Channel & the truth is finally rearing it's ugly head! If you're a BushCo. supporter, it's time to stick your heads in the sand & deny the truth that you have all been feasting on the lies of right-wing fascist neo-con chicken-hawks. Just remember: The truth will out, then your man can go back to Crawford & swill Lone Star & snort lines of cocaine just like he used to do.
Posted by: Tex at September 27, 2004 07:47 AMIt makes me sad when people really believe in FOXNews--believe the information is truly "fair and balanced". You obviously have the internet, why don't you use this vast and powerful tool to do some of your own research and stop being fed pre-digested sound bytes that let you feel "warm and fuzzy" with the current administration and the course our country is taking in foreign relations (not to mention our domestic situation). Air America Radio is another source for obtaining information. It is crucial for our society to have multiple, independent media outlets, for all voices to be heard. That is why Air America Radio must exsist and why, as much as it is simply 24-hours of Bush propaganda, FOXNews must also exsist,
Posted by: Joy at September 27, 2004 03:09 PMWrong again little man. Air America can be just on one station. Most people that listen to it dont listen on the radio. They listen to it on the internet. Clear Channel dosent control what goes in peoples eithernet cables (god knows they want to) The only thing required to keep a radio station on the air is AD's and Air America has plenty of clients. They know people dont listen to it on the radio. Ratings dont matter even if Franken is killing rush in some markets. George W. was right. we do live in a diffrent world. A world of instant fact checking and completly free speech. The internet will win this election and defeat bush. It could be a blog from a soldier in Iraq or a catching bush in even more lies. I love free speech. God bless America
Posted by: DJRobertJohnson at October 10, 2004 08:57 AMWow - someone must have linked this post. You people tend to travel in packs.
Amory - "Everybody on this site"? It's just me. And no, AA is still pretty pathetic, and is losing money hand over fist.
Larry - If your spelling, punctuation and capitalization are any indication of the typical AA listener's level of literacy, Franken can have you. And yes, AA is adding "stations", in the sense that more stations are carrying AA - or at least a few AA programs. Most of the stations only carry a few hours, and most of them are EXTREMELY marginal. Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Laura Ingraham each have at least three times as many stations, and double the audience, of any AA program.
Joy - Um, huh? Specifics, please? You are operating from steretypes. The Northern Alliance blogs do more research in a week than AA's entire lineup. We have to - unlike AA, our audience is smart and critical.
DJRH - Your spelling is as atrocious as your understanding of the media industry. AA does NOT have plenty of clients - their bottom line is pathetic. George Soros is the only thing keeping them on the air.
So who plugged me?
Posted by: mitch at October 10, 2004 09:59 AMYea it was me. I came here by accident. Like steping in DOG SHIT. Enjoy the Bloging mitch! :) or and by the way. Ill run spell check when you run FACT CHECK.
Posted by: DJRobertJohnson at October 10, 2004 10:27 AMIt's just amazing how mean spirited republicans are. You are like spoiled kids who have just been told they can't have any candy. Here is the facts my friends. Air America is a very new station and has been the fastest growing audience ever. Now I know you right wing Fascious aren't use to being challenged but it's over! We progressive thinkers, and the oprative word here is thinkers! finally have our voices being heard and you just can't stand the heat. What amazes me as much as anything is how people can vote for a man who is taking this country apart brick by brick. Wake up my friends before it is too late.
Posted by: Pup at October 27, 2004 04:11 PM"It's just amazing how mean spirited republicans are."
Ah. Is that was it was.
" You are like spoiled kids who have just been told they can't have any candy. Here is the facts my friends. Air America is a very new station and has been the fastest growing audience ever."
I'm going to step out of "conservative" role for a moment, and speak purely as someone who spent 13 years in radio. It's a more reasoned response than you probably deserve...
Huh-whaaa? Air America, with its multi-million dollar budget and ultra-high media profile, is on 30-odd stations. Salem, whose entire payroll wouldn't match Al Franken's salary, is on 100, and has easily several times Air America's audience. They are NOT the fastest-growing network in history; both Limbaugh and Stern grew bigger, faster.
" Now I know you right wing Fascious aren't use to being challenged but it's over!"
Is "fascists" the word you're looking for?
" We progressive thinkers, and the oprative word here is thinkers!"
Are you too busy "thinking" to write complete sentences?
" finally have our voices being heard and you just can't stand the heat."
Please. I'll take on ANY Air America host on any subject in open debate, any time.
"What amazes me as much as anything is how people can vote for a man who is taking this country apart brick by brick. Wake up my friends before it is too late."
Ah. But Republicans are the paranoid hatemongers. Got it.
Posted by: mitch at October 27, 2004 10:13 PM