Err America (Air America nickname)
The Air America radio network began in March 2004 and ended in January 2010; it attempted to provide a liberal alternative to conservative talk radio. Critics of Air America nicknamed it “Err America” at least as early as April 2004. The “Err America” nickname was frequently used at the network’s 2010 closure.
Air Canada—an airline, not a radio network—is frequently nicknamed “Err Canada.”
Wikipedia: Air America (radio network)
Air America (formerly Air America Radio and Air America Media) was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming. It was on the air for a little less than six years, from March 2004 to January 2010.
The network featured discussion and information programs and specialized in presentations and monologues by on-air personalities, guest interviews, calls by listeners, and news reports. Several shows had million plus audiences, and multiple weekday presenters continued on in radio, television, or politics after their time on Air America. For example, in 2008, The Thom Hartmann Program had 1.5-2 million unique listeners a week and The Lionel Show had 1.5-1.75 million unique listeners a week. Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, and Mike Malloy still have shows on other networks. Al Franken went from his show to the United States Senate, and Rachel Maddow moved her show to television on the MSNBC network.
However, financially the network was troubled. A scandal involving nearly a million dollars in loans from a Boys and Girls Club in New York secretly transacted by Evan Cohen came out in 2005 and was a source of negative publicity. The loans were repaid, and in October 2006, mounting debts forced Air America Radio to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company was bought by Green Family Media, made up of New York real estate investor Stephen L. Green and his brother Mark J. Green, who bought the network in March 2007 for US$ 4.25 million.
The company eventually changed its name from Air America Radio to Air America Media and lastly to just Air America, an effort to establish itself as a broadcaster on multiple media sources including television and the Internet, and one not merely relegated to radio. Always primarily a radio network, on January 21, 2010, Air America went off the air citing difficulties with the current economic environment, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidated itself. Bennett Zier was the company’s last CEO including through the bankruptcy and liquidation.
New York magazine
Apr 12, 2004
Err America
The on-air cast of comics and movie stars at the new liberal talk-radio network has yet to master the medium—or the message.
By Robert Kolker
The most liberal thing about Air America Radio may be its business plan. The new national talk-radio network, airing on stations in six cities so far, seems designed on the scale of the New Deal or the War on Poverty—a proudly massive response to a mammoth social problem. The banks have failed and the markets have crashed? Plug the leaks with inventive social programs. People are hungry and homeless? Step up and feed and house them. The airwaves are clogged with right-wing fire-breathers who set the tone of presidential campaigns? Create a new radio network to tip the balance of power.
31 March 2005, Washington (DC) Times, “Radio network still making waves; Liberal Air America overcomes challenging first year of business”:
Air America still is making noise after a tumultuous year on the airwaves.
(...)
Critics called the network “Err America.”
XMfan.com
theaprilfool
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:50 am Post subject: Where are you Evan Cohen? Err America needs more $$$$ FAST!
I guess The Employees at Err America all qualify for welfare now?
BaylorFans.com
caesarscott
04-26-06 11:25 AM
Nobody’s listening to Err America
‘PROGRESSIVE’ MEDIA STALLS: ‘AIR AMERICA’ IN AUDIENCE PLUNGE NYC, ‘DAILY KOS’ BOOK SELLS ONLY 3,600 COPIES
Wed Apr 26 2006 11:39:51 ET
Left-leaning new media has hit turbulence at the marketplace, newly released stats show.
TrackForum.com
Truth Detector
01-21-2010 05:17 PM
RIP - Err America
It dies tonight at 6:00pm.
Will anybody notice?
Atlantic Free Press
Err America
Written by Walter Brasch
Thursday, 28 January 2010 07:48
Air America, the liberal radio network, went down in flames, Jan. 21, when it filed for bankruptcy. It wasn’t because of air-to-air combat with conservative talk shows and bloggers. It wasn’t because of the Recession, although reduced advertising revenue, a reality of all media, also affected Air America. It wasn’t even demographics, even though older, marginalized conservatives tend to listen to radio more than do younger liberal professionals. And media history was only part of the problem.