The XM Factor

Folks outside of LA, NY, or Chicago desiring to lend their ears to the premiere of Air American Radio today can do so on XM Satellite Radio, thanks to a deal between XM Satellite and Progress Media. The two companies are positively beaming about the partnership. XM President Hugh Panero says giving [listeners] the best and broadest choices possible is XM's "daily mission. Where else are you going to find Al Franken and Bill O'Reilly, or opera and punk for that matter, living under one roof."

But will the "underserved market of [Carbondalliers] who want to hear compelling and funny talk voices expressing viewpoints long absent from the radio airwaves" but don't have XM Radio be able to be able to hear "The O'Franken Factor" today--and every weekday--at 11 am CST? Not a chance. Neither Murphysboro's WINI or Carterville's WJPF would consider leasing their entire station to Progress Media. And that's the only way that Progress Media will do it, as a radio station in Chapel Hill NC found out recently.

Yet local AM airwaves are not entirely lacking a Liberal voice. Nancy Engel at WINI (AM 1420), says her station already carries an intelligent alternative to Rush Limbaugh, Thom Hartmann (11 am - 1 pm), described by Radio Ink as a 'liberal talk radio with a rational perspective, solid facts, and grounded in the history of America.'

But the only way you'll be able to hear Air America's talk show lineup around here is on XM Satellite.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "[Air America's liberal format] seems like . . . programming . . . created in response to programming that was created in response to a liberal media that I'm not sure exists." --Phil Zachary, executive vice president of Curtis Media Group, which owns Chapel Hill's top talk radio station