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2 January 2006

The new owners of KXXT, religious broadcasters Communicom, are dumping liberal talk from KXXT by the end of January

As speculated here previously, after the sell of KXXT 1010 AM, it was just a matter of time before the new owners flipped the format, dumping Air America Radio.

Morning host Charles Goyette, in an email, confirms what the M&M Show reported on air this weekend.

Religious broadcasters out of Denver bought it in a three station acquisition from our owner, James Crystal Inc. Expected closing date of Feb. 1. It's hard to believe that Phoenix needs another religious station, but the new owners will have two here.

It's really is puzzling from a business and revenue standpoint. (It seems like a lot of bother just to get me off the air!) This is the nation's fifth largest city, 15th market, with dynamic growth. There are 60-some radio signals in the airwaves here, most of which aren't making any money. Yet we turned the corner to profitability in less than a year, an amazing feat for a start-up. Despite having done virtually no outside advertising or promotion, Air America Phoenix is already the third talk station in town having left behind a half-dozen others that have been long established in the market. My show is virtually sold out all the time.

Bob Christy, who made this happen, is exploring other possibilities for the operation in the market, but time is running short. Who knows?

While I found some of the national AAR hosts unlistenable (specifically Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy), it was most refreshing to have an alternative lineup of talk shows, not inebriated with the neoconservative Kool-Aid. On its own, the Charles Goyette program is performing a great service in countering the know nothing myopia that pervades much of the political discourse, especially in regard to the new militarism that threatens our republic.

The local liberal listening audience, who finally, at last, were able to receive broadcasts free from neoconservative taint, are obviously upset over this development. But signing petitions isn't going to do any good — though it's claimed such an action plan including phone calls and letters was successful in enabling a Baton Rouge station to switch to AAR. And AAR has been a smashing financial success in some locales.

Air America Radio is still available via XM (satellite radio) and you can stream it through your computer speakers.

Finally, radio insiders pontificate on a possible new frequency home for AAR.