Happy Birthday, Air America Radio

One year ago today radio’s first progressive talk radio network went on the air, through the satellites, and over the ‘Net. Many critics and competitors said the network would not last more than a few months, and indeed, the first few months were a little bit shaky, but here it is, one year later and Air America Radio is successfully broadcasting on 51 different over-the-air radio markets nationwide, XM Satellite Radio - ch. 167, Sirius Satellite Radio - ch. 144, and streaming over the Internet. It’s entertaining, it’s compelling, it’s satirical, it’s thoughtful, and yes, it’s downright funny. Hell-bent on debunking right-wing propaganda, Air America Radio takes a jaundiced look at the day’s news, the nation’s newsmakers, and the conformist coverage of the unquestioning mainstream media.

HBO chronicles the ragtag birth of liberal radio and its year-long recovery in “Left of the Dial” a documentary that premieres tonight at 8:00 PM on HBO. “This is one great and wicked backstage story of media madness and cultural warfare,” says David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun. Another review of the documentary is also available today in Newsday.

My favorite is Randi Rhodes, whom I first heard down in West Palm Beach, FL, around 21 years ago while on vacation. She doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone, nor would I expect her to. Her commentary (from 3:00-7:00PM) is on-target, well researched, and to the point.

Happy 1st Birthday, Air America Radio!