jim writes:

"Liberal Talk Radio Network to Launch March 31, 2004"

Air America Radio, a progressive talk radio network, announced today it will hit the airwaves on March 31st. "Air America Radio is launching in the top U.S. markets with leading talent that will provide compelling and entertaining programming on the radio, on satellite feeds, and on the web," said Mark Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Air America Radio. "We aim to build an important new media franchise that delivers results."The network's on-air personalities represent today's top political and popular satirists, commentators and activists. Comedian, and best selling author Al
Franken, who was recently taken to court when Bill
O'Reilly and Fox News were seeking an injunction to
halt distribution of "Lies and the Lying Liars Who
Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," and
is known for fact-based, drug-free satire, will host a
weekday show on the network called "The O'Franken
Factor."

"I'm so happy that Air America Radio will be on in
three battleground states, New York, Illinois and
California -- no wait -- those aren't battleground
states. What the hell are we doing?" said Franken.

Air America Radio has signed actress and comedienne
Janeane Garofalo, hip hop icon Chuck D, radio
personality Randi Rhodes, and political humorist Sam
Seder to join Franken at the network. Environmental
activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., "The Daily Show"
co-creator Lizz Winstead, and business-of-the-media
analyst on the public radio program "Marketplace"
Martin Kaplan will also join the network.

The network has unveiled its current weekday and
weekend line-up:

Monday-Friday
Uprising: 6:00-9:00am

This is a fast paced morning show that will entertain
and engage audiences with wit and political satire. It
will feature the latest news, offering up
to-the-minute interviews with newsmakers, analysis and
strong opinions.

Host: Marc Maron
Co-host: Sue Ellicott
Co-host: Mark Riley

Unfiltered: 9:00am-12:00pm
Air America's midmorning program is a showcase for
conversation about the political and cultural state of
the union. Unfiltered introduces listeners to fresh
new voices not available in mainstream media today.

Co-host: Lizz Winstead
Co-host: Chuck D
Co-host: Laura Flanders

The O'Franken Factor: 12:00-3:00pm
Relentless, pure satire, delivered by the leading
political humorist of this generation. With his
partner, longtime radio host Katherine Lanpher, this
will be three hours of fearless barbs, sketches, and
interviews with newsmakers and characters who have
lived, up until now, only in Al's fertile imagination.
He's no policy wonk, but this best-selling author and
veteran of Saturday Night Live, is devoting his energy
to fighting back against rightwing propaganda with
hard evidence and facts.

Host: Al Franken
Co-host: Katherine Lanpher
Producer: Billy Kimball

The Randi Rhodes Show: 3:00-7:00pm

Randi Rhodes has spent the last 20 years burning up
the airwaves in southern Florida with her pointed and
provocative brand of talk radio. Combining live
interview, call-in and commentary, Randi engages her
audience with a passionate presentation.

Host: Randi Rhodes

So What Else Is News? : 7:00-8:00pm
Based in Los Angeles, this is a one-hour program
showcasing the intersection of politics, media and
popular culture. This program will feature analysis
and reports from the presidential campaign, as well as
a daily reporters' roundtable on how the news of the
day is affected and reflected by the media. Marty will
also cover the spinning of the news with a regular
segment called "The Corrections." This is also the
place to hear the political voice of Hollywood, with
celebrity guest interviews from the entertainment
industries.

Host: Marty Kaplan

The Majority Report: 8:00pm-11:00pm

This program will introduce new, younger voices and
opinions, with live guests from the world of politics,
the arts and entertainment.

Host: Janeane Garofalo
Co-host: Sam Seder

Saturday and Sunday

Air America Radio¼s weekend line-up will offer more
original programming, like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and
Mike Papatanio's "Champions of Justice," a program
that brings a fresh and entertaining perspective to
talk radio from the top legal and social issues
focused minds in the country. Additional programming
will include Best-of Air America Radio and
Best-of-O'Franken Factor as well as other original
programming to be announced soon.

"Air America Radio will be available immediately in
top markets across the country, and our distribution
channels will continue to expand in the coming months
via affiliation agreements with partner stations
across the land," said Air America Radio President Jon
Sinton. Air America Radio will debut its programming
on radio stations:
WLIB (AM 1190am) in New York streams
WNTD (AM 950) in Chicago
KBLA (AM 1580) in Los Angeles
a station in San Francisco to be named before launch.

Air America Radio's partnership with WLIB owner, Inner
City Broadcasting Corporation, is a complementary
agreement that builds on the goals of each
organization -- to bring new energy and new immediacy
to messages, issues and audiences that deserve a place
in today's media marketplace.

"We are excited about the diverse and important voices
Air America Radio is bringing to the airwaves, both on
our own WLIB signal and others," said Pierre Sutton,
Chairman of ICBC. "This strategic partnership allows
both companies to combine our resources and deliver
relevant messages to a broad and diverse audience. Our
talented Mark Riley joins new and exciting co-hosts
throughout the broadcast day in multiple major markets
to open the airwaves to opinions and entertaining
commentary that Americans can hear nowhere else."

Live streaming of Air America Radio shows, along with
show archives, will be available on
http://www.airamericaradio.com.

Air America Radio is in negotiations with satellite
television and satellite radio providers. These
national services will allow potential listeners to
tune in anywhere in the country. The details of these
partnerships will be unveiled soon.

"Our success to date proves what we have known all
along: a progressive radio network can be entertaining
and engaging while also being a successful business
venture. We have made a lot of progress -- and more is
to come. We expect to deliver valuable listeners to
our advertising partners," said Evan Cohen, New
York-based investor and Chairman of the board of Air
America Radio.