Will SIRIUS buy Air America?
According to Mediaweek, Air America Radio is talking to several parties about a possible sale and is hopeful of reaching a deal before Thanksgiving.
A lawyer for the liberal talk radio network told a U.S. bankruptcy court on Tuesday that the privately-held company was in discussions with seven different parties about a sale and was “very hopeful” of reaching a deal by Nov. 22, saying there was a “significant amount of interest.”
Air America is continuing to operate with financing from an investor group led by RealNetworks CEO Robert Glaser, who owns 36.7 percent of the company, and two other former board members.
The Young Turks, a popular liberal talk show on SIRIUS since the service launched, jumped to Air America in September. Fans are still reeling from that move. You can view the reaction here.
Rumor is that SIRIUS was supposed to be a founding partner in Air America back in 2004, earning the satellite network the opportunity to offer the progressive programming exclusively.
SIRIUS offered to front startup costs, studio space and even the chance to sydicate content in select cities. Instead, Air America decided to go it alone, and ended up bringing XM into the loop. SIRIUS did not carry Air America at launch; and for months, refused to give Air America it’s own channel as a punishment for that move.
While it makes sense for XM to buy Air America, SIRIUS may be hungry enough to firm up their liberal talk lineup on the cheap.
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