Air America to cease broadcasting immediately

Air America, the progressive talk radio network, said Thursday that it would cease broadcasting immediately, bowing to what it called a "very difficult economic environment." "It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding down of the business," the chairman of Air America Media, Charlie Kireker, said in a memorandum. His statement was published on AirAmerica.com. The news did not come as a complete surprise to staff members. The company, which was founded in 2004, never found a substantial audience or sound financial footing. It filed for bankruptcy protection in 2006, but managed to stay on the air at that time. The network churned through several owners and several attempted reinventions, with little to show for it.