Franken to stay at radio post

Air America Radio, a start-up radio network that offers liberal talk and commentary, has signed a new contract with comedian Al Franken to stay on as its lead personality for at least two more years, the company announced Wednesday.

“I have re-signed with Air America in order to spend less time with my family,” said Franken, who is on the air for three hours each weekday.

Air America also said that Rob Glaser, the chairman and chief executive of the technology company RealNetworks Inc., had joined the company as chairman of its board. Glaser has also been an investor in the company, although he declined to disclose the value of his stake.

The company said that its interim chief executive, Doug Kreeger, had stepped aside and that it had begun a search for a full-time chief executive. Kreeger will remain on the board.

In the meantime, the company is being run on a day-to-day basis by its president, Jon Sinton, a longtime radio executive, and Carl Ginsberg, its executive vice president.

Air America has been signing up more stations following a shaky start this year. The company went through a management shakeup in May, about five weeks after going on the air, that included the departure of its previous chairman, Evan Cohen, and other executives.

The network can now be heard on 40 stations around the country -- including 11 of the top 20 markets, although not Los Angeles -- as well as on Sirius and XM satellite radio.

Air America also signed a new contract with Randi Rhodes, another on-air personality, for three years. Its two-year contract with Franken includes an option to extend for another year. The company did not disclose how much it was paying the personalities.

Air America said it had new commitments of $13 million from investors.