Host on ailing liberal radio network talks for free

The comedian Al Franken, the flagship host for Air America, has agreed to work without pay to help the fledgling liberal talk radio network over its acute financial difficulties.

The comedian Al Franken, the flagship host for Air America, has agreed to work without pay to help the fledgling liberal talk radio network over its acute financial difficulties.

Air America was launched two months ago as a Democrat-friendly zone, to challenge Rush Limbaugh and the other conservative broadcasters who dominate talk radio. But its debut has been chaotic. Five top executives have left amid bitter boardroom squabbling, and the network has been taken off the air in two top markets.

At one stage in April it virtually ran out of money, and Franken's decision to forgo his salary and become "an involuntary investor" suggests that Air America's financial troubles are not over.

Franken said: "We had some bad management, then we got some good management. But it's still a little fuzzy to me who is in charge."