I.E. America Radio Network

i.e. America Radio Network was a Detroit-based radio network consisting primarily of liberal talk and lifestyle shows. They were owned by the United Auto Workers (UAW) and broadcast nationally from 1996 to 2004, via radio stations and a webcast.

The network was an outgrowth of networks established by populist talk radio host Charles "Chuck" Harder (c.1943-2018) beginning in 1987. Harder was an early investor in the network in its final form but pulled out of the venture amid disputes with the UAW.

History

The origin of what became the i.e. America Radio Network began in Tampa, Florida in 1987. In order to more freely discuss controversial topics on the radio and take advantage of the recent repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, disc jockey-turned talk show host Charles "Chuck" Harder decided to start his own radio network in 1987. The new venture was christened The Sun Radio Network, and its purpose was to syndicate his populist-themed show, ''"For The People"'', which was carried primarily by commercial rural AM radio stations and shortwave radio. Originally broadcasting from the garage of his Tampa home, Harder and his wife Dianne later purchased the historic Telford Hotel in the town of White Springs to serve as studios.

Programming for SRN was also delivered from its flagship Tampa Bay affiliate, WEND 760, owned and operated by Harder's colleague, Bruce Micek. Direct competition with other stations, WFLA in particular, led to some on-air and off-air disputes.

Kayla Satellite Network, which was approximately half owned by Liberty Lobby, purchased the Sun Radio Network in December 1989. In 1991, Harder's show was dropped from the network and he proceeded to start a new radio network, the Peoples Radio Network.

Peoples Radio Network

The Peoples Radio Network was founded as a nonprofit organization, and Harder broadcast his show from the same studios in the Telford Hotel. The Peoples Radio Network also published a newspaper, the ''National News Reporter'', sold memberships, books and other merchandise through a mail-order catalog. PRN members were sent a booklet of consumer advice by Harder, ''How to Squeeze Lemons and Make Lemonade'', and a subscription to the Peoples Radio Network magazine.

At its peak in the early to mid-1990s, ''For The People'' was carried on over 300 radio stations, second only to Rush Limbaugh. The People's Radio Network later expanded to include hosts such as Jack Ellery, Joel Vincent (Howard Hewes), Paul Gonzalez and Jerry Hughes.

While still popular, the Peoples Radio Network declined during the mid-to-late 1990s with the advent of radio consolidation. Large radio chains began buying groups of radio stations and replacing current programming on their talk radio stations with more popular conservative-type shows.

The Peoples Radio Network's nonprofit status became the subject of an IRS audit following the 1992 presidential elections, alleging that PRN had attempted to influence the election against then-president George H. W. Bush. With the IRS audit continuing several years, Harder and his co-host Pat Choate searched for a funder for a new for-profit network which would not be subject to the restrictions on political advocacy of a nonprofit.

United Broadcasting Network

In 1996, Harder and his co-host Pat Choate were able to convince investors, particularly the United Auto Workers to provide funding for a new for-profit radio syndication service, the United Broadcasting Network. Harder's Peoples Radio Network was absorbed into the new venture. UAW's president at the time, Stephen Yokich, saw the UBN as a way to promote the union's ideals and counter conservative talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh. The union initially provided $5 million to help fund the venture.

Within three months the deal turned sour, and Harder was forced off the air, with the UAW assuming control over the new network's content. Pat Choate would become H. Ross Perot's vice presidential nominee in his election campaign. Without its only well-known talk show host, the United Broadcasting Network soon declared bankruptcy. Harder and Choate would both become embroiled in lawsuits against the UAW over the debacle, the eventual outcome of which gave sole ownership of the network to the UAW, which later renamed it i.e. America Radio Network (information, entertainment).

Radio hosts syndicated by UBN at the time included Jim Hightower, Marcy Kaptur and conservative populists Bay Buchanan

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