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Democratic Activist Buys Liberal Radio Firm
The Highland Park (IL) entrepreneurs who planned to launch a liberal Talk radio network have sold the company to a Democratic activist.
Sheldon and Anita Drobny sold the majority of their shares of AnShell Media to a group of investors headed by Mark Walsh, a former America Online executive and chief technology adviser to the Democratic National Committee.
While they retain what Walsh described as a “minimal” investment in AnShell, the couple will play no role in the company's management.
The deal was finalized last week and Walsh expects to begin broadcasting early next year.
Walsh didn’t disclose the purchase price but said New York venture capitalist Evan Cohen was among the new investors. Sheldon Drobny, who initially said he would spend $10 million of his own money to start the network, confirmed that he spent less than that and profited from the sale.
Anita Drobny told The New York Times in February, “I feel like there's a [conservative] monologue out there. I just had this tremendous feeling with great passion that we had to make sure we're heard and make sure we are having a dialogue in this country of ours.”
Walsh, who once worked for the Democratic National Committee, appears to have a less partisan vision for the radio network than the Drobnys. He told The Chicago Tribune that the planned programming would be primarily “centrist, with a hint of liberalism.”
Insiders expect that the deal will bring a liberal talk-radio network closer to reality.
"These guys seem to be charging forward and making progress," said Franken, the liberal humorist who is in what he described as "deep level talks" with Walsh to develop a radio show.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Walsh will replace Jon Sinton as AnShell’s CEO; Sinton will continue as President of the company. Veteran radio programmer Dave Logan will join the company as Head of Programming.
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