Radio News ®

FCC clears Cumulus buy in Green Bay
The FCC has cleared another "red-flagged" radio transaction, giving Cumulus Media (O:CMLS) a go-ahead to close its $7.25M purchase of WDUZ-AM & WQLH-FM in the Green Bay, WI market. But Commissioner Michael Copps (pictured) once again parted company with his colleagues and said too much concentration is being allowed. | Full Story | RBR Observation |

G. Gordon Liddy wins again
A federal jury in Baltimore has thrown out a $5.1M defamation lawsuit against Watergate conspirator and Westwood One syndicated host G. Gordon Liddy. Ida "Maxie" Wells, a former Democratic National Committee secretary, claimed that Liddy falsely accused her of running a prostitution ring for the DNC in the early '70s. In their verdict, the jurors found that Liddy did not defame Wells by repeating the claim publicly.

The jury's decision comes more than a year after the first trial ended in a mistrial, with a previous jury not able to reach a verdict.

Media, Markets & Money tm

Fisher Communications suspends dividend
Stock in Fisher Communications (O:FSCI) dropped 25 cents to $54.95 on Friday (7/5) after the company announced on the eve of the Fourth of July that it was suspending payment of its quarterly dividend. The dividend, which had been $0.26 per share quarterly - - or $1.04 per year - - was last paid 3/1 to Q1 shareholders.
| Full Story | RBR Observation |

Washington Beat

What is indecency, anyway?
Entercom's (N:ETM) WGR-AM in Buffalo was subject to indecency complaints from local resident Michael P. Palko. However, the 5/8/00 broadcast in question was not found to be actionably indecent by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau.
| Full Story | RBR Observation |

Buckley tries to unbuckle CCU TV JSA
Clear Channel's (N:CCU) acquisition of Ackerley resulted in, among many other things, a six-radio-station, two-television station cluster in the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz market. Clear Channel brought the radio stations to the table, and Ackerley brought the TVs--one owned, KION-TV and the other, Seal Rock Broadcasters' KCBA-TV, related via an time brokerage agreement (TBA)/joint sales agreement (JSA) | Full Story |

Engineered for Profit

Sirius, XM claim UWB Report
and Order flawed
Sirius and XM Satellite Radio filed a joint petition with the FCC for partial reconsideration (6/17), claiming its Ultrawideband (UWB) First Report and Order rulemaking (released 4/22/02), adopted rules which will "cause harmful interference to satellite radio receivers from UWB communications and surveillance devices." This is not the first time the satellite broadcasters have asked for the Commission's help. They've also claimed new generations of high-efficiency public lighting systems cause massive interference. | Full Story |

Sales

Mid-Year Review:
What Will You Do Differently in the Third
and Fourth Quarters?
At mid-year 2002, media forecasters, group heads and research companies are all stating they expect positive growth in the second half of 2002 advertising sales.

If your own expectation differs from these leaders, the question you should ask
yourself is, "Year to date, has my sales effort been focused, consistent,
effective, and efficient?" | Full Story |

Radio Stocks