|
|
|
|
|
Volume 24, Issue 158, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
|
Tuesday Morning August 14th, 2007
|
|
|
Radio News ®
|
 Clear Channel shareholders
to vote on September 25th
Shareholders of Clear Channel Communications will vote Tuesday, September 25th on whether to approve the long-pending deal to sell the company to a private equity buyout group led by Bain Capital partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners, along with the Mays family. The record date for shareholders eligible to vote has also been changed again - to next Monday, August 20th. It was last November that Clear Channel announced that the Bain/Lee group had won the bidding battle after the company was put up for auction. But some large shareholders weren't happy with the original price of 37.60 per share and threatened to vote against the deal unless the bid was increased. Under Texas law, where CCU is incorporated, a buyout requires two-thirds shareholder approval, which was going to be a substantial hurdle if major shareholders planned to vote no. Eventually, the bid was upped to 39 bucks per share, but a final kicker was needed to win support from some of the reluctant shareholders. That kicker added another 20 cents, but also allows shareholders to convert shares in the current public company - up to 30.6 million shares - into shares of the new private company. While it would have been easy to change 39.00 to 39.20 in the proxy materials, the conversion option made things much more complicated. The legal language has all been worked out now, the proxies are ready to go and the vote is set for September 25th.
RBR observation: Don't look for any late night nail-bitter as the votes are counted. As far as we can tell, there is no longer any organized resistance to the terms of the buyout. Highfields Capital, which had led the push for the stock swap option, has been buying more Clear Channel stock and appears to be hoping to capture the lion's share of that 30.6 million share stake available in the new company. As of a July 25th filing with the SEC, Highfields owned 31.8 million shares of Clear Channel.
Clear Channel Radio sell-off back to 20 markets
We've been updating our list now that 11 markets are back in play after one large transaction collapsed. By our count, there are now 20 Clear Channel Radio markets up for grabs from the original 90. All that remains, though, are small markets - nothing in the top 200. The largest market from the cratered Blue Point Media deal was Duluth, MN, Arbitron market #204, which isn't even the largest left. That is #201, Yakima, WA. 11 of the markets still to be sold are not rated by Arbitron.
| See the updated list |
|
|
|
 SoundExchange draws fire
from NAB, Nashville attorney
The National Association of Broadcasters is attempting to forge an agreement with royalty disburser SoundExchange to "resolve a rate dispute related to radio stations that stream music online." The lack of a promised response after two months has resulted in a new graphic on NAB's website. Meanwhile, a prominent attorney is questioning the organization's reported lobbying efforts. For the NAB's part, it is trying to protect the ability of radio stations to operate on-line, a prospect put in doubt by the threat of drastically-increased royalty requirements despite the fact that the artists in question are receiving free promotion by the very act of being streamed. NAB says it made a "good-faith" offer 6/6/07, and it's new home-page shot clock pegs the lack-of-response time at 68 days and counting. "The sounds of silence from SoundExchange are deafening," said NAB EVP Dennis Wharton. "SoundExchange's callous refusal to respond to our reasonable offer threatens not only the recording artists they purport to represent, but also a fledgling technology that benefits listeners." Meanwhile, Wired reports that Nashville lawyer Fred Wilhelms is questioning SoundExchnage's reported lobbying practices, apparently paid for on its clients' dime without permission, and further in defiance of the organization's charter. Wilhelms said that all licensing fees collected by SoundExchange less administrative costs should go to artists and labels. he said spending it on anything else is "impermissible by law and a breach of trust." Wilhelms questioned the organization's transparency, noting an earlier unrelated incident - the search for artists owed money but whose whereabouts were unknown - in which it failed to make information available to properly pay those who were entitled.
RBR observation: Cox Radio's Bob Neil is already suggesting that each spin heard on radio or a radio website be changed from an entertainment segment into a paid commercial. Seriously, do recording companies think they can dip into broadcast wallets just like that? If they really want to, they can eliminate music from the Internet and the airwaves, or make it a programming choice that only the richest stations in the biggest markets can afford. If the Neil suggestion becomes widely used, recording companies will have turned broadcast music from a free promotional vehicle to just one more profit-draining expenditure that will further weaken their internet/Napster ravaged business. If they are looking at broadcast wallets as a quick fix for their problems, they're delusional - the broadcasting industry is not stupid enough to just sit there and let that happen. Continuing down this unproductive path will not be good for any involved parties - not broadcasters, not recording companies and certainly not the artists themselves. Let's hope people come to their senses soon and start negotiating something that will actually be workable and beneficial for all.
|
|
|
WEEI sports hosts 'locked out'; given time to 'reflect'
Yesterday's on-air reunion of WEEI-AM Boston Sports Radio co-hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan has been derailed by the station, which decided to take them off the air indefinitely over deteriorating contract talks and rumors of defection to another station. The morning hosts tell The Boston Herald they've been locked out. The station calls it a chance to "reflect." "For me to be locked out on the week that we do the Jimmy Fund Radiothon breaks my heart," Dennis told the Herald yesterday. "It's the most important thing we do all year long." George Regan, spokesman for WEEI and Entercom, told the paper Dennis and Callahan aren't victims of a lockout, but rather beneficiaries of some unexpected R&R. "It's a great time for a vacation, and it's a great time to walk the beaches of Cape Cod to relax, reflect and think," said Regan. Dennis was on scheduled time off last week. Callahan, a Herald sports columnist, planned to join his sidekick behind the mike this morning after a four-month recuperation from throat surgery. Sources told the paper Entercom VP Julie Kahn is offering Dennis and Callahan "a substantial increase" to stay on when their contract expires in the first week of September, "but the sports talkmasters don't feel the undisclosed raises reflect the revenue their 10-year-old show generates. Their ratings consistently rank No. 1 among male listeners in the coveted 25-54-year-old demo."
 Another stakeholder
signs on to protect kids
Food manufacturers and media outlets have been under pressure to watch the waistlines of the preteen set all year. Kellogg's announced its intention to limit advertising of nutritionally-suspect products to the preteen set earlier this year and recently, eleven others followed suit. Now Discovery Kids has joined to group. Ed Markey (D-MA), who has taken Capitol Hill point on this issue, was quick with a response. He said, ""I commend Discovery Kids for taking this step to help protect children from unhealthy junk food ads and look forward to reviewing the details of their proposal. By helping kids discover the world beyond junk food, Discovery Kids is making an important statement about the responsibility that media companies have to join the fight against childhood obesity." Three FCC commissioners have been involved on a task force tackling this issue, and all three were also quick to get their PR machinery in gear. Deborah Taylor Tate (R) was first, followed in rapid succession by Michael Copps (D) and Chairman Kevin Martin (R). Their remarks are available below.
| Commissioner statements |
|
|
|
|
|
Ad Business Report TM
|
 Safety Insurance sponsors
New England Patriots
Radio Network
Safety Insurance Group will sponsor the New England Patriots Radio Network on CBS Radio's WBCN-FM Boston as part of the company's continued efforts to promote safer driving in Massachusetts. As part of this sponsorship, The Patriots Rock Radio Network will support Safety Insurance's safe driving initiatives through WBCN. Safety Insurance also recently partnered with educational non-profit Safe Roads Alliance and Massachusetts certified driver skills development program In Control Advanced Driver Training to further its mission of promoting safer driving in Massachusetts. As part of the partnership, drivers who participate in a driver skills development program at In Control and become members of Safe Roads Alliance will receive a five percent group discount on their automobile insurance from Safety Insurance. In addition, drivers with Safety Insurance coverage can participate in the driver skills development program at In Control for 75.00; more than a 70% discount from the normal 299.00 enrollment fee. 'BCN has been the official flagship station of the Patriots since 1995; the Patriots Radio Network is also aired on 34 sister stations throughout New England.
CBS Radio partners with 1-800 Flowers
1-800-FLOWERS.COM and CBS RIOT, a cross-platform division of CBS Corp. bridging its local radio, internet, outdoor and television sales operations, announced a call for entries for the "Fields of the World" contest where consumers will determine the country of origin for the next addition to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM "Fields of the World" bouquet collection. Consumers can upload their favorite photos from their travels around the world to the contest's website www.1800flowers.com/fotw, and submit a short story explaining the inspiration behind it. All contest entrants will receive a voucher for 15% off their next purchase at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, but only 10 finalists will compete for the grand prize. Each finalist's photo will be featured on a CBS outdoor billboard in the finalist's respective hometowns. Then, starting October 8th the 10 finalists will be posted on the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM website so the public can vote on grand prize winner. The winner will then have their photo featured on a CBS Outdoor billboard in Times Square. In addition, this winner will be flown to NYC for the unveiling of their billboard and attend a flower design class with expert floral designer Jane Packer, where they will learn how to bring their design to life. The grand-prize winner will be selected 11/1.
 P&G brings Dunkin' Donuts coffee to retail shelves
Procter & Gamble announced Dunkin' Donuts coffee will be available to consumers in select retail outlets nationwide by mid-August and broadly in September. Through a licensing agreement, P&G will provide Dunkin' Donuts coffee to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores throughout the U.S. Select retailers have promoted the brand in stores and in circulars to alert consumers to the fact that Dunkin' Donuts coffee is "coming soon." Dunkin' Donuts coffee will be available in a variety of coffee flavors and roasts. Ground varieties will include Original Blend, French Vanilla, Dunkin' Decaf, Hazelnut and Cinnamon Spice. Original Blend will also be available in a whole bean variety. Dunkin' Donuts coffee will be available in a 12 oz. package for a suggested retail price of 7.99 and a 40 oz. package for a suggested price of 15.99. P&G will support with network TV, national consumer print and local radio, the dunkinathome.com website and a PR program that amplifies the "America Runs on Dunkin'" theme. P&G Coffee will be responsible for manufacturing, distributing, and marketing Dunkin' Donuts packaged coffee. This is the latest addition to the P&G coffee portfolio, joining Folgers Gourmet Selections and Millstone.
|
|
|
|
| Media Markets & Money TM |
Ownership 'CAP
Perhaps a better way to phrase it would be the ownership of 'CAP, or WCAP-AM, is about to change. Radio veteran Clark Smidt is part of an ownership group which has struck a deal to acquire the Lowell MA senior band station. Smidt is buying the station, along with Samuel Poulton and others, under licensee name Merrimack Valley Radio. The price is 2.66M, 532K of this will be in the form of a promissory note. The seller is Maurice Cohen's Northeast Radio Inc. Smidt didn't have to look very far for a broker to help put this deal together - along with his buyer's hat, he wore the broker hat as well.
|
|
|
|
| Washington Media Business Report TM |
 Microsoft wants white space redo
Broadcast television is about a year and a half away from becoming a digital only service. At the same time, the FCC is being pressured to make the frequencies between stations - white spaces - available to unlicensed devices. One of the proponents of this idea is Microsoft, which would like to provide wireless internet access and other services in the cracks between television stations. Although a recent FCC test of one of these devices created interference, Microsoft says it was a defective prototype and that newer versions can successfully operate in white space spectrum. The NAB is pushing back hard. It noted that the FCC test was comprehensive and that it believed the unsatisfactory results were accurate. NAB's Dennis Wharton said, "By continuing to press its self-serving agenda, Microsoft is playing Russian Roulette with America's access to interference free TV reception."
RBR observation: There is much at stake on 2/17/09, the day analog television goes away. Concern that many citizens will be left behind with analog-only equipment is rampant in Washington. It hardly seems the appropriate time to be conducting experiments in ground zero of the digital transition. The entire white space debate should be postponed until we've established that the transition has been successfully accomplished.
|
|
|
|
| Entertainment Media Business Report TM |
Emmis and IHSAA partnership extends coverage
of Indiana High School Sports
The Indiana High School Athletic Association and Emmis Communications (Indianapolis) have announced a first-of-its-kind partnership and exclusive agreement to deliver complete coverage of Indiana high school sports through a ground-breaking new Web site: www.IHSAASports.org. The site, which launches today, is completely free - no subscription required - and will include live and archived video and audio coverage, scores, video interviews, written editorial content, competition schedules and features such as Coach of the Week and Player of the Week. In addition, there will be video of a Central Indiana "Game of the Week" for each week of the regular season for boys basketball and football. During tournament season, teams outside of Central Indiana will be showcased. "We are very excited about this unique partnership with Emmis Communications to extend the reach of Indiana high school athletic competition throughout the state, nation, and even world," said IHSAA Commissioner Blake Ress. "Fans will have broad access and complete coverage for all 20 of our state championship events, webcasted live, something I believe to be unprecedented to this point."
|
|
|
|
| Ratings & Research |
 July retail sales stronger than expected
Driven by back-to-school spending on electronics, apparel and other necessities, July retail sales rebounded from a slow start to the summer. According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales for July (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose a solid 4.0% unadjusted over last year and 0.5% seasonally adjusted from June. June retail sales were also revised up from 3.4% to 3.8%. July retail sales released by the Commerce Department show that total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from last month and 3.1% unadjusted year-over-year. "Back-to-school shopping sprees and summer clearance promotions drove consumers to department and specialty stores in July," stated NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells. "While concerns of a housing market slump and high gas prices still weigh heavily on consumers' minds, many people still hit the stores last month, giving retailers a nice rebound from earlier this summer." While apparel sales were expected to remain flat this summer during the essential back-to-school shopping season, seasonally adjusted month-to-month sales show clothing and clothing accessories increased 1.3% from June and 4.1% unadjusted year-over-year. New mp3 players, laptops and other electronic must-haves also helped boost July sales. Electronics and appliance stores sales increased 1.0% seasonally adjusted from last month and 2.5% unadjusted year-over-year. Health and personal care stores did surprisingly well, increasing 0.7% seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 6.3% unadjusted over last July. General merchandise stores sales increased 0.9% seasonally adjusted from June and 4.7% unadjusted year-over-year. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores sales increased 0.4% seasonally adjusted from June and a solid 5.6% unadjusted year-over-year.
Confidence wilts but future purchase plans remain strong
Consumer confidence is down in August, according to BIGresearch's (http://www.bigresearch.com) monthly Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey (CIA). Confidence declined to 43.8% from July when it was at 47.8%. However, the August number is still higher than August 06 when confidence was 38.6%. Some of the other key economic mood findings from the survey include (versus July numbers in parenthesis): Focused more on needs over wants in purchasing 46.5% (47.4%) More layoffs next 6 months 33.3% (31.4%) Current financial situation worse off than a year ago 31.7% (N/A) Top financial plan - "paying down debt" 33.1% (33.8%) Consumers continue to cast a wary eye on the price of gas and when asked what price a gallon of gas would be on Labor Day, they said an average of 3.14. More than half (61.1%) felt gas prices would rise by Labor Day, 31.4% said they would stay the same and 7.4% were optimistic and believed the price would decline. Shopping strategies appear to be evolving towards a price orientation as 17.8% cited only buying clothing when on sale, versus 13.7% who said sales are not important when buying clothing. However, familiar brands continue to increase in importance when buying clothing, with 42.5% saying so (versus 39.5% in August 06). Future purchase plans (next 6 months) for most big ticket durables were up from August 06 for computers, furniture, appliances, jewelry, TVs, digital cameras and vacation travel.
|
|
|
|
| Internet Media Business Report TM |
 Yodle taps into online
local search dollars
The online local search market is still largely untapped with no way to measure if ad placements translate clicks into real business lead phone calls. Yodle.com, a new player in the emerging category, says its patented algorithm allows small business owners to track exactly how many clicks and phone calls they get in response to their online ads. Yodle says it generates about 7,000 phone call leads a month for its customers. So how does it work? Let's say a caterer in Scranton with no website, who in the past was dependent on local advertising and the Yellow Pages for business leads, signs up with Yodle. Yodle builds an industry-tailored website for the company and purchases strategic search keywords, so that now when a potential customer types "caterers in Scranton" into Google, ads leading to the newly-created site appear. Clicks turn into calls, and the algorithm allows the caterers in Scranton can track exactly how many phone leads are generated as a result of their ad efforts. Court Cunningham, CEO, previously GM of DoubleClick's marketing Automation business, joined as CEO in April 2007, and Vartan Hagopian, VP Sales, joined in May 2007, from Monster. In addition, Iggy Fanlo, CEO of AdBrite, and Dr. Michael Kearns, Head of the Computer Science Department at The University of Pennsylvania, are joining its advisory board.
|
|
|
|
| Transactions |
3.4M KRLV-AM Las Vegas NV from Continental Radio Broadcast Acquisition LLC (Fred M. Weinberg) to Burken Broadcasting LLC, a subsidiary of LV Broadcast Holdings LLC (Stephen Burr, Bryan Kent Hawkins). Payment pursuant to terms of an LMA/option agreement. Duopoly with KLAV-AM, coming from AIM Broadcasting (N. John Douglas). Burken is also replacing AIM as the buyer of KRLV-AM. [File date 7/20/07.]
10.00 KLAV-AM Las Vegas NV from AIM Broadcasting (N. John Douglas) to Burken Broadcasting LLC, a subsidiary of LV Broadcast Holdings LLC (Stephen Burr, Bryan Kent Hawkins). Payment pursuant to terms of an LMA/option agreement. Duopoly with KRLV-AM, coming from concurrent deal. Burken is also replacing AIM as the buyer of KRLV-AM. LMA 4/22/07. [File date 7/23/07.]
|
|
|
|
| Stock Talk |
Cash infusion keeps stocks flat
The Fed and other central banks have been pumping money into the banking system to curb the fall out from bad housing loans. That's helped confidence on Wall Street, but stock prices still gave up their mid-session gains to close slightly lower. The Dow Industrials were off three points to 13,237.
Radio stocks were down again. The Radio Index was off 2.276, or 1.8%, to a year-to-date low of 122.098, again the lowest point since December 27, 2000. Thinly traded Beasley plunged 12.2%, although there was no news about the company. Entercom was down 6.3%. Radio One rebounded 6.2%.
|
|
|
|
| Radio Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Monday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
|
Arbitron
|
ARB
|
|
51.63
|
-1.31
|
Google
|
GOOG
|
|
515.50
|
-0.25
|
|
Beasley
|
BBGI
|
|
7.05
|
-0.98
|
Hearst-Argyle
|
HTV
|
|
20.66
|
-0.56
|
| CBS CI. B |
CBS |
 |
31.04
|
+0.42
|
Journal Comm.
|
JRN
|
|
10.51
|
-0.59
|
| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
|
31.04
|
+0.18
|
Lincoln Natl.
|
LNC
|
|
60.04
|
-0.47
|
| Citadel |
CDL |
|
4.81 |
-0.12 |
Radio One, Cl. A
|
ROIA
|
|
3.81
|
+0.22
|
|
Clear Channel
|
CCU
|
|
35.20
|
+0.27
|
Radio One, Cl. D
|
ROIAK
|
|
3.75
|
+0.22
|
|
Cox Radio
|
CXR
|
|
12.71
|
-0.45
|
Regent
|
RGCI
|
|
2.96
|
-0.05
|
|
Cumulus
|
CMLS
|
|
9.59
|
-0.07
|
Saga Commun.
|
SGA
|
|
7.28
|
+0.41
|
|
Debut Bcg.
|
DBTB
|
|
1.00
|
unch
|
Salem Comm.
|
SALM
|
|
8.01
|
-0.44
|
|
Disney
|
DIS
|
|
33.24
|
+0.08
|
Sirius Sat. Radio
|
SIRI
|
|
2.88
|
-0.10
|
|
Emmis
|
EMMS
|
|
5.75
|
-0.04
|
Spanish Bcg.
|
SBSA
|
|
2.89
|
+0.07
|
|
Entercom
|
ETM
|
|
20.59
|
-1.39
|
SWMX
|
SMWX
|
|
0.09
|
-0.01
|
|
Entravision
|
EVC
|
|
8.47
|
+0.17
|
Westwood One
|
WON
|
|
3.26
|
-0.18
|
|
Fisher
|
FSCI
|
|
46.81
|
-1.61
|
XM Sat. Radio
|
XMSR
|
|
11.11
|
-0.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bounceback
|
 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to [email protected]
 I was disturbed to learn of yet another attempt by the FCC to minimize both their work load and, what they see as a misuse of the NCE spectrum, by limiting new non-commercial applications to 10 applications during the upcoming open window (8/13/07 RBR #157). Having recently been awarded a new NCE CP....10 years after we applied for it, I know about FCC backlogs!
The Commission must maintain clear separation from anything that smacks of ruling against, or limiting, any "format" types. They would never admit that this is their goal, yet who could this be aimed at? Clearly, there are no national "NPR" type organizations, that I am aware of, that the FCC is overly concerned about when it comes to "speculative filings." That leaves Religious broadcasters as the target. After freezing new NCE applications for years, they now complain about the possible backlog this new window will open. Yet, they just recently placed into action the very workable "Point System" to assist in the determination of a license award in cases where mutually exclusive applications exist. That "Point System" was upheld by the Courts, is in place, and even "rewards" local broadcasters. Now, it appears they worry about the large and successful Christian radio networks applying for too many new frequencies. The "Point System" works, and if they will let it work, their "system" will not be backlogged. And, what about commercial broadcasters having no limits on ownership of radio facilities? In all fairness, how can the Commission place any limits on Non-Commercial applicants while they are not willing, or able, to place the same limits on commercial broadcasters? It should be OK for educational broadcasters to have our "Clear Channels" as well. Let the "system" work and the marketplace rule!
Joseph C. Emert
President, Life Radio Ministries, Inc
Griffin, GA
|
|
|
Below the Fold
|
|
Ad Business Report
Coffee to retail shelves
P&G bringing Dunkin' Donuts to retail will support with network TV, national consumer print and local Radio...
Media Markets & Money
Ownership 'CAP
WCAP-AM, is about to change Radio veteran Clark Smidt is part of...
Internet Media Business Report
Yodle taps into
Online local search dollars...
|
|
|
Stations for Sale
|
New Hampshire
AM/FM combo
First Class facilities in NH's
fastest growing area. Double
digit increases last 6 years.
Priced at 10x trailing BCF $4.99M
Inquiries 781-848-4201 or
E-mail: [email protected]
WEB: radiostationsforsale.net
The Exline Company
AMs - San Jose,
Salt Lake City, Fresno
FMs - Northern CA, Coastal CA,
Central CA, Idaho, Oregon
Call Andy McClure or Erick Steinberg
(415) 479-3484 [email protected]
Florida
2 FMs, 1 AM
Unrated Panhandle Market
Best sales year ever in 2006
Gordon Rice Associates
(843) 884-3590 or
E-mail Gordon Rice Here
MCH Enterprises, Inc.
CO FM C.P.: $400K
ND FM C.P.: $150K
www.mchentinc.com
805.680.2265 (cell)
 Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.
Contact
June Barnes
[email protected]
|
|
|
Radio Media Moves
|
 Stein signed to drive
Alan David Stein has joined Greater Media as afternoon drive talk host on WCTC-AM New Brunswick, NJ. Stein is a veteran of the market and has been a frequent morning drive fill-in host for WCTC the past three years.
 Upped at Interep
Interep announced Patti Johnson has been promoted to Vice President/ Director of Sales at Interep NetSolutions, the company's network sales unit. She previously served as Vice President/Account Manager and will continue to be based in the company's Chicago office. Johnson joined Interep in 1991 as a Sales Assistant in Chicago. She was promoted to Account Executive in 1994 and to Vice President/Director of Sales at Interep's McGavren Guild in 1997. In 2006, she joined Interep NetSolutions as Vice President/Account Manager.
One in, one upped
Greater Media announces David Kirby has returned as Director of Marketing and Promotions and Jamie Marino has been promoted to Promotions Manager at WCTC-AM & WMGQ-FM New Brunswick, NJ. Kirby most recently served as Marketing Manager at Millennium Radio Group, WADB-AM and WJLK-FM. Marino moves up from Promotions Coordinator and Office Manager at WCTC and WMGQ.
|
|
|
More News Headlines
|
CNN/YouTube GOP debate rescheduled
Republican candidates were balking at following their Democratic counterparts into a debate format in which CNN asked questions submitted by citizens via YouTube. The 9/17/07 date has been scrapped, but the event has found a new home on the calender: 11/28/07. At the beginning of the flap, John McCain (R-AZ) and Ron Paul (R-TX) quickly agreed to appear in the event, but others, including Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) and Mitt Romney (R-MA), were among those unwilling to commit. In Giuliani's case, scheduling conflicts were cited as the source of his reluctance to participate, and his campaign has agreed to the new debate. Romney was not comfortable with the format, calling it "demeaning," and has still not yet agreed to take part in the event.
RBR observation: Back in the 19th century it was considered "demeaning" for a presidential candidate to go out and actually campaign for voter support. So, things do change over time. Radio changed campaigning and then television changed it again. Now the Internet is making its own modifications. Those who don't change with the times are destined to be left behind.
Thompson calls it quits
Fred Thompson hasn't entered the Republican presidential primary sweepstakes yet, but there was a Thompson in the mix. That is no longer the case after a discouraging result in the Iowa straw poll prompted former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson to withdraw from the race. Whereas Fred will bring television credentials to the campaign, Tommy is taking away radio creds. He was recently chairman of the new, small-market-oriented Armada Media Corp.
|
|
|
RBR Radar 2007
|
|
Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
|
Small markets again the place to be
Looking at his own market-by-market research following RAB's report of a 3% decline in June radio revenues, CL King analyst Jim Boyle says it was yet another month of small markets outperforming big markets. "Analyzing nearly fifty markets' June data, the variance by market size is remarkable and consistent. The Top 25 markets we have seen plunged an average 4% in June, whereas the small-mid markets were up an average of 3%," he told clients. "Furthermore, the smaller markets of #76-plus were on average up an impressive 6% for June. If one is to operate, or invest, in radio stations, it seems much better to be in small-mid markets."
08/13/07 RBR #157
Seven secrets of great advertising
Most advertising professionals know what makes great advertising. But they work in a volatile business and are generally afraid to talk about it -- so they keep it a secret. Tips: 1. Be Honest, 2. Take a Stand, 6. Focus on Strength all 7 are posted in this report page of RBR.
08/13/07 RBR #157
|
|
|
|
 |
Hard finding that key person
to fill the important position at your organization? Media HeadHunters is the place that key media firms use to get results. See Media HeadHunters and get results with service.
New Listing
Sales Associate
A fast growing network radio company seeks a Sales Associate for its Chicago office. The ability to multi-task and prioritize are paramount in this position, as is the willingness and desire to learn in a fast paced environment. Please send resumes with cover letter to: [email protected]
See Radio Careers
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Help Desk
|
__EMAIL__ :
Having problems with our epapers?
Please send Questions/Concerns to:
[email protected]
If you wish to remove your name completely from our database use this link __UNSUB__
RBR Epaper -- 108 annual
or just 9 a month
|
|
|
|
©2007 Radio Business Report, Inc. All rights reserved.
Radio Business Report -- 2050 Old Bridge Road, Suite B-01, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 -- Phone: 703-492-8191
|
|
