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Border Media takes on 8 Amigos
Tom Castro's Border Media Partners is doubling its number of markets from three to six and entering its largest market yet, Dallas, with a 70 million dollar deal to buy eight stations from Amigo Broadcasting. But Amigo execs Jim Anderson and Chuck Brooks aren't leaving the industry - - they're starting a new company, Tejas Broadcasting, to acquire the remaining seven Amigo stations.

RBR observation: Like many broadcasters, Anderson and Brooks don't want to leave the game for good - - and it's becoming increasingly difficult to get back into radio ownership once you're out. It's a pretty clever solution to give their equity backer a pay out, but at the same time ensure that they have a platform to build a new company from. From where we sit, it looks like the Corpus Christi and Amarillo stations are worth about 20 million. | More... |

Moody's may upgrade SBS
Spanish Broadcasting System has gotten some good news from Moody's Investors Service. The debt ratings agency has put SBS' credit ratings under review, with an eye to an upgrade. That move follows the company's announcement of a deal to sell two Southern California radio stations for 120 million dollars and use the cash to reduce its leverage. | More... |

Viacom and Midway team up
There's yet no word on whether Viacom will move to acquire Midway Games (8/24/04 RBR Daily Epaper #165), but the two have announced their first deal since Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone personally acquired control of Midway. Viacom's Paramount Pictures has acquired the worldwide film rights to develop a movie based on Midway's "Area 51" video game, which is due for release next March. The video game features the voices of David Duchovny, Powers Boothe and Marilyn Manson, but there's no word on whether any of them will be involved in the film as well.

To sell, or not to sell? Is that your question? Part 9
Looking at the other side of the issue today, we ask whether there are many stations available for sale. We've heard from may quarters that the big problem in the market today is not lack of buyers - - there are plenty of them - - but rather, a lack of inventory available to bid on. Broker Tom Gammon looks at the landscape. | More... |

Kerry-Edwards ad campaign details
The John Kerry presidential campaign is planning to spend 45M dollars on targeted advertising between Labor Day and Election Day. It will focus on 20 battleground states, and will build in flexibility in order to respond to changing conditions during the course of the campaign endgame. Both Kerry and Republican George W. Bush should have 75M in federal funding for the last two months (and change) of the campaign. The advertising will be supplemented with buys on national cable television, and will include Black and Hispanic media outlets. The 20 states earmarked for spending include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

RBR observation: Originally in this campaign cycle there were said to be 18 battleground states. RBR has reported on the expansion of Democratic advertising into four others. We can get a feel for how things are going by comparing our old info with Kerry's new list. States in the current plan that were not on the original 18-state list include Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana and North Carolina. Of these, Kerry's expansion into all but Kansas was previously reported in RBR. Nevada and Tennessee were on the original 18-state list, but do not figure into Kerry's current plans. One state, Virginia, was not on the original list, was reported to have been added to Kerry's hit list, and is once again absent.

Cancela won't be Hiz Honor
Former Radio Unica President Jose Cancela won't be the next Mayor of Miami. Cancela, who had announced his bid for office last year (9/2 RBR Daily Epaper #171) even before the company sold off its stations and shut down its Spanish Talk network, ran 5th in Tuesday's election (with 11.9% of the vote) and missed a November runoff election between the top two finishers. The Miami Herald called his poor showing a surprise, since Cancela had raised and spent more money than any other candidate.

Adbiz ©

Thrifty kicks off new effort with 'Book Smart' theme
Thrifty Car Rental kicks off a new multi-million dollar advertising campaign this week encouraging customers to "Book Smart" with Thrifty. Showcasing the disastrous (and often hilarious) events that happen to customers who don't plan their trips wisely, Thrifty capitalizes on its low-cost, high-value position to persuade travelers to use the Thrifty.com website, when planning. | More... |

IPG announces management transition at Lowe
Tony Wright has been named Worldwide CEO and President of Lowe & Partners Worldwide. Wright, 43, joins Lowe from Ogilvy & Mather, where he had been Worldwide Chief Strategy Officer, charged with leading the strategic process for key multinational clients, as well as for global new business development. He assumes his new responsibilities from Jerry Judge, the agency's current CEO. Judge will continue as CEO of The Partnership division of Interpublic, which encompasses a number of agency brands.

RAB presenting "Focus On Radio-A Series for Advertisers and Agencies" at Advertising Week in NYC
The RAB announced a Focus On Radio Series for advertisers and agencies as part of Advertising Week in New York City, September 20 to 24. The Radio Series includes three seminars at the Museum of Television & Radio:
* Arbitron PPM Reveals Radio's Unique Contribution to the Media Mix - Monday, 9/20, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Life In The Slow Lane: The Arbitron/Edison Media/SCBA In-Car Studies -9/23 , 9 to 10:30 a.m.
* Personal Relevance; Personal Connections: How Radio Ads Affect Consumers, the recently released Wirthlin Worldwide study from the Radio Ad Effectiveness Lab (RAEL) - 9/23, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Strata Marketing unveils spot EDI in Rochester, NY
Strata Marketing unveiled its EDI software in Rochester, NY last week with Spin Marketing, the first of Strata's clients to install the system that handles spot TV buying. Strata is planning on extending its EDI offering to other upstate New York firms, then to the Midwest. The company reportedly hopes to offer the software nationwide over the next few months.

Media, Markets & Money tm

Washington Beat

Transactions

KYFO-AM Salt Lake City (Ogden UT) from Bible Broadcasting Network Inc. to AM Radio 1490 Inc.

KXLQ-AM Des Moines (Indianola IA) from Warren Broadcasting Inc. to KXLQ Insight Sports LLC.

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