Welcome to RBR's Daily Epaper
Volume 24, Issue 220, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
Friday Morning November 9th, 2007

Radio News ®

Billboards boost Clear Channel,
but radio...

Radio revenues were down 1% in Q3 to 882.2 million, so it was a 14% improvement by outdoor to 817.5 million that gave Clear Channel Communications an up quarter, with total revenues up 5% to 1.73 billion. With its private equity buyout pending, CCU did not hold a conference call with analysts. It did reveal, though, that radio is pacing down 4.7% for Q4, while outdoor is pacing up 7.7%. "The Company's radio revenue decreased 1% during the third quarter of 2007 as compared to 2006 primarily from a decline in both local and national revenues. Local and national revenues were down partially as a result of declines in the automotive, retail and political advertising categories. The decline in local and national revenues was partially offset by increases in network, traffic, syndicated radio and on-line revenues. During the quarter, the Company increased its average unit rates compared to the third quarter of 2006, however, total minutes sold declined during this same period," Clear Channel said in its announcement. Radio OIBDAN (CCU's favorite metric, operating income before depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items) was down 3% to 363.4 million, while outdoor OIBDAN grew 16% to 254.1 million. Total OIBDAN rose 4% to 583.5 million. Clear Channel did not say anything new about its pending deal to go private for 39.20 per share, saying again that the parties are working toward a closing by the end of the year, but noting that it could be delayed until Q1 of 2008.

RBR observation: No doubt some of you still want to know how this quarter compared to the pre-Less is More Q3 of 2004. Ah, but you are cruel! Radio revenues for the quarter back then were 960.1 million. To be sure, Clear Channel has divested some small market stations since then, but not enough to account for 77.9 million in quarterly billings.

Another Clear Channel deal in trouble?
Both the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported yesterday that Providence Equity Partners has gotten cold feet and may try to get out of its 1.2 billion bucks deal to acquire Clear Channel Television. The deal has been pending since last April and Providence had already announced deals to divest some of the stations to other parties. Clear Channel's stock dropped sharply when the report was posted on WSJ.com yesterday afternoon. Providence reportedly wants to either renegotiate the purchase price or pay the 45 million breakup fee and walk away. "We have a great television group that is poised to have a record-breaking year in 2008. If for some reason the deal does not close we would look forward to keeping these terrific assets in the Clear Channel family," the company said yesterday in an email to RBR.


NABOB renews call
for PPM slowdown

With the first PPM data out of New York (11/8/07 RBR #219) showing the same ratings drop off for Urban and Hispanic stations seen in Houston and Philadelphia, the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters has renewed its call "for Arbitron to postpone its market rollout plan in new markets until it corrects significant flaws with the new PPM audience measurement methodology." "The New York City results were even worse for urban and Hispanic radio than the Philadelphia and Houston numbers. The New York PPM numbers showed a substantial loss of audience for all stations, but the loss for the Urban and Hispanic formatted stations was far worse than for the market as a whole," said Jim Winston (pictured), Executive Director and General Counsel of NABOB. Arbitron has maintained that Urban and Hispanic stations have tended to suffer the greatest downward shifts in AQH ratings under PPM because their audiences are so loyal and over-reported listening in diaries. Winston isn't buying it.

"The drastic declines in audience for the New York urban and Hispanic stations cannot be attributed to the alleged superiority of the PPM methodology over the diary methodology. Declines this substantial raise serious issues about who and what is actually being measured and how the PPM methodology manipulates that data. Given Arbitron's virtual monopoly, Arbitron is able to dictate tremendous fee increases, which it knows the stations must pay because there is no other ratings alternative. Therefore, urban formatted, Hispanic formatted and minority owned stations - formats and stations that have been the most negatively impacted by PPM to date - are forced to pay increased fees for a service they know produces results that will likely be to their financial detriment," Winston said.

RBR observation: Arbitron declined our request for a response to NABOB, but the ratings company had already scheduled a conference call for today with reporters to discuss the latest numbers from Houston, Philadelphia and New York. We're hearing that for the Long Island imbedded market, in-tab numbers for some demos are too low to even calculate ratings. It is just 52 days until PPM is supposed to become the ratings currency in New York and two embedded markets, so Arbitron clearly has work to do. Given the problems with hitting in-tab targets for key demos, some broadcasters are wondering why Arbitron isn't using its MRC-accredited recruitment methodology from Houston in every market, rather than preparing to switch Houston over once its less expensive recruitment methods win the MRC stamp of approval. The Houston recruitment methodology, based on addresses - including knocking on doors when other approaches fall short - was an outgrowth of Arbitron's attempt at getting Nielsen into a joint venture for both radio and TV measurement. Telephone number-based recruiting, much like what has been used for diary recruitment, is being used in Philadelphia and New York.


Branding experts assesses the presidential races
Democrats are looking at their slate of candidates with their minds, while Republicans are using their hearts to make a determination among their options. So says Mark Newsome, SVP of Chernoff Newman marketing and branding consultancy. "In developing a brand strategy for a political candidate or a product, the key decision is whether to base your appeal on emotion or intellect," he said. "At the moment, Republican consumers seem to be searching their hearts for a candidate to love, while Democrats prefer a more intellectual approach to picking their candidate." Frank Brown, president and CEO MarketSearch, which also helped produce a survey of candidates, added, "Our findings certainly challenge the conventional wisdom about the two parties. Republicans are often considered the less emotional, more business- like, more pragmatic party; Democrats are supposed to be more emotional and empathetic." John McCain (R-AZ) is said to be the intellectual choice among Republicans, but he has been trailing the more emotional appeals of Fred Thompson (R-TN) and Rudy Giuliani (R-NY). Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton (D-NY), the pragmatic choice, is besting the more emotional appeals of Barack Obama (D-IL) and John Edwards (D-NC). "As we move closer and closer to the actual primaries, we will have a better understanding of how - and if - brand identity affects the buying decision in the political marketplace," Newsome said. "It will be interesting to see if Republicans find and stick with a candidate they can love and if Democrats ignore personality for the pragmatic choice."

RBR observation: It will be even more interesting to see if the winners in each party can broaden their appeal once it comes down to a two-party horserace.

Dorgan posse will try
to lasso Martin

If anyone had any doubt about who is driving the anti-consolidation bus in the US Senate, Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) pretty much put it to rest by handing the gavel to Byron Dorgan (D-ND), pictured, at yesterday's hearing on media ownership and localism. Dorgan is leading a bipartisan group of senators who are putting forth a bill which would slow down the apparent timetable for an FCC vote on ownership rules. Nobody knows yet what changes may be in the works, but once they are announced by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, a minimum of 90 days would have to be set aside for public comment. There would also be a requirement for completion of a separate localism proceeding and a minority ownership proceeding. If passed, that would put an end to Martin's suspected target date of December 18. "This is again a bi-partisan effort to stop the FCC from destroying the local interests that we have always felt must be a part of broadcasting," he said. "It is time to ensure that we first protect localism and diversity, which the FCC appears to have long forgotten. Only then can we really review the rules of media ownership in a thorough process to see if it is actually in the public interest to reverse any of those rules, or if greater public interest protections are necessary." Dorgan's co-sponsors for the "Media Ownership Act of 2007" include Trent Lott (R-MS), Barack Obama (D-IL), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Kerry (D-MA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Diane Feinstein (D-CA).

RBR observation: There has been speculation that the Sam Zell Tribune ESOP proposal hinges in part on the fate of five TV/newspaper pairings. There has been further speculation that Martin has avoided granting waivers to the pairings pending a cross-ownership ruling to increase the odds of at least one 8th Floor Democrat voting with him to ease the rules and allow the Tribune transaction to move forward. At this point, we would recommend the waivers be granted pending resolution of the matter, since the chances of moving at Martin's preferred pace are looking more and more remote. Meanwhile, if we were involved in the Tribune transaction, we'd be seriously considering just how important the pairings really are, given that other multimedia companies are splitting print and broadcast one way or another, while at the same time watchdogs and legislators are promising to scuttle any regulatory relief.

WGA Strike, If it has your interest
RBR's sister publication TVBR has been covering the WGA Strike now in Day 5 and TV executives and companies are now in contingency planning. Here are few headlines: Iger sees Damage from Strike - Late Night ratings impact speculated - More talk shows airing repeats - comments from Ford Motor Media - and it may look like Fox best positioned to weather strike. If you have any interest what is happening in Hollywood or what our take on the issue is go here to read this mornings TVBR 11/09/07.


Wall Street Business Report TM
Q3 nearly flat for Cumulus
A gain is better than a loss, so at least Cumulus can say that Q3 revenues were up, if only by 0.3% to 84.2 million. And, that was a million bucks ahead of Wall Street expectations. Expenses were up a bit more, so station operating income was down 0.4% to 31.9 million. Cumulus is not holding a Wall Street conference call because of its pending buyout by the Dickey family and a private equity fund managed by Merrill Lynch - and the recent turmoil at Merrill Lynch has clearly made stock traders nervous about Cumulus. The company did not provide any new information about the 1.3 billion buyout, saying that the deal to take the company private for 11.75 per share was awaiting regulatory approvals and a shareholder vote.

Disney posts record earnings
for fiscal year

Wrapping up its fiscal year, The Walt Disney Company reported that Q4 (June-September) revenues were up 3% to 8.93 billion. That brought the full year revenue gain to 5%, hitting 35.51 billion. Net income rose to 4.7 billion from 3.4 billion and earnings per share were a record 2.25, including 33 cents in one-time items, up from 1.64 a year earlier. In the final quarter, Media Networks revenues were up 14% to 4.02 billion and operating income increased 25% to 1.07 million. Cable was the driver for the quarter, with cable networks revenues up 24% to 2.80 billion and operating income up 30% to 1.10 billion, credited to growth at ESPN and the international Disney channels. Having sold ABC Radio to Citadel, Disney does not break out its remaining ESPN Radio and Radio Disney operations, which are now part of the cable segment.

Broadcasting revenues were down 5% for the quarter to 1.23 billion and the operation had an operating loss of 30 million, vs. operating income of 10 million a year earlier. The company said the decline was primarily due to a decrease in domestic syndication due to the prior-year sales of "According to Jim" and "Scrubs" and higher costs at the Internet Group, including costs associated with the shutdown of the Disney-branded mobile phone service. Like all other TV groups, the ABC O&O stations have been affected by the lack of political advertising compared to last year. In the Q&A with analysts, CFO Tom Staggs said the political drop off accounted for pretty much all of a 4% decline in quarterly ad revenues for the TV station group. He added that, for the same reason, pacings in the current quarter are down "in the neighborhood of 7%."


Ad Business Report TM

CCR awards 1.25 million
to creators of outstanding radio ads

Clear Channel Radio has awarded 1.25 million in prizes during the Excellence in Advertising on Radio (EAR) Awards Winners received prizes that included 1 million in Clear Channel Radio air time, a private chartered jet for winner and five guests, pair of 2007 Mini Cooper S vehicles, 2008 BMW 3 Series convertible hardtop with HD Digital Radio installed, a 50,000 line of credit on PayPal, 25,000 donated to the charity of the winner's choice, and a 20,000 Paris shopping spree. The event capped a four-month contest that attracted nearly 1000 submissions with some 42 finalists.
| See the list |


Media Business Report TM
Newspaper staffers take buyouts in Milwaukee
It looks like plenty of employees lined up to take voluntary separation payments, with a healthcare benefit, to help reduce staffing overhead at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, owned by Journal Communications. When the program was implemented last month, the company said it hoped to reduce staff by 35-50 positions (10/3/07 RBR #193). But when the results were announced this week, Journal Sentinel said it was reducing full time employees by 55-60 positions, with most leaving the company on or around November 15th. Journal Communications will take a 3.0-3.3 million charge in Q4 for the buyouts, which are expected to produce annualized savings of 3.9-4.3 million, beginning in 2008.

KFC set to invade Manhattan with guerilla marketing effort
Imagine getting off the subway in Times Square, walking up the stairs, and seeing a 12 ft. illuminated truck filled with a larger-than-life box of KFC Triple Dip Strips. Now imagine being handed a box of hot Triple Dip Strips on the spot. Earlier this week, the Triple Dip Strips Truck made a stop at FDNY Station 314 in Queens to the delight of hungry firefighters and today it will officially launch its new menu item at various locations in and around Manhattan. The campaign will be prominently featured on the mobile vehicle, which also plays audio on eight external speakers, through Bluetooth where targeted messages will be sent to consumers' cell phones. The campaign is scheduled to run in NYC until 11/18.


Washington Business Report TM
FCC sets agenda for Seattle
A wide range of testifiers have been tapped for the 6th and final public forum on media ownership, running from 4PM-11PM Pacific time in Seattle tomorrow. Newspaperman Frank Blethen will be providing an encore of his appearance on Capitol Hill today. And a company on the transactional bubble, Tribune, will have a local exec on the first panel. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's many critics, including some who share a floor with him at the FCC's SW DC digs, have decried the lack of warning, but it doesn't seem to have resulted in any lack of invited witnesses.
| Seattle witness list here |

Another tough day for friends of consolidation
John Lavine, Dean, Medill School at Northwestern University, was the only witness at yesterday's Commerce Committee hearing who offered anything resembling a life preserver for FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and his anticipated intention to bring up ownership matters for an FCC vote in mid-December. And in his case, it was solely in regards to the issue of loosening restrictions on broadcast-print cross-ownership. He said 32 years of success and grandfathered newspaper/television combos was plenty of evidence to support their effectiveness. Raleigh, North Carolina broadcaster Jim Goodmon repeated his advice that no ownership action be taken until the evidence is in from the digital revolution, where one television license may equal four program streams and one FM license may equal three. He also argued that current broadcast problems meeting financial goals can be blamed in part on too many companies that have taken on too much debt. Goodmon repeated his call for a workable definition of how to meet public interest standards and reporting requirements to assess compliance.

Seattle newspaper publisher Frank Blethen also decried the presence of absentee owners in a journalism business that he considers to be a public trust. He said local coverage gets whittled down when outsiders focus on revenues rather than journalistic excellence. He said that even with all the doomsaying about newspaper, most are averaging 16%-18% profit margins, which he says proves the industry isn't dying off and doesn't require cross-ownership to be saved. Blethen also countered Lavine's testimony, noting a Free Press study of FCC data which shows a net loss of local news in markets where TV/newspaper combos exist since those combos become so dominant they inhibit competition. Mr. Alex Nogales, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, wants minority ownership issues addressed first. He said minorities are "locked out" at present and that any attempts to further deregulate ownership are premature until that's dealt with. Parents Television Council President Tim Winter said that consolidated ownership leads to a coarsening of content. Further, it's not being reported, particularly over broadcast news sources, since they don't want to put a negative spotlight on themselves. Cross-ownership would be bad, he argued, because an important check on broadcast programmers would be sacrificed.

RBR observation: We have to take Winter to task on at least one point. It may be true that local affiliates are reluctant to preempt network material over content issues, for a number of reasons. But his claim that the recent court ruling on fleeting expletives opened the door to 24/7 f-bombs, and the reason there is no public outrage is that the co-owned press isn't reporting it? Nonsense. The reason there is no public outrage is that the public, which consumes mass quantities of broadcast content, is rarely exposed to such material. By definition, the incidents in question are fleeting and accidental. PTC's apparent perception that the public airwaves have gone XXX is laughable.


Entertainment Business Report TM
RFD-TV working on clearing
Imus in major metros

RFD-TV, the Nashville-based cable channel focusing on rural America, will reportedly as soon as this week confirm what we've already reported-that they will simulcast Imus in the Morning from his show at WABC-AM NY, "a move that should boost their current reach of 30 million homes to more than 50 million by the end of 2008," The Tennessean reported. Citadel confirms Imus launches 12/3. Patrick Gottsch, RFD-TV founder and president, told the paper said having Imus would "pour fuel on the fire of the acceleration of this network getting clearances in urban markets...The biggest obstacle we've had in the last three years is convincing urban-based program directors in New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and so on that they need to be carrying this 'rural' network. Imus helps us cross those borders." The network says more cable carriage deals are expected to be signed within a week. "Comcast told us we are a 'must carry' now," Gottsch said. "They are getting so many requests for this programming." On Dec. 1, RFD-TV is launching a second, separate network, RFD-HD, that will broadcast shows in high definition, including Imus in the Morning and, in January, The Crook and Chase Show, as well as Ralph Emery Live and the other shows produced at its Nashville broadcasting operations and production studios.

Jones Radio Networks renews with Neal Boortz
Jones Radio Networks announced it has renewed its contract with talker Neal Boortz. JRN has syndicated The Neal Boortz Show since 1999. "We're going into our tenth year of syndication with The Neal Boortz Show, and with over 300 affiliations, our foundation is very strong and we're excited about the future," said Gary Schonfeld, President of Jones MediaAmerica.


Engineering Business Report TM
UC Berkeley team creates world smallest radio
The San Jose Mercury News reports UC, Berkeley researchers have created and listened to tunes on a "nanoradio" one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. The scientists heard their first FM broadcast of Derek & The Dominos' "Layla" and the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" transmitted from across a room. Team leader Alex Zettl says the nanoradio, a single nanotube, works as an all-in-one antenna, tuner, amplifier and demodulator for both AM and FM. In a regular radio, an antenna captures radio waves from different stations. The nanoradio detects radio signals as it vibrates thousands to millions of times per second in tune with a radio wave.


Transactions
1.7M WPFF-FM/WRGX-FM AM & FM Sturgeon Bay WI from Family Educational Broadcasting Corporation of Door County WI (Mark Schwarzbauer) to Bethesda Christian Broadcasting (Mark Plummer et al). 50K escrow, 950K cash at closing, 700K note. [File date 10/26/07.]

75K KBPO-AM Port Neches TX from Vision Latina Broadcasting LLC (Eloy Castro) to Michael Augusts & Sylvester Anderson. 25K cash at closing, 25K note, 25K debt assumption. [File date 10/25/07.]


Stock Talk
Bargain-hunters save the day
What looked to be another blood-bath on Wall Street turned around as buyers got interested in buying up stocks that looked cheap. The Dow had fallen over 200 points after Fed chief Ben Bernanke told Congress the economy would recover - but maybe not until the second half of 2008. But after the bargain-hunters moved in, the Dow ended with a decline of only 34 points at 13,266.

Radio stocks actually staged a recovery. The Radio Index rose 3.172, or 2.9%, to 113.203. Saga led the advance, up 8.2%. Salem rose 6.2% and Emmis was up 5.6%. Clear Channel fell 3% after word got out that its deal to sell its TV division may be in trouble.


Radio Stocks

Here's how stocks fared on Thursday

Company Symbol Close Change Company Symbol Close Change

Arbitron

ARB

49.62

+0.24

Google

GOOG

693.84

-39.10

Beasley

BBGI

7.46

+0.02

Hearst-Argyle

HTV

21.15

-0.68

CBS CI. B CBS

27.26

+0.23

Journal Comm.

JRN

8.35

+0.28

CBS CI. A CBSa

27.26

+0.26

Lincoln Natl.

LNC

61.15

+1.97

Citadel CDL
3.86 +0.01

Radio One, Cl. A

ROIA

3.08

+0.10

Clear Channel

CCU

34.85

-1.06

Radio One, Cl. D

ROIAK

3.10

+0.10

Cox Radio

CXR

12.31

+0.31

Regent

RGCI

2.26

+0.03

Cumulus

CMLS

10.06

+0.99

Saga Commun.

SGA

7.65

+0.58

Debut Bcg.

DBTB

0.80

+0.32

Salem Comm.

SALM

8.01

+0.47

Disney

DIS

33.63

+0.13

Sirius Sat. Radio

SIRI

3.45

-0.05

Emmis

EMMS

4.50

+0.24

Spanish Bcg.

SBSA

2.33

-0.09

Entercom

ETM

17.17

+0.52

SWMX

SMWX

0.02

unch

Entravision

EVC

7.22

-0.11

Westwood One

WON

2.34

+0.02

Fisher

FSCI

44.13

+0.85

XM Sat. Radio

XMSR

14.10

-0.34


Bounceback

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a photo to [email protected]

Praises on Janice Finkel-Greene story. Short but sweet-we received some positive feedback on our story yesterday with Initiative Media EVP/Local Broadcast and EVP/Director Futures and Technology Janice Finkel-Greene (11/8/07 RBR #219), responding to concerns voiced this week by Cox Radio CEO Bob Neil over Arbitron's PPM ratings system at his Q3 conference call:

"Nice one--You sure caught Janice at the right time! We've been buried in feedback (universally positive) about your story today! Very good scoop for you. Congrats."

Tom Siebert
VP, Director of Corporate Communications, Initiative Media


Below the Fold
Ad Business Report
CCR awards
1.25 million in to creators of outstanding radio ads...

Media Business Report
Newspaper staffers
Take buyouts in Milwaukee to take voluntary separation payments...

Washington Business Report
FCC Agenda for Seattle
A wide range of testifiers have been tapped for the 6th and final public forum...

Entertainment Business Report
RFD-TV, the Nashville-based cable
Working on clearing Imus in metros...




Stations for Sale

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growth market.
Top 10 AM
Cash flowing SE small market combo.
Suburban St Louis FM
These opportunities and more at Satterfieldandperry.com.

Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.

Contact
June Barnes
[email protected]


Radio Media Moves

Miklich to BE
Joseph Roark Broadcast Electronics, CEO, has appointed Charles (Chuck) Miklich to the new position of Vice President Operations. Miklich is responsible for all manufacturing, global sourcing and business activities. He joins BE after serving as Director of Operations for Harris Broadcast Communications Division.




More News Headlines

2008 Radio-Mercury Awards move to LA
The 2008 Radio-Mercury Awards are moving to LA with a new date: On May 21st during an early evening reception, the industry will recognize and reward the creators of the best Radio commercials with over 160,000 in prizes, including the 100,000 Grand Prize. In conjunction with the earlier date, the call-to-enter timeframe has been adjusted to December 7, 2007 through February 22, 2008. The move will give finalists and radio industry professionals who are closer to the West Coast an opportunity to attend," explained Jeff Haley, RAB CEO

Triton announces deal with The Content Factory
Mass 2 One Media (M2O), an on-air/online solution company for radio has entered into a long term partnership with The Content Factory to integrate M2O's audience engagement applications [eco] for the Dan Patrick Show. [eco] is a broad set of online applications including rewards, social networking, text messaging online streaming and research in a ONE registration | ONE login system, greatly simplifying the user experience and providing broadcasters with multiple ways to drive ratings on air while extending the brand off air, online. [eco] is developed by Mass 2 One Media, and presented worldwide by Triton Media.




RBR Radar 2007
Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.

Agencies respond to
Bob Neil's PPM-lashing
Kathy Crawford, MindShare President/Local Broadcast - "confusion out in the marketplace," are the same as they have always been in the diary markets. "Much of what he said about using varied months as the criteria exists in the diary markets, right alongside the PPM markets. Each agency has the right to approach their numbers in their own way. So why is that any different?" She adds that in the case of the sample size, is it really all that different in the diary markets from the PPM markets? "And I'm not defending Arbitron here, I'm just stating facts."

Janice Finkel-Greene, Initiative Media EVP/Local Broadcast and EVP/Director Futures and Technology, - "Agencies have been dealing with LPM from television since 2002. This is not our first dance. We are very comfortable with these kinds of transitions. We never claimed it was a one-time only adjustment. It takes time to adjust all of your clients, all of your demographics, and to make them suitable to the criteria for each client as well. So I don't know why somebody that does business with agencies on a regular basis wouldn't pick up the phone and ask us what we've learned about LPM and how we think PPM will go. The agency side never pretended it would be a walk in the park, but it's not a walk in the jungle, either." (More in RBR)
11/08/07 RBR #219

Cox Radio's Bob Neil
still outspoken on PPM
On Cox Radio Q3 conference call, CEO Bob Neil spoke about strong categories for the quarter and commented as well on the ongoing issue of PPM-one that he has been quite outspoken about over the last year or so. While noting in our story in Radio News that his Houston stations are doing well with PPM so far, "...we're not pleased at the continuing sample problems in Houston, although they're gradually improving there-but not fast enough. And you know from Beasley's call yesterday, Philly is not making much progress." He further cautioned that if the scenarios of Houston and Philly are repeated in the largest radio markets getting ready to roll PPM out-NYC, LA and Chicago and Long Island-both in sampling and revenue, it's not going to be pleasant." Neil mentioned many of the agencies out there haven't been properly trained on the PPM transition.

RBR observation: Radio was down 7% in September-the marketplace is tough. A TV station that served the Philly market from Reading, PA was recently sold after bankruptcy-WTVE Ch. 51. So Philly, like many other markets, is losing dollars to other mediums. Can we blame PPM? Not completely, that's for sure. PPM is supposed to get more confidence and ad dollars from agencies-once it gets established and the bumps smoothed out. We hope that's sooner, rather than later.

RBR note: As for Training this is going to be either a Work in Progress with Arbitron attacking this issue using technology, marketing, and people to accomplish a successful agency graduation rate and receive their degree in PPM education or 2008 is going to be a long year. Arbitron you have your work cut out for you. See all issues with PPM in RBR.
11/07/07 RBR #218

Radio stumbles into major pothole
Everybody thought September would be another slow month. But not this slow. The analysts over at CL King & Associates called the radio industry's -7% revenue performance for the month of September, as reported by RAB, "shocking." It seems that mid-markets are beginning to emulate large-market softness.

RBR observation: We thought about it, and we can't remember the last time a civilian in our market told us that we really had to check out what was happening at any single radio station. Nor have any of our friends who know what we do for a living asked us anything about radio. Shouldn't some bold programmer be leaping into that void? Shouldn't most of the programmers be fighting to fill it? Shouldn't they have kept it from existing in the first place?
11/06/07 RBR #217


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