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Radio News ®
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Senate Commerce Committee tackles indecency today
The Senate Commerce Committee will take up its version of The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, S. 2056 (the House Commerce version is H.R. 3717), today. It is still unknown whether or not any effort will be made to bring the bill in line with the version read out of the House committee last week. Sponsor Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-KS) own staff isn't sure what's coming, at this point. | Full Story Click Here |
 Stern won't be leaving Infinity anytime soon
A high-level source at Infinity tells us that as much as Howard Stern believes he's going to be pulled off of his show, it won't be happening any time in the near future. And in addition, Infinity will be defending him: "He's not going to satellite - - first of all, he can't. He's under contract with us for two more years. So, I mean, it's not even an issue...[and] we're going to defend him." RBR observation: Stern should have no beef with Infinity or anyone for that matter. He needed the publicity and he could not have set himself up as the self proclaimed King of Radio even if he dressed in drag and gave Chairman Powell a dozen of roses. We've said it before 'Zen Master' Karmazin's first call was probably to Clear Channel thanking them for pulling Stern off the air. Now Stern broadcasting he has weeks left, even if he's not booking, has made him a more controversial price tag for his agent when negotiations arise with any company. It's all about the money! | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |
 Cox boss sees Clear Channel polishing image
Cox Radio CEO Bob Neil blames missteps by Clear Channel Communications for some of the heat the industry is feeling on Capitol Hill over consolidation. But, speaking at a Bear Stearns conference in Palm Beach, FL, Neil also said the radio giant is working to improve its image. Editor's Note: St. Patt'ys day is next week and to himself - 'Bob Neil' - we shall hoist of few pints. The first to point the 'finger of reader choice' and saying the company by name - Clear Channel - as others in the radio business just sit on their thumbs. Enjoy a part of this quote from Neil: "If you ever wanted a lesson in why politics is a bunch of baloney,..."| Full Story Click Here |
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MoveOn.org, RNC spar over ads
The Republican National Committee is steamed about ads critical of President Bush which are being run to counter the President's own campaign ads in 17 states. RNC says the ads are illegal, and MoveOn says they're perfectly legal. RBR observation: Here's our non-lawyerly take. It looks like the RNC should MoveOn and stop complaining. | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |
Hop, skip, jump:
One localism hearing skipped, another delayed
The next public hearing to be held by the FCC's Localism Task Force was to be held this month in Santa Cruz/Salinas, CA, followed by a session in Rapid City SD earmarked for April (10/6/03 RBR Daily Epaper #195). It turns out Rapid City will pinch hit for Santa Cruz and wait another inning, until May, to step up to the plate. The Rapid City session will convene 5/26/04. No other details are currently available. The FCC said logistical and scheduling problems have forced the changes to the itinerary. A new time for the Santa Cruz session will be announced when available, as will new times for Portland ME (originally scheduled for May) and Washington DC (scheduled for this summer).
 NAB begins to flesh out
programming summit details
In response to the firestorm of controversy surrounding broadcast programming, the NAB is holding an "all-industry summit" to discuss the issue. The NAB has been drawn into the debate willy-nilly, as many on Capitol Hill and elsewhere have called for its involvement in developing industry self-policing measures. Most often heard is a call for a return to some kind of code of conduct, despite the fact that the last such code was struck down by the courts due to anti-trust concerns. The session, which is closed to the press (Dang!), will be held 3/31/04 at the Renaissance Washington DC hotel. It will feature panelists from the broadcast community, the FCC, Congress, advocacy groups and networks. Plans for a post-session press conference are under consideration. The session is free to qualified applicants, but you must register in advance, and no later than 3/26. To take advantage of NAB deals on lodging accommodations, you need to act by 3/15. Editor's Note: Not everyone will be invited or how this event is set up for discussion. RBR highly recommends and requests your business thoughts and input on what should be on the agenda. The session is closed to the press - namely NAB doesn't want RBR there to tell you what, when, where, why and who screwed up. Time now to say your piece or forever hold thy butt. Email us with your views for the record to: radionews@rbr.com
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Indecency policy: Mutually assured destruction?
Broadcast indecency has become a white hot issue, and it's one of the very few issues these days where Democrats and Republicans see pretty much eye to eye. The Reps in the House Energy and Commerce Committee who had a crack at H.R. 3717 "Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004" were practically tripping over one another to add more might to the bill, which originally was content to merely increase indecency fines by a factor of 10. | Full Story Click Here |
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Career Ads™
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New Positions Open & Top Pro's Looking
Radio Career section - Top entrepreneur group needs GM that is fed up with the big companies and unrealistic budgets expectations. - RBR needs 1 self motivated sales executive that knows equipment and technology. -
TV Career section - TVBR just needs 1 top sales executive that knows and has the rolodex of TV & Cable. -
Position Wanted - Two experienced professionals are fed up with the BS and looking to contribute their years of experience for tomorrow's real growth people companies.
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Adbiz ©
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Cable ad spending hits record
Annual spending on national/network cable TV advertising rose to an all-time high: $12.7B in - - a gain of 16.7% over the year before, according to a Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB) analysis of StrADegy data. The additional $1.82B spent on national/network cable in '03 accounted for two-thirds of the combined gains of all sources of national TV combined: cable, broadcast and syndication. RBR observation: Real quick financial lesson 101 on why Cable is having much of the competing for brunch? Check out the stats inside as Top 20 increases in National/Network Cable ad spending by advertisers with 2003 budgets over $50 Million. Called reaching out and staying in touch with the consumer, which was the focus at the recent 4A's conference that NO radio or TV CEO or COO attended.
| Full Story Click Here |
Emerson breaks into national radio
Emerson has rolled out a national corporate campaign designed to show how it meets its customers needs. The campaign features testimonials from high-profile customers worldwide, including Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Tesco supermarkets and Telefonica in Peru, who have used Emerson products and technology to reach success. Ads will run over the next four months on network radio, in business pubs, on airport signage and on in-flight videos. This is Emerson's first venture into national radio.
| Full Story Click Here |
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Media, Markets & Money tm
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 Buffalo buy proves
Entercom's a good Sport
Entercom, which operates a rare four-AM, two-FM superduopoly to good ratings effect in the Buffalo market, is getting a third FM. But it's almost as if it is getting yet another AM station. That's because the station it's picking up, WNSA-FM, is a rare FM All Sports outlet. The seller is troubled cable MSO Adelphia Communications. Entercom will pay $9M pending approval from both the Federal Bankruptcy Court and the FCC. If the deal goes through, Entercom will corner the All Sports market in Buffalo. It already has WGR-AM, the local ESPN outlet. It also makes use of News-Talk, Oldies and Urban Oldies on the AM side, with CHR and AC covered by the two FMs.
Simmons heads into Wyoming
Simmons SLC is getting a trio of stations in southwest Wyoming, the part of that sparsely-populated state closest to the company's base in Salt Lake City. It'll be getting an AM and two FMs. The stations are KMER-AM/KAOX-FM in Kemmerer WY and KDWY-FM in the next-door neighbor community of Diamondville WY. Neither Arbitron nor Eastlan are operating in the area, which is northwest of Rock Springs and northeast of Evanston. According to Media Services Group brokers Greg Merrill and Tom McKinley, Jerrold T. Lundquist's Chaparral Broadcasting Company is banking $2M in exchange for the stations. Simmons' Craig Hanson said, "We are pleased with this great opportunity to serve Kemmerer with these outstanding radio stations. We look forward to building upon the strong foundation established by the previous owners and continue their legacy of providing worthwhile entertainment, information and advertising services to the people of Kemmerer and surrounding areas."
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Washington Beat
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WAMM whammy unwhammed
Nobody can say that RBR dares not tread where no dictionary will go! When we need to make up a word to accommodate a ridiculous headline, we take no prisoners and boldly go beyond the bounds of the English language, may the torpedoes be da... uhhh, darned! (Here's looking at you, House Energy and Commerce Committee!) Anyway, Grass Roots Broadcasting, the onetime licensee of WAMM-AM Woodstock VA, has skated on a $20K fine for antenna and main studio violations. We cannot recommend that your company attempt to take a page from Grass Roots when trying to duck out of any regulatory liability you may find yourself facing. The Grass Roots path to forgiveness involves being completely and irredeemably out of business. In its case, it fixed the problems, sold the station at a loss and had the state of Virginia unincorporate the business. So unless you are prepared to take these draconian steps, it's probably best to just pay the fine.
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Transactions
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$2,750,000 WTLA-AM/WRCK-FM & WKLL-FM Utica-Rome (Utica, Frankfort NY) from Galaxy Communications LP (Edward Levine) to Route 76 Radio LLC (Lloyd B. Roach, Gavin Steif et al). $150K escrow, balance in cash at closing. Existing duopoly. [File date 2/5/04.]
$450,000 WNRG-AM/WMJD-FM Grundy VA from Virginia-Kentucky Broadcasting Co. Inc. (Gary Dotson) to Peggy Sue Broadcasting Corp. (Henry Beam, Dirk Hall, Peggy Beam). $25K escrow, balance in cash at closing. [File date 2/5/04.]
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Stock Talk
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Job woes keep a lid on stocks
Worries about slow job growth kept traders in a selling mode on Monday. The Dow Industrials lost 66 points, or 0.6%, to finish at 10,529.
With those continuing concerns about the health of the economic recovery, broadcast stocks were generally down as well. The Radio Index was off 1.403, or 0.5%, to 275.873. Univision was the biggest decliner, down 2.2%. Many radio stocks were down 1-2%. There were few gainers. Arbitron rose 1.8%. Radio One's Class A stock rose 1.5% and Class D 1.2%.
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Radio Stocks
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Here's how stocks fared on Monday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
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Arbitron
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ARB
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$43.70
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+$0.79
|
Jeff-Pilot
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JP
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$54.49
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-$0.17
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Beasley
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BBGI
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$18.43
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-$0.22
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Journal Comm.
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JRN
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$18.99
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-$0.06
|
| Citadel |
CDL |
$18.59 |
-$0.09 |
Radio One, Cl. A
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ROIA
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$18.95
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+$0.27
|
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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$43.65
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-$0.79
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Radio One, Cl. D
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ROIAK
|
$18.90
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+$0.23
|
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Cox Radio
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CXR
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$22.53
|
-$0.37
|
Regent
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RGCI
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$6.76
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-$0.05
|
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Cumulus
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CMLS
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$21.05
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+$0.12
|
Saga Commun.
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SGA
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$19.97
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-$0.27
|
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Disney
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DIS
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$26.24
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-$0.24
|
Salem Comm.
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SALM
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$25.50
|
+$0.21
|
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Emmis
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EMMS
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$25.50
|
-$0.17
|
Sirius Sat. Radio
|
SIRI
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$3.01
|
-$0.04
|
| Entercom |
ETM
|
$46.70
|
-$0.79
|
Spanish Bcg.
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SBSA
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$10.43
|
-$0.15
|
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Entravision
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EVC
|
$9.58
|
-$0.02
|
Univision
|
UVN
|
$34.48
|
-$0.79
|
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Fisher
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FSCI
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$49.39
|
-$0.45
|
Viacom, Cl. A
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VIA
|
$39.58
|
-$0.74
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Gaylord
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GET
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$30.66
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+$0.12
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Viacom, Cl. B
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VIAb
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$39.25
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-$0.80
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Hearst-Argyle
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HTV
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$26.86
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+$0.64
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Westwood One
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WON
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$30.50
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-$0.31
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Interep
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IREP
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$2.15
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-$0.05
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XM Sat. Radio
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XMSR
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$26.22
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+$0.06
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International Bcg.
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IBCS
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$0.03
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unch
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-
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-
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-
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-
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RBR Audiocast
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03/09 - Get the feel of what you are scrolling down and reading ...Listen to this morning's AudioCast and
Hold On To Your Hair!
 Click Here to Listen
with Bob DeCarlo'
"In Da Morning"
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Bounceback
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We want to hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments to radionews@rbr.com
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International
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CHUM looking
at terrestrial subscription radio
The Toronto Star reports Canadian broadcaster CHUM Ltd. is taking on Sirius and XM Satellite Radio for subscription-based radio in the Great White North - - and is talking to wireless carriers as potential partners to do it. | Full Story Click Here |
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March Solutions Electronic Magazine
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Complimentary Report
 2nd Quarter this report -
"How do you plead,
Effective or Not effective?
1. Read: Radio making strides as agencies put under scrutiny, p.8.
2. Learn: History of the deadly Ratings game Pro & Con, p.14.
3. Make Money: IBOC will become Value Added to radio, p.24.
4. Period: The radio recovery taking hold, p.29.
Download
and read your copy now!
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NAB Day Time Planner
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The following brokers will be attending the NAB. Call or email to make your appointment in advance.
-------------------------------Glenn Serafin, Aladdin Hotel,
cell 813-494-6875
gserafin@compuserve.com
Gordon Rice, Gordon Rice Associates, Bellagio, 843-884-3590,
gordon@gordonriceassociates.com
Sarah O'Sullivan, Media Venture Partners, Ltd. , 415-391-4877,
sosullivan@mediaventurepartners.com
Ted Hepburn, The Ted Hepburn Company, 561-863-8995,
tedhep@aol.com
Terry Greenwood, Bellagio,
410-931-3362,
terry.a.greenwood@verizon.net
Dick Kozacko, Luxor,
office 607-733-7138, cell 607-738-1219,
rkozacko@stny.rr.com
Jim Ortega, Satterfield & Perry,
cell 303/913-1888, ortegamedia@hotmail.com
Ron Swanson, Satterfield & Perry,
cell 570-881-5274, Bellagio Hotel, ronaldkswanson@aol.com
Cliff Gardiner, Clifton Gardiner & Company, 303-758-6900, cliff@cliftongardiner.com
Larry Patrick, Patrick Communications, 410-740-0250, Bellagio, michele@patcomm.com
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RBR Radar 2004
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Click on these issues for Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
Howard Stern all but abandoning radio show; praises satcasters
Claims the FCC is about to drop a bunch of big fines on him for things he said three years ago. Stern predicted that he'll remain on the air for a few more weeks. RBR observation: Just another brick in radio's wall. On top of all of radio's current problems, Howard Stern may be joining the list of ex-terrestrial shock jocks Opie and Anthony and Bubba the Love Sponge to likely be picked up by satellite radio-where they will be free to cuss all they want. Stern to satellite and with him so goes all that revenue - National, Local, NTR, - and list goes on. If it happens our sympathy goes out of those General Managers and their sales teams. Stern and his agent follow the money. Satellite radio needs Stern to break out of the pack. 03/08/04 RBR #46
Consolidation deals going
back under the microscope-
Red Flag Returns?
RBR has learned that deals resulting in high levels of consolidation are going to get an extra hard look by the FCC Media Bureau, and will be subjected to competitive analysis when such analysis is deemed warranted. The policy is effective immediately. 03/08/04 RBR #46
Clear Channel pays for the Sponge
The $755K fine levied by the FCC for broadcasts of since-fired Florida shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge (and other infractions). RBR observation: In other words, Clear Channel CYAed well before H.R. 3717 goes on the books, will presumably start with a completely clean slate if and when the bill becomes a law. This RBR observation is a must read! 03/05/04 RBR #45
FCC Fine factors
The "Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004" sets a limit of $500K on indecency fines. This does not mean, however, that you should salt away $500K in case there is an accidental utterance on your station that is unexpected and which you are powerless to prevent. RBR observation: If you screw up live on Number Five, you'll be lucky to make it out of the country alive.
03/05/04 RBR #45
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SALES
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