Grupo gets grip on Emmis LA FM
Emmis will power forward in Los Angeles with Rhythmic CHR KPWR-FM, but its Rhythmic Oldies project KMVN-FM is abandoning the format, the English language and eventually, Emmis itself. Grupo Radio Centro will be bringing in an Hispanic format from Mexico in an LMA/option carrying a seven year life span.

RBR observation: With America's largest markets absorbing the worst of the economic punishment being inflicted on the radio industry, this is the wrong time to be staging an expensive makeover at an underperforming station.

Cox Radio endorses buyout
The special committee of independent directors at Cox Radio has evaluated the $3.80 per share offer from Cox Enterprises to buy out other shareholders and given it a thumbs up. Clearly, that is not what some stock speculators had expected.

McDowell urges court to rule on cross-ownership
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell has fired off a letter to the Third Circuit asking the court to rule on pending litigation concerning newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership, noting that a previous FCC request to ignore a motion to delay has been withdrawn. McDowell would much rather see swift action.

RBR observation: At this point, it's impossible to imagine a ruling in favor of relaxation having any immediate effect other than relieving existing cross-owned combos of any doubt about their regulatory viability.

Online streams not yet big PPM factor
More than 500 digital stations are encoding across the 14 PPM markets, but only 13 streams (including one counted twice for an embedded market) met minimum reporting standards for Arbitron's February report. That's down from the peak in December, when in-office listening to Christmas music may have been a factor.

RBR observation: We should start taking bets on when the first HD-2 channel will break the PPM minimum standard.

Dentist accuses San Diego host of taking ad money
10 News San Diego reports a local radio talker has been accused of taking money from local businesses. Dentist Dr. Rod Strober wanted to expand his business with radio advertising. But he said trust quickly turned to betrayal when he met Richard Duncan. Strober said Duncan told him he had a show on KCEO-AM, and he offered the dentist a 30-second spot on his show. Read what happened by clicking on the headline....

Cox Radio Richmond unveils "Keep Richmond Moving"
Cox Radio Richmond, VA, which owns WMXB-FM (AC), WKHK-FM (Country), WKLR-FM (Cls. Rock) and WDYL-FM (Alt.) has launched a campaign that helps area business community called "Keep Richmond Moving." It directs listeners to www.KeepRichmondMoving.com, where local businesses can post their job listings free of charge.

Atlanta AM finds a new owner
WAZX-AM serves Atlanta from the close-in suburb of Smyrna GA to the northeast of the city - but it hasn't been serving anybody since late last summer. A new owner will try to amend that situation.

TRANSACTIONS
$150K FM CP Sleepy Hollow WY from Robert R. Rule to Keyhole Broadcasting LLC (Kevin Clements, Otice Clements). $10K escrow, $40K cash at closing, $100K note. Superduopoly with KGCC-FM Gillette WY and pending acquisition of KXXL-FM Moorcroft WY. CP is for Class C1 on 105.3 MHz with 100 kw @ 269'. [FCC file date 3/6/09]

$65K FM CP Farmington Township PA from World Link Radio Inc. (Earl Williamson) to Family Life Ministries Inc. (Richard M. Snaveley Jr.) $5K deposit, balance in cash at closing. CP is for Class A on 106.1 MHz with 4.12 kw @ 387'. [FCC file date 3/6/09]

$1.00 KYNN-AM CP Cameron AZ from Better Life Ministries (Claud M. Pettit) to Flagstaff Mission to the Navajos (Gene Burton et al). Cash. CP is for Class C on 1450 kHz with 1 kw-U, ND. [FCC file date 3/6/09]

WCSX Detroit launches "Faces not Numbers"
94.7 WCSX's morning show Deminski & Doyle has started the "Faces not Numbers" project. D&D are collecting as many photos as possible of Michiganders and their families potentially impacted by the struggling auto industry.

CAIR asks KSFO to reprimand hosts
It's not just Michael Savage or Michael Graham: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called KSFO-AM San Francisco to reprimand two talkers for a recent segment in which they "mocked Islam, misstated Muslim beliefs and cast suspicion on political participation by American Muslims."

Average online video viewer watches five hours a month
The February comScore Video Metrix data shows that U.S. Internet users viewed 13.1 billion online videos during the month of February, representing a decline of 12% versus January due mainly to three fewer days in the month. Google sites comprised the largest share, accounting for 41% of online videos viewed and just under 100 million unique viewers.

Study reveals increase in consumer coupon usage
Burst Media released the results of a survey administered to more than 4,500 women 18 years or older. The survey was designed to better understand consumers' use of the Internet for household purchases, including the use of coupons. In addition to finding that 34% of respondents are using coupons more frequently today than they were six months ago, the survey also uncovered that nearly 70% (69.4%) of respondents would print and redeem an Internet coupon for a product they would be interested in purchasing.

RBR observation: Understand the buying patterns of the consumer and it will help improve your website.

We want to
hear from you
Send your comments and a photo to [email protected]

Only On RBR.com
Equal Opportunities 101
Candidate appearance likely to demand equal time

Ad Business Report
Cox Radio Richmond
Unveils "Keep Richmond Moving"

Ratings & Research
Average online video viewer
Watches 5 hours a month

Makers & Shakers
Transactions: 2/9-2/13
RAAD adds in Puerto Rico

Back to broadcasting
Former Citadel Broadcasting CFO Donna Heffner, who left the company in 2003, is back in broadcasting as CFO of Frontier Broadcast Holdings. The company headed by Jason R. Wolff owns 16 radio stations as El Dorado Broadcasters LLC and one TV station as Fox24 of Macon LLC.

NJ promotions
Millennium Radio New Jersey has promoted Shari Lynch to Vice President/Director of National Network Sales. Also, Wendy Wesley has been promoted to Vice President/Director of Non-Traditional Revenue and Digital Initiatives.

DC bound
Kat Jackson is the new 7-midnight personality on Clear Channel's Country WMZQ-FM Washington, DC. She has been hosting on two Clear Channel stations: 7-midnight on WGAR-FM Cleveland and middays on WWYZ-FM Hartford.

Gates rep leaving
Fisher board
The recent deal to avoid a proxy fight gave two seats on the board of directors at Fisher Communications to nominees approved by Mario Gabelli. To open up those two seats, Bill Gates will no longer have a representative on the Fisher board.

Sirius XM
covenants loom
The FCC extracted some concessions from satellite radio operators Sirius and XM before they became Sirius XM, but now it seems the FCC is holding up reconciliation of those concessions. Two such issues include channel set-asides and third-party manufactured interoperable receivers.

RBR observation: Sirius XM's Mel Karmazin didn't like the debt deal he took to get the merger done in the first place, and that was before the economic implosion. The fact that automakers are in dire straits really piles it on.

ABC Radio Networks
now Citadel Media
The new name represents the company's dedication to connecting audiences with advertisers across multiple platforms beyond its core radio business.
04/03/09 RBR #65

Station not so hot
after derailed prank
Such is the case for Kemp Communications' Hot 97.5 KVEG-FM in Las Vegas.

RBR observation: This prank may come in a gray area between obvious actionable mischief and allowable mischief, but that will be up to the FCC to decide. Now it may cost them. Best read what you need to know at RBR.com before you get fined.
04/03/09 RBR #65

Broadcaster says keep auction on schedule
Sutton Radiocasting Corporation thinks that there should be no delay in the FM Auction scheduled to kick off 9/1/09.

RBR observation: Sutton makes reasonable, well-stated points here. However, although we'd love to believe that the economy will be rebounding by the end of summer, we're not so sure that'll be enough time.
04/03/09 RBR #65

TVB: Interactive
tops $1B mark
A day after reporting that television ad revenues overall were down in 2008, TVB is noting a bright spot. Interactive sales for TV stations shot up 36% to break the $1 billion mark for the first time.
04/03/09 TVBR #65