Art Bell confirms retirement

Plagued with ongoing back problems, Premiere Radio Networks' "Coast to Coast AM" host Art Bell announced his retirement on his 10/23 show, effective 12/31. He will continue his three nights a week schedule until then, when KTRS-AM St Louis Talker George Noory, who already hosts the show two nights a week, will take the full reins. Bell say he plans to sit in as Noory's guest host from time to time. Barbara Simpson will continue hosting on weekends.

This is not the first time Bell, 57, has left the show. He returned to the air 2/01 after a long absence after being falsely accused of child molestation. Bell's absences also included a period following an incident when his teenage son had been abducted and molested by one of his high school teachers. The teacher was later convicted and sentenced to prison, according to reports.

Coast to Coast AM was created by Bell in '93 and currently airs on 525 affiliates nationwide live from 1-6 a.m. ET.

Dallas Female Talk station dies after three days

After three days on the air, it appears "Cafe 990" is no more. Renaissance Radio's KCAF-AM Farmersville/Dallas was a female-oriented talk station for the market (10/18 RBR Daily Epaper) that launched 10/21. But now the Website is down, the phone isn't being answered and reports abound on the Internet that the station is off the air.

One of those Internet sites, Radio Daily News, reported that the operation was in financial difficulties from the get-go and that the staff was told that there was no money to cover the first payroll. The last hope was to line up a buyer, but when EVP/GM Scott Savage found one, owner Dave Schum turned down the offer. That's apparently when Savage and the rest of the staff left the Café.

LA morning hosts want to be Co-Mayors of Fawnskin, CA

Fawnskin, CA, pop. 400, just across from Big Bear Lake, is holding their mayoral election 11/5- and KRLA-AM LA's Mark Larson and Larry Marino have thrown their hats into the ring. One needn't be a resident to preside over the town of Fawnskin. "I feel like a local," says Larson, "I've been vacationing at the Lake for years." In Fawnskin, the mayor's term is one year, and as mayor, his or her primary duty is to make an appearance at their monthly potluck. Fawnskin's most famous resident is actress/singer Shirley Jones.

Mark and Larry are making a goodwill visit to Fawnskin 10/30 and 10/31, where they will broadcast their show live from the North Shore Café.

Indianapolis Colts extend agreement with WFBQ/WNDE

The Indianapolis Colts announced they have reached an agreement on a new four-year broadcast contract with CC Radio/Indianapolis, extending their relationship with WFBQ and WNDE through the 2006 season.

The Colts signed a five-year contract with WFBQ/WNDE in 1998. That contract expires at the end of the 2002 season.

Hendrie honored by youth center

10/26 at the 14th Annual Heroes in Hollywood Fundraiser, Phil Hendrie will be recognized by My Friend's Place when they name their new youth center at 5850 Hollywood Blvd., the "Phil Hendrie and Maria Sanchez Youth Center." Maria Sanchez is Hendrie's wife.

Over the last five years, Hendrie has donated over $600K to My Friend's Place, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless and high-risk youth build self-sufficient, productive lives. Each year, Hendrie produces a "Best of the Phil Hendrie Show" CD that is sold on his website (www.philhendrieshow.com) with 100 percent of the proceeds going to My Friend's Place.

Youth, ages 12-24, will receive a wide range of services at the new "Phil Hendrie and Maria Sanchez Youth Center."

MIW Network gets 100 registrations

The "Most Influential Women in Radio" (MIW's) group, who announced the formation of their online MIW Network just three weeks ago, announced they've received over 100 registrations from women in radio across the country, said MIW spokesperson and Nassau Media Partners President, Joan Gerberding.

The MIW Network is an online database designed to share information with interested women and men and to keep subscribers current on issues and events surrounding women in radio. Network registrants will also be asked to participate in surveys and polls about issues impacting women in the workplace, alerted to seminars, mentor and "mentee" opportunities and other networking events.

The first MIW Network listserve mailing announced the RAB's intensive, Women's Management Training Course, to be held in Dallas from November 18 through 21.

Nassau installing i2i Media visual messaging system

Nassau Media Partners announced 10/24 that installation of its i2i Media digital visual messaging system will begin at the New York Waterway within the next 30 days. A strategic alliance with Clarity Visual Systems, a leading provider of Digital Visual Messaging solutions and the technology partner with NMP on the project, was announced in July. Nassau will broadcast advertising, branded lifestyle content, as well as news, weather, sports, and financial news, seven days a week, to more than 70,000 daily NY Waterway ferry commuters. The I2i Media system will also display real-time ferry schedules and emergency information in all NY Waterway terminals.

Suit against KHOW-AM host dismissed

The rocky Mountain news reports that a defamation suit against KHOW-AM Denver host Peter Boyles has been dismissed. Denver police officer Bryan Gordon had sued for libel over Boyles on-air assertion in 1997 that Gordon was involved in a knife fight over a woman in which he stabbed Mayor Wellington Webb's bodyguard, and that Gordon and two other cops tried to cover it up. The judge ruled that the comments were protected by the First Amendment and that the comments did not rise to the level of libel under state law.

DG Systems announces improvements to "DG Audio" service

Spot and audio delivery provider DG Systems announced 10/24 the launch of a series of enhanced features and an upgraded version of its DG Online system. New DG Audio Distribution upgrades and features include a 1) new electronic traffic and order management interface product that eliminates re-keying orders and traffic information and reduces station calls, missed air-time and lost orders; 2) New on-line spot and music upload capabilities that instantly upload media directly from users' desktops. Now traffic and spot information can be submitted together with each order and 3) New audio technology The new "DG Media Manager" is a dedicated, on-site server offering agencies and broadcasters guaranteed delivery of audio spots and music directly to radio stations.

The new DG Online 5.3 solution allows traffic to be attached online (in the agency's or advertisers own format) to an order, eliminating faxing of traffic instructions. DGO 5.3 also permits new search by destination or ISCI code on any order, easily locating a specific order.

Disney and MSN launch Disney on MSN Internet Service

Disney and Microsoft have paternered to deliver "Disney on MSN," a co-branded Internet service that combines the new MSN 8 software with Disney content.

The service provides dial-up Internet access and combines parental controls and all the other features of the MSN 8 service with age-appropriate start pages for children with Disney content, as well as a separate start page for adults with the MSN 8 home page. Disney on MSN subscribers also will receive a free subscription to Disney's Blast, a premium online content service for kids that provides 100 educational and entertainment features, and a free subscription to Disney Adventures magazine.

Sirius signs install agreement with Asbury Automotive Group

Sirius Satellite Radio (O:SIRI) announced 10/23 that Asbury Automotive Group will offer Sirius systems through its nationwide network of automotive dealers. Encompassing 128 franchises at 91 dealer locations across the country, the Asbury Group sells 36 different vehicle brands including BMW, Toyota, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Nissan and others, all of which will now offer the Sirius system to new and used car buyers.

Audiovox will supply the Sirius Satellite Radio systems to car dealers nationwide. The Audiovox universal adaptor enables any vehicle with an FM radio to receive Sirius's subscription service.

Enhanced TV, SOAPnet team for "Back from the Dead" challenge

Enhanced TV (ETV), in conjunction with the SOAPnet Network, will produce the Enhanced TV/SOAPnet "Back from the Dead" challenge, a two-screen application enabling fans to interact in real time with their favorite ABC daytime dramas. The live, interactive game will accompany SOAPnet's block of "Back from the Dead" episodes on 10/27. SOAPnet's "Back from the Dead" event focuses on the soap opera phenomenon of bringing characters back from the dead and includes episodes of One Life to Live, Port Charles, All My Children and General Hospital. ETV's interactive challenge features trivia based on the content of the "Back from the Dead" episodes. Users score points in the challenge by correctly answering trivia questions and top scorers are eligible for SOAPnet prizes.

AP members honored for news coverage

The Associated Press Managing Editors (APME) association, at their annual meeting in Baltimore, awarded citations to 410 newspapers and radio/TV stations for their contributions to the Associated Press Report. Here are the broadcast winners:

KBFS Radio, Belle Fourche, S.D.

KCOP-TV, Los Angeles, Calif.

KDDX Radio, Spearfish, S.D.

KELO-TV, Sioux Falls, S.D.

KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara, Calif.

KFDI AM-FM, Wichita, Kan.

KFDM-TV, Beaumont, Texas

KFGO Radio, Fargo, N.D.

KFMB-TV, San Diego, Calif.

KGBT-TV, Harlingen, Texas

KGW-TV, Portland, Ore.

KHAS-AM, Hastings, Neb.

KHAS-TV, Hastings, Neb.

KHRT Radio, Minot, N.D.

KICD, Spencer, Iowa

KIML, Gillette, Wyo.

KLGA, Algona, Iowa

KMNS, Sioux City, Iowa

KMRY, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

KNEB-AM/FM, Scottsbluff, Neb.

KNOP-TV, North Platte, Neb.

KNOX Radio, Grand Forks, N.D.

KOEL, Oelwein, Iowa

KOFI-AM-FM, Kalispell, Mont.

KOMO-TV, Seattle, Wash.

KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, La.

KRIV-TV, Houston, Texas

KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, N.M.

KRTV, Great Falls, Mont.

KTRH Radio, Houston, Texas

KUGR, Green River, Wyo.

KVOM Radio, Morrilton, Ark.

KWPC, Muscatine, Iowa

KXCV/KRNW-FM, Maryville, Mo.

KXJK Radio, Forrest City, Ark.

KYVA-AM, Gallup, N.M.

WAKR-AM, Akron, Ohio

WALB-TV, Albany, Ga.

WAVE-TV, Louisville, Ky.

WBAL-TV, Baltimore, Md.

WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge, La.

WBBM News Radio 780, Chicago, Ill.

WBMA-TV (ABC 33/40), Birmingham, Ala.

WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, W.V.

WBRC-TV, Birmingham, Ala.

WCBI-TV, Columbus, Miss.

WCHS-TV, Charleston, W.V.

WDTV-TV, Bridgeport, W.V.

WDUN, Gainesville, Ga.

WELC AM-FM, Welch, W.V.

WEPM-AM, Martinsburg, W.V.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston, W.V.

WGEE, Green Bay, Wis.

WHBC-AM, Canton, Ohio

WIKY-FM, Evansville, Ind.

WKCT-AM, Bowling Green, Ky.

WKEE-FM, Huntington, W.V.

WKKJ-FM, Chillicothe, Ohio

WKXW-FM, Trenton, N.J.

WKYU-FM, Bowling Green, Ky.

WLBT-TV, Jackson, Miss.

WLS-AM, Chicago, Ill.

WLUC, Negaunee, Mich.

WLUK-TV, Green Bay, Wis.

WMBD-AM, Peoria, Ill.

WMSI-FM, Jackson, Miss.

WOAI-TV, San Antonio

WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.V.

WQAD-TV, Moline, Ill.

WQBE AM-FM, Charleston, W.V.

WQCS-FM, Fort Pierce, Fla.

WSAZ-TV, Huntington, W.V.

WSGW, Saginaw, Mich.

WTAM, Cleveland, Ohio

WTAX-AM, Springfield, Ill.

WTVN-AM, Columbus, Ohio

WTVQ-TV, Lexington, Ky.

WVVA-TV, Bluefield, W.V.

WWJ, Southfield, Mich.

WWTV-WWUP, Cadillac, Mich.

WWVA-AM, Wheeling, W.V.

WXYZ-TV, Southfield, Mich.

CNN stays in Israel

Israel's major cable TV companies have come to terms with AOL Time Warner's (N:AOL) CNN and will keep the all-news channel on their cable systems.

The Israeli companies had previously threatened to drop CNN unless the network reduced the fees it was demanding. According to wire service reports, CNN got close to what it was asking for in the end.

CNN has come under fire in Israel in recent months for its coverage of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. As a result, the cable systems added Fox News Channel.

Sniper show postponed

CBS' new and highly successful "CSI: Miami" has one episode in the can which features the investigation of a series of sniper shootings. But don't expect to see it anytime soon. With the public jittery over the recent sniper shootings in the Washington, DC area, Viacom's (N:VIA) CBS has put the episode on hold.