01/14 - Don't get stuck in 2003... Listen to this morning's Audiocast... We'll bring you up to speed... FAST!

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with Bob DeCarlo'
"In Da Morning"

It's all in the cards
2. The Ace of Trades: Station trading
Two factors tended to suppress station trading last year. One was natural, the other decidedly unnatural, in the capitalistic sense. The natural suppression was mostly on the radio side, as the industry demonstrated that it was basically mature in terms of ownership consolidation. The unnatural trading suppressants were.. Editor’s Note: Part 1 see below. 01/13/04 TVBR #7

Clear Channel creating
local advisory boards
In an effort to counter critics who accuse it of "cookie cutter" programming,.. TVBR observation: Crank up the PR machine.
01/13/04 TVBR #7

Clear Channel sets traffic expansion
For a couple of years, Clear Channel's expansion of its in-house traffic reporting service was in low gear. But it looks like a shift into a higher gear is beginning - - and the unit will be going after non-Clear Channel affiliates to directly challenge Westwood One's Metro/Shadow operations. Editor’s Note: The Winner is.. The one with best Content….Presentation…. and Marketing to potential affiliates. Love a good marketing fight…if we see one. 01/13/04 RBR #7

It's all in the cards
Card #1 - King of Clusters-Broadcast Ownership
In the modern deck of Media Tarot cards, the King may hold up to eight towers (in the larger suits), but unless it's a really big suit, he still cannot have audio and video together.It you are dealt this card in a reading, and it is crossed by The Chairman card, the King may well hold eight audio towers, two video towers, cable wires and - - just to top it all off - - he'll even be holding a scroll, like the Gotham Times. 01/12/04 TVBR #6

XM's traffic and weather advertising opportunities - buyers pitched.
Not long after XM Satellite Radio announced it will be debuting weather and traffic channels for 15 cities, and making its music channels commercial-free, we found out from one RBR source that the company let go three of its sales team last week (1/8 and 1/9), 01/12/04 RBR #6

XM Traffic - "Will it work?"
We asked former Westwood One CEO and current Infinity Radio President/COO Joel Hollander and Westwood One CEO Shane Coppolla for their observations on XM Weather and Traffic.
01/12/04 RBR #6

Emmis: Coal mine canary
chirps a happy tune
Jeff Smulyan could not help but repeat himself several times over, saying that calendar year 2003 may well have been the best ever in the history of Emmis Communications. TVBR Observation: The Glass of Emmis is 3/4 full and always looks at the management structure.
01/09/04 TVBR #5

Why Bob Coen expects growth
in 2004 -- Part 5 of 5
With federal elections and the Olympics.. forecast for local media spending. Bob Coen is less bullish, but still upbeat. 01/09/04 TVBR #5

Fratrik's forecast: TV station revenues to grow 10% in 2004
As he assesses what lies ahead for TV stations this year, BIA Financial Network Vice President and Chief Economist Mark Fratrik tells TVBR he's looking for growth of 10%. That's in line with the 10-11% forecast of the TVB and more bullish that Universal McCann's Bob Coen. 01/08/04 TVBR #4

Why Bob Coen expects growth in 2004 - Part 4 of 5
National advertising is poised for strong gains in 2004, check the chart with actual forecast for spending by national advertisers. The extra political activity plus the Summer Olympics in Greece combined with the brighter business climate will fuel strong growth in national advertising in 2004. The TV and radio media will be the major beneficiaries of the extra spending related to the Olympics and election activities. 01/08/04 TVBR #4

Hogan caught wearing
rose-colored glasses in LA
It did not take long for Radio Business Report to get reaction from our readers on the Miller Kaplan numbers that Clear Channel's John Hogan is distributing to agency buyers on forward pacing. Turns out the numbers he is sending are for total market revenues which includes the category titled Network/Non-Traditional/Other (stuff like concert ticket sales). RBR observation: Radio looses when it overstates its case. 01/08/04 RBR #4

RAB getting "re-tooled"; RAEL studies will lead to ad blitz
RAB's Radio Ad Effectiveness Lab (RAEL) is currently working on some studies about radio advertising - - the results of which will be part of an upcoming ad blitz (that is likely to include the Wall Street Journal and NY Times, according to one source) to educate the public about the power of radio. That same source, a group head, tells us he felt the radio industry has done a terrible job of marketing itself and that the RAB is going to be "re-tooled." Editor’s Note: Cough hard! RAB wants stations to kick in $3M-$4M for the effort. 01/08/04 RBR #4

Why Bob Coen expects growth
in 2004 - Part 3 of 5
Big categories, Coen sees signs of increasing ad spending by secondary categories, which could indicate a broader recovery. Signs of increasing ad spending by secondary categories, which could indicate a broader recovery. 01/7/04 TVBR #3

RBR Exclusive
Miller Kaplan forward pacing numbers out
Distributed by Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan, we wonder if Coen's estimates might be a bit low. RBR observation: Read the Miller Kaplan according to Clear Channel and Mr. Hogan. RBR appreciates receiving and sharing this information and we highly encourage other groups to do the same by providing Forward Pacing. For once forget the short traders and get ahead of the game. It is time for radio to control the boards and fast break down court. 01/7/04 RBR #3

RBR Exclusive
CC Radio making strides
in accountability
Ah, the now-familiar buzzword: Accountability. Garnered from an RBR source, Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan recently penned a letter 1/5 detailing the company's efforts and systems being put in place to please the ad buying community. Some of it is news to us, but it all sounds good. RBR observation: Time to press the flesh. 01/06/04 RBR #2