The new name represents the company’s dedication to connecting audiences with advertisers across multiple platforms beyond its core radio business including mobile, out-of-home, digital and experiential marketing. It will also allow the company to capitalize on synergistic opportunities throughout the marketplace. Citadel Media will continue to represent such programming as ABC News Radio and ESPN Radio as well as syndicate across the News/Talk, Hispanic and Urban formats.
“This evolution provides us a great opportunity to expand our legacy, which we have developed within the heritage of the ABC name,” said Jim Robinson, President of Citadel Media. “We originated within the Radio Corporation of America and became NBC’s Blue Network. When the Blue Network split from NBC, the American Broadcasting Company was created. In the last 25 years, our radio network has been owned by Capital Cities, The Walt Disney Company and now Citadel Broadcasting. One constant throughout this history of change has been the passion and dedication of our people to create innovative programming for our affiliates and advertising partners. That aspect of our company will never change.”
“Across our organization, there is an enhanced focus on delivering breakthrough solutions to our partners,” Robinson added. “We recently helped pioneer the industry’s most advanced copy splitting capabilities with our XDS rollout and our sales and programming teams are producing a client tool designed to deliver coveted lifestyle groups including Baby Boomer Elites, Mobile Moms and Generation Y Women.”
In the past year, the company has grown its portfolio of programming and continues its push to deliver branded partnerships that capitalize on its broad reach and collection of talent. Recent additions include Governor Mike Huckabee, Perez Hilton, Joe Scarborough, Brian McKnight, Rick Dees and Tom Kent.
