It was only a matter of time after Citadel had its falling out with Interep not long ago and moved to Katz: Citadel announced the Katz Radio Group will represent its 22 previous ABC Radio stations in nine markets. Interep’s ABC Radio Sales will now only represent ESPN Radio and Radio Disney. ABC Radio Sales was formed in June 1998 exclusively for the ABC O&O stations.
Katz Media Group will now represent all of the Citadel markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, LA, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Three separate Katz Radio Group companies—Eastman Radio, Christal Radio and Katz Radio—will represent the various stations effective 3/31. Katz Radio Group will now represent all the stations owned by Citadel, with 223 stations in more than 50 markets.
Interep CEO David Kennedy told RBR he was disappointed that Citadel had decided to change reps for the former ABC O&Os, but he said he hoped to work with them again in the future as Interep restructures and grows. He said the decision by Citadel had no impact on the negotiations with Interep’s bondholders that resulted in yesterday’s announcement of a prepackaged Chapter 11 filing. As for the staff of ABC Radio Sales, Kennedy said "we’re looking at the deployment of the resources inside of our company as we speak."
Who is left at Interep? Entercom, Access.1, Beasley, Black Crow Broadcasting, Buckley Radio, Mapleton Comm., Curtis Media Group, Next Media Group, Renda, Pamal, NRG Media, Hearst, Crawford, Three Eagles, Legend Comm., Commonwealth, Inner City, Lincoln Financial Media, Spanish Broadcasting System, WBEB-FM and most of CBS Radio stations (the other portion is handled by Katz Radio Group).
