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Volume 24, Issue 159, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
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Wednesday Morning August 15th, 2007
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Radio News ®
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 Imus settles, heading to WABC?;
Esiason, Carton to WFAN
The news came out virtually simultaneously yesterday: The Drudge Report said Don Imus has agreed to settle with CBS for 20 million, with a non disparaging clause. The move opens the possibility Imus will soon return to the airwaves "on WABC in New York!" Minutes later, CBS Radio announced what had been rumored for weeks: "WFAN announced today that former NFL quarterback and veteran CBS Sports broadcaster Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton, host of the nation's most listened to afternoon FM talk radio program [WKXW New Jersey 101.5 "The Jersey Guys"], have been named as hosts of "Boomer and Carton in the Morning," to be broadcast weekday mornings beginning 9/4." Esiason will continue to call games for Westwood One's Monday Night Football and NFL playoff and Super Bowl radio broadcasts, a position he has held since 2000. He will also host the "Boomer Esiason Show" on Madison Square Garden Network. No confirmation yet that Imus will air on WABC, and Drudge later reported there was a strong denial it would happen. But if he does, he'd likely replace the "Curtis and Kuby Show" in morning drive (there are also rumors that have Imus going to Sirius to work for Mel Karmazin). Also we wonder if the old team will be back together: Charles McCord, Bernard McGuirk and the other characters. Given Citadel/ABC CEO Farid Suleman's past experience at CBS, the WABC move makes sense-especially as a way to syndicate him via ABC Radio Networks to dozens of past affiliates and the big powerhouse AMs ABC/Citadel has in major markets.
| Ironically, Imus can still be found on Westwood One's website |
CBS Radio agreed a settlement has been made with the I-Man, but tells RBR, "the dollar figure reported is grossly false." We wonder if the figure is too high or low, as Imus had threatened to file a 120 million lawsuit against CBS Corp., saying the company breached his five-year, 40 million contract in firing him over the Rutgers University women's basketball team racist comments.
RBR observation: Imus was CBS Radio's cash cow show after Stern left. As one recent story in New York Magazine said, "Imus used to sell spots for 1,500 that are now going for, like, 200." Imus will be worth more to WABC in audience and dollars than Boomer to WFAN - at least initially. Imus' program was reportedly worth about 15 million in annual revenues to CBS Corp. through advertising on WFAN and syndication fees received from MSNBC and Westwood One. As well, in the CBS Q2 Quarterly Report, radio operating income decreased 40.2 million, which was explained by "weakness in the radio advertising market." In the prior quarter with Imus still at CBS Radio, operating income decreased by 5.8 million with the same mention of ad weakness. CBS's Radio division contributes 30% of operating profits to CBS Corp., so he was significant. Likewise, WFAN's Arbitron ratings for Fall 2006 were 2.6. Their Winter 2007 ratings, including the period after he was fired, were 2.1. That's a 20% drop for the station as a whole - very significant.
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 Radio gets back
a bit of Spitzer's fines
Fordham University's WFUV-FM has gotten a 500K grant from the New York State Music Fund to establish an HD Radio/Internet/mobile streaming channel targeting music fans in their 20s and 30s. The funding for that grant is from the payoffs that former NY Attorney General (now Governor) Eliot Spitzer got to settle "payola" allegations against record labels and radio stations. WFUV General Manager Ralph Jennings says the new project, scheduled to make its debut in the fall of 2008, is expected to cost 1.2 million, so this grant will cover a major portion. It is one of the largest single grants made by the New York State Music Fund, which has thus far handed out more than 35 million bucks. "Acts like Antibalas, Forro In The Dark and The Hold Steady have no problem selling out venues all over town, yet they presently don't have a home on the radio in New York City. A second stream enables us to play deserving local acts in the same set as Bjork, M.I.A. or Arcade Fire and, at the same time, better serve New York's musically-adventurous listening audiences by introducing them to something different," said WFUV Program Director Chuck Singleton.
RBR observation: Nice to see that someone in radio is getting back some of this shakedown money. As we stated repeatedly, Spitzer's so-called "payola" probe was a pile of garbage to grab headlines for himself by accusing broadcasters of violations that he made up by deliberately misreading the law. It apparently worked, since it helped get him elected governor. Thankfully, his successor as AG has apparently shelved the phony payola probe, but it still lingers on in Washington, where a couple of members of the FCC are trying to follow Spitzer's path and rewrite the payola laws via backroom settlements with broadcasters without holding any rulemaking hearings.
NAB goes local to battle performance tax
The National Association of Broadcasters is urging 13K radio stations to seek out their local congressional representative during the August recess and let them know what will happen if over-the-air performance royalties are put into law. The technique adopted by the NAB is a mock invoice which pegs the cost of such a scheme at anywhere between 10%-35% of gross revenues. "Imposing a tax of this size on free, local radio stations will cripple smaller radio stations," the piece argues. It notes that "restaurants, sports stadiums, hotels and other venues" would likely also be affected by the tax, and then says, "The big record labels like to hide behind their artists, but at least half of all fees end up in the pockets of foreign record label conglomerates, while the rest is divided up among the stakeholders. Often, the artists only receive a few pennies out of every dollar." NAB reminds legislators that Congress has traditionally recognized the symbiotic relationship enjoyed by radio and recording companies, and asks local stations to use their familiarity with their own representatives to help drive home that point once again.
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Shots fired in Houston and Peoria
Pacifica-owned KPFT-FM Houston may hold the US record for the most violent attacks against a broadcast station. It was the target of two KKK bombings of its transmitter in the 1970s. The studios were attacked by brick-throwing youths in 2005 and last year an angry listener showed up at the door with a shotgun, but fled when told that police had been called. Now, the most recent attack on the station. Witnesses say a white car drove slowly by the studios just before 1:00 am Monday and someone fired a bullet through the studio window, missing on-air host Mary Thomas by about 18 inches. General Manager Duane Bradley called all staffers to a meeting on security yesterday "In this climate of seemingly escalating violence, it is important for all KPFT staff and volunteers to remain vigilant and aware of the fact that KPFT has been a lightning rod numerous times during the past 37-plus years. Please know that we are taking this matter extremely seriously," he said in a statement on the station website, which also has photos of the bullet hole in the window and a bullet casing found outside that is now in the hands of the police. In Peoria, IL, someone early Friday shot up the transmission line of Regent's WZPW-FM, knocking it off the air for more than a day.
RBR observation: Remember back in the 1960s when "window on the world" studios were popular? Listeners could stand on the sidewalk to watch and listen as their favorite DJ introduced the latest hit, then continue to watch as he did other exciting things, like drink a cup of coffee or smoke a cigarette. Even then some overnight jocks worried about being a brightly lit target on a nearly deserted street. Now it would be unthinkable to use such a set-up in any American city. We don't have a solution - just an observation.
 Democrats renew call for
more minority ad contracts
Making sure that minority advertising businesses get their fair share of government contract work has long been a pet project of John Kerry (D-MA). Now he is being joined by several of his colleagues in a call for better adherence to a 2000 executive order promiting aggressive outreach to such firms. They are particularly critical of the Department of Defense and the Treasury Department. DoD was said to have given minority firms only 1.8% of its business and to have paid 84% less per contract than for majority firms it used. Similarly, Treasury used minority firms only 1.9% of the time and paid them 17% less per contract. NASA, on the other hand, was very pro-active with minority firms, giving them 88.9% of its business. DoD and DoT were also exceeded by Health and Human Services (24.6%) and the Interior Department (6.4%). Kerry was joined in his call by Senate colleagues Harry Reid (D-NV) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and by Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI). "This report shines a spotlight on the federal government's failure to make equal opportunity a reality, not just rhetoric," said Kerry. "The Defense and Treasury Departments are woefully behind the curve. Awarding less than two percent of advertising contracts to minority-owned and disadvantaged firms is unacceptable and this report must be a wake up call. My Committee (Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee) will keep up the pressure and stay on top of this until these agencies drastically improve their contracting practices."
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Summer Reruns Worth Watching.
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| Wall Street Media Business Report TM |
Any bargains out there?
RBR readers know that radio stocks have fallen dramatically this summer. Bear Stearns analyst Victor Miller notes that broadcast stocks have fallen 32% in the recent "financial turmoil" on Wall Street, while the Nasdaq Composite has fallen only 6%. Has that created some bargains in broadcasting? Miller is advising clients seeking a flight to quality to buy CBS, which is down 11% from its July 23rd peak. His "beaten up pick" is Radio One, which, despite some troubles with leverage and its Los Angeles stations, has an attractive multiple and asset value in the LA station and its still-young TV One. And then there are stocks where deals are pending at prices well above the current trading price. Miller says he believes six banks are committed to financing the Clear Channel buyout, but the stock is trading at a 10% discount to the buyout price. Cumulus is trading at a 19% discount to its pending buyout price.
Double digits for Liberman
LBI Media Holdings, the parent company of Liberman Broadcasting, reported that Q2 revenues rose 11% to 32.5 million, with both radio and TV up. Adjusted EBITDA rose 19.8% to 18.6 million. Liberman added new radio stations in Dallas in the past year, which was partly responsible for the radio gains, but radio billings in Los Angeles were also up. In all, radio division revenues rose 22.1% to 17.1 million. Television division revenues rose 0.9% to 15.4 million, with increased ad sales at the company's Texas stations credited for the gain.
 Revenues and sales expenses down for Interep
Interep reports that Q2 commission revenues declined 14.7% to 16.1 million. "The majority of this 2.8 million decrease is attributable to the termination of our representation contract with the former Susquehanna stations after their acquisition by Cumulus Broadcasting in 2006 and a decrease in spending by advertisers at our client stations," the company said in its quarterly SEC filing. Contract termination revenue in Q2 increased by 700K to 1.0 million. Selling expenses declined 18.7% to 13.8 million. However, Interep also had to expense part of its severance costs for former CEO Ralph Guild, so general and administrative expenses shot up 5.4 million to 8.7 million for the quarter. Thus, for the quarter, Interep had an operating loss of 5.3 million, compared to a loss of 1.0 million a year earlier.
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Ad Business Report TM
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Microsoft forms new ad unit
Microsoft has formed a new unit to work with advertisers and publishers and gain a foothold in an online ad market. The creation of the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions group comes on completion of its 6 billion buy of online ad firm aQuantive, the software maker's largest acquisition ever. Microsoft named Brian McAndrews, the former CEO of aQuantive, to head the new group, which will be responsible for building and marketing all of Microsoft's ad businesses. Microsoft has lagged behind Google and Yahoo in online search. Google, the market leader, has built a multibillion dollar business from search, while Microsoft's online services group has not yet been profitable. McAndrews sees other forms of Web advertising playing a larger role as new forms of media like online video gain acceptance. "Search was a key part of the growth in the last several years," McAndrews told Reuters. "With more emerging media, we'll continue to see search be very important, but just a part of the mix and a less significant part of the mix over time."
 Russo elected to board
for Musicians on Call charity
Rich Russo, Director of Broadcast Services at JL Media Inc., has been elected to the Board of Directors of Musicians On Call-a unique charity whose mission is to bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. With a colossal record collection and history of following his favorite touring artists around the world, Russo says, "Musicians on Call is the perfect match for me. The organization uses music to offer up comfort, strength and a much needed distraction for patients who otherwise might not be able to attend a live show even in the hospital's common area. It's a great honor to be part of this" Russo's altruism began early on in life. At the young age of 14, he lost his closest friend to a long battle with leukemia. Since then he has been involved with many charitable causes, including collecting over 300,000 worth of toys for the outpatient party for pediatric patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Musicians On Call is a nonprofit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of people in healthcare facilities. Unlike some organizations that only work with specific illnesses, Musicians On Call facilitates healing from all types of sickness through the power of music. They have already touched over 82,000 individuals through volunteer performances.
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| Media Business Report TM |
Diffuse coverage during second disaster week in a row
During the week of 8/5/07-8/10/07, the Project for Excellence in Journalism from a great deal of disagreement between the five media it tracks as to what should and should not be covered. In fact, only two overall top-10 stories were included on all five individual top 10 lists, and it was a rare week when the #2 story, the Utah mine accident, didn't even make all five (newspapers didn't include it). That incident was tailor-made for the 24/7 newshole on the cable channels, and they propelled it to number one with 28% coverage. The holdover disaster, the Minnesota bridge collapse, held onto 3rd place overall and along with #1 2008 campaign, was the only story to make all five lists. An interesting non-pattern developed beneath the overall top ten list, as different media chose to focus on different international hotspots. Two looked at Afghanistan, and only one each looked at Israel/Palestine, Pakistan and Iran. The biggest story to go away was Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of the Wall Street Journal.
| Top ten lists here |
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| Media Markets & Money TM |
Laughlin fills a Lufkin GAP
George Laughlin's GAP broadcasting has found a fill-in station to complement one of the markets where it acquired stations from Clear Channel. The station is KVLL-FM Wells TX, near enough the Lufkin-Nacogdoches market to overlap most of the stations GAP already has there, including an AM and three FMs. The seller is Ed Seeger's Radio Woodville Inc. Seeger is also a principal of American Media Services, so he used his own in-house brokerage to handle those chores for this transaction. The price is 750K. An LMA is scheduled to begin today.
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| Washington Media Business Report TM |
Satellite merger opponents take to YouTube
Who says Washington politics can't be fun? The folks at the student-founded Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio (C3SR) have taken to YouTube with their efforts to block the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. The cartoon music video pokes fun at Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin in particular as a farmer throwing piles of money to his barnyard pigs, who look suspiciously like Howard Stern and other highly-paid Sirius personalities. NAB has been sending the link to members and urging folks to pass it on.
| See it here |
 Committee reports to FCC
on bilingual EAS
Among the many problems exposed by Hurricane Katrina was a problem getting emergency warnings and post-emergency information to non-English speakers. A conference was held by a number of interested parties at the behest and for the benefit of the five FCC commissioners, including Rolo Duartes from Univision, Cheryl Leanza from United Church of Christ, Jane Mago and Kelly Williams from NAB, Francisco Montero of the Independent Spanish Broadcasters Association, David Honig and Jonathan Stein from the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council and Pat Roberts and Matt Leibowitz of the Florida Association of Broadcasters. The session appears to have identified the fault lines in what all nevertheless agree is an issue which must be addressed. More work is needed to determine what will be technically feasible, particularly on the incoming digital platform. NAB and FAB noted the success of Florida's voluntary bilingual alert program and suggested a regulatory mandate from the FCC would not be appropriate; most others felt that wouldn't be enough and that aggressive FCC involvement would be required. The committee reported its focus on Spanish alerts, and did not seriously address use of other languages. The FCC's Derek K. Poarch, Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, issued the report on the meeting and announced further stakeholder events to build a record for future action in this area.
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| Internet Media Business Report TM |
ESPN.com's PodCenter sees huge gains
Since ESPN launched its PodCenter in 4/06, unique visitors to the site have increased by 1000% and total downloads have seen 650% growth, said the company. In an effort to enhance the user experience, ESPN has launched a new, improved PodCenter. This new hub for all of ESPN's enhanced audio and video podcasts features individual show pages, increased interactivity and more. PodCenter also features a new iPhone-compatible player, giving users of the device direct access to all the site's multimedia content through a player tailored specifically for the iPhone's Safari Internet browser. ESPN has also integrated a player on the front page of ESPN.com. From April-June, the PodCenter has averaged more than one million unique users and 4.5 million downloads per month (AndoMedia). Additionally, ESPN content--from Mike & Mike In The Morning, to Fantasy Focus, Pardon the Interruption and The Bill Simmons Report-are regularly among the most downloaded audio and video podcasts in Apple's iTunes store.
New PodCenter features include:
· New shows, including downloadable versions of the Emmy Award-winning animated shorts series Off Mikes, and a podcast featuring former NFL coach Bill Parcells, former all-pro wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and NFL Insider Chris Mortensen; · Individual show pages for all ESPN PodCasts, with archived shows from the past 30 days, including shows from ESPN's five O&O stations in Chicago, NYC, LA, Dallas and Pittsburgh; · Easily sort-able content, arranged by category - e.g. original podcasts, local radio, national radio, "most popular" and "most recent;" · Interactivity with the shows in the form of emails, polls and conversation pages; · New sponsors, including Hummer for Off Mikes and Mercedes-Benz for Buster Olney's Video Podcast.
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| Ratings & Research |
 Social marketing efforts fall short with influential brand advocates
JupiterResearch has found that, although nearly one-quarter of all online adults are considered influential brand advocates, they actually spend more time online researching and purchasing than spreading the word. As a result of this behavior, outlined in a new report, the expectations of social marketers are being called into question as influential brand advocates report a preference for mainstream rather than social media when gathering info. According to the report, influential brand advocates are defined, in part, by their purchase behavior and high rate of online activity-more than two-thirds of brand advocates research and purchase products online compared to slightly over half of all online users who do so. Because of these traits, social marketers must focus on attracting this segment of the online population in ways to which they are more receptive. Value for the money and reliability are the most important factors for brand advocates in making a purchase. For this reason, social marketers should target this group by aiding in their research activity through product microsites or product previews rather than blogs and user-generated content. "Marketers will have an easier time of attracting more brand advocates if they target this group with the right tactics," said David Schatsky, President of JupiterResearch. " Behavioral and content targeting are likely to attract brand advocates, since more than half of this segment is likely to pay attention to online ads that fit their interests or current activity."
Spending on dorm furnishings,
electronics drives back-to-college sales
According to NRF's 2007 Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, students and their parents will spend a combined average of 956.93 on back-to-college merchandise, up from last year's 880.52. Spending on clothing and accessories is expected to jump to 7.41 billion from last year's 5.78 billion. Laptops, digital cameras, along with iPhones and other cell phones, should be big sellers again this year, with students and their parents expected to spend a total of 12.8 billion on electronics. Other essentials for college students include shoes (2.96 billion) and school supplies such as notebooks, folders and pencils (3.14 billion). Over 15 billion will be spent on textbooks, which are perhaps the only real necessity for college students. Thanks to trendy in-store promotions and youth-focused merchandise, dorm and apartment furnishings are now becoming increasingly important to students. Spending in this category is expected to reach 5.43 billion, up from last year's 3.82 billion. Young adults aged 18-24 will shell out the most in this category, spending an average of 158.61. The large majority (57.2%) of students and their families will be shopping at college bookstores, while others will head to discounters (51.5%), department stores (41.8%), office supply stores (35.6%), clothing stores (34.3%) and electronics stores (20.9%). Nearly one-third of consumers plan to shop online for back-to-college necessities.
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| Transactions |
25M KWIE-FM Riverside-San Bernardino (San Jacinto CA) from KWIE Licensing LLC, a subsidiary of Radio Broadcast Management Inc. (Donald G. McCoy) to LBI Radio License LLC, a subsidiary of Liberman Broadcasting Inc. (Lenard D. Liberman). 1M escrow, balance in cash at closing. Cross-ownership with KRCA-TV. Riverside-San Bernardino is embedded by Arbitron in the Los Angeles market, where LBI has two AMs and four FMs. [File date 7/23/07.]
578,100 WASO-AM New Orleans LA (Covington LA) from America First Communications Inc. (Claude C. Lightfoot Jr., receiver) to MCDJ LLC (W. Christopher Beary, Mary Latter, Joseph A. Kunstler, David Rubin. 60K escrow, balance in cash at closing. Station has been in receivership since 6/17/05. Duopoly with WGSO-AM New Orleans, in which MCDJ principals have a combined 40% stake. [File date 7/20/07.]
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| Stock Talk |
Where is the bottom?
Stock prices fell Tuesday amid more worries about credit availability and lowered outlooks from Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The Dow Industrials fell 208 points, or 1.6%, to 13,029.
Most radio stocks fell. The Radio Index was down 0.964, or 0.8%, to 121.134, the lowest point since October 18, 2000. Citadel was down 8.3% and Westwood One dropped 4.6%. Saga had a good day, up 8.9%.
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| Radio Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Tuesday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
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Arbitron
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ARB
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51.27
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-0.36
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Google
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GOOG
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508.60
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-6.90
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Beasley
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BBGI
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7.04
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-0.01
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Hearst-Argyle
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HTV
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20.20
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-0.46
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| CBS CI. B |
CBS |
 |
29.81
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-1.23
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Journal Comm.
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JRN
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10.29
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-0.22
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| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
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29.87
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-1.17
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Lincoln Natl.
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LNC
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57.48
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-2.56
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| Citadel |
CDL |
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4.41 |
-0.40 |
Radio One, Cl. A
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ROIA
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3.80
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-0.01
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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34.83
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-0.37
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Radio One, Cl. D
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ROIAK
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3.74
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-0.01
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Cox Radio
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CXR
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12.72
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+0.01
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Regent
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RGCI
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3.02
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+0.06
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Cumulus
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CMLS
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9.42
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-0.17
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Saga Commun.
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SGA
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7.93
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+0.65
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Debut Bcg.
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DBTB
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1.00
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unch
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Salem Comm.
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SALM
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7.72
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-0.29
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Disney
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DIS
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32.36
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-0.88
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Sirius Sat. Radio
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SIRI
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2.90
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+0.02
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Emmis
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EMMS
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6.04
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+0.29
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Spanish Bcg.
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SBSA
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2.92
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+0.03
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Entercom
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ETM
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20.55
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-0.04
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SWMX
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SMWX
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0.08
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-0.01
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Entravision
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EVC
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8.16
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-0.31
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Westwood One
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WON
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3.11
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-0.15
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Fisher
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FSCI
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46.20
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-0.61
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XM Sat. Radio
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XMSR
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11.34
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+0.23
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Bounceback
|
 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to [email protected]
Joseph Emert's comment on the FCC proposing limits on the number of applications one entity can file in the upcoming NCE FM window (8/14/07 TVBR #158), begs a response.
 First of all, to imply this is some sort of conspiracy to limit Christian broadcasters is ridiculous and reminds me of the charges made by the Clinton administration of some vast right wing conspiracy. This sounds like something out of Karl Rove 101 to scare the public. Second, we need to stay with the facts. In the last FM translator filing window, over 13,000 applications were filed and hundreds if not thousands of them were filed by one group using two different names. I've found numerous markets where this group ended up with two CPs. They've been selling them as quickly as possible. So much for service to the listener. Call it greed, lust or some vast conspiracy, it's not an equitable distribution of the spectrum for one organization, be it religious or not, to end up controlling the NCE dial in many areas of the nation. Charity begins at home. I support the limit.
Douglas M. "Art" Sutton, Jr.
President/CEO
GA-Carolina Radiocasting
Toccoa, GA
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Below the Fold
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Ad Business Report
Microsoft forms new ad unit
To work with advertisers and publishers & gain a foothold in an online ad market....
Media Business Report
Diffuse coverage
During second disaster week in a row...
Media Markets & Money
Laughlin fills a Lufkin GAP
Found a fill-in station to complement...
Washington Media Business Report
Satellite merger opponents
Take to YouTube, who says politics can't be fun?...
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Stations for Sale
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The Exline Company
AMs - San Jose,
Salt Lake City, Fresno
FMs - Northern CA, Coastal CA,
Central CA, Idaho, Oregon
Call Andy McClure or Erick Steinberg
(415) 479-3484 [email protected]
Florida
2 FMs, 1 AM
Unrated Panhandle Market
Best sales year ever in 2006
Gordon Rice Associates
(843) 884-3590 or
E-mail Gordon Rice Here
 Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.
Contact
June Barnes
[email protected]
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Radio Media Moves
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Musical chairs
at Journal
The Journal Broadcast Group has changed assignments for several local managers. Steve Wexler moves from Omaha, NE to WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, WI. Rob Burton takes over as the market manager for radio and TV in Omaha. Eric McCart, formerly general sales manager is the new vice president and general manager of the company's Wichita, KS radio operations, succeeding Burton. Mark Strachota is leaving WTMJ-TV to pursue other opportunities. "We have a strong and deep management group at Journal Broadcast Group and these new assignments for several of our leaders will help us best leverage their abilities in the future. Our expectations for our Milwaukee, Omaha and Wichita markets are very high and these executives are just the right people to meet and exceed them," said Doug Kiel, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Journal Broadcast Group.
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More News Headlines
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Rutgers player
sues CBS, Imus
On the same day that CBS settled the threatened lawsuit by fired morning host Don Imus, both CBS and Imus were sued by one of the members of the Rutgers women's basketball team. The lawsuit filed in New York by Kia Vaughn does not specify how much she is seeking. It claims that her reputation was harmed by Imus on the air calling the team members "nappy-headed hos," the comment that got him fired.
RBR Observation: You can sue over anything but winning is another issue. Do not see this case flying anywhere.
Video gamers profiled-they're not just 18-34
"To game or not to game," that is the question many on Madison Avenue are contemplating as they look for ways to integrate digital platforms in media allocation models. BIGresearch's latest Simultaneous Media Survey (SIMM 10) of 15,439 consumers identifies several key characteristics that make the "gamer market" a valuable option. "Gamers are a diverse group of people and 33.4% of the respondents ages 14+ in our SIMM 10 play video games as a leisure time activity," said Gary Drenik, President & CEO of BIGresearch. "Gamers come from all ethnic groups with Hispanics and African Americans making up almost 30% (29.9%) of the gamer market and 34% of gamers are female," said Drenik. Gamers are much more attuned to cinema, entertainment, media and electronics and this is apparent in their online search behavior. Gamers regularly or occasionally search online for the following more than the overall market which is in parenthesis: cars/trucks 12.7% (9.8%), movies 41.5% (28.6), online entertainment 43.7% (25.5%) and product information/comparative shopping (non-auto) 38% (31.8%). As far as what triggers an online search for gamers, traditional media fare very well with the top five being magazines, broadcast TV, cable TV, face-to-face communication and reading an article. Internet and email are next, followed by in-store promotions, newspaper and radio.
Phil Rizzuto dead at 89
Phil Rizzuto, the New York Yankees hall of famer who went on to a long career in radio and TV, has died at age 89 after several years of declining health. Rizzuto began his long broadcasting career in 1956, after he was released by the Yankees. He became known for his signature exclamation of "Holy cow!"
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TVBR - TV News
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The dog ate Microsoft's homework?
That's what the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV) says after the computer giant failed to pass an FCC test on a device designed to operate in the cracks between television signals. MSTV President David Donovan echoed calls from the NAB to keep this spectrum uncluttered in preparation for the digital television conversion. "Microsoft is asking regulators to risk the future of America's television broadcasting system - and the ultimate success of the digital TV transition - on whether a specific device works in a laboratory. The irony here is that the Microsoft device utterly failed the test. But Microsoft now runs new tests in the lab and ... presto! ... Lo and behold, the device now works! Microsoft claims the device 'was broken,' which is apparently a coded message in the high tech world for 'the dog ate my homework.'" Donovan notes that the viability of "sensing" technology which is needed to make the new devices workable remains unproven, and that if it fails, interference "can go for miles," and can also affect digital television receivers. "One can only imagine the consumer outrage if these unlicensed devices enter the market, are 'broken,' and result in millions of Americans losing access to TV signals. The bottom line is that these devices should not be let loose in the TV band. It is time to stop experimenting with the 100 million digital TV sets that will be purchased by 2009." He concludes asking for an end to the game of "interference roulette" and to focus on a successful DTV transition.
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RBR Radar 2007
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Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
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Clear Channel shareholders
to vote on September 25th
On whether to approve the long-pending deal to sell the company to a private equity buyout group led by Bain Capital partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners, along with the Mays family. The record date for shareholders eligible to vote has also been changed again - to next Monday, August 20th.
RBR observation: Don't look for any late night nail-bitter as the votes are counted. As far as we can tell, there is no longer any organized resistance to the terms of the buyout. Highfields Capital, which had led the push for the stock swap option, has been buying more Clear Channel stock and appears to be hoping to capture the lion's share of that 30.6 million share stake available in the new company. (Note: Complete analysis on this transaction in RBR)
08/14/07 RBR #158
CC Radio sell-off back to 20 markets
We've been updating our list now that 11 markets are back in play after one large transaction collapsed. By our count, there are now 20 Clear Channel Radio markets up for grabs from the original 90. All that remains, though, are small markets - nothing in the top 200. The largest market from the cratered Blue Point Media deal was Duluth, MN, Arbitron market #204, which isn't even the largest left. That is #201, Yakima, WA. 11 of the markets still to be sold are not rated by Arbitron. RBR has the tally on this page.
08/14/07 RBR #158
SoundExchange draws fire
from NAB, Nashville attorney
NAB is attempting to forge an agreement with royalty disburser SoundExchange to "resolve a rate dispute related to radio stations that stream music online." The lack of a promised response after two months has resulted in a new graphic on NAB's website. "The sounds of silence from SoundExchange are deafening,"
RBR observation: Cox Radio's Bob Neil is already suggesting that each spin heard on radio or a radio website be changed from an entertainment segment into a paid commercial. Seriously, do recording companies think they can dip into broadcast wallets just like that? (Note: There is More in RBR)
08/14/07 RBR #158
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New Listing
Sales Associate
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to fill the important position at your organization? Media HeadHunters is the place that key media firms use to get results. See Media HeadHunters and get results with service.
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