Volume 20, Issue 167, Your Morning Radio Industry E-Paper tm
Jim Carnegie, Publisher
Tuesday Morning August 26th 2003
RBR Office 703.719.9500

Radio News ®

Fisher faces Nasdaq delisting
Fisher Communications (O:FSCI) says it has received a letter from Nasdaq warning that the company's stock could be delisted from the Nasdaq National Market because Fisher is tardy on its SEC filings. | Full Story Click Here |

Craig Jacobus
Jacobus to head South Central Radio
Just days after Steve Edwards' retirement announcement for the end of this year, South Central Communications has announced that Craig Jacobus will become President of South Central Radio Group in January. Jacobus has been VP of the radio division and VP/GM of WJZA-FM & WMAK-FM Nashville since June 2001.
| Full Story Click Here
|

Univision boss jumps Davis' ship for Schwarzenegger
Opponents of the proposed merger of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. (N:HSP) into Univision (N:UVN) have tried to portray Univision Chairman A. Jerrold Perenchio as being affiliated with the Republican Party. But in his home state of California Perenchio has been a long-time supporter of embattled Democrat Governor Gray Davis - - at least until now. | Full Story Click Here |

Gov. Davis appearing at Viacom stations' forum today
As he battles to keep his job, California Governor Gray Davis (D) will be facing the public today at a forum arranged by two of Viacom's San Francisco stations - - KCBS-AM and KPIX-TV (Ch. 5, CBS) - - and the San Francisco Chronicle. The "town hall" forum will be moderated by KPIX political reporter Hank Plante and Chronicle political reporter Carla Marinucci. The forum will air on KPIX at 7:00 pm PT. Officials of the stations and newspaper say they are also planning a forum where candidates to replace Davis as governor can answer questions from the public.

Hogan's Hummer campaigns
for profits over market share

Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan has gone to the general business media with the company's efforts to focus on profits, rather than top line revenues. In a interview with the San Antonio Business Journal, Hogan emphasized that the company is dropping NTR events that aren't very profitable.
| Full Story Click Here
|

NRSC to resume HD Radio standards setting process
The National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) announced it will resume its standards-setting process for HD Radio, not long after developer IBiquity Digital announced it has solved its codec problems with Coding Technologies' HDC codec (8/13 RBR Daily Epaper #158). The standards process was halted in May because the NRSC was concerned about the performance of Ibiquity's PAC codec (5/16 RBR Daily Epaper #97).

Curt Sliwa's claim of mob hit vindicated
The NY Post reports WABC-AM NY talker Curtis Sliwa says it took 11 years, but he finally feels vindicated after a mob turncoat reportedly fingered John Gotti, Jr., for ordering Sliwa's 1992 shooting because of his frequent on-air taunts. Michael "Mikey Scars" DiLeonardo started singing recently on young Gotti. Until then, critics and even an official NYPD report had expressed doubt that the attack was a mob hit, as the Guardian Angels founder has claimed. Sliwa was seriously wounded after being shot five times in the abdomen and legs while trying to scramble out of a stolen taxi near his apartment in 1992.

AnShell Media names affiliate cities
Just in time for the 2004 elections, Chicago Business reports fledgling Liberal talker net AnShell Media LLC (Sheldon and Anita Drobny) has signed affiliation deals with stations in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Boise and Albuquerque. AnShell CEO Jon Sinton wouldn't tell the paper which stations were signed, but said he expects to announce the deals soon.

Harris boosts its dividend
Equipment maker Harris Corp. (N:HRS) has boosted its quarterly dividend by 25%, or two cents per share, to 10 cents per share. The new, higher dividend will be paid 9/19 to shareholders of record as of 9/5. "We are delighted to announce this increase in our quarterly dividend. The financial position and level of liquidity of the company continue to be very strong," said CEO Howard Lance, in announcing the higher dividend. "Our two government businesses are driving solid growth at Harris, and we expect continued improvement in the financial performance of the company in fiscal 2004. We want to ensure our shareholders receive a direct benefit from the continued progress of Harris." Harris recently posted strong results for Q2, although sales of broadcast equipment were down (7/25 RBR Daily Epaper #145).

Pirate station in VT
returns to airwaves without license

The Brattleboro, VT Reformer reports pirate station "Radio Free Brattleboro" returned to the public airwaves 8/22 without an FCC license, but with a "mandate from this community. More than 2,000 area residents have signed petitions and donated money so that the station can resurrect itself after it was shut down in June by agents from the Federal Communications Commission."
| Full Story Click Here
|



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Adbiz ©

Grey Global wins Kmart account
Kmart (O:KMRT) has selected Grey Global Group (O:GREY) to handle its $270M advertising account, after getting presentations from several agencies. Kmart had to scramble to find a new agency after TBWA/Chiat/Day New York abruptly resigned the account last month (7/28 RBR Daily Epaper #146). "We are delighted to announce our new strategic partnership with the Grey Global Group. Together, we will find creative ways to communicate the unique strengths of Kmart to the 'new America' consumer," said Kmart President and CEO Julian Day. Grey will be responsible for future media planning and buying, and TV, radio and magazine campaigns along with marketing and consumer outreach for Kmart. The Grey Global entities involved with the Kmart account include Grey Worldwide New York, WING Latino Group, Alliance, G2 Worldwide, MediaCom and Carol H. Williams, Grey's African American Communications strategic partner.

Verance-Premiere deal a primer for other nets?
After the recent announcement that Premiere Radio Networks struck a deal with Verance for its Confirmedia broadcast monitoring and airplay verification system, Verance CEO Steven Saslow tells RBR more about what the deal means for the industry:
| Full Story Click Here
|

Cadbury Schweppes
chooses McCann-Erickson
Cadbury Schweppes is expanding its agency roster by naming McCann-Erickson Worldwide to handle the global assignment for its gum and mint brands (Certs, Clorets, Dentyne). Billings were estimated at $60M. The brands were acquired by Cadbury Schweppes this year from Pfizer and handled by Bates Worldwide. J. Walter Thompson handles other brands for Cadbury Schweppes like Bubblicious, Halls and Trident.

Christina Aguilera to endorse
Skechers in International Markets

Skechers footwear announced today that it has signed an international marketing agreement with Christina Aguilera for its women's footwear lines. Under the 18-month agreement, Skechers will have exclusive rights to international print media for footwear, including advertisements in magazines and point of purchase displays. The Aguilera campaign will launch in women's, teen and pop culture magazines in October, concurrently with the European leg of her "Justified and Stripped" World Tour with Justin Timberlake. The campaign, which will run through 12/04, will feature Aguilera in Skechers' women's lines. For the campaign, she was shot alone and accompanied by high-profile male models wearing Skechers Collection items.

Wendy's testing lo-cal items with TV effort
Wendy's is stepping up efforts to highlight food options for people who are watching their fat and calorie intake. The chain is currently is testing the promotion of a variety of meal combinations in New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Columbus, Ohio and Seattle. These meals feature food items that have been on Wendy's menu for many years, but the Company is now talking about them in a different way. The Seattle test is being expanded with a local TV campaign promoting four meal combinations with less than 10 grams of fat. Store merchandising materials are being used to support the test in all five cities, but Seattle is the only market with added television advertising support.

TNS /CMR names Mark Kristol COO of TNSMI/Entertainment Services Group
TNS Media Intelligence/CMR announced the appointment of Mark Kristol to COO of TNSMI/Entertainment Services Group, a new organization in the TNSMI family based in LA. TNSMI/Entertainment Services Group is dedicated to providing premier advertising and marketing intelligence to the entertainment industry. Expanding on the existing marketplace success of TNS Media Intelligence/TES (Theatrical Entertainment Services), the Entertainment Services Group will integrate relevant resources from TNS/CMR to deliver targeted products and services that keep clients informed on the entertainment marketplace.

Wachovia to sponsor New York Giants
Wachovia announced it has become the exclusive financial services partner of the New York Giants. The agreement will use TV, print, Internet and in-stadium advertising and is designed to increase Wachovia's brand recognition throughout the NYC area.


Media, Markets & Money tm

Educational Media has lots to build in Colorado
If you build it, they will listen appears to be the approach that Richard Jenkins' Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is taking in Colorado. It's agreed to buy an entire group from Colorado Christian University - - an entire group of construction permits, that is. The university has seven CPs to build new FM stations, and is an applicant for an eighth, but has not a single one on the air (although it does operate a single translator at Colona, CO). So, EMF is paying $2.5M for a bunch of stations that it will still have to build. The entire payment will be in a nine-year note. The Colorado CPs EMF is acquiring are: KFDN Lakewood, KLHN Fort Collins, KLWV Chugwater, KLZV Sterling and KLRV Park City, plus a CPs that doesn't yet have call letters in Gypsum. It's also acquiring the university's application for another station at Glenwood Springs, CO.

Waitt sheds three TV stations
Norman Waitt's radio and TV group is selling off its three TV stations in the Southeast to focus on its Midwest radio/TV clusters. Raycom Media is paying $25.7M to acquire WDFX-TV (Ch. 34) Dothan, AL, WFXL-TV (Ch. 31) Albany, GA and WPGX-TV (Ch. 28) Panama City, FL. All are Fox affiliates. Deregulation had nothing to do with this deal, since it won't create a single duopoly for Raycom. It does, however, own stations in markets near to the Dothan and Albany stations, WAFF-TV (Ch. 48, NBC) Huntsville, AL and WTOC-TV (Ch. 11, CBS) Savannah, GA. Broker: Kalil & Co.
RBR observation: Prices may be strong, generally speaking, for TV properties, but that doesn't mean that all are worth more than they sold for in recent years. The advertising downturn has been particularly tough on smaller market stations that aren't local news leaders. According to BIAfn Media Access Pro, Waitt paid a total of $30.4M for these three stations in 1998 and '99.



September RBR Magazine... Pre-NAB--Last Gathering of '03. If you Don't Get In RBR... You are OUT!

September RBR Solutions Magazine:
The Official RBR - Pre-NAB report. Get positioned now with-in day time planners - Radio's Last Gathering of 2003.... NAB Philadelphia ... Your Advertising Space Reverberations NEED Immediately. Be Prepared with RBR's Pre-NAB September Report..... NAB 2003 is the Last Event for this year. Lock in appointments now in your daytime Planner..... If you don't get in RBR...... you are out......!

RESERVE YOUR Ad Space NOW...Price that fits the space and your BUDGET.... We want you to succeed in '04. Get the most out of NAB 2003.... don't wait until next year.... You never know if there is a next year..
Deadline this Thursday: 8/28/03

Ad space limited. For space reservations in the September RBR Magazine, contact one of us for information via email:

Jim Carnegie -- [email protected] 703 719-9500
Ken Lee -- [email protected] 703 719-9500
June Barnes -- [email protected] 803 731-5951


Company Pre-Ordering extra copies of RBR's September issue for your in-house and advertising clients needs must be ordered ASAP. Cost is only $190 per 100 issues. Email: Cathy Carnegie, [email protected] to place your order


Washington Beat

Minority advocates want three-track deal processing
Jumping on the bandwagon with FCC Chairman Michael Powell comments about boosting diversity, the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) is proposing that the FCC change how it processes station sale applications in an attempt to promote ownership diversity. RBR observation: An unworkable notion.
| Full Story Click Here
| RBR Observation |


Programming for Profit

Arbitron Arbitrends
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill |
| Honolulu | Las Vegas | Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo |


RBR Stats

Minorities look for home, sweet prospective home
Speaking of major household purchases, the Media Audit says that there are nearly 19.2M adults in the 85 media markets it surveys who are planning to make the big one: the house itself
| Full Story Click Here |


Sales

NTR Tip of the day
It's a dog and pony show... without the ponies. November 6-9 are the dates for the United States Dog Agility Association's (USDAA) Grand Prix World Championships in Dallas, TX. Good doggies from US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Belgium, and Russia will compete in a variety of agility categories. Since the sport was introduced in 1986, it has seen unprecedented growth and boasts more than 24,000 member pooches, according to the USDAA. Even if time is short for holding a USDAA sanctioned event to send winning Weimaraners from your market, surely you can think of some ways to make money with this... maybe a simple register-to-win sweepstakes with a local pet store chain or dog chow manufacturer? A gathering of pooches and their people-- "WE let the dogs out!" Free your mind, and let us know if we can help! Source: James Davis, RAB, [email protected], (800)232-3131


More News Headlines

* NABOB announces Fall Management Conference details
* MJI Programming offering free feed of CMA awards
* JRN adds Ted Ziegenbusch
* JRN expanding Dave Wingert show
* Russ Parr nominated for BRE 2003 Drummer Award
* BCFM offers seminar on BMI's Radio Music Licensing Agreement
* IBC Radio Network adds "Encounters -- Paranormal Radio"
* MARTI adds new RPU and STL lines



Radio Stocks

Stocks fall in dull trading
The economic news was good, but traders sold stocks anyway to pocket some recent profits. That good news include a record high for home resales in July and retail giant Wal-Mart saying it expects August same-store sales to be up 4-6%, rather than its previous forecast of 3-5%. Nevertheless, the Dow Industrials finished the day down 31 points, or 0.6%, at 9,318.

The Radio Index was off 1.940, or 0.8%, to 252.504. Saga was down the most, 3.4%. Salem was down 2% and Spanish Broadcasting System 1.8%.

Only two index stocks were higher - - Westwood One by 0.7% and Radio One 0.2%..

Here's how stocks fared on Monday

Company Symbol Close Change Company Symbol Close Change
Arbitron

ARB

$36.70

-$0.03

Interep

IREP

$2.55

-$0.25

Beasley

BBGI

$14.95

-$0.14

International Bcg.

IBCS

$0.02

unch

Big City YFM $1.26

+$0.06

Jeff-Pilot

JP

$44.36

unch

Citadel CDL $21.10 -$0.13

Radio One, Cl. A

ROIA

$16.47

+$0.03

Clear Channel

CCU

$42.67

-$0.25

Radio One, Cl. D

ROIAK

$16.36

unch

Cox Radio

CXR

$23.61

-$0.19

Radio Unica

UNCA

$0.80

unch

Cumulus

CMLS

$18.18

-$0.14

Regent

RGCI

$6.22

-$0.02

Disney

DIS

$21.25

-$0.16

Saga Commun.

SGA

$18.72

-$0.66

Emmis

EMMS

$20.92

-$0.12

Salem Comm.

SALM

$23.63

-$0.47

Entercom

ETM

$48.91

-$0.29

Sirius Sat. Radio

SIRI

$1.58

unch

Entravision

EVC

$9.80

-$0.02

Spanish Bcg.

SBSA

$7.66

-$0.14

Fisher

FSCI

$50.00

+$0.28

Viacom, Cl. A

VIA

$44.21

-$0.41

Gaylord

GET

$19.15

-$0.11

Viacom, Cl. B

VIAb

$44.19

-$0.45

Hearst-Argyle

HTV

$25.05

-$0.11

Westwood One

WON

$31.77

+$0.22

Hispanic Bcg.

HSP

$30.25

-$0.14

XM Sat. Radio

XMSR

$13.20

+$0.14


RBR Bounceback

We want to hear from you.
Speak out to your colleagues in radio on any subject affecting this business.

This is your column, so send your comments to [email protected]


Stations For Sale

Tampa Bay Market
Profitable 3 AM network for sale Great owner/operator properties. $3 million combined. Will sell separately. Contact Mark Jorgenson (813) 926-9260 phone or [email protected]


Transactions

$10,000,000 KREX-TV/KGJT-LP Grand Junction, KREY-TV Montrose CO & KREG-TV Glenwood Springs CO from R. Russell Withers Jr. to Hoak Media of Colorado LLC (James M. Hoak). Cash. Includes $500K good faith deposit, $500K holdback adjustment amount, $100K non-compete, $150K two-year consulting agreement. Existing combination with a low power TV and an existing LMA with a full-powered station. KREX-TV is a CBS affiliate; KREY-TV and KREG-TV are satellites of KREX. KGJT-LP is a UPN affiliate. Includes transfer of LMA with Fox affiliate KFQX-TV Grand Junction which will require an FCC waiver. Deal also includes numerous TV translators. Broker: Patrick Communications [File date 8/20/03.]

$7,500,000 WFYY-FM Bloomsburg PA/WYGL-AM Selinsgrove PA, WYGL-FM Elizabethville PA, WLGL-FM Riverside PA/WWBE-FM Mifflinburg PA from Radio Friendz Inc./Sunair Communications/B-98 Broadcasting (David Bernstein) to MMP License LLC, a subsidiary of Max Media LLC (A.E. Loving, John A. Trinder, David J. Wilhelm). $375K escrow, balance in cash at closing. $2.775M allocated to Sunair, $2.775M allocated to Friendz, $1.64M allocated to B-98, $310K allocated to shareholders. Includes non-compete. Existing superduopoly; WYGL-FM overlaps only WYGL-AM. Broker: The Hepburn Company (seller). [File date 8/18/03.]

$2,200,000 WYCL-FM Pensacola FL from Concord Media Group Inc. (Mark W. Jorgenson) to Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses (Lowry Mays), a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (N:CCU). Cash. Superduopoly with WTKE-FM and WTKX-FM. Additional overlap with radio and television stations in the neighboring Mobile AL market. JSA since 3/1/00. [File date 8/18/03.]

$1,500,000 KEYT-AM Santa Barbara from Smith Broadcasting of Santa Barbara LP (Margaret Williams, SVP) to Mapleton Communications LLC (Marc Nathanson, Michael Menery et al). $200K escrow, balance in cash at closing. LMA since 7/22. Buyer will change calls after eight months, and will receive $35K worth of time on seller's KEYT-TV to promote the change. [File date 8/18/03.]


Upped & Tapped

Lisa Worden
named WHFS PD

KROQ-FM LA MD Lisa Worden has been named the new PD at Infinity's Alternative WHFS-FM DC. She starts in mid- to late September. She will work with Asst. PD Bob Waugh and MD Pat Ferrise.

KLOS-FM adds
Kelly Smith as AE

ABC Radio's KLOS-FM and KMPC-AM LA have added Kelly Smith to the sales staff. She joins them from Clear Channel where she sold for KHHT-FM for the past six years and at KFI-AM for over one year.


RBR Radar 2003
Click on these issues for Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.

After digesting the Q2 results and Q3 forecasts of various radio and TV companies, Goldman Sachs
says Buy now!
Where we are in the radio recovery cycle, "Radio's recovery from the war continues to be moderate, but choppy. National sales have been outpacing local, which is good for companies with mostly large-market stations. "Local sales remained flat [in June], "hence disproportionately hurting smaller-market operators, like Cumulus." 8/25/03 RBR #166

Editorial Posted in favor
of Hispanic merger
The Washington Post has weighed in via its editorial page in support of the pending $3B merger of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. (N:HSP) into Univision (N:UVN). The Post notes the two views of the merger; (1) that it's a monopoly grab for the vast bulk of the Hispanic market; or (2) it levels the playing field between the top Hispanic media group and the top mainstream groups. The Post aligns itself with position #2.
8/25/03 RBR #166

Part 1. He said... Accountability buzz word between radio and agencies continue which brings debate and issues
Interep releases electronic invoicing (EDI) and verification system as Marc Guild President of the Interep Marketing Group says, "If you recall both the TVB and the RAB had also attempted to address this issue but those efforts seem to have stalled." Guild contines, "Katz was involved in the initial stages of this, but when they were asked to kick in funds to develop this they stayed away." Editor's note: Interep will present it during NAB '03 Philly. They paid for it worth the look see.
8/21/03 RBR #164

Part 2 He's doesn't know... Accountability buzz word between radio and agencies continue which brings debate and issues
Katz Media gives its take on EDI with David Prager, Chief Information Officer, Katz Media Group: "At this point, we have no knowledge of Interep's application and have not been involved in its development. Editor's note: Katz (owned by Clear Channel) working on their initiatives of EDI and their strategy differs. Katz would be glad to sit on Interep's panel center stage in Philly. Think that will happen? NA!
8/22/03 RBR #165

Crystal Media parent
raises more green
MCG Capital (Nasdaq: MCGC) raised nearly $101 million in a public offering it was announced yesterday. The offering price was $15.50 per share with 6.5 million shares of common stock. The underwriters have an option for 30 days to purchase up to an additional 975,000 shares to cover over-allotments. Editor's note: Something up here it is in the wind.
8/22/03 RBR #165

TV's top ad categories
Which categories were hot in the first half of 2003? Here's the list of top categories from TVB, including both local sales and national spot. Editor's note: The survey says! Automotive. Print this out.
8/22/03 TVBR #165

Powell launches localism,
diversity initiatives
stating that it "...produced a balanced set of structural rules, faithful to the directives of Congress and the courts, to promote diversity, competition and localism in the 21st Century broadcast media marketplace." 8/21/03 RBR#164

Dorgan says Powell is
late on localism

And was not impressed by the FCC Chairman's moves to look at localism. "It is a very curious strategy for the Chairman to change the rules in a way that will dramatically damage localism and then, nearly three months later, propose a process to examine how those rules might affect localism. It is a classic example of putting the cart before the horse"
8/21/03 RBR#164

Local TV revenues flat in Q2
In light of the soft economy and the tough comps of last year's political ad-charged figures, not loosing ground is not a bad performance for local TV stations. The Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) reports that Q2 revenues were $3.87B Editor's Note: Print the chart for guidance. 8/21/03 TVBR#164

Premiere embraces technology to verify spot runs
Premiere Radio Networks has become the first US radio network to sign on for broadcast monitoring and airplay verification using the Confirmedia technology introduced recently by Verance. Editor's note: It is called accountability.
8/20/03 RBR #163

Gannett sees softer TV revenues
Gannett (N:GCI) has updated its guidance to Wall Street and told investors to expect "softer" TV revenues in 2003 than originally forecast. The company reported that TV revenues declined 4% in July, with local up 2%, but national down 16%.
Editor's note: Radio read and learn. 8/20/03 TVBR #163


Contacts
MANAGEMENT
Publisher, Jim Carnegie
[email protected]
VP/GM, Assoc. Publisher, Ken Lee
[email protected]
VP, Cathy Carnegie
[email protected]
Admin. Assistant, April McLynn
[email protected]

EDITORIAL
Executive Editor, Jack Messmer
[email protected]
Managing Editor, Dave Seyler
[email protected]
Senior Editor, Carl Marcucci
[email protected]
Reporter, Bob DeCarlo
[email protected]

SALES
Account Executive, June Barnes
[email protected]

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