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Radio News ®
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 Eisner to retire from Disney in 2006
Concluding with a jolly "I'm going to Disneyland!" Michael Eisner has sent fellow directors of The Walt Disney Company a letter stating that he plans to retire when his current contract runs out in September 2006. In an exclusive interview which gave the scoop to the Wall Street Journal, Eisner insisted that his decision to retire was not influenced by the unprecedented 45% shareholder vote to oust him or Comcast's unsuccessful hostile takeover bid for Disney. Rather, he said that with the company on the upswing, "this was the time to give the board two years notice, so that there will be a comfortable period of succession." Here's Eisner's letter.
RBR observation: Now the real intrigue begins. Who will be the next to take the helm of Disney? Although Eisner himself has given the nod to President and COO Bob Iger, there's going to be a lot of pressure on Disney's board from big shareholders to bring in fresh blood. The names most often mentioned are News Corporation President Peter Chernin (who has an out in his contract to let him take a CEO job, which he'll never get at News Corp.) and former Viacom President Mel Karmazin. Meanwhile, Eisner still has to survive in his job to that retirement date. Although his retirement plan may make it more difficult for Roy Disney and Stan Gold to mount round two of their effort to fire Eisner, they still have two more annual shareholder meetings before the date Eisner has set to leave voluntarily.
Auto analyst:
Big three have a marketing problem
Since auto sales never fell off during the recent economic recession, Detroit is facing a new problem - - how to keep moving cars now, since there's no pent-up demand and rising rates will soon put an end to 0% financing. Speaking last week at the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) Forecast Conference, Morgan Stanley auto analyst Steve Girsky said the US car makers face a marketing problem.
RBR observation: Girsky sees local dealers struggling to hit a profit this year. TVB's Rohrs sees this as an opportunity for local TV to move local inventory. RBR agrees with Rohrs as TV doesn't have the 'Less is More' issue and can sell new or used autos better than radio. The question for radio is can it move local inventory with a 30 second spot? The Big Three "Implied" Retail Inventory Days of Supply chart is worth printing for your local sales staff. Now is the time for local radio to break out the remote gear during college and professional football season - RBR's calls it up sell packaging especially with weekends. | More... |
Arbitron study shows radio is a political player
Arbitron looked at the relationship between radio and politics in the hotly-contested battleground state of Pennsylvania, and found some surprising results. In short, although the preponderance of right-wing voices on Talk radio have led many to view the much of the medium as an outlet for Republican thought, Arbitron says, "Talk radio helps Pennsylvania voters of all political stripes form opinions." To be sure, Republicans are catered to the most by radio Talkers, and about 50% of registers GOP radio listeners say that Talk radio helps them form opinions. But the same shows are used about a third of Democratic listeners and about a quarter of independents. In fact, Arbitron found that people who identify themselves as independents are Talk radio's biggest audience segment at 41%, compared to 31% Republicans and 26% Democrats. Arbitron suggests that more political advertising should be going to radio,, noting that there more registered voters are heavy radio users than TV users. Arbitron also pulled favorite formats for the three voter groups. Here are the results:
* Independents: AOR, CHR, News-Talk, Oldies
* Republicans: AC, News-Talk, Country
* Democrats: AC, CHR, AOR
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 Reps urge conferees to balance AFRTS
A posse of eight House Democrats has is petitioning members of a bicameral conference committee to make sure that an amendment to a defense authorization bill requiring political balance on Armed Forces Radio and Television (AFRTS) programming. The amendment in question was offered in the Senate by Tom Harkin (D-IA) and approved by that body. It is attached to the Department of Defense Authorization, which also includes an amendment which would drastically increase fines for indecent broadcasts and thoroughly repudiate the FCC's 6/2/03 rulemaking on media ownership regulation. The AFRTS radio lineup became an issue because of the inclusion of an hour daily of the Rush Limbaugh show. Harkin's amendment would not ban Limbaugh from the broadcast, but would require the DOD to find an hour of programming which would provide ideological balance. The signers of the letter were led by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and include John Spratt (D-SC), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), John Lewis (D-GA) and Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY). It was addressed to key members of each house's Armed Services Committees, John Warner (R-VA) and Carl Levin (D-MI) in the Senate and Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Ike Skelton (D-MO) in the House.
How can the FCC have kidvid without must carry?
The FCC requirement that broadcasters up their carriage of educational childrens programming when airing on split-stream digital programming has broadcasters scratching their heads. So what? Most kids get their video content from cable. Will it matter that the programming is being aired if cable operators are not required to carry it? The National Association of Broadcasters is wondering how the FCC could adopt such a policy without first requiring that cable operators even show the programming into which the Commission puts so much stock. Said NAB President/CEO Eddie Fritts, "NAB recognizes that providing children's educational programming is one of many ways that a television broadcaster fulfills its public interest obligation. However, it is unfortunate the FCC would adopt new digital television mandates before completing its reconsideration of whether cable operators are required to actually pass through that programming to viewers." "The hard reality is this, " Fritts continued. "Absent a strong DTV multicast carriage rule for cable, there will be less incentive for broadcasters to create new educational shows for children and other public interest programming. NAB urges the Commission to fulfill the intent of Congress and ensure that cable operators allow all free DTV broadcast programming flow to consumers."
 Sign of the times...
The highway sign you see was posted last Thursday, on I-75 northbound between Maple and Rochester Roads, the major north/south corridor in Detroit. They've had these signs in Michigan for a long time, but this was a first with a satellite channel mention. 950 is WWJ (Infinity all-news) 760 is WJR (ABC-Disney news-talk) SR 155 is the Sirius Radio traffic and weather channel and XM 216 is XM's traffic and weather channel. Also see our programming section today for another channel the Michigan Department of Transportation (and other states as well) is likely to add on signs.
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Adbiz ©
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American Airlines launches new branding effort
"Back to the future" may be one way to describe the new American Airlines branding campaign. The program, launching today, leverages the core strengths of the company and focuses on the attributes that for decades have helped define American's success. The new brand positioning is executed through series of gently emotional ads seek to make flying adventurous instead of just a hunt for the cheapest seat. American's advertising consultants have jettisoned the old jingle, "Something special in the air," and replaced it with, "We know why you fly." | More... |
 Volkswagen announces
"Positive Peer Pressure"
Volkswagen began airing TV ads today created, produced and directed by high school teens. But Volkswagen isn't airing these ads to sell its cars. Instead, it wants to sell safety by using the power of peer pressure to help convince more teens to wear safety belts and to reverse a tragic trend that sees some 5,500 young people die in car crashes every year. As part of a contest sponsored by Volkswagen, high school students from across the nation were challenged to create and produce 30-second PSAs to convince their peers to buckle up. Three finalists were selected from hundreds of contest entries and their PSAs will air nationally on MTV's Total Request Live today. Viewers will be asked to vote for the most compelling ad at http://www.vw.com/seatbelt from today until 10/13. The winner will be announced during this show's commercial time and on the website on 10/18. The spots were produced as part of Fasten Your Seat Belt ... Go Far!, a national safety belt education program and contest, created by Volkswagen of America, Inc. and administered by Scholastic Marketing Partners, a division of Scholastic, the children's media and publishing company.
Radio-Mercury creative workshop announced
The Radio-Mercury Awards presents its sixth Radio Creative Workshop, and the second to be held in NYC 9/22 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis. The Radio-Mercury Creative Workshop is part of the RAB's Focus On Radio Series held in conjunction with Advertising Week in NYC, September 20 to 24. It is designed exclusively to help agency creatives explore the essentials of developing great Radio commercials. Workshop leaders are: Sal DeVito, co-founder and Executive Creative Director of the Radio-Mercury Grand Prize-winning agency DeVito/Verdi, NY; Brad Emmett, Art Director/Writer and Lee Seidenberg, Writer, Cliff Freeman and Partners, NY; Zenobia Cokerite, Radio Producer, J. Walter Thompson, NY; and Paul Christie, renowned voice talent and the voice of Budweiser's Louie The Lizard. The Workshop leaders will address creating and developing Radio commercials from concept to execution, and focus on topics such as meeting client objectives, "selling the idea" to the client, and tips on writing techniques. The Workshop will also explore being a Radio Director, the role of the engineer, working with voice talent, and more.
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Media, Markets & Money tm
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Nassau buddies up to the border
If Louis Mercatanti wants to acquire radio stations any farther north than the combo in his latest buy, he'll have to apply for Canadian citizenship. The two Vermont stations he's getting, WIKE-AM Newport and WMOO-FM Derby Center, are just a stone's throw from the state's border with Quebec. Mercatanti's Nassau Broadcasting will add this combo to its rapidly-growing New England operation. The stations are coming from William J. Macek's Northstar Media Inc. for 2.35M dollars. Mercatanti was the driving force behind the addition of several new markets to the list of the Arbitron-rated. However, it seems unlikely that these two will figure in. The nearest of the newbies, Montpelier-Barre-Waterbury, is a good 50 miles to the south.
Bouchard will dock it in Woonsocket
Roger Bouchard's Bouchard Broadcasting is getting into the radio business with an AM station which serves the Providence RI market. It's WNRI-AM, licensed to Woonsocket, located in the northern reaches of the tiny state. Seller Ernie Anastos will rake in $9000K cash for the station. Although Roger Bouchard is president of the company, Richard Bouchard, listed as treasurer, actually has Roger beat in terms of equity in the station, controlling 43% to Roger's 29%. VP Roger Laliberte and secretary David St. Onge each control 14%.
Public Radio Capital buys KGND
to add public radio outlet in OK
Public Radio Capital and Oklahoma State University's KOSU 91.7 FM "Oklahoma's Public Radio" announced a change in the ownership and programming of Ketchum, OK AC commercial KGND 107.5 FM (Class C1), owned by the Northeast Oklahoma Broadcast Network. The deal is still FCC approval. KOSU will program the channel with state and national news programming, specialty programs and classical music. Craig Beeby, general manager of KOSU said, "We are thrilled our current listeners will hear us from Southwest of Oklahoma City to Northeast of Miami, Oklahoma and our programming will cover parts of four states and reach 4 million people in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri." The sale is expected to close Q4 and KOSU will begin non-comm programming after PRC completes financing for the purchase and receives necessary approvals from the Commission.
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Washington Beat
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 Homeland security issues
tied to DTV transition
FCC Chairman Michael Powell told Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and the rest of the Senate Commerce Committee that he thinks it is time to establish a hard deadline for the transition to digital television broadcasting, a move which will free up spectrum for use in homeland security operations, particularly for first responders in the event of an emergency, whether it be natural or man-made. Powell endorsed the controversial Ferree plan, which would establish a hard deadline and would count all receivers which are equipped to function, whether they either accept a non-degraded digital signal, or accept a digital signal down-converted to show a picture on an analog receiver. Powell noted great progress in the transition since his establishment in 2001 of the DTV Task Force. He argued that we are far enough along that the certainty of a "...hard deadline for the end of the DTV transition would benefit everyone." In particular, he said, it would give consumers ample time to begin upgrading their own home equipment. Meanwhile, the FCC is conducting an inquiry into who is likely to be part of the analog 15%, to aid Congress in dealing with a resolution to that thorny topic. David Donovan of the Association for Maximum Service Television also addressed the Senate panel. He argued that the transition must include all Americans, and "...avoid widespread viewer disenfranchisement." He said, "Congress and the FCC should therefore facilitate an efficient and effective transition to digital television for the American public that provides for cable carriage of broadcasters' entire non-degraded digital signals both during and after the digital transition, keeps new DTV and analog sets free of interference from unlicensed devices...and addresses ways to spur new sales of digital television sets."
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Programming
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 Air America to enter Beantown
CC Radio to add yet another to its Liberal Talker stable: According to the Boston Herald, Air America will soon be on the air in the Boston area, likely on some combination of local CC Radio properties WKOX-AM (1200) in Framingham and WXKS-AM (1430) in Boston. Herald sources indicate both stations are expected to simulcast a mix of Air America shows along with programs by such syndicated liberal talkers as Ed Schultz. Air America began broadcasting earlier this year and is now heard in 26 markets.
ESPN to launch 24-hour college net; radio to get content
ESPN announced it will launch ESPNU, a new 24-hour TV net devoted to coverage of college athletics 3/05. Besides regular season Division I football and basketball games, ESPNU will cover collegiate baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, wrestling and spring football. It also will include select high school football telecasts. Many events will be aired exclusively on the net, while other ESPNU telecasts will co-exist with events airing regionally through ESPN Regional Television arrangements. In its first year, ESPNU will add to ESPN and ESPN2 NCAA championship coverage with games from select rounds of men's and women's NCAA championship events. In its first year, ESPNU will air 300 or so live games, mostly Division I football and men's and women's basketball. Coverage will include regular season championships. Studio programming will draw on ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN regional television resources. The ESPN.com website will contain a special ESPNU devoted to college sports. ESPNU-branded content, promos and interactive live elements will appear on ESPN Broadband, ESPN Mobile and ESPN Interactive TV. ESPN The Magazine will present ESPNU offerings, such as inserts. ESPNU elements will be incorporated into ESPN Radio broadcasts. ESPN Enterprises will also introduce ESPNU merchandise.
 XM to provide emergency info
on Public Safety Channel
Looks like XM Satellite Radio is adding yet more localized programming and information to the menu: XM announced that it has launched a new channel, XM Emergency Alert (Channel 247), dedicated to providing critical, updated info before, during and after natural disasters, weather emergencies and other hazardous incidents. The new XM Emergency Alert channel delivers survival info such as evacuation routes, shelter locations and updated weather emergency information for impacted areas. XM Emergency Alert provides data from a variety of national and local government sources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, American Red Cross, local police and fire departments and eyewitness reports. The channel is produced around the clock information during serious local emergencies.
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Ratings & Research
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Katz releases Spring '04 National Format Averages
The Katz Media Group's National Format Averages report for Spring 2004 shows that the Country format has reversed the trend of declining shares seen in the late nineties. Total 12+ shares have increased in each of the past three years. In fact, in looking at the latest edition of the Katz Media Group's National Format Average report for Spring 2004, Country shares have increased continually since late 2001. | More... |
Average Market Format Shares: Persons 12+ Total (AM/FM)
| Fa '99 |
Sp '00 |
Fa '00 |
Sp '01 |
Fa '01 |
Sp '02 |
Fa '02 |
Sp '03 |
Fa '03 |
Sp '04
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| 14.5 |
14.1 |
13.4 |
13.5 |
13.0 |
13.1 |
13.1 |
13.3 |
13.4 |
13.7
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Monday Morning Shakers & Makers
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Deals: 8/2/04-8/6/04
The summer doldrums were still in full force as Augusts trading made its debut - - just under 30M was spent on stations. An odd anomaly was the feature of the week - - every single deal filed at the FCC was a singleton. That's 10 deals for 10 stations. Another oddity - - it's hard to get a TV deal which is not part of a rated market, since Nielsen tries to account for most US counties. However, the sale of a Virgin Islands station, to our way of thinking, fit the bill.
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Total
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Total Deals
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10
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AMs
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3
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FMs
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5
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TVs
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2
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| Value |
 29,540,002
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| Complete Charts |
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Radio Deal of the Week
The K-BUC stops here, at the Border
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TV Deal of the Week
Laredo TV hits the Wall
| More... |
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Transactions
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WGTW-TV Philadelphia (Brunswick NJ). 100% of Brunson Communications Inc. to Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana Inc.
KZZL-FM, KRAO-FM/KCLX-AM/KMAX-AM Pullman WA-Moscow ID (Pullman, Colfax WA) from Palouse Country Inc. to Inland Northwest Broadcasting LLC.
| More Details |
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Stock Talk
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Broadcasters sit out an up day
Good news on the inflation front - - and unexpected decline in the government's index of wholesale prices - - combined with lower oil prices to give most stocks a boost. The Dow Industrials rose 24 points, or 0.2%, to spend the weekend at 10,313.
Radio stocks, however, did not join the advance. The Radio Index was down 0.965, or 0.4%, to 218.949. Citadel dropped 3.4% and Entravision 3.3% as the day's poorest performers. Disney gained 1.3% after Michael Eisner announced plans to retire in 2006.
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Radio Stocks
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Here's how stocks fared on Friday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
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Arbitron
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ARB
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38.64
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-0.03
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Jeff-Pilot
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JP
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49.50
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-0.12
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Beasley
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BBGI
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15.77
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unch
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Journal Comm.
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JRN
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17.77
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-0.01
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| Citadel |
CDL |
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13.38 |
-0.47 |
Radio One, Cl. A
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ROIA
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14.71
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+0.07
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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33.77
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+0.11
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Radio One, Cl. D
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ROIAK
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14.66
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+0.10
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Cox Radio
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CXR
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16.12
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-0.11
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Regent
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RGCI
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6.16
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+0.25
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Cumulus
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CMLS
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14.41
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-0.26
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Saga Commun.
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SGA
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17.52
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unch
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Disney
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DIS
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23.16
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+0.30
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Salem Comm.
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SALM
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25.51
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-0.60
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Emmis
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EMMS
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18.71
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+0.19
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Sirius Sat. Radio
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SIRI
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2.72
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+0.01
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| Entercom |
ETM
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36.20
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-0.15
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Spanish Bcg.
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SBSA
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8.61
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-0.01
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Entravision
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EVC
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7.90
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-0.27
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Univision
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UVN
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32.28
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-0.08
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Fisher
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FSCI
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48.49
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-0.01
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Viacom, Cl. A
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VIA
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35.53
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+0.72
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Gaylord
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GET
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31.06
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+1.16
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Viacom, Cl. B
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VIAb
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35.25
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+0.88
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Hearst-Argyle
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HTV
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24.97
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-0.14
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Westwood One
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WON
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21.87
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-0.13
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Interep
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IREP
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0.86
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unch
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XM Sat. Radio
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XMSR
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29.07
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+0.44
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International Bcg.
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IBCS
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0.02
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unch
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-
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-
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- |
-
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-
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Have a news story you'd like to share? [email protected]
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Bounceback
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 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments to [email protected]
Our readers are everywhere...
The statement about Guam's telephone company being the last government-owned telephone company (9/10/04 Daily Epaper #177) is incorrect. In American Samoa, ASTCA (American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority) is also a government-owned entity.
Larry Fuss, President
South Seas Broadcasting, Inc.
KKHJ-FM & WVUV-AM
Pago Pago, American Samoa
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NAB Day Time Planner
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The following brokers will be attending the NAB. Call or email to make your appointment in advance.
American Media Services,
Todd Fowler, Office 843-972-2200, Manchester Grand Hyatt, [email protected]
Cobb Corp.,
Denis LeClair [email protected]
Joel B. Day
[email protected]
Office 202-478-3737,
Manchester Grand Hyatt
Gordon Rice Associates,
Gordon Rice,
Office 843-884-3590,
Manchester Grand Hyatt,
[email protected]
John Pierce & Company LLC,
John Pierce, cell 859-512-3015,
Jamie Rasnick, cell 513-252-1186, Office 859-647-0101,
Manchester Grand Hyatt,
[email protected]
Kozacko Media Services,
Dick Kozacko,
Office 607-733-7138,
Cell 607-738-1219,
Manchester Grand Hyatt, [email protected]
Patrick Communications,
Larry Patrick, Office 410-740-0250, Manchester Grand Hyatt, [email protected]
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August Digital Magazine
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Complimentary Report
No more Forward Pacing Reports.
We have the economic, political, and close up look at your 4th quarter of business and what must be done to hit budget by year's end.
GM of Cadillac, Mark LaNeve
tells it like it is on where he
spends ad dollars.
Read RBR in 2 simple steps:
1.Create a simple account with Zinio and download the free Zinio Reader.
2. You can then download the free August Issue of RBR
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RBR Radar 2004
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Click on these issues for Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
Emmis sues CC Radio
over former DJ
Former WQHT-FM (Hot 97)/New York morning co-host Star (Troi Torain), who Emmis claims is working with CC Radio NY to return to the market on rival WWPR-FM (Power 105) before his non-compete is over. Star left WQHT 5/03 and is currently airing on WPHH-FM in Hartford. He was fired early last year for, among other things, allegedly threatening to "cut" the general manager. In the suit, Emmis also claims Star bashed advertisers, "disparaged" artists at Hot 97 concerts, "appeared intoxicated" at one concert, gave illegal free plugs to a vodka he endorses, "physically assaulted" GM Barry Mayo - and then went right on the air to trash his bosses. Emmis claims Hot 97 suffered "irreparable harm..." RBR observation: Never works when you walk away either under ones own power or the other way around. Always walk away clean and be professional. Nobody likes to hire a person that brings on legal action. Unprofessional and it always comes back to bite ya in the butt. 09/10/04 RBR #177
RBR News Analysis
Will wardrobe malfunction be compounded by FCC?
What is the difference between a local manager sitting at a CBS-affiliated station which happens to be owned by CBS, and a local manager sitting at a CBS-affiliated station which happens to be owned by someone else? One difference will be 27.5K dollars. Which members of the first group will be paying as punishment for the Janet Jackson Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction. Viacom owns the CBS Television Network and MTV, which were responsible for the ill-fated halftime show. But these two Viacom operating units can't be fined, at least not by the FCC. But dagnabit, somebody has to pay for this. So the FCC apparently will levy a fine which at face value is dripping with two of the court's favorite qualities to hate: arbitrariness and capriciousness. This is another example of regulatory inconsistency which the attorneys at Viacom may well want to bring to the attention to any judges they may encounter in the near future.
09/10/04 RBR #177
Wyss tells TVB
the recovery looks real
Standard & Poor's Chief Economist David Wyss said things are looking good after a couple of soft years. But he also warned that there's still a danger of other countries pulling the US back into recession. What could go wrong? biggest concern is the trade gap, with the US continuing to spend much more on imported goods than it is receiving from exports. There's a risk that instead of us pulling the other countries out of recession, they could pull us back in said Wyss. 09/10/04 RBR #177
Back into the deep freeze!
RBR predicted, the FCC's Media Bureau has ordered a temporary freeze on the filing of all radio station transactions, based on last week's federal appeals court ruling that cleared the way for the Commission to start using Arbitron markets to determine whether or not a deal complies with local radio ownership limits. The FCC says it will issue guidelines soon on filing new applications and amending those that are pending. 09/09/04 RBR #176
Infinity's "Street Date" campaigns
to offer new advertiser opportunities
A multi-platform initiative tied to new album releases from big names in music. The campaign consists of a variety of live original programming, on-air promotion, long-form documentaries and customizable listener contests creating destination programming for all Infinity music formats. RBR observation: It is all about Branding with ROI.
09/09/04 RBR #176
TVB forecasts flat 2005,
big '06 gains
With 2004 revenues inflated by record election spending and the Summer Olympics, the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) is predicting that 2005 will be essentially flat for spot TV (local and national combined), from down 1% to up 1%. TVBR observation: The facts are in the TVB's chart forecast for 2005 and 2006. Recommendation is to print it out. 09/09/04 TVBR #176
Viacom commences
Blockbuster spin-off
The question now is whether enough Viacom shareholders will take the company up on its exchange offer and turn in enough Viacom shares to cover that huge hoard of blockbuster shares. TVBR observation: If you're planning to cash out soon, the answer is easy - - take the premium and sell the Blockbuster shares. But if you are planning to hold the stock for a while, it's more difficult to decide. What is the future of the video rental business? Don't think there is a business model in the future for rentals. 09/09/04 TVBR #176
Improvement ahead
for radio with A But
Analyst Jim Boyle at Wachovia Securities is telling investors that July should be the bottom, with improvement ahead. First the good news: Boyle believes that the radio recovery should accelerate in Q4. The election advertising should be dramatic, squeezing inventory for TV and causing a spillover effect into radio. The heavy political spending may also use secondary media, such as radio. Finally, the very easy Q4 comp of negative 1% should enable radio to ramp up via mathematical help. The Bad news: Why might radio not get that much better? Boyle again believes that the ongoing weakness in the radio sector is caused by the lack of pricing power, as the largest groups continue to offer discounted ad rates to grab whatever available ad dollars exist... 09/08/04 RBR #175
3rd Circuit Blockbuster:
New radio market defs good to go
The 3rd Circuit Court in Philadelphia, which remanded much of the FCC's historic 6/2/03 media ownership rulemaking back for modification or justification, is allowing the FCC to proceed with implementation with certain sections of it which the Court found to be acceptable. Key among them is the switch from contour to Arbitron-geographical radio market definitions. RBR observation: When the stay was imposed in September 2003, the FCC put a brief hold on station trading in order to remodify transaction forms, which had in turn already been modified over the summer to reflect the 6/2/03 ruling. The first, or rulemaking freeze lasted a couple of months; the second, the stay freeze was very brief. We will not be surprised to see another brief freeze while the FCC gets its forms in order. 09/07/04 RBR #174
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TV editor
Do you know the business of television? While other trade publications are cutting back, we're growing. Television Business Report (TVBR) is the hottest new electronic daily, backed by over 21 years of success at Radio Business Report. If you know who's who and what's what in TV & Cable, send resumes to [email protected] |
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