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Volume 24, Issue 180, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
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Friday Morning September 14th, 2007
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Radio News ®
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 SoundExchange finally
responds to NAB: "No"
NAB President and CEO David Rehr yesterday sent a letter to John Simson (pictured), executive director of SoundExchange, expressing "extreme disappointment" with a recent letter from the organization dismissing the "good faith" offer made 96 days earlier by NAB to resolve a rate-setting issue related to music streamed over the Internet. NAB's original offer was made 6/6 in a meeting between execs from NAB and SoundExchange, an organization created by the international record conglomerates that comprise the RIAA to establish and collect royalties for digital sound recordings. For over 13 weeks, NAB received no response. According to Rehr, the brief and belated response from SoundExchange mischaracterized the offer NAB made. "NAB participants left the June 6 meeting with the feeling that you understood the proposal and that you would represent it to the SoundExchange board. Certainly, if asked, we would have promptly responded to any questions or need for clarification," the NAB honcho wrote. Rehr said the proposal from broadcasters would have encouraged more radio stations to stream on the Internet "than would otherwise be possible under the misguided CRB rates." With more streaming activity, he noted, artists would actually receive more revenue than could be achieved under the CRB rates.
RBR observation: With SoundExchange taking aim at the bigger revenue pot, with its Capitol Hill allies preparing a push to make AM and FM stations pay performance royalties for airing records, there may not be much interest from the SoundExchange side in coming up with a workable deal on streaming by those same AM and FM stations. That's too bad, since SoundExchange is cutting off its nose to spite its face. Streaming by AM and FM stations would likely be far and away the largest source of performance royalties for the artists and record companies that SoundExchange claims to represent, but only if a deal can be reached on rates far below those set by the CRB, which are way above the level where anyone can stream profitably.
 Emmis responds to Mancow
More on Talk Radio Network-FM's Erich "Mancow" Muller's 6 million lawsuit against Emmis and management from his long-time Chicago flagship, WKQX Q101 (9/13/07 RBR #179). After Emmis reviewed the suit, Emmis Radio President Rick Cummings issued the following response: "The suit and the allegations it contains aren't worth dignifying with a response. Emmis doesn't have the ability to keep a good show off the air." As previously reported, Mancow alleges that Emmis has worked behind the scenes to keep him off the air in Chicago after dropping his from Q101.
Said TRN-FM CEO Mark Masters: "According to Arbitron, Mancow's program was ranked 1st (among English speaking stations) on Q101 in all three key English speaking male demos at the time that Mancow and Q101 parted ways. Mancow was ranked #1 with Men 18-34 (with an astounding 11.8 share), with Men 18-49 and with Men 25-54. One year later, without Mancow, Arbitron shows that Q101 is now ranked 12th with Men 18-49, and 20th with Men 25-54. According to BIA, Q101 generated an estimated 13.9 million in 2005. According to Arbitron, Mancow's morning program averaged as much as 60% or more audience than the ratings of any other dayparts on Q101."
| Mancow on Emmis, March interview in SmartMedia magazine-page 20 |
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 Court sends FEC back
to the drawing board
Another plank in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act has been altered by the judiciary branch. The last time this happened, the rules were weakened. This time, the opposite is the case, as an appeals court judge ordered coordination rules tightened. BCRA, commonly known as McCain-Feingold, prohibits campaigns and independent groups from coordinating their advertising efforts. Congressional campaigns are bound by this restriction for 90 days prior to an election, and presidential campaigns for 120 days. The judge at the US District Court for the District of Columbia, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, said that it made no sense for the rules to be in existence during those periods when a gigantic loophole exists during other times. The FEC had argued that this windows covered the vast majority of political ads, which generally air close to the day that votes are cast, but the counter-argument that campaigning is expanding more and more a perpetual state carried the day. According to the Associated Press, the Judge ordered to FEC to tighten the rules up before the 2008 elections are in full swing. The FEC may also need to re-examine a loophole allowing soft money to be used for get-out-the-vote campaigns that tend to benefit one party or candidate over another.
RBR observation: Pretty soon some grammar teacher somewhere is going to go to court to challenge BCRA's use of commas, hyphens and semi-colons. That's about the only portion of the Act that hasn't been dragged through the courts. The fact that this outing tightens the rules while the recent Supreme Court win for Wisconsin Right to Life weakened them shows just how complicated the matter is. The bottom line is that money destined for politics will find its way there one way or another, no matter what the rules are.
Arbitron update on software update
Following installation problems for some clients with a software update for Arbitron's PPM analysis tool (9/13/07 RBR #179), Pierre Bouvard, Arbitron's President of Sales and Marketing, issued this statement: "Yesterday was the data release day for the August PPM data for Philadelphia and Houston. At the same time, we also released a new version of the PPM analysis tool software. Some of our customers, including Katz Media Group, then experienced problems installing the new software and data. Unfortunately, while addressing questions about the software issues, Arbitron incorrectly characterized Katz as the "only customer that had an issue loading the data." That was not true. In fact, we had a number of clients who experienced difficulties yesterday. We apologize to Katz for singling them out, and for making it appear that the problems were due to Katz's actions, rather than our own. A number of clients have correctly pointed out that we should not be releasing new versions of software on data release day. Effective immediately, we will be releasing any new software version a week before data releases. Any issues that occurred yesterday with our data and software was an Arbitron problem, not a customer problem. We apologize for the miscommunication on this issue." At Katz, Gerry Boehme, Sr. VP of Strategic Planning and IT Services, told RBR yesterday, "Yes, we have worked through the access issues with Arbitron as we expected and are up and running."
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 Edwards snags a
presidential rebuttal
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards (D-NC) took advantage of full network coverage of a speech on the Iraq war by President Bush last night, piggy-backing his own message via a two-minute ad. Edwards booked his time on cable news outlet MSNBC, and used his time to express both his disagreement with Bush, and to distance himself from other Democrats in the primary race. The spot was estimated to carry a 100K-150K price tag, but at least one media analyst said that the general buzz and straight news coverage Edwards is likely to receive could easily triple its value in terms of effectiveness. Edwards has been exploring the use of political advertising. Earlier this year, rather than touting his own presidential qualifications of presenting himself to voters in the early states, he ran advertisements in Washington urging his former colleagues in the US Senate to remain steadfast in their opposition to Bush's Iraq policy.
RBR observation: This really is a brilliant idea. Let President Bush turn on the spotlight and then jump in while the afterglow is still intense. If Edwards does get a big splash out of this strategy, it may lead to a lot of imitation. Demand for advertising immediately following an event of national significance occurring on a fixed schedule may put a new premium on such times, driving up rates under the influence of simple supply and demand. If we remember the ins and outs of lowest unit rate correctly, candidates are off the rate card when they specify a precise run time.
Is TV programming going down the tubes?
According to a poll from AOL Television and the Associated Press, 62% of surveyed Americans think the quality of television programming is diminishing. Of course, that doesn't stop them from watching it. Over a fourth or respondents watch over 21 hours weekly and 13% watch over 30 hours (said to be a 5% increase over 2005). But the same low opinion exists among both light and heavy users of the medium. Reality programming may finally be hitting the wall, with 71% saying there's too much of it on the schedule. 49% believe there is too much crime. Meanwhile, 28% want more news and 24% want more comedy. Asked what one channel they would watch, the big four networks still held sway over cable. CBS and ABC scored 9%, NBC scored 8% and Fox 7%. AOL/AP said three basic cable offerings -- Discovery, ESPN and The History Channel -- each came home with 4%. Cable channels grabbed 45% of the total.
RBR observation: TV was already a vast wasteland, according to Newt Minow, way back in the early 60s. We think this, like education, is one of those questions that will eternally draw a negative answer. You can look in a newspaper from 1901 and find politicians and pundits bloviating about the deplorable state of the schools. And music isn't what it used to be and the quality of our food is deteriorating. A plurality thinks TV is going downhill just about every time you ask the question. The only poll that matters is the one that shows how many people are watching.
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Ad Business Report TM
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 P&G's Najoh Tita-Reid added to Interep's
Power of Urban
Interep announced Najoh Tita-Reid, Associate Marketing Director of Multicultural Marketing at Procter & Gamble, has been added to the group of leading national advertisers participating on a marketing panel, "The Strategic Importance of the African American Market to Help Grow Business," at the ninth annual Power of Urban Radio event on September 20th in New York. Tita-Reid's responsibilities at P&G include multicultural marketing, building capability, managing advertising agencies, and external relations. She is the architect of P&G's new "My Black is Beautiful" campaign, whose goal is to make all African-American girls and women feel better about the way they are portrayed in media and, ultimately, feel better about themselves.
MindShare names David Adelman CMO
David Adelman has been named Chief Marketing Officer of MindShare North America, a new position. Adelman joins on from Johnson & Johnson, where he was Media Director for J&J's Global Marketing Group--responsible for increasing the company's digital marketing efforts and introducing communications planning processes to the marketer's OTC medicines, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices businesses. Responsibilities will include optimizing the agency's new business activities as well as developing and executing marketing plans and programs.
The 2008 Network Radio Upfront examined
2008 Network Radio Upfront negotiating season takes shape as RBR/SmartMedia is providing an in-depth synopsis and discussion on the marketplace.
Point 1: Looking at networks' ability to copy split ads and their importance to the upfront - RBR/SmartMedia findings are the networks have improved their offerings significantly over the past two years. The lines between spot and network continue to blur with network offering many of the capabilities previously only available via spot-through trafficking technology, copy splitting is now pretty widespread and traffic deadlines are much shorter than they once were.
To name a few, the discussion takes place with:
Eileen Decker, Dial-Global President of Sales
Gary Krantz, Westwood One Chief Digital Media Officer
Natalie Swed Stone, US Director, National Radio Investment, OMD
Agnes Lukasewych, VP, Account Director Radio Broadcast, MPG
RBR observation: If you don't play don't expect to win so let's work together for radio. The decision makers at the ad agency level that represent the bulk of annual network radio spend are talking and interactive with this special report in RBR/SmartMedia in Oct & Nov. Let them know what your network is up to and what content you have in the marketplace today. Limited Marketing/Ad space available-contact June Barnes 803 731-5951, Carl Marcucci 703 492 8191 ex. 202 or Jim Carnegie 813 909-2916.
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NAB Daytime Planner
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The following will be attending the NAB.
Call or email to make your
appointment in advance.
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BANKERS
Peter H. Ottmar; Dover Capital Partners, LLC; Westin Charlotte; 401/723-1063 x103; cell 401/639-4958; [email protected]
Jacob J. Barker; Barker Capital; Hilton Charlotte City Center; (212) 332-4312; [email protected]
Brian Eick/Dave Meier; The Gladstone Companies; Omni Charlotte Hotel; Brian cell 847-612-3002, Dave cell 847-650-1735; [email protected], [email protected]
BROKERS
Todd Fowler/David Reeder; American Media Services; Westin Charlotte; 843-972-2200; [email protected]; [email protected]
Cliff Gardiner; Clifton Gardiner & Co.; Hilton Charlotte City Center; 303-758-6900; [email protected]
Andy McClure/Erick Steinberg, The Exline Company, Westin Charlotte, office 415-479-3484, Andy cell 415-497-3855, Erick cell (415) 209-4890, [email protected]. [email protected]
Frank Boyle; Frank Boyle & Co.; Residence Inn Charlotte Uptown; 203-969-2020; cell 203-249-7818;
[email protected]
Gordon Rice; Gordon Rice Associates; 843-884-3590; Westin Charlotte; [email protected]
John L. Pierce/ Jamie Rasnick; John Pierce & Company LLC; office 859-647-0101, John cell 859-512-3015; Jamie cell 513-252-1186, Westin Charlotte; [email protected]; [email protected]
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Dick Kozacko/George Kimble;
Kozacko Media Services; office 607-733-7138; cell 607-738-1219; Westin Charlotte; [email protected]; [email protected]
Media Services Group; Westin Charlotte; www.mediaservicesgroup.com
Elliot Evers/Greg Widroe/Brian Pryor/Patricia Carberry-Harris;
Media Venture Partners;
415-391-4877; Hilton Charlotte City Center;
[email protected]
Larry Patrick/Susan Patrick/Greg Guy/Todd Wirth; Patrick Communications; 410-740-0250; Westin Charlotte; [email protected]
Glenn Serafin; Serafin Bros., Inc.;
office 813-885-6060; cell 813-494-6875; Westin Charlotte; [email protected]
Bill Schutz; Schutz & Company; Westin Charlotte; office 757-258-8740, cell 757-880-9251; [email protected]
Zoph Potts; Snowden Associates; Omni Hotel; office 252-940-1680, cell 252-717-3772; [email protected]
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
Richard Mertz, Dan Ryson; Cavell, Mertz & Associates, Inc.; Main Office 703-392-9090; [email protected]
TRAFFIC SYSTEMS
Shane Harris/Susie Hedrick; Marketron Broadcast Solutions; Booth #530; www.marketron.com; 208-788-6800; [email protected]; [email protected]
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| Media Business Report TM |
 Comedy Central licensed to American Greetings
American Greetings Corporation announced a licensing partnership with Comedy Central "that will bring the characters, antics and signature humor from some of the network's most popular shows to the greeting card aisle." The first products to launch include a line of seven "South Park" birthday and anytime cards. In addition to "South Park", the partnership also includes licenses for other Comedy Central shows, including "Reno 911!," "The Sarah Silverman Program," "Mind of Mencia" and "Lil' Bush." "We take our funny card business very seriously because we recognize that many people connect with others through humor. Our partnership with Comedy Central is yet another example of our commitment to truly understand what consumers find funny so that we can be sure our products deliver on that," said Michael Brown, Vice President of Licensing for American Greetings.
RBR observation: Just how irreverent will they dare to be? We're waiting to see if they come out with Christmas cards based on Silverman's video with Santa titled "Give the Jew girl toys."
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| Media Markets & Money TM |
A Walker replaces a Saylor in Kansas
A one-AM/five FM group of stations in the southeast portion of Kansas is being sold by Southeast Kansas Broadcasting Inc. The buyer is Joe Walker and his Tallgrass Broadcasting LLC for an as-yet undisclosed price. The agreement provides for a two-year LMA period and marks the exit of SKB President Lance Saylor. Included in the deal are KWXD-FM/KHST-FM in Pittsburg/Joplin, KKOY-AM/FM Chanute, KS, KSNP-FM Burlington, KS and KEKS-FM Olpe (Emporia), KS. Tallgrass says it now runs 14 stations in 5 states and is building a 15th station in Pawhuska, OK.
Close encounter in Florida
Walter Kotaba has closed on his acquisition of WRXB-AM in St. Petersburg Beach and WTMY-AM Sarasota from Mark Acker and his Metropolitan Radio Group. According to broker John L. Pierce, Kotaba's Polnet Radio Group paid 1.1M for the pair, located in adjacent markets on Florida's Gulf Coast.
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| Washington Media Business Report TM |
 What if they held a debate and nobody came?
Are we getting to the point where there will be a need for The Debate Channel? It seems the sun never sets on a stage-wide assembly of high office hopefuls trotting out applicable portions of their stump speeches in convenient short burst of soundbite. AARP and Iowa Public TV are getting into the act with a Democratic event scheduled for 9/20/07 and a Republican follow-up on 10/25/07. AARP represents a motivated constituency with a lot of government money on the table and an excellent track record of actually showing up to vote, but at this point, it is not filling all of the available podiums. Only five Democrats have committed - Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson; and only two Republicans have thus far signed up - John McCain and Mike Huckabee.
RBR observation: We admit we cannot watch all of these debates. And part of the problem is that the formats almost always cater to the politicians' desire to minimize risk. The unfortunate side effect of that is it minimizes the chances of delving any deeper than soundbite level into their thoughts, and it also minimizes the possibility of genuine news-making exchanges. They always say people watch car races for the accidents. It would help liven up the interminable debate merry-go-round if some of the horses come off their moorings once in awhile so we can enjoy their reaction when the freed steed starts bucking.
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| Entertainment Media Business Report TM |
Radio has role in SBS' new daily TV news show
As it prepares to take Mega TV national next month on DirecTV (9/6/07 RBR #174), Spanish Broadcasting System announced plans to launch a daily news program next week. "Mega News" will focus on news pertaining to the US Hispanic community, with a heavy dose of pop culture - and that's where SBS will be taking advantage of its radio and Internet offerings to help boost its new TV venture. Executive Producer Frank Steinhart says there will be daily participation by DJs from SBS radio stations in major markets, including New York and Los Angeles. "Mega News will collaborate daily with LaMusica.com, one of the most popular Spanish-language entertainment sites, to bring the audience the best and latest celebrity news available," said Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez, Chief Creative Officer and Executive Vice President of Mega TV. Starting Monday, September 17th, Miami-based Mega News will air Monday-Friday at 5:00 pm for one hour. Veteran journalists Camilo Egaña and Maria Regina Bustamante (pictured) will host the new TV news show. Egaña has been hosting two weekend shows for Mega TV and Bustamante recently joined SBS after working at publications such as The Miami Herald and TV y Novelas, and at three Spanish-language stations based in Miami.
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| Ratings & Research |
 September consumer confidence down
According to BIGresearch's September Executive Briefing, the battle on Capitol Hill regarding the status of troops in Iraq, the still-slumping housing market, fluctuating pump prices, and apathy toward consumer savings combine to form the perfect storm for negatively impacting consumer confidence. In September, 41.2% contend they are confident/very confident in chances for a strong economy, down from last month (43.9%) as well as last year (43.4%). However, confidence remains up significantly from '05 (33.4%), when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region. Consumers are feeling more secure...only 16.1% worry about political and national security issues, down almost two points from last month (17.9%), and dropping almost 30 points since the first 9/11 anniversary in 2002 (45.2%). With the impact of pump prices seemingly decreasing (perhaps offset by the "Charge It!" consumer spending mantra), penny pinching may be going out of style...in September, 43.2% proclaim they focus on needs over wants in spending, down from 46.5% last month and 49.5% in '06.
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| Transactions |
350K KNNZ-AM St. George-Cedar City UT (Cedar City UT) from PRC St. George I LLC, a subsidiary of Public Radio Capitol (Marc Hand) to Resurgence Media-Cedar City LLC (Christopher F. Devine). 10K earnest money, 40K cash at closing, 300K note. Market is rated by Eastland. [File date 8/27/07.]
N/A WREQ-FM Elmira-Corning NY (Elmira NY); WIFF-FM Binghamton NY; WUJC-FM Tallahassee FL; KWYC-FM Cheyenne WY; KHJC-FM Lihue HI; KJCC-FM Carnegie OK; KJCH-FM Bandon OR; KLWD-FM Gillette WY; KWCF-FM Sheridan WY; KTBJ-FM Festus MO; KVJC-FM Globe AZ; KDJC-FM Baker City OR; WWUN-FM Clarksdale MS; WSMA-FM Scituate MA; KTJC-FM Kelso WA; WYJC-FM Greenville FL; KEFS-FM North Powder OR; KJFT-FM Arlee MT; KWRC-FM CP Rapid City SD; KPIJ-FM CP Junction City OR; KNMA-FM CP Socorro NM; KKJA-FM CP Redmond OR; KJCF-FM CP Clarkston WA; KVIR-FM CP Bullhead City AZ; & KGSF-FM CP Anderson MO from CSN International (Jeff Smith, Charles Smith et al) to Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls (Michael Kestler, Nora Kestler, Frank Walker, Mike Stocklin et al). Part of a legal settlement between the two parties, which includes a 200K payment from CCTF to CSN. [File date 8/27/07.]
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NAB 2007
Investing Time or Exhibiting? Get the Max ROI, let attendees know,
Market in RBR & MBR.
SPECIAL ROI Ad Rate for NAB
Contact June Barnes 803.731.5951 or Jim Carnegie 813.909.2916
for Ad Marketing opportunities in RBR and MBR.
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| Stock Talk |
Broadcasters left out as stocks rally
Stock prices moved up after mortgage giant Countrywide announced that it had secured 12 billion in credit. The rally was largely limited to the Blue Chips, though, with the Dow Industrials jumping 133 points, or 1%, to 13,424. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were up only slightly.
Radio stocks missed out on the rally. The Radio Index declined 0.607, or 0.5%, to 122.154. Westwood One dropped 3.9% and Citadel was off 2.6%. Moving the other way, Saga gained 2.6%. CBS Class A rose 2% and Class B 1.9%.
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| Radio Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Thursday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
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Arbitron
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ARB
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45.93
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-0.57
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Google
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GOOG
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524.78
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+2.13
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Beasley
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BBGI
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7.09
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+0.07
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Hearst-Argyle
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HTV
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25.55
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unch
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| CBS CI. B |
CBS |
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30.83
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+0.58
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Journal Comm.
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JRN
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9.70
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-0.22
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| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
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30.86
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+0.61
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Lincoln Natl.
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LNC
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62.82
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+1.56
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| Citadel |
CDL |
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4.09 |
-0.11 |
Radio One, Cl. A
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ROIA
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3.85
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-0.03
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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37.71
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+0.01
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Radio One, Cl. D
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ROIAK
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3.84
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-0.02
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Cox Radio
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CXR
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13.57
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-0.09
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Regent
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RGCI
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2.55
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-0.03
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Cumulus
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CMLS
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10.46
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-0.18
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Saga Commun.
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SGA
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7.49
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+0.19
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Debut Bcg.
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DBTB
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1.02
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unch
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Salem Comm.
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SALM
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9.06
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+0.14
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Disney
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DIS
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33.52
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-0.20
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Sirius Sat. Radio
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SIRI
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3.45
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+0.03
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Emmis
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EMMS
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5.90
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-0.11
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Spanish Bcg.
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SBSA
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2.64
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+0.07
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Entercom
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ETM
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20.01
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+0.12
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SWMX
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SMWX
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0.04
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unch
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Entravision
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EVC
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9.16
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+0.02
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Westwood One
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WON
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2.46
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-0.10
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Fisher
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FSCI
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46.80
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-0.24
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XM Sat. Radio
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XMSR
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14.42
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+0.21
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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]
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Below the Fold
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Media Business Report
Comedy Central
Licensed to American Greetings and fill the card racks with stars...
Media Markets & Money
A Walker replaces
A Saylor in Kansas, one-AM/five FM group being sold and buyer is Joe Walker...
Washington Media Business Report
A debate and nobody came?
Are we getting to the point, AARP & Iowa Public TV are getting into the act...
TVBR - TV News
Retrans standoff in CT
LIN TV pulled they content off MSO's...
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Stations for Sale
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NewEng Collegetown FM
Highly profitable AC station w. Red Sox rights, owned tower, only signal in market. Asking 8.5x trailing BCF: 950K. Inquiries 781-848-4201 or
e-mail: [email protected]
WEB: radiostationsforsale.net
 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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Gaete to Entravision
Entravision Communications announced that Marcelo Gaete-Tapia has been appointed as the new Vice President of Public and Governmental Affairs for the company. Prior to joining Entravision, Gaete was the Senior Director of Programs for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials' Educational Fund.
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More News Headlines
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Robb Case dies
Veteran broadcaster Robert Casagrande, known to many as Robb Case, died yesterday, three years after being diagnosed with renal cancer. Case and his wife, Holly, most recently put WHKC-FM on the air as a new station in Columbus, OH.
NAB HD Radio Multicast Award winners announced
NAB announced two winners of the NAB HD Radio Multicast Award. KBCO-FM Denver's "The Studio C Channel" and WRIF-FM Detroit's "Riff2" are the first stations to receive the award. The awards will be presented by NAB CEO David Rehr during the keynote address, sponsored by BMO Capital Markets, 9/27, at The NAB Radio Show in Charlotte.
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TVBR - TV News
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Retrans standoff
in Connecticut
LIN Television says it has been unable to come to terms on retransmission consent with MetroCast, so three of its stations will be pulled off of the MSO's systems in Eastern Connecticut when the current retrans extension expires October 7th. Each side is blaming the other for the breakdown in negotiations. Unless a resolution is reached by the October 7th deadline, some 39,000 cable subscribers will not be able to view LIN's WTNH-TV (Ch. 8, ABC) Hartford, WCTX-TV (Ch. 59 MyNetworkTV) Hartford and WPRI-TV (Ch. 12, CBS) Providence, RI. LIN says those cable customers will be deprived of WTNH's top-rated local news, University of Connecticut sports broadcasts, New York Yankees games and several popular syndicated programs. MetroCast insists it's no big deal, since its systems will still have CBS programming via Meredith's WFSB-TV (Ch. 3) Hartford and ABC via Freedom's WLNE-TV (Ch. 6) Providence. It notes that The Yankees Network is already available to Expanded Basic customers. MetroCast says it will add New England Cable News Network to its basic tier to replace one of the LIN stations.
"We apologize for any inconvenience to our viewers and hope that these viewers will continue to watch our award-winning local news and top-rated programming through alternate means. We have successfully reached agreements with other multi-channel providers including cable operators, telephone companies and satellite providers, all of whom have acknowledged the value of LIN TV's stations and hope we can reach an agreement with MetroCast soon," said LIN's Executive Vice President Digital Media, Gregory Schmidt. LIN is asking people in the affected areas to tell MetroCast that they want the stations to continue to be available. But its iwantwtnhtv.com website is also providing links so they can sign up for DirecTV or Dish Network to replace their cable service.
TVBR observation: What makes this retrans battle somewhat different than most of the past couple of years is that the MetroCast cable systems are in counties at the far east end of Connecticut, where TV signals are readily available from the Providence, RI market as well as Hartford-New Haven. That reduces LIN's leverage somewhat, but many folks are still going to be upset at not being able to receive an ABC station with news from their own state. Of course, the whole thing comes down to money. And LIN accuses the MSO of misleading the public on that account. "MetroCast is telling viewers that we are demanding 3.00 per month. That just isn't true, in FACT, we are asking for something closer to a penny a day," LIN insists on its informational website.
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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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Network Radio Upfront update
As the annual network radio upfront negotiating season is just beginning, RBR/SmartMedia is providing a weekly progress update, based on conversations with buyers and sellers in the marketplace for our annual two-part print feature. Natalie Swed Stone, US Director, National Radio Investment, OMD: The networks have improved their offerings significantly over the past two years. The lines between spot and network continue to blur with network offering many of the capabilities previously only available via spot-through trafficking technology, copy splitting is now pretty widespread and traffic deadlines are much shorter than they once were." Read this series in RBR.
RBR Note: As the annual network radio upfront negotiating season is just beginning, RBR/SmartMedia is providing a weekly progress update. This annual look at Radio's upfront gets more interesting every year. Be apart of the decision makers at the ad agency level. Let them know what your network is up to and what content you have in the market place today. If you don't play don't expect to win so let's work together for Radio. Limited Makerting/Ad space available.
09/13/07 RBR #179
Arbitron pitches
PPM samples success
A number of agency people were on the client call, which followed the press briefing, and Arbitron Radio Advisory Council Chairman Steve Sinicropi from Cox Radio told RBR that they had basically the same sort of questions as broadcasters - trying to get their arms around the new data - and that the issue of how to adjust pricing didn't come up. How will Arbitron determine if it is successful in getting its message across, RBR asked? The August figures revealed some progress on improving! in-tab performance and a client call is being planned soon on the money-back guarantee Arbitron has agreed to if it doesn't hit targets. "I don't think anyone is going to be happy with it until it's where it's supposed to be." There are more details and See the in-tab figures by demo for Houston and Philadelphia in this report page of RBR.
09/13/07 RBR #179
US ad spend dropped
0.3% in first half of 2007
Total ad expenditures in the first half of 2007 slipped by 0.3% to 72.59 billion versus the same period in 2006, according to TNS Media Intelligence. Television was hardly alone in taking a hit, while online ad spending continued to grab share. Internet display advertising maintained its growth leadership position.
RBR observation: Complete analysis with chart for you to print out is in this special page report.
09/12/07 RBR #178
XM/Sirius tout a la carte offerings
Here's a shocker. Merger-hungry satellite services XM and Sirius conducted a poll on a la carte menu offerings and darned if the results weren't favorable. Various pluralities agreed that certain packages the pair contemplate offering if the merger goes through would be "good for consumers." However, NAB was interested in the questions that weren't asked. NAB EVP Dennis Wharton said, "Here's what XM and Sirius conveniently did not ask poll participants: Do you like monopolies? Does competition restrain a monopolist's price-gouging?
RBR observation: Yep there is more on the a la carte findings and NAB's reply in RBR.
09/12/07 RBR #178
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New Listing
Affiliate Sales Rep
WOR Radio Network's (WRN) needs an exec with Passion for Talk Radio. Self-starter w/ 2-5 yrs experience. Work independently and achieve goals to increase market coverage and audience delivery for our Nationally Syndicated programming. Business is about relationships and candidate with strong database in Talk Radio will win big time. Offering competitive salary + commission plan, health insurance and 401K. WRN is the place to be to succeed with stability. Details & Apply see Radio Careers
General Manager
Midwest & Life is good with this Small-Medium cluster in rated market. Top Aggressive, community minded GM needed. We're reentering ownership so don't be concerned that you're already working for us. Have a track record of performance, strong on sales and ideas. Ability to get the most out of a talented staff. Tired of the corporate jungle and want to work in real radio. This GM post for the person with Radio Passion. Details where to apply see Radio Careers
General Sales Manager
America's Legendary CHR station, KDWB, looking for a world class GSM to lead a talented sales team! We have 5 questions for our next GSM to answer. If you can say Yes to some or all then lets talk. A college degree is preferred with two years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education/experience. Clear Channel's KDWB, EEO--Hey, it doesn't get any better than this. Complete requirements, where to apply see Radio Careers
Hard finding that key person
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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