From the NAB in San Diego...

Commissioners back off on news indecency
Some TV and radio stations have already been using delay systems for live news coverage in order to avoid any FCC citation for an indecent comment hitting the air, but two Commissioners appearing at the NAB Radio Show in San Diego insisted that those fears are unwarranted. "Maybe there should be a news exemption," said Commissioner Kevin Martin, who noted that the FCC has never issued an indecency fine for a news broadcast. "I think that news certainly does have a higher level of First Amendment protection," said Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. | More... |

Fritts warns of license challenges
"Today's license renewals are a whole new ballgame," said NAB President Eddie Fritts as he addressed the NAB Radio Show in San Diego. He warned that groups targeting broadcasters have "raised the decibel level in Washington" and that organized attacks on radio and TV licenses are taking place as never seen before. "Bottom line - - these groups are out for your licenses, or at the very least to affect the program content of your stations - - and they aren't going away anytime soon." Fritts urged individual broadcasters to be sure to file comments in the FCC's localism inquiry, for which comments are due November 1. "The citizen groups are seizing this opportunity to change the rules and set new standards by which we are judged at renewal time," he warned. The NAB has created a mechanism on its web site so that broadcasters can submit their comments to the FCC without having to employ a DC lawyer to represent them.

Fries: Get out of the bunker
With all of the gloom and doom heard about the state of radio revenues, Radio Advertising Bureau President Gary Fries says many people in the industry seem to have adopted a "bunker mentality" and are not being aggressive in trying to move the business forward. While the economy may be slow, he insists that radio is not losing ground and the industry should be working on building share. "There is no erosion. There is no cancer," he insisted. | More... |

Group heads bristle at Stern flacking Sirius
A day after announcing that he would move from terrestrial radio to Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006, Howard Stern irritated his current affiliates by spending much of yesterday's show on what was essentially an infomercial for Sirius. That did not go unnoticed in the group head session at the NAB Radio Show in San Diego. With three Stern affiliates, Citadel is one of the largest affiliate groups outside Infinity. Citadel COO Judy Ellis was clearly irked by Sterns actions and said she was evaluating how much time Stern spent flacking for Sirius outside his show's allotted spot load. "I'm gonna charge them," she insisted. Entercom CEO David Field, who owns one Stern affiliate, didn't say what action he might take, but he noted that Entercom has a company policy against accepting any advertising from either Sirius or XM Satellite Radio. | More... |

Radio News ®

Howard Stern interviewed on moving to Sirius
Reuters reported an interview with Howard Stern on his announcement he'll be leaving traditional radio for Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006. Excerpts: "Calling himself radio's "biggest star," controversial talk show host Howard Stern said on Wednesday he was abandoning commercial broadcasting for satellite subscription radio because he wanted to be free of censors, government regulators and the religious right. | More... |

Hollander on Stern: What now?
RBR/TVBR had the chance to speak to Infinity President Joel Hollander via cell phone yesterday as he was leaving San Diego's NAB Radio Show. We asked him what he's going to do about Howard Stern, when the King of All Media's contract is up in 15 months and he moves over to Sirius Satellite Radio. "We're looking at all of our options. We're going to put something in his place that's very compelling and Viacom is going to give us the resources to do that." You've gotten him on nine new stations after Clear Channel dropped him, you've paid his fines and stood behind him with the FCC. Now he does this. What do you think? "We're not happy, but we'll deal with it. It's my job to help find a solution to this and I've got enough time to do it." What about Stern spending a lot of his time on-air talking about Sirius the last two days. If he keeps this up, you could take him to court, no? "You could make that assumption."

Indecency watchdogs claiming a Stern victory
"What a week it's been...We have more good news to report to you. Howard Stern has been driven off of the public airwaves - - and it's thanks to your efforts and activism." That is the message now posted on the Parents Television Council website. "Stern claims that by making the move, he will no longer be subject to broadcast decency laws," the post continues. "The real victors are the millions and millions of American families who will no longer be subjected to Stern's pornographic rantings during their morning drive time." | More... |

Study: Local NFL radio broadcasts provide marquee environment for sports advertisers
Scarborough Research released an analysis of Local NFL game listeners and found that these consumers are top spenders in emerging sports ad categories such as travel and home improvement, as well as in traditional sports ad categories, including quick service restaurants, beer, and automotive. Local NFL game listeners are 70% more likely than the average adult to have taken three or more domestic air trips in the past year, and 34% more likely to have spent 3,000 or more on home improvements during this time frame. These consumers are 66% more likely to spend 100 dollars or more on their monthly cellular bill. | More... |

Adbiz ©

AOL launches new branding campaign
"Want a better Internet?" That's the question America Online will be asking in a new brand campaign started 10/7. The comprehensive new advertising campaign is intended to reposition America Online as the service that is truly on the side of the online consumer. It begins with print ads in leading newspapers that outline AOL's commitments to its members. AOL also announced today the first redesign of its logo since 1991, which among other things gives the familiar triangle a more up-to-date look. | More... |

Slim-Fast moves to Ogilvy & Mather
Unilever has reportedly moved its Slim-Fast creative from Grey Worldwide NY to Ogilvy & Mather. The agreement to move the account to Ogilvy was reportedly made with WPP CEO Martin Sorrell before the acquisition of Grey was announced. Grey is the agency for Unilever rival P&G. It will soon be under the same umbrella though, as WPP Group, which owns Ogilvy, is in the process of acquiring Grey in a deal expected to be closed by the end of the year. Unilever spent 90 million last year on Slim-Fast last year and 35 million through July, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

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Washington Beat

Programming

Salem Radio Network syndicates
"Bill Gaither's Homecoming Radio''
Salem Radio Network and Bill Gaither, Gospel Music legend, announce the launch of "Bill Gaither's Homecoming Radio." Following the successful "Homecoming" concert - TV/video series, Gaither created and is hosting this weekly radio show. The one-hour program features performances recorded "live" by the "Homecoming" artists on stage at the concert venues and presented in the "down-home" flavor that is unique to his style. Bill Gaither, singer-producer-entrepreneur, relates, "As a young lad growing up in Indiana, I was fascinated with gospel music from listening to it on the radio. Radio has always been special to me and now this new show allows me, and our `Homecoming' artists, to utilize this great medium for yet another outlet to reach millions with the best music in the world, gospel music." In addition to Salem's independent satellite syndication to the general marketplace and gospel radio stations, Salem's Solid Gospel Radio Network will also feature "Bill Gaither's Homecoming Radio" through its more than 100 affiliates.

Transactions

KGND-FM Tulsa (Ketchum OK) from Northeast Oklahoma Broadcast Network Inc. to Public Radio Capital Inc.

WNRI-AM Providence (Woonsocket RI) from Anastos Media Group Inc. to Bouchard Broadcasting Inc.

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