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The silver lining of recession
A professor says that a deep and prolonged recession will be good for some entertainment businesses, and the top of his list are traditional broadcast television and radio. The reason? No admission charge and no subscription charge. When people are counting their pennies, entertainment options that involve a ticket or any other kind of bill will be avoided. That's good for free broadcasting. Newspapers are going to face more trouble …
RBR observation: On the theory that every silver lining has a cloud, we have to wonder if there will be any advertisers out there ready and able to take advantage of a burgeoning free broadcast audience. But if he's right, the age-old head-butting rivalry between broadcast and print may shift to a lower gear.
Fairness warnings still in the air
Even though there has been no steady drumbeat to revive the Fairness Doctrine that we are aware of, there has been a steady drumbeat opposing such a move. The latest rimshot appeared in an opinion piece from Michael Barone that details the aggressive media pushback strategy being used by the campaign of Barack Obama.
RBR observation: Barone mentions only one Congressional Democrat by name, David Obey (D-WI), and notes that Obey opposes a return of the Doctrine. He doesn't mention anybody in favor of bringing it back. There is a lot of smoke from opponents of reinstatement, but as yet we still aren't seeing much fire from proponents...
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CBS Radio cuts staffers in LA
Last Friday afternoon the pink slips were flying at CBS Radio in LA-some 22 from what we've heard. Especially hard hit were anchors, reporters and producers at News stations KNX-AM and KFWB-AM. KFWB news bureaus in Long Beach and Orange County were also reportedly shut down as part of the cutbacks.
Howard Stern loses listeners, sway on Sirius XM
An LA Times story says Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed King of All Media, has lost his crown. The shock jock's syndicated morning radio show once drew a national audience of 12 million, but since jumping to satellite radio three years ago, his listeners have dwindled to a fraction of that. "Where once Stern routinely commanded a parade of Hollywood's hottest stars -- George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Julia Roberts -- today publicists are left to tout studio appearances by the likes of Chevy Chase, Joan Rivers or Hulk Hogan."
RBR observation: Could it just be that he's become stale? Could it just be that his free-reign of expletives and vulgar language has just left people bored? Sometimes the appeal in radio is saying things that adults know the meaning of that both passes FCC muster and kids don't understand. Stern's "sicko radio" just isn't entertaining anymore. He was more fun and entertaining when he had to watch what he said! And if you want a better laugh just scroll down to the Radio Stocks and see the big time price of Sirius XM stock.
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Ideas Working Now ™
Leaving the Lead Story Out of Show Opens
by Graeme Newell
A great proportion of any show open tease will usually be dedicated to the lead story. Focusing on the stories of the day is admirable, but often times the lead story may not be your most promotable component. Do your best to provide unique and unexpected coverage of the big story of the day. However, if your lead story content is not unexpected, look for other stories to promote. You always want to tease the best components of a show. Regardless of its location in the newscast, find the story that best whets the viewer's appetite. Often times, that story may not be the lead...
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INTERNET BUSINESS REPORT ™ |
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FCC clears path for free wireless internet
T-Mobile USA isn't happy about it, but FCC engineers say that a theoretical free wireless internet service can safely co-exist with T-Mobile's 3G wireless service, which consumers have to pay for. With interference concerns brushed aside, spectrum may go to auction sometime next year. The winner would have to provide service to 50% of the nation within four years and 95% within ten.
RBR observation: A place we've vacationed at has free wireless internet. It is absolutely a great thing for tourists, most of whom seem to drag a laptop with them wherever they go these days. The service was supported by local advertisers who want the tourists to be aware of their existence. This isn't our area, but it seems to us that making such a service universal is bound to generate some pushback from commercial providers, though. We'll be watching.
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A great day for Wall Street, and radio too
The Dow was up a whopping 936 points yesterday, finally. Radio stocks saw a great day as well, with big leaps that included Disney up 3.68; Cumulus up .93 and Lincoln National up 2.43.
Here's how stocks fared on Monday
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Chng |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Chng |
Arbitron* |
ARB |
|
40.00 |
+0.02 |
Fisher |
FSCI |
|
39.55 |
+3.52 |
Beasley* |
BBGI |
|
2.00 |
+0.31 |
Google |
GOOG |
|
381.02 |
+52.04 |
CBS CI. B |
CBS |
|
8.74 |
+0.64 |
Hearst-Argyle |
HTV |
|
15.80 |
+0.91 |
CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
|
8.97 |
+0.48 |
Journal Comm. |
JRN |
|
3.04 |
+0.54 |
Citadel* |
CDL |
|
0.37 |
+0.02 |
Lincoln Natl. |
LNC |
|
26.38 |
+2.43 |
CC Media |
CCMO |
|
7.00 |
-1.00 |
Radio One, Cl. A |
ROIA |
|
0.62 |
-0.14 |
Cox Radio* |
CXR |
|
8.00 |
+0.25 |
Radio One, Cl. D* |
ROIAK |
|
0.36 |
-0.03 |
Cumulus* |
CMLS |
|
2.68 |
+0.93 |
Regent* |
RGCI |
|
0.65 |
-0.12 |
Debut Bcg. |
DBTB |
|
0.10 |
-0.02 |
Saga Commun.* |
SGA |
|
4.92 |
+0.32 |
Disney |
DIS |
|
26.72 |
+3.68 |
Salem Comm.* |
SALM |
|
1.17 |
+0.15 |
Emmis* |
EMMS |
|
0.90 |
+0.19 |
Sirius XM |
SIRI |
|
0.51 |
+0.11 |
Entercom* |
ETM |
|
2.87 |
+0.42 |
Spanish Bcg.* |
SBSA |
|
0.32 |
+0.03 |
Entravision |
EVC |
|
1.80 |
0.00 |
Westwood One* |
WON |
|
0.34 |
+0.03 |
*Component of the RBR Radio Index
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Only on RBR.com
Leaving the Lead Story
Out of Show Opens
Ad Business Report
ZenithOptimedia
Slows global ad spend growth
to 4.3%, revising downwards
its earlier forecast
Media, Markets & Money
West North Carolina
Deal revisited, deal sending 6
in unrated portions of western
NC is not a bankruptcy
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Fleming to VP
Dial Global President of Sales, Eileen Decker announced the promotion of Tom Fleming, Dial Global's Midwest Market Manager, to Vice President, Midwest Sales. Fleming has been part of the growth of Dial Global since 2001 when he started working as a Sales Associate for Global Media in the Chicago office.
Hat trick for McGregor
At least it looks to us that Janet McGregor is going to need a lot of hats as she pursues her new responsibilities as Chief Operating and Financial Officer for the National Association of Broadcasters. She'll be in charge of: operations and investments for the nation's premier broadcaster advocacy group, not to mention overseeing the following departments: Conventions and Business Operations, Science and Technology, Information Technology and Administration. Oh, and they also want her to bring in new members from the radio and television communities.
Reeve moves
over and up
At the Cox radio cluster in Orlando, WMMO-FM LSM Shane Reeve is out. But not far out - he's now at sister WHTQ-FM, and with a promotion to GSM reflected on his new business cards.
BE ups Eric Power
Joseph Roark, CEO of Broadcast Electronics (BE), appointed Eric Power to the new position of Manager, Mechanical and PCB Design. Effective immediately, Power is responsible for BE's radio broadcast transmitter mechanical and printed circuit board design activities. He is a six-year employee of BE. |
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RBR.com is now ready to partner with you in our added Media Links section, click and take a look, there's alot there already. Feel free to submit websites for inclusion here. and add RBR.com to your site as a reciprocal link.
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