Radio News ®

The Bold Three,
Shaw, Flood & Gray,
go back to 125 West 55th Street.
It's long been a standard practice in the rep business to buy out client contracts - - when a group jumps reps or a group buys a new station not with their usual rep - - but now it appears that there may be a new twist coming - - buying out rep company executive contracts. No one will officially confirm it, but numerous RBR sources say that the three Katz Radio Group executives who led the mass defection to Interep - - Steve Shaw, Tucker Flood, Mark Gray - - have been seen back at the Katz offices at 125 West 55th Street since last Wednesday (11/19) and want to stay there, even though they have contracts with Interep. RBR Observation: If there is any redeeming factor from all of this cab fare back and forth, plus hotel food, is the status of the everyday sales person. | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |

I'm on the Mexican - - woe-ohh - - radio
The DOJ is looking into the Clear Channel radio station cluster in the San Diego market. In a nation where the legal single-market limit on stations is eight, this cluster indeed appears to be quite bloated. Clear Channel's own website lists no less than 15 stations. Clear Channel says it will do what it must to stay within the law.
RBR observation: This investigation may be premature.
| Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |

Magnum preparing political bid
The FCC rule change that killed his deal to sell six of his radio stations to Mid-West Family Radio also derailed Dave Magnum's plans to run against Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in 2004. But Magnum, pictured with his two sons, tells RBR he still has political plans and is getting Magnum Radio in shape to allow him to run for office. RBR observation: Well, Arnold pulled it off.
| Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |

Adbiz ©

Old Navy launches Hispanic effort with Erik Estrada
Old Navy is launching its first Spanish-language TV campaign this holiday season. The ads are a part of the brand's growth strategy to speak directly to its key customer segments. The "Fiesta" campaign, featuring Erik Estrada and Walter Mercado, officially introduces Hispanics to the brand and touts affordable and fashionable holiday gifts for the entire family. The two 30-second spots debuted on 11/23 and air until 12/24 on Telemundo, Univision, Galavision and Telefutura. In "Fiesta Hooded," Erik Estrada opens the door to a colorful world featuring Old Navy performance fleece graphic hooded sweatshirts for the entire family. At the unbeatable prices, Erik exclaims, "Not getting it would be a crime!" In "Fiesta Half-Zip," the adored astrologer and psychic Walter Mercado takes viewers on a magical journey featuring Old Navy half-zip pullovers for the entire family. Walter predicts, "I see it in your future."

Media, Markets & Money tm

Career Ads™

RBR Magazine goes Digital

Washington Beat

Programming

Magnum shuffles formats in Wisconsin
At first glance, going Country in the La Crosse, WI market wouldn't appear to be a logical choice. La Crosse (once an Arbitron-rated metro, but no more) already has three stations in the format - - WCOW-FM, WQCC-FM and KQYB-FM. Nevertheless, Magnum Radio Group has been moving formats around on its La Crosse-Tomah, WI cluster, with the biggest change being its 94.5 mHz station. What was previously Oldies WBOG-FM is now country WTMB-FM. The Oldies format and WBOG calls have moved to what had been Adult Standards WTMB-AM. | Full Story Click Here |

Engineered for Profit

Crawford's WSRB-FM Chicago adds HD Radio;can HD radio simulcast?
Crawford Broadcasting's WSRB-FM (prev. WYCA-FM) Chicago (106.3) has added an HD Radio digital signal, via BE's FMi-703 digital/analog transmitter. The crosstown simulcast station, WYRB-FM is also on 106.3. No word if it will add a digital signal as well. Analog simulcasting in a market is somewhat of an engineering feat as is; digital could be even more complicated. We asked iBiquity CEO Bob Struble about it: "We haven't done any testing with simulcasting. We know that it's theoretically possible. We're working on the problem with Harris, but to our knowledge it hasn't been actually done yet. But there's no reason to believe it shouldn't be-we've just got to figure out how to do it."

Monday Morning Shakers & Makers

Deals: 10/20-24
This was basically another slow week, but it featured one deal which accounted for 50% of the stations moved and 80% of the cash moved - - the deal in which Cherry Creek Radio entered the business by buying out Dex Allen's Commonwealth group. Only three other deals made it into seven figures.

Transactions

$41,000,000 24 stations in nine markets from Commonwealth License Subsidiary LLC to Cherry Creek Radio LLC.

$4,000,000 KLSB-TV Tyler-Longview (Nacogdoches TX) from KLSB Television LLC to Max Media.

N/A WLIE-AM Nassau-Suffolk (Islip NY). 65.6% of Long Island Multimedia from Stan Henry and Tom Rohr to Stuart Henry.

| More Details Click Here |

Stock Talk

Radio Stocks