Copps sets up two more
public ownership confabs
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps isn't backing down on battling ownership deregulation. The Democrat member of the Commission announced that he is setting up "two official FCC media concentration hearings - - one in Seattle in early March at the University of Washington; and a second in Durham, North Carolina later in March at Duke University." Copps has requested the attendance of each of his fellow commissioners. | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |

Radio Unica misses bond payment
Radio Unica (O:UNCA) failed to make a $9,287,670 interest payment that was due Monday (2/3) on its 11.75% senior discount notes. The Spanish radio group owner says in an SEC filing that it is in talks with its bondholders. | Full Story Click Here |

Mayor fights station sale
Hammond, IN Mayor Duane Dedelow Jr. has been in Washington, DC this week trying to stop the sale of WJOB-AM to Starboard Broadcasting, a Catholic radio group that already owns several stations in the Midwest (1/16 RBR Daily Epaper). Dedelow, who is himself Catholic, told the Northwest Indiana Times that the proposed sale would leave the area with no source of local programming. | Full Story Click Here |

Myers sees silver lining in war clouds
Advertising forecaster Jack Myers is bullish on advertising prospects for 2003 and 2004, regardless of whether or not the US goes to war with Iraq. In fact, he says, a war could be a plus for ad spending. | Full Story Click Here |

Brokerage nixes Sirius recommendation
Salomon Smith Barney analyst Armand Musey has been shown the door and the brokerage has rescinded his "outperform" recommendation for Sirius Satellite Radio (O:SIRI). The firm has also dropped coverage of XM Satellite Radio (O:XMSR).

Musey had recommended Sirius to investors even after the company said it might have to file Chapter 11 if a pending refinancing wasn't completed. In announcing the analyst's departure, Salomon Smith Barney parent Citigroup said the report on Sirius "should not be relied upon going forward."

Hey, everybody into the poll pool!
According to numerous reports, the six members of the now defunct Voter News Service (VNS) (1/14 RBR Daily Epaper) - - ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News Channel, CNN and the Associated Press - - have reformed themselves as a consortium to engage a replacement service. | Full Story Click Here |

iBiquity announces another HD Radio licensing incentive
Following up on its Early Adopter Program which waived HD Radio licensing fees for stations that signed up on or before 12/31/02, iBiquity Digital announced 2/5 a new incentive program for broadcasters to convert to digital broadcasting for 2003. In 2002, more than 130 stations in 40 markets spanning 26 states signed licenses to convert to digital (1/14 RBR Daily Epaper). | Full Story Click Here |

Who will head the AP?
With the coming retirement of Lou Boccardi as President and CEO of the Associated Press (2/5/ RBR Daily Epaper), the rumor mill is beginning to focus on a successor - - with the name of Jim Williams, VP and Director of Broadcasting, being mentioned. Jonathan Wolman, who appeared to be the heir apparent to Boccardi, reportedly sent AP colleagues an email taking himself out of contention, saying he wanted to stay in the newsroom. Wolman is EVP and Executive Editor of the AP. If Williams were to become the head of the AP it would mark a milestone for the news cooperative, whose leaders have always before come from the print side.

New mag for Salem
Salem Communications (OSALM) has added another magazine to its print division. In a joint venture with Country Gospel artists Bill and Gloria Gaither, Salem has launched "Homecoming Magazine" as a bi-monthly title.

Clarification: WRR already Arbitron subscriber
Our story yesterday (2/5 RBR daily Epaper) indicated that WRR-FM Dallas was preparing to subscribe to Arbitron (N:ARB) to assist city officials in deciding which swap deal to accept for the Class C signal. In fact, the Dallas City Council authorized the funding several months ago as members began to consider what to do with the Classical station and WRR has been an Arbitron subscriber since last fall.

Columbo called to Launch
No murder has taken place, but Columbo has been called. RBR has learned that Charlie Columbo of United Stations Radio Networks will be announced as the Executive VP/GM of Launch Radio Networks. USRN bought Launch Radio Networks last November (11/18/02 RBR Daily Epaper). The business is the descendant of the former SW Networks, which was rolled into Launch Media. The rest of Launch Media - - an online music site - - remains with Yahoo! (O:YHOO).

Arbitron Ratings Company and the bomb it dropped on Hispanic radio.
Vets at RAB 2003 realize it is not Hispanic radio that is going to be affected but all radio. The scales of ratings justice are out of balance and these vets want it corrected now not in 2006. RBR perspective of Arbitron is simple: It was a service invented for television not radio. (see RBR 2/3 report:)

This major issue will be investigated for its total impact on our radio business, advertising revenues, and sliced and diced for total comprehension.

Advertising space limited and for reservations contact:
Jim Carnegie -- [email protected],
Ken Lee -- [email protected]
June Barnes -- [email protected]
Advertising reservations deadline February 14, 2003.

RBR Observation: The number 1 issue that is affecting not just Hispanic Radio but the entire radio business. Your business. Time is now to support radio's cause with one voice: Radio Business Report, 20 years and counting.