CEO's say NO more pacing revenues for radio
That is the take from the NAB group fly-in last Thursday and Friday, 2-6 &7/03. Numbers will be kept confidential and Wall Street will get its briefing during regular quarterly conference calls. Groups were unanimous that Wall Street with their hedge funds and short traders are, in some cases, making life more difficult than just running their groups. RAB and President/CEO Gary Fries has been told to only give the basics of stating to Wall Street and the trade press if radio is doing well or not. No guruing.
| Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |

Commissioners to have a ball in Richmond
We've known for some time about the open FCC meeting for public discussion of the FCC's review of broadcast ownership rules scheduled for Richmond 2/27 (1/24 RBR Daily Epaper). We know also know where: the Greater Richmond Convention Center's Ballroom Building will be the site. The meeting will run from 10AM-4PM eastern. The meeting is open to the public, with first-come, first-served seating. The specific agenda is forthcoming in the near future. | RBR Observation |

Cox shuffles the deck
Three Cox Radio (N:CXR) employees have been promoted, and several market execs have taken on added responsibility. Marc Morgan has been upped to Executive VP and COO. Dick Ferguson also gets Executive VP stripes. Caroline Devine, who is VP/GM of a pair of San Antonio FMs, is upped to Regional VP and adds oversight of the group's Honolulu cluster.
| Full Story Click Here |

Hearst-Argyle revenues up 21%, cash flow 37%
As the name would indicate, Hearst-Argyle Television (N:HTV) is overwhelmingly a TV company, so radio is hardly ever mentioned in the company's quarterly conference calls. Friday (2/7) was an exception, though, as CEO David Barrett named off the company's top performers for 2002. | Full Story Click Here |

Interep stock moves to SmallCap market
After many months of trading as a penny stock - - with no likelihood of getting back above $5 per share anytime soon, Interep (O:IREP) announced late Friday (2/7) that Nasdaq has moved its stock from the Nasdaq National Market to the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The change is effective today. "The company believes that there will be no effect on the number of market makers, trading volume, or institutional interest in its Class A common stock, or its ability to raise capital," Interep said in its announcement.

Meissner resigns from Journal board
Journal Communications has informed its employee stockholders that David Meissner has resigned from the company's board of directors. Meissner had represented the interests of the founding Grant family, which remains the company's largest shareholder with approximately a 10% stake. According to a letter to shareholders from CEO Steve Smith, Meissner stepped down from the board to retain his independence in representing the family's interests as the company explores sources of new capital, possibly including an IPO (10/29/02 RBR Daily Epaper). "David emphasized the family's ongoing support for our company and its leadership," Smith said in his letter. Meissner's resignation was effective 2/5.

NBR in full swing in Nashville
More than 6,000 people arrived in Nashville over the weekend for the 60th Annual National Religious Broadcasters Conference. The NRB's opening general session kicked off Saturday night to a standing room only crowd invoking this year’s theme “Changing World, Unchanging Message.” This morning, the highlight is a visit from the president of the United States. | Full Story Click Here |

Amber Alert bill stalled in House
The Amber Alert bill that would craft and fund a nationwide missing child alert is stalled in the House, after recently passing the Senate. Proponents of the measure, including Ed Smart, the father of missing girl Elizabeth Smart, appealed last week to House members to pass the bill. The House version of the bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Martin Frost (D-VA) and Jennifer Dunn (R-OR), who have opted to seek passage of the Senate version - - re-introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) - -(1/17 RBR Daily Epaper) to expedite the process.

Titanic blunder by radio's juggernaut?
Will the pundits be pointing out that there is a link between rearranging the radio formats in Minot ND and rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? It just could be a possibility - - Clear Channel Communications (N:CCU) owns all six in-town stations in Minot and it is concurrently putting artifacts from the famously-doomed liner on display in Los Angeles. | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |

SAG, AFTRA board approve consolidation plan
Directors of both the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) voted over the weekend to approve a consolidation plan for the unions. The vote was unanimous for the 69 SAG directors, but three of the 75 AFTRA directors voted "no."

With the merger resolution approved by both boards, SAG and AFTRA have directed their union staffs and the committees who drafted the consolidation plan to begin work on the next steps - - a constitution, a business plan and a plan for implementation and transition. Those are to be presented to both boards for another vote 4/5, followed by a vote of each union's rank-and-file members. Both AFTRA and SAG require 60% membership approval for the merger to take place.

Terror threat level raised
The US government on Friday (2/7) increased its terrorism threat level to "Orange" - - the second highest alert - - from "Yellow," citing new threats that terrorists were likely to target 'soft" targets such as apartment buildings and hotels. The increased terror threat designation sent stock prices lower - - reversing an early rise which had come after a government report that unemployment had dropped to 5.7% in January.

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],
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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.