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Europe is Knocking...
Two Opportunities!!!
#1 Get in on the ground floor with the launch of an 8-station digital group based in London, with coverage throughout southern England. Government protected format and licenses. Already on the air.
#2 Program Syndicator with unique format aimed at the huge vacation market. Major station deal in place. Others in the works. Coverage throughout Europe. Music partner is one of the UKs biggest. Both parties are seeking financial support in the $1 million range in return for equity participation.
Contact: Larry Grimes, President, W.B. Grimes & Company, (301) 253-5016; [email protected]

7 Station
Regional Cluster
Excellent Cash Flow in Far Northwest
Cliff at Clifton Gardiner & Co (303)758-6900
[email protected]

Rated Market AM
10KW expanded band AM. Could be move-in to top 25 market.
Cliff at Clifton Gardiner & Co (303)758-6900
[email protected]

Anheuser-Busch looking at old US ads/branding for foreign markets
Anheuser-Busch is updating some of its past US campaigns and seeing if they fit the tastes of audiences overseas. For example, Busch's "Ants" campaign, not seen in the US since the late '90s, is being shown in China and has proven to be a hit. Editor's Note: Those oldies but goodies remind me of you!
02/11/04 TVBR #28

Super Bowl advertisers
complaining to NFL
America's biggest marketers are mulling whether to return to the Super Bowl. Longtime big spenders such as Pepsi and Gillette have communicated in harsh words to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue that if the league does not clean up the halftime act, they might take a pass in 2005. Editor's Note: Remember, in an election year – everyone is looking for a deal deal! 02/11/04 TVBR #28

The Dees Tease leaves KIIS-FM
What many in the biz feel could have been an on-air stunt in that 22-year KIIS-FM, LA morning legend Rick Dees leaves or has left the building at KIIS is true. Rick Dees has said bye-bye, buy bonds and don’t forget to play his only hit record ‘Disco Duck’. Editor's Note: Clear Channel could have made it an exit with a little more class. 02/11/04 RBR #28

Publishers Perspective
RAB 2004 'Accountability'
A Melting Pot boiling over...
President Fries spoke on accountability and EDI but it was delivered a little awkward. It was the 'State of the Industry' speech to an audience that not all were on the same verbal or intelligence level of the issues facing radio that have been long discussed behind closed corporate board meetings, ad agency and client world doors. Publihser Note: Puzzling or pathetic department deals with the press themselves…Pathetic!
02/10/04 RBR #27

FCC’s Michael Powell
threatened to pull CBS licenses
Considered holding a dramatic license revocation hearing against CBS after last week's Super Bowl breast mess. "A furious Powell vocalized the "license revocation" option against CBS-owned broadcast outlets to senior staff at the FCC in the hours and days after the event, a top source said from Washington. Several FCC commissioners believe CBSVIACOM has repeatedly violated indecency rules. Editor's Note: The way these FCC commissioners are stumping you thing they are running for re-election. Hello… you are appointed to the position you have. 02/10/04 RBR #27

PastieGate update:
Mixed decision for Viacom
We're not sure what the other 53% would pick, but Reuters is quoting a Time/CNN poll which has 47% of Americans agreeing that the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake incident at the Super Bowl halftime show represents "a new low in bad taste." However, the same poll said that 68% did not believe that the act warranted punishment for CBS Television. Editor's Note: And the Beat Goes On.. Ta Dum! 02/10/04 RBR #27

Belo chief: Broadcasters
own enemy on indecency
With five CBS affiliates among his 19 TV stations, it's not surprising that Belo CEO Robert Decherd was asked for his take on the Janet Jackson incident and Washington's current focus on indecency. Editor's Note: A classic example of how we, the media, are our own worst enemy! 02/09/04 RBR #26

House subcommittee schedules indecency markup
All of the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee members who joined Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) declared that H.R. 3717 was on the legislative fast track weren't kidding. RBR observation: The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and all the wheels in Washington are squeaking. Everyone wants to get their licks in. Indecency is like the hysterical woman in the movie "Airplane." The entire Congressional roster is lined up, ready to smash it. There's Upton with a baseball bat; then comes Markey with a truncheon; there's Tauzin wielding a revolver; here comes Dingell with a cutlass; and hey - - here comes McCain with a bazooka!
02/09/04 RBR #26

Viewer sues Viacom
over Super Bowl flash
You knew this was coming. A woman in Tennessee has filed a federal lawsuit against Viacom and everyone involved in last Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show, claiming she was injured by the broadcast image of Janet Jackson's breast.The lawsuit claims that Carlin, a Knoxville bank employee, and millions of other Americans were injured by "sexually explicit conduct" during the halftime show. Editor's Note: Humna Human Humna! 02/06/04 RBR #25

Senate jumping into
indecency game as well
Unwilling to let members of the House hog the spotlight for attacking broadcast indecency, the Senate is launching its own review of Janet Jackson's bare breast and other allegedly indecent broadcasts. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has scheduled a hearing. Editor's Note: Set your VCR’s. 02/06/04 RBR #25

Carlin case lawyer see
FCC impotent on indecency
Although he lost the Supreme Court case on a narrow 5-4 vote, the lawyer who represented Pacifica Foundation's WBAI-FM New York in the famous George Carlin indecency case doesn't think the FCC is going to get anywhere with its current effort to crack down on indecent broadcasts. Rather, David Tillotson sees the Commission racing toward actions which it will be unable to defend in court. RBR observation: With the current FCC hell-bent on compounding the problems with its indecency rules, rather than fixing them, it appears that the courts are the only hope for eventually straightening out this mess. Unfortunately, we don't see than happening in the foreseeable future. Editor's note: You can hear the actual Carlin piece here, but be warned, these are the actual 7 banned words. 02/05/04 RBR #24

Analyst sees another
soft month in January
Broadcasters may be looking for a much better year in 2004 than the final report on 2003 issued this week by the RAB. RBR observation: The gurus see good times ahead, but now it's still time to work like we're still in a recession. In truth, we're not out of the woods yet. Bob Coen of Universal McCann, Mark Fratrik of BIA Financial Network, Robin Flynn of Kagan World Media. Down load February’s Solutions Magazine in digital just by clicking here and read what all 6 Ad Chiefs forecast. Compare. 02/04/04 RBR #23