Friday Morning February 17th, 2012, Volume 29, Issue 34
In Saturday's issue of RBR-TVBR's Weekend Report, we look at:
1) An economic recovery finally at hand?;
2) 2012 is about customer interaction; and
3) Using attention grabbers & personal branding.
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 John & Ken suspended for Whitney Houston comments; reaction
Here they go again-not long after the immigrants rights comments that caused a boycott and protest, Clear Channel's KFI-AM LA announced 2/16 it is suspending immediately talk hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou "for making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney Houston."
RBR-TVBR observation: This time, the station did it right--immediate suspension. Last time, with them giving out the cellphone number of DREAM act advocate Jorge-Mario Cabrera in September and encouraging listeners to call him, the station hesitated and it took a turn for the worse. Here's what we had said during that odyssey: More...
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Now the tax man objects to Inner City auction
The US Attorney for Southern New York has now jumped into the Inner City Media Corporation (ICMC) bankruptcy case, opposing the planned auction of the company's radio stations as a tax dodge. By putting the assets to auction, rather than reorganizing under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the US Treasury may be denied $31 million in taxes.
RBR-TVBR observation: Given the adversarial nature of this bankruptcy case, which began with the senior creditors filing an involuntary bankruptcy petition, it is pretty absurd for the IRS, via the US Attorney, to claim that this is some conspiracy to avoid paying taxes. More...
Gingrich-backing PAC using conservative radio
National radio talent such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin will supply the conservative voters, and Winning Our Future will supply the message, which is to beat back the candidacy of Mitt Romney and put Newt Gingrich in the driver's seat when the Republican Party tries to take back the White House in November.
RBR-TVBR observation: In a general election, a conservative spending to reach the audience these talkers deliver could be seen as wasteful preaching to the choir. But it makes perfect sense right now, where the strong approval of conservatives could be the key to winning the Republican nomination. More...
Light Media updates with full year financials
A few days ago we reported on Q4 results for penny stock company and relatively new radio station owner Light Media Holdings. Now the company has added full year 2011 results as well. More...
Duluth residents slam Lex and Terry's "mentally challenged" segment
The segment on the nationally-syndicated "Lex and Terry Show," which airs on Red Rock Radio's KZIO-FM Duluth, is being called by some area residents as insensitive and offensive to people with cognitive disabilities. More...
Review all Radio News at RBR.com
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Incentive auctions approaching the runway
In an almost shocking display of ability to actually get something done, Congress is on the verge of passing an extension of the middle class payroll tax cut, among other things, and part of the bill will set in motion the long-discussed incentive auction program of television spectrum. Both NAB and CTIA signaled their approval of the measure to be adopted. More...
Antiabortionist Terry looks to book ads in Oklahoma
Randall Terry, the purported Democratic candidate for president in 2012 who failed to get graphic antiabortion advertising aired during the recent Super Bowl telecast, is back, trying to get his ads on the air in Oklahoma, where he is on the Democratic primary ballot. According to a story in Tulsa World, broadcasters are afraid to turn down the ads. According to attorney Gregg Skall who has done considerable work in this area, there is ample precedent to keep Terry off the airwaves.
RBR-TVBR observation: The purpose of protecting the advertising messages of bona fide candidates is to prevent broadcast management that might oppose a candidate from restricting the candidate's access to voters. It is not to allow party machinery to be hijacked by an individual with an axe to grind. We call on the FCC to state the rules on this matter clearly, with as broad a brush as possible. More...
S&P keeps Nexstar on CreditWatch
There's been no public movement on Nexstar Broadcasting Group's effort to sell itself, but Standard & Poor's says the TV company will remain on its CreditWatch list. So, S&P will wait with the rest of us to see what happens - or doesn't, since a previous sale attempt in 2007 was eventually abandoned.
RBR-TVBR observation: Stay tuned. Interest in TV transactions has certainly picked up lately. However, Nexstar is a pretty big investment for someone to make. More...
Review all TV News at RBR.com
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Featured Listing
Sales Manager
Mendota Broadcasting in LaSalle-Peru, IL is looking for a general sales manager for our six stations in LaSalle-Peru, IL. Top three rated stations in the market, no TV or out-of-market radio competitors. GM has served as part-time SM for recent years, but with more to sell and additional sellers, full-time SM is needed. More information at www.rbr.com
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Radio's Hiring Hot List
 Sports Reporter, MT
On Air/Production, NY
Financial Analyst, NY
View all Radio jobs
New Listings
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TV's Hiring Hot List
Supervisor, Sales Support, VA
Supervisor, Sales Support, VA
Producer FT, VA
View all TV jobs
New Listings
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Good news on jobs front boosts stocks - 2/16/12
New claims for unemployment benefits fell, which put Wall Street traders in a buying frame of mind. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 123 points, or 1%, to 12,904 - its highest close since May of 2008. Broadcasting stocks had a good day. The RBR Radio Index was up 2.005, or 0.6%, to 358.745. The TVBR Television Index was up 1.878, or 0.7%, to 263.389. More...
Review all Broadcast Stocks News at RBR.com
Winners |
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Losers |
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| Gray |
+5.4% |
Emmis |
-4.7% |
| Dial Global |
+4.6% |
ACME |
-4.3% |
Salem |
+3.9% |
Radio One |
-1.7% |
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For additional reports, ideas, analysis, interviews, and
RBR/TVBR Observations...visit and bookmark www.RBR.com
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Internet Business Report
What's Google up to?
With that antenna farm
Ad Business Report
Want ice with that?
McDonald's re-ups with NHL
Media, Markets & Money
Sorting out two deals
As Florida non-comms move around |
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DC GM
Gannett's Broadcasting Division announced Mark Burdett has been named President and General Manager of WUSA-TV (CBS) Washington, DC, succeeding retiring Allan Horlick. Burdett formerly was VP of corporate sales and development for the NFL Baltimore Ravens.
Dialing up Cohen
Dial Global appointed Jacqueline Cohen as National Account Manager, based in LA. She joins from Cumulus Media Networks.
On Broadway
Victor Rukaj, most recently at MediaVest, has joined ad management software company Broadway Systems as part of its New York City-based client services team.
News boss
Scott Livingston has been named Vice President of News for Sinclair Television Group. He had been News Director of Sinclair's flagship station, WBFF-TV (Fox) Baltimore. |
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NBA locked out CBS / Spectrum auctions back in play
02/16/12 RBR-TVBR #33
Moby in hot water / Indecency complaints to FCC low
02/15/12 RBR-TVBR #32
Inner City vs. Inner City / Researching the Olympics
02/14/12 RBR-TVBR #31
Spectrum bill still disputed / Analyst ups Sinclair's 2012
02/13/12 RBR-TVBR #30
Broadcast stocks cheap / Get your bids in for Nassau
02/12/12 Sunday edition
Avoid the Kodak Moment / Focusing Your Marketing Message
02/11/12 Saturday edition
NBA lockout and lack of political weighed on CBS stations in Q4
Revenues were down 3% to $3.78 billion in Q4 for CBS Corporation, although earnings were up. A good chunk of the revenue decline was in the local broadcast business, which had been fueled by political advertising a year earlier - not to mention an NBA season that didn't have a lockout.
02/16/12 RBR-TVBR #33
Comcast reworking of NBCU still in early stages (audio)
NBCUniversal was a contributor to Q4 growth for Comcast, [LINK] but company officials are making it clear that much remains to be done at NBCU. The early focus has been on integrating the two companies, with a new management structure at NBCU, headed by Comcast veteran Steve Burke as CEO, merging the former Comcast cable nets into NBCU and trying to jump-start the ratings engine at NBC.
02/16/12 RBR-TVBR #33
NAB working to keep political ad info off line
The National Association of Broadcasters does not have a problem with the concept of online public files. However, it does have a problem with posting sensitive ratecard information there as part of its disclosure on political advertising activity. At least one watchdog thinks this is a "bizarre claim," since anyone - including competitors - could go to the station and get the info.
RBR-TVBR observation: In our opinion, this isn't about broadcaster v. broadcaster; it's about broadcast v. all competing advertising venues. The argument should not be whether this sensitive information should be posted online as well as in the file cabinet, the argument is that absent a blanket disclosure rule that applies to all media, this sensitive information shouldn't be filed anywhere.
02/16/12 RBR-TVBR #33
FCC station fines keep on coming
The licensees of radio stations could better adhere to their supply of cash if they make sure they also adhere to basic FCC rules and regulations. Yet the parade of stations that fall short of complying with two of most basic rules - public file maintenance and timely license renew filing - continues unabated.
RBR-TVBR observation: It is hard enough to make ends meet in the broadcasting business these days. That makes it more important than ever to avoid these kinds of utterly unnecessary expenses.
02/16/12 RBR-TVBR #33
NZ radio divorce stunt backfires
A Valentines Day competition at MediaWorks' "The Rock" FM in New Zealand was supposed to have a woman being told her husband is divorcing her live on air. This time, the stunt backfired on Robert Taylor and Jono Pryor, hosts of The Rock FM's Drive.
RBR-TVBR observation: Bottom line, it's good entertainment. When the listeners get one over on the show hosts, everyone laughs.
02/16/12 RBR-TVBR #33
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