|
|
|
Volume 22, Issue 41, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
|
Monday Morning February 28th, 2005
|
|
|
Radio News®
|
 LIM taking a short term toll at Clear Channel
"We're leading the radio industry through a profound metamorphosis," Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays declared as he touted the Less is More (LIM) initiative during the company's quarterly conference call. But change is not without pain. Radio revenues are currently pacing down 5.6% for Q1 at Clear Channel. In Friday's conference call, Clear Channel Radio CEO  John Hogan acknowledged that LIM is holding down revenues in the short term. He said, though, that sell-out rates are improving month-to-month under LIM. Also, there is upward pressure on prices. Hogan said prices now are higher than a year ago for :60 spots, :30s, :15s and the premium first-in-pod spots. Asked by one analyst whether advertisers have sought to negate the cost of first-in-pod by seeking discounts for lesser positions, Hogan insisted, "We have not gotten pushback." He insisted that all spot positions now are better than a year ago because Clear Channel's pods are now no longer than four minutes or six units on its music stations. Hogan isn't being pinned down on how quickly the move to more music and less commercials will pay off in higher ratings. He said it could be one book, three books, or five books. But he said if you listen to a Clear Channel station today, you will hear that the product is better for listeners because there are fewer minutes of commercials each hour and shorter spot breaks.
Westwood One sees growth in '05 after soft Q4
After coming up short of Wall Street expectations in Q4, Westwood One is telling investors to expect revenue gains in the low to mid single digits this year, resulting in EBITDA growth in the mid single digits. While the company's local business - - selling advertising for its Metro Networks radio and TV traffic reports - - was strong in Q4, the market for Westwood One's national business - - its radio network ad sales - - was described as "tough." CEO Shane Coppola refuses to give specifics about month-to-month pacings, but he did give analysts a hint about January and how things look a few months out.
 Coppola sees profits in satellite radio
Shane Coppola may be an employee of Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting, which runs Westwood One under a management agreement, but he doesn't share the contempt that many at Infinity hold for the satellite radio business. Rather, he sees it as a new profit center for Westwood One. In his quarterly conference call, Coppola noted that during Q4 Westwood One struck an agreement to provide Sirius Satellite Radio with Westwood's coverage of the NCAA basketball tournament. "This exciting new programming agreement demonstrates the benefits of our business model. We've leveraged our existing production and programming infrastructure to market our content to a new distribution channel. The increased distribution will create larger listening audiences, which will benefit our advertisers and enable us to generate increased revenues for this exciting event, which begins next month," he said. Coppola indicated that some other deals of this type are in the works for this year.
RBR observation: Here's something you probably don't know - - and Coppola may not even know, since he wasn't at the company at the time. Back in the very early 1990s, Westwood One looked seriously at applying for a license when the FCC was first looking at approving creation of the satellite radio business. However, Westwood One was financially strained at the time, so it had to pass.
|
|
|
FCC turns down another PTC complaint
An episode of WB's "Angel," which aired 11/19/03 and came to the attention of Parents Television Council over Tribune's Channel 50 WBDC-TV in Washington, has been declared nonactionable. PTC had complained that WBDC and other WB affiliates should have been hit with an indecency fine over the episode. PTC described two allegedly offensive scenes. One involved a male vampire on top of a female vampire. PTC notes, "...their clothes are on, but his body rocks back and forth and their breathing is heavy..." In the other incident, a female is on a female, and the one on top had her "...hips moving back and forth." The FCC said, "...the cited material is not sufficiently graphic or explicit. Both scenes are brief. Neither scene at issue contains any nudity and neither is sufficiently graphic or explicit to render the program patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards."
RBR observation: When I was a child, Betty Boop was on all the time, and she was in a perpetual state of gyration, as I recall it. At the mere sight of her, male characters' eyeballs telescoped out three feet, and sometimes they even transformed into salivating wolves. Where, oh where was the outrage? Idea: Perhaps, to placate the decency vigilantes over at PTC, we can go into production with something like "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm the Vampire Slayer." Hey, Hollywood, let's do lunch.
Agree to decree in Melbourne
Some of the biggest stories of 2004 involved consent decrees between the FCC and some of the largest companies in the history of broadcasting. The pinnacle was the 3.5M agreement between the FCC and Viacom , which enriched the federal treasury while relieving Viacom of a heaping helping of indecency liability. But consent decrees are not always about major companies and hot issues. Such is the agreement between the FCC and the Brevard Youth Education Broadcasting Corporation, which operates WCEE-LP in Melbourne FL. It appears that the noncom licensee has gone over the line in its use of underwriting announcements. The consent decree allows the FCC to make its point forcibly without going so far as to put a violation in the licensee's rap sheet. To that end, BYEBC will make a $1K contribution to the treasury and will institute a training program for existing and future underwriters to assure they are aware of the rules, and management will review all underwriting content prior to broadcast.
RBR observation: For you small commercial and noncommercial companies, it may come as a relief that the same avenue utilized by the likes of Lowry Mays and Sumner Redstone is open to your traffic as well. Sometimes you can put on a program and help enrich our nation, all while keeping your FCC record spotless.
 Stern guest clams up on SEC probe
A week ago, Chaunce Hayden was happy to talk about being subpoenaed by the SEC in a probe of possible insider trading relating to the announcement by Howard Stern that he would move to Sirius Satellite Radio (2/21/05 RBR #36). But after meeting with the SEC investigator last Thursday, he changed his tune. Hayden has now retained legal counsel and replied with a "no comment" when RBR/TVBR asked what had transpired with the SEC. Hayden, a New York-New Jersey celebrity gossip reporter, had appeared frequently on Stern's program and predicted on ABC News On Demand in September that Stern would be signing with Sirius. He was also in the studio on the day of the actual announcement - - October 6th.
RBR observation: Hayden made all the rounds to all the TV news outlets to quip this pre-thoughts on what he would tell the SEC before the doors closed behind him and swear to tell the truth. Hayden said on one cable news channel - He knows nothing and has nothing to hide and will tell the truth. Hayden felt the SEC was making a big deal out of nothing as for all he was just a gossip columnist.
|
|
|
|
| RBR News Analysis |
Ed Christian says radio's epitaph is premature
Some guest analysis today from Saga Communications CEO Ed Christian. In his quarterly conference call last week, Christian got hot under the collar about the rash of magazine, newspaper and Internet news articles about how the radio business is under siege from such new challengers as satellite radio and iPods. Christian has the words of experience so we encourage you to listen to what he has to say in this 3:21 education for many young in the business. We like the talk and the challenge of "Lets see if satellite radio can do a remote for a local car dealership." RBR feels the same--as Big Ed notes that Local Radio has muscle--but RBR states that Local hasn't gone into the gym and pumped iron lately. RBR believes Local is the driving engine of the train and if you missed our Local presentation on how Radio the power of Local Muscle take a listen and review and pass it along. The Local spot is great and see the RBR Challenge.
|
|
|
|
| Conference Calls Q4 2004 |
 Westwood One
disappointed The Street
Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had expected Westwood One to report Q4 revenues of 153 million, but while revenues were up 3.8% for the quarter, that only took them to 151.6 million. Likewise, on the bottom line earnings per share were 31 cents, two pennies short of the analysts' consensus. What happened? CFO Andy Zaref noted that local sales (advertising on the Metro Networks radio and TV traffic reports) were up in every quarter of the year, including a gain of more than 10% in Q4, but national sales for the company's radio networks was the drag on performance. For all of 2004, local sales were up 5.5%, while national rose only 2.9% - - and that included sales for the Summer Olympics.
Clear Channel hit its number in Q4
Q1 is looking to be a challenge, due to the implementation of its Less is More initiative to reduce commercial loads on its radio stations, but Clear Channel hit the mark that Wall Street had set in Q4. Total revenues were up 1% to 2.31 billion bucks. But while that was slightly less than analysts had expected, the company held down costs and produced earnings per share of 37 cents (after deducting one-time items) - - exactly the Thomson First Call consensus. Radio revenues were essentially flat for the quarter, slipping less than a million bucks to 964.5 million. Outdoor revenues rose 12% to 685.7 million, but CC Entertainment saw revenues drop 12% to 525.5 million. The "other" category was up 15% to 174.8 million. "Other" is primarily Clear Channel's TV group and the Katz rep firm. In his quarterly conference call, CEO Mark Mays said TV revenues were "very good" for the quarter and full year and that Katz had "very good" growth for both the quarter and all of 2004. Like Viacom the day before (2/25/05 RBR #40), Clear Channel took a big hit on its bottom line because of new accounting rules on how it has to value goodwill and intangibles for its radio and outdoor assets. That 4.9 billion non-cash charge took the company from a profit of 214.3 million to a loss of 4.7 billion - - at least on paper.
|
|
|
|
|
Adbiz©
|
 RBR exclusive Part 2:
Interep's roundtable with
radio and agency execs
Last Friday (2/25 RBR #40), we outlined the findings of the dialogue between radio and ad agency execs with our RBR observation: If radio doesn't brand itself as a local medium - - community involvement - - as teenagers grow up, they are going to find other avenues to depend on when something local happens in their community. The answer for now is to get local. More local ad reads from the air staff. Local DJs. Local flavor. Local bands. Local content. Local interest. Local partnerships. Local identity. Local events. Locally programmed. Back to basics. | More... |
Jacuzzi names Y&R Brands global AOR
Jacuzzi Brands, a global manufacturer and distributor of branded bath, spa and plumbing products for the residential, commercial and institutional markets, announced Young & Rubicam Brands - including Y&R, Burson-Marsteller and Wunderman and mediaedge:cia - has been selected as its global AOR for Jacuzzi and Sundance branded products. The globally integrated, cross-practice agency team tailored for Jacuzzi will work together with Jacuzzi's marketing group, to build market and product awareness worldwide. The agency team will be centered in San Francisco and involve teams in New York, London, Paris and Milan. Jacuzzi had been working with Y&R Brands on select strategic branding and positioning initiatives for the past 18 months. This work led to the expansion of work globally to encompass all communications disciplines.
CC Radio: "Less is More" initiative progressing positively
Clear Channel Radio revealed that adoption of key elements of its "Less is More" initiative are progressing positively and exceeding expectations. Among the specific progress: -- Early listener feedback from local markets is positive. The Company expects to see first quantitative proof Less is More's value to listeners reflected in the Arbitron ratings book available later in 2005. -- Demand and pricing for 60-, 30-, and 15-second spots sold in January and February increased sequentially and year over year. Additionally, local station management is seeing advertisers booking earlier. -- Interest in new premium positions, including first-in-pods and islands, is significant; -- Agency and advertiser adoption of shorter commercial lengths is encouraging. Stations are selling up to three times as many 30-second spots, and up to 50% more 15-second spots compared to last year. In Friday's quarterly conference call, Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan acknowledged that the company's efforts to move advertisers to shorter spots is being more readily accepted at the local level, where account reps are dealing directly with retail accounts. But he detailed some successes at the national level as well.
 Body Billboardz launches exchange
for human ad space
"Body Billboardz" launched last month as a network bringing together those who are willing to sell space on their body with advertisers interested in buying that space, reports AdRants. BodyBillboardz.com is a classified ad-style website especially popular with college students trying to pay off debts and and make some extra money. Profiles are created by those willing to be "branded" and matched the corporate sponsors, who can review each participant's demographic and psychographic profile and align it with their advertising plans. Members are from the US, Canada, and Germany in the age range of 19-35 and are allowed to upload photos so the advertisers can view the potential image of their 'walking billboard'.
|
|
|
|
|
April Radio & Television Business Report
|
Be sure to catch our blockbuster April NAB issue:
One on One: We interview outgoing NAB CEO Eddie Fritts.
Feature: What kind of individual would industry leaders like to see head the NAB?
AdBiz: But will they buy it?
We ask agencies and the industry about support for new, unproven formats.
Media, Markets and Money: We check the financing climate: Is financing still readily available for radio and TV deals?
Advertisers: Don't miss this chance to appear in Eddie Fritts' farewell interview!
Call Today, space is limited.
June Barnes at 803-731-5951 or
Jim Carnegie at 813-909-2916 |
|
|
Don't miss your copy!
|
|
|
|
| Media Markets & MoneyTM |
Salem says block programs are up 5%
Religious specialist Salem Communications says its annual negotiations for national block programming have produced contracts which will result in revenues from block programming rising about 5% in 2005. The company said that over 90% of its block programming business was successfully renewed. Salem, which will report its Q4 results a week from today (3/7), said its revenues for the quarter came in with a same station gain of approximately 9%. That's slightly below the increased guidance the company issued in December (12/7/04 RBR #237) which indicated a same station gain of 10%.
Salem scores a pair on Florida's Gulf coast
Carl Marcocci's WGUL-FM Inc. is spinning off a pair of AMs to Salem Communications' Caron Broadcasting license company. WGUL-AM Dunedin will form a superduopoly in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market, and WLSS-AM will mark the group's entry into the Sarasota-Bradenton market. The deal is for 9.5M cash. Marcocci will retain several other stations in the general area. In Tampa, Salem already owns WTBN-AM and WTWD-AM. The transaction was handled by Jorgenson Broadcast Brokerage who was the exclusive broker in the deal.
RBR observation: RBR has staff in the Tampa market, and still more staff in the Sarasota market. But seeing the name Carl Marcocci always gets our attention. When we saw that Carl Marcocci stands to collect 9.5M, we walked across the hall and asked Carl where we were going for lunch. RBR Senior Editor Carl Marcucci informed us that he spells his last name with a "u," not an "o" and that we were on our own for lunch, as usual. Oh well...
|
|
|
|
| Washington Beat |
FCC will now review Stipe sale
The FCC, in an about-face, has decided to reconsider its decision that allowed Gene Stipe, a prominent Oklahoma politician convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice to sell his group of stations. Stipe's Little Dixie Radio sold KMCO-FM and KNED-AM to Southeastern Oklahoma Radio, and KESC-FM to KESC Enterprises. Stipe's other company, Bottom Line Broadcasting sold KTMC AM & FM. | More... |
 Another round of Auction
37 winners waved ahead
The latest round of green lights stemming from last fall's FM Auction No. 37 has been announced - - it's becoming an FCC Media Bureau Friday ritual. Cash is due 3/11/05, but with the ten-day grace period, the true final due date is 3/25/05. Connoisseur Media leads the way with 10 hits, followed by College Creek with seven. Cumulus media scored a pair. Here are the proud parents-to-be and their venues: Aurora Media: Caliente NV; Christina Bourdeaux: Hanapepe HI; College Creek Broadcasting: Castle Dale UT, Cheyenne WY, Dove Creek CO; Elko NV, Paxton NE, Presho SD & Thayne WY; Colomoa Broadcasting: Hamilton City CA; Connoisseur Media: Augusta KS, Box Elder SD, Heyworth IL, Joliet MT, Kenova WV, Lockwood MT, Normal IL, Pacific Junction IA, Patterson IA & Pleasantville IA; Cumulus: Humboldt NE & Lanesboro MN; Todd Deneui: Palisade CO; Julie Epperson: Enfield NC; Idaho Wireless: Bethel AK; James River Broadcasting: Wimbledon ND; Gary Katz: Susanville CA; Kona Coast Radio LLC: Rock River WY; Tammy L. Pearce: Corrigan TX; Radick Construction: Big Sky MT, Manhattan MT; Radio Layne: Delta Junction, AK; Radioactive: Brodhead KY & Rockford IA; Smoke and Mirrors: Cal-Nev-Ari NV; Simon T: El Jebel CO; United States CP: Rye CO; White Park Broadcasting: two CPs in Douglas WY.
Looking for a few good eagles
Warren Zevon famously wrote, "Send lawyers, guns and money." At the FCC they have no use for guns, and are at the mercy of the White House and Congress when it comes to money. But when it comes to lawyers, they are taking matters into their own hands with the revival of the Attorney Honors Program, an effort to bolster the Commission's legal staff with fresh-out-of-college legal eagles. Of the two-year program, FCC Chairman Michael Powell said, "This Honors Program provides a unique chance to help shape communications policy in the digital age and to find out first-hand how rewarding a public service career can be." The program will kick off in the fall. Interested candidates who will either graduate in spring 2005 or are recent, non-bar graduates, are invited to apply by 3/31/05, with cover letter, resume, writing sample and law school transcript. Kim Mattos of the Office of General Counsel is handling the process.
|
|
|
|
| Programming |
USRN signs Groove Addicts, MannGroup
United Stations Radio Networks has signed multi-year marketing arrangements with both Groove Addicts and MannGroup Radio establishing USRN as the exclusive marketing rep for their commercial inventory. Both clients are based in LA. USRN's NYC-based EVP/GM Jim Higgins made the announcement in conjunction with Groove Addicts CEO/Creative Director Dain Blair and MannGroup Radio President Ed Mann. These agreements help strengthen USRN's marketing reach primarily In the youth-oriented radio marketplace as well as in the 25-54 arena. Groove Addicts production tools, services and music libraries are provided to stations in a similar capacity to USRN's Comedy and Prep divisions. Groove Addicts and MannGroup Radio will continue to handle their own affiliate marketing efforts while USRN will fill the roles of handling ad sales and other revenue-generating vehicles.
|
|
|
|
| Ratings & Research |
 Bridge Ratings study:
Stern listeners undecided on Sirius move
Bridge Ratings is currently measuring radio listening and audience behavior in Howard Stern markets LA, San Diego, Phoenix, Boston, Detroit. In response to queries regarding the potential audience Howard will take with him to Sirius in January of '06, Bridge Ratings has been surveying Stern listeners in these markets to determine the interest in subscribing to the service due to Howard's migration. For the purposes of this survey, Bridge Ratings did telephone call-backs to listeners who voted Howard as their "Favorite" morning show personality during our weekly listener surveys of these markets from 11/04-1/05. | More... |
|
|
|
|
| Monday Morning Makers & Shakers |
|
Transactions: 1/17/05-1/21/05
Total trading value poked its head just over the 40M mark - - nothing to write home about, but the volume was decent, with 14 separate transactions going into the FCC database. Activity centered in the 51-100 market range, with special attention to AM stations.
|
|
Total
|
|
Total Deals
|
14
|
|
AMs
|
12
|
|
FMs
|
7
|
|
TVs
|
1
|
| Value |
41.102M
|
| Complete Charts |
|
Radio Transactions of the Week
Wilks increases 'Sphere of operation | More... |
|
TV Transactions of the Week
Buyer is a Sainte lieu | More... |
|
|
|
|
|
| Transactions |
KMMF-TV CP Missoula MT, KBTZ-TV CP Butte MT & KLMN-TV CP Great Falls MT from Equity Broadcasting Corp. to Max Media LLC.
KIRL-AM St. Louis (St. Charles MO) from Bronco Broadcasting Co. Inc. DIP to Covenant Network.
WBGE-FM Bainbridge GA from Roy Simpson, receiver to Flint Media Inc.
| More... |
|
|
|
|
| Stock Talk |
Broadcast stocks lag again
A GDP report that showed faster growth than expected sent most stock prices up on Friday. But radio broadcasters were left behind, since new accounting rules forced Clear Channel to take a 4.9 billion writedown on the value of its radio and outdoor assets, even though they hadn't lost a penny of value. Viacom had done the same thing a day earlier. So, it was a great day for most stocks, but a bad day for the radio sector. The Dow Industrials rose 93 points, or 0.9%, to 10,842.
The Radio Index fell 1.158, or 0.5%, to 215.521. Clear Channel plunged 3.4%. Westwood One, which reported a disappointing Q4, fell 8.5%. More radio stocks actually gained than lost, but the losses were larger on Friday.
|
|
|
|
__UNSUB__ to this email service.
|
|
Bounceback
|
 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments to [email protected]
This reader isn't so quick to dismiss the SEC's investigation of possible insider trading of Sirius stock.
 I don't know if there was any insider trading of Sirius stock but it's silly to dismiss the SEC's investigation as if they were clueless. Cary Paul is quoted in Wednesday's TVBR as saying "anyone paying attention" knew Stern was going to Sirius (2/23/05 RBR #38). Really? Did they know it would happen October 6th when he announced and the stock shot up 18% in one day. I and thousands of other people guessed that Stern would go to Satellite radio. But who knew it would be Sirius and happen on October 6th? How odd that the stock shot up on the very day Stern made the announcement since everyone already knew he was going. I've heard from a number of people who now say they knew it would happen. (A quick Google search shows that most of the speculation at the time was on XM) So if you "knew" it would happen without inside knowledge, my question is: How many shares did you buy and how much did you make?
Jerry Stevens
Logical Advertising Solutions
Simpsonville, SC
|
|
|
Local Radio Creative
|
Arkansas checks in
for Free Radio
Saga VP/GM Bill Pressly checks in with a local spot that's running on KJBX-FM Jonesboro, AR touting the advantages of Free Radio over downloading music from the Internet (you go to jail), satellite radio (120 bucks or more a year and no local news) or subscribing to the local newspaper (costs even more and now music).
Give it a listen.
What have you got? Email us at [email protected] so we can upload it.
|
|
|
Upped & Tapped
|
JMG ups Kim Ketchel
Jones Media Group announced Kim Ketchel has been promoted to VP/Marketing for JMG and its subsidiaries. Ketchel has been involved with several areas of the Jones companies, including ad sales, on-air and marketing of Jones Radio Networks. She will now oversee the marketing of all JMG products, including JRN, Jones Media Network, Jones MediaAmerica and the Jones Banana Network.
Jeffrey Boden named GM for WRQX, WJZW
Jeffrey Boden, an ABC Radio sales exec, has been named President and General Manager of WRQX-FM and WJZW-FM DC. Mr. Boden most recently served as Director of Sales at WRQX and WJZW and replaces Jim Robinson, who was recently named President of ABC Radio Networks.
Martinez, Harder
named RVPP
Clear Channel Radio Senior Vice President Programming Michael Martin announced the promotion of Dennis Martinez to Regional Vice President Programming Northern California. Martinez's new territory includes San Francisco, San Jose, Salinas/Monterey and Fresno. Martin also announced the promotion of Rob Harder to Regional Vice President Programming Pacific Northwest Region.
|
|
|
February Digital Magazine
Now Available
|
"The Pros and Cons
of Nielsen's LPM and Arbitron's
proposed PPM service"
After a rocky start, it's roll-out time of LPM & PPM. Will there be cooperation or more talk?
GM talkback: "How has LPM ratings changed selling in your market?" TV GMs say what they think-the good, bad and the ugly.
Media, Markets, and Money: Only one place tells it like it is with a run-down and overview of the biggest quarterly Radio and TV deals and outlook to 2005.
Read RBR in 2 simple steps:
1.Create a simple account with Zinio and download the Zinio Reader.
2. You can then download the February Issue of RBR
|
|
|
TVBR - TV News
|
EchoStar capitalizing on retransmission fight
If anyone is coming out ahead in Nexstar's retransmission fight with the cable MSOs, it has to be the satellite TV companies. Both EchoStar's Dish Network and DirecTV have kept installers working overtime to keep up with a rash of new customers since Nexstar forced Cox Communications and Cable One to drop its network affiliate TV stations in four markets because they wouldn't pay cash for retransmission rights (1/17/05 TVBR #11). In Abilene-Sweetwater, TX, Nielsen market #163, neither satellite company had been offering local-to-local service - - but that has now changed. EchoStar's Dish Network is now offering five local channels to satellite customers in 16 counties. Included is Mission Broadcasting's KRBC-TV (Ch. 9, NBC), which is managed by Nexstar and was pulled off Cox's system in Abilene on January 1st. Because it is under a different retransmission contract, Nexstar's own KTAB-TV (Ch. 32, CBS) is still on the cable system through the end of this year. Dish is carrying both of those stations, plus BlueStone's KTXS-TV (Ch. 12, ABC) and KTES-TV (Ch. 40, Telemundo) and Sage Broadcasting's KXVA-TV (Ch. 15, Fox). "Television viewers in the Abilene-Sweetwater area who want to watch NBC now have two choices - - rabbit ears or the crystal clear, all-digital quality of Dish Network at a price still lower than cable," EchoStar said in promoting the new local-to-local offerings.
TVBR observation: To get the big picture on what Nexstar is trying to do in its retransmission battle with the MSO's be sure to read our exclusive One On One interview with Nexstar CEO Perry Sook in the March print issue of Radio & Television Business Report - - The Real Business Magazine.
|
|
|
RBR Radar 2005
|
|
Radio News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
|
Viacom wants to buy
TV stations, sell radio
CEO Sumner Redstone says 2005 is going to be a year for the "reinvention" of Viacom. Part of that is going to be a restructuring of assets, although nothing quite on the scale of last year's spin-off of Blockbuster. There's been talk at Viacom for many months about shedding some of its Infinity radio stations outside the top 20 markets. To date, all that's actually happened is the sale of a couple of small AMs in Baltimore and a much larger deal (but in the top 20) to swap an FM for an equity position in Spanish Broadcasting System.
RBR observation: If Viacom is serious about cashing out of its medium-market radio stations, it's sure doing a piss-poor job of going about it. In virtually every radio company conference call for the past couple of cycles, analysts have asked the CEO whether they're interested in buying what Viacom has for sale - - and they all say that nothing is being shopped. Are they just waiting for other people to come to them with deals? Infinity CEO Joel Hollander has said before that he wants to add stations in such markets as Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and San Diego. That's fine, but we don't think he's likely to find anyone in those markets willing to swap for Memphis, Fresno and West Palm Beach.
02/25/05 RBR #40
RBR exclusive:
Details from Interep's roundtable with radio and agency execs
Interep held an industry roundtable discussion 2/16 in New York City to proactively solicit the input of the agency community on the major challenges/ opportunities facing radio today. Radio Programming - Content - In general, attendees from both the radio stations and agencies stated that radio formats do tend, by necessity, to "play the hits" and program to please the largest possible listening base. This sometimes leads to what some called "conservative" programming choices. RBR observation: If radio doesn't brand itself as a local medium - - community involvement - - as teenagers grow up, they are going to find other avenues to depend on when something local happens in their community. What the roundtable basically addressed was when radio got all excited when voice tracking technology came about in 1999, that was nice, but now they have to revert back to being local. Local means creative content with quality PDs. That means investing in local talent. The radio stations and groups need to market their products better to let people know what they're doing, besides TV spots that promise "seven songs in a row." The problem is radio has a poor identity right now vs. other technologies. Sure, we hope HD Radio might solve the problem with an added audio channel for each station and even more after all stations move to digital, but we're in the crisis! now and all of that may not come to true fruition for years. Again, the answer for now is to get local. More local ad reads from the air staff. Local DJs. Local flavor. Local bands. Local content. Local interest. Local partnerships. Local identity. Local events. Locally programmed. Back to basics. 02/25/05 RBR #40
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Deal Maker
W.B. Grimes & Company is seeking a "deal maker" to head up its Broadcast Brokerage Division. You must have passion for sales, solid broadcast background, and an active rolodex. Commission-based position with exceptional earnings potential. Relocation not required.
News Director
WLPO/WAJK/WKOT, LaSalle, IL - Established stations in the Midwest looking for the journalist of integrity and understands what local means to a news department with experience to encourage others on staff. LaSalle is a great market and excellent company benefits. EOE.
See Radio Careers for more info.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
©2005 Radio Business Report/Television Business Report, Inc. All rights reserved.
Radio Business Report -- 2050 Old Bridge Road, Suite B-01, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 -- Phone: 703-492-8191
|
|
