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Radio News ®
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Smooth, successful war minimizes cancellations
Some advertisers have pulled schedules off radio and TV while the war with Iraq goes on (see AdBiz), but with US troops appearing to meet little resistance, the impact on advertising appears to have been minimalized. Also, most radio stations have stayed in format, although with additional news updates, and even TV networks have done less wall-to-wall coverage than had been anticipated, so little inventory has been lost to war coverage. | Full Story Click Here |
NAB2003: The show will go on
Despite the war with Iraq, the NAB is still expecting a record attendance at next week's NAB2003 convention in Las Vegas. NAB spokesman Jeffrey Yorke tells RBR that there will even be a record number of foreign delegations, beating last year's record of representatives of 39 countries. RBR Observation: The skiddish must still pay.
| Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |
Gallagher planning Chicks counter-concert
In the latest backlash to the anti-Bush, anti-war comments of Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines, Salem (O:SALM) syndicated conservative Talk host Mike Gallagher is putting together a counter-concert to the Chicks' kick-off of their US tour after they return from Europe. | Full Story Click Here |
Rodgers to head Radio One-Comcast cable net
Johnathan Rodgers has been tapped to head the new Radio One-Comcast cable network, according to a report in today's Washington Post. He was formerly President of Discovery Communications. | Full Story Click Here |
 JRN ordered to evacuate building in Denver
Jones Radio Networks' broadcast facilities in Englewood, CO were evacuated Friday (3/21) by order of the local fire department. A building adjacent to JRN developed problems with its roof due to the weight of the snow from the area's recent blizzard. Due to concerns over the safely of JRN's building, the fire department ordered an evacuation. All personnel were ordered out of the building, the fire department cut the electricity and the building has been sealed off.
| Full Story Click Here |
Cox files complicated plan to move closer to Birmingham
WBHJ-FM is already a ratings leader in the Birmingham, AL market, pulling a 9.2 12+ in the Fall Arbitron book, but Cox Radio (N:CXR) figures it could do even better if it could move its transmitter closer to town and put a better signal over the northeastern parts of the metro. To accomplish that, Cox has filed a proposal at the FCC which will require modifications to seven other stations, including its own WSB-FM Atlanta.
| Full Story Click Here |
Brownback on ownership regs: Get on with it
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) has fired off a letter to FCC Chairman Michael Powell on the subject of the Commission's ongoing review of certain broadcast and newspaper ownership regulations. | Full Story Click Here |
Philadelphia weighs in against consolidation
The Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution urging the FCC to retain its ban on broadcast/newspaper crossownership, and urges Congress to hold more public hearings on the topic and pass legislation if necessary to preserve the ban, according to an article in The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student newspaper at the University of Pennsylvania. The measure was supported by a 13-3 vote. RBR Observation: KYW? We doubt Mel wants to get Ridder of it | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |
A call for auction
No, this is not a typo. We were not trying to write "a call for action." Jeffrey Bate, a Utah-based radio license/permit holder has put the call letters for five of his stations up for sale on ebay. One is licensed under his own name, one is licensed to AM Radio 1170 Inc. and the other three are licensed to Diamond Broadcasting Corp.
| Full Story Click Here |
Consumer prices shot up in February
Inflation reared its head in February, with the government's Consumer Price Index up 0.6% - - twice the January rate. The biggest price jumps, not surprisingly, came in the energy sector. Energy prices overall were up 5.9% in February, following a 4% rise in January. Home heating oil shot up 15.8% in February and natural gas 5.5%. Gasoline prices jumped 9.9% - - the biggest one month gain since the summer of 2000. But energy wasn't the only sector with higher prices. Food prices rose 0.7%, reversing a 0.2% decline in January.
CFO Scelfo leaving Sirius
Sirius Satellite Radio (O:SIRI) is looking for a new Chief Financial Officer, after completing its $1.4B refinancing and new equity package (3/10 RBR Daily Epaper). CFO John Scelfo is moving on, effective 4/7, after two years of running the financial side of things at Sirius. | Full Story Click Here |
 Lampson urges passage of Amber Alert
Now that a House Committee has sent the Amber Alert bill to the full House, Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX), founder and chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, issued the following statement regarding HR 412, the Amber Alert Network Act: | Full Story Click Here |
Radio station hostage situation ends without injury
The Nashville Tennessean reports an armed man who took his estranged wife and a DJ at WDKN-AM Dickson, TN hostage 3/20 held police at bay for about 41/2 hours before surrendering. No one was hurt. | Full Story Click Here |
Hogan debuts in Clear Channel proxy
You know you've made the big time when you show up in the annual proxy of a Fortune 500 company - - although it may mean that more information about your salary and perks are made public than you'd really like. But compared to others on the Clear Channel (N:CCU), CC Radio CEO John Hogan looks merely well off - - not yet filthy rich.
RBR Observation: Where's Randy? | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |
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Toyota war ad policy clarified
Many advertisers are holding back campaigns until the dust settles a bit with the Iraq war. We hear from Toyota Motor Sales USA Spokesperson Diana DeJoseph that what a recent wire story and a few local TV news outlets reported 3/21 about Toyota's policy of holding back all advertising until the "end" of the war is incorrect. Instead, the policy is to steer clear of all news channels and news programming. "Toyota's policy - - which they are reviewing daily - - is to run their advertising in non-news programming while the war is underway. This business is placed in broadcast and cable television and will be running in entertainment and sports programming fare. The TDAs (local dealer groups) have been given guidance by Toyota Motor Sales to do the same, but that is a local decision," DeJoseph told RBR on deadline.
Ad pullouts: the latest
After the US began striking targets in Iraq 3/20, major marketers began pulling ads from television and other media as planned. By midday 3/21 as the major bombing campaign began, the broadcast networks had switched to 24-hour news programming and were expecting to suspend all advertising for the first few days of war. | Full Story Click Here |
Jim Ferguson leaves Y&R for DDB
Jim Ferguson, Chief Creative Officer of Young & Rubicam NY since '99, has reportedly resigned for a senior creative job at Omnicom's DDB Chicago. His role will be Executive Creative Director assigned to McDonald's.
CVS plans 150-175 new stores
CVS announced it will invest more than $1B in capital expenditures this year, opening 150-175 new stores. 80-100 of them will likely be in new markets.
Ricoh launching a new foray into TV
Jim McHugh, President of Gigante Vaz Partners NY, tells RBR/TVBR his client of 13 years, Ricoh, is about to launch its first TV campaign 4/14. Spend is in the seven-digits. Gigante Vaz handled creative, planning and buying
Says McHugh: "This is in support of a new workgroup product - - the Aficio 1224/1232 color printer. This is the first time Ricoh has been in TV in more than three years. It's a national TV campaign that is on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News and local unwired Sports/baseball." The :30 second spots emphasize the cost advantages of Ricoh's new color printing technology.
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Media, Markets & Money tm
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Pamal makes its move into Massachusetts
Jim Morrel's Pamal Broadcasting is moving into a new market and a new state with an $8M deal to buy two stations in the Springfield, MA market - - WPNI-AM & WRNX-FM Amherst, MA. The seller is Western Massachusetts Radio, headed by Tom Davis. Broker: Doug Ferber, Star Media Group | RBR Observation |
Connecticut AM goes for $1.1M
The stock of WGCH-AM Greenwich CT, in the Stamford-Norwalk market, has been sold. Businesstalkradio.net Inc. is the buyer, represented by its president, Michael L. Metter. The seller, John T. Becker, will get $110K up front (in escrow), another $490K at closing, and $500K pursuant to terms of a promissory note. RBR Observation: Presumably, the buyers plan to put a Business format on the station, and if such a format will not work here, there are few places it will work. Greenwich is not exactly known for its trailer parks. A sizable percentage of its residents hop a train each workday for high-paying jobs in the Big Apple. The average household income is among the highest for any market in the US. A receptive audience for a good Business format is in place, and has been in place for years.
 Tribune and Entercom
complete Denver deal
It took nearly 15 months to get all of the chess pieces in line to complete the game, but Entercom (N:ETM) has finally closed the last part of its $180M deal (12/26/01 RBR.com) to buy three Denver radio stations from Tribune Co. (N:TRB). The purchase of KQMT-FM (formerly KKHK) for $55M closed Friday (3/21) as Tribune simultaneously closed a tax-advantaged purchase of two TV stations for $275M (1/2 RBR Daily Epaper #1). Entercom had begun LMAing all three Tribune stations shortly after the deal was announced and had closed its $125M purchase of KEZW-AM & KOSI-FM last summer in conjunction with another Tribune TV purchase.
Close encounter in Madison area
Magnum Communications, which recently announced a deal to sell a number of Wisconsin stations to regional radio group Mid-West Family (3/7 RBR Daily Epaper #47), has closed on the earlier sale of a CP to the same company. The CP for a new FM in Mount Horeb is valued at $2.166M. The station is a Class A on 106.7 mHz. Mount Horeb is just to the west of Wisconsin state capital Madison. Broker: Kalil & Co. Inc.
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Washington Beat
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FCC grants more time for expelled AM CP
Atlanta Area Broadcasting (AAB) thought it was rolling toward timely construction of its CP for WMLB-AM 1160 kHz in East Point GA. That was before the Fulton County School System informed them that it was snagging the station's planned transmitter site to build a new elementary school. The education institution's eminent domain trumped the FCC's grant of the CP. This happened 10/18/01. | Full Story Click Here |
Off the hook
Sometimes you just get lucky. Madison Broadcasting Group was nailed for $12K worth of tower violations, including missing registration numbers and a failure to keep up with the painting. The station involved was WLVA-AM in Lynchburg VA.
RBR Observation: Don't try this at home | Full Story Click Here | RBR Observation |
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April 2003 RBR Magazine
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March RBR magazine confronted the hot issues:
1. Arbitron's problem with minority measurement.
2. Continued problems facing African-American broadcasters
3. Working with Cingular Wireless and getting more business
4. Engineered for Profit: What to see at NAB 2003.
RBR's April, May, and June magazine will take on these and other issues. Everybody's looking for solutions. Read RBR to get the facts you need to make your decisions. Reserve your position for the months of April, May, and June. The next three months are critical with numerous issues that our readers will be following.
April RBR
Adbiz Part II on minority measurement issues
- Why it will take a full three years to develop the new software and why the company can't just go back to its old methodology in measuring Hispanics until the software is done.
- Some broadcasters have claimed, if Arbitron changes the way Hispanic-language stations are rated, those differing numbers could affect general market ratings negatively.
- An inside look at Arbitron's temporary fix option being presented to the industry.
Engineered for Profit
The digital world and your on air capabilities - An On-Air Digital system review. An important issue we cover--to all GMs--before you go HD Radio, you better check your automation system first.
One on One
Rick Sirvaitis, President and COO of GM Mediaworks, Dennis Donlin, President of GM Planworks General Motors spends most of its $4B annual worldwide ad budget in the US. Of that, the company spends $29M in national spot radio and close to $9M with network radio. GM recently upped its spending in spot buying and shifted control of local broadcast buying to GM Mediaworks, putting Sirvaitis in charge. As well, Dennis Donlin, President of GM Planworks, handles the decisions day to day on planning strategy. Here, the two discuss how GM uses radio.
Programming for Profit
RBR interviews the man who started it all. What does it take to launch a new national talk show today? Can liberal talk make money? RBR went straight to the source to get the answers -- Ed McLaughlin, the one-time ABC Radio President who launched then-unknown Rush Limbaugh on the national scene.
| More Info Click Here |
Ad space limited. For space reservations in the May RBR Magazine, contact one of us for information via email:
Jim Carnegie -- [email protected] 703 719-9500
Ken Lee -- [email protected] 703 719-9500
June Barnes -- [email protected] 615 360-7875
April RBR Business Solutions Magazine with NAB Las Vegas distribution.
Company Pre-Ordering extra copies of RBR April issue for your in-house and advertising clients needs must be ordered ASAP. Cost is only $190 per 100 issues. Email: Cathy Carnegie, [email protected] to place your order
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Radio Business Report
FIRST, FAST & INDEPENDENT REPORTING
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Our nations capital--DC--
might have good daily newspapers but...
Over 35% of adults 18+ do not read a daily--most can however be reached with radio. Learn which stations do best. | Full Story Click Here |
N TR Tip of the day
Added Value is a dirty word! If it doesn't have a value then why is it on your station? Sell your sponsorships, pitch your lunch time sponsorship to a restaurant for a year for $5000. It works. You can do the same with a Breakfast Club, just don't give it away! Source: LaDonne Craig, South Central Communications, [email protected], (812)424-8284
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 Click on the banner to hear Red Skelton's "Pledge Of Allegiance"
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Radio Stocks
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Stocks jump on war successes
Stock prices pressed higher on Friday as US and British forces pressed quickly toward Baghdad. With expectations for a quick and decisive coalition victory, Wall Street finished its strongest one week advance since 1982.
The Dow Industrials rose 235 points, or 2.8%, to 8,522.
The Radio Index was also up strongly, gaining 5.241, or 2.6%, to 209.030.
Four component stocks were up 5% or more. Hispanic Broadcasting rose 5.5%, Clear Channel and Cox Radio each gained 5.3%, and Salem gained 5%.
Only one Radio Index component was down. Spanish Broadcasting System was off 1.2%.
Here's how stocks fared on Friday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
| Arbitron |
ARB
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$32.11
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+$1.11
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Jeff-Pilot
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JP
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$39.98
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+$0.69
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Beasley
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BBGI
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$10.15
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unch
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NBG Radio Nets
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NSBD
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$0.02
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unch
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| Big City |
YFM |
$0.60 |
unch
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Radio One, Cl. A
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ROIA
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$14.63
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+$0.45
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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$39.25
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+$1.96
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Radio One, Cl. D
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ROIAK
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$14.43
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+$0.49
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Cox Radio
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CXR
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$22.24
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+$1.11
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Radio Unica
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UNCA
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$0.31
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unch
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Cumulus
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CMLS
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$15.93
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+$0.45
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Regent
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RGCI
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$4.82
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+$0.07
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Disney
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DIS
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$18.74
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+$1.60
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Saga Commun.
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SGA
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$18.80
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+$0.24
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Emmis
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EMMS
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$17.95
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+$0.16
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Salem Comm.
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SALM
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$16.78
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+$0.79
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| Entercom |
ETM
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$45.76
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+$1.01
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Sirius Sat. Radio
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SIRI
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$0.58
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-$0.01
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Entravision
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EVC
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$6.23
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+$0.25
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Small Town
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STWI
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$0.07
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unch
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Fisher
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FSCI
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$45.99
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+$0.99
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Spanish Bcg.
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SBSA
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$6.78
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-$0.08
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Gaylord
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GET
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$19.15
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+$0.65
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Viacom, Cl. A
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VIA
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$41.61
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+$0.77
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Hearst-Argyle
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HTV
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$22.81
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+$1.12
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Viacom, Cl. B
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VIAb
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$41.50
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+$0.76
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Hispanic Bcg.
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HSP
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$23.20
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+$1.20
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Westwood One
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WON
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$33.56
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+$0.71
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Interep
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IREP
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$1.80
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+$0.01
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XM Sat. Radio
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XMSR
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$5.58
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+$0.24
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International Bcg.
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IBCS
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$0.03
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unch
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-
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-
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-
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-
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RBR Bounceback
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We want to hear from you.
Speak out to your colleagues in radio on any subject affecting this business.
This is your column, so send your comments to [email protected]
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International
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Revamped rules coming up down under
According to Dow Jones, the Australian government, like that of the US, is poised to make a decision on whether or not to loosen restrictions on media ownership. A five-year effort to relax the rules on foreign investment and media crossownership seems to be falling short.
Current rules limit newspaper, TV and radio companies in the same market from having anything higher than a 15% stake in one another, and foreign interests are capped at a 15% interest in a television station, and a 25% interest in a newspaper.
The article did not mention foreign interest caps in radio. At least on major US company, Clear Channel (N:CCU), has radio interests in Australia.
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Transactions
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$5,700,000 WXIR-FM Indianapolis (Plainfield IN) from Radio One Five Hundred Inc. (Edwin Tornberg) to ABC Inc. (John Hare), a subsidiary of Walt Disney Co. (D:DIS). $575K escrow, balance in cash at closing. Breaks up combo operation with WBRI-AM, which is being sold concurrently to another party. WBRI will take over the programming format and all assumable programming and advertising contracts of WXIR. Seller will advertise move of WXIR programming to WBRI on WXIR prior to closing. Broker: John Pierce & Company LLC (seller), William B. Schutz (seller).
$1,500,000 WBRI-AM Indianapolis from Radio One Five Hundred Inc. (Edwin Tornberg) to Heritage Christian Radio Inc. (Robert L. & Luann J. Wilkins). $160K escrow, balance in cash at closing. Includes non-compete. Breaks up combo operation with WXIR-FM, which is being sold concurrently to another party. WBRI will take over the programming format and all assumbable programming and advertising contracts of WXIR. Seller will advertise move of WXIR programming to WBRI on WXIR prior to closing. Broker: John Pierce & Company LLC (seller), William B. Schutz (seller).
N/A WGBF-AM/WYNG-FM, WDKS-FM, WGBF-FM & WKRI-FM Evansville IN (Evansville, Newburgh, both IN, Henderson KY & Mt. Carmel IL) from Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses (Lowry Mays), a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (N:CCU) to Regent Broadcasting of Evansville/Owensboro Inc., a subsidiary of Regent Communications Inc. (O:RGCI) (Terry S. Jacobs, William L. Stakelin et al). Swap for WEBC-AM/KLDJ-FM/KKCB-FM & KBMX-FM Duluth MN. Regent will also pay $2.7M cash to Clear Channel. Existing superduopoly. Regent also owns WOMI-AM/WBKR-FM Owensboro KY and WBKR-FM Henderson KY in the general Evansville/Owensboro area. TBA to begin no later than 4/1.
N/A WEBC-AM/KLDJ-FM/KKCB-FM & KBMX-FM Duluth MN (Duluth & Proctor) from Regent Broadcasting of Duluth Inc., a subsidiary of Regent Communications Inc. (O:RGCI) (Terry S. Jacobs, William L. Stakelin et al) to Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses (Lowry Mays), a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (N:CCU). Swap for WGBF-AM/WYNG-FM, WDKS-FM, WGBF-FM & WKRI-FM Evansville IN. Regent will also pay $2.7M cash to Clear Channel. Existing superduopoly. TBA to begin no later than 4/1.
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RBR Radar 2003
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Keeping the eyes on issues on a need to know basis.
Mel signs for three more years at Viacom, the soap opera is over. "we won't do anything stupid" (7/26/02 RBR Daily Epaper #15) RBR Observation: Nobody did anything stupid.. 3/21/03 RBR #57
House Panel presenting Amber Alert bill to full house 3/21/03 RBR #57
S&P may downgrade Disney (N:DIS) after hearing executives lower their expectations for 2003 (3/20 RBR Daily Epaper #56) 3/21/03 RBR #57
RBR Business Briefs; in a nutshell first quarter in most cases will be ahead of 2002 with combined local/national spot will be up on an average of +3%. Network/NTR is a 'wobble' 3/21/03 RBR #57
Reality advertising: Women want accurate portrayal.. "Overwhelmingly, women are willing to make purchasing decisions based on the images used in advertising. RBR Observation: Keep it real - - and up to date. 3/21/03 RBR #57
FCC fills the skies with red flags on all of one deal and portions of another RBR Observation: Is no cluster safe? Bare-bones duop among the flagged. 3/21/03 RBR #57
DirecTV adding local markets, which has pledged to offer local channel service in at least 100 television DMAs by year's end Editors note: Look out programming content and ad sales departments! .. 3/21/03 TVBR #57
Mel signs contract renewal, the suspense is over 3/20/03 RBR #56
Radio stocks fall on Westwood warning, that its Q1 results would come in slightly below last year. Investors sold off radio stocks on the belief that other companies would follow Westwood's lead and reduce Q1 guidance. 3/20/03 RBR #56
Broadcasters see quick rebound after war dip. Those stop orders are largely coming from national advertisers, rather than local merchants. 3/20/03 RBR #56
Senators want more comments on ownership rules. RBR Observation: Enough, already! 3/20/03 RBR #56
Don't let newspapers throw you for a Loop in Chicago. Television Delivers Non-Newspaper 3/20/03 TVBR #56
Opponent says Univision and Entravision still too close, RBR Observation: One bit of evidence doesn't stand up to scrutiny. 3/19/03 RBR #55
Westwood lowers Q1 expectations, told Wall Street late (3/18) that Q1 results will be slightly below last year. . 3/19/03 RBR #55
Americans cutting back spending, about 50% feel it's a bad time to be on a job hunt. Editor's note: RBR may have a solution if you are in this situation, stay tuned. . 3/19/03 RBR #55
War, a view from the front, via ABC. Editors note: this is eye opening . 3/19/03 RBR #55
Arbitron tweaks RADAR service, days before it releases. Editor's note: See WW1 and first quarter earnings story. . 3/19/03 RBR #55
Do radio/TV Talkers wield too much power? Full results for 2003 and a look at the last five years 3/19/03 RBR #55
Who's getting paid when Big City cashes out? 3/18/03 RBR #54
HBC days numbered? Yep, But still buying. Editors Note: This is why McHenry T. Tichenor, Jr. is know as BIG Mac because he attacks. 3/18/03 RBR #54
Stearns wants to shackle media in the Mideast RBR Observation: Preserve freedom of the press. Editors note: as long as you don't mind getting shot at. 3/18/03 RBR #54
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Industry Jobs
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Cumulus Media is
seeking Market Manager for Lexington
Due to a recent promotion we have a very rare opening. Cumulus Media is looking for a market manager to lead our five station Lexington cluster. Live in one of Americas most desireable markets while you build on our growth and momentum.
If your track record includes; growing revenue faster than your market competitors, strict expense and collections controls and have verifiable leadership qualities our Chief Operating Officer, Jon Pinch wants to hear from you today.
E mail your resume
in complete confidence to [email protected].
Or overnight it to Cumulus Media, 3535 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Cumulus is an EOE
rush your resume to
Jon Pinch c/o Cumulus Media
3535 Piedmont Rd.
Building 14, Floor 14,
Atlanta, GA 30305.
[email protected]
More jobs..
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