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 Neil wants Arbitron
to get its science right
Cox President/CEO Bob Neil said pacing in April is down in mid-single digits, the rest of the quarter is following suit. He said smart management was required to navigate difficult economic waters, and said his company will continue to invest in talent, citing the recent success bringing back Bubba the Love Sponge in Tampa. He said Cox will weigh stock buybacks v. station acquisitions, and do whichever promises the most ROI. But it seemed like most everybody wanted to hear him discuss Arbitron and PPM, and he was more than happy to oblige. The upshot is that he wants Arbitron to stay put in Philadelphia until it gets its PPM science perfected.
Missing station in Houston
Arbitron is fixing its latest PPM data for Houston, after omitting data for KKHH-FM. The CBS Radio station recently changed call letters from KHJZ. The company discovered the error itself and alerted clients. However, this is the second time that Arbitron has had to correct PPM data errors in Houston, so RBR asked what's being done to prevent a third.
NAB fighting rule rollback
It's not bad enough that the NAB didn't get much out of the FCC's court-ordered reworking of broadcast ownership rules - pressure is already on the Commission to reverse itself on the scant deregulation that it did allow, the legalization of broadcast/newspaper cross-ownership in the top 20 Nielsen DMAs, not to mention other items entered in the rule books much earlier. The NAB is trying to head off any such rollback. Petitioners are also trying to eliminate existing television duopolies and radio station clusters built under rules revised by the 1996 Telecom Act.
RBR observation: The cross-ownership rule faces some serious hurdles, but few if any media companies have as yet attempted to take advantage of them. As for the local ownership caps, we don't see a rollback happening - those worms are out of the can.
 Orlando area Hip-Hop
pirate station uncovered
WFTV-TV Channel 9 Orlando reports it has uncovered a Pirate FM Hip-Hop station with a strong signal on 93.5 FM "Clientell Radio" that's broadcasting over the Orange County airwaves without a license. The folks who operate the station even advertise it on the Internet. Some tell the TV station they don't like all the profanity the underground DJ's use and they want the illegal station shut down.
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Radiocreativeland launches Mercury Awards challenge
Over 1,000 bucks is up for grabs as Radiocreativeland.com announces its first-ever Radio Mercury Awards Challenge. Radiocreativeland.com visitors who pick the grand prize winner are entered into a drawing for the 500 dollar prize. Those who pick the category winners are entered into a drawing for multiple 25 dollar prizes. Radiocreativeland is a Radio 2020 website/blog that celebrates radio and audio-centric creative and content. |
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 Lazer beams up CA CP
Alfredo Plascencia's Lazer Broadcasting is picking up a DIY project in the Monterey-Salinas CA market. The Class A FM, earmarked for a dial position of 105.9 MHz, will be Lazer's third in the market once it's built. The seller is Aurora Communications, headed by John Cooper. The price is $1,867,425, $1.72M of which will be in the form of a canceled debt. Lazer will also kick in $147,425 cash. The new station will be licensed to Carmel Valley CA. It'll form a three-station cluster with KXZM-FM Felton CA and KXSM-FM Hollister CA. |
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ISOBAR buys "Age"
Isobar, the world's largest digital network, has acquired "Age" in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Age is a communications agency that specializes in trade marketing, sports marketing, creative, and online and offline media planning and buying. With nearly 60 employees, Age was founded in 2000, and today its major clients include adidas, Del Valle, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ultragaz, Taeq and Lopes.
Spot Runner gets new funding
 Spot Runner announced Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) and Grupo Televisa, along with Legg Mason Capital Management and Groupe Arnault/LVMH, as well as existing investors have made equity investments in the company totaling 51 million. "These strategic investments serve as a strong validation of Spot Runner's technology-driven advertising model, as well as the results we have generated for advertisers and media owners," said Nick Grouf, chairman and CEO of Spot Runner. "This further accelerates our momentum as we expand into a broader spectrum of online and offline media, both domestically and abroad." |
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Are broadcasters liable 
in Pentagon/ex-General scheme?
Commissioner Adelstein, this one's for you: It has occurred to a pair of House members that in surreptitiously advancing Pentagon talking points on television, radio and other media, retired military officers (and current military vendors) were essentially speaking kindly on behalf of their benefactors while failing to properly identity their "sponsor." The MOCs are John Dingell (D-MI) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
RBR observation: This issue in the pay-for-play and pay-for-say family is in the specialty zone of Jonathan Adelstein (D). He will likely sponsor this issue at the Commission, making it unlikely that it can be quietly tucked away in some dusty cubbyhole.
Update your tender calendar
While it battles in court to force six banks to come to the closing table with their buyout financing, Clear Channel Communications has once again extended the deadline for its related bond tenders. The new expiration date is May 16th - subject to further revision, of course. |
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WALL STREET BUSINESS REPORT ™ |
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Cox is a victim of its environment
Bob Neil was not too upset about the performance of Cox Radio in the first quarter of 2008 - he said nobody likes looking at red numbers, but he is happy with how his group performed compared to its peers. And at least one number was nice and black: Free cash flow was reported at $21.944M, an 8.4% increase over Q1 2007. Political helped a little, it was up from $200K to $600K. But most of the other key numbers were red. Net revenues were down 2.9% to $97.802M, station operating income was down 4.4% to $36.158M, operating income was down 10.4% to $25.144M, and net income was down 5.3% to $12.809M. Neil expressed his belief that we're in a consumer recession, which happens to hit categories near and dear to radio sales departments especially hard, as an explanation for the bad overall conditions.
Westwood One down 7.4 million in Q1
 Westwood One had a tough Q1, but CEO Tom Beusse says he's busy fixing things there for a better future-especially with some of the new hires on the way and new capital recently raised. Revenue for Q1 2008 decreased 7.4 million, or 6.5%, to 106.6 million compared with 114.0 million in 2007. Beusse said the decrease in revenue is primarily attributable to lower audience and inventory levels, a reduction in the size of sales force and increased competition. In Q1 they experienced revenue declines in both the National and Local/regional areas of the business, with National revenue declining 2.4% and Local/regional revenue decreasing 11.2%. In the conference call yesterday, Beusse said in the quarter they completed some significant accomplishments-including completing their separation from CBS Radio, while ensuring long-term distribution of programming on their stations. They also raised 25 million in capital from the Gores Group from selling common stock. They are also looking to raise another 75 million in preferred stock. "These were two extremely important gates to clear in realizing our future." In commenting about the down numbers for the quarter, Beusse said while he's not pleased that that the Q1 revenue declined, "we did experience topline growth in the television portion of our business..." |
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Oil soars, sinking stocks
Oil prices surged to record highs, worrying Wall Street and sending stock prices lower. The Dow Industrials plunged 206 points, or 1.6%, to 12,814.
Radio stocks were not spared. The RBR Radio Index fell 2.074, or 2.6%, to 79.093. Debut Broadcasting (not an index component) was hard-hit, plunging 33.3%, or 25 cents, to a half buck. Emmis fell 9.5% and Citadel was down 6.1%.
Here's how stocks fared on Wednesday
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Chng |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Chng |
Arbitron* |
ARB |
|
46.39 |
-1.41 |
Google |
GOOG |
|
579.00 |
-7.36 |
Beasley* |
BBGI |
|
5.36 |
-0.14 |
Hearst-Argyle |
HTV |
|
20.40 |
-0.05 |
CBS CI. B |
CBS |
|
24.55 |
-0.12 |
Journal Comm. |
JRN |
|
5.81 |
-0.04 |
CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
|
24.52 |
-0.43 |
Lincoln Natl. |
LNC |
|
53.56 |
-2.00 |
Citadel* |
CDL |
|
1.24 |
-0.08 |
Radio One, Cl. A |
ROIA |
|
0.83 |
+0.01 |
Clear Channel* |
CCU |
|
29.52 |
-0.43 |
Radio One, Cl. D* |
ROIAK |
|
0.82 |
-0.05 |
Cox Radio* |
CXR |
|
11.92 |
+0.44 |
Regent* |
RGCI |
|
0.98 |
-0.06 |
Cumulus* |
CMLS |
|
5.69 |
+0.01 |
Saga Commun.* |
SGA |
|
5.39 |
-0.01 |
Debut Bcg. |
DBTB |
|
0.50 |
-0.25 |
Salem Comm.* |
SALM |
|
3.12 |
-0.14 |
Disney |
DIS |
|
34.70 |
+0.97 |
Sirius Sat. Radio |
SIRI |
|
2.80 |
+0.01 |
Emmis* |
EMMS |
|
2.77 |
-0.29 |
Spanish Bcg.* |
SBSA |
|
1.71 |
+0.05 |
Entercom* |
ETM |
|
10.42 |
-0.49 |
Westwood One* |
WON |
|
1.69 |
-0.01 |
Entravision |
EVC |
|
5.97 |
-0.01 |
XM Sat. Radio |
XMSR |
|
12.11 |
-0.02 |
Fisher |
FSCI |
|
31.98 |
-0.07 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
*Component of the RBR Radio Index |
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Ad Business Report
The Challenge
Radiocreativeland launches
Mercury Awards challenge
Washington Business Report
Testing, testing, DTV
Appears that FCC's Martin and
Copps are getting their wish
Media Markets & Money
Lazer beams up CA CP
Picking up a DIY project
in Monterey-Salinas
Wall Street Business Report
Cox Victim of its environment
Bob Neil was not too upset
about the performance
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Kertes joins KRBV "The Sound" team in L.A.
Bonneville International announced Julie Kertes has been named Director of Promotions for its new station KRBV The Sound (100.3 FM). In her new capacity, Julie will be a partner in the new Marketing and Promotion Department, responsible for managing all promotion opportunities for The Sound.
Westwood One names Richard Kosinski SVP/Chief Digital Officer
Kosinski will be responsible for the company's digital product offerings including news, sports, music, talk, entertainment programs, features and live events. He will oversee all product and business development in the digital area.
Randy moves up
Randy Michaels has gotten a promotion to COO at Tribune Company, putting him in charge of everything, whereas he had previously been CEO of Interactive and Broadcasting. The publishers of the company's two largest newspapers, the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, will now report to Michaels, rather than directly to CEO Sam Zell.
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We're looking for the "Write" person!
Sovereign City Communications LLC has an immediate opening for an Assistant Writer Researcher. Duties will include reviewing music schedules, creating compelling and relevant content for on-air talent, assisting Senior Writer and Show Producer. To apply see radio careers.
Director of Sales
Washington, D.C. & Baltimore
Market-leading cluster has an opening for an experienced DOS. The ideal candidate has cluster sales management experience, inventory management skills and a track record of exceeding revenue goals. Clear Channel is an equal opportunity employer. To apply see radio careers.
 Radio Careers
Submit a Job
Find that key person!
Fill that important position at your organization with RBR Classifieds. .See our website for details. |
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News you won't read any where else. RBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
The Posting Game:
Deal or No Deal?
Isn't "negotiation" supposed to be a two-way street? Television stations got hijacked onto a one-way toll road with no exit and they have regretted it ever since. Radio has resisted posting for decades but now the pressure to comply is intensifying, along with increasing demands for "added value", free remotes and of course, bonus spots. By the way, do you know what they call bonus spots in Mexico? Bonificacion. Pretty funny, until you remember that the broadcasters are the ones getting...well...you know. How much longer must this senseless and painful bonificacion continue? Broadcasters in both radio and television should stand up now and negotiate a fairer playing field. How about this as a posting strategy? Full blog on RBR.com
05/07/08 RBR #90
Analysts lower Cumulus estimates
It seems that no one outside Cumulus believes that the buyout is going to go to closing, at least not at $11.75 per share. Certainly Wall Street doesn't. The shares have been trading at about half the pending buyout price. But there's been nothing new from the company in ages - either to change the buyout terms or to call a shareholder vote on the deal as it stands. Will things start to happen once the final outcome of Clear Channel's buyout, now the subject of litigation in multiple courts, is determined?
05/07/08 RBR #90
Online at-work listening grows
American workers who are choosing to listen to radio at work via the Internet as opposed to through a traditional radio receiver grew dramatically from 2007 to 2008.
RBR observation: The real key here for traditional radio is how many of these at work internet radio listeners are listening to actual stations that stream, vs. Internet-only radio stations like 3wk.com or somafm.com. Key today, tomorrow and for the rest of your career is the Internet.
Publisher note: RBR learned the hard way and moved from old media into today's media, with RBR.com but we still have a way to go but we can do it together. Interested in sharing in the voice let me know at [email protected]
05/06/08 RBR #89 |
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