Sporting News is off the block
The New York Post reports 11/16 that Vulcan Ventures (Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen) has taken Sporting News off the block due to the revelation to RBR/TVBR that there were possible discrepancies in Sporting News Radio's audience numbers (11/11 RBR Daily Epaper #221).
The sale of Sporting News will be put on hold until those discrepancies can be resolved--Sporting News Radio may have to reimburse advertisers. The network has 450 affiliates. Vulcan Ventures bought Sporting News four years ago for 100 million.
RBR observation: We hear Sporting News Radio President Clancy Woods is currently visiting buyers in New York, smoothing things over and detailing their game plan for straightening out any audience discrepancies.
NY Times broadcast revenues soar 30.9%
Political advertising played a big role as October broadcasting revenues shot up 30.9% to 19.7 million at the New York Times Company. Although that includes two radio stations, the bulk of the spending was obviously at the company's eight TV stations. Newspaper ad revenues were up 1.1% in October to 210.8 million, with retail up 4.4% and classified up 3.9%, but national down 2.6%.
Broadcast up 4.7% at Tribune
Tribune company's TV stations missed out on much of the political bonanza this year, since they are mostly WB affiliates. TV revenues were up only 1% in October to 109.5 million. Radio/entertainment revenues shot up 38.9% to 16.5 million, but that had little to do with the company's lone radio station and much to do with the Chicago Cubs, since the regular baseball season ran into October this year. Revenues for the entire Broadcasting and Entertainment group rose 4.7% for the month to 126 million. Newspaper revenues were up 1.4% to 329 million, with ad revenues up 3.4%.
More AMBER Alert success stories
Two more kidnapped children were recovered last week as a result of successful Amber Alerts, a program launched by Dallas-Fort Worth radio broadcasters in 1996 that has been embraced by local radio and television stations across the nation. To date, 174 children have been recovered as a result of this local broadcast industry/law enforcement initiative, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Summaries of the two 11/5 recoveries:
Wichita, Kansas
A three year old boy was left in the care of his grandmother's boyfriend. When the man neglected to return the child at the agreed time, the child's family notified authorities. Because the man has a criminal history of domestic violence and attempted suicide, an AMBER Alert was issued. A citizen spotted the vehicle, recognized it from the AMBER Alert, and quickly called 911. The suspect was apprehended and the child was safely reunited with his family.
Alton, Illinois
A 14-year-old girl was abducted by her 22-year-old boyfriend while standing at a bus stop. Because the suspect is considered to be obsessed with the child and is wanted by authorities for shooting at the child's father, an AMBER Alert was issued. Once the suspect heard the AMBER Alert, he feared the consequences of kidnapping and allowed the child to go free. The child was safely recovered.
Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
