Tag: "Host"

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Clear Channel Forges into Future of Entertainment; Names John Sykes President of Entertainment Enterprises.  If there comes a time in the future when radio companies are forced to address why their business plans failed as technology and media tastes were changing all around them, for Clear Channel it certainly won’t be for lack of trying to use its enormous radio station base from which to move forward.  On the heels of last week’s announcement of the name change – jettisoning the “radio” part and tacking “media” and “entertainment” onto its name – the company announces it is bringing entertainment pro John Sykes aboard to serve as president of entertainment enterprises.  In announcing the hire, CC states, “Sykes will use the unparalleled assets of Clear Channel –  including its 238 million monthly broadcast radio listeners, the 141 million people it reaches with Outdoor in the United States and the 374 million internationally, as well as the more than 75 million monthly listening hours for its digital properties – to develop new businesses for the company across a range of media, including television and live events, as well as create value for Clear Channel advertisers and key partners.”  Sykes has served as president of VH1, president of network development for MTV, CEO of the old Infinity Broadcasting, president of Champion Entertainment, president of Chrysalis Records, and an agent for Creative Artists Agency.  Most recently he was with the private equity firm Pilot Group – the connection to Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman.  Pittman says of Sykes, “John’s experience and relationships in so many sectors of the entertainment and media business make him the perfect choice to lead this new initiative.”  Clear Channel doesn’t have a lot of time.  It has some $20 billion in debt hanging around its neck that comes due in chunks over the next four years and the pace at which media and technology is changing is faster than anyone can anticipate – including those new-tech operators who say they’re ahead of the game.  But, in so many words, Clear Channel is making the statement it is bound and determined to use its large base of radio listeners to build something that will exist – and hopefully make money – in the future.  And bringing in connected players from outside the traditional radio business could be the strategy that helps it survive.

CBS Radio Detroit Brings Bob Wojnowski and Jamie Samuelsen Back to the Airwaves on “The Ticket.”  Detroit sports media pros Bob “Wojo” Wojnowski and Jamie Samuelsen are being paired up for a 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm show on WXYT-FM “The Ticket.”  Both have worked on sports talk radio in the market previously on Clear Channel’s WDFN.  WXYT-FM program director Jimmy Powers says, “We are extremely pleased to have Jamie and Wojo join our line-up. They are a natural fit. They have been dialed into the Detroit sports scene for many years, giving fans information on their favorite teams. Jamie and Wojo will continue to entertain listeners on their way home from work or to the stadium.”  Wojnowski is also currently a columnist for the Detroit News and Samuelson is a regular blogger for the Detroit Free Press.

KMBZ, Kansas City Makes PM Drive Changes.  Mike Shanin leaves his role on the “Shanin and Parks” afternoon show at Entercom’s KMBZ, Kansas City and takes the business editor role at the station.  The station says it will continue to rely on Shanin’s “expertise and knowledge for political commentary.”  Filling his seat alongside Scott Parks is KCTV-TV investigative reporter Dana Wright.  She says of her new radio role, “This is really a dream opportunity for me.  Journalism is my passion and I look forward to this exciting new step in my career.”

When Radio Was Insanely Fun.  Beleaguered by the contemporary world of corporate radio?  Pining for the days when radio stations were inhabited by creative and (quite possibly) unstable personalities?  Talk radio host, WPIX-TV, New York commentator and LionelMedia.com “podcast titan” Lionel re-lives a bit of crazy radio history from his uniquely skewed perspective and personal experience.  Prepare to laugh your tuchus off and click here.

CBS Radio’s WNEW-FM, Washington Launch Delayed.  Various trade and consumer reports indicate the launch of CBS Radio’s new all-newser in Washington, DC will be Monday, January 23 and not tomorrow as had been planned.  The cause is being reported as engineering issues related to the new studios.

Red Zebra’s WTEM, Washington, DC Adds College Hoops Expert.  ESPN 980 (WTEM) announces former University of Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams joins the station to serve as its college basketball insider.  Williams takes the temporary post through the NCAA finals during which he’ll join the station’s “Sports Fix” with Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro and “The Sports Reporters” with Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban for weekly college basketball reports.  PD Chuck Sapienza says, “Adding Gary to our team solidifies our dominance in the area of college basketball coverage.  He is ‘must listen-to radio’ and adding his expertise on the entire sport of college hoops is a big win for ESPN 980’s listeners.”

ESPN Audio Re-Aligns Management.  At ESPN, Jim Roberts moves from his senior director, affiliate sales to senior director, Deportes local radio group.  He’ll continue to lead the Deportes Dallas Radio station and in addition be responsible for the on-going relationship with all Deportes Radio affiliates.  Patrick Polking, senior director audio national accounts, will transition to senior director II, distribution and business development.  Polking will oversee the development and execution of strategies to further monetize ESPN Audio’s products.  The company also says that because of the growth in usage of ESPN Audio properties, Scott Masteller, senior director II, radio content, will collaborate with Dave Austin, who was recently promoted to manager, ESPN Digital Audio Group, to ensure ESPN Audio is aligned in the production of its digital audio.

GOP Primary Race, Internet Anti-Piracy Bills, European Debt Crisis and Italian Cruise Disaster Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (1/17).  The battle to win the GOP presidential primary race, the internet anti-piracy bills being debated in Washington, the continuing European debt problems and the Italian cruise ship disaster were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday according to ongoing research from TALKERS.