Tag: "Mary Walter"
Friday, February 26, 2016
Alpha Media Closes on Digity Purchase. This is no ordinary acquisition as Alpha Media balloons to approximately 250 stations in 50+ markets by closing on in excess of 110 Digity properties. Over and above that, Alpha Media becomes the country’s third-largest broadcast company in terms of number of markets and fourth-largest regarding station count. Alpha Media chair Larry Wilson comments, “We are very pleased to get this remarkable transaction done. In our fold is now an exceptional stable of diversified stations and markets, serving not only their towns but surrounding areas and communities. It has been a tremendous pleasure to work with respected broadcaster [Digity chief executive officer] Dean Goodman and his management team. We look forward to joining forces with the phenomenal people at Digity doing radio the right way.” Goodman remarks, “I have been honored to work with the great broadcasters of Digity. They know their roots are in live and local and their future is dynamic. They will excel with Alpha as individual and collective entrepreneurs. We hand off a thriving company, up this year at the top of the industry. I wish Larry [Wilson] and his team all the best; they have assembled a great platform.” Only two of the 28 Digity markets are PPM-metros – San Jose and West Palm Beach. The other facilities are in Missouri: (Bethany-Cameron, Clinton, Farmington-Festus, Moberly-Macon, and Waynesville-Lebanon); Iowa (Fairfield, Fort Dodge, Grinnell-Newton, and Mason City); Minnesota (Albert Lea-Austin, Luverne, Mankato, and Redwood Falls); South Dakota (Brookings, Madison, and Watertown); Illinois (Aurora and Joliet); Nebraska (Columbus and Lincoln); Michigan (Saginaw-Bay City-Midland); North Carolina (Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville); Ohio (Canton); South Carolina (Myrtle Beach); Texas: (North Dallas-McKinney); and Wisconsin (Kenosha-Waukegan). When this deal was first announced in August 2015, the purchase price was reported to be $264 million.
WFAN and Brooklyn Nets Extend Broadcast Rights Agreement. The multi-year deal between CBS Radio New York sports outlet WFAN “The Fan” and the NBA‘s Brooklyn Nets goes beyond NBA basketball to cover other parts of the business at Barclays Center, including select college basketball games, concerts, and live events. As it has since the 2004 – 2005 season, WFAN will continue as the team’s radio
flagship. According to CBS Radio president Andre Fernandez, “CBS Radio is proud to continue our association with the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. We have defined our position in sports broadcasting by delivering the most extensive coverage of local programming and events. We continue to make aggressive investments in exclusive content our audiences can’t find anywhere else.” Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment chief executive officer Brett Yormark comments, “Our relationship with CBS Radio continues to give us a major voice in the nation’s largest market. This new agreement comes on the heels of our recent extension with YES Network, providing the team with premium exposure on two of the country’s most popular sports outlets.” WFAN news sibling WCBS-AM will be the Nets’ secondary radio outlet. Prior to relocating to Brooklyn, the team was called the New Jersey Nets. Among persons 6+ in Nielsen Audio’s January 2016 PPM report for New York City, WFAN ranks ninth (3.8, 6+); iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW “Lite FM” leads the field with a 6.7 (6+).
Hyde Heads to Entercom Sacramento as GSM. Fourteen-month Pandora account executive Corey Hyde joins Entercom Sacramento as general sales manager. Vice president and market manager Lance Richard comments, “It is exciting to add Corey to our team. He has an impressive track record of success and 
he brings experience in developing dynamic, integrated campaigns and long term partnerships for local clients. His leadership skills and experience in this market make him the perfect fit for Entercom Sacramento.” Hyde remarks, “I am thrilled to be joining Lance Richard and the team at Entercom Sacramento. Radio is stronger than ever, and we have the best local stations in the market. I look forward to using our wide array of marketing assets to drive real results for our clients.” In his 13-year radio career, Hyde spent nearly 10 years with CBS Radio Sacramento as a senior account executive and three years with iHeartMedia Sacramento as an AE. Entercom Sacramento consists of KCTC “ESPN 1320″; CHR KDND “The End”; alternative KKDO “Radio 94-7”; KRXQ “98 Rock”; classic rock KSEG “The Eagle”; and hot AC KUDL “Star 106.5.”
Baldwin Exits Weekend “Baldwin/McCullough LIVE.” Effective immediately, actor Stephen Baldwin departs “Baldwin/McCullough LIVE.” The two-hour syndicated weekend program carried by approximately 250 affiliates on Kevin McCullough‘s eight-year-old XtreMEDIA and simulcast on BizTV is rebranded “Radio Night LIVE.” As Baldwin’s work schedule increased the past few months, McCullough explains, “The more difficult it has become for him to make the show. For the past eight years, we have enjoyed the liveliest and – on most nights – the funniest weekend radio broadcast in America. Our listeners will 
immediately feel the impact of Stephen’s absence from the talk radio airwaves. To be realistic, however, because of his filming schedule in 2015, his workload severely prevented him from being with us even one out of two weeks. This is great for him because his passion is acting. Our staff, our sponsors, and listeners will miss Stephen’s unique humor and spunk. His personality is one-of-a-kind and Stephen will always be welcome to a microphone we have named in his honor; we are thrilled though at this chance to take our broadcast to another level. ‘Radio Night LIVE’ will take the signature humor we have developed over the years, add cutting edge ‘next generation’ guests, experts, and entertainers and explode Saturday night in ways previously unseen.” Baldwin comments, “God has been so good to me and all I want to do is to follow where He is leading me. My time doing the show is something I will always remember. Our listeners brought much laughter and insight into my life.” It is possible that McCullough will utilize a series of rotating guest hosts such as KRLA, Los Angeles’ Elisha Krauss; Karol Markowicz of The New York Post; YouToo America‘s Gina Loudon; as well as Ashley Papa and Kayleigh McEnany. McCullough continues hosting his weekday 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm “After Hours” show on Salem Media Group New York’s WNYM “AM 970 The Answer”; the “Kevin McCullough Show” for Salem Media Group; and “News That Makes You Think.”
Four More Years: WGN, Northwestern Extend Rights Agreement. The union between 50,000-watt WGN, Chicago and Northwestern University will keep Wildcats football and men’s basketball on the Tribune talker through the conclusion of the 2019 – 2020 season. In addition, the voice of Wildcats football since 1990 and men’s basketball since 1996 – Dave Eanet – signs a four-year contract. WGN Radio president
and general manager Jimmy de Castro comments, “We are proud to present Northwestern basketball and football anchored by Dave ‘Mr. Cat’ Eanet. We look forward to bringing our listeners the excitement of Chicago’s Big Ten team in the years to come.” According to Northwestern vice president for athletics and recreation Jim Phillips, “The Northwestern Wildcats and WGN Radio have forged a special relationship over the last two decades. WGN not only is a broadcasting force, but a true Chicago institution. We have shared many thrilling moments through the years, and we look forward to many more memories with WGN Radio as the home of Chicago’s Big Ten team.” Eanet was inducted into the WGN Radio Walk of Fame last year. Former Chicago Bear Ted Albrecht is WGN’s football analyst on Wildcat broadcasts, while former college and pro head coach Joey Meyer provides analysis on basketball broadcasts. WGN has been the radio home of the Wildcats since 1996. Among persons 6+ in Nielsen Audio’s January 2016 PPM report for Chicago, WGN ranks fifth with a 4.2 – its best showing since last June’s 4.3; CBS Radio‘s all-news WBBM-AM is on top with a 6.8 (6+).
Louisville Lineup Changes at WHAS, WKRD. Starting next Monday (2/29), former WKXW “New Jersey 101.5,” Trenton personality Mary Walter will oversee a weeknight 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm program on iHeartMedia Louisville talker WHAS. Of Walter, director of iHeartMedia Louisville’s AM programming Kelly Carls comments, “She is always prepared; keeps her finger on the pulse of the news; and she does a great job connecting with listeners. We are delighted she will be offering her unique perspectives every day.” A WHAS fill-in beginning in 2009, Walter remarks, “I am so excited to be with the WHAS audience on a
regular basis. I have grown to love the local listeners over the years. They are so engaged and informed that it makes the job fun.” She previously worked at radio stations in Washington, DC; Phoenix; Denver; and Omaha. Meanwhile, at co-owned all-sports WKRD “790 KRD,” Howie Lindsey is named 7:00 am – 10:00 am host; contributors Matt Willinger and Katie George will join him. Another change there will find TheCardinalConnect.Com founder Nick Coffey taking on 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm duty. “We are very excited to expand our local sports coverage on WKRD,” notes Kelly Carls. “Mornings, mid-days and afternoons, we now have local sports fans covered with updates, insights, and compelling conversation about the teams and games that really matter.” Lindsey and Coffey will debut one week from Monday (3/7). Among persons 12+ in Nielsen Audio‘s winter 2016 book, WHAS ranks #1 (7.4) and WKRD is #12 (1.2).
Cumulus Media Dallas Sets Fourth Spring Job Fair. Jobseekers and hiring companies will come together in less than 
two weeks (3/9) as Cumulus Media Dallas presents its fourth annual Putting Texans Back to Work Spring Job Fair at the Plano Centre. In attendance will be representatives from over 100 companies in search of quality candidates from the Dallas, Collin, and Denton County areas of North Texas. No registration is required for job seekers; however, registration deadline for companies looking for qualified individuals is one week from Monday (3/7). The Cumulus Dallas cluster includes sports KESN “ESPN Radio 103.3”; talk KLIF-AM; CHR KLIF-FM “Hot 93.3”; country KPLX “The Wolf”; KSCS “New Country 96.3”; sports KTCK “The Ticket; and talk WBAP.
BTC Begins HD Radio Data Services in Canada. A partnership between the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium (BTC) and exclusive mapping and technology data partner HERE leads to Canada’s first in-vehicle HD Radio Traffic service. Honda is the first brand to offer the service to its customers on certain 2015 and 2016 models. Broadcaster Traffic Consortium president Paul Brenner comments, “The BTC and all of our member stations are excited to be the first to market for HD Radio data services in Canada. Honda and HERE are valued partners that expect constant innovation and quality services regardless of our borders or radio station ownership. Unified broadcasters, collaborating to deliver a common service, bringing innovation solutions to automakers is better for the strategic and long-term viability of the broadcast radio industry. BTC is proud to be a leader in this space.” HD Radio Traffic enables drivers and passengers to view detailed information on local traffic conditions in real time on their vehicle’s audio display screen. The BTC has stations providing coverage in most areas within greater Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary; the service is expected to expand to additional Canadian markets. Originally founded in 2007 with eight broadcast groups – Beasley Broadcast Group; Bonneville International Corporation; Cox Radio; Emmis Communications; Entercom Communications; Greater Media; NPR; and Radio One – BTC has grown to include 23 broadcast groups in the United States and Canada. It builds a nationwide terrestrial broadcasting network to distribute local traffic and other map-related data via FM and HD Radio technology.
Presidential Race Tops Talkers TenTM for Week of February 22-26. Primary races and activities of presidential candidates were the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio during the week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. Coming in at #2 was Apple’s refusal to hack the phone of one of the San Bernardino terrorists. At #3 was the battle over the timeline for replacing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, followed by Islamic State’s reported threats against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey at #4. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week; it is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. View this week’s entire chart here.
BFA to Fete Fritts with “Excellence in Broadcasting” Award. Former 23-year National Association of Broadcasters president and chief executive officer Eddie Fritts is named this year’s Broadcasters Foundation of America‘s recipient of the Lowry Mays “Excellence in Broadcasting” award. Underwritten by The Mays Family Foundation, the award is given each year to a broadcaster, “whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.” Fritts’ past recognition
includes “Broadcaster of the Year” awards at both the New York State Broadcasters Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters. In addition, he is the past recipient of the Broadcasters Foundation’s “Golden Mike” and “Chairman’s” awards. Inducted into the Giants of Broadcasting’s Hall of Fame in 2010, he received the NAB’s “Distinguished Service” award one year later. Fritts – who launched The Fritts Group in March 2006 – will be honored with this particular acknowledgement in approximately two months (4/20) during the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The Broadcasters Foundation has distributed millions of dollars to thousands of broadcasters and their families. Individual donations can be made to the Guardian Fund. Corporate contributions are accepted through the Angel Initiative; bequests can be arranged through the Legacy Society.
Cumulus Media Florida Outlets Aid in Tornado Recovery. Personal and household items, as well as monetary donations, are being collected by 14 Cumulus Media stations in Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Mobile, and Pensacola (Florida) for those affected by this week’s tornadoes in Century and Pensacola. Radio station staffers will be at various locations for six hours today (Friday, 2/26), nine hours tomorrow (Saturday, 2/27), and four hours on Sunday. Listeners are being asked to help tornado victims with water, personal hygiene items, household cleaning items, tarps, laundry detergent, diapers, wipes, book bags, crayons, pens, pencils, paper, clothing, and non-perishable food items. Cash donations should be directed to the Gulf Coast recovery effort through the American Red Cross and the United Way.
Cool Job Opportunities at CBS, Los Angeles. TALKERS has learned that CBS Radio Los Angeles is now looking to fill the following positions as soon as possible at all-news KNX 1070: news reporter, writer, and news production assistant. For more details and to apply, please click here: WWW.CBSRADIO.COM/CAREERS.
Odds & Sods. Pittsburgh-based “The Union Edge” adds suburban Minneapolis talker KTNF “AM 950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota” as its 27th affiliate. KTNF president Chad Larson comments, “KTNF has been a longtime union advocate, covering labor issues since 2004 in the Twin Cities. We look forward to carrying another program focused on the many accomplishments labor has made for our nation as well as the modern threats facing working families and our ability to collectively bargain in the workplace.”
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
News/Talk Sees Uptick in Post Holidays Audience. According to TALKERS magazine’s research as expressed in the monthly Top Talk Audiences chart found here, the audience for news/talk radio is growing again. Whether from post-election “burnout,” the popularity of holiday programming on music FMs or other seasonal factors, news/talk stations
across the country in general, saw their audience appear to decline in December and through the Holiday ratings period. However, beginning with Arbitron’s February PPM data and following through to other sources, the trend of the news/talk audience appears to be on the upswing with nationally syndicated talk show host audiences in the first eight positions on the Top Talk Audiences chart rising .25 million or more. Also, a new addition to the Top Talk Audiences chart in April is Premiere Networks’ Andy Dean, whose ongoing addition of affiliates combined with performance has lifted him into the 1 million-plus listener tier.
Talk Show Personality Mary Walter Returns to the Air in New Jersey; Soon to Be Syndicated Nationally via WYD Media. Well-known media personality Mary Walter returns to the New Jersey radio waves on Longport Media’s classic hits “Kool 98.3” WTKU, Petersburg, New Jersey in the Ocean City market for an evening talk program beginning Monday, April 8. The show, “Life! With Mary Walter,” will air from 9:00 pm to 12:00 midnight. Walter is a New Jersey native who spent the majority of her career hosting “Passion Phones” on NJ 101.5 (WKXW) in Trenton. That show was a combination of relationship-based talk topics and relationship advice and was the first program to simultaneously impact both the Philadelphia and New York radio markets. She also became the state’s first female morning-drive radio host when she took over the morning slot at New Brunswick radio station, WCTC. Recently, Walter has been serving as a guest host for a variety of stations across the country including Fox News Radio filling in for Brian Kilmeade, Spencer Hughes, Tom Sullivan and John Gibson. She also appears as a guest on the Alan Colmes show. She’s is also seen on Fox News Channel as a guest commentator on the Sean Hannity show and “America Live with Megyn Kelly.” On the new program, Walter says, “I love the opportunities that being a guest host affords me, but there’s nothing better than being back on a regular basis so I can build a relationship with the listeners. With a full-time show, we can get to know each other and it becomes more personal for both them and me!” Longport Media is also partnering with WYD Media Management with plans to launch the show into national syndication in the coming months, with KOOL 98.3 serving as the flagship station.
WPRO, Providence’s Buddy Cianci to Be Inducted into the RI Radio Hall of Fame. WPRO, Providence and 99.7 FM talk show host and former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci is headed for the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame. On May 9, Cianci will be inducted along with Bill Corsair, a popular personality from the 1960s and 1970s on WICE-AM, and Mike Gonsalves, who went by the radio name ‘‘Doctor Metal’’on WHJY. Gonsalves died in the fire at The Station nightclub in 2003. Prior to his work at WPRO, Cianci worked at WHJJ during the 1980s.
Digital Will Drive Radio’s Fortunes…Or Not. BIA/Kelsey last week reported radio’s over-the-air revenues edged slightly upwards in 2012, increasing to $14.3 billion, a 1.5% increase over the prior year, while online radio ad revenues reached $491 million, or 3.3% of the combined $14.791 billion. By contrast, the Radio Advertising Bureau in February reported total radio revenues (including over-the-air, digital, and off-air 
sources) totaled $16.482 billion, a 1% increase over 2011 numbers. In that report, the RAB said digital accounted for $767 million, or 8% of the radio industry’s total revenue. The differences in figures obviously are due to varying accounting methodologies, and whichever numbers you look at, the facts are clear: without the inclusion of digital advertising revenues in the overall mix, the radio industry would be experiencing low single-digit decreases every year instead of slight upticks. As the BIA/Kelsey analysis indicates, radio station revenue mix will continue to shift somewhat and income from online advertising is expected to rise at a rate of about 10.8% annually over the next five years versus 2.5% from over-the-air.
While many radio broadcasters still feel uncomfortable with the digital realm – often viewing it as “outside their core business” – the clear evidence shows that any real growth will be coming from online – and particular on-mobile – sources. With the U.S. economy improving at a 1-2% annual rate it is illogical to believe that over-the-air business will increase at a faster pace, especially when more and more marketers are shifting dollars from traditional budgets to digital platforms. In the long run, no matter whether the RAB figures or BIA/Kelsey numbers are more accurate, the fact remains that traditional 
advertising will continue to experience an upheaval over the next few years. As Google SVP and chief business officer Nikesh Arora recently said at the “D: Dive Into Media” conference in New York, 50% of ads will be online by 2018. “That’s a very large number, but online advertising accounts for less than $100 billion of that number, and there is a reasonable probability that over 50% of advertising goes online in the next five years. The big tipping point we’re waiting for is internet-connected televisions…We’re waiting for things going from ‘nice-to-have’ to ‘must-have.’” Yes, radio reaches 92% of the 12+ U.S. population each week. And no, this percentage isn’t about to shrink dramatically in the near future. But the media world is experiencing epic change that’s occurring at a near-logarithmic pace, and the dollars that are shifting to new platforms aren’t suddenly going to return to traditional media. The radio industry is in a transitional phase that requires an ever-increasing mix of old and new thinking, and that means expanding well beyond the comforts of maintaining one’s core business to better serve listeners and advertisers. This situation is analyzed in detail in an article posted today (4/2) in RadioInfo written by veteran media executive Reed Bunzel, president of Bunzel Media Strategies, who joins RadioInfo as special business correspondent. To see Reed Bunzel’s entire article, click here.
Sabo Sez: Radio Should Learn About “Hyperlocal” Marketing. In an eye-opening piece posted today (4/2) about a relatively new digital sales and marketing concept known as “hyperlocal,” noted consultant and TALKERS columnist Walter Sabo explains how it is a perfect tool for the advertising initiatives of commercial radio. For example, if your station offers an app with hyper-local commerce capabilities, a listener carrying that app could pass by a Dunkin’ Donuts, and through GPS, the app could signal the listener that they can walk into DD and receive a free donut. That’s hyper-local marketing at its simplest. To read Walter Sabo’s entire article, click here.
The NAB Announces Radio Board Officers. The National Association of Broadcasters announces the results of the recent elections for the radio boards. The two-year term begins in June for the following officers: Mike Boen, managing partner, BL Broadcasting, Inc; Bill Coleman, owner, Team Radio; Bill Hendrich, vice president and marketing manager, Cox Media Group Jacksonville; Ed Henson, president and owner, Henson Media, Inc.; Julie Koehn, president, Lenawee Broadcasting Company; Jessica Marventano, SVP, government affairs, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment; Mike Novak, president and CEO, K-LOVE/Air1Radio; Frank Osborn, president, Qantum Communications; Bob Proffitt, president and COO, Alpha Broadcasting Company; Heidi Raphael, vice president corporate communication, Greater Media Inc.; Paul Tinkle, president, Thunderbolt Broadcasting; and Dana Withers, president, Dana Communications.
XtreMedia CEO and Talk Show Host Kevin McCullough Spearhead’s ‘Do Much Good’ Campaign for Clean Water in Haiti. Kevin McCullough, whose nationally syndicated talk show is heard across the country, also is CEO of XtreMedia which syndicates the weekend “Baldwin & McCullough” program (featuring actor Stephen Baldwin) and the weekly Dani Johnson program. McCullough announces the Do Much 
Good coalition he’s organized is setting its 2013 goal on installing three water purification systems in three of the hardest to reach areas of Haiti. He says the systems can pump more than 10,000 gallons per-day. And the manufacturer promises that on all systems installed they will guarantee the systems to work or to replace them at their own cost. McCullough says, “As a father whose very first son was adopted from Haiti, I’ve seen the tragedy of Haiti’s economy before the 7.3 earthquake that rocked the tiny nation. They were already the poorest nation in our hemisphere before losing 200,000 victims to the initial quake and its subsequent 59 aftershocks. The bacteria, chemicals, and fecal matter that have now poisoned the water sources as a result of the earthquake are now killing one in every eight children before the age of five. My son’s younger sister — who I was also attempting to adopt — lost her life because of something that we believe she drank. Helping these children hits very close to home for me!” McCullough welcomes nationally syndicated talk show host Steve Deace to the coalition of media personalities assisting in the effort. McCullough continues, “We invite our brothers and sisters in talk radio, regardless of their partisan viewpoints, to join us in doing something we can all agree on. And that is to end the suffering of children whose only crime was being born in the wrong place. $100 to give a child clean water for life? That’s like .0078 cents a day — just how stingy can we be?”
Producer Steve Ciaccio Exits WEEI, Boston AM Drive Show. The AM drive Dennis & Callahan program on Entercom’s WEEI, Boston loses producer Steve Ciaccio who takes a position outside of the radio business. Ciaccio had been with WEEI since 1997.
Cool Job Opportunity. Executive Producer — High-profile network radio Executive Producer position is available for a person with a vision of the future of spoken-word entertainment. The person joining this team will be based in Los Angeles. Must understand the importance of topicality. Know the definition of first person guests and how to work closely with a production team and talent to create the most creative and entertaining content on radio, in social media, digital, on mobile. This type of position opens rarely. Sell us and tell us why you’re the Best! Please send cover letter and resume to : execproducerneeded@gmail.com We are an EOE.
North Korea Threats, Texas Lawmen Killings, Gun Legislation Proposals, Stockton Goes Bankrupt, March Madness/Gruesome Leg Injury Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (4/1). The increasing threats by North Korea; the rash of murders of Texas prosecutors and the possible link to Neo-Nazi groups; the plethora of gun legislation proposals across the country; the bankruptcy of Stockton, California; and the NCAA tournament and Kevin Ware’s gruesome on-camera leg injury were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
