Tag: "Media Monitors"
Friday, April 29, 2016
Red Sox-WEEI Streak Continues. While financial terms of the highly expected deal were not disclosed, Entercom Boston sports outlet WEEI will carry on its role as the radio flagship of the Boston Red Sox through (at minimum) the 2023 MLB season. WEEI and the Red Sox have been partners since 1995. Entercom chief operating officer David Field states, “WEEI and Entercom are delighted to be extending our outstanding relationship with the Boston Red Sox well into the future. It is a true privilege to be partnered with this extraordinary, iconic organization and their world-class team of professionals, both on and off 
the field. Red Sox fans across the country will continue to hear outstanding Sox play-by-play broadcasts and 24/7 team coverage on WEEI and WEEI.com, the home of Red Sox baseball.” Red Sox president Sam Kennedy comments, “We are pleased to extend our partnership with WEEI for another seven seasons. We look forward to this new phase of our partnership and sharing more winning baseball through the airwaves with our fans across New England.” The WEEI play-by-play crew consists of Red Sox Hall of Fame announcer Joe Castiglione and Tim Neverett, who this year succeeded Dave O’Brien (now doing Red Sox telecasts on NESN); Hamden, Connecticut native Castiglione is in his 34th year in the Red Sox radio booth. In addition to WEEI, the Red Sox Radio Network consists of 55 affiliates throughout the six New England states. To see how WEEI-FM and 28 other MLB radio flagships performed in Nielsen Audio‘s March 2016 PPM sweep, please read today’s exclusive TALKERS special features piece which appears below.
PPM Analysis: MLB Flagships. TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian introduces Major League Baseball‘s 2016 radio flagships with a ratings overview based on data from Nielsen Audio’s March 2016 PPM survey period. Highlighted are each key station’s 6+ share; 6+ market rank; month-to-month and year-to-year fluctuations; and a special breakout chart featuring the flagships by league/division. See the first of Mike’s exclusive special feature pieces about MLB flagships here.
TALKERS 2016: Bridging the Generations Is Nearing a Sellout! If you haven’t made your reservations to attend the forthcoming 19th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important national convention, now is the time to do so. It is nearing an early sellout and there will be no registrations sold at the door. TALKERS 2016: Bridging the Generations will take place three weeks from now on Friday, May 20 on the fabulous campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY (on Long Island, just outside of NYC). Featuring a powerful lineup of more than 60 luminous speakers, panel discussions, presentations, breakfast, lunch, closing reception, techno exhibits, live broadcasts and more – this is shaping up to be the most exciting and productive industry networking events of its kind in years. Registration cost is $299 per person and can only be arranged with credit card over the phone. The event is only open to media professionals and communications students. Please call 413-565-5413 for registration, sponsorship, and hotel information. Complete up to date agenda info can be found by clicking here.
Knapp, KCMO-AM Cut Ties. After more than five years as KCMO-AM, Kansas City’s afternoon drive host, Greg Knapp departs the Cumulus Media talk outlet. Regarding his dismissal, Knapp writes on his Facebook page, “I was told repeatedly it was not about my performance. My general manager was very kind in telling me how much she appreciated my show and my work [but] corporate decided it was cheaper to run syndicated programming than it was to pay me a salary. I have consistently had the highest ratings on the station; everyone at Cumulus Kansas City has been very good to me. The good news is I learned a long time ago to always have more than one source of income. I am now ramping up my personal development business [but] I am also looking for new opportunities in radio.” Knapp previously did afternoon drive on KLIF, Dallas; was a syndicated Radio America talk talent; and owned a guest-hosting service. Down or flat for the fourth successive sweep (1.9 – 1.6 – 1.6 – 1.5 – 1.5, 6+), KCMO-AM ranks #21 in Nielsen Audio‘s March 2016 PPM report for Kansas City; Entercom hot AC KZPT “The Point” is the market leader (6.5, 6+).
Presidential Race Tops “Talkers Ten” for Week of April 25 – 29. Activities of the presidential candidates and the battle for delegates were the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 were the European terrorism investigations and the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, tied with the United States’ Syria military policy. Coming in at #3 was the controversy over state laws affecting public restroom use and gender identification, followed by North Korea’s recent missile tests at #4. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.
“Robbins & Markley” Becomes “Markley & van Camp.” Owing to health concerns that have sidelined Scott Robbins since late-August (2015), there is a title change for the weekday program on Alpha Media Portland’s KXL “FM News 101” and co-owned WMBD, Peoria
(Illinois). David van Camp will permanently join Jamie Markley for the “Markley and van Camp Show,” which airs 9:00 am – 12:00 noon on KXL and from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm on WMBD. Alpha Media executive vice president of programming Scott Mahalick comments that, “David van Camp brings a unique perspective to the show and a great balance to Jamie Markley; together, they are magical.” The first official day of the newly-named “Markley and van Camp Show” will be next Monday (5/2).
SiriusXM Q1 Revenue Rises 11%. The increase is to a record $1.2 billion, with SiriusXM net income up 62% to $171 million; adjusted EBITDA improves 11% to $441 million. The satcaster adds nearly one-half million new subscribers, ending with almost 30.1 million. First quarter results exceeded expectations of chief executive officer Jim Meyer who comments, “I am especially pleased we were able to add 465,000 net new subscribers, leading to an 8% increase in subscribers over the prior year. With excellent subscriber growth so early in the year, we are raising our guidance for full year net subscriber additions to 1.6 million. We set first quarter records for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, and we are on track to achieve all of our financial goals this year. With a new full-time music channel from Kenny Chesney, live broadcasts from major music festivals, special popup channels for David Bowie, and Billy Joel, as well as new talk shows, and unmatched coverage of the presidential primaries, SiriusXM continues to be the leader in audio entertainment. We are always looking to deliver new, compelling content to our subscribers.” Chief financial officer David Frear notes that during the first quarter, “We reduced our outstanding share count by about 3%, spending $588 million to repurchase 159 million shares of our common stock. Our debt to adjusted EBITDA remained low at just 3.4 times, leaving plenty of flexibility to continue capital returns to our stockholders or make acquisitions while also making investments in our technology, content, and new satellite infrastructure.”
State of the New York Market Report Released. Among the findings from a New York Market Radio Association (NYMRAD) overview is that several industries expanded their footprint in the New York area contributing to a strong first-quarter start. NYMRAD executive director Debbie Beagan remarks, “With luxury retailers and department stores opening locations across the Tri-State area, radio offers high-end businesses an engaging environment for reaching consumers with household incomes of $250,000 and higher. New York market radio reaches 91% of high-income households, $250,000+, [as well as] over 90% of those who own a second home; those planning on buying a luxury car; dined in upscale restaurants; purchased fine jewelry in excess of $500; and vacations in excess of $10,000.” The report addresses latest information about New York’s economy, commuting information, radio and politics, and national radio advertising/usage. Analysis of the New York marketplace is designed to help advertisers understand radio’s impact on consumers and its role in the local advertising landscape. NYMRAD’s “State of the Market Report” provides business trends as well as local information from a variety of sources including Nielsen Audio, Media Monitors, and The New York Times.”
Execs Named to Build Digital Content Network for TheBlaze. Three digital media industry veterans have been added to TheBlaze‘s leadership team. Former Core Media Group chief marketing officer Chris Gannett joins as senior vice president of marketing; previously with CNN and the weekend edition of ABC-TV‘s “Good Morning America,” Matt Frucci is appointed senior vice president of content & programming; and Lisa Fowler – from BET Networks – joins as vice president of talent and culture. TheBlaze president Stewart Padveen notes, “TheBlaze is investing heavily in our mission to redefine the way digital media is delivered and consumed. Chris, Matt, and Lisa are a significant part of a new high-performing culture and a diverse lineup of superstar talent.” Ironically, the additions at Glenn Beck‘s TheBlaze come after cuts across offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington (D.C.), and Columbus, where a documentary group had been based. Sources tell TVNewser, between 35-45 staffers have been pinkslipped. These layoffs follow what a source calls a “brain drain” of talent over the last year. Chief executive officer Betsy Morgan left the company last summer and her interim replacement, former Premiere Networks chief operating officer, Kraig Kitchen, exited earlier this year. According to The Daily Beast, the latest cuts are meant to “satisfy the requirements of a multi-million dollar bank loan taken out recently to keep Beck’s revenue-challenged enterprise running.” TheBlaze is consolidating the company’s operations to its Irving, Texas headquarters.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
‘Mike & Mike’ Get New Studio Look; Molly Qerim Officially Joins Show. Morning sports talk hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg – a.k.a. “Mike & Mike” – will begin working from a new set on Monday, February 8 (pictured here). This set is in Bristol and not Manhattan as ESPN had originally planned last year. The general speculation is that budget cuts put the kibosh on moving the show to New York. As hinted by ESPN late last year, “First Take” host Molly Qerim officially joins Mike & Mike for the 8:00 am and 9:00 am hours of the 6:00 am to 10:00 am show. ESPN explains the move stating that Qerim “will present a variety of
content including news and breaking news updates and the hottest trending topics on the sports social media scene. Each edition of ‘Mike & Mike’ will end with an interaction between the show’s hosts and First Take’s Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, facilitated by Qerim, to bridge the transition between ESPN2’s morning programs.” (“First Take” follows “Mike & Mike” at 10:00 am.) Also, the main ESPN cable channel will launch a new show at 7:00 am on February 8 titled, “SportsCenter:AM.” ESPN says it has “a new format for ESPN’s signature news and information program designed to serve sports fans as they go about their early morning routine.”
Media Monitors: Fiorina Led Political Radio Buys in Iowa; Hillary Tops in New Hampshire. More data from Media Monitors is released with regard to political ad buys in the primary season in both the Iowa region and the New Hampshire market during the month of January. The company reports that Republican Carly Fiorina’s Carly for America super PAC bought 1,435 spots in the Des Moines, Quad Cities, and Omaha markets leading up to yesterday’s Caucuses. Democrats Bernie Sanders (955) and Hillary Clinton (771) followed Fiorina’s lead. The rest of the pack looks like this: Ted Cruz, 1,044 (317 from PACs); Donald Trump, 509; and Ben Carson, 632 (312 from a PAC). Looking at New Hampshire, data was culled from the Boston and Portsmouth-Dover markets. Hillary Clinton ran 2,535 spots from January 1 to 31. Bernie Sanders followed with 2,211. The Republicans ran far fewer spots starting with Donald Trump at 260, the Marco Rubio super PAC Conservative Solutions airing 253, and Ted Cruz airing 240 with added help from super PAC Courageous Conservatives (87) and the Keep The Promise (76). Chris Christie bought 24 spots and his super PAC America Leads added 233 ads. Finally, Carly Fiorina’s Super PAC aired 220 spots.
Profile: Compass Media Networks and Premiere-Syndicated Personality Joe Pags. TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents a personality profile of WOAI, San Antonio-based, syndicated talk host Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo. Although he’s officially based at iHeartMedia’s heritage news/talk WOAI, Pags (pictured here enjoying his avocation as a saxophonist) is heard in numerous markets during weekdays and across the country on iHeartMedia’s “The Weekend with Joe Pags.” Pags didn’t start in radio; his television news career led him into the genre. Though he says his desire to express his opinions is what made him take a pay cut to leave TV for radio, it’s apparent that his proclivity for humor is a primary motivator. To be sure, Pags is a conservative, but he doesn’t consider himself a traditional “conservative talk host.” He says, “At the end of the day, I want the biggest possible audience and I want listeners to get something from what I am delivering. Caller after caller agreeing with everything you say is bad, boring radio and listeners will shut you off. I cannot do Obama-bashing for three hours – I just do not have it in me.” Read Kinosian’s entire piece here.
Odds & Sods. The weekly New York-focused political talk show “Effective Radio with Bill Samuels” is
syndicating and will be heard in Westchester County on WVOX, New Rochelle Mondays from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The program – featuring host Bill Samuels (left) and co-host Morgan Pehme (right) – debuted on Sunday mornings on WNYM, New York “AM 970 The Answer” in October…..The weekly “Motley Fool Money” radio show, hosted by Chris Hill, is added to the program schedule at Salem Media Group’s WWMI, Tampa “AM 1380 The Biz.”…..Yahoo! Sports Radio is among the sports radio networks broadcasting from the NFL’s radio row in San Francisco this week. Personalities Sean Salisbury, Steve Bunin and others will broadcast in advance of Super Bowl 50 on Sunday…..Cumulus Media Dallas reports its charitable works for the calendar year 2015 totaled more than $1.2 million. Its stations – country KSCS “New Country 96.3,” “99.5 The Wolf,” news/talk WBAP, “The New Hot 93.3,” sports radio KCTK-AM/FM “The Ticket,” news/information KLIF, and sports talk KESN “ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM” – together raised funds, supplies and awareness for multiple charitable organizations through events and on-air and online promotions throughout 2015, including: $205,449 for Cook Children’s Hospital of Fort Worth; $303,157 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and Norm-A-Thon, which raised $500,400 for Austin Street Center.
Iowa Caucuses/Presidential Race, Battle Against Islamic State, Hillary Clinton Emails Investigation, Zika Virus Scare, Cheap Oil/Financial Markets Activity, Marijuana Verbal Memory Study, and Run-Up to Super Bowl 50 Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (2/1). Monday’s Iowa Caucuses and the activities of the candidates for president; the battle against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq; the ongoing investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of her personal email server for State Department business; concerns over the Zika virus in South America and the possibility of a pandemic; the low cost of oil and its effect on the world’s financial markets; the conclusion of a study indicating regular marijuana users can be affected with poor verbal memory later in life; and the run-up to this weekend’s Super Bowl 50 were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
CBS Radio Announces Plans to Put Sports Talk on FM in Tampa. This one’s been long-anticipated with industry watchers speculating about which signal CBS Radio would use to put sports talk on FM in the market. So Hot AC WSJT-FM, will be replaced by sports talk in August as “SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan.” Currently, CBS operates WQYK – 1010 Sports – with Mike Pepper serving as assistant PD and co-host of the “Hooters Nation Morning Show” with Lynne Austin. He is promoted to program director for the new combo. CBS Radio SVP and market manager Ben Hill states, “Never before has there been a station for Tampa Bay’s passionate sports fans with such reach and ties to the community as SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan. Locally based on-air personalities and a
programming team with years of experience in Tampa will help shape the station as a place listeners can trust for the most honest, engaging and interactive sports talk.” A release from CBS states hosts and reporters for the station will be announced at a later date. Currently, 1010 Sports airs DirecTV/Fox Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick; “The Commish with Justin Pawlowski”; J.P. Peterson in PM drive and Toby David in evenings in addition to the morning drive show. It’s not clear how or if CBS will integrate the current programming heard on 1010 Sports. About the new FM signal, Pepper says, “Being this closely involved in a radio first for Tampa listeners has been one of the most exciting opportunities in my career. Our sports landscape has changed dramatically over the last 10 years highlighted by a Super Bowl Championship for the Buccaneers, a Stanley Cup for the Lightning, and an American League title for the Rays, as well as the rise of USF football. The timing couldn’t be better for the launch of SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan.”
Glenn Beck Visits Dave Ramsey Show. It’s pretty unusual for talk show hosts of their stature to be guests on one another’s shows but that’s what happened yesterday as Premiere Networks star (and multi-media pioneer) Glenn Beck was a featured guest on the nationally syndicated Dave Ramsey show. Beck appeared to speak with Ramsey
about his new book, Cowards: What Politicians, Radicals, and the Media Refuse to Say (Threshold Editions 2012). The two friends complimented each other on their success and Beck told Ramsey he constantly hears from fans of his who also listen to Ramsey and tell him how he’s helped them. Beck said, “You have changed millions of peoples’ lives…I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who said, ‘You know, I was out of control, started listening to Dave and thank God, he has changed my life. Congratulations.”
Listener Driven Radio Buys Out Mike McVay. Cumulus Media senior vice president of programming Mike McVay was one of four founding members and a shareholder of LDR – Listener Driven Radio. Now, in an effort to make sure the company is not confronted with issues of conflict of
interest, the company has bought the shares McVay owns back from him. McVay left his seat on the board of directors when he took the Cumulus post last fall. In a statement, president and CEO Daniel Anstandig said, “Our LDR team is often involved in strategic discussions with our station partners. We want to be beyond reproach with our clients when it comes to confidential and proprietary information. Our move to buy out Mike McVay eliminates potential conflicts for McVay in his role as a senior manager for Cumulus.” LDR has created software that allows listeners to stations to have a say in the actual programming of the music as well as software that provides hot topic data for spoken-word stations.
Arbitron Shows Efforts to Satisfy Agencies’ Desire for ROI Data. Due to the nature of the way radio has always been rated, it’s been very difficult to give advertisers who bought time via agencies the data they desire about the effectiveness of their ads. Arbitron has been working on using its PPM technology to improve advertisers’ marketing mix models with what it calls more “granular” data. Arbitron’s Bill Rose told clients in a webinar yesterday, “Buyers want more specific information – granular – about who is listening when their spots aired.” Arbitron is working with Media Monitors to provide exact times spots aired. Using marketing mix models, advertisers analyze how effective their marketing is and Rose showed three case studies of specific products or services conducted over relatively long periods of time in which granular PPM data was able to improve the scores of radio ads relative to their impact on sales. Rose also notes that in the past, any attempt to provide marketers with data on radio’s performance was time consuming and labor intensive. PPM’s granular data changes that. “After two years of intense study and experimentation, we’re happy to see that the more granular radio data can improve our ability to evaluate radio’s contribution in marketing mix models.”
Talk Radio Mobile Service Aggregator Stitcher Unveils Redesigned App. The new Stitcher app for iPhone and Android operating systems includes some new functions – the coolest of which is what it calls “Smart Station.” The Smart Station function makes recommendations for shows to check out based upon the programming to which you’re already listening – sort of like a Pandora for spoken-word shows. Stitcher CEO Noah Shanok says, “Stitcher Smart Station is designed to give our listeners more tools for discovery and personalization. Our goal is to make talk radio more accessible than ever, and listeners are responding. Since our launch of the Stitcher Election Center in May, we’ve seen an increase in listening by an average of an hour per month. We’re hoping Stitcher Smart Station gives listeners just as much, if not more, access to new, relevant content within the app.”
Salem Radio Network News Covers Plight of Dalits. Salem Radio Network vice president of news & talk programming Tom Tradup is pictured here in a slum in Hyderabad, India getting a close-up look at the nation’s dalits – or “untouchables.” Tradup tells TALKERS magazine that, beginning next week, SRN News will present a weeklong series on the challenges these people – especially the children – face that include malnutrition, filthy living conditions and India’s sex-trafficking trade. SRN worked with the Dalit Action Network to cover this story. Tradup says, “The most amazing thing about these children is that with so little going for them in material terms their faith nevertheless remains strong and they are some of the most outgoing, loving youngsters I’ve ever met.”
2012 Presidential Race, ‘Fast and Furious’ Battle/Executive Privilege, Trayvon Martin Case/Police Chief Fired, and Obama’s DREAM Act Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (6/20). The 2012 presidential campaign; the Congressional battle over Attorney General Eric Holder’s contempt charges and President Obama’s declaring executive privilege in the ‘Fast and Furious’ case; the firing of Sanford, Florida police chief Bill Lee in the Trayvon Martin case; and President Obama’s DREAM Act and the expected Supreme Court decision on Arizona’s illegal immigration law were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
