Tag: "Miller Kaplan Arase"

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Southern California Broadcasters Association Touts Big July for Radio Sales.  According to the July 2013 X-Ray revenue report from Miller Kaplan Arase, radio advertising revenue in Southern California was up 3.8% over the same period a year ago.  SCBA president Thom Callahan says that eight of the top 10 advertiser categories  grew over the same period.  “On a YTD basis, impressive category growth was recorded in education up 41.5%, transportation up 32.6%, department stores/shopping centers up 40.7% and appliances/electronics up 82.8%.  The depth and breadth of July’s results cannot be showcased enough.  The critical auto category alone was up 9.6% over last July with beverages, financial services, concerts, grocers, casinos, and professional services all showing double digit growth.”  Callahan states the new business acquired over the past year tells the real story with “an astounding 485 new clients who invested a record $30,550,000 through July 2013.”  Callahan adds, “Month after month, these documented revenue growth reports starkly conflict with all the ‘radio is dead’ noise we continue to read about in the press.  The facts are obvious: Southern California Radio is a potent advertising partner and 485 new advertisers found that out in the first seven months of 2013.”

Still More Rumors of CBS Radio Selling.  These rumors about CBS selling its radio stations seem to pop up once or twice a year and they, obviously, have yet to amount to anything.  The latest has Cumulus Media supposedly considering making an offer for the CBS Radio stations.  So far, Cumulus is not commenting on the speculation but that doesn’t mean anything, either.  Although it’s true that if the price is right, everything is for sale.  But Les Moonves has stated during numerous investor conference calls that the company likes the radio business because it’s a cash business.  Remember, at the Deutsche Bank DbAccess 21st Annual Media and Telecom Conference in March of this year he said, “We like radio.  Once again, low-single digit growth, revenue, OIBDA.  It’s still a very great cash business with great margins.  We still like running it.  We have no intent to sell it as many people are watching terrestrial radio today as watching 10 years ago, even with all these things going on with satellite and everything else.  It is what it is.  We like the business, it produces cash every year.  We like having the amount of cash we have, where our balance sheet is certainly in great shape, partially because of radio.”  Yes, companies do change their minds, but industry watchers tell RadioInfo any deal for CBS’ stations would have to include off-the-charts money.

Creating a Worldwide Radio Network One “Hobby” Station at a Time.  When you think of syndicators, you think of giants like Premiere or Talk Radio Network.  When you think of radio stations that carry syndicated programs, heritage stations like New York City’s WABC and KABC in Los Angeles come to mind.  What you don’t think is a syndicator setting up their operation, or their entire radio station’s operation, in a bedroom in their home located in rural Oklahoma.  You also don’t think anyone working out of a room about the size of a one-car garage distributing 24-hour programming, seven-days-a-week on three continents.  What you also don’t think is that anyone can do all of this with an operating budget that equals the pay before taxes of a young adult working full time at a fast-food restaurant.  Welcome to the world of radio iconoclast Jan Starks (pictured here in the studio).  If you have not heard of Jan Starks, it may be because you’re not one of the 155 people who live in Cowlington, Oklahoma, a tiny town with about 55 households nestled near the Arkansas border.  This is the town that Starks calls home, and is also the home of Star Com Media, LLC.  Cowlington is also the home of KKRP-AM (1610), a low-power radio station broadcasting with 100mw of power, the same milliwattage that can power a small laser pointer, and just enough to reach the rural population of Cowlington.  However, thanks to modern technology, the internet, a few computers, an unusually strong passion for radio and an equally unusual business plan, KKRP-AM is now a part of a legion of stations across the nation just like it, and he hasn’t stopped there.  Welcome to the micro-level of today’s broadcasting scene – a provocative mix of over-the-air broadcasting on the smallest, most local of levels boosted to international reach by the power of the internet and human ingenuity.  To learn more about Jan Starks, Star Com Media, LLC and micro-broadcasting, read TALKERS special features correspondent Jeff McKay‘s entire article posted today (8/27) by clicking here.

Beasley Broadcasting CEO George Beasley Cuts Ribbon on Appalachian State University Media Complex.  Named the George G. Beasley Media Complex, the state-of-the-art broadcasting complex on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, was officially opened during a ceremony held last Thursday, August 22.  Beasley chairman and CEO George G. Beasley (pictured here at the ceremony) received an undergrad degree in 1958 and completed his Master of Arts in educational administration in 1960 at the school.  He stated, “I not only envision Appalachian being one of the top schools in communications in North Carolina, I think that over the next few years it will become the premier school of broadcast communications in the Southeast and maybe one of the top 5 in America…This building isn’t about George Beasley and his family, it’s about the many hundreds of students we expect to come through this building.”  The complex is an 18,000 square-foot media facility that houses the Department of Communication’s radio and television studios, classrooms, labs and faculty offices.  The department’s 24-hour, student-managed radio station is 90.5 WASU-FM.

Ken Matthews New Afternoon Host at WHP, Harrisburg.  The search for a replacement for the recently retired Bob Durgin is over at Clear Channel news/talk outlet WHP, Harrisburg.  Ken Matthews, a frequent fill-in host for Durgin, is named the permanent afternoon drive personality.  Matthews says, “I’m thrilled to be joining the WHP580 family.  The WHP team is an outstanding group of broadcasters and part of a wonderful Pennsylvania community.  I’m looking forward to many great conversations with local listeners on and off the radio.”  Matthews was morning drive host at Clear Channel’s CHR WAEB, Allentown “B104” from the early 1990s through 2006.  CC regional program manager Jeff Hurley states, “Ken is poised and talented – I’m confident he will become one of Pennsylvania’s great newsmakers during the afternoon slot on WHP 580.  He’s the perfect host to drive political discussion in Central Pennsylvania.  He brings energy and excitement that’s infectious to everyone around him.”

Eliot Spitzer Appears with David Paterson and Curtis Sliwa on WNYM’s ‘Political Roundtable.’  Two of New York’s former governors – David Paterson (l) and Eliot Spitzer (c) – are pictured here at the Statler Grill in Manhattan with Curtis Sliwa (r) on last Friday’s edition of “Political Roundtable” on Salem Communications-owned WNYM, New York “AM970 The Answer.”  Paterson and Sliwa host “Curtis & the Gov.” and Spitzer appeared to talk about his run for comptroller of New York.  The station says “the format all NYC mayoral and comptroller candidates an unfettered hour of prime airtime to articulate and explain their positions and policies, without the constraints of conforming to a 30-second sound bite.  Candidates take questions from Sliwa and Governor Paterson and share their vision for the city as patrons chow down on juicy steaks and fresh seafood.”  Curtis Sliwa adds, “This is live and local at its best.  No media outlet in New York is covering these important races the way AM970 is.”  Others that have participated in the round table have included John Catsimatidis, Joe Lhota, George McDonald, John Liu, Sal Albanese, Bill Thompson, John Burnett, Scott Stringer and Kristin Davis.

MEDIA BROKER SPOTLIGHT: Dave Garland of Dave Garland Media Brokers.  In this week’s installment of Media Broker Spotlight, Sandi Bergman of RadioTVDeals.com interviews media broker Dave Garland of Dave Garland Media Brokers located in Woodville, Texas.  Dave Garland has an extensive background in radio saying, “I spent many years in radio grunt work… on air, sales, etc.  My first paid non-college broadcast job was as a photographer for a TV network affiliate and I really got bit hard by the radio bug by hanging out with the folks on the radio side.  I now say I have done every job at a station from sweep the floors to being an owner.”  Dave says that the buying of a radio station in today’s tight banking environment is a “tough business” but he is available to talk to first-time buyers and see if the right deal can be located for them.”  There are lots of stations that are not officially ‘for sale’ but can be acquired if the right buyer comes along.”  Per the custom of this feature, Sandi Bergman offers several opportunities for displaced station managers and first-time entrants looking to roll up their sleeves and take on an ownership project.  To read the entire installment of Media Broker Spotlight, please click here.

WTOP Expands Website with Technology Section.  Hubbard Radio-owned all-news WTOP, Washington launches a new technology section added to wtop.com with director of digital media John Meyer stating, “Technology touches everything we do today.  We are going to tell the stories of how it is affecting lives in our area at work, home, school, and in government.”  WTOP veteran award-winning reporter Neal Augenstein is the technology editor and will produce multimedia coverage of the tech category – on-air, online, and via social content.  WTOP notes Augenstein is a pioneer when it comes to journalism and technology; he was the first major market radio reporter to do most of his field production on an iPhone, and has written about and hosted multiple seminars on using the latest technology for audio, video, photography and writing.  WTOP Tech is the latest expansion of WTOP’s digital footprint following the launch of its Living section earlier this year.

NAB Ups Cumming and Ingram.  National Association of Broadcasters promotes Ann Marie Cumming from vice president to senior vice president of communications, reporting to Dennis Wharton.  Cumming joined the NAB full time three years ago and her duties have included supporting the department’s public policy outreach and managing media-related activities at the NAB show.  The promotion includes new duties but she will continue to oversee the newsrooms at the Radio Show and the NAB Show.  Also, Shermaze Ingram is promoted to senior vice president, marketing and creative services.  She continues to report to NAB marketing executive vice president Michelle Lehman.  Ingraham handles much of the marketing for the Radio Show.

WEEI, Boston Teams with NESN for 12^th Annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon.  Today begins the 12^th annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.  The annual two-day event is being broadcast live from Fenway Park on Entercom’s sports talk WEEI-FM, Boston and simulcast on regional cable network New England Sports Network.  Last year’s broadcast raised $3.4 million bringing the 12-year total to more than $31 million.

U.S. Syria Policy, Miley Cyrus MTV Appearance, Race Relations in the U.S., Financial Markets Activity, and California Wildfire Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (8/26).  The United States’ policy regarding Syria; Miley Cyrus’ controversial performance at the MTV VMAs; the increasing discussion about race relations in America; financial markets activity; and the threat to Yosemite National Park and San Francisco’s water supply as the result of the wildfire in California.