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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Walter Sabo Says Merlin’s FM News Operations in New York and Chicago off to Good Start. In an exclusive interview for TALKERS TV conducted this past Friday in New York City (right before Hurricane Irene made its way up the coast to the Big Apple), Merlin Media COO Walter Sabo praises his company’s talent roster, sales staff, and CEO Randy Michaels for creating and marketing all-news FM products in New York and Chicago strategically targeted for 25-54 year old working families. These are WEMP-FM, New York (FM News 101.9) and WWWN-FM, Chicago (FM News 101.1). When asked to further define the term “working families,” Sabo responds, “Families in which mom and dad go to work.” He says compared to the audiences of today’s traditional all-news stations, 25-54 represents the younger demographic. “They need the same information as everyone else but the key to reaching them is to understand they are extremely busy.” He explains, “They are busy running to their jobs, going to day care, picking up the kids. Their day is a series of high-pressure points regarding the clock. They don’t have time to listen to any information that isn’t right to the point.” He credits the impressive list of advertisers already signed up for these relatively brand new stations to the competence of their sales department and the fact that advertisers “immediately embrace” the concept of all news targeted to a young working audience. TALKERS monitors on the ground in New York City report that FM News 101.9 delivered “superb coverage” of Hurricane Irene throughout all phases of its assault on the region. View this must-see interview, “Lunch with Walter Sabo,” on TALKERS TV on this page.
CBS Aggressively Leads Sports Talk Invasion of FM. The FM band is quickly being populated by sports talk radio and it’s not a stretch to say CBS is leading the charge. TALKERS special features correspondent Mike Kinosian writes that when the company launched WXYT-FM, Detroit four years ago, it wasn’t planning beyond that station. But as CBS Radio SVP of programming Chris Oliviero tells TALKERS, “We realized this is a road we should go down from a programming, as well as a general radio business standpoint. We love the format and think we are good at doing it.” With the simulcast of WIP, Philadelphia beginning on September 6, CBS will have nine sports outlets on FM in the top 30 markets. Read Mike Kinosian’s in-depth look at CBS Radio’s FM sports initiative here.
Josefa Salinas of Hot 92.3 to Speak at Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum 2011. Well-known Los Angeles radio personality Josefa Salinas who hosts a widely-heard weekend community affairs talk program on Clear Channel’s urban oldies “Hot 92.3” (WHHT-FM) will join the growing all-star roster of speakers at the forthcoming Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum. Salinas will participate on the panel titled “The Issues Facing Southern California: Challenges and Solutions.” Moderated by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison it will be the only panel at the event which focuses entirely on public issues outside the industry. (The rest of the event will address inner-industry issues.) Panelists include Charles Feldman of KNX, Los Angeles; Roger Hedgecock of KOGO, San Diego and Radio
America; Stephanie Miller of KTLK, Los Angeles and Dial Global; Doug McIntyre of KABC, Los Angeles and Citadel Media; Patt Morrison of KPCC, FM Los Angeles and Southern California Public Radio; and John Phillips of KABC, Los Angeles. TALKERS managing editor Kevin Casey states, “We have an amazingly well balanced panel of stars coming together here and the addition of such a community-involved radio broadcaster as Josefa Salinas really rounds it out beautifully. Considering the intensely controversial issues facing the region and the firepower that’ll be sitting up there on that stage, we should be in for an explosive session in the tradition of our most exciting Talk Rumbles.” The Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum 2011, presented by TALKERS in association with the Los Angeles Press Club, will take place on Thursday, October 20 between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. It features a lineup of more than 30 leading talk broadcasters including keynote speaker Bill Handel of KFI, Los Angeles and most of the top program directors from the major talk stations in Southern California. For the complete up-to-the-minute agenda and registration information, please click here.
WQXI, Atlanta Adds Dave Archer to PM Drive Show. Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback and current Falcons Radio Network analyst Dave Archer is named co-host of the Lincoln Financial Media station’s PM drive show alongside Mike Bell. Archer replaces David Pollack who becomes co-host of the new Palmer and Pollack show on the station. WQXI general manager Andrew Saltzman states, “There is no question that Dave Archer is the perfect guy to co-host our afternoon drive show. As an eight-year veteran of the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network, along with his six-year career as a NFL quarterback, Dave truly understands the intricacies of collegiate and professional sports. Most important is his tremendous chemistry with Bell. These guys have a lot of fun together and so will our listeners.”
Changes in PM Drive at KTSA, San Antonio? Nothing confirmed by owner Border Media Partners yet but TALKERS hears PM drive host Kevin Wall is out at KTSA, San Antonio and Sean Rima takes over his show. Rima worked for BMP in Austin at KXBT-FM before the company flipped it from talk to oldies. There was a report Rima was going to host a program at an online talk venture BMP was developing but the status of that is unclear.
Stephan Multi-Media Producing “Different” 9/11 Special. Doug Stephan, host of the nationally syndicated morning show, “Good Day,” is producing a September 11 anniversary special available for broadcast the weekend of September, 9-11. Media Management Group’s Craig Whetstine says, “We think it is different from most of the specials. It is a three-hour special, entitled, “Stronger Than Ever: Ten Years Past September 11.” Doug isn’t going to be looking back at the events of 9/11/01; he’ll be focused on where we are today and looking forward.” The program is being made available to non-affiliates of “Good Day” providing the program is not already heard in the market. Contact Whetstine at 212-545-8383.
Clear Channel Changes Market Managers in Seattle. Michele Grosenick is suddenly out as market manager of Clear Channel’s Seattle-Tacoma stations that include sports KJR. In is former CBS Radio manager Lisa Decker who left that company earlier this year. CC EVP of operations for the Western Region Susan Karis says of Decker, “Lisa is an amazing addition to the Clear Channel team. She has proven success with an impressive track record in delivering results in a highly competitive field.”
WDFN, Detroit Personality Tom Kowalski Dies Unexpectedly at 51. Known as Tom “Killer” Kowalski, he wrote for the Oakland Press and co-hosted PM drive at Clear Channel’s sports WDFN with Sean Baligian and Ryan Terpstra. His beat was the Detroit Lions and he got his nickname for his dogged pursuit as a reporter. CC Detroit market manager Til Levesque posted the following on WDFN’s website: “It is with a very heavy heart that I share with you that Tom Kowalski passed away this morning. Tom was a tremendous talent and his passion for all things Lions and the NFL never faltered. He was a tremendous asset to us on WDFN AM. His presence will be greatly missed in afternoons not to mention in the hallways and around the building. Having him on our team made us a better sports talk station and for that I will always be thankful of his time with CCD.”
Former WCCO, Minneapolis Talk Host Brad Walton Dies at Age 60. Walton was a Twin Cities media figure who spent 11 years at CBS Radio’s WCCO handling weekend overnights and fill-in shifts beginning in 1997. Walton wrote a book in 2004 titled, How Does the Heart Know Love?, a personal story about his life after open heart surgery.
Fox Sports Radio Hits 400 Affiliate Mark. The addition of CBS Radio’s new Cleveland FM sports talk outlet, “SportsRadio 92.3 The Fan” (WKRK-FM), on August 29 gives Fox Sports Radio 400 affiliate stations 11 years after its debut in August of 2000. FSRN vice president and general manager Don Martin says of the milestone, “This is a proud moment for the FSR family, as we welcome Cleveland’s WKRK 92.3 ‘The Fan’ and eclipse the 400-affiliate mark. None of this would be possible without the tremendous product that our talent delivers every day and, most importantly, the relationships we have with our incredible affiliates. Fox Sports Radio and our affiliates are the true definition of a team.”
Obama Economic Policy, 2012 Presidential Race, Irene Aftermath/Global Warming and Libya Turmoil Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (8/29). President Obama’s plan to fix the ailing economy, the 2012 presidential race, the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and global warming and the state of Libya as the Gaddhafi family flees were among the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tom Leykis Joins Speaker Roster for “Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum 2011.” Legendary nationally syndicated and longtime LA-based talk radio personality Tom Leykis will be among the growing lineup of speakers participating in the forthcoming “Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum 2011” being described as a “Who’s Who of Southern California Talk Radio.” The event is the first in a series of regional conferences dubbed by its organizers as “a new kind of industry gathering.” Leykis, currently sitting out a CBS contract keeping him off the air until 2012, is the president of the internet-based broadcast platform, “The New Normal.” He was one of the hits of the recent New Media Seminar 2011 in New York City and according to TALKERS managing editor Kevin Casey, “We are pleased to be able to 
make his sharp and innovative insights on the state and future of talk broadcasting in Southern California available to our attendees from the industry in that region.” Presented by TALKERS magazine in association with the Los Angeles Press Club, it will take place on Thursday, October 20 between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Registration (including breakfast, lunch and all discussions) is free to working members of the media and press but seating will be limited and reservations are already nearing capacity. To make reservations call Barbara at 413-565-5413. For agenda updates click here. (August 19, 2011)
Radio America to Syndicate the Peter Schiff Show. World-famous economist, author and media personality Peter Schiff’s radio program is being syndicated by Radio America and will air live in the 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET time slot beginning Monday, August 29. Schiff is well-known for predicting the economic meltdown of 2008 in his books Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Economic Collapse (Wiley 2007) and The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets: How to Keep your Portfolio Up When the Market is Down (Wiley 2008). He is president and CEO of Euro Pacific Capital and Euro Pacific Precious Metals. Radio America states in a release, “From the U.S. debt crisis, to the college tuition bubble Schiff says is on the horizon, Peter delivers common sense analysis on the issues of the day and practical advice to his listeners. Unlike other radio hosts who only view the world through the prism of politics, Peter connects the dots between the worlds of finance, business, politics and economics. He not only illustrates what’s going wrong, but offers real alternatives that can help the country and his audience get back on track.” (August 19, 2011)
WTOP’s Jim Farley Joins Associated Press Managing Editors. The APME was founded in 1933 and Farley – vice president of news and programming at WTOP – becomes the first broadcaster to join the organization. He’s also been nominated to the APME’s board of directors. The APME Board recently made the decision to open its ranks to broadcast outlets, educators and top students in an effort to unite journalists from all media platforms and recognize their various accomplishments in journalism. Farley states, “I am honored to join such a prestigious organization of industry leaders in APME. It is exciting to be the first broadcaster ever to join APME’s illustrious ranks and I look forward to offering my support and expertise in the future as part of APME’s board of directors as we strive to protect journalistic integrity in newsrooms across the country.” (August 19, 2011)
Cashin Exits WOOD and WTKG, Grand Rapids. Program director Paul Cashin exits his position at Clear Channel’s talk stations WOOD and WTKG, Grand Rapids and cluster music program director Kelly Iris takes over the PD duties at the two talk stations. (August 19, 2011)
Border Media Partners to Launch Local Internet Talk Station in Austin. BMP recently blew up the news/talk format on KXBT-FM, Austin – The Big Talker – due to poor ratings. But the company isn’t giving up on local talk for the Austin market. The Austin Statesman’s Gary Dinges reports BMP will debut austintalkin.com on September 7 and former KXBT-FM morning talk host Sean Rima will take his program to the web for the 5:00 am to 8:00 am program. There’s no word about other talent appearing on the site for now but Dinges writes that Rima’s show will be repeated from 12:00 midnight to 3:00 am. (August 19, 2011)
“America Tonight” Host Kate Delaney Publishes New Sports Book. Kate Delaney, host of the nationally syndicated “America Tonight” late night talk show, publishes her new book, Level the Playing Field: Balls, Brats and B.S. (or really fun sports facts) (Tullamore Publishing 2011). Delaney launched the book with a party at Top Golf in Dallas last night (8/18) with part of the proceeds to benefit Dallas Youth Golf Programs. Kate – the “Sports Princess” — tells TALKERS, “The book is based on the ‘Sports Shorts’ radio segment and is full of little known sports facts, personal stories about traveling with the Dallas Cowboys and covering sports mixed in between.” She calls it a fun, easy read. At last night’s event, Howard Berg, the world’s fastest reader, consumed the 174-page book in 10 minutes and reviewed it. The now Dallas-based Delaney has worked at WFAN, New York in addition to other sports broadcasting positions over the course of her interesting career. (August 19, 2011)
Radio’s Steve Harvey Developing TV Talk Show for Fall 2012. Urban radio legend Steve Harvey – who’s also host of the popular TV game show “The Family Feud” – is developing a TV talk show that will debut in the fall of 2012. Harvey is working with Endemol USA to develop the show that will be distributed by NBC Universal Television Distribution. Harvey tells B&C, “I think it’s an interesting angle to have a guy in daytime television who’s actually built his platform around not only being funny but also being empowering and insightful for women. I hope to offer women an interesting take on a lot of different things from the male perspective, and I also want to be empowering to people and give them great information. It’s a triple threat combination.” Harvey’s nationally syndicated radio show is distributed by Premiere Networks. (August 19, 2011)
Talent Shuffle at Sports WNST, Baltimore. Rex Snider resigns from his position as host of the afternoon drive show at WNST. He’s being replaced by the station’s Glenn Clark who is promoted to the PM drive show. Also, Luke Jones partners up with Drew Forrester on “The Morning Reaction” AM drive program. (August 19, 2011)
Fox Sports Radio Network to Feature Mixed Martial Arts Events. The Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC) and Fox Sports Media Group – the umbrella entity representing Fox Networks Group’s sports platforms – inks a three-years deal that will put UFC events all over Fox-owned television and the Fox Sports Radio Network which will broadcast all UFC events live. (August 19, 2011)
Obama Town Hall Tour Top News/Talk Story for Week of August 15-19. TALKERS research indicates President Obama’s bus tour to address the public about economic issues was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio during the week and landed at #1 on the Talkers Ten. Following up at #2 was U.S. debt concerns. At #3 was the 2012 presidential race and at #4 was the European financial crisis. The Talkers Ten is a chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio across America each week and is published every Friday at Talkers.com. Click the banner below to view the entire chart. (August 19, 2011)
TALKERS Weekly Affiliation Roundup. The Wall Street Journal Radio Network’s “The Wall Street Journal This Morning with Gordon Deal” picks up WXNT, Indianapolis; WBZS, Providence; KNWZ, Palm Springs, California; and WHBY, Appleton, Wisconsin…..“Free Talk Live” with Ian Freeman and Mark Edge adds new affiliates WNIS, Norfolk; WXXM-FM, Madison; KQEW-FM, Fordyce, Arkansas; WVNJ, Oakland, New Jersey; and WGGH, Marion, Illinois…..Business TalkRadio Network has a number of its shows picked up by WCAR, Livonia, Michigan including: Ray Lucia , “Travel with Stephanie Abrams ,” “Muscle Cars on the Radio ,” and more…..“Beyond the Beltway” with Bruce DuMont is added to the lineup at KMJ-FM, Fresno…..“Armed American Radio” with Mark Walters is picked up by WPNW, Holland, Michigan…..“The Small Business Advocate” with host Jim Blasingame picks up KBNP, Portland; KOAN, Anchorage; KBTK-FM, Flagstaff, Arizona; and WLRT, Lexington, Kentucky…..The independently syndicated Karel show hosted by Charles Karel Bouley adds KJFK, Reno to its growing affiliate roster. (August 19, 2011)
Talkin’ with the Rev. WJIM, Lansing, Michigan-based regionally syndicated talk show host Michael Patrick Shiels (r) poses for a photo with Rev. Jesse Jackson (l) at his storefront radio/TV studios. Jackson visited Shiels and appeared on his program that is syndicated to Citadel’s WJRW, Grand Rapids and the 10 stations in the Michigan Talk Network. (August 19, 2011)
