Tag: "the ticket"

Friday, September 6, 2013

Mark Masters Responds to Previously Posted Story About Potential Problems at TRN. CEO Mark Masters of Talk Radio Network has informed TALKERS that there are significant aspects of the story posted directly below pertaining to concerns over his company’s finances and operational well-being moving forward that are missing from it as covered. He promises a full statement will be forthcoming on Monday morning clarifying missing details of the story as it stands that will alleviate many of the concerns raised by the fact that it is incomplete. TALKERS has no reason to doubt Masters’ word on this and stands ready to publish his statement when received.

Troubling Times At TRN? While there are more questions than answers at the moment, TALKERS has learned through several reliable sources that a major restructuring is possibly taking place in high level “meetings” at the Mark Masters-led Talk Radio Network (TRN). Those close to the situation at the Oregon-based syndication firm have told TALKERS that some TRN staff members including talent and middle-management are owed back compensation, and that an uneasy feeling is pervading the company. Lack of capitalization is being cited as a major cause of TRN’s immediate woes. Ramifications of changes in TRN’s status could, of course, impact jobs throughout the company, most notably its high-profile host lineup that includes Andrea Tantaros, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, and Monica Crowley. If the speculated demise of TRN that we have been hearing about today is true, it could also have an immediate impact on its hundreds of affiliates in both the news/talk and all-news arenas.  Again, none of this has been confirmed by Masters specifically, although our sources include mid-to-high-level executives in the company and reliable agencies with whom they do business. We have no further details, however, regarding a timetable on this nor if TRN has alternative remedies. TALKERS has attempted to reach Masters but he has not responded to our calls and emails.

ONE MONTH UPDATE:  Boston Herald Radio to Be Subject of TalkersTV Documentary.  The innovative online news/talk/sports initiative dubbed “Boston Herald Radio” launched this summer by the Boston Herald daily newspaper has reached its first-month anniversary milestone – an event that prompted a visit to the facility yesterday by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison.  Harrison personally recorded a point-of-view series of video recordings of interviews with the project’s principals as well as a tour of its studios and facilities.  These recordings will provide the basis for an in-depth documentary on the project that will run next week on TalkersTV here on Talkers.com.  Meantime, the Boston Herald has run a story today about Harrison’s visit and comments including a comprehensive video of his opinion about the meaningfulness of Boston Herald Radio within the unfolding scheme of things in this new digital era.  To see it, please click here.

Glenn Beck Featured in The New York Times Magazine This Weekend.  In Amy Chozick’s column in this weekend’s The New York Times Magazine, Premiere Networks syndicated talk star and chief of his own multi-media venture TheBlaze, Glenn Beck, answers questions about media, politics and more.  An interesting outtake from the piece is Beck’s response to her questioning his assertion that TheBlaze could put traditional TV news out of business.  Beck’s response: “I learned that when Barbara Walters came and did an interview with me.  They had about 50 people in our studio for two days – more people in my offices than we had employees. All for an eight-minute segment…The nightly news is doing a fine job of putting itself out of business.  Who watches it?  I mean really, besides my grandparents, who are both dead, who is watching the nightly news?  I think we’ll be ready to put them out of business in the next three to five years.”

Martha Zoller Gets Tulsa Audience on Sunday Nights.  WGAU, Athens-based talk show host Martha Zoller – who’s heard in AM Drive with Tim Bryant as hosts of “Athens’ Morning News” – is going to be heard on Cox Media Group’s Tulsa news/talk outlet KRMG when her Sunday evening program begins airing at 6:00 pm on September 8.  Politics is Zoller’s bread and butter and the show will focus on political issues.  KRMG PD Levi May states, “It’s a great opportunity to add such talent as Martha Zoller, the new voice in conservative talk, to do a live talk show on Sunday evenings and focus on the topics that matter to KRMG’s listeners.  Zoller recently debuted her own Georgia political news blog at www.zpolitics.com.  Addressing her new Tulsa show, Zoller says, “I’m very excited to be joining KRMG on Sunday nights.  We’ll look at the week’s news and ahead to the big three things every week.”  CMG notes that the Zoller and Bryant morning show is being distributed statewide in Georgia via the Georgia News Network beginning this month.

Radio Show Advertiser Luncheon Q&A to Feature State Farm and OMD Execs.  The Radio Advertising Bureau and the National Association of Broadcasters announce Tim Van Hoof, assistant vice president of marketing for State Farm and Sumeet Kanwar, managing director, Midwest & strategy for OMD (State Farm’s media planning and buying agency partner) will participate in a Q&A at the 2013 Radio Show Advertiser Luncheon in Orlando.  State Farm is one of the country’s leading broadcast advertisers.  The event is sponsored by Katz Media Group and will take place on Wednesday, September 18 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando.  RAB president and CEO Erica Farber will moderate a discussion with the two.  State Farm was one of the top 10 radio advertisers of 2012 and increased its radio advertising spend by 20% in the first half of 2013 and by 32% in the second quarter of this year.  Farber states, “The Advertiser Luncheon is always a Radio Show highlight and an opportunity for attendees to learn to leverage radio’s unique ability to attract and retain top advertisers.  Mr. Van Hoof, as a key decision maker, and Mr. Kanwar, as a key influencer, offer valuable perspectives for one of radio’s largest advertising clients.”

Jorge Sedano Partners with Mark Schlereth for ESPN Radio Evening Show.  Miami sports talk personality Jorge Sedano most recently was serving as program director and afternoon drive host at Beasley Broadcasting’s WQAM, Miami when he announced his departure from the station for new opportunities.  Now we know that new opportunity is co-host of the “Sedano & Stink” show debuting on ESPN Radio Monday, September 9 at 7:00 pm ET.  ESPN states that “in addition to his new role on ESPN Radio, Sedano will contribute to “SportsCenter” and other ESPN studio programming.  Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion and former All-Pro offensive guard, joined ESPN in 2001 as an NFL analyst and has co-hosted the time slot on ESPN Radio since January 2012.”  Sedano has worked at numerous sports broadcasting outlets in South Florida including serving as studio host for Fox’s Sun Sports telecasts of the Miami Heat in 2012-13.  He says, “There are three elements to a successful talk show: be informative, entertaining and thought provoking.  Those are the elements I expect from our new show. Between my energy, passion and analytical approach, coupled with Mark’s knowledge, insight and perspective, I feel like we have every aspect covered for the listener.  It’s important to be interactive via social media during the show and truly connect with the listeners.  Lastly, we’ll have fun, too.”

Another South Florida Sports Talker for ESPN Radio as Dan LeBatard Goes National September 30.  In addition to Jorge Sedano’s new show on ESPN Radio, WAXY, Miami “The Ticket” PM drive host and Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard will be heard on the network at the end of the month.  LeBatard will still emanate from WAXY and his 3:00 pm hour will be local but the 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm hours will be distributed via ESPN Radio.  LeBatard will also continue to host “Highly Questionable” program on ESPN2 weekdays at 4:00 pm and Bomani Jones, who is a regular on the TV show, will also have a role on the new national radio program.  ESPN Radio is debuting another show new to the network on Monday, September 9 as the Freddie Coleman show takes over the 10:00 pm to 1:00 am slot.  Coleman had previously aired on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Jerry Del Colliano Sets Location/Date for Next “Media Solutions Conference.”  The radio trade publication maverick who founded Inside Radio and built it during its days as an independent journal (it is currently owned by Clear Channel), Jerry Del Colliano, publisher of Inside Music Media, has announced the location and date of his next “Media Solutions Conference.”  The 2014 installment of the one-day event will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia.   The theme of the forward-looking conference will be “How to disrupt your radio station before a traditional or digital competitor does.”  It will address such topics as “mastering digital media,” “the most effective new social media strategies,” “dealing with shorter attention spans,” “reversing the decline of radio listening by making key strategic moves,”  “how millennials hold the key to radio’s future,” “new digital content businesses to start,” and “succeeding at short video, digital audio, text and social media” among others.  In addition to Del Colliano, the conference will feature speakers from the industry including WBEB (B101), Philadelphia owner Jerry Lee.   For complete registration and hotel information call 480-998-9898 or click here.

Entercom Flips WWKB to Sports Talk as ‘ESPN 1520 AM.’  The progressive talk is gone from Entercom’s WWKB and the station becomes an ESPN Radio affiliate.  The company says the outlet will deliver ESPN’s content, be the home of some local play-by-play and serve as a companion to its local sports talk station WGR.  Entercom Buffalo operations manager Tim Wenger says, “Buffalo is a passionate sports town and the appetite for sports programming on the radio keeps growing.  With WGR 550AM and now ESPN Buffalo 1520AM, Entercom Buffalo has expanded our ability to offer the best and most comprehensive local and national sports coverage to Buffalo sports fans, giving our clients and advertisers even better access to the total Buffalo sports audience.”  The station is carrying live sports action this weekend as it airs coverage of the 2013 NHL Prospect Tournament live from Traverse City, Michigan.  Every Sabres game will be carried live, with play-by-play provided by Paul Hamilton of WGR 550 radio.

NJBA: Radio Listening Up in NJ One Year After Sandy.  The New Jersey Broadcasters Association reports that a little less than one year after the devastating storm Sandy hit the state of New Jersey and brought huge numbers of citizens with limited communications options to the radio for news and information, many of those people are relatively young and have stayed with radio, according to recent ratings trends.  NJBA president Paul Rotella explains, “The crucial role broadcasters played during Superstorm Sandy took center stage at our New Jersey Broadcasters Association conference this past summer, earning praise from local and national leaders like NAB president Gordon Smith and Representatives Frank Pallone, Rob Andrews, Frank LoBiondo and even Greg Walden from Oregon!  Storm coverage also caused thousands of new listeners to discover the amazing entertainment and information resources of New Jersey’s best radio stations.  Since then, our stations have successfully converted many of them into regular listeners, who turned to our reliable local broadcasters when the power went out and radio became an essential lifeline for everyone in the Garden State! What we have now noticed is that many of our stations now have an appreciably increased listener base across many demos than before the storm.”

Odds & Sods.  As the football season moves into full swing with the first full weekend of NFL games, Fox Sports Radio Network announces its fall weekend schedule (all times Eastern): Saturday — 1:00 am to 6:00 am, Ben Maller; 6:00 am to 9:00 am, Seth Everett; 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Anthony Gargano & Lincoln Kennedy; 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Bobby Bones; 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm “FOX College Football Now with Steve Hartman & Chris Rix”; 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Mike North; 10:00 pm to 1:00 am, College Football Recap with TJ Rives. Sunday – 1:00 am to 6:00 am, Ben Maller; 6:00 am to 8:00 am, “SPEED Sport on FOX with Rob D’Amico”; 8:00 am to 10:00 am, “FOX Fantasy with Mike North & Michael Harmon”; 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, “FOX Football Today with Bill Reiter & Artrell Hawkins”; 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, “NFL on FOX TV” (simulcast); 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, “The Blitz with Ben Maller & Tomm Looney”; 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, “FOX Overtime with Andy Furman & Kirk Morrison” and 10:00 pm to 1:00 am, “FOX Football Tonight with Mike North.”…..CBS Sports Radio Network also is announcing its weekend fall lineup (all times Eastern): Saturdays — 6:00 am to 9:00 am, Marc Malusis and Maggie Gray; 9:00 am to 10:00 am, Brandon Tierney; 10:00 am to 12:00 noon “Eye on Baseball with Brandon Tierney and CJ Nitkowski” (through the World Series); 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm, “Eye on College Football”; 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Jody McDonald; 10:00 pm to 12:00 midnight “Eye on Fantasy Football.”  Sundays – 12:00 midnight to 2:00 am, Adam the Bull; 2:00 am to 6:00 am, Amy Lawrence; 6:00 am to 9:00 am, John Kincade; 9:00 am to 10:00 am, “Mike Francesa’s Football Sunday”; 11:00 am to 12:00 noon “Fantasy Football Today with Jason Horowitz, Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard” ; 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm, “Eye on Football”; 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Jody McDonald; and 10:00 pm to 2:00 am, Amy Lawrence.

Basic Agenda Set for Talkers Los Angeles 2013 with More Speakers to be Announced — Sell-Out Expected by End of Business Monday!  The third annual installment of TALKERS magazine’s West Coast convention set for Thursday, October 10 is shaping up to be a blockbuster.  The gathering is closing in on being an advance sellout some five weeks before the event so it is advisable for media professionals interested in attending to register now!  It is expected that reservations will be sold out by the end of business (5:00 pm ET) this coming Monday (9/9).  The conference is again being presented in association with the Los Angeles Press Club at the historic Steve Allen Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.  TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey states, “We are very enthusiastic about the growth and positive impact of this Southern California gathering.  It started out three years ago as an experimental LA regional get-together and blossomed into an exciting companion to our big New York convention.”   The event - open only to members of the working media – will feature a power-packed day of panel discussions, keynote addresses, special presentations, technology and services exhibits by leading companies such as Comrex Corp. and Broadcasters General Store, tremendous networking opportunities and abundant food and refreshments lavishly catered by the Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company (lunch is sponsored by Premiere Networks and Fox News Channel star Sean Hannity who will address the attendees from New York).  The following is the basic agenda of Talkers Los Angeles 2013 with more details and speakers to be added in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event:

Talkers Los Angeles 2013 – Thursday, October 10, 2013 – 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

9:00 am – 9:45 am

Bagel Breakfast Party

Sponsored by the Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company

9:45 am – 9:55 am

Special Presentation:  “Greetings from New York”

Introduction:

Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS/RadioInfo

Diana Ljungaeus, Executive Director, Los Angeles Press Club

Speaker:  Sean Hannity (via video), Host, Premiere Networks; Fox News Channel

9:55 am – 10:30 am

Keynote Conversation: “Okay… Now, What?”

Introduction:  Brent Seltzer and Meg McDonald, Co-Hosts, “Brent & Meg Show,” Talkers Radio/Official Greeters, Talkers Los Angeles 2013

Speakers:

Norm Pattiz, CEO, Courtside Entertainment/Launchpad Digital Media/Podcast One

Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS/RadioInfo

10:40 am – 11:20 am

Panel Discussion: “The State of Radio Advertising and Sales”

Introduction: TBA

Moderator:  Erica Farber, president/CEO, Radio Advertising Bureau

Panelists (in alphabetical order):

Terry Fahy, VP/GM, Salem, Los Angeles

Ron Hartenbaum, CEO, WYD/WYM Media

Chris Pendl, Creative Director, Bonneville Seattle

Paul Vandenburgh, President/GM/host, WGDJ, Albany

More TBA

11:30 am – 12:10 pm

Panel Discussion: “Radio – The Big Picture, Part 1”

Moderator:  Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS/RadioInfo

Panelists (in alphabetical order):

Phil Boyce, VP spoken word format, Salem Communications

“Shotgun” Tom Kelly, Disc Jockey, KRTH, Los Angeles

Kraig Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LLC

Don Martin, SVP sports programming, Fox Sports Radio/Clear Channel Media and Entertainment

Mike McVay, SVP programming, Cumulus Media

Harvey Nagler, VP, CBS Radio News

12:20 pm – 12:30 pm

Special Presentation:  “The Importance of Personality, Creativity and Originality in Talk Radio”

Introduction:  Robbie Student, Host, TalkersRadio

Speaker:  Phil Hendrie, Host, WYD Media

12:35 pm – 12:50 pm

Special Presentation: “New Local Talk Radio On-Air Jobs in 2014”  

Introduction:  Jeff Wasserman, CEO, Life Coach Media

Speaker:  Holland Cooke, Radio Consultant

12:50 pm – 1:30 pm

Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Luncheon!

Sponsored by Sean Hannity and Premiere Networks

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Special Ceremony: Woman of the Year Award

Introduction: TBA

Presenter:  Robin Bertolucci, PD, KFI/KTLK, Los Angeles

Recipient:  Heather Cohen, EVP, the Weiss Agency

2:00 pm – 2:40 pm

Panel Discussion: The State of Talk Radio Programming

Introduction: TBA

Moderator: Kevin Casey, VP/Executive Editor, TALKERS/RadioInfo

Panelists:

Skip Essick, PD, KMJ-AM/FM, Fresno

Neil Larrimore, PD KFYI/KOY-AM/KGME, Phoenix

Andy Ludlum, Director of News Programming, KNX/KFWB, Los Angeles

Dave Sniff, PD, KFMB, San Diego

Chuck Tyler, PD, KRLA/KKLA, Los Angeles

Bill White, PD, KQTH-FM/KFFN-AM/FM, Tucson

2:45 pm – 3:20 pm

Panel Discussion:  “Hosting a Show and Managing a Career”

Introduction:  Matthew B. Harrison, VP/Associate Publisher, TALKERS/RadioInfo; Senior Partner, Harrison Strategies

Moderator:  Mike Kinosian, Managing Editor/West Coast Bureau Chief, TALKERS/RadioInfo

Panelists:

Rusty Humphries, Host, Talk Radio Network

Frank Kramer, Morning Co-Host (Heidi & Frank), KLOS, Los Angeles/founder of Toad Hop Network

Leslie Marshall, Host, WYM Management

Doug Stephan, Host, “Good Day”/CEO, Stephan Multimedia

Alan Stock, Host, KDWN, Las Vegas

3:25 pm – 3:40 pm

Special Presentation:  “Interactivity and Video:  The Key to Your Business Future”

Introduction: TBA

Speaker:  Walter Sabo, CEO, Sabo Media

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm

Panel Discussion:  Specialty Shows, Orphan Shows, Category Busters and Non-Traditional Revenue

Introduction:  Bill Moran, CEO, Bill Moran & Associates

Moderator:   David Bernstein, General Manager, TalkersRadio

Panelists:

Barry Armstrong, Co-host, “The Financial Exchange with Barry Armstrong & Kim Carrigan,” WRKO, Boston

Danielle Lin, Host, the Danielle Lin Show

Michael Zwerling, Owner, KSCO, Santa Cruz

More TBA

4:20 pm – 5:00 pm

Panel Discussion:  “Radio – The Big Picture, Part 2”

Introduction: TBA

Moderator: TBA

Panelists:

Bill Carroll, Host, KFI, Los Angeles

Sam Hasson, CEO/Host, LA Talk Radio

Tom Leykis, President, the New Normal

Kevin McCullough, CEO/Host XtreMEDIA; Host, WMCA, New York

Eric Stanger, VP of Operations and Affiliate Marketing, The Sean Hannity Show/Premiere Networks

More TBA 

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Open Forum followed by Closing Remarks and “Farewell Reception”

Speaker: TBA

Agenda subject to change without notice.

Youngest Reporter in Berlin.  As “Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline” covers the IFA Consumer Electronics Unlimited show in Berlin this week, Dave Graveline’s 16-month-old grandson Kameron Graveline (l) helped out the crew reporting from the historic show (Dave’s the one on the right).  Dave tells TALKERS that this trade show – news from which will be featured on his programs this weekend and next – is rich in history.  He notes that Albert Einstein was the first keynote speaker at the inaugural show back in 1924.  Graveline is celebrating his 10^th anniversary covering this enormous consumer electronics and appliance show.

TALKERS Weekly Affiliate Roundup. The Thom Hartmann show adds some non-commercial affiliates to his program including: KPFK, Los Angeles; KNSJ, San Diego; KBBF, San Francisco; KBCS, Seattle; KXRY, Portland…..“The Freedom Feens” featuring Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi is added to the program schedule at WRIK, Paducah, Kentucky.

Debate of Syria Action Tops Talkers Ten^TM.  The debate over U.S. action in Syria was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week.  At #2 was the G-20 Summit followed by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at #3.  Following at #4 was the controversy over the federal “Common Core” education guidelines.  The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is published every Friday at Talkers.com.  View this week’s chart here.