Front Page News Industry News

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

KBLA, Los Angeles Celebrates One-Year Anniversary; Scores High on Survey of Black Angelenos. The Los Angeles talk station that Tavis Smiley launched a little over a year ago calls itself “Unapologetically Progressive” and a recent study indicates that KBLA-AM “Talk 1580” is the “most trusted, credible and reliable source of information” for African Americans in Los Angeles. The study of 400 Blacks in the Los Angeles market was conducted by EVITARUS from June 4 to June 12 and concludes that KBLA “fills a void in providing relevant programming and content to the Black community” and emerged as “the station of choice” for the African American listener. Smiley says, “I am humbled by the response we have received from our target audience in this first year of operation. One never knows how the audience is going to receive a new concept, but I believed then as I do now that Black folk and progressives deserve better from talk radio. The amazing findings of this independent survey confirm our efforts and empower us to stay on the wall and keep building.”

Matt Pauley Joins KMOX, St. Louis for Sports Programs. Sports radio pro Matt Pauley joins Audacy’s news/talk KMOX, St. Louis as host of the station’s 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm “Sports Open Line” program as well as host of the St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network’s pregame and postgame coverage. Pauley joins Audacy from his most recent work with Good Karma Brands’ news/talk WTMJ and sports talk WKTI-FM “ESPN Milwaukee” covering the Brewers. Pauley succeeds Kevin Wheeler, who recently transitioned to host KMOX’s midday show alongside Amy Marxkors and Chris Rongey. Pauley says, “To say I am excited to join KMOX and the Cardinals Radio Network is beyond an understatement. To be able to come home to work for one of the most legendary stations in the country is a dream come true. There is no show in the country that can match ‘Sports Open Line’ when you look at the various people who have hosted it through the years and I am humbled to now be in that chair. I also can’t wait to talk to Cardinals fans across the country on a nightly basis. Their passion is unrivaled, and we will experience the highs and lows of the season every night together.”

WHP, Harrisburg to Debut Regionally Focused Travel Show. A new travel program titled, “Let’s Visit PA with Sandy Fenton,” is debuting on iHeartMedia news/talk WHP, Harrisburg. In collaboration with PA Tourism, the new syndicated travel show will broadcast Saturdays from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon and is heard on seven affiliate stations in addition to WHP. Fenton is a travel writer and broadcast veteran with over 40-years in the radio industry. She created and hosted a one-hour, weekly travel show called “Let’s Talk Travel with AAA” that aired from September 1993 to May 2022. Pennsylvania executive director of tourism Michael Chapaloney says, “We are thrilled to be partnering with iHeart and Sandy Fenton on this adventure which will spread the good word, the must-dos of travel to the masses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sandy is one of the state’s biggest megaphones for tourism in PA and we are excited with this syndication our reach is greater than ever before.”

‘Liberty Station’ Podcast Joins Salem Podcast Network. A new podcast joins the growing lineup at Salem Media Group’s Salem Podcast Network. “Liberty Station” – which launched in 2021 – is hosted by Rob McCoy (left) and Bryce Eddy (right) and includes commentary, analysis, and guest interviews on topics such as the Biblical foundations of American history, equipping pastors to become leaders in the culture, and understanding current events from a Christian worldview. Four episodes of the podcast will be released each week. Salem SVP of spoken word Phil Boyce says, “Rob and Bryce are culture warriors who are courageous and unafraid. They take on this battle with a biblical worldview. Think David versus Goliath, and we all know how that worked out for the giant. I am very excited to add their podcast to our platform.”

TALKERS News Notes. Tomorrow evening (7/13), Newsmax is presenting a live Arizona Republican Primary Debate at 7:00 pm at the Madison Center for the Arts, in Phoenix. John Bachman is serving as moderator for the debate between Jim Lamon, Blake Masters, and Mick McGuire. Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy says, “People across Arizona are hungry to learn about the Republican candidates as they make their choice in this critical primary. Newsmax is glad to be actively involved across the nation in a series of Debate and Town Hall events to further voter awareness.”…..Emmis Communications Corporation announces a tender offer to repurchase up to one million shares of its Class A common stock, at prices of not greater than $3.75 nor less than $2.75 per share. The tender offer is scheduled to expire, unless extended by the company, at 5:00 pm ET on August 5. The company says, “Emmis management and its board of directors have evaluated our operations, strategy and expectations for the future and believe that the tender is a prudent use of Emmis’ financial resources given its business profile and assets. With the cessation of public quotations on Emmis’ Class A common stock through the OTC Market due to the implementation of SEC rule 15c2-11, Emmis also believes that a tender offer may provide liquidity for those shareholders looking for liquidity. The company will fund the purchase of tendered shares primarily from cash on hand and borrowings under an existing $1.6 million line of credit…..The Independent Broadcasters Association is partnering with BSMG Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group that uses a mentor-apprentice model for learning and pays stations to participate. BSMG students train in local radio stations where they live. A team member from those stations serves as the mentor-instructor, and the stations are paid for their expertise. Stations may use the payments as they see fit. BSMG handles all the administrative tasks, provides the educational materials, as well as program oversight.

Midterms/2024 Presidential Race, The Economy, January 6 Hearings, Musk vs Twitter, Russia-Ukraine War, COVID-19, and Webb Telescope Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (7/11). The November midterm elections and whether Democrats want Joe Biden to run for reelection in 2024; the high price of gas & food, the fall of tech stocks, and concerns about a recession; the ongoing January 6 hearings and expected testimony from former White House strategist Steve Bannon; Elon Musk’s attempt to end his Twitter acquisition; the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s arms deal with Iran; the spread of the coronavirus BA.5 subvariant and the arrival of new subvariant BA.2.75; and the first image from the Webb telescope is revealed were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.