Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Today's TALKERS magazine
Sean Hannity Named to Keynote New Media Seminar in New York on June 7.
The Premiere Networks/Fox News Channel superstar has been named to headline an agenda of talk media industry luminaries that includes leaders from the ranks of talent,  programming, management and sales. Sean Hannity tells TALKERS his address will cover such pressing industry issues as confusion over non-rated platforms, attempts to silence opposition speech, proliferation of multi-media talk venues and the imminent explosion of a wide variety of content. He says, "My speeches in the past have focused on the theme, 'the best is yet to come,' which I still fully believe – but we face a number of present-day obstacles that have popped up along the way that we as an industry must address and overcome." Hannity joins the ranks of more than 60 speakers who will be addressing a capacity gathering of 500 attendees at the East Coast installment of this year's New Media Seminar (the West Coast installment is set for Los Angeles on October 11). Organizers expect the industry-only New York segment to be sold out by early next week. For last-minute registration and sponsorship information call 413-565-5413. To see the latest complete agenda, click here.
Clear Channel Agrees to Buy Alternative WFNX-FM, Boston for Rumored $11 Million.
 Stephen Mindich is the publisher of the Boston Phoenix alt-weekly who's owned WFNX-FM since 1983. He says the station has been difficult to keep afloat since the recession began in late 2008 so he's selling it to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. Now, the format rumor mill begins grinding and there's certainly reason for CC to give low-ranking news/talk outlet WXKS – at 1200 on the AM dial – an FM boost. The station carries Premiere Networks' Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and despite the talent of morning drive talk pro Jeff Katz and PM drive market vet Jay Severin the station continues to underperform. As is customary, CC is not tipping its hand about a format change but local media reports indicate 17 of the 21 staffers at the station have been notified of their termination. Releases from both parties do not indicate if Clear Channel will begin operating the station under an LMA or wait for FCC approval of the sale.
Report: Streaming Media East Confab Provides Insights for Talk Radio.
 Talk radio consultant Holland Cooke delivers nuggets like this: "It's not how many Friends you have, it's how many are talking about you," as he distills some of the advice on building media brands via Facebook (and more) that he gathered at this week's Streaming Media East conference in New York City. Read Holland's entire report here
Forbes Releases World's Most Powerful Celebrities List for 2012; Limbaugh, Beck, and Stern Make the Grade.
The annual World's Most Powerful Celebrities List has been released by Forbes and Premiere Networks nationally  syndicated talk host Rush Limbaugh is the highest-ranked radio talk host at #19. Fellow Premiere host Glenn Beck is close behind at #23 and SiriusXM talk star Howard Stern landed at #30. Forbes ranks celebs based on how they score in five factors: money, TV/radio, press, web and social.
Utah Jazz Owner to Buy KZNS-AM/FM, Salt Lake City.
 The Larry H. Miller Group – owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz – is finalizing a deal to buy sports talk KZNS-AM/FM, Salt Lake City which would become the radio base for the team. Currently, LHM Group is LMAing crosstown KFNZ but that deal ends this month and owner Cumulus Media is not interested in continuing to LMA the station, according to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune. LHM Group and Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby tells the paper the group will put together the best sports talk hosts from both KZNS and KFNZ, "This is going to be a super sports powerhouse radio station." It is currently negotiating with talent and did not disclose which of the two stations' current hosts will end up working at KZNS. The station is owned by the SLC Divestiture Trust operated by Larry Patrick.
Courtside Entertainment Group's "Loveline" Partners with Ustream for Web Video Distribution.
 Fans of Courtside Entertainment Group's "Loveline" radio show hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky, Simone Bienne and Mike Catherwood will be able to see streaming video of the program via Ustream. In addition to the program being seen live on ustream.tv, affiliate stations will have access to the embedded Ustream player for fans to view and interact with on their websites. Courtside vice president Katie Walsh states, "By partnering with Ustream to offer a video component of 'Loveline,' we are able to provide fans with more access and interaction than ever before. We look forward to extending our reach and providing fans with more ways to connect with 'Loveline' through Ustream." Courtside reports that after working with Ustream for a month, it saw a 107% increase in "Loveline" viewers on its Ustream channel – more than doubling "Loveline" viewership in a one-month period.
Daily "Sports Biz Today" Program Debuts in Syndication May 21.
 The AudioTracks Broadcasting Services-produced "Sports Biz Today" program hosted by Fred Wallin and Howard Bloom goes live and into national syndication on Monday, May 21. Both Wallin and Bloom have long sports media resumes: Wallin has worked at Fox Sports Radio and The Sports Radio Network as well as at ESPN and Fox Sports Net and Bloom publishes SportsBusinessNews.com and has worked with Fox Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio to name a few. The program is available for terrestrial stations via Cable Radio Network and is also being broadcast on the web via Passionate Talk Radio and Mile Hi Radio. It airs live from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm ET.
Odds 'n' Sods.
CBS Radio names Danny Bortnick vice president and director of sales for its Washington, DC cluster that includes sports talk WJFK-FM and all-news WNEW-FM.....SiriusXM adds "Dan Dunn's Happy Hour" to its lineup on the SiriusXM Stars Too channel. The weekly show hosted by the former Playboy writer and mixology expert will air live on Thursday evenings at  7:00.....The nationally syndicated Dawson McAillster-hosted "The Hopeline" names Jessica McVay-Kershner on-air co-host/internet radio coordinator for the show. Jessica is the daughter of long time consultant and current Cumulus Media VP/programming Mike McVay.....James Ingstad-owned KJOX, Kennewick, Washington – 1340 ESPN Tri-Cities – begins airing programming from Bonneville's KIRO, Seattle from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The station is also the market's affiliate for Seattle Mariners baseball..... The regionally syndicated, Rochelle, Illinois-based Michael Koolidge program expands to WTAD, Quincy, Illinois and WKAN, Kankakee, Illinois.....KMOX, St. Louis business reporter Rick Desloge died on Monday at age 63 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Montreal Broadcaster Ted Bird Joins CKGM, Montreal Morning Show.
Popular Montreal radio personality Ted Bird becomes part of the morning show at TSN Radio 990 (CKGM, Montreal) alongside Elliott Price and Shaun Starr. Bird will focus on the Montreal sports scene. He tells Broadcaster Magazine Canada, "I am extremely excited to join Elliott and Shaun on TSN Radio 990 and indulge in my passion for talking sports. I feel privileged to work for the flagship radio station of the Montreal Canadiens and hitch my wagon with the TSN brand. It will be an interesting off-season for the Canadiens, so we'll have lots to talk about. I can't wait to get started." Bird recently left CHRK-FM, Montreal in a well-publicized split that ended with him working at a Canadian aboriginal station.
2012 Presidential Race, Greece Teeters on Brink, Upcoming NATO Summit, Trayvon Martin Case and Budget Debate Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (5/16).
Some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday included the 2012 presidential race; the precarious state of Greece's fiscal situation and its effect on the euro; the upcoming NATO summit in Chicago, new information in the Trayvon Martin case; and the U.S. budget debate in Washington, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
Click here to read these full stories and much more at talkers.com
Hot (Talk) in Cleveland
TALKERS speaks with PM drive talk host Alan Cox and examines the success of his program on Clear Channel's legendary Cleveland rocker WMMS-FM.
Court Backs Lonsberry in Defamation Case
TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman analyzes the recent New York Appellate Court's decision to throw out a defamation case against WHAM, Rochester talk host Bob Lonsberry.
Walter Sabo on FM Talk
In this four-part series, Sabo Media president Walter Sabo explains the importance of format execution, hiring talent, topic selection and innovation in operating a successful, targeted FM talk station.
Prioritize to Stay on Top of Sports Events
TALKERS sports editor and WFAN, New York host Richard Neer offers thoughts to help busy sports talk hosts keep up with the jam-packed world of sports and have a personal life
The FCC and You – Part 2
Informal surveys of radio station managers indicate an alarming number of them are dangerously under-informed about FCC regulations. TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman presents the second of seven in a series of crucial, info-packed articles, this one dealing with the definition of obscenity
The 2012 Hersky Awards
H&H Communications president and regular TALKERS marketing columnist Al Herskovitz announces this year's honorees for the very best in sales orientation in talk radio
The FCC and You
Informal surveys of radio station managers indicate an alarming number of them are dangerously under-informed about FCC regulations. TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman presents the first of seven in a series of crucial, info-packed articles, this one dealing with the license renewal process
Intellectual Property Case Engulfs Radio Stations
Harrison Strategies senior partner and broadcasting attorney Matthew B. Harrison on the importance of knowing more about intellectual property law than just enough to avoid litigation
| | | |
|