September 2001 Archive
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September
2001 Archive
Previous
month -
Links- internally where there are follow-up stories we try, at the end of each story, to put a pertinent link to the top of the next relevant story. Regarding external links see note at end of page.
RNW September Comment looks at how US media reacted to the tragic events of the attack on the US and what we think is needed in the future.
RNW August Comment considers the advantages likely from digital and satellite radio.
RNW July Comment looks at the value of International Radio Services.
2001-09-29: XM Satellite Radio, whose shares fell 22% on Thursday following an acknowledgement by Boeing of problems with the solar panels on its 702 satellites, which are used by XM, had recovered most of the loss by the end of the week.
XM stock fell to a low of USD4.51 on Thursday before picking up to end at USD4.85 but had recovered to USD5.24 by the close on Friday.
Boeing said that the satellites could eventually suffer from decreased power output.
XM in a statement said it anticipated "no material impact on its quality of service, conduct of business or cost of operation" although it admitted than it might need to replace the satellites earlier than expected to maintain its service.
XM has a spare ground satellite that is currently being modified to eliminate the power problem.
Boeing acquired the satellite-making business from Hughes Electronics Corp last year and has been working to overcome a manufacturing errors and quality-control lapses; six of the 702 series satellites, which have a design life of 12-15 years, are currently in orbit.
XM says that its satellites are currently performing above requirements.
Previous XM:
XM web site:
Previous
month - Links- internally where there are follow-up stories we try, at the end of each story, to put a pertinent link to the top of the next relevant story. Regarding external links see note at end of page.
RNW September Comment looks at how US media reacted to the tragic events of the attack on the US and what we think is needed in the future.
RNW August Comment considers the advantages likely from digital and satellite radio.
RNW July Comment looks at the value of International Radio Services.
2001-09-30:
The UK Radio Authority
has just published its proposals for a 2001 version of its codes
for commercial broadcasters.
The New version brings together the News and Current Affairs Code, which has not been updated in its entirety for seven years, and the Programme Code, which was updated three years ago.
The Authority is now seeking comment on the suggested new code, which among other things makes amendments to a number of clauses, including those concerning taste and indecency, and adds a new section on "Wind-up" calls.
Among the issues the Authority has considered needed changes are those concerning sexual matters, bad language and blasphemy.
It says that there is no absolute ban on bad language but it has to be defensible in terms "of context and authenticity" and "must not be used in programmes aimed at young listeners or when audience research indicates they might be expected to be listening in significant numbers."
The authority has amended its rule to highlight the need for "considered judgements having regard to scheduling" when airing songs with explicit lyrics, highlighting "school run" times as a particular issue.
Concerning sexual matters, the authority says "Entertainment and comedy have often relied on sexual innuendo: but this does not justify gratuitous crudity, the portrayal of perversion, sexism or the degradation of either sex."
"Music and art are often concerned with love and passion, and it would be wrong (and impossible) to require writers or lyricists to require writers or lyricists not to shock or disturb; but the aim should be to move, not offend."
The proposed rules now highlight the context and presentation and also say concerning humour that "humour relying on sexual innuendo should take account of the likely audience and should not be gratuitous "
There is also a ban on "portrayal or description of sexual activity between humans and animals or between adults and children" with a note that references to such matters must be aired only after consultation with senior station management.
"Gratuitous sexual stereotyping and degradation." The rules say," must be avoided" On humour, the rules also note the "danger of offence in the use of humour based on particular characteristics like race, gender or disability" and comments on the avoidance of "racist terms", and "Insensitive comments or stereotyped portrayal".
The Authority has also added a new section of rules concerning "wind up" calls.
This reads, " The 'wind up' call is a technique that, if it is to be used, requires care. The general idea behind 'wind-ups' should be that they are good-humoured and that 'victims' should not be exploited in an unacceptable way."
"The Radio Authority expects that permission to broadcast 'wind up' calls will be sought in a proper manner. The person being 'wound up' should be both fully able to realise what has taken place and fit to grant permission with his/her wits about him/her and without feeling s/he has been put on the spot or is being a 'bad sport' for refusing permission to broadcast."
"Additionally, when a person is 'wound up' in his/her professional capacity, that is, when s/he are representing an organisation or an employer, then broadcasters must be clear that the permission of that organisation has also been given before the call may be broadcast."
"No 'wind up' scenarios should distress or upset callers or offend against good taste or decency, either when recorded or when broadcast."
For the first time the Code also includes, for quick reference, a 'without prejudice' guide to both libel and contempt guidelines.
Previous UK Radio Authority:
UK Radio Authority news release (has links to relevant documents - circa 800 kb in Microsoft Word):
The New version brings together the News and Current Affairs Code, which has not been updated in its entirety for seven years, and the Programme Code, which was updated three years ago.
The Authority is now seeking comment on the suggested new code, which among other things makes amendments to a number of clauses, including those concerning taste and indecency, and adds a new section on "Wind-up" calls.
Among the issues the Authority has considered needed changes are those concerning sexual matters, bad language and blasphemy.
It says that there is no absolute ban on bad language but it has to be defensible in terms "of context and authenticity" and "must not be used in programmes aimed at young listeners or when audience research indicates they might be expected to be listening in significant numbers."
The authority has amended its rule to highlight the need for "considered judgements having regard to scheduling" when airing songs with explicit lyrics, highlighting "school run" times as a particular issue.
Concerning sexual matters, the authority says "Entertainment and comedy have often relied on sexual innuendo: but this does not justify gratuitous crudity, the portrayal of perversion, sexism or the degradation of either sex."
"Music and art are often concerned with love and passion, and it would be wrong (and impossible) to require writers or lyricists to require writers or lyricists not to shock or disturb; but the aim should be to move, not offend."
The proposed rules now highlight the context and presentation and also say concerning humour that "humour relying on sexual innuendo should take account of the likely audience and should not be gratuitous "
There is also a ban on "portrayal or description of sexual activity between humans and animals or between adults and children" with a note that references to such matters must be aired only after consultation with senior station management.
"Gratuitous sexual stereotyping and degradation." The rules say," must be avoided" On humour, the rules also note the "danger of offence in the use of humour based on particular characteristics like race, gender or disability" and comments on the avoidance of "racist terms", and "Insensitive comments or stereotyped portrayal".
The Authority has also added a new section of rules concerning "wind up" calls.
This reads, " The 'wind up' call is a technique that, if it is to be used, requires care. The general idea behind 'wind-ups' should be that they are good-humoured and that 'victims' should not be exploited in an unacceptable way."
"The Radio Authority expects that permission to broadcast 'wind up' calls will be sought in a proper manner. The person being 'wound up' should be both fully able to realise what has taken place and fit to grant permission with his/her wits about him/her and without feeling s/he has been put on the spot or is being a 'bad sport' for refusing permission to broadcast."
"Additionally, when a person is 'wound up' in his/her professional capacity, that is, when s/he are representing an organisation or an employer, then broadcasters must be clear that the permission of that organisation has also been given before the call may be broadcast."
"No 'wind up' scenarios should distress or upset callers or offend against good taste or decency, either when recorded or when broadcast."
For the first time the Code also includes, for quick reference, a 'without prejudice' guide to both libel and contempt guidelines.
Previous UK Radio Authority:
UK Radio Authority news release (has links to relevant documents - circa 800 kb in Microsoft Word):
2001-09-30:
A fairly quiet week for the regulators with nothing
of import in Canada and Ireland and
a fairly quiet week elsewhere: In Australia,
the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) is proposing
to switch the new Melbourne commercial licence awarded to DMG
Radio (See RNW
Dec 15, 2000) to 100.3 MHz instead of the current
91.5MHz frequency because of the potential interference with the
ABC Channel 3 TV service in North East Tasmania.
In the UK the Radio Authority has published assessments of a number of recent licence awards, given details of applicants for the re-advertised Northampton area AM and FM licences and re-awarded other licences.
The Northampton licences re-advertised are the FM licence currently held by Northants 96 with a contemporary and charts music service plus local news and information and the AM licence currently held by Classic Gold with a classic pop hit service.
They are re-applying and are facing competition from an application for both licences from Better Radio Northants Ltd., which is proposing a service comprising pop music of the past 25 years and local news and information service for the FM licence and a full service community-focussed service for the AM licence.
The re-awarded licences are those for:
*the Luton/Bedford AM licence currently held by Classic Gold and for which there was no competing application;
the London licence of Jazz FM, which was automatically renewed because the station is providing a service on the relevant local digital multiplex;
*and the north London licence re-awarded to London Greek Radio against competition from Fusion FM. A third competing application was ruled out because it was submitted after the deadline.
The assessments were those for
*the Dundee and Perth digital multiples which was awarded to Score Digital earlier this month against competition from Switchdigital (Scotland) Ltd (See Licence News Sept 9);
* for the new Rugby licence awarded to Rugby FM against competition from Fosseway Radio (Jet FM Ltd.), The Lion (Lion Radio Ltd.), and Rugby 1 (Rugby On Air Co. Ltd.;
*and the Haringey, North London, licence re-awarded to London Greek Radio (Both also Licence News Sept 9).
In assessing the Dundee and Perth Award, the authority said both applicants complied with the coverage brief and added that Score had demonstrated a firm commitment to the establishment of digital radio services in Scotland, and would be a reliable and long-term investor in that industry.
The business plan in Score's application, it said, showed a good, if rather sober, awareness of the practicalities of multiplex operation in this part of the UK. Members also commented on the inclusion in the services offered of major local analogue services, Tay FM, Tay AM and - subject to their agreement - Kingdom FM and Wave 102, would be included in the bouquet of programme services offered on the multiplex.
In addition they noted that other existing community-oriented services, each currently serving only a small portion of the overall coverage area (in terms of population), together with a range of educational, campus and hospital radio services, will also have the opportunity to broadcast digitally as part of The Bridge, a community access channel.
Members considered that this shared service, which would broadcast in mono, was an appropriate use of scarce digital spectrum and was a good idea given the current stage of digital radio's development.
In the case of the Rugby licence, the Authority commented that Rugby FM's board brings together individuals with a strong local profile and relevant experience, and the group benefits from containing well-established radio and newspaper interests as well as other local business involvement.
Its investors, it added, include companies with current experience of running small-scale local stations in similar markets.
The Authority noted that the group remains largely unchanged since its application for a licence in a neighbouring area in 1997, and has demonstrated its ongoing commitment through operating trial broadcasts in Rugby.
It also noted that its news coverage plans were well developed including two staff journalists and a news-sharing arrangement with the Rugby Evening Telegraph.
In the case of the North London licence re-awarded to London Greek Radio, the authority praised the company's "cogent and well-presented application" and noted the local support it had.
Members considered, the Authority added, that the wide-ranging speech content proposed by LGR for its new licence term particularly the review and discussion programmes and its comprehensive news service, was impressive.
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a Construction Permit settlement window running to the end of November.
This allows competing applicants for permits in commercial frequencies where there is an application from a non-commercial body to come to a settlement before an auction is instituted.
During the window an applicant can induce other applicants to withdraw by the offer of payments over and above that applicants reasonable expenses.
The FCC in the person of its Enforcement Bureau's Investigations & Hearing Division, Chuck Kelley, has also commented on the issue of radio prizes.
He told a National Association of Black Broadcasters (NABOB) panel that the Commission had received complaints from smaller operators about the larger prizes that the big players can offer.
Kelley noted that regulations required the stations "accurately disclose the material terms of the contest and conduct the contest substantially as announced or advertised."
US radio giant Clear Channel has been in hot water over some of its contests with complainants saying that it has promoted national contests in a manner that gives the impression they are local ones.
Previous ABA:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous NABOB:
Previous UK Radio Authority:
ABA web site
FCC web site:
UK Radio Authority web site:
In the UK the Radio Authority has published assessments of a number of recent licence awards, given details of applicants for the re-advertised Northampton area AM and FM licences and re-awarded other licences.
The Northampton licences re-advertised are the FM licence currently held by Northants 96 with a contemporary and charts music service plus local news and information and the AM licence currently held by Classic Gold with a classic pop hit service.
They are re-applying and are facing competition from an application for both licences from Better Radio Northants Ltd., which is proposing a service comprising pop music of the past 25 years and local news and information service for the FM licence and a full service community-focussed service for the AM licence.
The re-awarded licences are those for:
*the Luton/Bedford AM licence currently held by Classic Gold and for which there was no competing application;
the London licence of Jazz FM, which was automatically renewed because the station is providing a service on the relevant local digital multiplex;
*and the north London licence re-awarded to London Greek Radio against competition from Fusion FM. A third competing application was ruled out because it was submitted after the deadline.
The assessments were those for
*the Dundee and Perth digital multiples which was awarded to Score Digital earlier this month against competition from Switchdigital (Scotland) Ltd (See Licence News Sept 9);
* for the new Rugby licence awarded to Rugby FM against competition from Fosseway Radio (Jet FM Ltd.), The Lion (Lion Radio Ltd.), and Rugby 1 (Rugby On Air Co. Ltd.;
*and the Haringey, North London, licence re-awarded to London Greek Radio (Both also Licence News Sept 9).
In assessing the Dundee and Perth Award, the authority said both applicants complied with the coverage brief and added that Score had demonstrated a firm commitment to the establishment of digital radio services in Scotland, and would be a reliable and long-term investor in that industry.
The business plan in Score's application, it said, showed a good, if rather sober, awareness of the practicalities of multiplex operation in this part of the UK. Members also commented on the inclusion in the services offered of major local analogue services, Tay FM, Tay AM and - subject to their agreement - Kingdom FM and Wave 102, would be included in the bouquet of programme services offered on the multiplex.
In addition they noted that other existing community-oriented services, each currently serving only a small portion of the overall coverage area (in terms of population), together with a range of educational, campus and hospital radio services, will also have the opportunity to broadcast digitally as part of The Bridge, a community access channel.
Members considered that this shared service, which would broadcast in mono, was an appropriate use of scarce digital spectrum and was a good idea given the current stage of digital radio's development.
In the case of the Rugby licence, the Authority commented that Rugby FM's board brings together individuals with a strong local profile and relevant experience, and the group benefits from containing well-established radio and newspaper interests as well as other local business involvement.
Its investors, it added, include companies with current experience of running small-scale local stations in similar markets.
The Authority noted that the group remains largely unchanged since its application for a licence in a neighbouring area in 1997, and has demonstrated its ongoing commitment through operating trial broadcasts in Rugby.
It also noted that its news coverage plans were well developed including two staff journalists and a news-sharing arrangement with the Rugby Evening Telegraph.
In the case of the North London licence re-awarded to London Greek Radio, the authority praised the company's "cogent and well-presented application" and noted the local support it had.
Members considered, the Authority added, that the wide-ranging speech content proposed by LGR for its new licence term particularly the review and discussion programmes and its comprehensive news service, was impressive.
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a Construction Permit settlement window running to the end of November.
This allows competing applicants for permits in commercial frequencies where there is an application from a non-commercial body to come to a settlement before an auction is instituted.
During the window an applicant can induce other applicants to withdraw by the offer of payments over and above that applicants reasonable expenses.
The FCC in the person of its Enforcement Bureau's Investigations & Hearing Division, Chuck Kelley, has also commented on the issue of radio prizes.
He told a National Association of Black Broadcasters (NABOB) panel that the Commission had received complaints from smaller operators about the larger prizes that the big players can offer.
Kelley noted that regulations required the stations "accurately disclose the material terms of the contest and conduct the contest substantially as announced or advertised."
US radio giant Clear Channel has been in hot water over some of its contests with complainants saying that it has promoted national contests in a manner that gives the impression they are local ones.
Previous ABA:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous NABOB:
Previous UK Radio Authority:
ABA web site
FCC web site:
UK Radio Authority web site:
2001-09-29: XM Satellite Radio, whose shares fell 22% on Thursday following an acknowledgement by Boeing of problems with the solar panels on its 702 satellites, which are used by XM, had recovered most of the loss by the end of the week.
XM stock fell to a low of USD4.51 on Thursday before picking up to end at USD4.85 but had recovered to USD5.24 by the close on Friday.
Boeing said that the satellites could eventually suffer from decreased power output.
XM in a statement said it anticipated "no material impact on its quality of service, conduct of business or cost of operation" although it admitted than it might need to replace the satellites earlier than expected to maintain its service.
XM has a spare ground satellite that is currently being modified to eliminate the power problem.
Boeing acquired the satellite-making business from Hughes Electronics Corp last year and has been working to overcome a manufacturing errors and quality-control lapses; six of the 702 series satellites, which have a design life of 12-15 years, are currently in orbit.
XM says that its satellites are currently performing above requirements.
Previous XM:
XM web site:
2001-09-29:
Another straw in the wind of advertising cut backs
has come from Ireland where the country's North West Tourist Authority
has postponed a USD30000 radio advertising campaign in the US. The
adverts were pulled following consultations with US tour operators
who advised that they would have a better idea in January about
the prospects for the tourist trade.
2001-09-29:
Another "Mom and Pop" US radio station
looks as if it is to be sold: the deal involves WSNJ AM and FM,
licensed to Bridgeton, New Jersey, which are to be sold for USD20
million according to the Bridgeton News.
The paper says owner Ed Bold has decided to retire at the age of 82 and has said he wants to finalise details before commenting on the sale to a South Carolina company.
Bridgeton News Report:
The paper says owner Ed Bold has decided to retire at the age of 82 and has said he wants to finalise details before commenting on the sale to a South Carolina company.
Bridgeton News Report:
2001-09-28:
UK broadcasting watchdog, the Broadcasting
Standards Commission (BSC) has upheld three complaints against
radio and partially upheld a fourth in its latest bulletin.
This compared to none upheld in its previous bulletin (See RNW Aug 1).
In all the BSC dealt with six complaints involving fairness, only one of which was against radio, and 105 concerning standards, 20 of them involving radio.
The fairness complain involving radio was made against an edition of the BBC Radio 4 programme What do they know about us?, but was withdrawn after the Corporation apologized to the complainant over any distress caused.
Of the 20 standards complaints against radio, 12 were not upheld, four were resolved, one partially upheld and three upheld, one of these concerning an advertisement.
Of the three resolved complaints, two concerned remarks alleged to be racist or containing inappropriate sexual content, made by Chris Evans who was subsequently fired by Virgin Radio, albeit not over the complaints.
The others involved extremely strong language in a Radio 4 studio discussion of an exhibition about which an immediate on-air apology had been made and the playing during TFM's Dance Chart Countdown of a CD version of Cold as Ice by MOF.
The presenter stopped the play out and moved on to the next song when he realized that the version being aired contained explicit lyrics and the station subsequently took action to ensure that only radio versions of CDs were aired.
The partially upheld complaint was against Century 105's Breakfast Show.
Of the three complaints upheld against radio, one involved a spoof advert for confectionary whose sexual double-entendres were held to have exceeded acceptable boundaries.
The other two upheld were against BRMB.
One was against an edition of Tim's Confessions on BRMB that included explicit sexual references to masturbation and sexual intercourse with a woman under the influence of alcohol.
The other was against a trailer for BRMB's Late and Live show, which included a clip of a caller discussing, attempted suicide.
Previous BSC:
Previous BSC Complaints Bulletin:
BSC web site (Note: This is a Flash 5 site: It links to the report in PDF format-123 kb).
This compared to none upheld in its previous bulletin (See RNW Aug 1).
In all the BSC dealt with six complaints involving fairness, only one of which was against radio, and 105 concerning standards, 20 of them involving radio.
The fairness complain involving radio was made against an edition of the BBC Radio 4 programme What do they know about us?, but was withdrawn after the Corporation apologized to the complainant over any distress caused.
Of the 20 standards complaints against radio, 12 were not upheld, four were resolved, one partially upheld and three upheld, one of these concerning an advertisement.
Of the three resolved complaints, two concerned remarks alleged to be racist or containing inappropriate sexual content, made by Chris Evans who was subsequently fired by Virgin Radio, albeit not over the complaints.
The others involved extremely strong language in a Radio 4 studio discussion of an exhibition about which an immediate on-air apology had been made and the playing during TFM's Dance Chart Countdown of a CD version of Cold as Ice by MOF.
The presenter stopped the play out and moved on to the next song when he realized that the version being aired contained explicit lyrics and the station subsequently took action to ensure that only radio versions of CDs were aired.
The partially upheld complaint was against Century 105's Breakfast Show.
Of the three complaints upheld against radio, one involved a spoof advert for confectionary whose sexual double-entendres were held to have exceeded acceptable boundaries.
The other two upheld were against BRMB.
One was against an edition of Tim's Confessions on BRMB that included explicit sexual references to masturbation and sexual intercourse with a woman under the influence of alcohol.
The other was against a trailer for BRMB's Late and Live show, which included a clip of a caller discussing, attempted suicide.
Previous BSC:
Previous BSC Complaints Bulletin:
BSC web site (Note: This is a Flash 5 site: It links to the report in PDF format-123 kb).
2001-09-28:
More warnings over advert revenues, this time from
the UK where Capital Radio
and GWR have both issued cautionary trading updates.
Capital, Britain's largest commercial radio group, said advertising revenue for the year would be down 6% and GWR, which owns Classic FM, predicted a drop of 3.5% in its first half revenues.
Capital's like for like radio revenue for the quarter from April to June was down 16% from the strong figures for 2000 and it anticipates that it will be down 9% in the July to September quarter.
It says that for the year to September preliminary results, due on November 15, are expected to show an underlying profit before tax of £30m, in line with the guidance given in May's interim statement and ahead of current market consensus.
GWR, whose interim results are due on November 20, said that if acquisitions were included he 3.5% revenue decline becomes a 6.5% increase in the year to September.
It is upbeat about its broadcasting performance, saying," Latest audience research figures show that Classic FM in the UK, Danubius in Hungary, Antenne Wien in Austria and Nova in Sydney, Australia are all growing their audiences to record levels…local stations in the UK also continue to deliver market-leading audiences."
A third group, Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) in its update says that "although the UK media sector has experienced a significant downturn in advertising revenues during the last six months, SRH group revenues have held up relatively well."
Excluding acquisitions and disposals its revenues are estimated to be up by 1% for the financial year as a whole to some GBP70 million in what it terms, "a robust performance in a challenging market."
In radio, it points to strong audience figures for its stations, which have increased listening, but is less upbeat about their financial performance.
Radio revenues it says for the year to the end of September are expected to be 3% down on 2000, adding that a 12% fall in national advertising revenue has been offset by a 7% increase in local revenue.
It also remarks favourably on the performance of Today FM in Ireland in which SRH holds a 24% stake.
Figures issued earlier in the week by EMAP, which also publishes magazines, indicated that first half radio revenues would be down 6%, again compared with a strong 2000 performance.
"Taken against the market as a whole this was a good performance," EMAP said, "with London revenues holding up particularly well."
The markets had already taken the likely warnings into account and there was a neutral to positive response with EMAP's shares volatile but ending unchanged, GWR up just over 1% and Capital up 6.5%.
Previous Capital:
Previous EMAP:
Previous GWR:
Previous SRH:
Capital web site:
EMAP web site:
GWR web site:
SRH Web site:
Capital, Britain's largest commercial radio group, said advertising revenue for the year would be down 6% and GWR, which owns Classic FM, predicted a drop of 3.5% in its first half revenues.
Capital's like for like radio revenue for the quarter from April to June was down 16% from the strong figures for 2000 and it anticipates that it will be down 9% in the July to September quarter.
It says that for the year to September preliminary results, due on November 15, are expected to show an underlying profit before tax of £30m, in line with the guidance given in May's interim statement and ahead of current market consensus.
GWR, whose interim results are due on November 20, said that if acquisitions were included he 3.5% revenue decline becomes a 6.5% increase in the year to September.
It is upbeat about its broadcasting performance, saying," Latest audience research figures show that Classic FM in the UK, Danubius in Hungary, Antenne Wien in Austria and Nova in Sydney, Australia are all growing their audiences to record levels…local stations in the UK also continue to deliver market-leading audiences."
A third group, Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) in its update says that "although the UK media sector has experienced a significant downturn in advertising revenues during the last six months, SRH group revenues have held up relatively well."
Excluding acquisitions and disposals its revenues are estimated to be up by 1% for the financial year as a whole to some GBP70 million in what it terms, "a robust performance in a challenging market."
In radio, it points to strong audience figures for its stations, which have increased listening, but is less upbeat about their financial performance.
Radio revenues it says for the year to the end of September are expected to be 3% down on 2000, adding that a 12% fall in national advertising revenue has been offset by a 7% increase in local revenue.
It also remarks favourably on the performance of Today FM in Ireland in which SRH holds a 24% stake.
Figures issued earlier in the week by EMAP, which also publishes magazines, indicated that first half radio revenues would be down 6%, again compared with a strong 2000 performance.
"Taken against the market as a whole this was a good performance," EMAP said, "with London revenues holding up particularly well."
The markets had already taken the likely warnings into account and there was a neutral to positive response with EMAP's shares volatile but ending unchanged, GWR up just over 1% and Capital up 6.5%.
Previous Capital:
Previous EMAP:
Previous GWR:
Previous SRH:
Capital web site:
EMAP web site:
GWR web site:
SRH Web site:
2001-09-28:
The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters
(NABOB), whose 25th Annual Fall Broadcast Management Conference
ends in Washington, DC, today, has heard that US urban stations
are now backing off from airing violent songs.
At a panel session it was suggested that songs on positive themes will start to get more airplay and some participants observed that they were noting more ballads on air since the September 11 attacks.
The panel also heard that many younger listeners are taking a liking to cover songs, often not realising that they are versions of songs more than a quarter of a century old.
At a panel session it was suggested that songs on positive themes will start to get more airplay and some participants observed that they were noting more ballads on air since the September 11 attacks.
The panel also heard that many younger listeners are taking a liking to cover songs, often not realising that they are versions of songs more than a quarter of a century old.
2001-09-27:
Emmis Communications has
reported net revenues up 30.6% to USD142.2 million and broadcast
cash flow (BCF) up 20.6% to USD 47.4 million compared to 2000 in
its fiscal second quarter to the end of August.
However its After Tax cash flow (ATCF) was down 17.9% to USD 22.6 million and it has said that the events of September 11 attacks have reduced its expectations for the third and final quarters.
The company says Emmis' radio group has lost about $3.5M in ad revenues as a result of the attacks, less than half of that from New York where it has three stations
It also pointed out that it depends on New York for only a quarter of its radio revenues, around an eighth of its total revenues.
Previous Emmis:
Emmis web site:
However its After Tax cash flow (ATCF) was down 17.9% to USD 22.6 million and it has said that the events of September 11 attacks have reduced its expectations for the third and final quarters.
The company says Emmis' radio group has lost about $3.5M in ad revenues as a result of the attacks, less than half of that from New York where it has three stations
It also pointed out that it depends on New York for only a quarter of its radio revenues, around an eighth of its total revenues.
Previous Emmis:
Emmis web site:
2001-09-27:
RNW note: For those interested
in seeing the content of the Voice of America interview with Taliban
leader Mullah Omar Mohammad, which was dropped after US administration
pressure (See RNW Sept. 25) the UK Guardian
has now run details. Click on link below:
UK Guardian VOA interview:
UK Guardian VOA interview:
2001-09-27:
Media and marketing research firm Arbitron
has released a second round of ratings from
tests of its Portable People Meter (PPM), which currently
undergoing U.S. market trials.
The trial, in Wilmington, Delaware, part of the Philadelphia market, shows some marked differences between results from the new system and from the company's traditional diary system; overall the PPM indicates higher overall audiences for television (AQH up from 8.8 to 9.9) and cable (AQH more than double from 2.1 to 4.6) but similar numbers for radio (AQH 10.1 up a little to 10.3).
These results are in line with its previous study released in July (See RNW July 20).
Within the totals, the average quarter-hour (AQH) ratings among teenagers (12-17 years old group) are nearly a quarter lower at 7.4 according to the PPM compared with 9.7 according to the diary system; for the 18-34 group the PPM indicated higher listening at 12.3 compared with 11.3 followed by a dip from 10.7 according to diary methods to 10.3 with the PPM for the 35-54 group and another rise, according to the PPM from 6.0 to 9.1 amongst the 55 plus group.
There were significant differences according to the two methods at different times of the day; radio AQH for 5 am to 10 am was down at 10.0 compared to 12.2 and from 10 am to 4 pm also down, from 18 to 15.7.
After this the PPM AQH increased, from 11.1 with the diary method to 14 from 4pm to 8pm, from 4.7 to 7.2 between 8pm and midnight and from 2.0 to 3.6 from midnight to 5 am.
Arbitron is now to conduct a Philadelphia-wide trial in January of next year to include at least 1500 people.
It says the increased sample size will allow direct comparisons of audiences for individual radio stations and formats, TV stations and cable networks.
Previous Arbitron:
Arbitron web site:
The trial, in Wilmington, Delaware, part of the Philadelphia market, shows some marked differences between results from the new system and from the company's traditional diary system; overall the PPM indicates higher overall audiences for television (AQH up from 8.8 to 9.9) and cable (AQH more than double from 2.1 to 4.6) but similar numbers for radio (AQH 10.1 up a little to 10.3).
These results are in line with its previous study released in July (See RNW July 20).
Within the totals, the average quarter-hour (AQH) ratings among teenagers (12-17 years old group) are nearly a quarter lower at 7.4 according to the PPM compared with 9.7 according to the diary system; for the 18-34 group the PPM indicated higher listening at 12.3 compared with 11.3 followed by a dip from 10.7 according to diary methods to 10.3 with the PPM for the 35-54 group and another rise, according to the PPM from 6.0 to 9.1 amongst the 55 plus group.
There were significant differences according to the two methods at different times of the day; radio AQH for 5 am to 10 am was down at 10.0 compared to 12.2 and from 10 am to 4 pm also down, from 18 to 15.7.
After this the PPM AQH increased, from 11.1 with the diary method to 14 from 4pm to 8pm, from 4.7 to 7.2 between 8pm and midnight and from 2.0 to 3.6 from midnight to 5 am.
Arbitron is now to conduct a Philadelphia-wide trial in January of next year to include at least 1500 people.
It says the increased sample size will allow direct comparisons of audiences for individual radio stations and formats, TV stations and cable networks.
Previous Arbitron:
Arbitron web site:
2001-09-27:
XM Satellite Radio, which launched commercially earlier
this week with several hundred subscribers in Dallas-Forth Worth
and San Diego (See RNW
Sept. 25) has halved its estimate to the number of
customers it expects by the end of this year from 100000 to 50000
according to R&R.
The company will launch the next stage of its service in the Southwest United States, including major cities such as Los Angeles, Denver and Houston,on October 18 and complete its launch nation wide on November 15.
Previous XM:
R&R site:
XM web site:
The company will launch the next stage of its service in the Southwest United States, including major cities such as Los Angeles, Denver and Houston,on October 18 and complete its launch nation wide on November 15.
Previous XM:
R&R site:
XM web site:
2001-09-26:
After all the encomiums for the way radio handled
the events of September 11, a couple of brickbats.
The first goes to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio 1 channel, which for 40 minutes continued with its This Morning programme and a discussion between the host, Shelagh Rogers, and Chuck Strahl, leader of dissident MPs of the Canadian Alliance.
It did carry the news in bulletins and put the decision to stick to its programme initially down to the complications of its tape-delay system and sensitivities about bumping local programmes.
The second, courtesy of Radio Business Report which on Monday carried a comment by publisher Jim Carnegie that was, for a publication normally fairly uncritical of US radio, something of a shock to us.
He starts by commenting that since the 1970s when the Federal Communications Commission dropped content requirements the US radio industry has been phasing out local news, which he terms its "strongest local brand builder."
This has resulted he says with reduced operations in major markets, no real news operation at all in many medium and smaller markets, and the farming out of local" news to an outside provider of a generic newscast heard on virtually every station in the market.
"September 11's tragic events demonstrated," he continues, " just how totally radio news has been decimated over the past three and a half decades."
"Lacking any news product of their own, thousands of stations switched to rebroadcasting television to provide their listeners with the thing they craved most - - information."
"That did nothing to build each radio station's brand and listenership. Rather, it was brand building for the television station which was being rebroadcast."
"Incredibly, many local managers viewed this as a logical and responsible decision, rather than something to be ashamed of."
Carnegie goes on, "The economics of consolidation provided the financial potential for radio to rebuild its news operations and build stronger local platforms to compete with the looming threats of satellite radio and wireless Internet."
"But that hasn't happened. Radio groups continue to view local news as a financial drain…(other media has latched on to local news)… But radio executives continue to believe that they don't need to provide listeners with anything more than "traffic and weather together."
"That is, until tragedy hits and radio finds itself unprepared and inadequate. That happened September 11 and it will surely happen again, unless this industry wakes up and starts rebuilding local radio news operations to restore a vital link to its listeners."
RNW note: We'll be interested to see if RBR gets any counter-responses from Clear Channel, NAB, or any other radio organisations and commentators who have been arguing that consolidation has led to better programming and have suggested there were few if any downsides to the process.
Previous CBC:
RBR web site (comments can be found in the month's news for Sept 24).
The first goes to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio 1 channel, which for 40 minutes continued with its This Morning programme and a discussion between the host, Shelagh Rogers, and Chuck Strahl, leader of dissident MPs of the Canadian Alliance.
It did carry the news in bulletins and put the decision to stick to its programme initially down to the complications of its tape-delay system and sensitivities about bumping local programmes.
The second, courtesy of Radio Business Report which on Monday carried a comment by publisher Jim Carnegie that was, for a publication normally fairly uncritical of US radio, something of a shock to us.
He starts by commenting that since the 1970s when the Federal Communications Commission dropped content requirements the US radio industry has been phasing out local news, which he terms its "strongest local brand builder."
This has resulted he says with reduced operations in major markets, no real news operation at all in many medium and smaller markets, and the farming out of local" news to an outside provider of a generic newscast heard on virtually every station in the market.
"September 11's tragic events demonstrated," he continues, " just how totally radio news has been decimated over the past three and a half decades."
"Lacking any news product of their own, thousands of stations switched to rebroadcasting television to provide their listeners with the thing they craved most - - information."
"That did nothing to build each radio station's brand and listenership. Rather, it was brand building for the television station which was being rebroadcast."
"Incredibly, many local managers viewed this as a logical and responsible decision, rather than something to be ashamed of."
Carnegie goes on, "The economics of consolidation provided the financial potential for radio to rebuild its news operations and build stronger local platforms to compete with the looming threats of satellite radio and wireless Internet."
"But that hasn't happened. Radio groups continue to view local news as a financial drain…(other media has latched on to local news)… But radio executives continue to believe that they don't need to provide listeners with anything more than "traffic and weather together."
"That is, until tragedy hits and radio finds itself unprepared and inadequate. That happened September 11 and it will surely happen again, unless this industry wakes up and starts rebuilding local radio news operations to restore a vital link to its listeners."
RNW note: We'll be interested to see if RBR gets any counter-responses from Clear Channel, NAB, or any other radio organisations and commentators who have been arguing that consolidation has led to better programming and have suggested there were few if any downsides to the process.
Previous CBC:
RBR web site (comments can be found in the month's news for Sept 24).
2001-09-26:
Radio newcomer Mapleton
Communications, whose deals to build up clusters in Merced,
California, and Medford, Oregon, have been redlined by the Federal
Communications Commission (See
RNW Sept 22), is now in a deal to buy five more California
stations.
The deal this time is with New Wave Communications for KBTU-FM, KCDU-FM, KHIP-FM, KMBY-FM and KPIG-FM in the Monterey market.
Mapleton will operate the stations under a JSA until FCC approval comes through and also has a JSA for KBOQ-FM.
No price has been announced for the stations, which cost New Wave some USD 7.5 million in 1997.
In another deal giant Clear Channel is topping its portfolio yet again: it's to pay USD 1.8 million to Mountain Wireless Inc for WSKW-AM & WHQO-FM in the Augusta-Waterville, Maine, market.
Clear Channel has been operating the stations under an LMA since April of this year.
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Mapleton:
The deal this time is with New Wave Communications for KBTU-FM, KCDU-FM, KHIP-FM, KMBY-FM and KPIG-FM in the Monterey market.
Mapleton will operate the stations under a JSA until FCC approval comes through and also has a JSA for KBOQ-FM.
No price has been announced for the stations, which cost New Wave some USD 7.5 million in 1997.
In another deal giant Clear Channel is topping its portfolio yet again: it's to pay USD 1.8 million to Mountain Wireless Inc for WSKW-AM & WHQO-FM in the Augusta-Waterville, Maine, market.
Clear Channel has been operating the stations under an LMA since April of this year.
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Mapleton:
2001-09-26:
Latest Internet audience ratings from Measurecast,
which now seems to have settled into a pattern of releasing them
a week late, show that the events of September 11 unsurprisingly
pushed News/Talk stations up the rankings for the week to September
16th.
Perhaps more surprisingly only one of them made the top five, although part of this may be because the major Internet broadcasters such as the BBC and CNN are not part of Measurecast's remit.
Five News/Talk AM stations were in MeacureCast's top 25 ranked by total time spent listening (TTSL)-- WSB-AM/750, WLS-AM/890, KRLA-AM/870, WTMJ-AM/620 and CFRB/1010-AM; a sixth station, Santa Monica College station KCRW-FM/89.9, which switched programming to cover the September 11 events, reached number eight on the list - the highest ranking the station has ever achieved.
To put the audience numbers into perspective the Cume (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, for Cox Radio's WSB-AM, the top-rated news/talk station was 10,021, absolutely puny compared to the millions watching TV or listening to terrestrial radio broadcasts.
T he overall audience recorded dropped slightly, taking the MeasureCast Internet Radio Index, which is based on a 100 benchmark at the start of the year, down a half a percentage point to 215.
The events did force some change in MeasureCast's five top ranked stations, pushing pop down the list, forcing MediaAmazing down to sixth and moving classical up. The top five were, ranked by Total Time Spent Listening (TTSL) and with, where applicable, previous week's TTSL and Cume persons (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, in brackets:
1): Jazz station Jazz FM TTSL 184536 (165564); CP 55602 (60088) Position unchanged,listening up, but cumulative audience down.
2): Classical music King FM TTSL 84861 (82503); CP 14,337 (16639) - Previously fifth
3): Adult Alternative Virgin Radio TTSL 66956 (121154); CP 12,884 (20455)- previously second; listening way down.
4): News/Talk WSB-AM TTSL 57597, CP 10,021 (A new entrant)
5): Sports-talk ESPN Radio TTSL 57,383 (100182); CP 14185 (17333) - Previously fourth
Previous MeasureCast ratings:
MeasureCast web site:
Perhaps more surprisingly only one of them made the top five, although part of this may be because the major Internet broadcasters such as the BBC and CNN are not part of Measurecast's remit.
Five News/Talk AM stations were in MeacureCast's top 25 ranked by total time spent listening (TTSL)-- WSB-AM/750, WLS-AM/890, KRLA-AM/870, WTMJ-AM/620 and CFRB/1010-AM; a sixth station, Santa Monica College station KCRW-FM/89.9, which switched programming to cover the September 11 events, reached number eight on the list - the highest ranking the station has ever achieved.
To put the audience numbers into perspective the Cume (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, for Cox Radio's WSB-AM, the top-rated news/talk station was 10,021, absolutely puny compared to the millions watching TV or listening to terrestrial radio broadcasts.
T he overall audience recorded dropped slightly, taking the MeasureCast Internet Radio Index, which is based on a 100 benchmark at the start of the year, down a half a percentage point to 215.
The events did force some change in MeasureCast's five top ranked stations, pushing pop down the list, forcing MediaAmazing down to sixth and moving classical up. The top five were, ranked by Total Time Spent Listening (TTSL) and with, where applicable, previous week's TTSL and Cume persons (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, in brackets:
1): Jazz station Jazz FM TTSL 184536 (165564); CP 55602 (60088) Position unchanged,listening up, but cumulative audience down.
2): Classical music King FM TTSL 84861 (82503); CP 14,337 (16639) - Previously fifth
3): Adult Alternative Virgin Radio TTSL 66956 (121154); CP 12,884 (20455)- previously second; listening way down.
4): News/Talk WSB-AM TTSL 57597, CP 10,021 (A new entrant)
5): Sports-talk ESPN Radio TTSL 57,383 (100182); CP 14185 (17333) - Previously fourth
Previous MeasureCast ratings:
MeasureCast web site:
2001-09-25:
Satellite radio in the US makes
its commercial debut today with the launch of XM Satellite
Radio in Dallas, Fort Worth and San Diego, complete with
high promises from the company of both programming and audio quality
plus in the main an absence of or only limited amount of advertisements.
On XM's 71 music channels, some 30 will be advert free and the others will only carry around six minutes an hour of advertising, around a third of that on the typical US terrestrial station.
Its rival, Sirius Satellite Radio, is due to start its commercial service towards the end of the year and will have no advertisements on any of its 50 music channels.
Both companies stress the difference in approach of their services from terrestrial channels.
They will not carry local programming and say that satellite radio will be focussed on the listeners rather than the advertisers.
Sceptics contend that, even before the current US economic slowdown, the companies were over optimistic about the number of Americans who would be prepared to pay around USD10 per month in subscriptions for radio services when they can get current services for free and cite the experience of Internet companies.
These have found a severe shortage of people willing to pay for their services and a recent report by Webnoize says that, following the demise of Napster as a wide-ranging free service, around two thirds of college-age music fans plan to continue to access free MP3 music files through non-commercial channels including various sharing networks.
In addition the sceptics point to the threat that broadband wireless Internet access in automobiles could further threaten their services although this was more of a threat when Napster was in full swing.
Previous Sirius:
Previous XM:
Sirius Web site:
XM web site:
Webnoize site:
On XM's 71 music channels, some 30 will be advert free and the others will only carry around six minutes an hour of advertising, around a third of that on the typical US terrestrial station.
Its rival, Sirius Satellite Radio, is due to start its commercial service towards the end of the year and will have no advertisements on any of its 50 music channels.
Both companies stress the difference in approach of their services from terrestrial channels.
They will not carry local programming and say that satellite radio will be focussed on the listeners rather than the advertisers.
Sceptics contend that, even before the current US economic slowdown, the companies were over optimistic about the number of Americans who would be prepared to pay around USD10 per month in subscriptions for radio services when they can get current services for free and cite the experience of Internet companies.
These have found a severe shortage of people willing to pay for their services and a recent report by Webnoize says that, following the demise of Napster as a wide-ranging free service, around two thirds of college-age music fans plan to continue to access free MP3 music files through non-commercial channels including various sharing networks.
In addition the sceptics point to the threat that broadband wireless Internet access in automobiles could further threaten their services although this was more of a threat when Napster was in full swing.
Previous Sirius:
Previous XM:
Sirius Web site:
XM web site:
Webnoize site:
RNW Note: Both
satellite radio companies' web site have links to sample programming.
2001-09-25:
In a move that RNW thinks will yet further reduce
its value, even if thought of merely as a propaganda tool, the Voice
of America decided not to air a story that included parts
of an interview with the leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban,
Mullah Omar Mohammad, following pressure from the US administration.
Senior National Security Council officials and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had contacted members of VOA's board to express concern that airing the interview would be giving a platform to terrorists.
They said that they did not think it consistent with the VOA charter or appropriate for VOA to broadcast the voice of the Taliban into Afghanistan.
The item concerned was a report on Afghan reaction to President Bush's speech to Congress and included a brief clip from the Omar interview and a statement from the Taliban opposition.
The State Department had found out on Friday that VOA had been offered an interview with Omar and had said that it should be refused but by then the 12-minute phone interview had been carried out.
RNW Comment: A major factor in the strength of BBC World Service radio in much of the world, particularly in Afghanistan, is that it understands that news reports have to be fair and carry a range of views to be credible to all but those committed to a viewpoint.
In so doing, it ensures that viewpoints contrary to those generally broadcast in an area, provoke thought and gain serious attention.
The US approach to us seems to be one of engaging emotion rather than brains, particularly in the current situation when effective action by the US will require assistance from many countries, some of whom are already showing that they require more than repetition of condemnatory statements from the US before such assistance will be given.
A case where the VOA staff who carried out the interview acted sensibly and the administration ostrich could do with a hearty kick up the backside sooner rather than later.
In our view, the point of increasing broadcasts to the area (RNW Sept 21)has been weakened not strengthened by this action.
Previous VOA:
Senior National Security Council officials and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had contacted members of VOA's board to express concern that airing the interview would be giving a platform to terrorists.
They said that they did not think it consistent with the VOA charter or appropriate for VOA to broadcast the voice of the Taliban into Afghanistan.
The item concerned was a report on Afghan reaction to President Bush's speech to Congress and included a brief clip from the Omar interview and a statement from the Taliban opposition.
The State Department had found out on Friday that VOA had been offered an interview with Omar and had said that it should be refused but by then the 12-minute phone interview had been carried out.
RNW Comment: A major factor in the strength of BBC World Service radio in much of the world, particularly in Afghanistan, is that it understands that news reports have to be fair and carry a range of views to be credible to all but those committed to a viewpoint.
In so doing, it ensures that viewpoints contrary to those generally broadcast in an area, provoke thought and gain serious attention.
The US approach to us seems to be one of engaging emotion rather than brains, particularly in the current situation when effective action by the US will require assistance from many countries, some of whom are already showing that they require more than repetition of condemnatory statements from the US before such assistance will be given.
A case where the VOA staff who carried out the interview acted sensibly and the administration ostrich could do with a hearty kick up the backside sooner rather than later.
In our view, the point of increasing broadcasts to the area (RNW Sept 21)has been weakened not strengthened by this action.
Previous VOA:
2001-09-25:
Chrysalis's
Galaxy Radio brand is to make its London debut next month via an
outing on Ministry of Sound Radio, a restricted service licence
station that will be operating throughout October as part of efforts
to raise awareness of digital services available on SwitchDigital.
The Galaxy format is currently broadcast on five analogue stations in the UK and on MXR multiplexes in the North East, North West, West Midlands and South Wales and the West.
Previous Chrysalis:
Chrysalis web site:
The Galaxy format is currently broadcast on five analogue stations in the UK and on MXR multiplexes in the North East, North West, West Midlands and South Wales and the West.
Previous Chrysalis:
Chrysalis web site:
2001-09-25:
The US Radio-Television News Directors' Association
(RTNDA) has asked for a ban on news helicopters, imposed after the
Sept 11 attacks in the US, to be lifted.
It claims that the ban violates journalists' First Amendment rights and also complains that other aircraft including commercial passenger flights and recreational balloons are being allowed to fly.
The issue is only one of many now before the Federal Aviation Authority, which is still restricting cargo plane flights and has also imposed restrictions on the flight of crop-dusting aircraft after suggestions that they could be used for chemical or biological warfare attacks.
The RNDA itself is facing severe financial strains as a result of the attacks. It had to cancel its 2001 Conference & Exhibition which was due to start in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 12 (See RNW Sept 13) and there are estimates that this could cost it up to around half of its annual USD4 million revenue.
The organisation is now consulting with its insurance company about how much of the loss it can recover and President Barbara Cochran wrote in a letter to registrants, exhibitors and sponsors that they were "confident that RTNDA will survive and continue its vital work." The revenue loss could cut significantly into RTNDA's routine activities, especially those concerned with the US Freedom of Information Act.
Previous Cochran:
Previous RTNDA:
RTNDA web site:
It claims that the ban violates journalists' First Amendment rights and also complains that other aircraft including commercial passenger flights and recreational balloons are being allowed to fly.
The issue is only one of many now before the Federal Aviation Authority, which is still restricting cargo plane flights and has also imposed restrictions on the flight of crop-dusting aircraft after suggestions that they could be used for chemical or biological warfare attacks.
The RNDA itself is facing severe financial strains as a result of the attacks. It had to cancel its 2001 Conference & Exhibition which was due to start in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 12 (See RNW Sept 13) and there are estimates that this could cost it up to around half of its annual USD4 million revenue.
The organisation is now consulting with its insurance company about how much of the loss it can recover and President Barbara Cochran wrote in a letter to registrants, exhibitors and sponsors that they were "confident that RTNDA will survive and continue its vital work." The revenue loss could cut significantly into RTNDA's routine activities, especially those concerned with the US Freedom of Information Act.
Previous Cochran:
Previous RTNDA:
RTNDA web site:
2001-09-24:
As the US markets open again for the second week
after the attacks in the US, analysts remain downbeat about media
stocks and expect further falls.
Radio, particularly stations that have most income from local advertising, is seen as much less vulnerable than TV, which is more dependent upon national advertising.
All round the world travel-related advertising has been cut back as airlines are hit hard with a consequent knock-on effect and in Australia the collapse of Ansett, the country's second airline, has dealt a triple blow to hits caused by a general economic slowdown and travel-related problems in general caused by the attacks.
In the UK, Capital Radio is due to give a trading statement this week; it had been particularly boosted last year by dot.com advertising and analysts had already reduced pre-tax profit forecasts by around a quarter.
Perceptions have been made worse by comparisons with 2000, which was a one-off year in that it combined general economic optimism and corporate profits with the dot.com boom plus major events such as the US election and the Olympic Games.
Radio, particularly stations that have most income from local advertising, is seen as much less vulnerable than TV, which is more dependent upon national advertising.
All round the world travel-related advertising has been cut back as airlines are hit hard with a consequent knock-on effect and in Australia the collapse of Ansett, the country's second airline, has dealt a triple blow to hits caused by a general economic slowdown and travel-related problems in general caused by the attacks.
In the UK, Capital Radio is due to give a trading statement this week; it had been particularly boosted last year by dot.com advertising and analysts had already reduced pre-tax profit forecasts by around a quarter.
Perceptions have been made worse by comparisons with 2000, which was a one-off year in that it combined general economic optimism and corporate profits with the dot.com boom plus major events such as the US election and the Olympic Games.
2001-09-24:
A week ago was too early, but now many of the radio
commentators in Europe (the US had general comment but it was fairly
predictable and univocal to use a phrase currently in vogue) have
been looking at how radio in particular reacted to the attacks in
the US.
We; we are therefore concentrating this week on their comment.
First a column from Ireland by UK Sunday Times columnist Gerry McCarthy, in which he looks at the range of responses on Irish radio.
He opens his column by writing, "There is something to be said for the way the old Soviet media dealt with disaster: solemn music, no talking, no explanations. As the days pass, our media still reverberate from the shock of the New York atrocities."
"But once the clear-the-airwaves phase passed, broadcasters found different ways of dealing with the new world disorder."MCarthy then looks across the spectrum starting with what he says is "something horribly chirpy" in the way in which on RTE broadcaster, John Creedon, carried on with "bad puns, jolly music, silly anagrams - the same mix, in fact, that made him a fresh new voice about 10 years ago."
This he says was speaking to "those people for whom the bad news is overwhelming."
"They want to be told that the safe old world they've always known still exists, even when it doesn't."
At the other end of the spectrum, he comments on the decision by another RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy, to go to New York, noting that "The people round him were friendly, and they wanted to talk, but they were busy."
"One of them," he continues, " on hearing that an Irish caller wanted to come to New York to help with the digging, advised him to stay at home. Hotels had collapsed, he said, a huge chunk of Manhattan was still closed off, and there were no resources to devote to extra people."
" Shouldn't," MCCarthy asks, "somebody have made the same point to Duffy? "
A fair point we would concede but a difficult balance to strike for a broadcaster and we would think there is a value in being on the spot even in these circumstances!
Still from Ireland and what we found a rather surprising comment from Irish Times writer Harry Browne, who has a New York background.
If nothing else his column will probably provoke some outrage; maybe it will also provoke thought.
"He starts his column by writing," The US government "is the world's leading purveyor of violence" and continues," The words are those of that noted anti-American, Martin Luther King, and though they were spoken in 1967, they offer a context for some of the righteousness emanating from the parishes to our west."
After commenting on the death toll from the actions of the US and its proxies since World War 2 and noting that Bin Laden and his "mujahadeen mates" were among those proxies, he continues, "A few of us reckoned such points were worth making last week, in light of the bellicosity and "Good v Evil" rhetoric that was, quite understandably perhaps, dominating the airwaves."
"They're still worth making, as the freedom-loving regimes of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the like, line up, some of them obviously at gunpoint, to join the forces of "Good"."
Unsurprisingly this led to vilification of those issuing the comments, he says, but then adds, "Some of this week's radio voices made the best possible reply to those pundits who will ride out this 'war against terrorism' from safety."
"By far the most diverse range of opinions about what the US has done and what it should do next was mouthed in American accents."
Putting his perspective upon reports from New York and Washington on both BBC and RTE radio, Browne writes, "they found in their interviews, phone-ins and vox-pops not only earnest desire for retribution, but also voices of caution, of doubt and of questioning."
"The real anti-Americanism," he adds, "is the attempt to stifle this debate, with its huge implications for the US and the world - especially given the baldly imperial rhetoric coming from some corners of the US administration."
Browne also picks up on a number of occasions when listening to the words actually spoken show them up as close to nonsensical if not indeed nonsense.
An example! A comment by host Charlie Bird on RTE that the re-opening New York Stock Exchange "may not be the most important in the world but is "symbolically important."
As Browne notes of this particular example of portentous comment, "New York's is, of course, the world's most important exchange."
Browne goes on to make his own comments about the re-opening that are open to some of the same criticism as he has levelled but he is certainly correct about the importance of Wall Street; just look at the trading numbers!
More comment about the balance to be struck came in the UK Financial Times in which Martin Hoyle wrote, "In the aftermath of what all civilised people consider, in humanitarian terms, an atrocity, whatever the political background, it is difficult to tread a line between honest analysis of extremism and sympathetic tact for the victims."
"A supposedly trenchant political discussion programme that is no more than a protracted expression of condolence is obviously not doing its job, and might as well be postponed."
He then compares a BBC TV programme Question Time that led to an apology over comments being perceived as inappropriate and a Radio 4 programme "Any Questions" a few days later.
"It said," Hoyle comments, "much about the divergent natures of "serious" radio and television programmes; and about the suspicion that even serious programme-makers on TV conceive of their brief as entertainment, preferably gladiatorial."
Finally a look forward to the importance radio may yet have in the events to come, this time culled from the UK Sunday Telegraph where Charlotte Edwardes writes of the importance of radio, in this case BBC World Service Radio, as a prime source of news in Afghanistan.
"For most of Afghanistan, where television images and newspapers are illegal under the Taliban, the World Service is the only source of international news," she writes.
"It is through BBC transmissions that they have learnt of the imminent American incursion into Afghanistan and the threats to the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Laden, the main suspect for the World Trade Centre and Pentagon atrocities."
She looks at the delivery of the news to the country from the perspective of World Service presenter Emal Parsarly whose parents and brother are still in the country.
Commenting on his feelings at having to deliver news of impending war, he said," "When Serbia was under attack, I asked one of my Serbian colleagues how he felt about telling his family and friends of forthcoming strikes through the radio. He was quiet for a while and then he said: 'It is very difficult to do this job at the moment.' I know I will feel the same way. It is very sad." Indeed so!
Previous Browne:
Previous Columnists:
Previous McCarthy:
Financial Times -Hoyle:
Irish Times -Browne:
UK Sunday Telegraph - Edwardes:
UK Sunday Times -McCarthy:
We; we are therefore concentrating this week on their comment.
First a column from Ireland by UK Sunday Times columnist Gerry McCarthy, in which he looks at the range of responses on Irish radio.
He opens his column by writing, "There is something to be said for the way the old Soviet media dealt with disaster: solemn music, no talking, no explanations. As the days pass, our media still reverberate from the shock of the New York atrocities."
"But once the clear-the-airwaves phase passed, broadcasters found different ways of dealing with the new world disorder."MCarthy then looks across the spectrum starting with what he says is "something horribly chirpy" in the way in which on RTE broadcaster, John Creedon, carried on with "bad puns, jolly music, silly anagrams - the same mix, in fact, that made him a fresh new voice about 10 years ago."
This he says was speaking to "those people for whom the bad news is overwhelming."
"They want to be told that the safe old world they've always known still exists, even when it doesn't."
At the other end of the spectrum, he comments on the decision by another RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy, to go to New York, noting that "The people round him were friendly, and they wanted to talk, but they were busy."
"One of them," he continues, " on hearing that an Irish caller wanted to come to New York to help with the digging, advised him to stay at home. Hotels had collapsed, he said, a huge chunk of Manhattan was still closed off, and there were no resources to devote to extra people."
" Shouldn't," MCCarthy asks, "somebody have made the same point to Duffy? "
A fair point we would concede but a difficult balance to strike for a broadcaster and we would think there is a value in being on the spot even in these circumstances!
Still from Ireland and what we found a rather surprising comment from Irish Times writer Harry Browne, who has a New York background.
If nothing else his column will probably provoke some outrage; maybe it will also provoke thought.
"He starts his column by writing," The US government "is the world's leading purveyor of violence" and continues," The words are those of that noted anti-American, Martin Luther King, and though they were spoken in 1967, they offer a context for some of the righteousness emanating from the parishes to our west."
After commenting on the death toll from the actions of the US and its proxies since World War 2 and noting that Bin Laden and his "mujahadeen mates" were among those proxies, he continues, "A few of us reckoned such points were worth making last week, in light of the bellicosity and "Good v Evil" rhetoric that was, quite understandably perhaps, dominating the airwaves."
"They're still worth making, as the freedom-loving regimes of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the like, line up, some of them obviously at gunpoint, to join the forces of "Good"."
Unsurprisingly this led to vilification of those issuing the comments, he says, but then adds, "Some of this week's radio voices made the best possible reply to those pundits who will ride out this 'war against terrorism' from safety."
"By far the most diverse range of opinions about what the US has done and what it should do next was mouthed in American accents."
Putting his perspective upon reports from New York and Washington on both BBC and RTE radio, Browne writes, "they found in their interviews, phone-ins and vox-pops not only earnest desire for retribution, but also voices of caution, of doubt and of questioning."
"The real anti-Americanism," he adds, "is the attempt to stifle this debate, with its huge implications for the US and the world - especially given the baldly imperial rhetoric coming from some corners of the US administration."
Browne also picks up on a number of occasions when listening to the words actually spoken show them up as close to nonsensical if not indeed nonsense.
An example! A comment by host Charlie Bird on RTE that the re-opening New York Stock Exchange "may not be the most important in the world but is "symbolically important."
As Browne notes of this particular example of portentous comment, "New York's is, of course, the world's most important exchange."
Browne goes on to make his own comments about the re-opening that are open to some of the same criticism as he has levelled but he is certainly correct about the importance of Wall Street; just look at the trading numbers!
More comment about the balance to be struck came in the UK Financial Times in which Martin Hoyle wrote, "In the aftermath of what all civilised people consider, in humanitarian terms, an atrocity, whatever the political background, it is difficult to tread a line between honest analysis of extremism and sympathetic tact for the victims."
"A supposedly trenchant political discussion programme that is no more than a protracted expression of condolence is obviously not doing its job, and might as well be postponed."
He then compares a BBC TV programme Question Time that led to an apology over comments being perceived as inappropriate and a Radio 4 programme "Any Questions" a few days later.
"It said," Hoyle comments, "much about the divergent natures of "serious" radio and television programmes; and about the suspicion that even serious programme-makers on TV conceive of their brief as entertainment, preferably gladiatorial."
Finally a look forward to the importance radio may yet have in the events to come, this time culled from the UK Sunday Telegraph where Charlotte Edwardes writes of the importance of radio, in this case BBC World Service Radio, as a prime source of news in Afghanistan.
"For most of Afghanistan, where television images and newspapers are illegal under the Taliban, the World Service is the only source of international news," she writes.
"It is through BBC transmissions that they have learnt of the imminent American incursion into Afghanistan and the threats to the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Laden, the main suspect for the World Trade Centre and Pentagon atrocities."
She looks at the delivery of the news to the country from the perspective of World Service presenter Emal Parsarly whose parents and brother are still in the country.
Commenting on his feelings at having to deliver news of impending war, he said," "When Serbia was under attack, I asked one of my Serbian colleagues how he felt about telling his family and friends of forthcoming strikes through the radio. He was quiet for a while and then he said: 'It is very difficult to do this job at the moment.' I know I will feel the same way. It is very sad." Indeed so!
Previous Browne:
Previous Columnists:
Previous McCarthy:
Financial Times -Hoyle:
Irish Times -Browne:
UK Sunday Telegraph - Edwardes:
UK Sunday Times -McCarthy:
2001-09-23:
This week we had routine activity in much of the world
and indeed in the US, despite the continuing dominance of reaction
to the attacks which have led to a large number of complaints about
Howard Stern (See RNW Sept
21).
In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has approved two new community station licences.
They are being awarded in Cunnamulla, Queensland and Geelong, Victoria.
That for Cunnemalla goes to Cunnamulla Aboriginal Media Association, which was the only applicant and has been broadcasting under a temporary licence on the frequency that has now been awarded to it on a permanent basis.
The Geelong licence was the subject of applications from Southern Victoria Community Radio Inc., which had been broadcasting on the frequency under a temporary licence and proposed a community station based on a country music format, and Vision Australia Foundation, which applied for a licence for a station to serve the print handicapped community.
The award was made to the latter by the ABA on the basis that it "as it found that the unique needs of the print handicapped community for access to the printed word indicates a greater and deeper need for a community radio service compared to the needs of country music enthusiasts."
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), has been active on both the digital and analogue fronts.
On the digital front, it has approved an application by Cogeco Radio-Télévision inc. (Cogeco), licensee of CFGL-FM Laval. for a broadcasting licence to carry on a transitional digital radio undertaking (DRU) to serve Montréal and Laval.
The transmissions will use the EUREKA-147 digital audio broadcasting system, which was first developed in Europe and has been confirmed by the Department of Industry as the standard for digital broadcasting in Canada.
On the analogue front, the Commission has approved licences for a new low-power English-language FM radio station at Jasper, Alberta, which will offer a hybrid format combining a local information service and a rebroadcasting service for the signal of CIRK-FM, Edmonton; and for a developmental French-language FM campus radio programming undertaking at Shawnigan, Québec, which will replace the carrier current or closed-circuit radio service currently operated at the Séminaire Sainte-Marie, Shawinigan.
It has also approved a conversion to FM of adult contemporary CFQB-AM, Fort Frances, Ontario, the only station currently serving the area; CQFB had argued that the conversion would improve its signal quality, and allow it to compete effectively with the signals from six commercial U.S. radio stations broadcasting from International Falls, Minnesota and nearby areas.
In Saskatchewan, the CRTC has approved amendments to the licence of CJLR-FM La Ronge comprising a frequency change and power increase from 49 watts to 28,000 watts and in Ontario, an amendment the other way to relocate the transmitter of the Haliburton Broadcasting Group's CHNO-FM Sudbury and decrease its power from 100,000 watts to 11,000 watts.
The latter changes are necessary in order to resolve interference problems with aeronautical NAV/COM services and will downgrade the station from a Class C1 to a Class B.
Things were quiet in Ireland but in the UK the Radio Authority has renewed three licences for stations whose operators gained automatic renewal under provisions mandating this when they provided a services on the relevant digital multiplex for the area concerned.
The licences renewed were the Greater London FM and AM licences held by London News Radio Ltd., broadcasting as ITN News Direct 97.3 FM and LBC 1152 AM, West Sound Radio's Ayr licence, and Galaxy 102's Manchester FM licence
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission has received a large number of complaints about comments by shock-jock Howard Stern on his show during National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
Commissioner Michael Copps issues a statement of dismay about them (See RNW Sept 21) but they do not seem to breach FCC rules.
The Commission has also redlined deals by Mapleton Communications over clusters it is trying to build up in California and Oregon (See RNW Sept 22).
On a more positive front, it has now issued a statement concerning rule changes adopted to facilitate deployment of software defined radio technology.
Such radios can be quickly reprogrammed to transmit and receive on multiple frequencies in different transmission formats and could enable more efficient use of radio spectrum by enabling transmissions to be split up and switched around to use spectrum where normal transmissions are not fully using the bandwidth allocated to them.
The rule changes simplify the procedures for modifications, both for original manufacturers and also by other parties such as software developers
Previous ABA:
Previous CRTC:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous Mapleton:
Previous UK Radio Authority:
ABA web site
CRTC web site:
FCC web site:
UK Radio Authority web site:
In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has approved two new community station licences.
They are being awarded in Cunnamulla, Queensland and Geelong, Victoria.
That for Cunnemalla goes to Cunnamulla Aboriginal Media Association, which was the only applicant and has been broadcasting under a temporary licence on the frequency that has now been awarded to it on a permanent basis.
The Geelong licence was the subject of applications from Southern Victoria Community Radio Inc., which had been broadcasting on the frequency under a temporary licence and proposed a community station based on a country music format, and Vision Australia Foundation, which applied for a licence for a station to serve the print handicapped community.
The award was made to the latter by the ABA on the basis that it "as it found that the unique needs of the print handicapped community for access to the printed word indicates a greater and deeper need for a community radio service compared to the needs of country music enthusiasts."
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), has been active on both the digital and analogue fronts.
On the digital front, it has approved an application by Cogeco Radio-Télévision inc. (Cogeco), licensee of CFGL-FM Laval. for a broadcasting licence to carry on a transitional digital radio undertaking (DRU) to serve Montréal and Laval.
The transmissions will use the EUREKA-147 digital audio broadcasting system, which was first developed in Europe and has been confirmed by the Department of Industry as the standard for digital broadcasting in Canada.
On the analogue front, the Commission has approved licences for a new low-power English-language FM radio station at Jasper, Alberta, which will offer a hybrid format combining a local information service and a rebroadcasting service for the signal of CIRK-FM, Edmonton; and for a developmental French-language FM campus radio programming undertaking at Shawnigan, Québec, which will replace the carrier current or closed-circuit radio service currently operated at the Séminaire Sainte-Marie, Shawinigan.
It has also approved a conversion to FM of adult contemporary CFQB-AM, Fort Frances, Ontario, the only station currently serving the area; CQFB had argued that the conversion would improve its signal quality, and allow it to compete effectively with the signals from six commercial U.S. radio stations broadcasting from International Falls, Minnesota and nearby areas.
In Saskatchewan, the CRTC has approved amendments to the licence of CJLR-FM La Ronge comprising a frequency change and power increase from 49 watts to 28,000 watts and in Ontario, an amendment the other way to relocate the transmitter of the Haliburton Broadcasting Group's CHNO-FM Sudbury and decrease its power from 100,000 watts to 11,000 watts.
The latter changes are necessary in order to resolve interference problems with aeronautical NAV/COM services and will downgrade the station from a Class C1 to a Class B.
Things were quiet in Ireland but in the UK the Radio Authority has renewed three licences for stations whose operators gained automatic renewal under provisions mandating this when they provided a services on the relevant digital multiplex for the area concerned.
The licences renewed were the Greater London FM and AM licences held by London News Radio Ltd., broadcasting as ITN News Direct 97.3 FM and LBC 1152 AM, West Sound Radio's Ayr licence, and Galaxy 102's Manchester FM licence
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission has received a large number of complaints about comments by shock-jock Howard Stern on his show during National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
Commissioner Michael Copps issues a statement of dismay about them (See RNW Sept 21) but they do not seem to breach FCC rules.
The Commission has also redlined deals by Mapleton Communications over clusters it is trying to build up in California and Oregon (See RNW Sept 22).
On a more positive front, it has now issued a statement concerning rule changes adopted to facilitate deployment of software defined radio technology.
Such radios can be quickly reprogrammed to transmit and receive on multiple frequencies in different transmission formats and could enable more efficient use of radio spectrum by enabling transmissions to be split up and switched around to use spectrum where normal transmissions are not fully using the bandwidth allocated to them.
The rule changes simplify the procedures for modifications, both for original manufacturers and also by other parties such as software developers
Previous ABA:
Previous CRTC:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous Mapleton:
Previous UK Radio Authority:
ABA web site
CRTC web site:
FCC web site:
UK Radio Authority web site:
2001-09-22:
This was a week which saw stocks falling and analysts
and companies issuing warnings and downgrading their forecasts for
media in general.
The market had a slight bounce back on Friday when radio stocks generally started on a low but overall there were no real signs of improvement.
Among radio stocks at their week lows at the start of Friday were giants Clear Channel - a low of USD 35.2 and Viacom - a low of USD 28.62.
Overall most stocks lost around a further tenth of their value from the when trading recommenced at the beginning of the week but there was a bright spot in Christian-oriented Salem whose stock actually went up by around 9%, although it fell back a little on Friday.
The satellite radio company stocks did worse than the market in general, losing around a quarter of their value over the week.
Media stocks were down by a similar amount in Canada where the Toronto Stock Exchange's communications and media index has fallen more than 12% per cent since the attacks in the US.
The market had a slight bounce back on Friday when radio stocks generally started on a low but overall there were no real signs of improvement.
Among radio stocks at their week lows at the start of Friday were giants Clear Channel - a low of USD 35.2 and Viacom - a low of USD 28.62.
Overall most stocks lost around a further tenth of their value from the when trading recommenced at the beginning of the week but there was a bright spot in Christian-oriented Salem whose stock actually went up by around 9%, although it fell back a little on Friday.
The satellite radio company stocks did worse than the market in general, losing around a quarter of their value over the week.
Media stocks were down by a similar amount in Canada where the Toronto Stock Exchange's communications and media index has fallen more than 12% per cent since the attacks in the US.
2001-09-22:
NTL, which transmits most of the United Kingdom's commercial
radio services and its terrestrial commercial television networks,
has confirmed that it intends to sell or spin off the division involved
by the end of this year.
NTL's broadcast transmission division is valued by analysts at around GBP1.7 billion .
One possible major contender, American Towers, has already said it is not interested.
Analysts say that France Telecom, NTL's largest shareholder, would also be unlikely to bid because of its substantial debts.
NTL's broadcast transmission division is valued by analysts at around GBP1.7 billion .
One possible major contender, American Towers, has already said it is not interested.
Analysts say that France Telecom, NTL's largest shareholder, would also be unlikely to bid because of its substantial debts.
2001-09-22:
The US Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) has red-flagged two deals by Mapleton
Communications this week.
Both concern attempts by the group to build up clusters in areas where the deals would give them market domination.
The stations involved are in Medford, Oregon, and Merced, California, and in both cases the FCC has set aside the purchases for further review on the basis of advertisement revenue and ownership concentration concerns.
Previous FCC:
Both concern attempts by the group to build up clusters in areas where the deals would give them market domination.
The stations involved are in Medford, Oregon, and Merced, California, and in both cases the FCC has set aside the purchases for further review on the basis of advertisement revenue and ownership concentration concerns.
Previous FCC:
2001-09-21:
Despite the public platitudes, many Americans don't
seem to have much time for the First Amendment at the moment and this
has spilled over into the radio business.
In Baltimore, WCBM-AM host Les Kinsolving said earlier this week that Radio One's management was "terrorist sympathizers" because callers to its WOLB-AM Baltimore were allowed to express support for Muslim and Islamic ideals.
Radio One founder and chair, Cathy Hughes, came back robustly and the company issued a statement saying, "Like many radio stations, we encouraged and permitted our listeners during this very difficult time to express their opinions, and a very limited number of opinions were clearly controversial."
"These opinions do not reflect the views of Radio One. This past Monday a member of the media, in a public forum, criticized Radio One and its founder because we permitted these opinions to be expressed."
"But, even in these most difficult times, we are mindful of the cherished constitutional right to express an opinion, even if it is unpopular and not endorsed by the vast majority of our listeners." "Radio One is deeply saddened by the events of last Tuesday in New York and Washington, D.C.," it continued.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their lives and those who are injured, along with all of their families and friends."
"We are heartened by the Herculean efforts of the rescue crews and the resurgence of patriotism displayed in many symbolic ways."
"Like many radio companies across the nation, we mobilized our employees and listeners to demonstrate their support in both word and deed."
Also in the US, US Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps issued a statement about remarks made by shock-jock Howard Stern.
After a Stern sidekick has asked if New York's prostitutes were also losing business, a caller to the Stern show had suggested that they should donate their services and give oral sex for firemen involved in the rescue efforts.
Stern commented, "New York prostitutes ought to do what everyone else is doing. They ought to donate their services and go down there and give oral sex to the firemen while they're digging for bodies."
Later in the show listeners heard voices with mock Arab accents make comments along the lines of, " I am Mohammed. I was involved in the terrorism. I would now like to bomb your vagina with my power pack."
Copps statement said, "I am saddened and dismayed at remarks reportedly made on Howard Stern's nationally syndicated radio program last week during our National Day of Prayer and Remembrance."
"... It was a week of precious lives lost, endless hours of painful and sustained rescue and relief work, countless acts of individual and community heroism, and a reaffirmation of the ties that forge the unity of the American people in times of national emergency."
"It was a week when America's broadcast media and other communications companies performed with self-sacrifice and often heroism. Most of Stern's programming last week seemed sensitive to this and supportive of encouraging a positive reaction to the disaster we had experienced."
"So it was all the more surprising that remarks were made, from whatever motivation, that so crudely distorted and demeaned the essential nobility of what our people were coming together to accomplish..."
In the UK, the Guardian newspaper reports on the sensitivities of DJs and stations concerning their playlists in the wake of the attacks.
As in the US there were immediate concerns and decisions concerning songs which might be found sensitive (See RNW Sept 19 re Clear Channel's supposed "banned" list).
At BBC Radio 2, executive music producer Colin Martin, it reports, immediately dropped what he considered the most obviously inappropriate tracks : Aerosmith's Fly Away From Here, Goldfrapp's Pilots and, Bob the Builder's Mambo No 5, the last because it was too frivolous in the circumstances.
Other songs were added as the day went on and Martin commented, "One of the most difficult things is to try and remember what the lyrics to songs are." says Martin.
"The titles are fairly obvious, but it's knowing the sentiments too. You play something and halfway through it might tie in with particular things that have happened. They're a bit of a horror for us, lyrics."
The BBC, notes the paper, has guidelines concerning tragedies and high-profile deaths with a general practice that news bulletins take precedence while quizzes, features and anything irreverent are cancelled.
Changes were also made at the BBC Radio 1 pop channel.
Its editor of music policy Alex Jones-Donelly commented, "It wasn't about abandoning Radio 1's music policy; it was about adapting it." says Jones-Donelly.
"We don't ban records, but some weren't played for a few days."
The Guardian also notes, amid expectations of military action, that during the Gulf war, Radio 1 banned no fewer than 67 songs, ranging from the political (John Lennon's Give Peace a Chance) to the absurd (Lulu's Boom Bang-a-Bang). Massive Attack and Bomb the Bass were urged to change their names for the duration of the conflict.
"It's business as normal now," says Jones-Donelly. "But if events change we'll take appropriate action again. We're well prepared to do that."
"What exactly that 'appropriate action' might be remains to be seen," concludes the report, " but Massive Attack must be watching the news closely. "
Previous BBC:
Previous Copps:
Previous Hughes:
Previous Radio 1 Inc:
Previous Stern:
Copps statement:
UK Guardian report:
In Baltimore, WCBM-AM host Les Kinsolving said earlier this week that Radio One's management was "terrorist sympathizers" because callers to its WOLB-AM Baltimore were allowed to express support for Muslim and Islamic ideals.
Radio One founder and chair, Cathy Hughes, came back robustly and the company issued a statement saying, "Like many radio stations, we encouraged and permitted our listeners during this very difficult time to express their opinions, and a very limited number of opinions were clearly controversial."
"These opinions do not reflect the views of Radio One. This past Monday a member of the media, in a public forum, criticized Radio One and its founder because we permitted these opinions to be expressed."
"But, even in these most difficult times, we are mindful of the cherished constitutional right to express an opinion, even if it is unpopular and not endorsed by the vast majority of our listeners." "Radio One is deeply saddened by the events of last Tuesday in New York and Washington, D.C.," it continued.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their lives and those who are injured, along with all of their families and friends."
"We are heartened by the Herculean efforts of the rescue crews and the resurgence of patriotism displayed in many symbolic ways."
"Like many radio companies across the nation, we mobilized our employees and listeners to demonstrate their support in both word and deed."
Also in the US, US Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps issued a statement about remarks made by shock-jock Howard Stern.
After a Stern sidekick has asked if New York's prostitutes were also losing business, a caller to the Stern show had suggested that they should donate their services and give oral sex for firemen involved in the rescue efforts.
Stern commented, "New York prostitutes ought to do what everyone else is doing. They ought to donate their services and go down there and give oral sex to the firemen while they're digging for bodies."
Later in the show listeners heard voices with mock Arab accents make comments along the lines of, " I am Mohammed. I was involved in the terrorism. I would now like to bomb your vagina with my power pack."
Copps statement said, "I am saddened and dismayed at remarks reportedly made on Howard Stern's nationally syndicated radio program last week during our National Day of Prayer and Remembrance."
"... It was a week of precious lives lost, endless hours of painful and sustained rescue and relief work, countless acts of individual and community heroism, and a reaffirmation of the ties that forge the unity of the American people in times of national emergency."
"It was a week when America's broadcast media and other communications companies performed with self-sacrifice and often heroism. Most of Stern's programming last week seemed sensitive to this and supportive of encouraging a positive reaction to the disaster we had experienced."
"So it was all the more surprising that remarks were made, from whatever motivation, that so crudely distorted and demeaned the essential nobility of what our people were coming together to accomplish..."
In the UK, the Guardian newspaper reports on the sensitivities of DJs and stations concerning their playlists in the wake of the attacks.
As in the US there were immediate concerns and decisions concerning songs which might be found sensitive (See RNW Sept 19 re Clear Channel's supposed "banned" list).
At BBC Radio 2, executive music producer Colin Martin, it reports, immediately dropped what he considered the most obviously inappropriate tracks : Aerosmith's Fly Away From Here, Goldfrapp's Pilots and, Bob the Builder's Mambo No 5, the last because it was too frivolous in the circumstances.
Other songs were added as the day went on and Martin commented, "One of the most difficult things is to try and remember what the lyrics to songs are." says Martin.
"The titles are fairly obvious, but it's knowing the sentiments too. You play something and halfway through it might tie in with particular things that have happened. They're a bit of a horror for us, lyrics."
The BBC, notes the paper, has guidelines concerning tragedies and high-profile deaths with a general practice that news bulletins take precedence while quizzes, features and anything irreverent are cancelled.
Changes were also made at the BBC Radio 1 pop channel.
Its editor of music policy Alex Jones-Donelly commented, "It wasn't about abandoning Radio 1's music policy; it was about adapting it." says Jones-Donelly.
"We don't ban records, but some weren't played for a few days."
The Guardian also notes, amid expectations of military action, that during the Gulf war, Radio 1 banned no fewer than 67 songs, ranging from the political (John Lennon's Give Peace a Chance) to the absurd (Lulu's Boom Bang-a-Bang). Massive Attack and Bomb the Bass were urged to change their names for the duration of the conflict.
"It's business as normal now," says Jones-Donelly. "But if events change we'll take appropriate action again. We're well prepared to do that."
"What exactly that 'appropriate action' might be remains to be seen," concludes the report, " but Massive Attack must be watching the news closely. "
Previous BBC:
Previous Copps:
Previous Hughes:
Previous Radio 1 Inc:
Previous Stern:
Copps statement:
UK Guardian report:
2001-09-21:
John Hopkins University has formalised details of its
deal to sell its public radio station WJHU-FM to a Baltimore group,
Maryland Public Radio Inc. (MPR),
headed by WJHU host Marc Steiner.
The Baltimore Sun reports that under the terms of the deal, Maryland Public Radio has now deposited USD250000 in an escrow account held by the University and papers will be filed within the next few days with the Federal Communications Commission to transfer the licence.
At the transfer point the group will have to hand over the rest of the USD 5 million purchase price. MPR still has to obtain finance for the deal but the paper says it and the university regard this and the licence transfer approval merely as loose ends.
The paper says that Steiner is to be MPR's President and Baltimorean Anthony Brandon, president of a company that controls more than 40 stations in western states, its vice-President.
Brandon will swerve as a consultant to the university until the licence is transferred and will then become general manager of the new station, which will change its call sign although the planned new letters have not been announced.
Previous WJHU:
Baltimore Sun report:
The Baltimore Sun reports that under the terms of the deal, Maryland Public Radio has now deposited USD250000 in an escrow account held by the University and papers will be filed within the next few days with the Federal Communications Commission to transfer the licence.
At the transfer point the group will have to hand over the rest of the USD 5 million purchase price. MPR still has to obtain finance for the deal but the paper says it and the university regard this and the licence transfer approval merely as loose ends.
The paper says that Steiner is to be MPR's President and Baltimorean Anthony Brandon, president of a company that controls more than 40 stations in western states, its vice-President.
Brandon will swerve as a consultant to the university until the licence is transferred and will then become general manager of the new station, which will change its call sign although the planned new letters have not been announced.
Previous WJHU:
Baltimore Sun report:
2001-09-21:
BBC World Service radio is boosting its
transmissions to Afghanistan and the surrounding area as well as the
Middle East in the wake of the attacks in the US.
It has already expanded output in Arabic, Pashto, Persian and Urdu, the main languages in the area, boosted its FM transmissions and online services.
It is also adding an additional medium wave transmission on 1314 kHz, which covers Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, and UAE during different times of the day, as well as large parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
This new frequency supplements existing medium wave broadcasts on 1413kHz in the region.
At the moment the organisation's Arabic service has increased its broadcasts to become a 24-hour news and current service; the Pashto service has increased its broadcasts from 11¾ to 18¾ hours per week; the Persian service (Farsi) has increased its broadcasts from 28¼ to 37 hours per week; and the Urdu service has increased its broadcasts from 11½ to 13¼ hours per week.
Further increases are planned for the last two of these.
The World Service says that survey work before the crisis indicates that some 72 per cent of Pashto language speakers and some 62 per cent of Persian speakers in Afghanistan listen daily to the BBC World Service.
It also says that the Urdu language service, which has now also switched to a rolling news and current affairs format, has a daily audience of more than 15 million in Pakistan.
BBC World Service Director Mark Byford commented, "For the region, the BBC World Service is a vital lifeline. Audiences, literally, depend on the BBC for impartial, accurate, trustworthy news and information."
"In Afghanistan, with no television and no national newspaper, BBC radio is a main form of communication."
Byford also added that world wide in the 24 hours after the attack, provisional figures show the BBC World News online site had a nine-fold increase in traffic, the Spanish site a 10-fold increase and the and Arabic site a six-fold one.
The Voice of America (VOA)is also to increase transmissions to the area.
Pashto and Dari broadcasts are up by 30 mins to a total of 105 minutes a day, Urdu up 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, Arabic up by four half-hour programmes to 9 hours a day and Farsi up by two half-hour programmes to four and a half hours a day.
Although the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)site heads its home page with news from the area, it has not announced any transmissions to the area, which is outside its remit.
Previous BBC:
Previous Byford:
Previous RFE/RL:
Previous VOA
BBC World Service site (carries link to announcement of increases):
RFE/RL site:
VOA site:
It has already expanded output in Arabic, Pashto, Persian and Urdu, the main languages in the area, boosted its FM transmissions and online services.
It is also adding an additional medium wave transmission on 1314 kHz, which covers Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, and UAE during different times of the day, as well as large parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
This new frequency supplements existing medium wave broadcasts on 1413kHz in the region.
At the moment the organisation's Arabic service has increased its broadcasts to become a 24-hour news and current service; the Pashto service has increased its broadcasts from 11¾ to 18¾ hours per week; the Persian service (Farsi) has increased its broadcasts from 28¼ to 37 hours per week; and the Urdu service has increased its broadcasts from 11½ to 13¼ hours per week.
Further increases are planned for the last two of these.
The World Service says that survey work before the crisis indicates that some 72 per cent of Pashto language speakers and some 62 per cent of Persian speakers in Afghanistan listen daily to the BBC World Service.
It also says that the Urdu language service, which has now also switched to a rolling news and current affairs format, has a daily audience of more than 15 million in Pakistan.
BBC World Service Director Mark Byford commented, "For the region, the BBC World Service is a vital lifeline. Audiences, literally, depend on the BBC for impartial, accurate, trustworthy news and information."
"In Afghanistan, with no television and no national newspaper, BBC radio is a main form of communication."
Byford also added that world wide in the 24 hours after the attack, provisional figures show the BBC World News online site had a nine-fold increase in traffic, the Spanish site a 10-fold increase and the and Arabic site a six-fold one.
The Voice of America (VOA)is also to increase transmissions to the area.
Pashto and Dari broadcasts are up by 30 mins to a total of 105 minutes a day, Urdu up 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, Arabic up by four half-hour programmes to 9 hours a day and Farsi up by two half-hour programmes to four and a half hours a day.
Although the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)site heads its home page with news from the area, it has not announced any transmissions to the area, which is outside its remit.
Previous BBC:
Previous Byford:
Previous RFE/RL:
Previous VOA
BBC World Service site (carries link to announcement of increases):
RFE/RL site:
VOA site:
2001-09-20:
The US Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) has announced that, following a request from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), US broadcast stations will be allowed to
suspend routine tests of emergency alarm systems until October 2.
FEMA made the request "In connection with the recent terrorist attacks, and in order to avoid potential public confusion or fear" and the FCC says that, should an extension be requested, it will issue a further public notice.
Previous FCC:
FEMA made the request "In connection with the recent terrorist attacks, and in order to avoid potential public confusion or fear" and the FCC says that, should an extension be requested, it will issue a further public notice.
Previous FCC:
2001-09-20:
US radio giant, Clear Channel, has publicly
denied that it has issued any list of "banned songs" following the
attacks on New York and Washington.
The story of a list of some 150 banned songs had made its way into publications ranging from the august New York Times to various online publications, although the Times version carried the story as one of not a ban but said Clear Channel had "asked its stations to avoid playing them."
The Clear Channel statement says, "Clear Channel Radio has not banned any songs from any of its radio stations."
"Clear Channel believes that radio is a local medium. It is up to every radio station program director and general manager to understand their market, listen to their listeners and guide their station's music selections according to local sensitivities."
"Each program director and general manager must take the pulse of his or her market to determine if play lists should be altered, and if so, for how long."
A statement from President and Chief Operating Officer Mark P. Mays said," In the wake of this terrible tragedy, the nation's business community is responding with a degree of hypersensitivity."
"Even some movie companies have altered some of their release schedules in light of the mood in America today."
"Clear Channel strongly believes in the First Amendment and freedom of speech."
"We value and support the artist community. And we support our radio station programming staff and management team in their responsibility to respond to their local markets."
Clear Channel says the story developed after a regional programming vice-president conferred with programme directors who were asking for direction and comments following the attacks.
A number of them came up with suggestions concerning songs that had sensitive lyrics which he put together, subsequently circulating a list of thoughts" about songs that might be thought sensitive.
A Clear Channel spokeswoman emphasized that the list was not a mandate or order to radio programmers.
The list itself seems to have "growed like Topsy" and includes such songs as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World"; the Beatles' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and Ticket to Ride; Simon And Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Jerry Lee Lewis's "Great Balls of Fire"; Don McLean's "American Pie"; Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"; Bruce Springsteen's "Goin' Down"; and all songs by the politically minded rap-rock group Rage Against the Machine.
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Mark Mays:
Clear Channel web site (links to statement):
New York Times report:
The story of a list of some 150 banned songs had made its way into publications ranging from the august New York Times to various online publications, although the Times version carried the story as one of not a ban but said Clear Channel had "asked its stations to avoid playing them."
The Clear Channel statement says, "Clear Channel Radio has not banned any songs from any of its radio stations."
"Clear Channel believes that radio is a local medium. It is up to every radio station program director and general manager to understand their market, listen to their listeners and guide their station's music selections according to local sensitivities."
"Each program director and general manager must take the pulse of his or her market to determine if play lists should be altered, and if so, for how long."
A statement from President and Chief Operating Officer Mark P. Mays said," In the wake of this terrible tragedy, the nation's business community is responding with a degree of hypersensitivity."
"Even some movie companies have altered some of their release schedules in light of the mood in America today."
"Clear Channel strongly believes in the First Amendment and freedom of speech."
"We value and support the artist community. And we support our radio station programming staff and management team in their responsibility to respond to their local markets."
Clear Channel says the story developed after a regional programming vice-president conferred with programme directors who were asking for direction and comments following the attacks.
A number of them came up with suggestions concerning songs that had sensitive lyrics which he put together, subsequently circulating a list of thoughts" about songs that might be thought sensitive.
A Clear Channel spokeswoman emphasized that the list was not a mandate or order to radio programmers.
The list itself seems to have "growed like Topsy" and includes such songs as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World"; the Beatles' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and Ticket to Ride; Simon And Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Jerry Lee Lewis's "Great Balls of Fire"; Don McLean's "American Pie"; Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"; Bruce Springsteen's "Goin' Down"; and all songs by the politically minded rap-rock group Rage Against the Machine.
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Mark Mays:
Clear Channel web site (links to statement):
New York Times report:
2001-09-20:
The British Government has appointed Gavyn Davies
as BBC chairman for five years from October 1.
Davies, who is a partner in investment bank Goldman Sachs and has been Vice-Chairman of the BBC since January 2001, is a known supporter of the ruling British Labour Party as is the Corporation's Director General Greg Dyke.
This has led to criticism from the opposition Conservative Party, which says that a prominent Conservative supporter should now be appointed as his deputy.
Davies himself says that his political allegiances will not cause any conflicts of interest.
Both Davies and Dyke are millionaires; Davies and some 200 other partners are each due to receive shares worth some USD 50 million when Goldman Sachs becomes a public company in the next few months whilst Dyke sold shares worth some USD 9 million in commercial TV company Granada after he took up the BBC post (See RNW Jan 20, 2000).
Previous BBC:
Previous Dyke:
BBC news release:
Davies, who is a partner in investment bank Goldman Sachs and has been Vice-Chairman of the BBC since January 2001, is a known supporter of the ruling British Labour Party as is the Corporation's Director General Greg Dyke.
This has led to criticism from the opposition Conservative Party, which says that a prominent Conservative supporter should now be appointed as his deputy.
Davies himself says that his political allegiances will not cause any conflicts of interest.
Both Davies and Dyke are millionaires; Davies and some 200 other partners are each due to receive shares worth some USD 50 million when Goldman Sachs becomes a public company in the next few months whilst Dyke sold shares worth some USD 9 million in commercial TV company Granada after he took up the BBC post (See RNW Jan 20, 2000).
Previous BBC:
Previous Dyke:
BBC news release:
2001-09-20:
Tampa, Florida, host Bubba the Love Sponge
(Todd Clem), infamous for his wild boar slaughter connections, returned
to the airwaves on Wednesday following a walkout early on Tuesday.
He had walked when he learned that Clear Channel subsidiary Premiere Networks was syndicating Glen Beck to some 30 stations whilst a syndication deal he had anticipated had been put on hold because of the boar killing.
The slaughter led to a number of advertisers pulling spots from the station (See RNW Mar 18) and Bubba and three others have been charged with animal cruelty offences.
Previous Bubba:
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Premiere:
He had walked when he learned that Clear Channel subsidiary Premiere Networks was syndicating Glen Beck to some 30 stations whilst a syndication deal he had anticipated had been put on hold because of the boar killing.
The slaughter led to a number of advertisers pulling spots from the station (See RNW Mar 18) and Bubba and three others have been charged with animal cruelty offences.
Previous Bubba:
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Premiere:
2001-09-20:
Michael Cathcart, the host of the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation's flagship radio arts programme,
Radio National's Arts Today, is to leave the post at the end
of the year.
He had said he would only do the job for two years when he took up the post and, although he says he will do some work for ABC radio, intends to spend more time on his academic activities.
Previous ABC, Australia:
He had said he would only do the job for two years when he took up the post and, although he says he will do some work for ABC radio, intends to spend more time on his academic activities.
Previous ABC, Australia:
2001-09-19:
More gloom, in the short term at least, about the outlook
for US radio from the analysts, although they still favour the medium
over its big stable mate, television.
Bank of America Securities analyst Tim Wallace warns of market volatility in the short term and expects downward revision of estimates for the rest of this year in the wake of the September 11th attack.
He has revised his forecast that radio would end 3% down this year, compared with 2000, and now thinks the fall will be 6%.
For next year, he expects a flat year compared to his previous forecast of a 5% gain. However he still favours radio over television because of its lower costs, local orientation and potential to increase its share of advertising.
James Marsh of Robertson Stephens is more bullish andis not yet revising his 2002 forecast; he's not making a full year prediction but expects growth after the first quarter.
For this year he expects third quarter revenues down 10% rather than 6% as he previously forecast and the final quarter down 5% instead of his forecast of 3%.
March estimates radio lost up to USD 200 million in revenues from running commercial-free for most of last week. He also singles out as particularly vulnerable Emmis and Spanish Broadcasting System, both of which are heavily dependant upon New York for its revenues.
SBS gets over a third of its revenue from New York and Emmis nearly 30% compared to under 8% for Viacom's Infinity, which is concentrated in larger markets, and the 4% for Clear Channel.
Bank of America Securities analyst Tim Wallace warns of market volatility in the short term and expects downward revision of estimates for the rest of this year in the wake of the September 11th attack.
He has revised his forecast that radio would end 3% down this year, compared with 2000, and now thinks the fall will be 6%.
For next year, he expects a flat year compared to his previous forecast of a 5% gain. However he still favours radio over television because of its lower costs, local orientation and potential to increase its share of advertising.
James Marsh of Robertson Stephens is more bullish andis not yet revising his 2002 forecast; he's not making a full year prediction but expects growth after the first quarter.
For this year he expects third quarter revenues down 10% rather than 6% as he previously forecast and the final quarter down 5% instead of his forecast of 3%.
March estimates radio lost up to USD 200 million in revenues from running commercial-free for most of last week. He also singles out as particularly vulnerable Emmis and Spanish Broadcasting System, both of which are heavily dependant upon New York for its revenues.
SBS gets over a third of its revenue from New York and Emmis nearly 30% compared to under 8% for Viacom's Infinity, which is concentrated in larger markets, and the 4% for Clear Channel.
2001-09-19:
Following conditional granting of authority to operate
its terrestrial repeater stations, XM Satellite Radio
has now re-scheduled for September 25 its commercial launch, originally
scheduled for last Wednesday but postponed after last Tuesday's attacks.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave the special temporary authority for the terrestrial repeaters to complement their satellite signals to both Sirius and XM on Monday.
Objections had been raised to the satellite radio companies' plans by wireless date providers who said their could be interference with their services and by broadcasters, with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) suggesting that the companies planned to use their terrestrial networks to provide local content (See RNW Aug 23).
The FCC Permission was granted on condition that XM and Sirius cease operations if they interfere with wireless communications services and the FCC says the issue will be addressed further during the final approval process
The FCC has also barred the companies from using the repeaters for any local origination or commercial insertion.
Its order, which allows operations until March 2002 when rules for permanent operation should have been finalised, says that the use of repeaters is restricted to "the simultaneous retransmission of programming, in its entirety, transmitted by the satellite directly to … (subscribers' satellite) receivers.
In a statement XM President and CEO Hugh Panero said, "We are grateful that the FCC has moved so expeditiously in the face of the tragic events that have obviously affected all aspects of government."
"It is important that all U.S. businesses return to some state of normalcy. The Federal Government is working, the stock market is open and now it's time for new businesses like ours to show that the tragic events will not deter us."
Previous FCC:
Previous NAB:
Previous Panero:
Previous Sirius:
Previous XM:
Sirius Web site:
XM web site:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave the special temporary authority for the terrestrial repeaters to complement their satellite signals to both Sirius and XM on Monday.
Objections had been raised to the satellite radio companies' plans by wireless date providers who said their could be interference with their services and by broadcasters, with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) suggesting that the companies planned to use their terrestrial networks to provide local content (See RNW Aug 23).
The FCC Permission was granted on condition that XM and Sirius cease operations if they interfere with wireless communications services and the FCC says the issue will be addressed further during the final approval process
The FCC has also barred the companies from using the repeaters for any local origination or commercial insertion.
Its order, which allows operations until March 2002 when rules for permanent operation should have been finalised, says that the use of repeaters is restricted to "the simultaneous retransmission of programming, in its entirety, transmitted by the satellite directly to … (subscribers' satellite) receivers.
In a statement XM President and CEO Hugh Panero said, "We are grateful that the FCC has moved so expeditiously in the face of the tragic events that have obviously affected all aspects of government."
"It is important that all U.S. businesses return to some state of normalcy. The Federal Government is working, the stock market is open and now it's time for new businesses like ours to show that the tragic events will not deter us."
Previous FCC:
Previous NAB:
Previous Panero:
Previous Sirius:
Previous XM:
Sirius Web site:
XM web site:
2001-09-19:
MeasureCast, which has just released its weekly ratings
for the week to September 9, gets in its release a plug for Internet
radio on September 11, noting dramatic increases in streaming.
It quotes MeasureCast CEO ed Hardy as saying, "because many people don't have TVs or radios in their offices, thousands of office workers tuned in to Internet radio to get the latest information of the terrible attacks...This is indicative of the growing importance and growing popularity of Internet radio."
As we have already reported (RNW Sept 17), the percentages may be large but the totals are insignificant compared to the millions turning to over-the-air radio and TV broadcasts.
The new weekly ratings, which follow a re-issue of the previous week's ratings (RNW Sept 14) having changed its system to include log file analysis as well as is proprietary software, shows listening slightly down compared to the previous week.
At the top it shows some jostling for place but no change in the stations in the top five.
They were, ranked by Total Time Spent Listening (TTSL) and with, where applicable, previous week's TTSL and Cume persons (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, in brackets:
1): Jazz station Jazz FM TTSL 165564 (157016); CP 60088 (45145) Position unchanged but listening up.
2): Adult Alternative Virgin Radio TTSL 121,154 (123,211); CP 20,455 (23,731) Previously third with higher listening.
3): Sports-talk ESPN Radio TTSL 100182 (92,865); CP 17,333 (14,695) - Previously fifth.
4): Listener Formatted MediaAmazing TTSL 91581 (131433); CP 40385 (39794) Previously second.
5): Classical music King FM TTSL 82503 (97769); CP 16,639 (15711) - Previously fourth..
Previous MeasureCast ratings:
MeasureCast web site:
It quotes MeasureCast CEO ed Hardy as saying, "because many people don't have TVs or radios in their offices, thousands of office workers tuned in to Internet radio to get the latest information of the terrible attacks...This is indicative of the growing importance and growing popularity of Internet radio."
As we have already reported (RNW Sept 17), the percentages may be large but the totals are insignificant compared to the millions turning to over-the-air radio and TV broadcasts.
The new weekly ratings, which follow a re-issue of the previous week's ratings (RNW Sept 14) having changed its system to include log file analysis as well as is proprietary software, shows listening slightly down compared to the previous week.
At the top it shows some jostling for place but no change in the stations in the top five.
They were, ranked by Total Time Spent Listening (TTSL) and with, where applicable, previous week's TTSL and Cume persons (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, in brackets:
1): Jazz station Jazz FM TTSL 165564 (157016); CP 60088 (45145) Position unchanged but listening up.
2): Adult Alternative Virgin Radio TTSL 121,154 (123,211); CP 20,455 (23,731) Previously third with higher listening.
3): Sports-talk ESPN Radio TTSL 100182 (92,865); CP 17,333 (14,695) - Previously fifth.
4): Listener Formatted MediaAmazing TTSL 91581 (131433); CP 40385 (39794) Previously second.
5): Classical music King FM TTSL 82503 (97769); CP 16,639 (15711) - Previously fourth..
Previous MeasureCast ratings:
MeasureCast web site:
2001-09-18:
Despite an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve,
the doomsayers had it right when Wall Street re-opened on Monday.
By late afternoon the market had steadied a little above the days lows with both the Dow Jones and Nasdaq down around 7%.
Media stocks fared less well with Clear Channel and Viacom both down by more than 10%.
The satellite radio companies did even worse with Sirius down nearly 14% and XM down nearly 16%.
Radio stocks in general did worse than the market average with falls between 8% and 13% although Beasley Broadcasting held its fall to under 5%.
Previous Beasley Broadcasting:
By late afternoon the market had steadied a little above the days lows with both the Dow Jones and Nasdaq down around 7%.
Media stocks fared less well with Clear Channel and Viacom both down by more than 10%.
The satellite radio companies did even worse with Sirius down nearly 14% and XM down nearly 16%.
Radio stocks in general did worse than the market average with falls between 8% and 13% although Beasley Broadcasting held its fall to under 5%.
Previous Beasley Broadcasting:
2001-09-18:
Spanish Broadcasting System's New York
station WPAT-FM, whose transmitter was on the north tower of the
World Trade Centre and which was taken off the air by last week's
attack, has now resumed broadcasting from a tower at the Empire
State Building.
Sister station WSKQ-FM already operated from the Empire State Building and its broadcasts were not interrupted.
Previous SBS.
Sister station WSKQ-FM already operated from the Empire State Building and its broadcasts were not interrupted.
Previous SBS.
2001-09-17:
Following a week, the events of which it can accurately
be said that to have predicted them would have attracted the description
"incredible", US broadcasters are gradually making moves towards
a return to more or less normal programming.
As we write this, the rest of the world's financial markets are waiting for the US stock markets to open, with analysts' views in two camps - that initially "patriotism" will mute any fall or that money has no morality and fears of losses will talk louder than any other motivation.
Most analysts expect strenuous efforts to support the market to begin with but a fall in the mid term and, as well as airlines, media stocks are likely to be among the harder hit.
Since Tuesday, the continuous coverage of the "Attack on America" has cost broadcasters hundreds of millions of dollars in lost advertising revenues and also imposed extra costs on many.
In New York, one estimate from M-Street Daily is that major market stations billing around USD15 million a year will have lost around 80000 USD between Tuesday and the weekend
At the same time, the value to the public of traditional broadcast media was yet again demonstrated with the Internet a poor third in the information source stakes according to The Pew Internet & American Life Project.
It said that a telephone survey showed more than four fifths of Americans used TV as their primary source, 11 per cent used radio and only three per cent turned to the Internet.
Internet use was actually slightly down on Tuesday and Wednesday but around a quarter of Internet users, although relying on other sources, still logged on.
Similarly most people used the phone to reach friends and relatives despite the problems of an overloaded system.
Numbers from MeasureCast back up the Pew survey.
Although they show jumps of up to some 8000per cent in the streaming audience for news/talk radio the actual totals are not that impressive in traditional media terms.
ABC Radio station WSL-AM in Chicago, which is the advert-insertion test bed station for ABC radio, streamed some 3000 hours on Tuesday and had a cume (cumulative audience) of 2,069.
On US radio stations, apart from the programme changes to news, the tragedy has led to a rethink by many stations about their playlists and the dropping of songs referring to death and destruction.
XM satellite radio, as well as delaying its commercial launch, also removed from its advertising scenes in which in which musicians Snoop Dogg, David Bowie and B.B. King fell from the sky in various locales, followed by falling sports equipment, musical instruments and other items.
For many stations, there was a symbolic end to the week with a special tribute that began with a moment of silence, "Taps" and live coverage of a prayer service from the National Cathedral in DC.
This was carried by all regional Clear Channel, Radio One, Infinity, ABC and Bonneville DC and Baltimore radio stations.
In addition to their on-air activities all major US radio chains and most local stations were involved in various campaigns to aid victims as well as carrying public service announcements, some of them prepared by the American Red Cross and released in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters. They included appeals for donations of money and blood.
Previous NAB:
NAB web site:
Pew Internet site: .
As we write this, the rest of the world's financial markets are waiting for the US stock markets to open, with analysts' views in two camps - that initially "patriotism" will mute any fall or that money has no morality and fears of losses will talk louder than any other motivation.
Most analysts expect strenuous efforts to support the market to begin with but a fall in the mid term and, as well as airlines, media stocks are likely to be among the harder hit.
Since Tuesday, the continuous coverage of the "Attack on America" has cost broadcasters hundreds of millions of dollars in lost advertising revenues and also imposed extra costs on many.
In New York, one estimate from M-Street Daily is that major market stations billing around USD15 million a year will have lost around 80000 USD between Tuesday and the weekend
At the same time, the value to the public of traditional broadcast media was yet again demonstrated with the Internet a poor third in the information source stakes according to The Pew Internet & American Life Project.
It said that a telephone survey showed more than four fifths of Americans used TV as their primary source, 11 per cent used radio and only three per cent turned to the Internet.
Internet use was actually slightly down on Tuesday and Wednesday but around a quarter of Internet users, although relying on other sources, still logged on.
Similarly most people used the phone to reach friends and relatives despite the problems of an overloaded system.
Numbers from MeasureCast back up the Pew survey.
Although they show jumps of up to some 8000per cent in the streaming audience for news/talk radio the actual totals are not that impressive in traditional media terms.
ABC Radio station WSL-AM in Chicago, which is the advert-insertion test bed station for ABC radio, streamed some 3000 hours on Tuesday and had a cume (cumulative audience) of 2,069.
On US radio stations, apart from the programme changes to news, the tragedy has led to a rethink by many stations about their playlists and the dropping of songs referring to death and destruction.
XM satellite radio, as well as delaying its commercial launch, also removed from its advertising scenes in which in which musicians Snoop Dogg, David Bowie and B.B. King fell from the sky in various locales, followed by falling sports equipment, musical instruments and other items.
For many stations, there was a symbolic end to the week with a special tribute that began with a moment of silence, "Taps" and live coverage of a prayer service from the National Cathedral in DC.
This was carried by all regional Clear Channel, Radio One, Infinity, ABC and Bonneville DC and Baltimore radio stations.
In addition to their on-air activities all major US radio chains and most local stations were involved in various campaigns to aid victims as well as carrying public service announcements, some of them prepared by the American Red Cross and released in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters. They included appeals for donations of money and blood.
Previous NAB:
NAB web site:
Pew Internet site: .
2001-09-17:
This week's events dramatically underlined the difference
between "live" and "tape" and also give emphasis to comments
in his column this week by Paul Donovan of the UK Sunday
Times.
It concentrates on the difference in the context of the tendency of broadcasters to mangle meanings in their marketing efforts and in particular the efforts of the BBC in this area.
In his case, the prime example he give is of a BBC programme, called "Elton Live - Live and Exclusive" and, with no mucking about over the clarity of language Donovan bluntly writes," This is a lie."
"The concert took place last Sunday in the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House. By no stretch of the imagination is it "live". It is the opposite of live. It is recorded. "
He then gave the BBC a chance to comment. They responded by digging the hole deeper: "Live and Exclusive," said a Radio 2 spokeswoman, "is the new name we are going to be using for all the concerts done specially for us in the Radio Theatre, like this and the Bee Gees concert earlier this year, to differentiate them from snoop concerts." ("Snoop concerts" are non-BBC ones, which the BBC just goes along to record.) "
As Donovan says this abuse of the language demeans "all those programmes that are genuinely live and all the more exciting for it - such as the Proms, the Monday lunch-time concerts from the Wigmore Hall starting tomorrow, Late Junction (all of these are on Radio 3, whose passion for live performance is reflected in its Sunday Feature today on this very subject), and, most obviously, the news. "
Having got the liars/marketing department out of he way, on to the events of the week which swamped the airwaves, both live and from tape with TV giving interminable replays of planes hitting the World Trade Centre and the subsequent collapse of buildings.
For most people TV was the gateway to the events but around a tenth of Americans used the radio as a primary source.
Reporting on the way radio went that day the best article we saw was from Frank Ahrens in the Washington Post. "For one very emotional day," he writes, "Washington's radio stations reverted to their public-service roots, becoming a cross between the Emergency Broadcast System and a crisis-counselling network."
"Following yesterday's terrorist attacks in Washington and New York," he continues, "most music stations substituted news for songs while deejays tried to stem caller blood lust directed against Arabs and Muslims."
One example Ahrens gives of DJs reactions, in our view, put the subsequent reactions of most Americans to shame.
On black-hits WPGC-FM, deejays EZ Street, DJ Flexx and Todd B who had abandoned their "high-energy, shout-out style" received a call from someone who said, "I am from Afghanistan and I want to know which ignorant fundamentalist group did this. I think we should attack Afghanistan. Yes, that's right, and I am Muslim."
"These ignorant groups are ruining the reputation of other decent Muslims."
EZ Street responded: "Bro, I am not mad at you and I would never throw a blanket over you. We are not pointing fingers. That's not how we roll here."
On sister station WHFS-FM, DJ Rob Timm reminded listeners: "Remember -- when Oklahoma City got hit, we all thought it was Arabs at first."
Compare and contrast that with the reaction of most Americans according to a CBS-New York Times poll.
More than two thirds of respondents said that the US should retaliate even if innocent people are killed, 60 per cent maintaining that view even if "Many thousands of innocent civilians are killed."
One up to these DJs over the majority of the "American People" it would seem!
Previous Ahrens:
Previous Columnists:
Previous Donovan:
CBS Web site - links to poll:
UK Sunday Times - Donovan:
Washington Post - Ahrens:
It concentrates on the difference in the context of the tendency of broadcasters to mangle meanings in their marketing efforts and in particular the efforts of the BBC in this area.
In his case, the prime example he give is of a BBC programme, called "Elton Live - Live and Exclusive" and, with no mucking about over the clarity of language Donovan bluntly writes," This is a lie."
"The concert took place last Sunday in the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House. By no stretch of the imagination is it "live". It is the opposite of live. It is recorded. "
He then gave the BBC a chance to comment. They responded by digging the hole deeper: "Live and Exclusive," said a Radio 2 spokeswoman, "is the new name we are going to be using for all the concerts done specially for us in the Radio Theatre, like this and the Bee Gees concert earlier this year, to differentiate them from snoop concerts." ("Snoop concerts" are non-BBC ones, which the BBC just goes along to record.) "
As Donovan says this abuse of the language demeans "all those programmes that are genuinely live and all the more exciting for it - such as the Proms, the Monday lunch-time concerts from the Wigmore Hall starting tomorrow, Late Junction (all of these are on Radio 3, whose passion for live performance is reflected in its Sunday Feature today on this very subject), and, most obviously, the news. "
Having got the liars/marketing department out of he way, on to the events of the week which swamped the airwaves, both live and from tape with TV giving interminable replays of planes hitting the World Trade Centre and the subsequent collapse of buildings.
For most people TV was the gateway to the events but around a tenth of Americans used the radio as a primary source.
Reporting on the way radio went that day the best article we saw was from Frank Ahrens in the Washington Post. "For one very emotional day," he writes, "Washington's radio stations reverted to their public-service roots, becoming a cross between the Emergency Broadcast System and a crisis-counselling network."
"Following yesterday's terrorist attacks in Washington and New York," he continues, "most music stations substituted news for songs while deejays tried to stem caller blood lust directed against Arabs and Muslims."
One example Ahrens gives of DJs reactions, in our view, put the subsequent reactions of most Americans to shame.
On black-hits WPGC-FM, deejays EZ Street, DJ Flexx and Todd B who had abandoned their "high-energy, shout-out style" received a call from someone who said, "I am from Afghanistan and I want to know which ignorant fundamentalist group did this. I think we should attack Afghanistan. Yes, that's right, and I am Muslim."
"These ignorant groups are ruining the reputation of other decent Muslims."
EZ Street responded: "Bro, I am not mad at you and I would never throw a blanket over you. We are not pointing fingers. That's not how we roll here."
On sister station WHFS-FM, DJ Rob Timm reminded listeners: "Remember -- when Oklahoma City got hit, we all thought it was Arabs at first."
Compare and contrast that with the reaction of most Americans according to a CBS-New York Times poll.
More than two thirds of respondents said that the US should retaliate even if innocent people are killed, 60 per cent maintaining that view even if "Many thousands of innocent civilians are killed."
One up to these DJs over the majority of the "American People" it would seem!
Previous Ahrens:
Previous Columnists:
Previous Donovan:
CBS Web site - links to poll:
UK Sunday Times - Donovan:
Washington Post - Ahrens:
2001-09-17:
"Here and Now", the Boston public radio station WBUR-FM
midday news and features show is making its national debut today.
The show has been syndicated in New England for two years and is now being fed by satellite to interested National Public Radio (NPR)stations: No fee is being charged although the producers hope for additional funding if there is a significant take up. Interest has been expressed by a number of stations including some in Dallas, Philadelphia, Phoenix and New York state.
Previous NPR:
Previous WBUR:
NPR web site:
WBUR web site:
The show has been syndicated in New England for two years and is now being fed by satellite to interested National Public Radio (NPR)stations: No fee is being charged although the producers hope for additional funding if there is a significant take up. Interest has been expressed by a number of stations including some in Dallas, Philadelphia, Phoenix and New York state.
Previous NPR:
Previous WBUR:
NPR web site:
WBUR web site:
2001-09-16:
A fairly busy week in licence terms with only Ireland
totally quiet: In Australia,
the Australian Broadcasting Authority is proposing
one new commercial station, five new community services, and two
new open narrowcasting services in its final plan for the Adelaide
area.
To allow the new commercial service will require a frequency change to a translator for existing commercial service 5SSA and a frequency change for community service 5CST.
Of the five planned new licences, two will be for Adelaide-wide community services and the three others will be for local communities in the Adelaide Foothills, Port Adelaide and the Barossa Valley; in addition, pioneer community radio station 5UV will convert to FM after 29 years on the AM band.
The new open narrowcasting services will be for Adelaide and the Barossa Valley.
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved a number of conversions from AM to FM and also a number of new stations.
The conversions are in British Columbia.
They are those of
*CKEK-AM, Cranbrook, which is to be replaced by a new 1600 watt FM offering an adult contemporary hits music format and also broadcasting a minimum of 125 hours of local programming each week;
*of CICF-AM, Vernon, which is to be replaced by a new 46,000 watts FM offering an contemporary hit radio"/"hot adult contemporary" music format;
*of CKCI-AM, Parksville, which is to be replace by a new 960 watt FM continuing CKCI's coverage of local news and events, and airing of local programming.
New licences include:
* a low-power English language 1.5 watt tourist information service for Pigeon River Border Crossing, Ontario;
*a new developmental English-language 5 watt FM at Hanover, Ontario; a new 1.4 watt developmental English-language FM at Little Current, Ontario;
To allow the new commercial service will require a frequency change to a translator for existing commercial service 5SSA and a frequency change for community service 5CST.
Of the five planned new licences, two will be for Adelaide-wide community services and the three others will be for local communities in the Adelaide Foothills, Port Adelaide and the Barossa Valley; in addition, pioneer community radio station 5UV will convert to FM after 29 years on the AM band.
The new open narrowcasting services will be for Adelaide and the Barossa Valley.
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved a number of conversions from AM to FM and also a number of new stations.
The conversions are in British Columbia.
They are those of
*CKEK-AM, Cranbrook, which is to be replaced by a new 1600 watt FM offering an adult contemporary hits music format and also broadcasting a minimum of 125 hours of local programming each week;
*of CICF-AM, Vernon, which is to be replaced by a new 46,000 watts FM offering an contemporary hit radio"/"hot adult contemporary" music format;
*of CKCI-AM, Parksville, which is to be replace by a new 960 watt FM continuing CKCI's coverage of local news and events, and airing of local programming.
New licences include:
* a low-power English language 1.5 watt tourist information service for Pigeon River Border Crossing, Ontario;
*a new developmental English-language 5 watt FM at Hanover, Ontario; a new 1.4 watt developmental English-language FM at Little Current, Ontario;