October 2005 Archive
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RNW October comment - Wonders whether convergence is really here and what it means for radio if so..
RNW September comment - Looks at what was and - more importantly - didn't seem to be on the agenda at the 2005 NAB Radio Show.
RNW August comment - Could making choices too easy lead to narrower minds? We wonder what the effect of technology that makes it easy to listen to just what you "want" could have a wider effect in narowing minds and also affect broadcasters, who cannot narrow down to the same degree.
2005-10-31: This week we start our look at print comment on media with two comments on Infinity and its capabilities or rather deficiencies. The first was a comment from Rafer Guzman of Newsday (published in the Los Angeles Times) on its Jack-FM format as introduced in New York
Headed "'Jack' radio too white for New York?" Guzman's notes that though Jack may have failed for now in New York - the station was in 22nd place in the latest ratings compared to a top-ten spot for predecessor oldies WCBS-FM - the Jack FM reincarnation of KCBS -FM in Los Angeles did much better and was top rated in the 25-54 demographic.
The reason for the difference suggests Guzman may be in the mix of music: He postulates the theory: "In a city filled with racial diversity and music that crosses racial divides, Jack sounds pretty darn white" and says that what an audience elsewhere might want won't necessarily go down well in New York.
After commenting on the New York of the 80s and its musical tastes, Guzman says, "Even now, New York is largely defined by rhythm-based music" and ends by concluding, "Listening to Jack for an hour, it's clear that the station is positively afraid of rap. But maybe a little less Rick Springfield and a little more Slick Rick is all it needs."
Infinity also got it in the neck, and rather more bluntly, from Robert Feder in the Chicago Sun-Times: Writing of the replacement for Howard Stern, he says "The geniuses at Infinity Broadcasting had more than a year to find a replacement for Howard Stern as morning personality at WCKG-FM. So what did they do in all that time? They bungled "Mancow" Muller, alienated Jonathon Brandmeier, overlooked Mike North, rejected Eddie & Jobo, disregarded Bob Sirott, stiffed Garry Meier, ignored Steve Cochran and lost Kevin Matthews."
…"Instead of all those options -- or any others worthy of Chicago -- they decided to go with some dog from Cleveland named Rover."
After giving a little more detail of Rover - real name Shane French - and quoting clevescene.com as saying, "Let's get one thing out of the way: He's not Howard Stern…" Feder sets Rover's success firmly as in Cleveland and goes on to quote Tom Taylor, editor of Inside Radio, on tough times ahead for the newcomer.
"Unlike David Lee Roth or Adam Carolla -- or the returning Johnny B. -- Rover comes into the ultra-competitive Chicago morning contest with no name recognition," said Taylor. "Cleveland's a long way from Chicago. Big challenge! They'll need to do some creative marketing, and Rover's got to bring his 'A' game."
The (Howard) Stern factor also featured in an article by Bill Swarts headed "Radio Daze" in Smartmoney. "His impending January switch to subscription satellite service Sirius Satellite Radio," writes Swarts, "leaves traditional, or terrestrial, radio executives on edge as they wait to see how many of his 12 million listeners make the switch."
Swarts then notes the other threats such as the Internet and iPods and quotes Frederick Moran, an analyst with Stanford Group in Houston, as saying, "A year ago, most any radio CEO would have told you [these things were] having almost no impact. But today, we don't believe they could make that claim. We think what has happened to terrestrial radio is completely analogous to what happened to terrestrial broadcast when cable burst on the scene a couple of decades ago. This is the first time radio is seeing competition other than themselves and other established media."
Swartz goes on to say that Stern's move is causing jitters with terrestrial ratings flat compared to an expected doubling of subscribers by Sirius and continue, "And because of the ratings troubles, stations are beginning to lose their pricing power for ads. The traditional powers are making adjustments - trying everything from reduced commercial loads to the new iPod-like "Jack" format, which plays songs from different musical eras and genres randomly."
And on the impact of trimming back on commercials… "But while less may be more in the long run, Clear Channel's short-term profit outlook could be summed up as less is less… We think Clear Channel stock is dead for now," says Moran. "In 2006, Clear Channel can have a good chance to grow as much as the whole radio industry, not underperform it. With these [ad] inventory cuts, I would hope they can outperform it and steal market share from the other [companies] that haven't cut their inventories."
In the UK, radio seems to have a better reputation, largely because of the BBC and its strengths and in his London Times "Radio head" column on Saturday Chris Campling notes a change in the pattern of television picking up ideas from radio and appropriating the credits.
"But times are changing, writes Campling. "Radio is becoming a fame magnet. 'Real' actors have long fallen over themselves to stand in front of a microphone and emote - try not to miss Troilus and Cressida (BBC Radio 3. And we have grown semi-accustomed to stars of the visual media popping up like zits on the body audio in a narrator capacity… But who would have thought until recently that someone as synonymous with TV as Dawn French would be appearing in her own six-part radio comedy series? Because she is. Called Mastering the Universe, it begins on Wednesday on Radio 4.
Campling opines that the series could "just be a tryout, a six-week stab at seeing whether a skit about behavioural scientists is a boat that could float on television" …" Or it could be that French really fancies doing some radio."
That thought leads him onto competition and he proffers praise to Sally Phillips who last year took the main role of Clare in the radio spin-off of the newspaper cartoon strip Clare in the Community.
" Not only did the programme achieve the near-impossible task of making social workers funny, " writes Campling, "but Phillips was fantastic as Clare, the sanctimonious hypocrite who gave every impression of caring without actually doing so... The good news is that she's back on Friday on Radio 4. French may just live to regret choosing this week to go radio. "
And finally before going on to suggested listening, a cue from- UK Times ; and the Roland White's UK Sunday Times Radio Waves column for one of them - the BBC Radio 4 comedy "The Bits In Between": The comedy concerns continuity announcers and Roland White in the UK Sunday Times includes an anecdote from BBC Radio 4 announcer Peter Jefferson.
"I was on duty when Princess Anne was shot at in the Mall," Jefferson recalls. "There was a play on at the time, and it was a bit tricky to find a good place to interrupt. But I managed to fade it out and make the announcement."
But unfortunately for Jefferson, he had not been able to find out what happened next in the play. "The very first words as we faded back were, 'Roll up, roll up, six shots a penny.'"
So for listening we start with drama and comedy: Troilus and Cressida as already noted was on BBC Radio 3 -in the Drama on Sunday slot; The Bits in Between is at 23:00 GMT tomorrow night on BBC Radio 4 and last week's episode will be available on the web site until then; and Clare in the Community starts its new series on Friday at 11:30 GMT.
To fill up the store a little more you could also consider the News Quiz (18:30 GMT on Friday on BBC Radio 4 and last week's episode will be on the site until then) and on Saturday on BBC Radio 2 the lunchtime comedy hour commences at 13:00 GMT with Clive Anderson's Comedy Revolutions, the first in a six-part series looking at the history of modern comedy. Included this week are examples of the work of Tony Hancock, Peter Sellers, Frankie Howerd, Stan Freberg, Bob Monkhouse, Bob Hope, and Wayne and Schuster.
For documentary and reportage we'd suggest a trio from Radio 4 - last week's featured reporting from American journalist Tim Egan following up on stories of some of those evacuated from New Orleans to New Mexico - the immediate generosity they received didn't stop people from wanting to go back and, also from Radio 4 in last week's Archive Hour slot "The Sound of America, the Story of NPR" in which Joe Queenan took a look at the past 35 years of American history through the news reports and documentaries produced by US National Public Radio.
For musical documentary, we'd suggest from Radio 4 "The Sunday Best" slot last week that told the story of the song "I Will Survive" and Radio 2 on Wednesday when the latest Classic Single - the fifth in an eight part series airs at 22:00 GMT.
For Canadians or those interested in Canadian music, BBC Radio 2 in "The Maple Music Revolution" last Saturday began a two-part series that concludes this Saturday (20:30 to 21:30 GMT).
Then more disturbing documentary, courtesy of BBC World Service which last Wednesday aired the second of Alan Little's three-part Return to Sarajevo series and, disturbing in a different way (The final part airs from Wednesday), The Law Report on Australia's Radio National that last week featured a farmer whose canola crop was contaminated with genetically modified seeds but - unlike a Canadian case where Monsanto company won a case against a farmer who it claimed had pirated its genetically modified seed - has problems getting any compensation for his losses.
Previous Campling:
Previous Columnists:
Previous Feder:
Previous White:
Chicago Sun-Times - Feder:
Los Angeles Times - Guzman:
Smart Money - -Swarts:
UK Sunday Times - - White:
UK Times - Campling:
2005-10-31: Clear Channel, in an amended filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, says it is to offer 35 million class A shares in wholly-owned subsidiary Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc.'s Initial Public Offering, at an anticipated price of USD 20-22 with underwriters Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank Securities, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch and UBS each being given the right to buy a further 5.25 million shares to cover over allotments.
Clear Channel says it expected to pay the net USD 700 million - up to around USD 885 million should all the additional options be taken up - to reduce debt: It is to retain ownership of all the Outdoor subsidiary's B shares that comprise around 90% of the company. The shares will be issued on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CCO
Previous Clear Channel:
2005-10-31: Former ABC Sydney radio host Sally Loane, who quitted the corporation when she found out that it was planning to replace her (See RNW Aug 8) has taken a public relations post with Coca Cola Amatil, the non-alcoholic beverages company that is the sole licensee of Coca-Cola products in Australia.
She will start as its director of media and public affairs in January and will report to group managing director Terry Davis.
Previous ABC, Australia:
Previous Loane:
2005-10-30: In volume of paperwork at least, last week was marked more by the issuing of reports and consultations by the regulators than by their making decisions.
In Australia the final reports of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and Australian Communications Authority (ACA), predecessor bodies to the current combined regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have been released: Tthat for the ABA notes that in its last year it issued one new commercial FM - the Melbourne licence that went to DMG for AUD 52 million (then USD 37 million) in August 2004 (See RNW Aug 13, 2004) 20 community radio services and thirty-eight open narrowcasting radio licences.
It also noted the decision to continue digital radio trials using the Eureka 147 DAB system in Sydney and Melbourne.
The full document is in three PDF files a 1.96 MB 84 page Introduction and main report plus two appendices totalling 4.12 MB - 137 pages.
More recently the ACMA has fined Melbourne narrowcaster Street Nations for operating a low power open narrowcasting service at above the permitted power (See RNW Oct 27) and has also opted not to issue a permanent community licence for Alice Springs for at least a year.
ACMA says it received two applications for the licence - from 8CCC Community Radio Inc and CRACA Community Radio Association of Central Australia Inc - but had decided, "neither applicant merits the licence." The situation is to be reviewed again in 12 months with a view to re-advertising the permanent licence and in the meantime the frequency will be made available for temporary community broadcasts.
In Canada in contrast the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was more busy with routine work including, in order of province:
British Columbia:
*Revocation of licence for CJCI-AM, Prince George, at the licensee's request following successful conversion to FM.
New Brunswick:
Approval of power increase form 22,000 watts to 50,000 watts and antenna height increase for CBAF-FM, Moncton.
Ontario:
*Approval of transmitter relocation and decrease in antenna height for CHUR-FM, North Bay.
The Commission has also issued a pubic notice regarding a number of applications for which the deadline for comment is December 2 including the following radio applications:
Alberta:
*Application to increase the power of CFBR-FM, Edmonton, from 64,000 watts to an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts, by increasing the antenna height and by relocating the transmitter.
New Brunswick:
*Application to add a 1.4-watt FM transmitter at Edmunston for CIEL-FM, Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec.
Ontario:
*Application to renew the licence of tourist information station CJRN-FM, Niagara Falls.
*Application to renew the licence of commercial station CFLZ-FM, Niagara Falls.
*Application to use frequency 104.7 MHz for low-power English-language tourist information FM in Ottawa approved in June this year.
In Ireland there were no radio licence decisions from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) but the Commission has published details of the first funding round of 'Sound & Vision', the country's Broadcasting Funding Scheme that has recently received European Commission approval regarding state aid and competition rules.
Applications are now being sought for the production of new radio and television programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience, and adult literacy. The scheme is open to individuals, independent producers, production companies and broadcasters and is funded by 5% of Ireland's television licence fee fund. This equates to approximately Euros 8 million (USD 9.65 million) a year.
In the UK, Ofcom has been busy issuing various reports and consultations.
They included
*Consultation document relating to determination who "controls" a newspaper or broadcaster (23 page 119KB PDF). The deadline for responses is January 5 next year.
*" Amateur Radio Licensing Consultation Research" report commissioned from MORI concerning licensing of amateur radio operators (64 Page 1.39 MB)
*"Technology Research Programme: Research and Development at Ofcom 2004/05" - (88page 1.81 MB PDF).
The research involved in the latter is divided into three areas:
*Understanding and furthering emerging technologies, such as Software Defined Radio and Smart Antennas. This will allow Ofcom to develop an appropriate regulatory environment to enable future developments.
* Understanding the state and use of the spectrum, by monitoring its quality and usage. This will allow Ofcom to look at ways of enhancing efficiency and ensure that spectrum is not becoming progressively polluted by interference.
* Enhancing spectrum efficiency, for example looking at options for improving the use of spectrum by existing radar systems. This will help to ensure there is sufficient spectrum to allow for the envisaged growth in usage.
Ofcom also issued its latest complaints bulletin, upholding no complaints against radio (See RNW Oct 29).
In the US the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed a USD 2,400 penalty on a Tennessee AM for failing to register its tower (See RNW Oct 27) and also discussed the issue of Emergency Alert Systems at its monthly Open Meeting (See RNW Oct 25).
Previous ACMA:
Previous BCI:
Previous CRTC:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous Ofcom:
ACMA web site:
BCI web site:
CRTC web site:
FCC web site:
Ofcom web site:
2005-10-30: Toronto-headquartered CHUM Limited has announced in conjunction with the release of its fourth quarter and fiscal 2005 results that founder Allan Waters has stepped down from its board after more than 50 years with the company and has been named an honorary director.
He began his broadcasting career in 1954 with the purchase of 1050 CHUM in Toronto, which he turned into Canada's first top 40 radio station. Waters, who now spends most of his time in Florida, stepped down from his former roles of CHUM chairman and President in 2002 although he remained on the board.
His son Jim, CHUM's current chairman, said in a tribute, "This company has been my father's passion for over 50 years and it is his guiding hand that has made us what we are today. He laid the foundations for the principles in which this company is rooted and by which we continue to operate."
CHUM president and CEO Jay Switzer added, "It was a privilege to have worked with Allan Waters for many years and an honour to have succeeded him as President of CHUM Limited. His leadership, integrity and profound business judgment have set an example that we carry with us into the future."
Waters left the company on a mixed note as revenues rose 12% on a year earlier to CAD 638.4 million (USD 542.3 million) but overall figures were hit by a CAD 6 million (USD 5.1 million) loss in the third quarter in which CHUM entered a CAD 9.4 million (USD 7.9 million) write down of its assets and also cited an increase in royalties paid to artists.
Of the write down CAD 8.8 million (USD 7.5 million) represents related to advances and loans made to finance the production of Going The Distance and Charlie Jade and the rest related to a non-controlling interest in a corporate investment. The royalty increases imposed by Canada's Copyright Board - retroactive to January 1, 2003- amounted to CAD 2.6 million (USD 2.2 million) that was all entered into the final quarter figures.
For the final quarter CHUM revenues were up 15.4% to CAD 151 million (USD 128 million) but as noted it recorded a loss of CAD 6 million (USD 5.1 million -CAD 0.22 per share) compared to a CAD 8 million (USD 6.8 million- CAD 0.29 per share) profit a year earlier.
For the year, CHUM revenues as noted were up 12% earlier to CAD 638.4 million (USD 542.3 million) and profit was up 11.7% to CAD 41.4 million (USD 35.1 million - from CAD 1.35 to CAD 1.49 per share).
Within the figures TV revenues were up 13% for the year and 18.6% for the final quarter; radio revenues were up 9.5% for the year and 7.5% for the quarter; and other revenues were up 2.7% for the year and down 6% for quarter.
TV EBITDA was up 25.8% for the year but down 19.7% in the final quarter; radio EDITDA was up 17.3% for the year and down 20.7% for the quarter; and other EBITDA was a loss - 8% greater for the year and 126.4% greater for the quarter.
Commenting on the radio results, CHUM said," The radio segment recorded excellent performance in the fourth quarter and year ended August 31, 2005. The growth rate in revenue was lower in the fourth quarter than in the first three quarters of this year owing to an anomalous dip in the ratings position for CHUM-FM in the spring ratings book. CHUM-FM regained its number one position in the Toronto market in the summer ratings book. For the fiscal year, the radio segment recorded outstanding growth in EBITDA of 28.0% as a result of strong revenue growth and expense management. The Company's FM stations recorded an increase in EBITDA and losses were reduced on the Company's AM stations. EBITDA margin in fiscal 2005 increased to 37% from 31% in 2004."
Previous CHUM:
Previous Switzer:
Previous Allan Waters:
Previous Jim Waters:
2005-10-30: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) president Robert Rabinovitch has defended his eight-week lockout of 5,500 employees to Members of Parliament, re-iterating earlier comments he made in a CBC interview (See RNW Oct 19) that it was the only way to avoid a strike later when it would have been more serious for the corporation.
"Our evaluation was that the union would wait until early October, once the corporation had spent its main promotional budget launching its seasons," he told MPs on Parliament's Canadian Heritage Committee, adding, "With pent-up demand for hockey and the possibility of a fall election adding pressure, it would strike at the moment when the damage to our audience would be greatest."
Although he said the action was regrettable he insisted it was worth it although it had "has left damage to employee relations that will take time to heal."
Rabinovitch's contentions about the union's presumed timetable to action was deprecated by Arnold Amber, CBC branch president of the Canadian Media Guild who told reporters, "The fact is that by Canadian labour law, you have two months from the date of your strike mandate or you lose it
"Our deadline on that was Sept. 6 - exactly three weeks after we were locked out - all we're getting at this meeting was spin, and probably some mistruths," he added, also rejecting the argument that the union was partially responsible for the lockout.
Previous CBC:
Previous Rabinovitch:
2005-10-29: Privately held Charles River Broadcasting Co., which owns Boston classical station WRCB-FM and four other stations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island including WFCCFM on Cape Cod and WCRI-FM in Rhode Island has hired Media Services Group to explore a sale that could see the classical format relegated to a digital channel according to the Boston Globe.
The paper quotes company chairman Mary L. Marshall as saying, "It has become increasingly difficult to operate a small group of radio stations in light of general industry consolidation" and adding that WRCB has been attracting less national advertising because the advertisers prefer to deal with the radio giants.
The paper notes that in a trust document (the trust owns the majority of the company's voting stock) he drew up before his death in 1991, Theodore Jones, who started WCRB's classical format, expressed hope that the station would continue to air classical music but Marshall said it was a wish not an instruction although she added that Charles River Broadcasting would make operating a classical format on at least one of WCRB's future digital channels a ''condition of the sale out of respect for Ted."
Boston Globe report:
2005-10-29: UK media regulator Ofcom again upheld no radio complaints in its latest bulletin although it did consider three radio complaints resolved: In contrast it upheld eight TV standards complaints, upheld in part a TV fairness and privacy complaint, and considered four other TV complaints resolved.
This compares with no radio complaints upheld or resolved in its previous bulletin in which it upheld two TV complaints.
The radio cases considered resolved related to premium rate phone lines, a complaint alleging racism, and another of strong language.
The premium rate complaint involved talkSport and its omission of pricing information relating to invitation to call the station by using a 0870 number translation service (NTS), terming it a "national rate" number. Ofcom noted that while 0870 telephone numbers are not regulated as premium rate services, they can cost considerably more to call than geographic numbers but considered the matter resolved as talkSPORT had told it that it had had contacted all production staff reminding them of the information that needed to be stated on air, including relevant text charges, when inviting listeners to contact the station using PRTS.
The alleged racism complaint referred to comments made on GCap's Gemini FM, Torbay, when the presenter of a morning slot challenged a colleague on air to drive to a proposed 'Park and Ride' site where fifty travellers had recently arrived, shout "get a job" at them and then drive off. In clarifying the challenge, the presenter suggested that his colleague should first offer to sell some pegs.
The presenter had said he had intended to "be a bit cheeky and have some harmless fun".
However he had subsequently realised why his comments might be offensive and had assured the station that there would be no recurrence. He had subsequently apologised on-air for the comment and any offence it may have caused and the station acknowledged that such comments, even in jest, were not acceptable and said that it would work to avoid any recurrence.
The language complaint involved the Jo Whiley Show on BBC Radio 1 and a live interview and performance when the artist 50 Cent was questioned about an incident at a UK Festival where the crowd had thrown missiles at the stage, including bottles of urine. In his description of what happened,
50 Cent twice referred to "piss" in the bottles, and once to people "pissing" into bottles. Later during a live performance of his track 'In Da Club' the word "fuck" was used.
The BBC said 50-cents was advised by his record company and the production team to cut all strong language when performing his track 'In Da Club' and it felt the occurrence was no more than an unfortunate error on the singer's part.
It said it felt that the language used in the preceding interview was milder but nevertheless accepted that an apology should have been offered for both incidents and said Radio 1 management had made clear to the production team that should something similar happen in the future, they must respond with an apology at the first opportunity.
In addition to these complaints Ofcom listed with no details a further 136 complaints against 117 items that were rejected or held to be out of remit compared to corresponding totals of 130 complaints against 114 items in the previous bulletin.
These included 12 radio complaints relating to 12 items compared to 13 radio complaints relating to 13 items in the previous bulletin - and 124 TV complaints relating to 105items compared to 117 TV complaints relating to 101 items in the previous bulletin:
Previous Ofcom:
Previous Ofcom broadcast bulletin:
2005-10-29: The Japanese Diet (Parliament) has now passed a law that will limit the combined holdings - direct or indirect - in a domestic broadcaster by non-Japanese companies to a maximum 20% stake, extending former legislation that only limited direct holdings.
The move was made following the battle earlier this year after Internet company Livedoor Co. launched a takeover for radio operator Nippon Broadcasting System Inc (NBS) that put it into conflict with Fuji TV and the Fuji Sankei media group.
Livedoor had raised finance bonds in a JPY 80 billion (USD 765 million) agreement by issuing convertible to U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., leading to concern that the bank could have ended up with indirect control over NBS.
The fight ended with Fuji TV Network agreeing to buy all the shares in NBS that Livedoor had acquired (See RNW Apr 19) and lawmakers followed up by starting discussions on revising the country's Radio Law and Broadcast Law to prevent such foreign control (See RNW May 5).
Previous NBS:
2005-10-29: Mexican radio operator Grupo Radio Centro has reported revenues for its third quarter to the end of September of MXN 161.15 million (USD 14.89 million), up 18.1% on a year earlier and trimmed expenses by 1% helping it to convert a MXN 5.337 million (USD 493,000) net loss in the third quarter of 2004 to net income of MXN 26.748 million (USD 2.47 million).
It put the revenue improvement down mainly to increased advertising expenditure by its major clients.
For the first nine moths Grupo Radio's income is now up 7.3% on a year earlier to MXN408 million (USD 37.7 million) with net income of MXN 29.93 million (USD 2.77 million) compared to a 2004 loss for the period of MXN 71.56 million (USD 6.61 million).
Previous Grupo Radio Centro:
2005-10-29: Northern Marianas public non-commercial station KRNM-FM, based at the Northern Marianas College, has launched an appeal for listeners support to allow it to keep its schedule; it says that it raised around USD 2,600 during its Fall Pledge Drive but needs at least USD 2,000 more to keep its schedule intact.
Currently KRNM airs mainly US National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Radio International (PRI) shows received by satellite plus a mix of other syndicated shows that it is supplied without charge and ten weekly shows that are locally produced.
The NPR and PRI shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Car Talk, Fresh Air, World Café, cost the station between USD 40,000 and USD 45,000 each year in programming fees and satellite dues according to station manager Carl Pogue.
He said that if they did not receive funding they might have to switch to an all-news format using feeds from the British Broadcasting Corporation or Radio Australia.
The station also needs funds to repair a translator and for equipment to handle NPR's new satellite feed, which is to be switched to a digital signal next year and has already spent round USD 3,000 on renewal of its licence.
Saipan Tribune report:
2005-10-28: Latest UK radio ratings for the quarter to the end of September just released by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audio Research) show digital listening through DAB receivers, mobile phones, the Internet, and TV platforms on the increase.
In all more than four million people a week now listen to digital-only services, up 500,000 on the previous quarter, and more than a tenth of adults own a digital receiver: In addition RAJAR says 35% of adults say they have now listened to radio on digital TV and nearly a fifth tune into radio on a digital TV platform at least once a week, up 15% on a year ago and 28.3% say they have listened to a station via the Internet with 13.5% saying they have listened to a UK national station, and 6.1% say they have listened via their cell phones.
The overall picture was of good news for the BBC, which took its share to a record 54.6% of listening, 11.1% over commercial rivals, and bad news for GCap in the London market where its flagship 95.8 Capital FM was completely toppled from top rank for the first time in its 32 year history; Chrysalis's Heart FM, which had in the past toppled Capital in listening but not reach has now taken the double crown with Capital in second place ahead of Emap's Magic FM in reach but third in listening share.
GCap's shares which closed at 328 pence on Wednesday, fell to 311 at one point on the news before recovering a little to end the day 3.96% down at 315 pence.
Overall the BBC recorded 32.8 million people listening to it weekly, a little below its record 33,2 million in 2003, whilst commercial stations lost 500,000 listeners a week to end up with 30.7 million.
One bright spot for commercial radio came from Scotland where Guardian Media Group's Real Radio overtook BBC Radio Scotland to take the most-listened to crown with 9.1 million hours week compared to 8.3 million hours for the BBC station, despite the fact that the latter covers the whole country and Real only central Scotland. In reach the BBC retained the lead with a weekly audience of 966,000 whilst GMG's Real only has 733,000.
Commenting on the BBC performance, Director BBC Radio & Music Jenny Abramsky highlighted Radio 1's performance and that of digital stations, saying, "I'm very pleased to see Chris Moyles continuing to contribute to Radio 1's success. I'm also delighted to see the growth of digital radio across the industry, which proves that radio remains relevant and appealing to young and old listeners in the digital age."
Moyles breakfast show has added 360,000 listeners a week over a year ago to reach a total of 6.5 million and in London he has overtaken Johnny Vaughan's total for Capital Radio, giving the BBC a One (BBC Radio 4 Today), Two (Terry Wogan on Radio 2), Three (Moyles on Radio 1) ranking.
GCap on the company web site played down the bad news and highlighted its leading roles as a group and in London, where its stations together have a 35% reach, and operator of the Classic FM national franchise, but Chief Executive Ralph Bernard said in a terse note, "These are disappointing but not unanticipated results. Addressing audience issues is a key focus for GCap. This was the rationale behind our recent cost restructure, which will enable us to target reinvestment in our priority areas."
Chrysalis commented, "This has been a strong survey for Chrysalis overall, with total weekly hours for Chrysalis Radio now at 53.6m, up 7% year on year" and Radio chief executive Phil Riley highlighted the Heart breakfast show, saying, "This is an excellent set of results demonstrating not only the great appeal of the new Jamie Theakston breakfast show, but also the strength and depth across the Heart schedule."
Emap emphasised the performance of its Magic station in London, which it notes is the only commercial station in London's top three to show growth across reach, share and hours over the last year and that has become the Capital's second most listened to commercial radio station - it had a 5.3 share compared to 6.4 for Heart and 5.1 for Capital but was third in reach with 1.71 million listeners a week compared to 1.91 million for Heart and 1.8 million for Capital.
UK commercial radio industry body, the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) brushed over the BBC results in its reaction in which highlighted national commercial radio as achieving a "record market share and adding that the commercial radio audience of 30.7 million a week "rises to over 37 million when you take 4 to 14 year olds into account."
It noted that commercial radio takes a "72% share of listening among 4-14 year olds and 60% among 15-24s", that national commercial radio "buoyed by new digital services" had achieved "an all-time high 10.5% share of all listening this quarter" and that "62% of the adult population listen to Commercial Radio every week with average hours listened up by 1% to 15.2 hours every week."
CRCA Research and Communications Manager Alison Winter noted the boost from digital and added, "Advertisers, too, will be happy to see our Housewife audience spending record hours with Commercial Radio while the time-pressed younger generation (15-24) have listened both in greater numbers and for longer to Commercial Radio this quarter."
Within the figures, compared to the previous quarter (and year):
*BBC Radio 1 gained 87,000 listeners to end with a weekly audience of 10.329 million and a listening share of 9.4%, up from 9.2% (8.6% a year ago when it had 287,000 fewer listeners).
*BBC Radio 2 lost 412,000 listeners to end with a weekly audience of 12.859 million and a listening share of 15.6%, down from 16.0% (16.1% a year ago, when it had an audience of 13.060 million)
*BBC Radio 3, helped by the Proms, gained 154,000 listeners to end with a weekly audience of 2.067 million and an unchanged listening share of 1.2%, up from 1.1% (1.1% a year ago, when it had an audience of 2.072 million).
*BBC Radio 4 gained 29,000 listeners to end with a weekly audience of 9.621 million and a listening share of 11.5%, up from 11.4% (11.3% a year ago when it had an audience of 9.422 million).
*BBC Radio 5 Live, excluding Sports Extra, gained 375,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 6.052 million, and a listening share of 4.6%, up from 4.6% (4.9% a year ago when it had a weekly audience of 6.398 million).
(Including Sports Extra it gained 422,000 listeners to end with a weekly audience of 6.170 million and a listening share of 4.7%, up from 4.6% (5.0% a year ago when it a weekly audience of 6.472 million).
*BBC World Service gained 277,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 1.421 million and an listening share of 0.70%, up from 0.6% (0.6% a year ago when it had a weekly audience of 1.365 million).
*BBC Asian Network gained 84,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 524,000 and a listening share of 0.3%, up from 0.2% (0.4% a year ago when it had a weekly audience of 473,000).
On the commercial side for national networks:
*G-Cap's Classic FM lost 468,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 5.842 million and a listening share of 4.1% down from 4.3% (4.2% a year ago when it had a weekly audience of 6.145 million).
* talkSPORT, now owned by UTV, lost 212,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 2.090 million and an unchanged listening share of 1.8% (1.7% a year ago when it had a weekly audience of 2.182 million)
*SMG-owned Virgin (total including all AM and FM but not its digital only new stations Virgin Radio Classic Rock and Virgin Radio Groove) gained 101,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 2.511 million and an unchanged listening share of 1.5% (1.5% a year ago when it had a weekly audience of 2.598 million).
Digital national commercial networks:
*Core gained 24,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 113,000, too small for share to be rated- a year ago it had 142,000, still to small for share to be rated.
*Kerrang! gained 219,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 1.214 million and a listening share up from 0.4% to 0.5%. (0.5% a year ago when its weekly audience was 1.017 million)
*Oneword lost 11,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 129,000, too small for share to be listed. A year ago it's audience was 115,000
*Planet Rock lost 41,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 341,000, with an unchanged share of 0.2% (0.1% a year ago, when it had a weekly audience of 231,000)
*Q gained 87,000listeners to end with a weekly audience of 448,000 and a share of 0.2%, up from 0.1% (0.1% a year ago when its audience was 321,000).
*Smash Hits gained 148,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 788,000 and an unchanged listening share of 0.2% (0.2% a year ago, when its weekly audience was 724,000).
*The Hits gained 187,000 to end up with a weekly audience of 971,000 and an unchanged listening share of 0.3% (0.2% a year ago when its weekly audience was 880,000).
*The Storm gained 10,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 76,000, to small for share to be rate, as was the case a year ago when its audience was 80,000.
*Sunrise gained 18,000 listeners to end up with a weekly audience of 485,000 and share up from 0.3% to 0.4% (0.4% a year ago when its weekly audience was 512,000)
Previous Abramsky:
Previous BBC:
Previous Bernard:
Previous Chrysalis:
Previous CRCA:
Previous Emap:
Previous G-CAP (Capital FM and Classic FM owner):
Previous GMG:
Previous RAJAR:
Previous RAJAR ratings:
Previous Riley:
Previous SMG (Owns Virgin):
Previous UTV (talkSPORT owner):
RAJAR web site (links to quarterly reports):
2005-10-28: XM Satellite Radio has posted third quarter results showing revenue up significantly and reconfirmed its guidance of six million subscribers by the end of the year but its loss was also up.
XM revenue more than doubled - up 134% from USD 65.4 million last year to USD 153.1 million, of which USD 140 million came from subscription revenue and USD 5.3 million from net advertising sales.
Its operating costs also more than doubled - from USD 48 million to USD105 million - and the third quarter net loss was up from USD 118 million a year earlier to USD 131.9 million with EBITDA loss up from of USD 62.9 million to USD 73.8 million.
XM added 617,152 subscribers, a 48 percent increase over the 415,671 net subscribers added in the third quarter 2004, to end with 5,034,642 subscribers, just more than double the 2,516,023 subscribers a year earlier.
XM has again cuts its subscriber acquisition costs - down from USD 57 a year ago to USD 53 but said the Cost Per Gross Addition (CPGA) remained stable at USD 89: Chairman Gary Parsons said that nearly six in ten of those who received an XM trial subscription signed up at the end of the period and XM says that between them GM and Honda will produce more than 2 million 2006 XM-equipped vehicles.
Previous Parson:
Previous XM:
2005-10-28: Standard Broadcasting, which is a partner in Sirius Canada, and Score Media, owner of The Score Television Network, a national sports news specialty TV service for Canada, have announced a partnership to launch a Canadian all-sports channel, The Score, that will be part of the Sirius Canada package.
The schedule is yet to be announced but the channel is to include The Score's TV personalities, and
Standard Broadcasting President and CEO Gary Slaight said the relationship "demonstrates the leadership of both organizations in the ever-changing broadcast environment," and added, "We wanted to provide Canadian sports fans with the leading all sports channel and with the success of The Score on television it was a natural evolution."
Previous Sirius Canada:
Previous Slaight:
Previous Standard:
2005-10-28: According to the Savannah Morning News Cumulus-owned Savannah News-Talk WBMQ-AM has suspended morning host Ben Bennett although General Manager Dale Powers refused to confirm the suspension and said the host would be back on Monday next week.
The paper says sources say the suspension followed on-air comments critical of CBS news and noted that the station is a CBS affiliate.
Bennett, real name Anthony Crystal, is also involved in a lawsuit in which a Chatham County Commissioner Harris Odell Jr. is suing him, Cumulus and the station; Odell alleges Crystal called him a "thief" for failing to file and pay his property taxes.
Previous Cumulus:
Savannah Morning News report:
2005-10-27: According to Reuters, Disney is holding off the sale of its ABC radio division because it hasn't yet settled on what parts it wants to sell and also because it is waiting for the sale of Susquehanna Media's 33 stations to be wrapped up.
The agency says sources say Disney is aiming to make its decisions by Thanksgiving but the process has been held back because several potential bidders, including Cumulus, are also involved in bids for Susquehanna and adds that the sources say that Cumulus, with backing from private equity firms Blackstone Group and Bain Capital, is in the final stages of a deal to buy Susquehanna's radio stations for around USD 1.2 billion.
It adds that Cumulus is also mulling a private equity-backed investment in ABC Radio, which could set it in competition for the assets with other bidders thought to include Citadel, Emmis and Entercom. The biggest point of contention, adds Reuters, is the price to be set on ABC Radio, which Disney wants for tax reasons to structure as a spin-off to be followed by a merger with the winning bidder that would give Disney shareholders at least half of the merged company.
The sources said the price for ABC Radio could range from USD 2.5 billion to more than USD 3 billion, depending on whether divisions such as ESPN Radio are included.
Previous Disney-ABC:
Reuters report:
2005-10-27: According to the UK Guardian, Macquarie Bank, which is building up a media portfolio, is thought to be considering a bid for G-Cap Media, the UK's largest radio group, which is already reported to be in the sights of private equity firms Cinven and Permira (See RNW Oct 18).
Macquarie which has already built up a regional radio business in its native Australia (See RNW Oct 5) has been involved in a number of bids for UK FM licences as well as buying NTL's UK transmission business last year for GBP 1.3 billion (USD 2.3 billion) and BBC Broadcast for GBP 166 million (then USD 303 million in June - See RNW Jun 26).
The paper quoted Paul Richards, a media analyst at Numis as saying, "Macquarie have been very aggressive. If venture capitalists are getting involved in GCap then Macquarie is the type of firm we'd expect to be interested. And Tim Schoonmaker [former EMAP Performance Chief Executive who has headed the UK licence bids] is the obvious candidate to run a radio company ... he really knows the radio industry."
Schoonmaker told the paper he had nothing to do with any such bid and added that he was "heading up the bids for new licences from Ofcom and that's all."
Previous GCap Media:
Previous Macquarie:
Previous Schoonmaker:
UK Guardian report:
2005-10-27: Latest online listening figures from the BBC show on demand listening to BBC radio in September of 5.16 million hours, up 7.24% on August and 51% on a year earlier but live listening at 10.78 million hours was down 1.46% month-on-month although on a year earlier it was up by 72%.
Total listening was up 1.33% month-on-month and 64.25% on a year earlier and of the BBC radio networks the largest month-on-month gain was by Radio Five Live with 40% whilst Five Live Sports Extra was at the other end of the range with a fall of 47%.
Radio 2, which overall is the most listened to UK radio station increased its month-on-month listening by 11.6% whilst BBC Radio 4 took its online listening up by 11.6%.
The BBC noted that Chris Evans, in his first two weeks on air at Radio 2, generated 40,000 on- demand stream requests and 28,000 downloads of the programme highlights (speech only) in MP3 format. It also notes that a world-exclusive first play of Kate Bush's new single, King of the Mountain, contributed to a record 80,000 on-demand listens to Radio 2's Ken Bruce show.
In terms of network listening in September this year, the rankings were - Total listening hours-live plus on-demand and percentage change compared to August then to September 2004:
Radio 1 - 4,228,673 + 2.9%; + 50.7%
Radio 2 - 2,961,387 + 11.6%; +52.4%.
Radio 4 - 2,623,027 +22.1%; +56.7%.
Radio 5 Live - 1,408,562 + 40.2%% +98.3%.
*Radio Five Live was sixth in August
BBC 7 - 1,343,355 + 0.8%; +96%
5 Live Sports Xtra - 1,062,724 + -47.2%; + 377.5%.
*5 Live Sports Extra was fourth in August.
Radio 3 - 735,632 + 3.0%; + 54.6%
6 Music - 640,483 + 5.7%; 23.4%.
1Xtra - 510,620 -2.3%; +2.1%.
Asian Network 214,890 + 3.7%; + 38.8%.
The top five on-demand programmes in September were:
1- The BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers with 572,737 listens in September, up 47.8% on August, aided by strong storylines.
2 - Chris Moyles on BBC Radio 1 with 448,374listens in September, up 14.6 % on August.
3 - Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 with 196,290 listens in September, down 24.5% on August but up a rank.
4 The Afternoon Play on BBC Radio 4 with 169,418 listens in September, up 14.5% and from sixth.
5 - The Essential Selection on BBC Radio 1 with 148,948 listens in September, down 51.6 % on August and down from third.
* Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1, who was fifth in August with 156,886 listens, dropped to 14th in September with 94,946.
Previous BBC:
Previous BBC Online figures:
Previous Evans:
2005-10-27: XM Satellite Radio says General Motors is to build 1.55 Million Vehicles with Factory-Installed XM Satellite Radio in 2006, up from 1.4 million vehicles in 2005 and 1.17 million in 2004.
In all around 90% of GM's U.S. retail models are to offer factory-installed XM as standard or as an option.
Previous XM:
2005-10-27: Melbourne company Street Nation Pty Ltd has been fined AUD 12,000 plus AUD 4,400 in costs (USD 12,400 in total) for exceeding the allowed power for its low power open narrowcasting (LPON) service in a case brought by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Other LPON operators had complained of interference during 2003 and ACMA issued several warnings and a penalty but the offences continued to the Authority took the matter to court where it was found guilty of three offences and fined AUD 4,000 (USD 3,000) for each offence.
LPON services in Australia provide niche FM radio broadcasting services to a limited reception area of programming such as racing and tourist information, ethnic broadcasting, information services, musical and religious programming.
Previous ACMA:
2005-10-27: The US Federal Communications Comission (FCC) has confirmed a USD 2,400 penalty on a Tennessee AM for failing to register its tower.
CB Radio Inc, licensee of WBEJ-AM, Elizabethton, had sought cancellation of the penalty - already reduced from USD 3,000 - on the basis that it had sought to register the tower but could not because the Commission did not respond to its inquiries and the registration process was within the control of the Commission, and not with the company.
The FCC noted that it had made the reduction because of efforts made to register but refused further reduction.
On a more positive note, the FCC has now extended the same concessions that it granted to broadcasters after Hurricane Katrina relating to erection of temporary antennas, allowing AM station to broadcast at daytime power at nighttime with non-commercial emergency messages, and extension of riling and regulatory deadlines to licensees affected by Hurricane Wilma
Previous FCC:
2005-10-27: BBC Radio 1 has appointed George Ergatoudis, currently Music Manager at Radio 1's digital sister station 1Xtra, as its Head Of Music in succession to Alex Jones-Donelly, who left the station in August to join EMI.
In his new role he will be responsible for the station's play list and music policy, giving him great power over the future of bands. He began his career as a trainee producer at Radio 1 some 16 years ago and has been at the BBC since apart from a six-year break from 1991 to 1997 when he worked at Emap's Kiss FM, amongst other things producing Steve Jackson's breakfast show that took the 1998 Sony Breakfast DJ Gold Award.
He then returned to Radio 1 as a producer before taking his current role.
Radio 1 Controller Andy Parfitt said of the appointment, "George has all the right skills, great experience and a strong reputation in radio and music. I am convinced that he will be able to lead Radio 1's music team and build on the station's world-class reputation for discovering and supporting new UK music."
Ergatoudis commented, "This is an amazing opportunity for me. It's a very exciting time in music and a commitment to breaking new music will be at the heart of my remit."
Previous BBC:
Previous Parfitt:
2005-10-26: Infinity has put an end to the rumours surrounding its plans after Howard Stern leaves - his last live show will be on December 16 - with the announcement that it is launching what it terms the "Free FM" format on nine stations and has named David Lee Roth and Adam Carolla as morning drive hosts on various other stations that currently air Stern. Shane "Rover" French will take over in Chicago and the Mid-west.
The Free FM format has already been launched on KIFR-FM, San Francisco (formerly KEAR-FM), WYSP-FM Philadelphia, and KPLN-FM, San Diego.
The WYSP web site introduced the new format to its listeners, using the words of Infinity chairman and CEO Joel Hollander in a news release, as "a new format created by Infinity that features an eclectic mix of personalities whose distinct creativity, perspective, sense of humour, intellect and unpredictability do not fall under the guiding principles of any particular narrowcast theme or ideology" and continues, " An entertaining hybrid of provocative, political, pop culture, news, music and lifestyle formats, Infinity's next generation of FM stations are personified by their conviction, passion, originality, fearlessness and innovation, which are not heard anywhere else on the radio."
Infinity has also re-branded WHFS-FM, Baltimore; WCKG-FM, Chicago; KLLI-FM, Dallas; WKRK-FM, Detroit; KLSX-FM, Los Angeles; and WJFK-FM, Washington, D.C., as Free FM outlets.
The two replacement shows will take to the air from January 3, 2006, with Carolla airing on home station KLSX-FM; KIFR-FM; KPLN-FM; KXTE-FM, Las Vegas; KZON-FM, Phoenix; and KUFO-FM, Portland; and Roth on home station WXRK-FM, New York; WBCN-FM Boston, WNCX-FM. Cleveland; KLLI-FM; WYSP-FM; WRKZ-FM Pittsburgh; and WPBZ-FM, West Palm Beach.
In addition to the morning host appointments, Infinity says it has signed late night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel as an advisor for Infinity to assist in the development of new talent and show ideas and as creative consultant for The Adam Carolla Show and that Penn Jillette is to host a one-hour daily talk show in various cities including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Other hosts who gain from the change include Rover, currently heard on WXTM-FM, Cleveland, and WAZU-FM, Columbus; he adds WCKG-FM, Chicago; WKRK-FM, Detroit; WAQZ-FM, Cincinnati; WMFS-FM, Memphis; and WZNE-FM Rochester and WJFK-FM's The Junkies who add WHFS.
Hollander added of the overall changes, "When we set out to find a replacement for Howard Stern we took the opportunity to cultivate a wide array of talent, from both in and out of the radio industry. With Roth, we've found someone who continues to evolve his career and deliver for his legion of fans. Adam's depth of entertainment experience is unmatched in radio. And Jimmy has a proven track record of creating winning shows for both radio and television. Couple that with an impressive roster of emerging talent and formats and we have all the necessary elements for Infinity to continue as the major player in morning drive."
Infinity's complete list of Stern outlets together with planned formats (an asterisk indicates a format change) is:
Austin - KXBT-FM Star & Buc Wild/Rhythmic CHR
Baltimore - WHFS-FM The Junkies/ Free FM/Alternative Rock
Boston - WBCN-FM, David Lee Roth/Active Rock
Buffalo - WBUF-FM Jack-FM
Chicago - WCKG-FM Rover/ Free FM
Cincinnati - WAQZ-FM Rover/Alternative Rock
Cleveland - WNCX-FM David Lee Roth/Classic Rock
Dallas - KLLI-FM David Lee Roth/ Free FM
Detroit - WKRK-FM Rover/ Free FM
Fresno - KKDG-FM Jack-FM
Houston - KIKK-AM CNN Radio News
Las Vegas - KXTE-FM Adam Carolla/Alternative Rock
Los Angeles - KLSX-FM Adam Carolla/ Free FM
Memphis - WMFS-FM Rover/Alternative Rock
New York - WXRK-FM David Lee Roth/ Free FM (*)
Orland - WOCL - Drew and Mel - Alternative Rock
Philadelphia - WYSP-FM David Lee Roth/ Free FM (*)
Phoenix - KZON-FM Adam Carolla/Alternative Rock
Pittsburgh - WRKZ-FM David Lee Roth/Active Rock
Portland - KUFO-FM Adam Carolla/Active Rock
Rochester - WZNE-FM Rover/Alternative Rock
Sacramento - KHWD-FM Jack-FM (*)
San Diego - KPLN-FM Adam Carolla/ Free FM (*)
San Francisco - KITS-FM Morning Music Co-Op/Alternative Rock
Tampa - WBZZ-AM Talk (*)
Washington, D.C. - WJFK-FM The Junkies/ Free FM
West Palm Beach- WPBZ-FM David Lee Roth/Alternative Rock
Previous Hollander:
Previous Stern:
Previous Viacom-CBS-Infinity:
2005-10-26: BBC World Service has confirmed that it is to drop ten of its language services - Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Kazakh, Polish, Slovak, Slovene and Thai - under wide ranging changes just announced that include the launch of an Arabic TV channel, the first publicly funded international television service to be launched by the World Service: The move had been reported already (See RNW Oct 17) and has attracted protests by the unions BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union ) and NUJ (National Union of Journalists) , which are concerned at the loss of some 200 jobs.
In its news release the BBC does not address the potential problems it will face in gaining audience from rival Arabic news channels, led by Al Jazeera, commenting on the plan as "part of a wide-ranging package of proposals aimed at maintaining and enhancing BBC World Service's pre-eminent position and impact in an emerging multi-media age."
It says its plans, which will involve investment of some GBP 30 million (USD 54 million) - to come from the language service and other changes - by 2008 will also include increased investment in developing New Media- initially concentrating in markets such as South America, Russia, South Asia and the Middle East; increased funding for more FM radio distribution; extra marketing; plans to modernise overseas bureaux; and exploring further television services on a partnership basis.
BBC World Service Director Nigel Chapman said, "BBC World Service is already the most successful, trusted and respected voice in the Middle East with more than 60 years experience of broadcasting in the Arabic language on radio, and more recently and successfully, online. The BBC Arabic Television Service will build on this legacy by offering trusted and accurate news with an international agenda…"Our research suggests there is strong demand for an Arabic Television service from the BBC in the Middle East."
Of the language service closures he said, "The services closing cover either European countries that are current EU members or are actively in discussions about membership; or services with little local impact. All the countries will continue to be served by other BBC Global News division services such as BBC World Service radio in English, BBC World television, and BBC News Online."
"We believe the proposed changes will enable BBC World Service to maintain and build on its pre-eminent position as the world's leading international broadcaster in the multi-media age for years to come," he added.
On its web site BECTU condemned the closure of the language channels, saying it was a "a devastating blow to the BBC's ability to speak to all nations in all tongues" and adding, "While we would normally welcome the BBC's expansion into Arabic TV without hesitation, we cannot ignore the potential threat of hundreds of compulsory redundancies… It is clear that the transfer of cash from European language services into Arabic TV is driven by political objectives, and the decision will create a perception abroad that the BBC World Service is working to a government agenda."
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said the move was "a bitter blow to BBC World Service staff and a step which has the potential to cause massive damage to Britain's influence in a significant part of New Europe."
"How can the BBC call itself a genuinely world service when significant language sections are to be closed?" he asked. "We are told the BBC services are no longer relevant because of the emergence of new democracies in many countries. Does Jack Straw [the British Foreign Secretary, who has approved the changes] really believe that countries like Kazakhstan, where intimidation of political opponents remains common and there is significant international concern that recent elections were rigged, no longer need the type of public service broadcasting offered by the World Service?"
NUJ Deputy General Secretary John Fray added, "While we welcome new services in the Arab world it should not be at the expense of high-quality services across Eastern Europe. At a time when British business, the Government and civil society talk about the need to engage with the rest of Europe, the Foreign Office should not be allowing Britain's voice to be silenced in significant parts of the continent."
"This is robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said, "and there is deep concern that they are making a big mistake in losing valuable expertise in these countries."
RNW comment: We have seen nothing to change our view, expressed with our October 17 report, that this move could be a blunder: If anything some of the comments made subsequently strengthen our opinion. Amongst them was a comment by Hugh Miles, author of history of Al Jazeera, who told BBC Radio 4 that he did not think that the BBC had identified its audience or that other Arabic TV channels would be concerned. He said the move "runs the risk of being expensive waste of time that could possible damage the BBC's reputation in the Arab World."
He noted that Al Jazeera, as we commented, had many staff who were BBC-trained and had the benefit of being generously financed by someone else (The Emir of Qatar where Al Jazeera is based).
Chapman has claimed that the BBC faces a real risk of becoming a "sidebar" in the Middle East unless it moves into TV, which may well be true but in that case was an argument to have continued funding its previous Arabic venture financed by Saudi money was closed, and also that the BBC has a strength in depth that Al-Jazeera cannot match.
We think the value of the latter can easily be over-estimated as far as the potential Middle East audience is concerned and continue to believe that to succeed the BBC offering will have to be funded for a long haul and also, if it is to have credibility in the area, will have to be prepared to risk upsetting both the British and American governments. If the commitment is to both, we wish the venture all the best but still have concerns about dropping the language services: If the commitment is half-hearted the venture should have been strangled at birth.
Previous BBC:
Previous Chapman:
2005-10-26: Toronto-based Corus Entertainment has reported fourth quarter revenues to the end of August up
8% to CAD 175.3 million (USD 148.9 million) led by radio with revenues up 12% to CAD 65.3 million (USD 55.5 million) compared to a 7% increase in TV revenues to CAD 83.4 million (USD 70.9 million) and 1% for content division to CAD 27.7 million (USD 23.5 million).
Profit however was flat at CAD 42.6 million (USD 36.2 million) because of increased costs including the integration of several new radio stations in Quebec and incremental costs associated with increased performing rights tariffs imposed by the Copyright Board of Canada and Corus says that "largely as a result of the unusual costs affecting the Radio division" net income for the quarter was down from CAD 14.0 million (USD 11.9 million CAD 0.33 basic and diluted per share) to CAD 9.7 million (USD 8.2 million CAD 0.23 basic earnings per share and 0.22 diluted earnings per share).
Executive Chair Heather Shaw said of the results that Corus had "shown impressive growth in all areas as we executed our operating strategies" and added, " We are pleased to report that we exceeded all of our financial targets for the year." Said.
Regarding the Copyright Board of Canada decision to increase tariffs for music - the basic tariff for large radio stations increased from 3.2% to 4.4% of revenue for the period from 2003 to 2007 - Corus notes that the current cost of the increase of $2.6 million has been reflected in the 2005 segment profit for radio while the retroactive portion of the new tariff, $3.8 million, has been reflected in the 2005 financial statements as other expense and says the Canadian industry is "currently exploring avenues of appeal."
In other North American radio business, NextMedia has announced completion of its previously announced sale of eight stations, for in Reno, Nevada, and four in Lubbock, Texas, to Wilks Broadcast Group LLC for USD 34 million (See RNW Jun 1).
Previous Corus:
Previous NextMedia:
Previous Shaw:
Previous Wilks:
2005-10-26: Emmis has now officially confirmed that Jonathon Brandmeier is rejoining WLUP-FM (The Loop) in Chicago in the morning slot he left in 1997.
The host, who was released early from his current contract by Infinity, which switched his station, KCBS-FM, to the Jack format thus leaving Brandmeier without a slot, has agreed a contract running to Spring 2009 but no details were given.
Announcing the acquisition on its web site WLUP carried a note "Johnny He's soo … not LA above a photograph of Brandmeier in shorts (no shirt) with below it "Jonathan Brandmeier back where he belongs. On the Loop and in Chicago Mornings.
It does not give a start date - the Morning Show link still goes to "The Loop's All Request Rock & Roll Morning Show with Byrd" - although Robert Feder in the Chicago Sun-Times says Brandmeier is aiming "for a Halloween debut this Monday."
"Byrd" (John Kempf) is to move back to evenings to make way for Brandmeier and evening host Steve Seaver will get to part-time and weekend duties.
Feder quotes Brandmeier as saying he feels "more excited" about returning to the Loop than when he joined the station to host mornings the first time in 1983 and adding, "I've come full circle. This is where I belong. The station is rocking, everyone sounds great, and management is 100 percent supportive."
Feder says the host is bringing with him three of his former contributors from Infinity's KCBS in Los Angeles - news anchor Kent Voss, executive producer Guy Bauer and technical board operator Hector Soriano - and is also taking on Vince Argento, who most recently produced morning shows at Infinity's ex-oldies WJMK-FM, and Ed Williams, the comic "Edwardo," who has produced bits for Brandmeier, Mike North, Steve Dahl and others.
In an Interview with Feder, Brandmeier spoke of what he missed about Chicago and commented, "But remember, had it not been for the Loop being sold [in 1997], I would never have left in the first place. I was going to L.A. because that's where the owners wanted me to fulfil my deal. Once I got the kids in school, I was locked. It turned out to be a great visit. My family and I loved Malibu… We spent great quality time with my daughters there, so personally, it ended up being an invaluable time for us as a family. Now we're all ready for a change."
Previous Brandmeier:
Previous Emmis:
Previous Feder:
Previous Viacom-CBS-Infinity:
Chicago Sun-Times - Feder column:
2005-10-26: The US National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that the Rolling Stones have recorded "Radio. You Hear It Here First" adverts for its campaign promoting the strengths of advertising-funded terrestrial radio.
The campaign was launched in January this year and the NAB says so far Hear It Here First ads have aired over 108,000 times on local radio station; it notes that "nearly" all the major US radio companies including ABC, Beasley, Bonneville, Buckley, Citadel, Clear Channel, Cox, Cumulus, Emmis, Entercom, Greater Media, Infinity, Jefferson Pilot, Journal, Radio One, Regent, and Susquehanna have participated in the campaign and values the airtime taken up at more than USD 40 million.
The NAB has posted 15 and 30 second versions 9128 KBPS MP3s) of Rolling Stones spots "Rough Justice" and "Streets of Love" on its web site along with the other spots in the campaign
NAB Radio Board chairman and Entercom president and CEO David J. Field said of the spots in a news release, "The Rolling Stones' participation says great things about the campaign's momentum and about radio's importance and credibility in the artist community."
Emmis Radio president Rick Cummings added, "The timing couldn't be better. With the Stones promoting their first studio recorded album since 1997, they are ideal messengers to remind the public of radio's importance."
RNW comment: Although to our eyes the Stones certainly lift the list of names on the NAB site and we can well see mutual back-scratching value for the Stones, with a new record out, and NAB with a big name, why does a release have to put a spurious value on the spots. They are promoting the stations themselves and only if other adverts have had to be dropped to air them do they have a real airtime cost to the stations. In other words, ad value close to nil, NAB veracity similar.
Previous Cummings:
Previous Field:
Previous NAB:
2005-10-25: Clear Channel has reported third quarter revenues up 1.1% on a year ago to USD 2.7 billion but net income was down 23.1% to USD 205.5 million (from 44cents to 38 cents per diluted share - Clear Channel has so far spent only USD 57 million of the USD 1 billion authorized in its share repurchase scheme ).
In divisional terms, Outdoor outperformed with revenues up 11.3% to USD 668 million followed by Live Entertainment with revenues up 0.9% to USD 983.5 million.
"Other" revenues however were down 1.1% to USD 145.1 million and radio lagged the lot with revenues down 4.3% to USD 919.3 million.
Commenting on the results President and CEO Mark Mays put a gloss on the performance, saying in the company's news release, "We continued to make progress in each of our businesses in the third quarter. For the second consecutive quarter Clear Channel Radio experienced sequential financial improvement over the previous quarter. This performance is a direct result of our recent ratings successes combined with our progress in developing a market for shorter-length spots."
"Meanwhile," he continued, "we delivered double-digit revenue growth in our outdoor business, both domestically and internationally. We also grew revenues at Clear Channel Entertainment. Our results this quarter highlight that Clear Channel is executing its strategy and building a strong foundation for each of our businesses to prosper in the years to come."
Lower down the company's report appeared to contradict him in the short-term at least, noting a reduction of around USD 4.3 million in "non-cash trade revenues "[RNW note -about 0. 5% of the total so we can't quite see why this was remarked upon!] and continuing, "Both local and national revenues were down for the quarter as well, primarily from the reduction in commercial minutes made available for sale on the Company's radio stations. As a result, some of the Company's larger advertising categories declined during the quarter, including automotive and retail. Yield, or revenue divided by total minutes of available inventory, experienced an increase each month of the third quarter. The Company's 30 and 15 second commercials as a percent of total commercial minutes available was higher in the third quarter than in the first six months of the year. Average unit rates were also higher during the third quarter than during the first six months of the year.
Divisional operating expenses were up $8.4 million during the third quarter of 2005 compared to the same period of 2004. Driving the increase were promotion and advertising as well as programming and content expenses."
RNW comment: In other words, the "less is more" policy is still costing Clear Channel but its is managing to sell more shorter spots than it did before it pushed them and , with ratings up, the revenue decline is falling compared to previous quarters.
Clear Channel has also updated its guidance on its plans to offer around 10% of the stock in its outdoor division in an Initial Public Offering and to spin off its entertainment division into a separate Clear Channel Entertainment company.
Both transactions , it says , continue to progress and are expected to close by the end of this year; it adds that the company currently intends to return approximately USD 1.6 billion of capital to shareholders through either share repurchases, a special dividend or a combination of both with funding for this to come from funds generated from the repayment of inter-company debt, the proceeds of any new debt offerings, available cash balances and cash flow from operations..
The markets seemed to have anticipated most of the figures and Clear Channel shares ended the day down 0.06% at 30.93 but then recovered a little in after hours trading and went up 0.06% when we last checked to USD 31.10, albeit US stocks in general rose on Monday.
In Chicago, Clear Channel's , Regional Vice-President and Market Manager John Gehron has resigned to "to pursue new goals" although he is to remain a consultant. Before joining the company four years ago Gehron was an SVP and COO at Infinity prior to which he had been COO at American Radio Systems as well as holding executive posts at various stations including a spell as program director at then top 40 WLS-AM in Chicago in the mid-1970's.
In other US radio business, Radio One Inc. has extended for a week to October 28 the deadline for its exchange offer relating to USD 200 million of its 6 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Gehron:
Previous Mark Mays:
Previous Radio One Inc.:
2005-10-25: Sports host Larry Kreuger and morning show producer Tony Rhein, fired by Susquehanna's KNBR-AM after comments by Kreuger referring to "brain-dead Caribbean hitters" for which Kreuger was suspended (See RNW Aug 8) and a subsequent show in which fun was poked at Giants manager Felipe Alou (See RNW Aug 11) leading to the firings have now launched lawsuits against the station.
A report in the San Francisco Chronicle says the lawsuits allege that the two were fired so that the station could keep its deal to broadcast the Giant's Games without which the station's value would have fallen with a consequent effect on the sale of Susquehanna Media by parent Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co that was announced in April (See RNW Apr 21).
In the lawsuits, which seek unspecified damages for defamation and breach of contract , attorneys for Kreuger and Rhein say, "After discussion with executives at Susquehanna, KNBR realized it would need to appease the Giants to sell the San Francisco radio station.''
The paper says the suits allege that station vice president and general manager Tony Salvadore prodded Krueger to go after the Giants on air, telling him in the parking garage just hours before the famous "Caribbean" broadcast Aug. 3, "Do me a favour, pal, rip the s -- out of the Giants'' and also that that Krueger had received "confidential telephone calls'' from members of the Giants management team, saying Baer [Giants executive vice president Larry Baer] had called Salvadore to demand that Krueger be fired but "that Salvadore had replied that KNBR would decide what, if any, discipline Krueger would receive.''
This, they say, infuriated Baer who had put a transcript of the show on Alou's desk to infuriate him and subsequently arranged to have Krueger go to the ballpark to meet Alou for what was supposed to be a face-to-face apology but in fact was intended to have Krueger approach Alou unannounced, and watch Alou explode.''
Baer told the paper, "That's all wrong and not truthful. Nobody at the Giants ever asked for Krueger to be fired.''
RNW comment: Even if we accept that Kreuger and Rhein were fired because of pressure from the Giants - and it would seem to be a brain-damaged action to poke fun at the Giants manager only three days after the row blew up and whilst the temperature was still high - our initial reaction would be that it would be very generous to award the pair involved a dime in damages with no costs. If Bauer is telling the truth their action would seem to be a greed-driven but particularly stupid way of committing professional suicide since the argument then boils down to do something that is unjustifiable and could severely affect their employer's finances and after being fired try and throw mud. A job cleaning toilets would seem about the right level for their future in that case.
Previous Susquehanna:
San Francisco Chronicle report:
2005-10-25: Nigerian newspaper This Day says that the country's Information Minister Frank Nweke has told Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to rescind its order closing down Daar Communications' broadcast stations - Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower 100.5 FM -for what it said was the station's unprofessional coverage of a Bellview Airlines Boeing 737-200 killing all 117 people on board.
"This would not happen while I am the Minster of Information. I told the NBC that they should have cleared it with me before taking the decision though they explained what happened," he said.
Daar Communications obeyed the order to close down but the stations arte now back on air: Their stations were apparently the first to correctly report the location of the crash
In a statement, the NBC said the TV station showed "gross unprofessional conduct" in broadcasting "close-up shots of decapitated body parts" and that both broadcasters ignored official requests "to handle the sad development with restraint" ; it added that the "most offensive" violation came when the stations broadcast reports saying there were no survivors "when the competent authorities had not fully assessed the situation" and before victims' families had been notified.
Gbenga Mike Aruleba, Daar Communications deputy general manager (news) said the stations were being punished for challenging the official line put out by the state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and because it criticised aviation authorities for negligence in failing to properly monitor the aircraft before it crashed.
The action had led to condemnation of the regulator's action by news organizations and Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists commented, "The heavy-handed censorship of RayPower FM and AIT in the wake of this tragedy is disturbing. The news media must be free to report on such matters of public concern without government restrictions or reprisal."
ThisDay report:
Committee to Protect Journalists' web site:
2005-10-25: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has put the issue of Emergency Alert Systems on its agenda for its monthly Open Meeting to be held on Friday in Washington, D.C.
The agenda lists consideration of the agency's "First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the Emergency Alert System rules" and could foreshadow major changes to the EAS system.
Amongst suggestions made by the FCC have been that state and local emergency managers should have authority to order EAS alerts that would override programming on all stations and also consider extending the system to digital broadcasts and wireless communications services.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and subsequent emergencies, the US Senate Commerce Committee last week passed the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act of 2005, which would create a network to transmit disaster alerts across a wide range of communications systems including cell phone networks, the Internet, broadcast, cable, and satellite TV and radio and the Internet.
Previous FCC:
2005-10-25: Westwood One has announced that it has appointed Max Krasny to the newly created position of Senior Vice President of Westwood One Entertainment.
In his new role Krasny, who will relocate to Los Angeles, will be responsible for the management of all entertainment programming, including all production from the Culver City and Valencia studios, as well as Entertainment Sponsorship Sales, and Entertainment Affiliate Sales.
The appointment follows various entertainment investments by Westwood One including the company's launch of Randy Jackson's Hits List and the new SAM (Simply About Music ) format.
Previous Westwood One:
2005-10-24: This week for our look at print comment on radio we concentrate on three "Radio Waves" columns, one American and two from the London Sunday Times: The titles may be the same but the styles of the columns, even the sister ones in the one paper, are very different.
Beginning in Britain, Paul Donovan's column in the Sunday Times took as its theme contributions from listeners, commencing, "Where would they be without us? Shows need listeners, just as newspapers need readers. Recently, however, listeners have begun to play a new and more vital role - educating radio stations, and one another, through request programme."
He then goes on to note the "most remarkable example of this", the first-ever broadcast of Benjamin Britten's 27-minute ballet Plymouth Town: Apparently not only had this work by the then 17-years-old composer never been broadcast, it had not been recorded until a listener read about it and asked for it on the weekly request show "Brian Kay's 3 for All" with the result that it was finally aired ten months after the request was made [RNW note: Unfortunately, the programme is not available on demand on the station web site].
"This episode may be unique (there are now no more published Britten works yet to be recorded), " writes Donovan, "but listeners' desire to share their knowledge is not. Classic FM often plays a haunting lament called The Ashokan Farewell, composed and played by the violinist Jay Ungar. 'We didn't know about it until it was suggested by a listener in 1999,' says Classic, 'but it has struck such a chord with our audience that we have played it ever since.'"
Donovan gives other examples from sixties pop to Jazz to poetry -"One of the most surprising requests we have had was for a long poem by Edith Nesbit, the author of The Railway Children, about a monk who couldn't sing," recalls Christine Hall, producer of Poetry Please [BBC Radio 4]. "None of us knew it, and we had to ask the library to trace it. That poem, The Singing of the Magnificat, turned out to be hugely popular. Fortunately, it was out of copyright, because we were sending it out for years afterwards, and we still do."
In the same edition of the paper, Gerry McCarthy looking at Irish radio in his column had a totally different theme, the way two shows on state broadcaster RTÉ's Radio 1 have fared following shortening to an hour in duration.
Ryan Tubridy's "The Tubridy Show" writes McCarthy, "though previously awkward, fits neatly into its new slot" but Vincent Browne's Tonight show "has grown weaker."
McCarthy suggests the reasons for this: "Browne's command of political minutiae is ideally suited for long, detailed discussion, with room to cover the core issue and sundry tangential questions. But now his digressions tend to undermine the topic: subjects are introduced and summarily abandoned…The core problem is not Browne's style. Rather it is that the programme has lazily retained its old structure, including panel discussions and newspaper previews. Neither Browne nor his producers have bothered to rethink the old assumptions."
In completely different style in his column in the San Francisco Chronicle, Ben Fong-Torres went more for storytelling, in his case of the impact consolidation has had on the life and styles of hosts, choosing to drop in on four morning radio shows - all four on Clear Channel stations and housed in the same building.
"It used to be that," writes Fong-Torres, "you'd show up for work and be th