August 2006 Archive
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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 previous relevant story. Regarding external links see note at end of page.
RNW July comment - in "The "cost" of broadcast spectrum - will spectrum pricing hit broadcasters?" considers moves to price spectrum to improve economic efficiency in its use and the potential impact on broadcasters as costs are likely to rise.
RNW June comment - in "Advertisers, demographics and maybe damaging the future." says broadcasters must think digital and that neglecting young and older groups less attractive to advertisers may damage them.
RNW May comment - in "Real choice: Quality, the internet, and the need for public service broadcasters" argues that public broadcasters are if anything even more important as the internet allows wider listening horizons.
2006-08-31: Arbitron has announced that it has begun installing its Portable People Meter (PPM) system in households in the Philadelphia where 14 stations, owned by Beasley Broadcasting, CBS Radio, Greater Media and WBEB-FM representing some 60% of radio advertising in the market, have already signed up for the electronic ratings service. Arbitron says it has also signed agreements with national advertising agencies that account for more than 90 percent of the national radio advertising dollars spent in Philadelphia as well as with leading Philadelphia-based advertising agencies such as Harmelin Media, Mayo Seitz Media, and The Star Group.
In all Arbitron says it is recruiting a panel of 2,040 people to carry the PPM device in the area: It adds hat the first PPM ratings will be released after completion of an audit report by the Media Rating Council (MRC) and a review of the audit report findings with the MRC radio committee: The MRC audit process in Philadelphia currently is under way.
Arbitron carried out a market trial of the PPM in Philadelphia in 2002-2003 and followed this with a second trial in Houston, where has already started providing PPM ratings (See RNW Aug 25).
"No other system has yet to even begin to demonstrate all that we've shown the radio industry about the advantages of electronic audience measurement," said Pierre Bouvard, president, Sales and Marketing, Arbitron Inc. "We've also released a comprehensive suite of training materials and tools that the industry can use to better manage the transition to electronic measurement."
Previous Arbitron:
Previous Bouvard:
Previous Media Rating Council:
2006-08-31: BBC Radio 4 has announced that Paddy O'Connell is to take over as the host of its Sunday morning news programme "Broadcasting House" from September 3, replacing Fiona Glover who has been named as the host of a new Radio 4 Saturday morning programme, "Saturday Live" in the slot formerly taken by "Home Truths" (See RNW Aug 3).
O'Connell was the BBC's Wall Street correspondent in 2001 and was due to have a meeting at the World Trade Centre on September 11: He then reported on the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath until he left New York in 2003 since when he has worked in a variety of radio and TV roles for the BBC, including standing in for Glover while she was on maternity leave.
He began his career on local radio in the UK and after working on various stations for five years was hired for the launch of BBC Radio Five Live.
Commenting on the appointment Stephen Mitchell, Head of BBC Radio News, said: "Paddy is a bright, fresh talent for Radio 4. During his period standing in for Fi Glover he has proved that he gets BH with its eclectic mix of challenging journalism, wit and the unexpected, and all the evidence is that the audience will get Paddy."
O'Connell added, "I'm amazed to get BH. It's made for people who love radio, by a team which cares completely. If you read the thousands of emails from listeners on a Sunday morning, they tell us time and again to take a risk, to be bold and to be warm. So I'm going to take my cue from them."
Previous BBC:
Previous Mitchell:
2006-08-31: The chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees US government broadcasts to foreign countries, has been accused in a State Department report of misusing his office by directing staff to do personal work and also of using government resources for his private racehorse operation.
Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, who was appointed to the post and also to the post of chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) by President Bush, has already resigned from the latter post after critical findings in a report by CPB's inspector general Kenneth into accusations that he used corporation money to promote more conservative programming. (See RNW Nov 5, 2005).
He denies those allegations and has said of the latest allegations in a statement, "I am very proud of what I have accomplished for U.S. international broadcasting. I believe it will become clear this I.G. investigation was inspired by partisan divisions inside the BBG."
The Los Angeles Times says Tomlinson in dismissing the allegations noted that he "made diligent efforts to bill each board only for the work I did for each board" and said his work on the horses while at the broadcasting board came out to "an average of one e-mail and two and a half minutes a day."
The paper said it had obtained a summary of the State Department report and quoted California Democrat Rep. Howard L. Berman, who requested the investigation last year, as saying, "This is serious stuff. The role of the Broadcasting Board of Governors in the context of the current international situation … is of the highest priority. This is not some backwater."
Berman has posted on his website a letter to President Bush asking him to " immediately remove Mr Tomlinson from his position and take all necessary steps to restore the integrity of the Broadcasting Board of Governors."
The letter says the report says that Tomlinson requested the:
* " hiring of a personal friend as a contractor without the knowledge of other board members or staff and signed invoices providing almost USD 250,000 in compensation even though the contractor provided no written reports or other supporting documentation required by the contract";
* "used BBC resources to support his personal horse racing operation";
"Requested and received compensation that exceeded the maximum allowed by law"; "requested and received compensation from both the BBC and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) on the same days on a number of occasions";
* "directed BBC staff to work on matters unrelated to the BBC, including CPB business and personal matters";
* and "Conducted CPB work while at the BBG and had billed the BBG for those hours."
The letter is also signed by Connecticut Democrat Senator Christopher J. Dodd and California Democrat Rep. Tom Lantos.
The Times says Federal prosecutors have declined to investigate the case for criminal wrongdoing, according to the State Department report and adds that a White House spokeswoman said that the President continued to support Tomlinson, whose re-nomination as chairman of the broadcasting board is pending before the Senate.
RNW comment: Maybe we're being naive but it seems to us that President Bush may yet again be displaying poor judgement about appointees. We would agree that he should not accept that allegations amount to a conviction but in view of Tomlinson's past it would seem politic to limit support and at the very least to have spoken to Tomlinson and made it clear that the backing comes on the basis that it any illegal activity is shown to have occurred there would be full White House backing for a criminal prosecution and the most severe sentence.
Previous Tomlinson:
Berman web site (Links to letter -PDF):
Los Angeles Times report:
2006-08-31: Macquarie Media, whose prime assets are Macquarie Regional Radioworks (MRR) and Taiwan Broadband Communications (TBC) - acquired in May - has reported net profit for the year to the end of June in line with forecasts at AUD 16.27 million (USD 12.43 million) - double that of the previous year and AUD 4.37 million (USD 3.34 million) after taking into account minority interests- on earnings up two thirds to AUD 186.7 million (USD 142.6 million).
It declared a distribution for the year of 14.5 cents per stapled security, topping the prospectus forecast of 14.0 to 14.3 cents.
Within the results it says Macquarie Regional Radioworks performed "in line with prospectus forecast " and had pro-forma revenue up 6.9% on a year earlier to AUD 148.3 million (USD 113.2 million) helped by a 15.2% growth in national sales revenue plus a 3% growth in local revenues.
Pro forma EBITDA - including contributions from non-controlled joint venture stations - up 30.3% to AUD 55 million (USD 42 million) while Taiwan Broadbank Communications revenue was up 6.8% to AUD 246 million (USD 188 million) with EBITDA up 9.9% to AUD 140.5 million (USD 107.3 million).
Executive chairman Tim Hughes said the "very positive" results came from "strong operational performance" at both entities and
Commenting on the radio performance, MMG noted "innovative new national programming" such as "Charles Wooley Across Australia" (See RNW Feb 2) the development of sponsorship opportunities for national advertisers and the "national roll-out of a new play-out system allowing additional flexibility in programming."
Managing director Alex Harvey said the group had considered a large number of acquisition opportunities since it listed and would "continue to proactively identify opportunities to acquire value accretive assets which meet our investment criteria both in Australia and offshore" but the group noted that it had found issues in various cases of limited growth profile, not meeting required returns on investment, insufficient barriers to entry, lack of access to management expertise, and threats to the competitive position of potential targets. Sectors it has considered include cable TV, radio, community newspapers, music publishing and new media and geographic areas included Australia, Asia, Europe and the UK and North America. It had so far eschewed acquisitions outside Australia for various of the reasons listed.
Previous Harvey:
Previous Hughes:
Previous Macquarie:
2006-08-31: The 2006 Proms have boosted BBC Radio 3's online figures as well as its broadcast audience according to BBC online statistics for July just released that show in July the station's Proms web site attracted more than 194,000 unique users and that there were more than 300,000 requests to listen to Proms "on demand", 35,000 of them the Birthday Concert for Queen Elizabeth 2.
Other stations had a quieter time - particularly BBC Radio Five Live , which in June was boosted by World Cup soccer, and overall on-demand listening fell by 3.97% on June to 4,142,848 hours and live listening by 8.94% to 12,005,119 hours although the year-on-year figures showed increases of 41.6 % for on-demand listening and 27.6% for live listening.
In terms of network listening in July this year, the rankings were - Total listening hours - live plus on-demand and percentage change compared to June 2006 then to July 2005:
Radio 1 - 5,492,964; -6.9%; + 59.9%
Radio 2 - 3,489,796; -6.2%; +43.5%
Radio 4 - 2,623,974; -2.0 %; +17.5%
BBC 7 - 1,287,158; -5.1%; +33.5%- Up a rank.
Radio 5 - Live - 1,205,667; -41.7%; -16.4% Down a rank.
Radio 3 - 831,849; +4.0%; +32.9%
6 Music - 692,657; -+2.1%; +26.4%
1Xtra - 485,984; -7.4%; -1.5%
Asian Network - 177,954; -18.8%; -7.3%
5 Live Sports Xtra - 904,818; +29.0%; +61%
The top five on-demand programmes were:
1 - "The Archers" on Radio 4 with 648,114 listens - up 11,990 on June;
2 - "Chris Moyles" on Radio 1 with 338,586 listens - down 127,907;
3 - BBC Proms 2006 on Radio 3 with 275,888 listens (Not in June figures when the third ranked programme was "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" on Radio 4 with 302618 listens. It was not on air in July).
4 - "The Afternoon Play" on Radio 4 with 254,724 listens - up 40,972;
5 - The "Essential Mix" on Radio 1 -with 221,965 listens, up 31,196. This pulled it up a rank and pushed "The Essential Selection" on Radio 1 with 213,948 listens, an increase of 21,129, down to sixth.
Amongst daily podcasts cum MP3s the top five were:
1- BBC News "Radio Newspod" with 598,862 listens, up 16,794;
2 - Radio 4 "Today 8.10 Interview" with 343,437 listens, down 9,402;
3 - Radio 1 "Scott Mills Daily" with 325,492 listens, up 13,086;
4 - World Service "World News Bulletin" with 153,925listens, down -26,888;
5 - World Service "The World Today" with 141,872 listens, up 37,179;
Previous BBC:
Previous BBC Online figures:
2006-08-30: SMG has now formally rejected both UTV's initial offer of a nil-premium merger, which would have given shareholders in each company 50% of a merged entity, and also a revised UTV offer that would have given SMG shareholders 52% of the merged company.
In a statement SMG said its board, which had unanimously rejected the first offer, had decided to reject the revised offer after examining it in detail and holding discussions with UTV and its advisors but it did not shut the door on a merger, saying that it "has reiterated its offer to meet with the Board of UTV to discuss a potential merger which addresses the factors previously explained to them" although it added that the offer was not taken up by UTV.
UTV has not issued a statement but its shares fell on the news to end Tuesday down 3.1% to 331.75 pence, valuing it at around GBP 192 million (USD 365 million) whilst SMG stock, which initially fell by 1.3% closed unchanged at 77 pence, valuing it at around GBP 241 million (USD 458 million).
As well as the UTV interest a number of private equity teams have been reported to be preparing bids but so far none had announced any formal offer.
Previous SMG:
Previous UTV:
2006-08-30: Brattleboro in Vermont, which was the site of a six-year battle between the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and 10-watts pirate station radio free brattleboro- eventually ended with the closure of the station (See RNW Jun 24, 2005) will on Friday see its new commercial-free community station WVEW-FM start broadcasting its regular programming.
The 100-watt station is already broadcasting test music transmissions using automated software and when it is in full operations plans to broadcast talk and music shows hosted by local residents.
Ken Brace, a member of the board of directors of licensee Vermont Earth Works, told the Rutland Herald that at the moment they just had "an automated software playing music, but occasionally a DJ will come in and say hi…We're letting people know we are here."
Amongst the shows planned by the new station, reports the Herald, is an "Art Talk" show to be hosted by James Maxwell, a Brattleboro lawyer and former country and western DJ, who represented radio free brattleboro in its unsuccessful legal battle to stay on the air.
Rutland Herald report:
2006-08-30: BBC Radio 1 has announced details of the second "John Peel Day" it is to run in honour of the late DJ. It will take place on Thursday, October 12, the anniversary of his last broadcast on the station and will be comprised of a day in which it will play music and bands that he championed as well as a number of "classic live Peel sessions".
On the first Peel Day last October more than 500 events were staged in the UK and other locations (See RNW Oct 17, 2005) and the BBC is hoping for a similar response this year with music fans, bands, artists and DJs being encouraged to stage their own gigs and club nights in honour of Peel's legacy and contribution to music.
His widow Sheila Ravenscroft said, "I hope many bands and venues will want to celebrate John's anniversary. There is so much good new music around - everyone should have a fantastic night."
Previous BBC:
Previous Peel:
2006-08-30: Management at the Australian Radio Network's Mix 106.5 in Sydney has defended its breakfast host Sammy Power who had been said in some reports to have been responsible for an error that led to the station giving away AUD 50,000 (USD 38,000) in its "Secret Sound" competition.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph quoted an unnamed "industry source" as suggesting Power had over-ruled the judge's decision in the heat of the moment during last Friday's show and awarded the cash to a listener for an answer which had already been guessed on two occasions and ruled incorrect each time.
However ARN general manager John Williams insisted the host had nothing to do with the matter, saying, "The correct answer is only known by the various judges we had monitoring this, so Sammy would not have known what the answer is to comment on, and nor would she…Sammy had no involvement.''
He added that the staff member responsible was walking around "very contrite, very upset about it all' but was still employed, adding, "At the end of the day they made a judgement call and they got it marginally wrong.''
Previous ARN:
Sydney Daily Telegraph report:
2006-08-30: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed a USD 14,000 penalty on a Utah company for marketing two unauthorized FM broadcast transmitters.
Gibson Tech Ed Inc. of Orem had been issued with a citation in June 2004 for marketing unauthorized FM transmission equipment manufactured by Veronica Ltd. and in connection with this was seen by FCC staff to be marketing two other transmitters , made by Ramsey and that had not received equipment certification, on its Hobbytron website.
Gibson had filed for reconsideration of the penalty on the basis that the forfeiture should not have included liability for the sale of the Veronica transmitter, referred the FCC to Ramsey over the issue of its non-certification, and said that it could not afford to pay any fines and would close at the end of April.
The FCC in confirming the penalty said that a recent search showed that the Hobbytron website was still functioning as was that of Gibson Tech Ed. Inc. It also noted that Gibson had failed to provide required proof of inability to pay.
Previous FCC:
2006-08-29: Helped by an AUD 658,000 (USD 500,000) profit on the sale of its share in a joint venture with mcm entertainment, in line with the Board's policy of concentration on the core business, Australian FM operator Austereo has reported earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in its 2006 financial year -to the end of June up 3.1% on a year earlier to AUD 71.4 million (USD 54.2 million).
Revenues, however, were down 5% to AUD 235.5 million (USD 178.8 million).
Earnings per share were up 10.2% and it also announced a share buy-back of up to 5% of its issued capital - some 19 million shares - to be funded utilising current cash reserves and undrawn debt facilities. Austereo increased its final dividend to 4.1 cents a share from 3.7 cents for 2005. During the year Austereo spent AUD 45 million (USD 34 million) on buying back its shares thus increasing the control of principal shareholder Village Roadshow, which now controls 67.3% of the shares. If it again sells no shares and Austereo buys back the whole allocation, its holding will rise to nearly 71%.
It noted ratings success in the most recent survey - finishing first amongst FM operators in Adelaide (first equal), Melbourne, Perth and Sydney whilst in Brisbane it was second, a performance it termed a "major turnaround from the prior year, when Austereo led in two markets."
"The trend across the year," it added, "was one of consistent audience growth as the programming and marketing strategies delivered strong outcomes. The audience and EBIT gains were achieved in spite of three new licences launching immediately prior to, or during the reporting period in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane."
Austereo said its focus on national revenues helped drive sales and noted that despite rate increases its top 20 clients remained loyal and that it retained 96% of clients accounting for 40%of its revenues.
Chairman Peter Harvie, said, "Along with the great audience results in our markets, FOX FM Melbourne completed the year winning Australia's largest radio audience of 1,086,000 and 2 DAY FM Sydney took second place with 867,000 listeners. The Austereo teams have worked hard to extend their leadership in a crowded environment and we now enter the new financial year strengthened by our best programming line-up ever."
Looking ahead to the 2007 financial year he said the challenge was to maintain strong audience and sales shares, given the temporary plateau in radio advertising and said they anticipated capital city advertising revenue to grow by around 2% in the first half (to December 6).
"Along with other media operators, we are also monitoring impending potential changes to media laws with interest," he added, and continued, "At a more practical level, we are progressively converting technical facilities, in anticipation of the introduction of digital radio. Radio holds a unique place amongst media, being exceptionally well placed to complement the new emerging digital platforms. As leader in commercial radio, this provides a strong and exciting outlook for our group."
Outside Australia it said its Malaysian venture has recorded continuing progress and taken a 60% share of the nation's audiences and a 79% share of total radio advertising spending whilst in Greece trading at its Athens operation was softer, but the station rose from number two to number one amongst international formats.
CEO, Michael Anderson, said that the results reflected strong focus on business management, saying, "Despite the need to maintain robust investment in programming and marketing, control of operating costs and greater efficiencies successfully reduced costs in on-going operations by 4.8%." He also noted increased investment in digital platforms.
The markets responded favourably to the results and Austereo shares rose 3.42% to close at AUD 1.815.
Previous Anderson:
Previous Austereo:
Previous Harvie:
2006-08-29: Katz Media has released its National Format Averages study for Spring '06 showing, unsurprisingly one might think in an nation that is not only aging but where the young have moved more to other forms of audio listening, that nearly "all of the formats that are either stable or have shown recent increases are Adult-skewing format"
"The only exception," says Katz, "is the Urban Contemporary format, which shows an increase this Spring even though it tends to skew younger. On the other hand, nearly all of the formats with a youth or young adult age skew show declines."
The study's author Lisa Chiljean says of the findings, "There could be a number of factors at work causing these shifts, including changing lifestyles among young adults, the availability of a wider variety of media options, and increased multi-tasking or simultaneous usage of media."
The report was produced from an analysis by Katz of figures for more than 4,000 radio stations and nearly fifty formats in 296 Arbitron markets to produce the figures for this study. Thirty-five format classifications - some separately for AM and FM stations - are examined in detail.
Overall the top formats in terms of market share are led by Country (15.3%), Hispanic (9.6%), Urban (7.4%), CHR (7.0%) and AC (6.6%) with Classical at 25th rank with 2.1%. News is 22nd with a 2.3% share whilst News/Talk is 6th with 6.1% (Draw your own conclusions about what this suggests about how well informed Americans relying on radio are!).
The ranking change significantly when it comes to time spent listening with the top being Easy listening (10:21), Urban inspirational (9:51), Gospel (9:41), Urban AC(9:35) and Adult Standards (9:29), News/Talk is 12th with 8:07, below AM Talk in 11th rank with 8:24 and Rhythmic Oldies are 25th with 6:31.
The major winners in spring were Hispanic stations, whilst country, the most popular format, has remained stable.
In terms of major formats, the study listings include:
Rock: Classic Rock, Classic Hits and Adult Alternative Rock are all stable on a year-to-year basis but there are declines for AOR and Alternative/Modern Rock, both of which target young Men with the former down 4% on a year ago and 19% since 2000.
Adult Contemporary: The Soft A/C, mainstream A/C, Christian A/C and Soft Rock formats - all targeting a more Adult-skewing audience - are either flat or up since this time last year whilst Modern A/C with a median age for listeners of 30 has seen significant declines over the past few years.
Contemporary: Contemporary Hit (CHR) seems to have levelled off this Spring but is down 27% since the late nineties whilst Rhythmic CHR appears to be in a reverse trend after several years of increasing shares.
*Katz has posted the study - a 4.37 MB Powerpoint presentation, on its web site.
Previous Katz:
2006-08-29: AOL Radio, which has had a deal to provide various XM Satellite Radio channels for a while, is to start carrying Bob Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour", which XM began broadcasting in May, from Wednesday: It will also offer 18 of the Dylan shows back-to-back as part of XM's weekend-long marathon to be broadcast from Friday this week with a simulcast on AOL,.
AOL Radio will also simulcast XM's world premiere of Bob Dylan's heavily anticipated "Modern Times" album today and tomorrow, and stream the album on demand all week as part of AOL Music's Full CD Listening Party.
RNW comment: The move is a further element of AOL's attempt to move from being an Internet Service Provider to a provider of content and will be welcome to Dylan fans. There is however an irony in the offer in view of Dylan's recent comments on the quality of modern recordings (See RNW yesterday- put in anchor) since as far as we can gather - AOL does not allow choice of streaming rate - the best that is on offer is around 128kbps, which is certainly below CD quality.
Previous XM:
2006-08-28: Departed formats and personalities form the bedrock of our look at print comment on the media this week but first an issue that resonated round the world last week, that of the quality of recordings.
We have on a number of occasions derided the claims made about the technical quality of digital radio being clearly superior to that of analogue transmissions (including citing a UK site that seemingly demonstrates the reverse when it comes to BBC Radio 3 which is broadcast at a higher bit rate than other UK digital channels but is not up to its analogue quality in an area with good reception and noting that the HD demos posted in the US are at too low a level to do a proper quality check and also choose selections that militate against any real checks) and now along comes Bob Dylan and claims that the recordings themselves aren't up to scratch nowadays.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine that formed the source of an article we noted from Oliver Burkeman in the UK Guardian (The interview got cover in many other publications) Dylan told novelist Jonathan Lethem, "You do the best you can, you fight technology in all kinds of ways, but I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past 20 years, really."
Dylan doesn't exempt his own work, saying of his latest CD that is to be released in the US this week, "Even these songs probably sounded 10 times better in the studio when we recorded 'em."
Dylan, who is to produce his latest album himself, said of contemporary CDs, "You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them. There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just, like ... static."
The Guardian spoke about the issue of audio quality to Mike Howlett, who chairs the Music Producers Guild and said the issue was the quality of the performance rather than of the equipment and added, "The top end of digital equipment gives a highly accurate reproduction of the signal coming in, so it is neither helping nor hindering the sound" although he also noted that the sound of analogue equipment gave "some interesting distortions", which lent music "a certain character".
Whatever the reason, when the BBC Radio 4 "World Tonight" ran a report on the issue last week, the studio guest got all three right when asked which recording being played over his headphones was from vinyl, CD, and MP3, suggesting that some people at least can still discriminate between the good and the acceptable.
Next departed formats and two articles from the US, the first a Los Angeles Times editorial about the death of the city's last country format station, KZLA-FM, which is now airing "rhythmic pop".
The reason for the change, notes the paper, is one of demographic change and it quotes Emmis as saying that in Los Angeles "60% of the local audience is Latino, Asian or African American, while 'country fans are about 98% Caucasian.'"
The editorial also takes up the issue of how far consolidation has contributed to such decisions, noting that opponents blame it for bringing in narrower playlists and less diversity whilst advocates "- particularly Clear Channel Communications, which skyrocketed from 40 stations to about 1,200 - say the more stations a company owns in a market, the more formats it will offer."
The papers says there's seeming logic in the latter argument in that with more stations an owner can expand reach by going for smaller niche audiences but in practice "many groups offer multiple variations on one or two formats, hoping to capture as much of the biggest audience segments as possible."
It also makes a point that terrestrial owners might care to think about, noting that more country CDs are sold in Los Angeles than any other city and that the format is not "niche": "So you'd think that some local radio broadcaster would leap at the chance to fill the void left by KZLA" it concludes. "Otherwise, the field will be conceded to competitors in neighbouring counties and on satellite, putting more distance in the public's mind between 'local' and 'radio.'"
The other format change was on the East Coast where "progressive" talk network Air America has moved from its former New York flagship WLIB-AM to a less powerful frequency and WLIB's switch to a gospel format.
The change in general attracted straight reports with some crowing from right-wing commentators about the problems for Air America but Karen Juanita Carrillo in the Amsterdam News considered the swap in terms of other programming aired by WLIB and certainly found some people objecting in strong terms, quoting Harlem community activist Elombe Brath as saying, "Get out of here! Oh no. That's worse than what they had before!"
The article notes that WLIB is apparently to continue Air America in the 05:00 to midnight slot and fill in the rest of the time with a simulcast of urban AC WBLS-FM's music until September 1 when the format changes.
Shows that apparently will go include "Dialogue with Dinkins" (former New York City Mayor David Dinkins) and "Sharp Talk," (with the Rev. Al Sharpton) , New York DJ Imhotep Gary Byrd's 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. "GBE Mind Flight", the Saturday 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Stanley Barbot's "Moment Creole" and the Sunday programming that featured "The Caribbean in Five" with Bevan Springer.
WBLS says response to the change has been overwhelmingly positive and dismissed questions about a return to black talk by saying that it hadn't aired black talk for six years and that New York is already awash with talk, news and sports stations.
WBLS' vice president and general manager Deon Levingston and its operations manager Vinny Brown also said the station already "serves the community by broadcasting Black talk shows like 'The Steve Harvey Morning Show,' and 'The Guy Black Show'" and, adds the article, "they even indicated that New York-area Blacks can turn on what they termed their rival station KISS-FM for more Black talk."
That comment seems a little in the nature of red rag to bull to some with activist-attorney Roger Wareham commenting, "To even put 'The Steve Harvey Morning Show' and 'The Guy Black Show' in the same category as the kind of Black talk that Gary Byrd's 'GBE Mind Flight' is in, is a disgrace. It is a disgrace and it is a real assault on the Black community to lose a show like Gary's because Gary's show was really a beacon and a place where activists knew they could get the word out about issues in the community."
Brath was also dismissive commenting that he was upset about "anything that would take away a moment of news when corporate news has majority control over the airwaves, and at a time when there are still attempts to get rid of WBAI [New York's progressive listener-supported station, owned by the Pacifica Foundation]."
Betty Dopson of the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP), commented, "This decision to go all-gospel at a time when the Black community is information starved needs a much better explanation than the one provided by Deon Levingston. Certainly gospel music has its place in the lives of WLIB listeners. But even those who love and listen to gospel music will agree that the Black community is in dire need of and deserving of focused information in the areas of politics, labour, law, education, art, finance, and recreation, as well as religion.
"Something sinister seems to be at work here when the two Black-owned AM radio stations in the media capital of the world can only provide the audiences that they were licensed to serve with gospel music, faith-based messages and white left-wing rhetoric and propaganda."
And finally the UK and a departing host, Sue Lawley who on Sunday broadcast her last "Desert Island Discs" programme - her 774th. It formed the topic for Paul Donovan's Radio Waves column in the Sunday Times in which he noted of the guest , Joan Plowright, Laurence Olivier's wife for 26 years, that she told a nice story about him: I left him once to look after our three children, when they were small. When I got back, there was apple purée all over the floor, and over everyone's faces. Larry said, 'I'd rather play Othello eight times a week than do this again.'"
He then speculated as to which guest might be Lawley's favourite, which led on to comment on the nature of the programme - Lawley to speak on the matter of favourites, saying, "…It would also undermine the programme if castaways felt they might be discussed publicly afterwards. People trust Desert Island Discs, and are willing to talk deeply on it, because it doesn't sensationalize. It contextualizes. You can hear their tone of voice and what is said with a smile. Of course it's edited, but it's a pretty faithful edit, and Leanne Buckle (the usual producer) always takes care to keep the spirit of what was said."
On then to suggested listening and first "Desert Island Discs" (which is due to return in October with Kirsty Young taking over from Lawley). Contractual reasons mean it is not available through the site's "Listen Again" facility but there is a repeat on BBC Radio 4 on Friday at 08:00 GMT.
Next, from BBC Radio 2 and the first part of the two-part "A Kind Of Magic: Tribute To Freddie Mercury" that aired on Saturday. It will be on the site until the concluding part next Saturday at 20:00 GMT. Also from Radio 2, at 20:00 GMT tonight, is "The Rolling Stones in Concert", 90 minutes of the Stones in concert at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
And still with pop, but from a different perspective, the latest "Sunday Best " programme on BBC Radio 4 was "The Art of Pop", featuring Jarvis Cocker, one of many pop musicians to have experienced an art school training, exploring the connections between British art schools and pop.
Then sticking with Radio 4 but moving on to humour and comedy, five suggestions from its late slot (22:30 GMT) this week: Tonight in "We Interrupt this Programme" it contains the first of four profiles by Mark Thomsas of American comedy acts with "Bob and Ray" - Bob Elliot and Ray Goulding, the spoof radio show originals. Then come profiles of Stan Freburg, "The Firesign Theatre", and "National Lampoon" whilst on Friday the slot has Woody Allen doing the profiling in "Chicken Inspector 23: The Story of SJ Perelman."
Also from Radio 4 we'd suggest last week's "Food Programme", which was on the American meat industry and led one to conclude either that Smithfield Foods has a barefaced liar as spokesman or the unions - and at least one court - are grievously mistaken about the nature of the company's operations at the at the world's largest hog processing plant at Tar Heel, North Carolina.
It was the second of two programmes from the US marking the centenary of the publication of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" about conditions in the Chicago stockyards - the first looking at what remains of them is still on the web site. Next week's programme (Sunday 11:30 GMT with a Monday 15:00 GMT) repeat is about a different aspect of US food production and comes from Polyface Farm in Virginia, where farmer Joel Salatin produces what the programme listing terms " beef, chicken and pork based on a unique system he calls 'beyond organic'".
Sticking with documentary but moving to Australia, last Saturday's All in the Mind -"Jerome Kagan - The Father of Temperament" from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation looked at why two children in the same household be very different whilst last week's "Religion Report" looked at some of the implications of the war in Lebanon through the eyes of Robert McCulloch, an Australian Columban priest who has been living and working in Pakistan for twenty eight years: If he and some other commentators are right there's a major conflict looming between the Shia and Sunni Moslems that could tear apart the Middle East with disastrous consequences for the world's economy in terms of oil price and US foreign policy.
Back to the BBC and Radio 3 which, apart from the continuing 2006 Proms Concerts this week has a four-part series "The Search for Sepharad" - tomorrow to Friday at 20:45 GMT in which
broadcaster and film-maker Dennis Marks travels across the Mediterranean in the footsteps of the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.
Finally some BBC World Service Suggestions - last week's World Drama , which was "The Internet Wants A Chat" by Thomas Crowe, in which the Internet gets a mind of its own. In the same area of technology, but this time documentary rather than drama, we suggest "The Communications Revolution" and "Inside the World of Google", two two-part series from the corporation: All four programmes are available as MP3s from the World Service Documentary Archive.
Previous Columnists:
Previous Donovan:
Amsterdam News - Carrillo:
Los Angeles Times _ KZLA editorial;
UK Guardian - Burkeman:
UK Sunday Times - Donovan:
2006-08-28: Talks are continuing this week between SMG and UTV over the latter's proposal of a "nil premium" merger (See RNW Aug 19) but reports are that although SMG has rejected this, considering that it is seriously undervalued by the offer, it would consider an amended deal that would take into account the its higher capitalization than that of UTV.
It could consider a counter-bid for UTV but this seems unlikely and suggestions are of a compromise deal under which UTV would control a merged company but SMG shareholders would own around 55% of the merged entity.
SMG is currently without a chief executive following the resignation of Andrew Flanagan (See RNW Jul 19) and such a deal would provide a replacement - UTV chief executive, John McCann - and also take into account the difference in market values - currently around GBP 45 million (USD 85 million) - SMG is now valued around GBP 241 million (USD 455 million) and UTV around GBP 198 million (USD 374 million).
SMG, which is due to issue its interim results on September 13, is expected to is sue an update on the talks some time this week.
Previous McCann:
Previous SMG:
Previous UTV:
2006-08-28: International satellite radio operator WorldSpace has renewed its contract with CNN International (CNNI) for a further three years.
It will broadcast CNNI in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region using its AsiaStar and AfriStar satellites and each side expressed satisfaction at the deal.
For CNNI, Maggie Eales, SVP of Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited, said they had "always supported new distribution platforms and, based on satellite radio's growing popularity in North America, we believe that WorldSpace is uniquely positioned to reach consumers across the globe who may not otherwise have easy access to our timely content."
Billy Sabatini, vice president of global content, WorldSpace, added , "As we extend existing contracts and forge new relationships with high quality content providers, we enhance WorldSpace's subscriber value and reinforce our position as the dominant international provider of satellite radio services."
Previous WorldSpace:
2006-08-27: Last week saw the regulators involved in a steady stream of routine work but there were no major decisions anywhere: In Australia the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has published just one radio proposal - a plan to make to additional frequencies available for new South Wales community radio service, 2RPH, one each at Newcastle and Wollongong , and also an additional low-power FM fill-in frequency Kings Cross in Sydney: 2RPH already broadcasts on a high power AM frequency in Sydney.
The ACMA notes that the proposal follows a submission from Radio for the Print Handicapped of NSW Co-operative Ltd, the licensee of 2RPH and that there might be other demand for the spectrum: In particular, it says, it would like to hear from any aspirant broadcaster that may be interested in providing a low powered local coverage service in Sydney.
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was involved in a large number of routine radio-related decisions including (in order of province):
British Columbia:
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CFAX-AM, Victoria.
Manitoba:
* Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CHVN-FM, Winnipeg.
Ontario:
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CIQB-FM, Barrie.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CJDV-FM, Cambridge.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CKCB-FM, Collingwood.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CJOY-AM, Guelph.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CIMJ-FM, Guelph.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CFFX-AM, Kingston.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CFMK-FM, Kingston.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CKGE-FM, Oshawa.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CFMI-FM, New Westminster.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CKWF-FM, Peterborough.
*Renewal until 31 August 2010 of licence of CFNY-FM, Brampton. The short-term renewal was made to enable the Commission to review the station's compliance with regulations following an analysis that showed it broadcasting less than 35% Canadian content in category 2 musical selections during the period involved.
*Renewal until 31 August 2010 of licence of CJAQ-FM, Toronto. The short-term renewal was for the same reason as that of CFNY.
*Approval of transmitter relocation for low-power CFQK-FM, Kaministiquia.
Quebec:
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CFGL-FM, Laval.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CJFM-FM, Montréal.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CJAD-AM, Montréal.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CKGM-AM, Montréal.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CHRM-FM, Matane and its transmitter CHRM-FM-1 Les Méchins.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CJLA-FM, Lachute.
*Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licences of radiocommunication distribution undertakings serving Katinniq (Raglan Mine), authorized to rebroadcast the programming of CITE-FM, Montréal, and CFFB-AM, Iqaluit, Nunavut, and for the radiocommunication distribution undertaking serving Kilometre 38, authorized to rebroadcast the programming of CITE-FM.
Saskatchewan:
* Renewal until 31 August 2013 of licence of CJMK-FM, Saskatoon.
In addition the CRTC made administrative renewals until December 31, 2006, and 31 August 2008, of various licences regarding which it will not be able to make a decision until the current licences expire. These included.
Administrative renewal until December 2006:
Alberta:
*CBR-FM, Calgary, and its transmitters CBBC-FM, Lethbridge and CBR-FM-1, Red Deer.
*CKLM-FM, Lloydminster and its transmitter CKLM-FM-1, Bonnyville.
British Columbia:
*CIAJ-FM, Prince Rupert.
Ontario:
*CKMB-FM, Barrie.
*CIKR-FM, Kingston.
*CFXJ-FM, Toronto.
Quebec:
*CJLM-FM, Joliette.
*CHOM-FM, Montréal
*CFQR-FM, Montréal.
Administrative renewal until August 31, 2007:
Quebec:
*CHMP-FM, Longueuil.
*CFEL-FM, Montmagny.
Administrative renewal until 31 August 2008:
Alberta:
*CBR-AM, Calgary and its transmitters CBRA-FM, Coutts/Milk River; CBRB-AM and FM, Banff; CBRC-FM, Harvie Heights; CBRD-FM, Red Deer; CBRE-FM, Exshaw; CBRI-FM, Etzikom; CBRL-FM, Lethbridge; CBRM-FM, Medicine Hat; CBRP-FM, Pincher Creek; CBXC-AM, Coleman; CBXL-AM, Blairmore; and CBR-1-FM, Calgary;
*CBX-AM,. Edmonton, and its transmitters CBKC-AM, Fort Vermilion; CBKD-AM, High Level; CBWI, Grande Cache; CBXA-FM, Chateh; CBXD, Edson; CBX-FM-1, Bonnyville; CBXG-FM, Peace River; CBXH-FM, CBXH-FM, Jean d'Or ; CBXI-FM , Hinton; CBXJ-FM, Jasper; CBXK-FM, Fox Lake; CBXN-FM, Fort McMurray; CBXP-FM, Grande Prairie; CBXS-FM, Swan Hills; CBXV-FM, Fox Creek; CBXX-AM, and CBX-FM-2, Edmonton.
*CHFA-AM, Edmonton, and its transmitters CBRF-FM, Calgary; CHFA-1-FM, Lethbridge; CHFA-2-FM, Red Deer; CHFA-3-FM, Peace River; CHFA-4-FM, Hinton; CHFA-5-FM, Grande Prairie; CHFA-6-FM, Fort McMurray; CHFA-7-FM, Falher; CHFA-8-FM, Medicine Hat; and CHFA-10-FM, Edmonton.
* CBPI-FM, Waterton Park.
* CBPJ-FM, Waterton Park.
British Columbia:
*CBPQ-FM, Coquihalla Toll Plaza
*CBPN-AM, Golden.
*CBPN-FM, Golden.
*CBTK-FM, Kelowna, and its transmitters CBKM-AM, Blue River; CBKN-AM, Shalalth; CBKR-AM, Parson; CBKS, Cache Creek; CBKY-AM, Keremeos; CBKZ-AM, Clearwater; CBRD-AM, Field; CBRG-FM, Princeton; CBRJ-AM, Grand Forks; CBRJ-FM, Phoenix (Greenwood); CBRK-AM, Kimberley; CBRL-AM, Williams Lake; CBRN-FM, North Bend; CBRO-FM, Christina Lake; CBRR-FM, Cranbrook; CBRZ-AM, Bralorne; CBTA-FM, Trail; CBTE-FM, Crawford Bay; CBTF-FM, Falkland; CBTG-AM, Fernie; CBTO-FM, Revelstoke; CBTP-FM, Penticton; CBTS-FM, Creston; CBTY-FM, Lytton; CBUB-FM, Osoyoos; CBUC-FM, Salmon Arm; CBUD-FM, Bonnington Falls; CBUG-AM, Kaslo; CBUH-FM, Chase ; CBUI-AM, New Denver; CBUJ-FM, Winlaw; CBUL-AM, Lillooet; CBUM, Nakusp; CBUN-AM, Salmo; CBUP-AM, Merritt; CBUQ-FM, Radium Hot Springs; CBUS-FM, 100 Mile House; CBUU-AM, Clinton; CBWA-AM, Ashcroft; CBWD-AM, Donald; CBXA-AM, Mica Dam; CBXE-FM, Golden; CBXH-Am, Cooper Creek; CBXW-AM, Edgewood; CBYC-FM, Canal Flats; CBYE-FM, Logan Lake; CBYK-FM, Kamloops; CBYL-FM, Lumby; CBYN-FM, Nelson; CBYO-FM, Barriere; CBYR-FM, Rock Creek; CBYS-FM, Sparwood; CBYU-FM, Alexis Creek; CBYV-FM, Vernon; CBYX-FM, Enderby; and CBYZ-FM, Vavenby.
*CBYG-FM, Prince George, and its transmitters CBKG-AM, Granisle; CBKQ-FM, Dawson Creek; CBRS-FM, Smithers; CBRV-FM, Vanderhoof; CBTC-FM, McBride; CBTI-FM, Moricetown; CBTU-FM, Tumbler Ridge; CBTV-FM, Valemount; CBTX-FM, Bella Bella; CBUO-FM, Fort Nelson; CBUR-FM, Houston; CBUV-FM, Fort St James; CBUZ-FM, Chetwynd; CBWF-AM, Mackenzie; CBXB-FM, Burns Lake; CBXO-FM, Ocean Falls; CBXR-FM, Fort Fraser; CBXU-AM, Hudson Hope; CBYD-FM, Bella Coola; CBYI-FM, Hagensborg; CBYJ-FM, Fort St. John; CBYW-AM, Wells; and CBYY-FM, Kersley;
*CFPR-AM, Prince Rupert, and its transmitters CBKA-AM, Stewart; CBKL-AM, Alice Arm; CBRH-AM, New Hazelton; CBTD-AM, Kispiox; CBTH-FM, Terrace; CBTM-FM, Masset; CBTZ-FM, Kitwanga; CBUK-FM, Kitimat; CBYA-FM, Aiyansh; CBYB-FM, Port Clements; and CBYQ-FM, Queen Charlotte.
*CBU-AM, Vancouver, and its transmitters CBRU-AM, Squamish; CBUE-FM, Hope; CBXK-AM, Pemberton; CBYF-FM, Chilliwack; CBYH-FM, Harrison Hot Springs; CBYW-FM, Whistler; CKZU-AM, Vancouver; and FM transmitter -with no call sign- in Abbotsford.
*CBUF-FM, Vancouver, and its transmitters CBUF-FM-1, Chilliwack; CBUF-FM-2, Kelowna; CBUF-FM-3, Terrace; CBUF-FM-4, Prince George; CBUF-FM-5, Kitimat; CBUF-FM-6, Kamloops; CBUF-FM-7, Dawson Creek; CBUF-FM-8, Port Alberni; and CBUF-FM-9, Victoria.
*CBU-FM. Vancouver and its transmitters CBU-FM-1, Victoria; CBU-FM-2, Metchosin/Sooke; CBU-FM-3, Kelowna; CBU-FM-4, Kamloops; CBU-FM-5, Prince George; CBU-FM-6, Fresnel; and CBU-FM-7, Chilliwack; plus in the Northwest Territories CFYK-FM, Yellowknife, and in Yukon Territory, CFWH-FM, Whitehorse.
*CBUX-FM, Vancouver, and its transmitter CUBX-FM-1, Victoria;
*CBCV-FM, Victoria, and its transmitters CBCV-FM-1, Metchosin/Sooke; CBKJ-AM, Gold River; CBKO-AM, Coal Harbour; CBKU-AM, Sayward; CBRY-FM, Alert Bay; CBTQ-FM, Port Alberni; CBTW-FM, Woss Camp; CBUW-FM, Powell River; CBUX-AM, Port Alice; CBUY-FM, Port Hardy; CBXP-AM, Tahsis; CBXQ-AM, Ucluelet; CBXZ-FM, Tofino; and CBYT-FM, Campbell River.
Manitoba:
*CKSB-AM, St-Boniface, and its transmitters CKSB-1-AM and FM, Ste. Rose du Lac; CKSB-2-AM, St. Lazare; CKSB-FM-3, The Pas; CKSB-FM-4, Flin Flon; CKSB-FM-5, Thompson; CKSB-FM-8, Brandon; CKSB-10-FM, Winnipeg plus in Ontario CKSB-FM-6, Dryden; CKSB-FM-7, Kenora; CKSB-FM-9, Fort Frances;
*CBWK-FM, Thompson, and its transmitters CBDE-FM, Brochet; CBDG-FM, Shamattawa; CBDI-FM, Poplar River; CBDS-AM, Pukatawagan; CBDU-FM, Lynn Lake; CBWB-FM, Wabowden; CBWC-FM, Moose Lake; CBWD-FM, Waasagomach; CBWE-FM, Easterville; CBWF-FM, Flin Flon; CBWG-FM, Gillam; CBWH-FM, Grand Rapids; CBWI-FM, Ilford; CBWJ-FM, The Pas; CBWL-FM, Snow Lake; CBWM-FM, Oxford House; CBWN-FM, Gods Lake Narrows; CBWO-FM, Nelson House; CBWP-FM, Leaf Rapids; CBWQ-FM, South Indian Lake; CBWR-FM, Little Grand Rapids; CBWU-FM, Cranberry Portage; and CHFC-AM, Churchill.
*CBW-AM, Winnipeg, and its transmitters CBWA-FM, Manigotagan; CBWV-FM, Brandon; CBWW-FM, Dauphin; CBWX-FM, Fisher Branch; CBWY-FM, Jackhead; CBWZ-FM, Fairford; and CBW-1-FM, Winnipeg;
*CBW-FM, Winnipeg, and its transmitter CBWS-FM, Brandon.
*CKSB-FM, Winnipeg, and its transmitters, CKSB-FM-1, Regina; and CKSB-FM-2, Saskatoon.
New Brunswick:
*CBA-AM, Moncton, and its transmitters CBAA-FM, Newcastle, and CBAE-FM, Campbellton.
*CBZ-AM, Fredericton, and its transmitters CBAM-FM, Edmundston; CBAX-AM, McAdam; CBZB-AM, Boiestown; CBZC-FM, Bon Accord; CBZD-FM, Doaktown; and CBZW-FM, Woodstock;
*CBAF-FM, Moncton, and its transmitters CBAF-20, Kedgwick; CBAF-21, Saint-Quentin; CBAF-FM-1, Fredericton/Saint John; CBAF-FM-18, Lameque; CBAF-FM-2, Neguac; CBAF-FM-3, Campbellton; CBAF-FM-4, Edmundston.
*CBAL-FM, Moncton, and its transmitters CBAL-FM-1, Néguac/Allardville; CBAL-FM-2, Lameque; CBAL-FM-3, Campbellton; CBAL-FM-4, Fredericton ;and CBAL-FM-5 ,Edmundston.
*CBD-FM. Saint John and its transmitters CBAO-AM, St. Stephen; and CBZA-FM, Grand Manan.
*CBZF-FM, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Newfoundland and Labrador:
*CBY-AM, Corner Brook, and its transmitters, CBDT-FM, Deer Lake; CBNA-AM, St. Anthony;
*CBG-AM, Gander, and its transmitters CBGC-FM, Carmanville; CBGY-AM, Bonavista Bay; CBNG-AM and CBNG-FM, Glovertown.
*CFGB-FM, Goose Bay, and its transmitters CBGF-FM, Fox Harbour; CBND-FM, Postville; CBNI-FM, Makkovik; CBNK-AM, Cartwright; CBNN-FM, Hopedale; CBNP-FM, Port Hope Simpson; CBNZ-AM, Nain; CBQA-FM, Churchill Falls; and CKZN-SW, St. John's.
*CBN-FM, St. John's, and its transmitters CBN-FM-1, Grand Falls; CBN-FM-2, Corner Brook; CBN-FM-3, Deer Lake; CBN-FM-4, Stephenville; CBN-FM-5, Marystown; and CBN-FM-6, Baie Verte.
*CBDQ-FM, Labrador City.
*CBNC-FM, Stephenville; CBNE-FM, Port-aux-Basques; CBNF-FM, Bonne Bay; CBNH-FM, St. Andrew's; CBNJ-FM, Port Saunders; CBYM-FM, Mount St. Margaret; and CBYP-FM, Portland Creek.
*CBN-AM, St-John's and its transmitters CBNL-FM, Clarenville; CBNM-FM, Marystown; CBNO-FM, Swift Current; CBNQ-FM, Trepassey; CBNR-FM, Ramea/Burgeo; CBNS-FM, St. Albans; CBNV-FM, Placentia; CBNU-FM, Fermeuse; and CBNX-FM, St. Vincent's.
*CBT-AM, Grand Falls, and its transmitters CBTB-FM, Baie Verte; CBTJ-FM, Hampden; CBTL-FM, Millertown; and CBTR-FM, Roddickton;
Northwest Territories:
CBQM-AM, Fort McPherson; CBAC-AM, Tuktoyaktuk:
*CHAK-AM, Inuvik, and its transmitters CBAK-AM, Aklavik; CBDW-AM, Norman Wells; CBIN-FM, Cambridge Bay; CBIO-FM, Kugluktuk (Coppermine); CBQE-FM, Fort Good Hope; CBQI-AM, Tulita;
*CFYK-AM, Yellowknife, and its transmitters CBDI-AM, Fort Smith; CBDJ-FM, Hay River; CBDO-AM, Fort Simpson; CBQB-FM, Rae-Edzo; CBQC-AM, Fort Providence; CBQD-FM, Fort Resolution; CBQG-AM, Wrigley; plus CBKE-AM, Fort Chipewyan.
Nova Scotia:
CBAF-FM-7, Digby; CBAF-FM-8, Weymouth; and CBAF-FM-9, Yarmouth; plus in Newfoundland and Labrador CBAF-FM-16, Port au Port; CBAF-FM-17, St. John's;
*CBAF-FM 5, Halifax and its transmitters CBAF-FM-10, New Glasgow; CBAF-FM-11, Mulgrave; CBAF-FM-12, Margaree; CBAF-FM-13, Cheticamp; CBAF-FM-14, Sydney; CBAF-FM-6, Middleton;
*CBHA-FM, Halifax and its transmitters CBAP-FM, Shelburne; CBAZ-FM, Sheet Harbour; CBHB-FM, Mulgrave; CBHC-FM, Truro; CBHL-FM, Liverpool; CBHM-FM, Middleton; CBHN-FM, New Glasgow; CBHY-FM, CBHY-FM.
*CBH-FM, Halifax, and its transmitters CBH-FM-2, Mulgrave; and CBH-FM-1, Middleton; plus in New Brunswick CBA-FM, Moncton; and CBZ-FM, Fredericton; and in Prince Edward Island CBCH-FM, Charlottetown.
*CBI-AM, Sydney, and its transmitters CBHF-FM, Northeast Margaree; CBHI-FM, Inverness; CBIB-FM, Bay St. Lawrence; and CBIC-FM, Cheticamp.
*CBI-FM, Sydney.
Nunavut:
*CFFB-AM, Iqaluit, and its transmitters CBIH-FM, Cape Dorset; CBII-FM, Igloolik; CBIJ-FM, Pangnirtung; CBIK-FM, Pond Inlet; CBIL-FM, Resolute Bay; CFFB-1-FM, Cambridge Bay; and CFFB-2-FM, Kugluktuk (Coppermine).
*CBQR-FM, Rankin Inlet, and its transmitters CBIA-AM, Gjoa Haven; CBIG-FM, Arviat (Eskimo Point); and CBIQ-FM, Taloyoak (Spence Bay).
Ontario:
*CBPS-FM, Bruce Peninsula.
*CBCL-FM, London.
*CBOX-FM, Ottawa, Ontario.
*CBOF-FM, Ottawa, and its transmitters CBOF-1-AM, Maniwaki; CBOF-4-AM, Rolphton; CBOF-FM-6, Cornwall; CBOF-FM-7, Brockville; and CBOF-FM-9, Chapeau;
*CBO-FM, Ottawa, and its transmitters CBCD-FM, Pembroke; CBCK-FM, Kingston; CBCW-FM, Whitney; CBLI-AM, Deep River; CBOC-FM, Cornwall; and CBOM-AM, Maniwaki.
*CBBS-FM, Sudbury.
*CBBX-FM, Sudbury.
*CBCS-FM, Sudbury, and its transmitters CBCA-FM, Attawapiskat; CBCC-FM, Hearst; CBCE-FM, Little Current; CBCG-FM, Elk Lake; CBCI-FM, Fort Albany; CBCJ-FM, Timmins; CBCN-FM, North Bay; CBCR-FM, Kirkland Lake; CBCU-FM, Chapleau; CBCY-FM, Haileybury; CBEC-FM, Elliot Lake; CBEU-AM, Temagami; CBEY-AM, Moosonee; CBLF-AM, Foleyet; CBLJ-FM, Wawa; CBLO-AM, Mattawa; CBOK-FM, Kapuskasing; CBSM-FM, Sault Ste. Marie.
*CBON-FM, Sudbury, and its transmitters CBON-10-AM, Matachewan; CBON-12-AM, Mattawa; CBON-6-AM, Blind River; CBON-FM-1, Kirkland Lake; CBON-FM-11, Dubreuilville; CBON-FM-17, North Bay; CBON-FM-18, Sault Ste. Marie; CBON-FM-19, Nipigon CBON-FM-2, Haileybury; CBON-FM-20, Thunder Bay; CBON-FM-21, Gogama; CBON-FM-22, Geraldton; CBON-FM-23, Manitouwadge; CBON-FM-24, Kapuskasing; CBON-FM-25, Timmins; CBON-FM-26, Hearst; CBON-FM-27, Wawa; CBON-FM-28, Chapleau; CBON-FM-5, Elliot Lake; and CBON-FM-7, Espanola;
*CBQ-FM, Thunder Bay.
Prince Edward Island:
*CBAF-FM 15, Charlottetown, and its transmitters CBAF-FM-19, Urbainville; CBAF-FM-20, St. Edward/St. Louis;
*CBCT-FM, Charlottetown.
Quebec:
*CBJ-FM, Chicoutimi, and its transmitters CBJ-2, Chapais; CBJ-FM-1, Chibougamau; CBJ-FM-3, Dolbeau; CBJ-FM-4, L'Anse-St-Jean; and CBJ-FM-6, La Baie.
*CBJX-FM, Chicoutimi, and its transmitter CBJX-FM-1, Dolbeau.
*CBFG-FM, Chisasibi (Fort-George).
*CBF-FM, Montréal, and its transmitters CBF-1-AM, Senneterre; CBF-16-AM, Clova; CBF-17-AM, Lac-Édouard; CBF-18, Parent; CBF-3-AM, Lebel-sur-Quévillon; CBF-4-AM, Matagami; CBF-FM-13, Saint-Michel-des-Saints; CBF-FM-14, Saint-Jovite; CBF-FM-15, L'Annonciation; CBF-FM-7, Radisson; and CBF-FM-9, Mont-Laurier.
*CBFX-FM, Montréal, and its transmitters CBFX-FM-1, Trois-Rivières; CBFX-FM-2, Sherbrooke; CBFX-FM-3, Amos; CBFX-FM-4, Rouyn; CBFX-FM-5, Gaspé; and CBFX-FM-6, Mont-Laurier.
*CBGA-FM, Matane, and its transmitters CBGA-1-AM, New Carlisle; CBGA-3-FM, Rivière-au-Renard; CBGA-4-FM, Lac-au-Saumon; CBGA-6, Murdochville; CBGA-7, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts; CBGA-FM-10, Gaspé; CBGA-FM-11, Mont-Louis-en-Haut; CBGA-FM-12, Marsoui; CBGA-FM-13, Gros-Morne; CBGA-FM-14, Grande-Vallée; CBGA-FM-15, L'Anse-à-Valleau; CBGA-FM-7, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts; CBGA-FM-8, Îles-de-la-Madeleine; and CBGA-FM-9, Cloridorme;
*CBME-FM, Montréal, and its transmitters CBME-FM-1, Montréal; and CBMG-FM, Cowansville;
*CBM-FM, Montréal, and its transmitters CBM-FM-1, Sherbrooke; and CBM-FM-2, Québec.
*CBVE-FM, Québec, and its transmitters CBJE-FM, Chicoutimi; CBMA-FM, Rouyn; CBMB-FM, Sherbrooke; CBMC-FM, Thetford Mines; CBMD-AM, Chapais; CBMF-FM, Saint-Jovite; CBMH-FM, Schefferville; CBMI-FM, Baie-Comeau; CBMJ-AM, Murdochville; CBMK-AM, Lebel-sur-Quévillon; CBML-AM, Val d'Or ; CBMM-AM, Senneterre; CBMN-AM, Malartic; CBMO-AM, Lac-Mégantic; CBMP-FM, Chisasibi (Fort-George; CBMQ-FM, Waskaganish; CBMR-FM, Fermont; CBMS-FM, Blanc Sablon; CBMT-FM, La Tabatière; CBMU-FM, Harrington Harbour; CBMV-FM, Old Fort Bay; CBMW-FM, Wemindji; CBMX-FM, Saint-Augustin (Saguenay); CBMY-FM, Rivière-Saint-Paul; CBMZ-FM, Trois-Rivières; CBSE-FM, Sept-Îles; CBVA-FM, Escuminac; CBVB-FM, Chandler; CBVC-FM, Chibougamau; CBVE-1-AM, La Tuque; CBVF-FM, Port-Daniel (partie est); CBVG-FM, Gaspé; CBVM-FM, Îles-de-la-Madeleine; CBVN-FM, New Carlisle; CBVP-FM, Percé; CBVR-FM, New Richmond; CBVS-FM, Mistissini (Baie-du-Poste); and CBVW-FM, Waswanipi.
*CBV-FM, Québec, and its transmitters CBV-FM-1, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré; CBV-FM-4, Saint-Pamphile; CBV-FM-5, Saint-Fabien-de-Panet ; CBV-FM-6, La Malbaie; CBV-FM-7, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce; and CBV-FM-8, Thetford Mines;
*CBVX-FM, Québec, and its transmitters CBVX-FM-1, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré; CBVX-FM-2, La Malbaie; and CBVX-FM-3, Baie-Saint-Paul.
*CBRX-FM, Rimouski, and its transmitters CBRX-FM-1, Matane; CBRX-FM-2, Sept-Îles; CBRX-FM-3, Rivière-du-Loup; CBSI-14-AM, Aguanish;CBSI-23-AM, Port-Menier; CBSI-5, Natashquan; CBSI-6, Fermont; and CBSI-8, La Romaine.
*CJBR-FM, Rimouski, and its transmitter CJBR-FM-1, Rivière-du-Loup.
* CHLM-FM, Rouyn-Noranda, and its transmitter , Amos/Val-d'Or;
*CBSI-FM, Sept-Îles, and its transmitters CBSI-FM-15, Harrington Harbour; CBSI-FM-16, Tête-à-la-Baleine; CBSI-FM-17, La Tabatière; CBSI-FM-18, Saint-Augustin (Saguenay); CBSI-FM-19, Old Fort Bay; CBSI-FM-20, Rivière-Saint-Paul; CBSI-FM-21, Blanc Sablon; CBSI-FM-24, Baie-Comeau; CBSI-FM-3, Churchill Falls ; CBSI-FM-4, Labrador City/Wabush; CBSI-FM-6, Fermont; CBSI-FM-7, Havre-St-Pierre; and CBSI-FM-2, Schefferville.
*CBF-FM-10, Sherbrooke, and its transmitters CBF-FM-11, Asbestos/Danville; CBF-FM-12, Victoriaville; CBF-FM-2, Magog; and CBF-FM-6, Lac-Mégantic.
*CBF-FM-8, Trois-Rivières, and its transmitter CBF-FM-19, La Tuque.
*CBFH-FM, Waskaganish.
*CBFV-FM, Waswanipi.
*CBFV-FM, Waswanipi
*CBFA-3-AM, Weymontachie.
Saskatchewan:
*CBKA-FM, La Ronge, and its transmitters CBDH-FM, Uranium City; CBKB -AM, Beauval; CBKC-FM, Île-à-la-Crosse; CBKD-FM, Buffalo Narrows ; CBKE-FM, La Loche; CBKG-FM, Fond du Lac; CBKH, Stony Rapids/Black Lake; CBKI-FM, Stanley Mission; CBKJ-FM , Pinehouse Lake; CBKK-FM, Patuanak; CBKL-FM, Montreal Lake; CBKN-FM, Island Falls; CBKO-FM, Denare Beach; CBKP-FM, Southend; CBKV-FM, Cumberland House; and CBKW-FM, Pelican Narrows.
*CBK-AM, Regina, and its transmitters CBKM-FM, Meadow Lake; CBKR-FM Regina; and CBK-1-FM, Saskatoon.
* CBKF-FM, Regina, and its transmitters CBKF-1, Gravelbourg; CBKF-2, Saskatoon; CBKF-FM-3, Zenon Park; CBKF-FM-4, Bellegarde; and CBKF-FM-5, North Battleford.
*CBK-FM, Regina, and its transmitters CBK-FM-1, Prince Albert; CBK-FM-2, Warmley; CBK-FM-3, Yorkton; CBK-FM-4, Swift Current; CBKS-FM, Saskatoon; and CBK-FM-5, North Battleford.
Yukon Territory:
CFWH-AM, Whitehorse, and its transmitters CBDB-AM, Watson Lake; CBDC-AM, Mayo; CBDD-AM, Elsa; CBDF-FM, Haines Junction; CBDK-AM, Teslin; CBDL-FM, Destruction Bay; CBDM-AM, Beaver Creek; CBDN-AM and FM, Dawson City; CBDX-AM, Swift River; CBQF-AM, Carmacks; CBQJ-AM, Ross River; CBQK-FM, Faro, and CBUA-FM, Atlin, British Columbia.
In Ireland, there were no radio decisions as such but there the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is involved in the release of ratings, which were published during the week (See RNW Aug 26).
In the UK, Ofcom, which asked for letters of intent for the second round of community radio licensing, says it received more than 180 such letters and as a result decided to invite applications on a staggered region-by-region basis rather than for the whole UK at the same time. It is currently asking for applications for South West England and South/Mid Wales.
Ofcom also published its latest Broadcast Bulletin, upholding no complaints this time (See RNW Aug 25).
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) confirmed a USD 25,00 penalty on as Texas AM (See below) and has also now cleared three XM receivers that use FM to link to radio sets as meeting its regulations, thus boosting XM shares (See RNW Aug 26).
The FCC has also issued a public notice seeking comment on the procedures to be used in its Auction 68A of FM construction permits that is scheduled to start on January 10, next year.
On offer will be nine permits that were unsold in the FCC's auctions 37, which closed in November 2004, and 62, which closed in January this year. The permits are for stations in California (2), Florida (2), Hawaii, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Utah. Comments have to be submitted by September 13.
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:
2006-08-27: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed a USD 25,000 penalty on a Texas AM for failure to maintain a main studio in its community of license, failure to install and maintain operational Emergency Alert System ("EAS") equipment during the hours of station operation, and failure to make the station's public inspection file available.
Paulino Bernal Evangelism, former licensee of KBRN-AM, Boerne, had filed for reconsideration of the penalty on the basis of its inability to pay and history of overall compliance. It had already argued against the initial notice of apparent violation (NAL), which was issued in December 2003, on these grounds and had also argued that it did not violate the main studio and public inspection file requirements; that, if it violated the Rules, there is no evidence that the violations were repeated; that it has a history of overall compliance; that imposition of a forfeiture against Evangelism would be "contrary to Commission policy" because donors would be the ultimate source of payment; and that payment of a forfeiture would limit its "ability to generate programming in the public interest."
The FCC has rejected these arguments- including that of compliance and had pointed out a violation involving KUOL-AM, San Marco, Texas, which is licensed to SM Radio, Inc., a company under the same ownership as Evangelism - and issued a forfeiture order in October 2004.
It also rejected the other arguments including that of financial hardship for which documentation had not been produced, and confirmed the full penalty.
Previous FCC:
2006-08-26: Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan has now issued a memo to staff confirming the expected management re-organization ( See RNW Aug 25): In an internal memo to staff about the changes, Hogan notes the contribution to the plan by Charlie Rahilly, Susan Karis and Tom Schurr, who were appointed on August 17 as three new EVPs of operations.
The memo says the "new approach has fewer layers of management" and foes on to say Clear Channel Radio has "made enormous progress creating and deploying outstanding decision-support systems. Today, our decision-makers are better informed, more experienced, and as a result, more autonomous."
He continued, "While some of the new titles will sound familiar, the job descriptions and responsibilities associated with them are quite different. This reflects a new approach for managing our company within our changing industry."
Compared to a structure before the August 17 appointments of 10 senior VPs and 6 senior VPs of programming, each overseeing a specific region, the new structure has only eight SVPs with their responsibilities covering geographic regions and split into market managing and programming roles.
Four SVPs are charged with managing their markets - Dave Crowl (Central); Bill Gentry (Eastern); Mark Kopelman (Western); and Ed Krampf (Western).
In addition there are four Senior VPs of programming - Marc Chase (Eastern); Michael Martin (Western & Central), Gene Romano (Eastern & Central); and Alan Sledge (Western & Central).
Below them are 12 regional VPs, each with responsibility for specific markets and overseeing others, plus ten Presidents and market managers with responsibility for a single market.
Hogan says the new structure will create a "more focused team of senior programming professionals to build on our programming strengths and continually improve the quality of our programming."
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Hogan:
2006-08-26: XM Satellite Radio shares bounded again on Friday following a company announcement that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had issued new grants of authority for three XM radios with FM transmitters - the Audiovox Xpress, Delphi RoadyXT, and XM Sportscaster - that it had been forced to take off the market.
XM terms the models three of its "primary products at retail", says manufacturers have been asked to resume production, and adds that they are expected to be available for the holiday season.
XM shares jumped more than a fifth on Tuesday after Bear Stearns analyst Robert Peck upgraded the stock to outperform from underperform, saying it was close to a resolution on the emission issue, but they then fell back by 4.6% on Wednesday to USD 12.90 (See RNW Aug 24).
On Friday they hit USD 14.22 at one point but then fell back a little to end the day up 5% at USD 13:49, their best performance since the plunge in July when they dropped from nearly USD 15 to around USD 10.50.
Previous FCC:
Previous XM:
2006-08-26: Latest Irish radio ratings from the JNLR/TNSmrbi survey covering July 2005 to June 2006 show the medium with a stable reach compared to the previous quarter with some minor variations in weekday reach.
Overall 85% of the population listened to radio daily but within the figures overall listening to any regional or local station was up 1 to 58%, listening to RTÉ Radio One was down 1 to 24% and RTÉ 2FM was also down 1 - to 19%. Today FM retained 15% and RTÉ Lyric FM 3%.
The trend was similar for share in the daytime 07:00 to 19:00 period with the figure for any regional/local station up 0.8 to 51.7%; that for RTÉ Radio One down 0.7% to 21.7%, for RTÉ 2FM down 0.5 to 13.4% and for RTÉ Lyric FM down 0.1 to 1.5% but Today FM increased its share by 0.6 to 11.5%.
In terms of weekly reach national listening saw RTÉ Radio One unchanged at 40%; RTÉ 2FM unchanged at 37%; Today FM unchanged at 30%; and RTÉ Lyric FM down 1 to with 8% whilst south-east regional station Beat 102-103FM again retained 32%.
For weekly reach elsewhere:
In Dublin the top five stations were RTÉ Radio 1- an unchanged 42%; FM104, which gained 1to end with 36%; RTÉ 2FM, which lost 1% to end with 30%; 98FM, which gained 1to end with 30% and Q102, which lost 1 to end with 22%: Today FM was in sixth place -up 1 to 21%.
Cork's top five stations were Cork 96FM/County Sound 103 FM, which gained 2 to end with a 71% reach; RTÉ Radio 1, which gained 2 to end with 35%; Cork's Red FM which gained 2 to end with 31%; RTÉ 2FM, which gained 1 to end with 25%; and Today FM, which gained 2 to end with 23%.
Most successful local stations were Highland Radio - an unchanged 89%; Limerick's Live 95FM - down 1 to 84%; Radio Kerry - up 2 to 80%, a total it shared with Galway Bay FM which fell by 1;and Ocean FM - down 4 to 76%.
For weekday reach:
In Dublin the top five stations were RTÉ Radio 1 -down 1 to 28%; FM104 -up 1 to 22%; 98FM - up 2 to 18%; RTÉ 2FM with an unchanged 15%; and Spin 1038 - up 1 to 12% and thus overtaking Q102, which lost 1% to end with 11%:
Cork's top five stations were Cork 96FM/County Sound 103 FM, with an unchanged 48%; RTÉ Radio 1, - up 1 to 20%; Cork's Red FM up 2 to 17%; Today FM up 2 to 12%; and RTÉ 2FM -down 1 to 10.
Most successful local stations were Highland Radio - an unchanged 72%; Limerick's Live 95FM - down 1 to 64%; Ocean FM - down 3 to 60%; Shannonside/Northern Sound - down 2 to 57% and Radio Kerry - down 3 to 55%
Previous Irish Ratings:
Previous RTÉ:
2006-08-26: Regent has announced agreement to sell Indiana station WYNG-FM, which serves the Evansville market, to W. Russell Withers, Jr. for USD 1.5 million in cash in a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter.
The divestment will leave Regent with five stations in the market - News talk WGBF AM ; Rock WGBF-FM; Top-40 WDKS-FM; AC WJLT-FM; and Country WKDQ-FM.
Regent President and CEO Bill Stakelin said in a statement that the sale was in line with its "strategy to maximize the value of our assets."
He added, " We intend to use the proceeds from today's divestiture and previously announced transactions to continue to reinforce our position as a leading consolidator of middle and small-sized markets. Looking ahead, we remain active in the M&A market and will continue to seek selective opportunities that will strengthen our ability to generate value for our shareholders."
Previous Regent:
Previous Stakelin:
2006-08-25: US radio giant Clear Channel is expected to announce today details of a major management restructuring that according to rumour will involve the axing of a number of high level posts amidst a consolidation of functions.
Other posts in what is being described as a "flattening" of company structure are likely to be downgraded.
Previous Clear Channel:
2006-08-25: Arbitron has released software for its planned weekly radio ratings in its Houston Portable People Meter (PPM) trial that it says will give that market's radio programmers the ability to download weekly updates of audience ratings and gain reliable week-by-week insights into radio audience behaviour.
Gary Marince, vice president, Programming Services and Development, Arbitron Inc. said that because of the PPM they would be able to deliver reliable weekly ratings to that programmers can see how a strategy is working instead of having to wait a month for a "ratings report that only reflects the average audience for the previous three months."
"..thanks to the reliability of the PPM ratings, programmers won't have to resort to home-brew, back-of-the envelope extrapolations of Arbitron data that can lead to misleading conclusions about the behaviour of the radio audience," he added. "With PPM, when you run a strong promotion, make a personality or format change, you'll have credible audience feedback within weeks."
Arbitron's director, PPM Client Software George Brady said they had "designed the software to look and feel like the monthly Arbitrends SM system" and added, "Programmers will see the same day parts and the same demographics that they are used to (with the addition of 6+ and 6-11). However, instead of trending a rolling three-month average just 12 times each year, stations' executives will be able to trend week-to-week estimates for all encoded stations in PPM-measured markets."
Arbitron delivered its first weekly report on Thursday covering the week from July 27 and says date for the week from August 3 will be available on August 28. It has posted a 2006 delivery schedule for PPM Weeklies on its web site.
Previous Arbitron:
Arbitron 2006 PPM schedule:
2006-08-25: Emap has signed DJs Carl Cox and Armin Van Buren to spearhead changes for its new look KISS network to launch next month when London flagship station Kiss 100's output is to be aired for much of the day on its current Vibe stations in Bristol - being re-branded as KISS but retaining their own breakfast shows plus other local programming.
Emap is also launching a new web site - totalkiss - for the stations from September 6 (it currently carries a redirect to Kiss 100, Vibe 101 and Vibe 105) with a new logo to be used on the stations on digital multiplexes, web site, Kiss TV, mobile phone services, Kiss-branded CDs and events.
The new web site will user comment on such matter as the best songs and nightclubs, games and videos and Emap also has plans to podcast music from unsigned talent and other material such as DJ mix master classes.
Kiss group programme director Andy Roberts said he wanted "current listeners to love Kiss even more and new listeners to get excited about discovering Kiss on the radio."
He described the new schedule as a "really exciting mix between established local talent; excellent new signings and some superstar names."
As well as Cox and Van Buren, Kiss has hired former Capital Radio weekend DJ Justin Wilkes to host an 09:00 to noon weekday show whilst at the weekends two former backroom staff from the BBC digital radio station 1Xtra - Melvin Odoom and Rickie Haywood-Williams - will host a weekend morning show.
There was no announcement about Kiss 100's breakfast slot, currently being hosted by Robin Banks following the departure of Bam Bam.
Previous Emap:
Totalkiss web site:
2006-08-25: Industry body Commercial Radio Australia has launched a series of free, radio creative workshops for corporate clients, run in conjunction with the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA).
The workshops, which began in Sydney on Thursday - a further seminar will be held in Melbourne next month - and will feature international creative expert and creator of the award-winning radio brand campaign, Ralph van Dijk of Eardrum Australia, are part of the organization's strategy to improve radio advertising clients about the best possible use of the medium and seminars have already been held targeted at advertising agencies and focusing on how to use radio most effectively.
The seminars include tips on understanding how radio writers create radio scripts, cast talent and direct actors in the studio.
Commercial Radio Australia chief executive Joan Warner said of the intention behind the moves, "We want Australian radio ads to be amongst the best in the world - and educating corporate clients about the best use of the medium creatively, will greatly assist this process."
AANA Executive Director Collin Segelov said the partnership with CRA was a practical demonstration of the association's commitment to professional development and training and added, "It is important for clients to appreciate the nitty gritty of effective radio, and the role they can play in it, because the process starts with the briefing."
van Dijk commented, "Radio is consumed in a way that is unlike any other medium. When you understand how listeners actually listen, you will be able to engage and communicate on a much deeper level. Advertisers are taking radio more seriously. It's been described as a marketing Swiss Army Knife and these workshops are about putting that theory to the test and learn which element of the multi-purpose tool is right for each job."
Commercial Radio Australia has also called for entries for its annual New Artists to Radio (NA2R) event that this year will offer the winner a prize of AUD 100,000 ( USD 76,000) in radio advertising over two weeks, will be provided on Austereo, NOVA, Australian Radio Network and Macquarie Regional Radio network stations down the east coast of Australia in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Central Coast, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as being invited to perform at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) in front of 850 Australian radio industry executives and on-air presenters.
This year's event is being run in conjunction with the website MySpace and the event will be held on October 13 in Sydney, the day before the Australian Commercial Radio Awards ceremony.
Warner said of the requirements for entrants, "The radio industry wants to hear from artists and bands who have at least two songs ready to be played on commercial radio but who have not yet been signed by a record label. The submissions will be judged by a panel of commercial radio network program and music directors, with four acts chosen to perform at the NA2R, based on their commercial radio play potential."
Previous Commercial Radio Australia:
Previous Warner:
2006-08-25: British media regulator Ofcom in its latest Broadcast Bulletin upheld no complaints although it did consider two radio and two TV standards cases resolved and gave details of two TV fairness and privacy complaints that were not upheld.
The radio complaints considered resolved involved Emap's Kerrang! and Kiss - in the case of the first a competition entitled "Dole or no Dole."
The listener said that the apparent premise of the competition - the presenter ringing unsuspecting members of the public, who may or may not have been claiming state benefits, so that competitors could guess how many benefits they were claiming - was offensive and "vindictive".
Emap said the calls were pre-recorded and set -up and said the item was meant to be a humorous take on the television programme Deal or no Deal but added that following a call from a listener it had reviewed the broadcast and decided that as some listeners could have interpreted the item as being offensive, rather than light-hearted, it should be dropped and not aired again. The station apologised for any offence it had caused.
It also noted that In previous programmes, the presenter had mentioned that he had been on the dole for a significant period of time and knew how hard it was to be unemployed and so at no point was he ever trying to make light of this situation.
Ofcom said it recognized that the calls were set-ups although this was not apparent to listeners and that the intent was to be humorous but also understood the complainant's concerns, adding that in this case the action taken resolved the matter.
In the Kiss 100 case, a listener complained that an aired track contained the lyrics "suck me off, fuck me off" and Kiss had said it regretted that it had aired an unedited version of 'S'Express' because of the introduction of a non-stop sequence of dance mixes on Friday afternoons from 15:00 as a transition from the normal daytime 'play-listed' music to the more specialist output of a Friday evening and the weekend. It said that it had now taken steps to ensure that all non-play-listed tracks included in the Friday afternoon mixes were pre-vetted and either edited as appropriate or excluded.
Ofcom commented that more case should have been taken but considered the action subsequently taken resolved the matter.
In addition to these items, Ofcom listed with no details a further 160 TV complaints involving 121 items and 13 radio complaints involving 13 items that it were out of its remit or not upheld. The totals compare with 109 TV complaints involving 62 items and 18 radio complaints involving 13 items that it said were out of its remit or not upheld in its previous bulletin.
Previous Ofcom:
Previous Ofcom Complaints Bulletin:
2006-08-24: Fresh from its USD 262 million sale of 15 stations to Entercom (See RNW Aug 22), CBS radio has announced agreement to sells its two San Antonio stations - News-talk KTSA-AM and Jack format KJXK-FM, to Border Media Partners, LLC for USD 45 million in cash.
The sale will take Border's station up to 35 with outlets in Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Laredo, McAllen, San Antonio- where it already owns Regional Mexican KSAH-AM, the KLEY-FM and KZDC-AM Regional Mexican simulcast; Rhythmic/Jammin' Oldies KTFM-FM; and Spanish Contemporary Hits KRIO-FM - and Waco.
The sale means that CBS has now exited stations in half of the ten smaller markets where it said it was to explore divestitures. Still on the block are its stations in Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Fresno, California; Greensboro-Winston/Salem, North Carolina; and Kansas City, Missouri.
Previous Border Media:
Previous CBS:
2006-08-24: Emmis Communications has named Patrick Walsh, who is to join the company from iBiquity Digital Corporation where he has been CFO and SVP since 2002, as Chief Financial Officer.
Walsh will take up his new role from September 5 and commented of his move, "As I worked closely with the radio industry on its digital conversion plans over the past several years, I developed a deep respect for Emmis and its world-class portfolio of media properties. The team at Emmis has a great reputation throughout the industry, and I look forward to joining this outstanding group."
Emmis Chairman and CEO Jeff Smulyan said pf the appointment, "Pat's tremendous focus, energy and experience make him the perfect fit for Emmis. He understands our business and has the financial background to support the company's strategic growth."
Emmis has also announced that it has promoted David Newcomer from Vice President of Finance and Assistant Secretary to Senior Vice President of Finance and Assistant Secretary.
Newcomer had been standing in as CFO from February 12 following the departure of Walter Berger, who had been Emmis CFO from 1999.
Previous Emmis:
Previous Smulyan:
2006-08-24: BBC Radio Scotland has shelved a second comedy series by "The Franz Kafka Big Band" that portrays Rolf Harris supposedly drawing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and a number of other controversial sketches.
The series was described at the end of June in a BBC Scotland news release about new comedy on the station as a "cutting edge and hilarious comedy sketch show" that would be, "Uncompromising in its 10.00 P.M slot, you'll either love it, or hate it: you won't ignore it."
It was to have started airing next Monday in a daily late night slot for a week - an earlier series was broadcast from October to November last year at lunchtime on Saturdays and repeated uncut late on Monday nights.
The Scotsman reported that the series- billed as "sure to surprise even the most unshockable" when it was commissioned - was dropped because of "anxieties over taste and decency" and says BBC executives were concerned by the segment called Rolf's Blasphemous Cartoon Time, in which the TV personality is portrayed as drawing images of deities such as the Prophet Muhammad and Buddha. Earlier this year riots and protests had followed the publication of cartoons of Muhammad being published in a Danish newspaper.
The paper also adds that it understands members of the Franz Kafka Big Band were earlier warned by the BBC that jokes about Israel's foreign policy were also off-limits.
Band member, performer and writer Craig Stobo, said the troupe's five members were stunned by the news and added, "We've been given a lot of freedom to do what we wanted and we thought with it going out at 10pm we had a little b