December 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 December comment - As the switch-off approaches for analogue TV we consider regulatory approaches for a digital age.
RNW November comment - Broad or narrow? We argue against the current narrow formats of much radio.
RNW October comment - asks "Who is responsible for the state of radio?" today and comes up with no simple answers.
2006-12-31: With some of the regulators taking a break until the New Year - there were no postings by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), the last week of the year was a fairly quiet one on the regulatory front.
In the UK Ofcom, after fairly busy year with paper work, issued just two radio postings - an extension until March 28th for applications for the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire digital multiplex for which the original deadline was March 13 (See Licence News Dec 17) and an update of its sponsorship rules for radio and TV programming.
The current rules bar sponsorship of news bulletins and news desk presentations on radio and also sponsorship by those - such as tobacco companies - barred from advertising on a medium except for betting and gaming companies, which must not sponsor channels or programmes aimed at people under eighteen.
In addition sponsorship has to be clearly identified and a sponsor must not influence the content and/or scheduling of a channel or programme in such a way as to impair the responsibility and editorial independence of the broadcaster nor must there be "promotional reference to the sponsor, its name, trademark, image, activities, services or products or to any of its other direct or indirect interests" or generic promotional references whilst non-promotional references are permitted only where they are editorially justified and incidental.
For radio, the same rules apply to trails as to programmes; credits may contain legitimate advertising messages, except credits for betting and gaming companies, but must be cleared for broadcast in the same way as advertisements; and during longer sponsored output, credits must be broadcast as appropriate to create the degree of transparency required.
As we have already noted, during the year Ofcom, which says its "evidence-based approach" requires detailed consultation had a busy period with documentation releasing more than 700 documents including 217 regulatory bulletins, licensing documents and codes; 145 news releases; 115 smaller technical notifications/consultations; 92 major policy consultations; 80 regulatory statements; and 76 stand-alone research documents.
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also issued a large number of documents, boosting them at the end of the week with the posting of all its documentation relating to "to localism, media ownership, minority ownership and other related issues" - 42 PDF documents in all that is has posted with individual links or in a 30.6MB zipped file.
It also gave Entercom the go-ahead to take over Radio One's Boston station WKAF-FM - formerly WILD-FM - and denied what it termed a "significant number" of comments from listeners to the station asking it to bar the sale, re-iterating its policy not to policy that the Commission does not scrutinize or regulate programming formats
It also gave the go-ahead for a Texas deal in which nine investors in KFCD-AM and KHSE-AM, licensed to Farmersville and Wylie respectively, petitioned it to deny the sale of LFCD and the construction permit for KHSE by DFW Radio License, LLC to Bernard Dallas LLC.
The licence and CP were previously held by The Watch, Ltd. which entered a financing agreement with D.B. Zwirn Special Opportunities Fund, L.P. to "to facilitate Watch's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy" and that also involved assignment of the licence and permit to Watch subsidiary DFW.
In spring last year DBZ notified Watch and DFW Radio that they had defaulted under the agreement, demanded full payment, and subsequently filed for the appointment of a receiver whilst debtors filed for relief and reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Subsequently the debtors agreed a resolution to resolve the Chapter 11 motion that involved DFW radio's manager David A. Schum, who is one of the petitioners, to look for third-party financing and halt any sale of the station or permit. Schum was unable to obtain the financing and the assets were sold at public auction to DBZ who filed application for the transfer of the licence and permit to Bernard.
The petitioners had objected on the grounds that DBZ prematurely assumed control of the construction of KHSE, that the sale amounts to "the attempted sanctioning of a reversionary interest", that DBZ threatened Schum with legal action when Schum attempted to exercise control over the KHSE(AM) construction, and thus abused the Commission's processes, and that Bernard failed to disclose fully the ownership information of DBZ, its principal equity owner, and that DBZ may not comply with the Commission's foreign ownership limitations.
The FCC, while noting that the petitioners would suffer "severe economic harm" from the sale, rejected their claims and allowed the deal.
The FCC also published its latest quarterly consumer complaints bulletin that showed broadcasting complaints in the third quarter jumping up from the previous quarter (See below).
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous Ofcom:
FCC web site:
Ofcom web site:
2006-12-31: Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, amongst those paying tribute to veteran Boston newsman Gary LaPierre, declared last Friday a state holiday "Gary LaPierre Day".
Romney's proclamation was read live during the host's last morning shift on the morning news show on CBS Radio's WBZ-AM on which LaPierre had been a co-anchor for four decades. He he joined WBZ in 1964 as a general reporter before moving over two years later to the weekday morning news and most recently has been co-anchoring the show with Ed Walsh, who joined it at the start of this year, and Deb Lawler.
LaPierre also broadcast a thrice-a-week radio commentary LaPierre on the Loose" that in 1992 received the Associated Press Award for Best Radio Feature. Other awards he received included the 1986 Gold Award for Best Newsman of the Year at the International Radio Festival in New York City and the 1998 Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Newscast
Amongst others who joined in the programme were Senator Ted Kennedy, former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis and Boston Mayor Tom Menino as well as broadcast rivals including Jess Cain, Dale Dorman and Charles Laquidara.
Kennedy in his comments recalled a time when he was told he was due to do a short interview with LaPierre and quipped, "Oh my God! There goes the election."
The station in a report on its web site notes that most members of the WBZ staff were "in full formal, tuxedo-clad regalia for the occasion" of the host's last broadcast whilst he wore a dark blue pinstriped suit.
The host in his comments told listeners, "You have taken good care of this kid from Shelburne Falls [his birthplace], and I'll miss it" and chose his wife Peg for his last on air interviewee. He commented on great affection for his co-workers over the years saying "some of them absolutely brilliant, some of them idiots."
LaPierre, who is 64, had said he wanted to "go out while I'm still at the top of my game" and added, "My biggest fear is that I stay around until somebody tells me, 'Gary, it's time.' …I still think of myself as a 40-year-old guy. But I want to have some time to myself while I'm still young enough to appreciate it."
Of his lifestyle as host - he used to get up at 02:30 until around five years ago when he started to lie in until 03:30, he said that it gave him one advantage - afternoons and early evenings off - that had allowed him to spend more time with his two sons "when they were growing up than the average guy, by far."
Of his audience he commented that they were unique and difficult to get to know but then local and added, "I am the self-appointed cancellation king "in reference to his years of warning of snowstorms and continued, "I just really enjoy the challenge of getting into peoples' heads almost before they realize it. I tell people each day how to dress, how to go to work, when to go to work. That's important to them, and I love the challenge and immediacy of doing that."
Previous CBS:
WBZ web site:
2006-12-31: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says the number of Radio and Television Broadcasting complaints received in the third quarter of this year more than tripled from the total for the second quarter - up from 53,352 to 194,468 - and were also up from the 26,368 of a year ago.
Within the radio and TV complaints, those relating to broadcast indecency or obscenity as previously comprised the dominant part - a total of 193,504, up from 52,067 in the second quarter.
Among complaints in other categories Wireless complaints, which decreased from 4,616 in the 4th quarter to 4,050 in the second quarter rose a little to 4,149 and Wireline complaints were nearly quadrupled - up from 15,753 to 67,152 with all the increase coming from the "universal service" category - relating to the FCC's universal service fund-affordable access to basic telephone service for low-income consumers and consumers in high-cost areas, and communications services for schools and libraries and health care facilities. These totalled 55,010 of the total and excluding them complaints were down to 12,142.
Previous FCC:
Previous FCC complaints figures:
2006-12-30: Radio One has killed KBBT-FM "The Beat" in Los Angeles to replace it with KRBV-FM, "V100 the Best Variety of R&B."
The former beatla.com web address redirects to a V100 welcome page asking people to sign up for its VIP club and containing a link to an audio stream that is only accessible to those who have done so.
The station came under Radio One ownership after the Clear Channel-AMFM takeover that went through in 2000 but required the company to divest itself of 122 stations (See RNW Aug 23, 2000) including an FM in Los Angeles. In the deal Clear Channel kept the strongest signals but sold off the KKBT format - it was then Rhythmic Oldies, "Mega 100.3"- that had been on 92.3, along with the 100.3 frequency to Radio One.
The latter, which had taken over the frequency at the end of June 2000, used the frequency for "The Beat" with an urban AC format but it always remained in second place to KPWR-FM in the R&B/hip-hop format in the marker and in May this year after its ratings had weakened it was flipped to a hybrid AC/Urban talk format that Radio One termed "Rhythm and Talk" and whose air staff included Tom Joyner in the morning slot.
The weekday line- up for the New Year will now include Los Angeles veteran Cliff Winston, who had been afternoon host, from 05:00 to 09:00 followed by Shirley Hayes to noon, Michael Baisden to 16:00; John Monds to 20:00 and then up to midnight Night Moods with Mike Julius from Monday through Thursday and "Friday Night with Jeff Gill" on Fridays.
The station has seen considerable personnel changes over the past year and rumours had abounded that Radio One would sell it to reduce its debt burden, particularly since it is a standalone operation.
Previous Radio One Inc:
2006-12-30: Reporting on the Ofcom consultation concerning the future of analogue radio in the UK, the Times of London says that debate over whether AM should be switched off - a century after Reginald Fessenden's first transmission on Christmas Eve, 1906 - is producing a mixed response from UK commercial radio groups.
Two of the main groups - SMG, which has the national Virgin franchise on AM would like to end the use of AM , and the UK's largest radio group GCap Media would like to cut off analogue completely whilst Emap, owner of Magic would like to keep it going and Ofcom has suggested that it could be used for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) digital broadcasts.
GCap, which is the main shareholder in the Digital One national commercial DAB multiplex, would like all analogue radio to be ended around 20:10 whilst Virgin chief executive Fru Hazlitt has said they would not want to continue on AM for technical quality reasons.
As well as terrestrial broadcasts many British radio companies programming is also available through digital satellite and online and UK local radio group Laser Broadcasting, which was founded in 2002 and says it intends to have 15 profitable local stations by next year when it is moving towards a flotation on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), is to joint the online group in the New Year.
Laser Online will target the 35-64 group with a mixture of music, news and general entertainment and is intended as a showcase for the group's local stations. Its Broadcasting Director Stuart Linnell said of the online station, "The fact that it provides us with a much needed national profile will prove to be invaluable to our continuing development."
The station is to me managed by Paul Roberts, who has just finished a sting managing Laser's BCR-FM and Quay West FM in Bridgewater and West Somerset and who will continue to oversee Restricted Service Licence (RSL) stations that Laser sets up to help it win new licences.
RNW note: We are not sure whether Laser have acquired the laseronline.com domain, which last time we checked was registered to a holding company in London or whether the station will use its existing Laserbroadcasting.com domain.
Previous Digital One:
Previous DRM:
Previous Emap:
Previous GCap:
Previous Hazlitt:
Previous Ofcom:
Previous SMG:
UK Times report:
2006-12-30: Former Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Toronto radio host Bruce Smith, whose career with the corporation spanned more than three decades, has died aged 87 from cancer.
He became host of the CBC Toronto morning show "Toast and Jamboree" in 1947 and remained morning host in the city until the current morning show "Metro Morning" was introduced in 1972 when he moved to the afternoon slot where he hosted the eponymous "Bruce Smith Show" until he retired in 1978.
Previous CBC:
CBC News report:
2006-12-29: UK communications group VT Communications will on January 1 start transmissions of the international service of German public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), initially broadcasting 90 hour a day of DW programmes in 14 languages to more than 100 countries using its network of UK and global transmission sites.
VT won the contract against competition from incumbent supplier T-Systems International, the B2B supplier of Deutsche Telekom, and a French-based bid after DW advertised the contract earlier this year and its Managing Director Doug Umbers said at the time, "We were able to respond to Deutsche Welle's requirements in a technical and commercially creative way based on our extensive experience and understanding of the industry, and through our unique technical knowledge and capability."
DW Director-General Erik Bettermann said that the contract established "an economically and technically sound basis to ensure the continued presence of Germany's international broadcaster in important target areas."
The contract runs for five years and includes a provision for a "significant potential increase in programme hours from May 2007"
VT also provides services to BBC World Service and earlier this year was awarded a contract with it for deployment of a new Satellite Media Distribution System (SMDS) that replaces the current satellite based Global Delivery System (GDS), with DVB based technology.
VT says this will give the BBC "greater flexibility and better management of their programme content and distribution" and Nigel Fry, Head of Transmission & Distribution, BBC World Service, commented, "This contract builds on the very successful partnership between BBC World Service and VT Communications. The SMDS system enables us to meet the exacting standards for coverage and dependability that will result in an overall better service for all our listeners."
Previous BBC:
Previous Deutsche Welle:
2006-12-29: Maryland radio host Chas Offutt has died during a broadcast from Cumberland station WTBO-AM and WBAL-TV reports that listeners suddenly heard dead air and then a co-worker ask for someone at the station to call 911 (the US emergency services number).
Offut had worked on various stations in the market since the late 1950s and the WTBO web site is currently carrying a photograph of him and the words "In fond remembrance of Charles "Chazz" Offutt
February 7th 1940 - December 26th 2006...
Our Friend and Colleague..."
WBAL TV report:
2006-12-29: UK Chrysalis paid its outgoing finance director Nigel Butterfield, who took early retirement at the end of last year but had a 12 month rolling contract, a pay off of GBP 937,000 (USD 1.839 million) - paying GBP 565,000 (USD 1.109 million) of it into his pension - that with salary and benefits took his total pay for 2006 to GBP 1.047 million (USD 2.055 million) according to the group's annual report just published.
Michael Connole, who was appointed at the start of this year, was paid GBP 238,000 (USD 467,000) for his first eight months at the company, including a bonus of GBP 105,000 (USD 206,000)
Other executives received substantial increases with bonuses all round following a couple of lean years for them: In all board directors' pay for the group was up 87% on 2005 at GBP 3.49 million (USD 6.85 million) whilst the group's annual pre-tax profits for the 2005-06 financial year more than doubled from GBP 2.5 million (currently USD 4.9 million) to GBP 5.8 million (USD 11.4 million) excluding goodwill and exceptional items on revenues down 1.3% (See RNW Nov 2).
Chief executive Richard Huntingford received a bonus of GBP 291,000 (USD 571,000) taking his total remuneration up 72% to GBP 701,000 (USD 1.376 million); Chairman Chris Wright got a bonus of GBP 197,000 (USD 387,000) taking his total up 64% to GBP 532,000 (USD 1.044 million); Peter Lassman the chief executive of the group's music and book business Lasgo got a bonus of GBP 179,000 (USD 351,000) taking his pay up 24% to GBP 458,000 (USD 899,000) -he had been the only executive to receive a bonus in 2005; and Radio division chief executive Phil Riley received a bonus of GBP 103,000 (USD 202,000) taking his total up 38% to GBP 388,000 (USD 762,000).
Chrysalis in a note in the report says the "ongoing policy of the Group's Remuneration Committee is to provide competitive remuneration packages to enable the Group to attract, retain and motivate executives of the calibre and experience required, whilst cost-effectively incentivising executives to deliver long-term shareholder value. "
Individual executives packages it adds are "individually tailored" to provide incentives and are linked to the pore-tax profits of the group or their division. Most can double their salary for "significant over-achievement" of the targets set and chairman Chris Wright, whose total bonus is capped at 100% of his salary -- has a discretionary performance-related bonus capped at GBP 75,000 (USD 147,000).
Previous Chrysalis:
Previous Huntingford:
Previous Riley:
Previous Wright:
2006-12-28: Entercom has now joined the ranks of those settling with the New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office over allegations of "payola", agreeing in its case a USD 4.25 million payment.
In a lawsuit filed in March, Spitzer's office alleged that Entercom solicited payments from record labels and traded air time for promotional items, personal trips and other items of value and also allowed record labels to pay to play their songs in the overnight hours for the purpose of manipulating the music charts through its corporate programs, entitled "CD Preview" and "CD Challenge".
As well as the payment - made up of USD 3.5 million to be distributed through the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to New York State not-for-profit entities to fund music education and appreciation programs and USD 750,000 in costs to the state - Entercom has agreed to changes to its practices that include a halt to accepting payments or inducements from record labels in exchange for airplay, banning payments from "independent promoters employed as a pass-through for funds from record labels", setting up an internal system to spot any future abuse and hiring a compliance office to monitor its promotion practices.
Entercom owns and operates 105 stations nationwide, eleven of those being in New York State - seven in its Buffalo cluster and four in Rochester.
Spitzer's investigation has so far resulted in settlements with the four major recording companies - SonyBMG, Warner, Universal and EMI (the last in June - See RNW Jun 16, which has links to reports on earlier settlements with Universal in May, Sony-BMG in July 2005 and Warner Music in November 2005) - and also with CBS Radio (See RNW Oct 20).
Spitzer's office had issued subpoenas against nine radio companies - Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio (the former Infinity), Citadel Broadcasting, Cox Radio, Cumulus, ABC Inc, Emmis, Entercom, and Pamal Broadcasting but has said nothing official on future action.
Entercom, which in October lost its attempt to get the case thrown out of court (See RNW Oct 18) has not formally admitted liability. It said in a statement, "In the interests of the company, our employees and our shareholders, we have chosen to resolve this matter immediately and without extensive and costly litigation. The court did not find any liability, nor are we admitting liability with this settlement. Rather, we are taking the opportunity to put the investigation behind us and move forward."
RNW Comment: In other words, if we went on to fight this, our legal advice is now that it would cost us a lot more if we lost and we almost certainly would lose. The white collar version of "You've got me to rights!"
Previous Entercom:
Entercom consent judgment (17 page 565 kb PDF):
2006-12-28: Former BBC chairman Marmaduke (Lord) Hussey has died aged 83: He chaired the corporation for a decade from 1986 and BBC Director General Mark Thompson in a tribute said he had made an immense contribution to Britain's public life, adding, "He will be remembered for his great vision, his integrity and his forthrightness, but also for his great personal kindness."
Hussey was also a former chief executive and managing director of Times Newspapers. He was made a life peer as Baron Hussey of North Bradley, of North Bradley in the County of Wiltshire in September 1996.
Hussey was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Oxford: He served in the Grenadier Guards in World War II during which he was severely injured at Anzio, and had a leg amputated as a prisoner-of-war. His career was spent in newspaper management, first with Associated Newspapers before he joined Times Newspapers as chief executive. He became Chairman of the BBC in 1986, upon the death of Stuart Young.
He was regarded with mixed feelings by those with whom he worked and we noted that the UK Guardian obituary was nowhere near as glowing as that in the Times.
Previous BBC:
Previous Thompson:
UK Guardian obituary:
UK Times obituary:
2006-12-28: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given the go ahead for Entercom to take over Radio One's Boston station WKAF-FM - formerly WILD-FM - and denied what it termed a "significant number" of comments from listeners to the station "expressing strong appreciation for the current programming on the station and asking the Commission to bar the proposed sale to Entercom."
It says that while it "recognizes that WKAF-FM's "classic R&B" music format and programming relating to the African-American community have attracted a devoted listenership, it is well-settled policy that the Commission does not scrutinize or regulate programming formats, nor does it take potential changes in programming formats into consideration in reviewing assignment applications."
Backing up the policy it notes that "The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld this policy and the Commission's determination that "the public interest is best served by promoting diversity in entertainment formats through market forces and competition among broadcasters . . . and that a change in programming is not a material factor that should be considered by the Commission in ruling on applications for approval of license assignments or transfers."
Previous Entercom:
Previous FCC:
Previous Radio One Inc.:
2006-12-27: Jamaican broadcaster Neville Willoughby -"Uncle Neville" - has died aged 69 from injuries sustained in a car crash.
He had worked at Radio Jamaica since 1960 and RJR Communications Group chairman Lester Spaulding told the Jamaica Observer, "Neville joined RJR before it even became a group. He was a consummate broadcaster in both radio and TV, he was also a perfectionist. And was one of the first broadcasters, to begin introducing local artistes to the public by interviewing them on his show. The RJR Communications Group will miss him".
Willoughby, who was best known outside Jamaica for his interviews with the late Bob Marley, had lobbied - in the sense of sitting in the lobby of Radio Jamaica - for a post until he was eventually given an opportunity to broadcast. He went on to a career of writing, producing and presenting a wide spectrum of programmes and commercials on radio, including the highly acclaimed "Pipeline", which was named "Radio Talk Show of the Year" four times, "Let's Talk" and the "Evening People Show".
He also presented TV shows in Jamaica, wrote a novel "Jamaica Boy" and wrote and recorded more than two dozen songs including the reggae song "Christmas in J. A."
The leader of Jamaica's opposition Bruce Golding said in tribute, "He was more than just a good broadcaster. He was a fine human being with an endearing personality and personal charm. He will be greatly missed."
Jamaica Observer report:
2006-12-27: Sheldon Drobny who is credited with his wife Anita with the idea of founding US progressive talk radio network Air America says in a blog on the Huffington Post that the network "reached a dead end as a result of cronyism and ego which is usually a disease suffered by many mega millionaires of either political persuasion."
"As socially responsible venture capitalists (usually an oxymoron)," he writes, "we hoped that we would help to balance the media bias that led to the stolen election of 2000 that has so negatively impacted all Americans."
He regards the network a success in that "about 100 radio stations have now committed themselves to progressive talk radio and many of the listeners have demanded that their communities continue to carry non-conservative talk radio" and adds, "AAR established a beachhead for the concept and the follow on content companies, if run well, will make non-conservative talk radio the wave of the future so that our country can re-establish itself as a shining light for democracy and human rights."
On the more negative side he says the "inside story of the major shareholders of AAR is the worst example of predatory greed and vanity, " adding, "It was surprising to me as one who originally believed that rich liberals would somehow be different" and saying that had he been able to completely fund the project it would not have suffered "from the destructive corporate greed and vanity."
Drobny goes on to attack the way the board of the company has handled its bankruptcy and in effect accuses those now running the company of rejecting a plan that would have saved it but eliminated the USD 15 million debt owed to board members in favour of their own plan to take over the company and wipe out the Drobnys' investment of around USD 3 million together with around 10 million from small investors.
Previous Air America/ Piquant LLC (its owner);
Huffington Post - Drobny blog:
2006-12-27: Long-time Sydney 2UE late-night host Stan Zemanek, who decided to end his radio career while he fights a brain tumour (See RNW Dec 11) but is to continue with his television discussion show "Beauty and the Beast" has said he has not ruled out a return to radio should he beat the tumour.
His last show on Friday was mellower than his normal opinionated output with listeners and colleagues, the latter led by 2UE morning host John Laws and the most prominent of the former the Australian Prime Minister John Howard, wishing him well.
Laws said Zemanek's departure was a "sad moment for all of us" and added "You've driven a lot of us mad and you've said some outrageous things but you've done some wonderful radio programs and helped a lot of people."
Howard called in to say, "You look after yourself, we're thinking of you and rooting for you" whilst Zemanek himself in saying he wouldn't rule out a return to radio commented, "I don't know any other job where you can go and abuse the shit out of somebody and not get arrested."
Previous Laws:
Previous Southern Cross ( 2UE owner):
Previous Zemanek:
Sydney Morning Herald/AAP report:
2006-12-27: Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ-FM has now published its 2007 schedule, beginning on January 8, with a number of new shows Monday through Thursday including "Global Overnight "running from midnight to 04:00 and made up of news and cultural programming from various sources including BBC World Service and from World Radio Network - Channel Africa, China Radio International, Radio Australia, Radio Netherlands, Radio Polonia, and Voice of Russia.
This will be followed by "The World Today" from BBC World Service before a change to US programming with "Morning Edition" from National Public Radio (NPR) from 05:00 to 09:00 and "Eight Forty-Eight", the station's own morning magazine programme to 10:00.
Programming is then BBC World Service's "Newshour" to 11:00; "Fresh Air" from NPR to noon; and its own "Worldview" to 13:00.
Early afternoons then see two new shows for the station, NPR's "Talk of the Nation" followed at 14:00 by "The Story" from American Public Media before going back to existing output "All Things Considered", "Marketplace", "The World", "Eight Forty-Eight (encore)", "Worldview (encore)", "Fresh Air (encore)" and then to round up the day another show new to the station, "Outlook" from BBC World Service.
Friday programming retains the same basic framework but has a new show "Science Friday" from noon to 13:00 and in the evening, as now has "This American Life" at 19:00 followed by "Sound Opinions" to 21:00 then "Passport" to 23:00 and "Afropop Worldwide" to midnight.
In the case of Passport, the station's showcase for world music, WBEZ-FM has launched a contest for listeners to select a new title to reflect changes in its format. (Suggestions for the show's new name should be sent to: newname@chicagopublicradio.org).
Regarding this Robert Feder in the Chicago Sun-Times says host Tony Sarabia told listeners, "I'm featuring a bit more electronica and rock from different parts of the globe, or music from Americans who look to other parts of world for their sound, including Chicago artists" and added, "I believe part of the show's mission is to support the local world music scene. In 2007, I'll continue to do so with future in-studio performances and interviews. I'm also exploring taping performances at people's homes during family gatherings, parties, etc"
Weekend new shows for the station include weekly talk show "Smart City" from 05:00 to 96:00 and "American Routes " from 14:00 to 16:00 on Saturday and the BBC's "From Our Own Correspondent" from 05:00-05:30, "Bob Edwards Weekend" from XM Satellite Radio from noon to 14:00, Pacific Time a weekly magazine show about the links between the US and Asia Pacific region from 19:30 to 20:00 and "To the Best of Our Knowledge" from Wisconsin Public Radio then running to 21:00 on Sundays.
Previous Feder:
Previous WBEZ:
Chicago Sun-Times report:
WBEZ web site:
2006-12-26: More than 400 US radio stations that were running Christmas music for up to the last two months or so have now reverted to their normal formats albeit in many cases not to their main names.
As David Hinckley noted in a New York Daily News column, Arbitron doesn't operate its diaries for the last fortnight of the year so stations' regular hosts often take the period off leaving the slots to what Hinckley terms "an often-interesting line-up of fill-ins, who range from amateurs to legends."
In the New York area he notes that this year talk radio pioneer Barry Farber will sit in for Sean Hannity on WABC-AM on Friday and New Year's Day; John DePetro, who got fired in Boston for calling a gubernatorial candidate a "fat lesbian (See RNW Nov 4)," sits in for John Gambling at 10 a.m. daily this week on WABC; and WOR-AM midnight host Joey Reynolds replaced Joe Bartlett on the morning show for Christmas Day, today and Friday; and
RNW note: Christmas music formats, of course, are related to commerce rather than religion (or is commerce the religion) but we would note that many Christian denominations - the Eastern Orthodox Christmas Day, which uses the Julian calendar is not until January 7 - mark Advent for four Sundays before Christmas and then Epiphany for 12 days. This year the period runs from December 3 to January 6, surely a much more logical time to air such formats if the claim is to any religious link than from much earlier until Christmas Day!
New York Daily News report:
2006-12-26: The New York Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcast's 2006-07 season, which launched on December 9 with Mozart's "Idomeneo", is to broadcast on Saturday (December 30) a family-friendly version of the composer's "Magic Flute" in an abridged English-language version of Julie Taymor's production, with a new translation by the American poet and librettist J.D. McClatchy.
The Met's season will also include a world premiere for Tan Dun's "The First Emperor" on January 13, and later that month two special broadcasts of archive material - on January 20 of Maria Callas's only broadcast for the Met - her 1956 performance in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" - and on January 27 the September 25, 2006, opening-night gala performance of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly", conducted by James Levine in a new production directed by Anthony Minghella and featuring Chilean soprano Cristina Gallardo-Domâs in the title role and Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton.
The Met's newly installed general manager Peter Gelb says of the season, "The radio broadcasts this year complement a host of new initiatives recently launched by the Met that are designed to help build a larger international audience. The programming we're now producing will be presented in a way that will continue to entertain our dedicated listeners, while heightening the interest of newcomers and attracting new fans for opera."
2006-12-25: Perhaps because of the season we did not spot much comment on radio in general over the past week so have opted to truncate our normal offerings and concentrate on listening suggestions for those like us who may be working (and get a little tired of viewing schmaltzy TV).
Before suggestions however the season did prompt the thought of contemplating where would the world economy would be now had the Puritans prevailed (they banned Christmas in Britain in 1647 and for a long while after the restoration the clergy still opposed the festival, which to them reeked of Saturnalia and other earlier winter festivities and it was banned in Boston - again by the Puritans - from 1659 to 1681) or indeed had the US not made it a federal holiday (in 1870). -
That being said, an article by Lee Margulies in the Los Angeles Times - "Spreading plenty of Christmas jeer" - seemed a welcome part antidote.
It starts with mention of an all-Christmas music station KOST-FM in Los Angeles but then moves on to the satellite providers: Sirius has three channels one of contemporary and vintage Christmas carols like KOST, another of holiday tunes by country music performers and a third with Christmas music in the classical vein.
Moving up a gear, XM has five Christmas channels - three as Sirius, a fourth with vintage tunes and a fifth "Special Christmas" devoted to the offbeat and novelty songs -and also a Hanukkah channel.
It's the novelty one that interested us: Margulies comments that it "isn't simply singing chipmunks, barking dogs or grandmothers getting run over by reindeer. We're talking seriously twisted: "Santa Is a Psycho," "The Night Santa Went Crazy," "Santa's in a Wheelchair," "Christmas When You're Dead" and notes that the channel's slogan is "Your soundtrack to a dysfunctional family holiday."
Dan Turner, senior vice president of programming operations for XM and the program director for the Special Christmas channel felt obliged it would seem to defend the output rather than taking on the (un?) godly: "This is not intended to offend," he said. "It may seem quite the contrary at times, but it's all in good fun."
"Everybody looks at Christmas in a different way," he added. "I don't know about you, but I didn't have a Rockwellian upbringing with beautiful white snow falling every year. That doesn't mean I don't like Christmas any less. I just have a different look at it."
The list of titles provides a good idea of the range of material (see the link as usual) and overall would have tempted us to listen were XM available in the UK.
In general it isn't of course although maybe the Internet will change that should the satellite companies continue their move to offer an Internet service as broadband take-up spreads but so far options to listen in the UK are not simple.
One exception is the Bob Dylan Theme Hour from XM, which BBC Radio 2 has picked up and is airing: The web site has a section devoted to it but unfortunately "for fights reasons" there is no live stream and the listen-again offerings are limited to those in the UK (The first was fine when we checked, the second on Sunday was giving a not available for right's reasons message but we hope that is a technical glitch that will be sorted out).
We are therefore prevented from reasonably suggesting Dylan in our menu - and indeed a two-part look by Roger Moore at the life and career of Lew Grade, which also was unavailable online for rights reasons.
BBC Radio 2 is however also running five "Radio Ballads" over the next few days that are available and worth a listen - the first on Sunday was "The Horn of the Hunter" and it will be followed tonight (23:00 GMT) with the "Song of Steel" , on Tuesday (21:00 GMT) with "The Enemy That Lies Within" that features stories of people living with HIV/AIDS; on Wednesday at the same time with "Thirty Years of Conflict" on Northern Ireland; and Thursday, again at 21:00 GMT with "The Ballad of the Big Ships."
Continuing with the antidote theme, "On the Media" from WNYC over the past couple of weeks has had a good mix including an item on "The N-word" last week and on "Atheists" the week earlier.
We'd also suggest a download of Friday's "Late Night Live" from ABC Radio National if only for the third item that advised us that vibrators were electrified (there had been a steam-power one before then) before the vacuum cleaner.
Also from the ABC we'd suggest the past two weeks' "Religion Report" - "Science Fatwah?", a two part programme looking at the implications of "Common Belief", a document on global warming that has been released by 16 of Australia's leading faith communities.
Then we suggest BBC World Service and last week's Drama, a special two-hour production of "King Lear" - yes by William Shakespeare" and produced by The Globe Theatre (The Theatre's web site has more details of this collaborative production) - that had a strong cast including Philip Madoc as Lear, Mali Harries as Cordelia, Fiona Shaw as Goneril and Nigel Anthony as Gloucester
For opera lovers, various US stations and others including BBC Radio 3 on Saturday ( 18:30 GMT) will air the New York Metropolitan Opera's new, abridged English version for children of Mozart's "Magic Flute."
With a different perspective on childhood - and as an antidote to much of the sentimental drivel that is aired as the thoughts of various leaders at this time of the year, we suggest BBC Radio 4 and "The Invention of Childhood" from Sunday running to Friday at 21:00 GMT.
It's a repeat of the series aired earlieer in the year and details of the whole series are on the Radio 4 site: It is worth noting that after slavery had been formally ended in Britain there was a short period when in effect the children of vagrants could be removed from their parents and enslaved.
And finally as relief from the the somewhat depressing chronicle of how children were treated in Britain and for most were a drain on family resources - and indeed still are in much of the world - we suggest a little comedy - maybe BBC Radio 2 and "The Lee Mack Christmas Show" plus "Radio Rivron" from last Saturday and "The Now Show" from BBC Radio 4.
Previous Columnists:
Los Angeles Times - Margulies:
*RNW note: This has been updated.
2006-12-25: New York WWPR-FM (Power FM) DJ Carl Blaze (born Carlos Rivera), who was shot at least 13 times earlier this month outside a Manhattan apartment (See RNW Dec 10), has died in Harlem hospital from his injuries.
The Clear Channel-owned station, which held a tribute for him on Saturday Night, carries a line to remember him but no very clear indication of his death.
Its home page has a line at the top saying, "You'll forever be in our hearts Carl" - it actually opens with a page saying this but only for a few seconds before ging to the home page so if you are interrupted it is missed - but the station then still lists him on its Airstaff list and a page it had opened on its web site for listeners to send their best wishes to him was still there when we last checked.
Previous Clear Channel:
Power 105 web site:
2006-12-25: Clear Channel has announced that two of its existing hosts at KFI-AM, Los Angeles, will fill in for morning host Bill Handel this week during his one-week suspension for an outburst during Jamie White's show on sister station KYSR-FM (See RNW Dec 17).
They are Gary Hoffman, who is on Handel's morning crew, and weekend host Wayne Resnick: The Los Angeles Times reports that Handel, who is on vacation this week, has also been fined an undisclosed amount by the station.
Also in Los Angeles, Danny Bonaduce, who was formerly co-host of KYSR's morning show, is to return to radio in the city at the start of the New Year as part of the team on "The Adam Corolla Show", which is aired live during morning drive on KLSX-FM and also syndicated.
Bonaduce began his radio career in Philadelphia and has also included spells in Chicago, Detroit, New York and Los Angeles.
RNW comment: So Clear Channel fills in during a slack week when Handel presumably can extend his vacation and imposes a fine thus costing itself little or nothing. As for Handel, only the fine has significance and we can only hope Clear Channel has the grace to pass it to a suitable charity. We still await word of whether there have been any formal complaints to the FCC.
Previous Clear Channel:
Los Angeles Times report:
2006-12-24: Last week the main emphasis for most of the regulators was related to digitisation although in the US the long-running issues of media ownership and broadcast indecency were touching more Federal Communications Commission (FCC) buttons as the agency defended its decision to fine CBS TV stations USD 550,000 over the brief glimpse of part of a Janet Jackson breast and also issued a call for comments over the biggest radio business activity this year - that of the agreed USD 26.7 billion sale of Clear Channel to a group of private equity investors.
In Australia, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has told media owners that it is to continue monitoring for compliance with current laws until new media ownership laws come into force and reminded them that is has the power to order divestitures (See RNW Dec 21).
It also released a discussion paper seeking comments - to be submitted by February 1 next year - on its cost recovery arrangements, part of a scheduled review is being undertaken in accordance with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines.
Most ACMA charges are due for an update having last been reviewed in 2003 and nearly all are a fee for service to the direct beneficiary of the activity with two telecommunications exceptions - the telecommunications annual carrier licence charge that amongst other things recovers the costs of ACMA's and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission telecommunications functions for the preceding financial year from all telecommunications carriers and the annual spectrum management tax which recovers the indirect costs of spectrum management from all radiocommunications licensees
It has also ruled that broadcasts by two commercial talk stations breached Australian codes or laws, one a case where Southern Cross's Melbourne talk station 3AW broke laws prohibiting tobacco advertising by broadcasting an archived drama from 1949 including adverts from its original sponsor, Camel cigarettes (See RNW Dec 20).
The other case involved Macquarie Radio Network's Sydney 2GB and a May 2005 broadcast of the "Your Sydney Weekend" programme hosted by stand-in presenter, Malcolm T Elliott that included comments held to be likely to vilify Indonesian judges on the basis of race and nationality (See RNW Dec 19).
In Canada the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was involved in a number of routine licence decisions including, in order of province:
Alberta:
*Approval of corporate re-organization in which Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. will transfer the assets of CJCA-AM and CJRY-FM, Edmonton, and CJSI-FM, Calgary, to Touch Canada Broadcasting (2006) Inc. and 1188011 Alberta Ltd. and Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc., carrying on business as Touch Canada Limited Partnership (collectively Touch Canada LP).
British Columbia
* Administrative renewal until 31 August 2007 of the licence of CKCL-FM Chilliwack, and its transmitters CKCL-FM-1, Abbotsford and CKCL-FM-2, Vancouver.
* Approval of CAD 9.25 million (USD 8 million) acquisition by Standard Radio from Silk FM Broadcasting Ltd. of CILK-FM Kelowna, and its transmitters CILC-FM, Magna Bay and VF2329, Big White Mountain.
Standard has indicated that it is likely to alter the current classic rock format of CILK-FM to more of a contemporary hits format targeting the over 35 demographic, thereby avoiding competition with the classic rock format of CKLZ-FM, Kelowna and the Top 40, Hot AC format of CHSU-FM and would maintain CILK-FM's existing news staff and coverage
Quebec:
*Denial of application for an 840 watts pop-rock music format French-language commercial FM radio in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
The application had been opposed by Radio Express inc., licensee of CKOD-FM. Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, which said the local market could only adequately support one station.
*Approval of acquisition by Radio CJFP (1986) ltée, on behalf of Radio Rimouski Inc, to acquire from Radio CJFP (1986) ltée the assets of a French-language commercial FM in Rimouski approved in April. The CRTC notes that the application follows a reorganization under which the employees of the new station who wish to become more involved in Radio Rimouski may acquire a certain percentage of the undertaking's shares although this will not change ultimate control of the station, which is not yet in operation.
The CRTC also issued a public notice- with a deadline for submission of comments or interventions of Jan 23 - that included the following radio-related matters:
*Alberta:
* Application by Tiessen Media Inc. to use frequency 95.3 MHz for FM transmitter at Cochrane for CFIT-FM, Airdrie, that was approved subject to finding a suitable alternative frequency in Cochrane to that originally proposed. The Commission noted that this application is for a regular Class A1 service as opposed to an initial application for a low power unprotected service and that the applicant says this is because the original proposed tower owned by Telus Mobility is no longer available and an alternate transmitter site is needed.
Saskatchewan:
* Application by CJNE FM Radio Inc. to add a 273 watts FM transmitter at Tisdale.
There were no radio decisions from Ireland but the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has welcomed the publication of Ireland's Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill, 2006 that provides for licensing of digital terrestrial TV services, will allow movement to switch off analogue TV, and also confer additional functions on the BCI in relation to licensing multiplex contractors to provide both digital radio and TV services.
BCI chairperson Conor Maguire commented that the BCI had "long been aware of the commitment to digital switchover of broadcasting services across Europe and are confident that this proposed piece of legislation will enable Ireland's timely progress in this regard."
"We are confident," he added, "that the advent of digital terrestrial television and radio will afford the potential for greater diversity of service and choice for Irish listeners and viewers."
In the UK, Ofcom Has posted its "Digital Dividend Review" consultation document (155 pages 700kb PDF) - with a March 20 deadline for comments - relating to how to release the spectrum freed up by digital switchover for new uses.
It notes that use of UK radio spectrum amounts for around 3% of the economy, comments that spectrum is a scarce resource with importance growing quickly as consumers use more and more wireless products and than comments, "The digital dividend is, quite simply, one of the largest releases of valuable spectrum that is likely in the UK for many years. The spectrum is particularly useful because it is at lower frequencies - allowing large areas to be covered at lower cost, and helping signals to penetrate buildings."
"Ofcom's primary duty" it says, "is to further the interests of citizens and consumers" and adds, that "…we, as a regulator, simply cannot know the best uses of the digital dividend over the next couple of decades. What we can do is to create a framework that is more (or less) likely to enable those uses."
It then remarks on uses that could have value to society but may not be able to earn corresponding commercial revenues and in this context notes local and high definition TV as examples but adds that these can be delivered in a number of ways and regarding the latter says that "most research suggests that HD is seen as a premium consumer product, rather than a significant source of value to society as a whole."
Governments in the past Ofcom says have used spectrum to promote policies but it thinks its approach should be to impose as few constrictions as possible and "in almost all cases" auction the relevant spectrum so that users pay the "market price for it."
The only radio announcement is, however, one that relates to spectrum allocation as policy, an updating of Ofcom's timetable for community radio licensing: This is being introduced on a staged basis and Ofcom says that next year the closing dates for applications are expected to be as follows:
Scotland and Northern Ireland - Tuesday 16 January.
North and northeast England (incl. North Yorkshire) - Tuesday 27 March 2007.
West and South Yorkshire and the Humber - Tuesday 26 June 2007.
North Wales and northwest England - To be decided.
West Midlands, east Midlands and Lincolnshire - To be decided.
East and southeast England, including London - To be decided.
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as we have noted, has been defending its decision to fine CBS over the brief display of part of a Janet Jackson breast, saying in a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that it "reasonably concluded that, although brief, this display of nudity violated longstanding federal prohibitions on the broadcast of indecent material" and adding "The commission also reasonably held that CBS's violation of its broadcast indecency rules was 'wilful' and therefore justified a forfeiture."
It also, as we have noted, has called for comments or petitions to be filed in relation to the USD 26.7 billion private equity deal to purchase Clear Channel (See RNW Dec 23).
In other activity the Commission has adopted new rules for Amateur Radio Operators that among other things remove the requirement to pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination.
The FCC commented that the "change reflects revisions to international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union's 2003 World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz" and added, "This change eliminates an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio."
Regarding satellite radio, it has allowed Sirius and XM Satellite Radio special temporary authority (STA) for periods they had requested to operate terrestrial repeaters for demonstrations at trade shows across the United States: Both companies say these are necessary to provide quality reception inside of trade show venues, due to signal blockage from walls and ceilings.
On the enforcement front, the FCC has fined a California pirate operator USD 10,000. Alan M. Conrad of San Diego had not filed a response to a Notice of Apparent Violation made in September.
It also confirmed a USD 7,000 penalty issued to Gambler's CB & Ham Radio Sales & Service of Pinconning, Michigan, for offering for sale non-certified Citizens Band ("CB") transceivers.
Previous ACMA:
Previous BCI:
Previous CRTC:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous Maguire:
Previous Ofcom:
ACMA web site:
BCI web site:
CRTC web site:
FCC web site:
Ofcom web site:
2006-12-24: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on columnist and syndicated radio talk-host Dennis Prager to "do the right thing and resign" from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council after the executive committee of the taxpayer-funded board issued a statement disassociating itself from the radio talk show host's views - he said that Keith Ellison, the first Moslem elected to Congress should be prevented from taking his oath of office using the Koran and that swearing on the Koran "undermines American civilization."
In a statement the Executive Committee of the Council said that although Prager had a right to express his personal views, it disassociates itself from Mr. Prager's statements as being antithetical to the mission of the Museum as an institution promoting tolerance and respect for all peoples regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity."
Prager, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in August to fill a position on the board that expires in January 2011 made his remarks in a column in late November, provoking criticism from a wide range of people and organisations including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee and former New York City Mayor Edward Koch, a fellow member of the memorial council, who termed Prager a bigot.
CAIR had already called for President Bush and the Council's governing board to remove Prager, receiving it says, hundreds of "hate-filled e-mails from Prager's supporters" as a result.
RNW comment: We rather doubt that Prager will take note of CAIR's call but we would certainly agree with the description of him as a bigot. We also think anyone who can say that any US president was specifically chosen through the direct intervention of God may have a legitimate right to express his views but should never then have been proffered by the chosen one any public appointment.
2006-12-24: BSkyB, the News Corporation satellite broadcaster, has agreed a deal to sponsor Christian O'Connell's breakfast show on SMG-owned Virgin Radio in a move that the UK Guardian sees as part of its rivalry with cable company NTL.
The paper, which says that the contract is thought to be worth around GBP 1 million (USD 2 million) will deprive NTL, whose biggest shareholder is Sir Richard Branson and which is to re-brand itself as Virgin Media, of a significant promotional tool and notes that the deal was made shortly after BSkyB bought up around a fifth of the shares in ITV, thus stopping NTL's attempts to take over Britain's largest commercial broadcaster.
The paper reports that the deal with Virgin Radio, as well as the breakfast show sponsorship, will include sponsor credits, promotional trails and TV-related features on the breakfast show and sponsorship of the Sky TV Guide in Russ Williams's mid-morning show and also Internet exposure through Virgin's online activities.
SMG Radio chief executive, Fru Hazlitt was quoted as saying, "This is a really exciting deal for Virgin Radio. Not only is it one of the biggest sponsorship deals we've ever signed, but Sky is such a natural brand partner for our most high-profile show."
Previous Hazlitt:
Previous O'Connell:
Previous SMG:
UK Guardian report:
2006-12-23: Following protests at the decision to drop progressive talk programming in Madison, Wisconsin, in favour of a sports format, Clear Channel has reversed its decision and will continue with the format, which includes Air America shows, on WXXM-FM, "The MIC".
In a statement posted on the station web site, Jeff Tyler, Vice President/Market Manager of Clear Channel Radio-Madison, says, "We are overwhelmed by the recent outpouring of support for our Progressive Talk format from the public, some of our community leaders and some dedicated local advertisers. As a result, we have decided not to change the format of WXXMFM, The MIC 92.1 on January 1, 2007."
He continues, "We thank everyone who spoke, called, e-mailed and wrote to us intelligently and actively about keeping progressive talk on Clear Channel Radio in Madison. We deeply appreciate the local business leaders who are pledging their advertising support -- they are playing an enormous role in helping to keep progressive talk on the air in our community."
The Capital-Times reporting on the decision notes that activists had delivered a petition with 5,466 signatures to Clear Channel, and hundreds of listeners rallied against the move last week, with U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Air America co-founder Terry Kelly also denouncing the move.
Progressive host Ed Schultz, who is syndicated by Jones Radio Networks, and whose show was aired by the station along with Air America programming, said, "Madison is really a microcosm of what could be taking place around the country. There is a mindset with the progressive format that it's shaky territory for advertisers, and it's simply not true."
Barb Wright, owner of a Madison restaurant had actively rallied support for the station among advertisers and commented, "It is essential that we have an informed electorate with intelligent debate on the issues. I found that, contrary to some opinions, the business community is ready to step up to the plate to ensure that progressive talk radio is not only sustained but will flourish."
She and activist Valerie Walasek, who spearheaded the petition drive, said they are committed to help the station bring in additional advertising support to "The Mic."
Kelly, who is now the main financial backer for Air America, which recently declared bankruptcy, said Clear Channel's reconsideration shows that "community activism works and that if you get at it from enough sides and enough depth people still have the power to influence things for the better."
It is, he added, "a wonderful example of how real democracy works through grass-roots organizing."
Previous Air America/ Piquant (its current owner):
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Schultz:
Capital-Times report:
"The Mic" statement:
2006-12-23: BBC Radio 3 has announced a new schedule from February next year that will see more live or specially recorded programmes as opposed to airing of commercial recordings - to increase from 52% to 54% of its total output - also gives presenter Rob Cowan the breakfast slot. His "Rob Cowan Show" will run from 07:00 to 10:00 and current breakfast presenter Penny Gore is expected to move to other presenting roles with the station.
The breakfast programme will be followed on weekdays with the "Classical Collection" programme of new and historic recordings running until noon and after "Composer of the Week" and a lunchtime concert the post-lunch programming will be taken on weekdays with "Afternoon on 3", which will be long enough to include full length operas..
To make way for the changes, which include an extended afternoon music slot, a number of shows are being dropped including "Stage and Screen", "Voices", the "Light Programme" and "Jazz Legends" whilst "Choral Evensong" will be moved to a 16:00 slot on Sundays.
In the evenings, "Performance on 3" will be moved to an earlier start at 19:00 and will be followed at 20:45 by the repeat of "Composer of the Week" that currently airs at midnight.
As well as performances from European orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonia, the station will also broadcast selected concerts from the New York Philharmonic's 2007 season.
Composer of the week will be followed by "Night Waves" from 21:45 from Monday to Thursday - "The Verb" takes the slot on Friday evenings - and then the station is introducing a new weekday programme "Artist Focus" from 22:30 that will be centred each week on a specific artist: It will be followed from Monday to Thursday by "The Essay", a series of talks on cultural subjects that will run to 23:15. On Friday evenings, the station is to introduce a new programme, "Jazz Library" running from 22:30 to 23:30.
Andy Kershaw's programme is to move to Monday evenings from 23:15 to 01:00 and "Late Junction" will now air from Tuesday through Thursday in the same slot.
Weekend programming is to include "Music Matters", which will air on Saturday from 12:15-13:00; a new Sunday morning programme from 10:00 to noon hosted by Iain Burnside; a new ten-part Sunday afternoon program "Performing Britten" in which John Evans talks to ten distinguished interpreters of Britten's operas; and an extended "Discovering Music" from 17:00 to 18:30 that will now conclude with a full performance of the work under discussion and will regularly include set-pieces in examination syllabuses.
The changes will come in after a week of special broadcasts from February 1-16 during which Radio 3 will broadcast the complete works of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.
Previous BBC:
2006-12-23: Regent Communications has now completed its USD 125 million cash acquisition of CBS Radio's five stations in the Buffalo, New York, market that was announced
In September (See RNW Sep 6).
The stations are WBLK-FM, WBUF-FM, WECK-AM, WJYE-FM and WYRK-FM and Regent had already been operating them under a local management agreement from October 1. The purchase price was funded using Regent's credit facilities.
In other US radio transaction news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set a deadline of January 19 next year for comments or petitions to be filed in relation to Clear Channel's USD 26.7 billion private equity deal with Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund VI and Bain Capital following which there are further deadlines of February 1 for responses or oppositions to these and then a final deadline of February 13 for counter responses.
The FCC in its 44-page document lists Clear Channel's licences - it notes that the company controls 1172 radio stations and 35 TV stations - and comments that "Because this proceeding involves broad public policy issues, the proceeding will be treated as "permit but disclose" for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules" although it later notes that if "circumstances warrant, this proceeding and/or any related proceeding may be designated as restricted."
Previous CBS:
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous FCC:
Previous Regent:
2006-12-22: According to BBC News, Britain's Minister of Culture Tessa Jowell and Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) Gordon Brown have agreed a deal on the BBC licence fee that would see it rise 3% next year and in 2008; by 2% in each of the following three years and by between nothing to 2% in 2012 depending on TV digital changeover costs.
The report says the agreement has not yet been approved by Prime Minister Tony Blair and quoted BBC Business editor Robert Peston as indicating that, although less than the Corporation had asked for, the deal meant a rise broadly in line with the headline rate of inflation - the Consumer Price Index, which excludes mortgage payments.
"In theory this is less than inflation, in the sense that Retail Price Index is 3.9% at the moment. And I am sure the Treasury will claim this as a tough settlement," he said.
Previous BBC:
BBC News report:
2006-12-22: A technology being developed at Edinburgh University would offer a "personal DJ" that would tailor musical commentary online tailored to a listener's taste rather than commentary from a live DJ according to a report in the Manchester Evening News that quotes unnamed "experts" as saying the development could spell the end for DJs.
The idea is to use a database of music trivia that would be played using voice-generated software and the paper says Nick Wright, a commercialisation manager at the university, is in talks with various internet radio stations about launching the venture.
"More and more people are listening to music on the internet - whether this means new internet radio stations or traditional radio stations streamed on-line," he said. "What we aimed to do was to create something that could be used by millions of people worldwide, but that is unique to each and every one of them."
"Our technology," he added, "enables listeners to go on a journey of music discovery based on musical facts and trivia, assisted by a personal guide. For instance, if you like Bon Jovi, we could tell you about other work band members have written or produced."
Edinburgh University's School of Informatics is said to have spent more than GBP 3 million (USD 6 million) over five years in developing the idea. The technology devised by Cereproc, a company founded by the university, is said to provide natural-sounding speech that can be delivered in different accents
RNW comment: Like those who have so far commented on the idea in the paper (link below to article), we are more than a little sceptical about the idea. Apart from saving money on humans it seems to us much more of a geek masturbatory fantasy than a service that would appeal to most humans, albeit given the devotion of many to video games that play them rather than vice-versa, maybe we could be completely wrong on this.
Even if it does take off, we still think there will be more then enough humans who prefer to know there is a real person on the air to keep radio personalities going for a long while - and, we hope, keep broadcasting going as a shared experience, rather than the much more isolated one this kind of system is going to provide.
Manchester Evening News report:
2006-12-22: Veteran Cleveland DJ and talk host Joe Finan has died aged 79 in hospital. His career in radio in the city spanned more than five decades - he began in 1950 as a summer replacement DJ at WTAM - but his career was broken when he admitted taking payola during congressional hearings in the late 1950s and was fired.
He then left the city and moved to Denver in 1960 where he introduced an early talk show but he returned to Cleveland in 1968, working for WIXY, and then after another Denver spell, at WHK in 1974 before again moving to Denver.
In the mid 1980s he returned to Cleveland and the then WNIR as a talk host ( the station is now WARF-AM), working as a talk host until retiring for the first time in 2004 and then returning in February this year and working until October when he retired for the final time.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer quoted Keith Kennedy, Clear Channel's program operations director for Akron-Canton, as saying, "About a year ago Joe said he wanted to come back. We suggested something part time and he said no way, he wanted to come back full time. He was 78 years old and said once the business was in your blood, you couldn't get rid of it."
Cleveland Plain Dealer report:
2006-12-22: Veteran BBC presenter Jenni Murray, who has been the regular host of the Radio 4 programme "Woman's Hour" since 1987, has told listeners to the programme that she has breast cancer and will not "be around for a while in the New Year".
Murray, who is 56 and has two sons, will have surgery but said her "prognosis is excellent": She said she had "known about the diagnosis for a couple of weeks now, it was diagnosed up in Macclesfield [her family home: She divides her time between there and a flat in London] when I was on my holidays..." and added, "Treatments are very good these days and I know quite a bit about this disease thanks to working on the programme... fingers crossed, everything should be alright… Do have a lovely Christmas and I, like you, hope that 2007 will be a happy New Year. "
Murray, who was born in Barnsley, also presents the Radio 4 "The Message" programme: She began her radio career with BBC Radio Bristol in 1973 and after a spell as a presenter for BBC TV's South Today between 1978 and 1983 moved to BBC Radio 4 in 1985 as a presenter of the "Today" breakfast programme.
Previous BBC:
2006-12-21: The US satellite radio business is continuing to lag behind a year ago according to the latest data released by Bridge Ratings which says that although "foot traffic" improved in the week to December 13, store management at more than half the locations surveyed expressed concern about reduced retail sales and overall interest in satellite radio.
Bridge says Sirius continues to dominate but XM is improving band scores and sales, perhaps, it adds, because of "solid advertising and marketing support."
The figures it says have led Bank of America analyst Jonathan Jacoby to trim his year-end subscriber estimates for XM from 7.8 million to 7.7 million: Jacoby says the weak retail demand suggests that satellite's growth will now come from original equipment in new vehicles.
Bridge says that it was expecting more interest in the 18-21 years-old demographic following interviews prior to the "Black Friday" shopping weekend had indicated that this youth group was beginning to show interest in satellite radio but this interest did not translate into purchases.
Bridge also notes that the satellite radio companies have now started to talk about "listeners" not subscribers, something it suggest is analogous to newspapers and magazines talk about "pass along" readership instead of "paid subscriptions".
For the final quarter of the year, Bridge says that whilst retail overall is expected to record an improvement of 4.8% to 7% over a year ago satellite radio retail activity will be down around 25%: It notes that in the final quarter of 2005 Sirius added 1.1 million new subscribers and XM 898,000 whilst this year projections based on projections from the companies are that Sirius will add 881,000 (down 22%) and XM 500,000 (down 50%)
Overall Bridge is forecasting that at the end of this year Sirius will have around 5.9 million subscribers and XM around 7.6 million.
Previous Bridge:
Previous Sirius:
Previous XM:
2006-12-21: Veteran British broadcaster and most recently talkSPORT Friday and Saturday late-night host Mick Dickin has died after he was in a six car pile-up on the A30 near his home in Cornwall.
He had made his last broadcast -from his home studio in Bodmin Moor - on Saturday and the station will today air a special edition of the James Whale Show dedicated to him at 22:00 GMT tonight. Dickin had filled in for Whale during the latter's fight against kidney cancer
Dickin, who was a bass player and singer in the 60s, began his radio career with the BBC in 1970 as the first presenter on air for BBC Radio Oxford. He then moved to Australia, where he worked for 2UE, in 1977 and after his return to the UK worked for BBC Radio 4, LBC and Capital Radio before moving to Talk radio UK, the predecessor to talkSPORT, in 1996.
Dickin, who was dubbed Britain's angriest man and described by Whale as "the original grumpy old man", also had the nickname "The King" because of his supposed resemblance to Henry VIII.
TalkSPORT programme director Bill Ridley paying tribute on the station's web site commented, "Mike Dickin was truly a radio legend and he will be sorely missed by all of us here as well as the millions of listeners who he informed, entertained and argued with over the span of his 36-year illustrious career."
Previous UTV (talkSPORT owner):
2006-12-21: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) chairman Chris Chapman has written to media proprietors outlining its initial plans to prepare for changes in Australian media law that have been passed by parliament and has noted that it has the power to block deals, and force divestitures, if it thinks media diversity is threatened.
Chapman says that "ACMA will continue to be closely engaged with industry players about transactions involving changes to ownership and control of licensed businesses and associated newspapers" and adds, "We will be doing that in close co-operation with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). In this regard, the ACCC Chairman and I have announced that we intend to share information relating to proposed transactions to the maximum extent possible."
He notes that ACMA has a "new power to apply for an injunction to prevent a transaction that is likely to breach the media diversity and 3-way control provisions and, secondly, can give remedial directions which require disposal of shares or other divestiture action ensuring that the particular contravention ceases."
So far deals cumulatively worth around AUD 12 billion (USD 9.4 billion) have been made in anticipation of the changes that ease media ownership restrictions, including those on foreign ownership, but still require a minimum of five media "voices" in metropolitan areas and four in regional ones and also limit a company to a maximum of two of three newspaper, radio and TV businesses in a market.
The Australian government has not yet said when the new laws will take effect and ACMA warns proprietors that before they do it will "continue to actively monitor compliance with the current rules and take any necessary action to maintain the integrity of the current arrangements."
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Previous Chapman:
2006-12-20: Google's radio advertisement business is reported as being heavily involved in negotiations with CBS Radio to purchase airtime to stave off problems for its radio advertisement business, Google Audio, according to Marketwatch.
The report says that according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Jordan Rohan Google's problem is that is does not have access to enough airtime for advertisers to test its system and is planning to buy airtime to prevent delays in introducing the system, currently being tested on a limited basis by some 20 selected companies (See RNW Dec 9), to a broader audience.
Rohan was quoted as commenting, "We believe a critical mass of advertisers is interested in testing the platform. However, there is simply not enough radio inventory in the Google Audio system (yet) to enable buyers to run campaigns."
Rohan also says Google radio advert sales executives are now stressing the benefits of combined internet and radio campaigns rather than the "efficiency and efficacy" of Google Audio.
Previous Google:
Marketwatch report:
2006-12-20: Bill Griffin, managing director of Emap's Kiss dance radio network and a former head of marketing at Channel 4 TV, has resigned after 16 months with the company and is to leave in January according to the UK Guardian, which says he is a move to an unnamed communications agency.
Griffin, who oversaw a revamp and re-launch of Kiss, will be replaced on a temporary basis by Emap Radio marketing and communications director, Steve Parkinson according to the paper.
Emap Radio group managing director Dee Ford paying tribute to Griffin said she would "like to thank Bill for his work on refreshing the Kiss brand and leading the successful integration of the former Vibe stations into the Kiss family whilst achieving Kiss's highest Rajar figures for two years".
Previous Emap:
Previous Ford:
UK Guardian report:
2006-12-20: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has rapped Southern Cross's Melbourne talk station 3AW over the knuckles for breaching Australian regulations prohibiting broadcast of tobacco adverts by airing a radio play called "Command Decision", first broadcast in 1949, from its archives in its "The Overnighters" programme in April this year.
In its ruling, the ACMA noted that the adverts for Camel, sponsors of the original broadcast, contravene Australia's Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 and comments that the adverts were "not broadcast accidentally as the licensee had sufficient opportunity to edit the advertisements out of the play recording before it was broadcast."
It adds that it "also considered that the advertisements were not incidental to the broadcast of other matter, as they were a distinct part of the broadcast rather than a background accompaniment to the radio play."
The adverts concerned were announcements saying, "How mild can a cigarette be? Smoke Camels and see. Yes, prove for yourself how mild Camels are. In a recent coast-to-coast test of hundreds of men and women who smoked Camels, and only Camels, for 30 days, noted throat specialists reported not one single case of throat irritation due to smoking Camels" and other adverts promoting the "mildness" of the cigarettes concerned.
Southern Cross has told the Authority that it will take steps to ensure that all future archival broadcasts are considered and reviewed prior to broadcasting, so that any potentially unlawful material is identified and removed from any further proposed broadcasts and the ACMA said it considers this an appropriate response.
RNW comment: We are somewhat disturbed by decisions of this nature which seem to us going too far along the road of airbrushing history although we accept that the ACMA and broadcasters are bound by a law, even in if the politicians passing it did not think deeply enough about some of the details.
In our view, rather than editing out such references it would have be much better to insist on appropriate factual anti-smoking announcements being aired with material - radio or TV - that effectively promotes habits now known to be harmful.
In this sense we would be harsher on the "incidental" inclusion of material such as when a star smokes in a film and gives smoking a glamour appeal and require appropriate announcements before and after the airing pointing out the health risks - and where appropriate noting the star's death of cancer.
Previous ACMA:
Previous Southern Cross:
2006-12-20: XM Satellite Radio says that it is now back in compliance with NASDAQ stock exchange rules that require a majority of independent directors on the board of a NASDAQ-listed company following the appointment to its board of Joan L. Amble, Executive Vice President and Corporate Comptroller for American Express Company: She was also appointed chair of XM's Audit Committee.
Amble has received a standard annual grant to directors of an immediately exercisable ten-year option to purchase 10,000 shares of our Class A common stock - in this case at USD 15.89, the closing price on December 15.
Previous XM:
2006-12-20: The US Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), which currently only reports comparative figures not monetary amounts in its radio advertising revenue reports is to add dollar amounts in its quarterly reports from next year although it will continue to report monthly in comparative terms.
RAB says it is making the change to allow for "more meaningful analysis of emerging trends, and be in line with the majority of media revenue reporting practices and schedules" and its President and CEO Jeff Haley commented, "We are in a fast-changing media environment and too often short-term variances in business month-to-month have not provided a proper perspective on where Radio is headed."
"Our purpose is to give the marketplace a solid foundation on which to analyze Radio," he added. "Quarterly reporting will stabilize the perspective on Radio revenue. Disclosure of the dollar amounts will align Radio with the other media's reporting practices and demonstrate the industry's position as a formidable player in the wireless media arena."
Previous Haley:
Previous RAB:
2006-12-19: Although no deal has yet been announced, bankrupt US progressive talk network Air America Radio, currently owned by Piquant LLC, appears to be close to an agreement to sell itself to a new owner:
The New York Times reporting on the network's travails says Douglas Kreeger, an initial investor and former chief executive who stabilized the network in its early months, said in a telephone interview that there is "a signed letter of intent" for a new group to take over the network and that he is "likely" to be a part.
The paper adds that the lead equity position would be taken by Terence F. Kelly, of Madison, Wisconsin, also an Air America investor from the beginning and a former board chairman.
Kelly, reported the paper, said in a separate interview that the investor group included a new strategic media partner he declined to name, and both men