Here's the news for 8/18/08. To get today's news emailed directly to your inbox every day, click here.
» Get To Know The "Integrators": The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press attaches the term to approximately 23% of News consumers who have become "blenders" of online and traditional news sources in the changing news media environment of the past decade. According to Pew, Integrators are, "are a more engaged, sophisticated and demographically sought-after audience segment than those who mostly rely on traditional news sources." Also affluent, highly educated and very interested in national news and politics, Pew says Integrators tend to be older than their counterparts called "Net-Newsers" -- those who turn to the Web as their primary source for news and information. Learn more about the study of this key News audience segment HERE.
» "Mad Dog" Migrates To Sirius: Yet another rumor-du-jour turns to reality as Chris Russo jumps to Sirius XM Radio following his sudden departure last week from WFAN/New York. Russo's new "Mad Dog Radio" will be available to both Sirius and XM subscribers beginning next month on a newly revised channel featuring a variety of Sports/Talk, sports news and coverage of live sporting events. Russo's daily afternoon show will officially debut on September 15, but he'll host a number of "preview" programs during the next few weeks. "No other Sports/Talk radio comes close to what I will be able to do at Sirius XM Radio," said Russo about his move to satellite radio after nearly two decades on WFAN as co-host of Mike and the Mad Dog. "With football season about to kick off and all the pennant races heating up, I can't wait to get on the air and talk to the 18.5 million Sirus XM subscribers around the country."
» Candidates Up Radio Spending: That according to this week's Media Monitors weekly tracking of media ad dollars being spent by Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. Obama ran 2,554 radio pitches last week -- up 1,740 spots over the previous week -- while McCain also increased his radio exposure, airing 2,243 ads. That's up 1,892 over the week of August 4. Broadcast television and cable also saw increased spending by both candidates overall during a week when much of the news has been largely dominated by events at the Olympic Games taking place in Beijing.
» Patrick Partners With StubHub: Attendees at Al Peterson's Talk Media Conference in Phoenix earlier this year heard Content Factory CEO Jimmy diCastro and Sports media personality Dan Patrick say their goal was to successfully expand Patrick's brand across multiple media outlets. A new two-year partnership with StubHub, dubbed "the world's largest ticket marketplace,' is the latest extension for Patrick that will offer his on-air and online fans exclusive special opportunities and promotions. "We want to continue improving our radio program and all of the online benefits we offer to our listeners," said Patrick about the new deal. "Aligning with StubHub will inform our listeners of the benefits of buying or selling tickets on the open ticket marketplace platform that has reinvented how sports fans find tickets today."
» WTOP Reporters Get RTNDA Fellowships: Among the journalists selected to participate in this year's annual German/American Journalist Exchange Program are WTOP/Washington reporters Chas Henry and Catherine Ryan. They'll join 10 other journalists also selected by the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation to participate in the 15th annual exchange sponsored by the RIAS Berlin Commission. With concerns about a reheating up of the Cold War mounting in recent weeks, the selected journalists should find it an opportune time to spend two weeks abroad (September 13-28) where they'll be briefed on a wide variety of topics by top-level political, business and media figures in Germany and by NATO and European Union officials in Brussels.
» "Hey, Can Somebody Do Somethin' About All This Damn Red?" Even under a bright red tent the legendary Tommy Lasorda (center) bleeds Dodgers blue as he stopped by for a visit with KABC/Los Angeles' Doug McIntyre and John "The Sports Princess" Phillips. The pair broadcast live from Dodgers Stadium during KABC's recent "Think Cure Radiothon" to benefit City of Hope and Childrens' Hospital Los Angeles.
Here's the news for 8/18/08. To get today's news emailed directly to your inbox every day, click here.
» Florida Gulf Coast Readies For Fay: In Tampa Bay Clear Channel SVP News/Talk/Sports Programming Gabe Hobbs reports News/Talker WFLA and its clustermates have activated "Operation Stormwatch" to update listeners throughout the hour for now, with a decision to move to long-form coverage pending the storm's progress. With no significant storms in the Tampa-St.Petersburg region for the past three or four years, Hobbs says the danger is that staffers can get rusty and the public can become too complacent. "But we have a very comprehensive plan in place and our staff is executing perfectly," he says. Noting we'd heard he was supposed to be away on vacation this week Hobbs replied, "Vacations? There are no vacations in hurricanes. That's like crying in baseball!"
» South Florida Also Braces: Over on the other side of the Sunshine State Clear Channel/Miami Director AM Programming Ken Charles reports News/Talker WIOD and CC's South Florida stations are, "not in lock down the hatches mode yet, but close." Charles, who also pulled hurricane duty at CC/Houston before moving to Miami, says experience has taught him to "use your resources wisely" when it comes to disaster coverage. "Don't burn the staff out early because these are many-day events," he says. "Almost like a sporting event, there's the pre-game with all the lead up to the storm, then there is the 'game' itself -- when the height of the storm is hitting and the station is the life line to your community -- and then the post game after the storm has passed and things are calming down. If you burnout your staff too early, you'll have nothing left during the height and aftermath of the storm."
» Ober Segues To ND In Ft. Wayne: Citing his belief that "the presentation of local news and content has never been more important than it is today," Federated Media/Ft. Wayne GM Mark DePrez says current WOWO and WKJG ("ESPN 1380") OM Andy Ober will move to a new role as News Director for WOWO effective immediately. "Over the past year Andy has completely devoted himself to being the Director of AM Operations," says DePrez. "We are fortunate that he has agreed to take on this new challenge." If you think you have the right stuff to be considered as a candidate for a primo OM opening in America's heartland cyber-rush your resume to DePrez HERE.
» More Reasons To Be Positive About Radio: Last Friday's (8/15) issue of NTS Aircheck Weekly, focusing on why broadcasters have reason to be optimistic about the future, has drawn a higher than average response from readers, including the aforementioned Ken Charles who is smack-dab in the middle of pre-hurricane coverage in South Florida. "You ask 'what is positive about radio?' -- this is it," he says. "Radio does this better then any other medium. You don't have to wait for tomorrow for it to show up on your doorstep and, unlike TV, we are interactive using our audience as resources and extra eyes via the phones. These days are why spoken radio is not dead and never will be."
» The "Original Social Network": Adding his perspective on the topic FOX Sports Radio VP/GM Andrew Ashwood says, "Talk radio is the original electronic social network and our best days are still ahead of us, thanks in large part to the people who practice our art form." Meanwhile, MediaSense head honcho Bob Michaels adds this positive prediction: "Talk is the only format for people to voice their thoughts and have them shared with thousands of people at once. Whereas music radio can be substituted by various technologies, the human thought of individuals is what makes Talk radio the format best suited for the future." Your comments are welcome HERE.
» Cowherd Stampedes To ESPNU: The 24/7 college sports television network will simulcast ESPN Radio's The Herd With Colin Cowherd from 10am-1pm (ET), Monday-Friday, beginning August 25. Shown just prior to attending a seminar on what to wear to work everyday and how to apply make-up even though you're on the radio are (l-r): board op David Fisch, host Colin Cowherd, and producers Amanda Gifford and Vince Kates.
Here's the news for 8/15/08. To get today's news delivered to your inbox every day, click here.
» Radio's Positive Power Unleashed! In today's edition of NTS Aircheck Weekly some of Talk radio's best and brightest minds weigh in on the positive power of radio in a world where so many seem focused on negatives in our industry. "Too many people in our business are negative," says Bonneville VP News and Programming Jim Farley. "They think that the wave of digital/Internet/video is going to swamp us. Facts: All-News and News/Talk radio is growing stronger as a premium vehicle to help advertisers solve their business problems. The qualitative of the audience for information radio is second to none. High-income listeners want and need to stay informed in the most active and personal medium available out there. Radio is still the bomb!" Read even more reasons to be positive about your future in radio only in this week's NTS Aircheck Weekly (Delivered to your inbox earlier today!).
» Cubs Play White Sox, Radio Wins: The respective team flagships saw massive audience gains when the two Windy City baseball teams met for a crosstown series in June. Arbitron PPM data gathered during the series reports that more than 1.1 million listeners tuned to the Saturday, June 28 game on WGN (Cubs) and WSCR (White Sox) garnering a whopping 29.7 share of all radio listening in the market for the day! That's especially remarkable because Saturday is typically the lowest ratings day of the baseball week since fans are more likely to watch coverage on TV at home. Arbitron SVP Thom Mocarsky notes, "The Arbitron Portable People Meter service is revolutionizing sports and event marketing on radio. PPM data provides stations and teams with game-by-game insights that they were never able to see before in the paper and pencil diary service."
» Mike And The ... Uh, Never Mind, Just Mike: The worst kept secret in New York radio for the past couple of months has been a pending split between 19-year WFAN/NewYork afternoon drivers Mike And The Mad Dog -- Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo. The duo reportedly have had a contentious relationship for years that finally came to an end when Russo, who had been on vacation this week, suddenly exited the CBS Radio Sports/Talker yesterday (8/14). Francesa will remain as a solo act hosting the newly named Francesa On The Fan, while Russo is rumored to be headed to join his old boss Mel Karmazin over at newly merged Sirius XM Radio.
» Krok Heads To Macon: Former WSB/Atlanta evening yakker Chris Krok resets his alarm clock to takeover morning drive at heritage News/Talker WMAC/Macon. Krok, who stirred up the local press during several audition shows he hosted on WMAC last month, will also serve as PD for the Cumulus-owned outlet. Along with his most recent gig in Atlanta, Krok's radio resume also includes stops in Minneapolis, Madison, WI and Jefferson City, MO. He'll fill a hole that opened in late June when former morning host Shayne McBride got busted for marijuana possession by Macon police and was subsequently fired by the station. Congratulate Krok on his new gig HERE.
» Ben And Skin Land At Live 105.3 Effective August 25 "Big" Ben Rogers and "Skinny" Skin will move into the midday slot at CBS Radio FM talker KLLI/Dallas. The talk duo were most recently heard at crosstown Sports/Talker KTCK ("The Ticket") and currently pen a column for QuickDFW.com called Ben And Skin's Hot Potato Salad. Buddies since high school, Ben and Skin replace former middayers Pugs & Kelly who left the station last month.
» Rossi Rises At Citadel/Los Angeles: 12-year L.A. sales and marketing executive Craig Rossi has been named Director of Sales for News/Talk KABC and Rock clusterbuddy KLOS. Rossi joined the company in January as President/West Region for Citadel's heritage stations, a role he'll retain while also adding sales responsibilities for both L.A. radio stations. Citadel/Los Angeles President/GM John Davison says that in his new job Rossi will work closely with both KABC GSM Matt Malon and KLOS GSM Leonard Madrid and their respective sales teams to "maximize revenue opportunities" at the stations.
» WEEI/Boston's Jimmy Fund Halfway To Goal: WEEI programmer Jason Wolfe reports that the annual two-day Radio-Telethon is well on the way to reaching this year's fundraising goals. "We're at $2.2 million on our way to $4 million," Wolfe told NTS Aircheck Today. "We hope to hit our goal at some point during tonight's Boston Red Sox game." Last year's fundraiser garnered a total of $3.74 million in donations. Since 2002 the yearly event has raised nearly $12 million to benefit the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. You can add your support to WEEI's efforts HERE.