Thursday, April 5, 2012
 Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Today's TALKERS magazine Dave Ramsey and Daughter Rachel Cruze Present Program to Sold Out L.A. Audience. Nationally syndicated money talk radio star Dave Ramsey appeared at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on  Tuesday, April 3 before a sold-out crowd of 1,200 for affiliate KFWB, Los Angeles. The subject of the evening was family and money and Ramsey's daughter Rachel Cruze appeared with him as Ramsey shared his key principles on handling money and navigating family relationships. Read more here. CBS Radio Signs on with TuneIn to Make Spoken-Word Content Available Online.  CBS Radio announces it has inked a non-exclusive agreement with TuneIn to have content from its more than 40 news/talk, sports and all-news stations available via smartphones and the web. CBS local digital media president Ezra Kucharz states, "We have always believed in the value of great local content, and this agreement validates the demand we know exists for our original programming while at the same time creates a new revenue source for the company. By forging relationships with premiere distribution services such as TuneIn, CBS Radio will significantly grow its audiences by exposing our content to new listeners." Talk Legend Gene Burns Recovering from Stroke. It's been no secret that San Francisco talk icon Gene Burns has been off the air at Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's KKSF. On Tuesday (4/3), he posted the  following on the NewsTalk 910 KKSF website: "To my listeners and friends in the NewsTalk 910 family. The past few weeks has brought a great number of changes, and a vast silence. For the silence, please accept my apologies. I have been recovering from a stroke, which has affected the speech center of my brain in the form of aphasia. In this third month of recovery, I am enthusiastic and thankful for the progress I have made, due in no small part to the great amount of help I have received from UCSF, St. Francis, and the Sutter Health care groups. Most days, I have speech therapy and visits from great friends and colleagues. I would like to wish everybody well, and to say thank you to the NewsTalk910 family for sticking by me. Many of the NewsTalk 910 line-up of hosts have reached out, including of course Len Tillem, my long time friend and advisor. A special thank you to my colleagues; to John, Gil, Rosie, Ed, Dr. Bill, James and the rest for stepping up to the plate for me. Most importantly; thank you to all of you who listen, Tweet, Facebook and tell friends about me, and my program. Although I do not have a specific date for my return to the air, I listen each day to NewsTalk 910, giving me motivation to re-join the conversation about the issues of the day." Dial Global Touts NCAA Final Four Radio Listenership: More Than 20 Million Unique Listeners.  As it did with its coverage of the NFL Conference Championships and the Super Bowl, Dial Global hired Edison Research to study how many Americans heard its coverage of the NCAA Final Four on the 512 radio stations across the country that carried it. Edison estimates 20.6 million tuned in to hear some portion of the broadcasts on Saturday, March 31 and Monday, April 2. Dial Global co-president and CEO David Landau says, "We are pleased that our previous research findings still hold true, people desire play-by-play sports on radio in a big way. Dial Global is proud to connect with fans nationwide through the greatest moments from America's most popular sporting events." Jeff Haley Named CEO at Marketron. Industry watchers suspected that Jeff Haley had another gig lined up before leaving his position with the Radio Advertising  Bureau, making way for Erica Farber to assume leadership of that organization. Haley will begin his term as president and chief executive officer of Marketron on April 16. A statement from Marketron says Haley "brings this tremendous experience to Marketron, where he plans to continue the company's impressive growth since the launch of Mediascape, the media industry's first open technology platform. Haley is excited to maintain and grow Marketron's position as the leader in the space, and continue to provide its customers the standard in business efficiencies to increase revenues." Genesis Communications Media Names Bill Bokunic WIXC, Melbourne-Cocoa Beach Market Manager.  Bill Bokunic will have two roles with Florida-based Genesis Communications Media: First, he'll serve as market manager for 1060 News WIXC, Melbourne-Cocoa Beach; he'll also serve as director of sales-news business for Genesis' Orlando radio cluster. He'll be handling the planning and marketing for Genesis' ESPNFLORIDA.com and NEWSTALKFLORIDA.com and its event division which includes a partnership with Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Bokunic states, "I have been looking to relocate back to Central Florida in the media business. I am grateful for this opportunity to oversee the marketing of the digital publications, events, as well as the radio stations for Genesis in Central Florida. Genesis is moving rapidly into the multi-platform marketing business and I am thrilled to be a part of this business plan." Premiere Networks Promotes Bill Hickey to SVP of Engineering.  Bill Hickey moves up from VP to SVP and Premiere notes he takes on some new duties. In this new position, Hickey will now be responsible for directing all studio operations and administration, while continuing to oversee engineering and technical operations for Premiere Networks' studio facilities nationwide, including Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Chicago and Florida. Hickey will also continue to manage the company's XDS satellite and internet-based delivery systems, Network Operations Center, and other studio and construction projects, as well as supervise a team of nearly 50 employees. Canadian Pubcaster to Cut 650 Positions to Deal with $200 Million Shortfall.  The CBC is announcing it plans to eliminate some 650 jobs in order to handle a federal government funding decrease of $115 million over three years combined with improvements in service the public broadcasting corporation has vowed to enact that makes for an approximate $200 million shortfall over three years. Reports indicate about 450 jobs will be lost this year with the rest to come over the next three years. Marc-Philippe Laurin is president of the CBC/Radio Canada branch of the Canadian Media Guild which represents most CBC employees outside Quebec. He tells the Globe and Mail, "Mostly, our members work in news. It's what the CBC does most of with the staff it has. So it's going to have an impact, but we're expecting more details on that stuff in the days to come." Melody Burns Celebrates Three Years On Air in Albany. Local business consultant Melody Burns began hosting a brokered program on Paul Vandenburgh's WGDJ, Albany three  years ago. She quickly transitioned to a full-time paid talent and is, as she describes herself, "the only female conservative" on the air in Albany. Burns' initial effort – called "Women IN" – focused on showcasing women in business and current events of interest. Her first program featured a local female cardiologist. She enters her fourth year on the radio doing the daily 11:00 am to 12:00 noon conservative talk show as well as a three-hour Saturday program. Burns tells TALKERS, "The best part of everyday is receiving not just the 'good job – thanks for the 'information' e-mails but the 'you are a right wing radical' or 'you are ignorant trash,' or 'you're a right-wing extremist' or one of my favorites, 'you are Savage, Limbaugh and Levin in a skirt!' e-mails. I would call Paul Vandenburgh the Yoda of talk radio – at least that's what he has been to me." GOP Primary Race/2012 Presidential Campaign, Iran's Role in Afghan Violence, Muslim Brotherhood's Station in Egyptian Politics, Paul Ryan Budget, and European Economic Tensions Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (4/4). The Republican primary race and the 2012 presidential campaign; concerns over Iran's suspected role in Afghanistan violence; the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt's evolving political scene; debate over the Republicans' Paul Ryan-authored budget; and new worries about Europe's economic stability were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS. KKOB, Albuquerque Celebrates 90 Years On Air Today.  It was April 5, 1922 when the original KOB went on the air from Las Cruces, New Mexico. The station would move to Albuquerque in 1932. It moved up the dial to its current 770 frequency and boosted its power to 50,000 watts in 1941. Cumulus Albuquerque operations manager Pat Frisch tells TALKERS the station's calls changed to KKOB in 1986 when Hubbard sold the station to Citadel. Hubbard wanted the KOB calls for the TV station that it still owns today. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has declared today "770 KKOB Day." Click here to read these full stories and much more at talkers.com  The FCC and You – Part 2 Informal surveys of radio station managers indicate an alarming number of them are dangerously under-informed about FCC regulations. TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman presents the second of seven in a series of crucial, info-packed articles, this one dealing with the definition of obscenity The 2012 Hersky Awards H&H Communications president and regular TALKERS marketing columnist Al Herskovitz announces this year's honorees for the very best in sales orientation in talk radio The FCC and You Informal surveys of radio station managers indicate an alarming number of them are dangerously under-informed about FCC regulations. TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman presents the first of seven in a series of crucial, info-packed articles, this one dealing with the license renewal process Intellectual Property Case Engulfs Radio Stations Harrison Strategies senior partner and broadcasting attorney Matthew B. Harrison on the importance of knowing more about intellectual property law than just enough to avoid litigation Opinion: Talk Host Phil Valentine Says Prohibition of Ethnic References Reeks of Controlling the Language In the politically correct age, words don't actually have to be offensive, they just have to sound that way Ethnic Slurs: Don't Go There TALKERS sports editor Richard Neer writes that broadcasters and writers have to be especially aware of words that can be interpreted as ethnic slurs A Bowlful of Dollars H&H Communications president Al Herskovitz explains that talk radio sales pros can turn the Super Bowl ad extravaganza on its head to illustrate the economy and effectiveness of the reach, frequency and flexibility of a talk radio ad campaign Social Media: Handle with Care TALKERS magazine managing editor Kevin Casey and special features correspondent Mike Kinosian speak with talk radio practitioners about the good, bad and ugly aspects of using social media Handling Habitual Callers TALKERS sports editor Richard Neer offers techniques for dealing with the sports talk radio "frequent flyer." | | | |
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