TRN Sez Shutdown Rumors Are Unfounded

Sampling of TRN content

ARNN Forced To Shutdown


Talk Radio Network and CEO Mark Masters has issued another statement concerning reported financial problems at TFN.

Below is the full press statement from TRN:

By: Talk Radio Network Enterprises, LLC, Talk Radio Network Entertainment, Inc., Talk Radio Network-FM, Inc., National Weekend Radio Syndications, Inc., and America’s Radio News Network 

ARE YOU DIAL GLOBAL’S (WESTWOOD ONE’S) NEXT VICTIM?      The truth about the proposed merger between Dial Global/Westwood One and Cumulus is a dark one for our industry.  Dial Global/Westwood One’s market power in programming and sales representation, combined with Cumulus Network’s programming and distribution power in the top 100 U.S. markets, will have a devastating effect on most every area of the radio industry. Our previous experience with Dial Global/Westwood consists of improper, illegal, and/or unethical conduct that is set forth in the second amended complaint in our pending antitrust action against Dial Global/Westwood One and others.   If this merger is allowed to occur, the results of our previous experiences with Dial Global/Westwood One will be magnified tenfold to radio stations and content producers, which will be at the mercy of the newly empowered Dial (Westwood One)/Cumulus and the leverage that can be brought to bear by this new behemoth.
http://www.trn1.com/uploads/files/SecondAmendedComplaint.pdf

       If this merger is allowed to occur, the culture of corruption at Dial/Westwood, as described in our second amended complaint, and other filings, will surely infect and spread within the new behemoth entity and victimize the rest of the industry, resulting in a super monopoly. 

Sadly, the actions described in the second amended complaint are forcing the TRN companies to cut back to the basic operating essentials pending resolution of the multiple issues raised in their legal actions against Dial Global/Westwood One.  We had hoped that the change in management at Dial Global/Westwood One would bring about a new paradigm focused on correcting the prior harms in a manner which would be helpful to our companies and the industry as a whole.  Sadly, recent events have shown that the opposite is true and that the behaviors that gave rise to the lawsuits against Dial/Westwood One are endemic throughout the Dial/Westwood One monopoly.   The ruthless and unethical behaviors that have continued through multiple executive teams at Dial/Westwood are breathtaking in their scope and arrogance. 

We encourage the rest of our industry to stand together, and with us, now.  We have been in business for 20 years, and have had excellent relationships with the other companies in our industry during that time.  But this is a horse of a different color. 

Please contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition (antitrust@ftc.gov) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov or (202) 307-2040), your state’s Attorney General, and your local member of Congress about the dangers of this proposed merger and its threat to your First Amendment rights, business and products.  As for us, we will continue to pursue Dial Global/Westwood One in federal court and other appropriate forums, for monopoly and other improper behaviors, expose the behaviors described in the second amended complaint,  and achieve ultimate victory from the tragedy that Dial Global/Westwood One have imposed upon our companies and others within the industry. 

DIAL/WESTWOOD ONE SCORES INITIAL VICTORY WITH ARNN       The actions described in the second amended complaint with respect to America’s Radio News Network (“ARNN”), and additional actions which will be the subject of future filings, have now succeeded on an interim basis with respect to ARNN.  Specifically, ARNN has been forced to suspend its broadcast operations, effective at the close of its broadcast day on Friday, September 6, 2013, pending the successful outcome of its actions against Dial Global/Westwood.  ARNN has arranged for appropriate feeds to be provided to its affiliates for a reasonable period of time to enable them to secure alternate programming.

          AS TO RUMORS OF OTHER ONGOING OPERATIONS

All of the TRN companies have been severely damaged by the Dial Global/Westwood One conduct addressed above and also addressed in the various legal actions which the TRN companies have brought, or will bring, against Dial Global/Westwood.    That conduct has forced all of these companies to make wrenching internal decisions and to take painful internal actions.  As Dial Global/Westwood One has been collecting our advertising revenues, but refusing to pay them over to us or to account for them, these companies have now been forced to reduce as many operating costs as possible.   However, the current rumors of an alleged shutdown of broadcasting operations for non-ARNN programming are unfounded.  Broadcasts of the other programs are continuing without interruption. 

CALL TO ACTION! 

If Dial/Westwood can do this to us, they certainly can do this to you – so you need to join together, and with us, in opposing this dangerous merger, with as much force as you can muster, so that you can have a future that is not controlled by a monopoly http://www.trn1.com/uploads/files/SecondAmendedComplaint.pdf

Earlier Posting...

A number of unconfirmed media reports have TRN CEO Mark Masters suspending operations at Talk Radio Network, which launched "The Michael Savage Show" and other high profile programming. 

Street talk has the company refusing to communicate with staff and they are not issuing paychecks to talent across the network. 

Reportedly,  the staff of America's Morning News (100+ affiliates) has been told not to report to work Monday morning.

TRN CEO Mark Masters told Radio Ink last night TRN did not shut down and added, "Please disregard all harmful rumors. I will make an official statement tomorrow [Monday] that will be truthful and accurate."

The Central Point, Oregon-based syndicator has been battling a series of financial problems and in the process, has lost much of its air talent.  It was also dealt a significant blow when Michael Savage left the network after a court battle in which Savage won.  Laura Ingraham also recently left TRN.

On Friday,  Talkers reported a major restructuring taking place in high level "meetings" at the Mark Masters-led Talk Radio Network (TRN).

Those close to the situation told Talkers that some TRN staff members including talent and middle-management are owed back compensation.

If TRN is troubled high-profile talents including Andrea Tantaros, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, and Monica Crowley could be affected. Hundreds of affiliates reportedly are also in the dark as to events at TRN.

In a termination letter sent Friday to employees in the  network’s Oregon operations centers, CEO Mark Masters said the network is “suspending most of our business operations.”

Multiple news and talk hosts for TRN’s America’s Radio News Network, most who work as 1099 contractors, say they didn’t receive their biweekly paycheck last week and that they’ve been left in the dark about their employment status.

In the termination letter sent to employees in Oregon, Masters blamed TRN’s financial problems on Dial Global, its former ad sales partner.

On 9/5/2013,  TRN released a statement about the pending Cumulus-Dial Global deal and called on regulatory agencies to block the deal.  TRN claims “antitrust and First Amendment rights are at stake.” See Original Posting, Click Here.