Saturday Aircheck: Gary Owens On KMPC 710 AM In 1970

Gary Owens joined the staff of KMPC in Los Angeles in 1962 where he remained for the next two decades working the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. shift, Monday through Friday.

A gifted punster, Owens became known for his surrealistic humor. Among his trademarks were daily appearances by The Story Lady (played by Joan Gerber), the Rumor of the Day, myriad varieties of "The Nurney Song," and the introduction of the nonsense word "insegrevious", which was briefly included in the Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary.

His regular on-air radio terms included "krenellemuffin," as in, "We'll be back in just a krenellemuffin." Gary always credited his radio engineer at the end of his broadcast: "I'd like to thank my engineer, Bob Jones, for creebling at the turntables." He also created the heretofore non-existent colors "veister" and "krelb".

In 2004, Owens co-wrote with celebrity biographer and entertainment historian Jeff Lenburg an insightful and entertaining book on how to break into and succeed in the voice business, titled "How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice (Or Lose Your Tonsils Trying)," for McGraw-Hill.

Most recently, Owens has become the promotional announcing voice for Antenna TV, a cable channel dedicated to classic shows of the past, like The Monkees, Adam-12, and Gidget.

Today,  KMPC is ESPN Sports KSPN Radio.

November 16 In Radio History

On this day in 1899 Mary Margaret McBride was born in Paris Missouri. She later worked as a radio personality on WOR-AM, New York City.

In 1904…Fleming patents thermionic tube (diode tube)

In 1940…In Atlanta, the "hillbilly music" show "The WSB Barn Dance" began its 9½-year run.

In 1959. Harry Harrison debuted on WMCA, New York. (1965 Aircheck)

In 1962…Bob Lewis first show at WABC

In 1967… Jonathan Schwartz first at WNEW FM

In 1979…Paul McCartney released the holiday single "Wonderful Christmastime." Because he wrote, published, and played all the instruments on this recording, McCartney's royalties add up. Including royalties from cover versions, it is estimated that Paul McCartney makes $400,000 per year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings in excess of $15 million.

In 1996…The Beatles became the first artists to have three #1 albums in the same year when their "Anthology 3" hit the top of the American album chart.

In 2012…Radio personality (WBZ-Boston, WKBW-Buffalo, WBEN-Buffalo)/program director Jefferson Kaye, for many years the voice of NFL Films, died of cancer at 75.

In 2012…Radio and television personality (WWJ-Radio, WWJ-TV) Sonny Eliot, a broadcaster in Detroit for 63 years and one of the first TV weathermen to combine meteorology and humor, died at age 91.

NielsenAudio Confirms Layoffs

UPDATE 1:30pm 11/15/13: Nielsen, which acquired Columbia-based Arbitron in September, plans to lay off 333 workers — about half the work force — at Arbitron's former headquarters complex, state regulators said Friday.

Earlier Posting....

Nielsen, which acquired Columbia-based Arbitron in September, confirmed Thursday that it is laying off employees but, according to The Baltimore Sun, would not say how many.

The company said it is restructuring its Nielsen Audio division as a result of the merger, giving no details about the number of workers affected, the timing or the locations.

"Nielsen is implementing changes across the company to enhance growth and to align our resources to meet and exceed client needs," the New York-based company said in its brief statement. "These changes will improve productivity and innovation for the benefit of our organization, clients and shareholders."

Nielsen, which measures television viewership, gained entry to the radio market when it paid $1.3 billion for radio measurement firm Arbitron. When the deal was first announced late last year, Arbitron employed nearly 1,000 full-time workers, including 640 in Columbia and 62 in Hanover.

FCC Clarifies Foreign Ownership Ruling

The Federal Communications Commission today clarified its policies and procedures for reviewing transactions in the broadcasting industry that would result in foreign ownership stakes exceeding a 25 percent benchmark set by statute.

Sought by a broad and diverse range of parties -- including broadcasters, the public interest sector, and investors -- the ruling potentially removes obstacles to new capital investment, which will support small business, minority, and female broadcast ownership, and spur innovation. The clarification does not alter the FCC’s obligation to protect the public interest, including national security, localism and media diversity, in case-by-case reviews of each transaction.

Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934 limits foreign ownership of U.S.-organized entities that control broadcast licensees to 25 percent when the Commission finds the limitation is in the public interest. In the past, some have viewed this benchmark as a bar to foreign investment in broadcast licensees that would exceed the benchmark, rather than as a trigger for the Commission to exercise its discretion.

The ruling clarifies the Commission’s intent to review applications and petitions for declaratory rulings proposing such ownership on a case-by-case basis. The Declaratory Ruling adopted by the FCC today additionally specifies the filing procedures for applicants and petitioners seeking approval for foreign ownership above the 25 percent benchmark. It also affirms that applicants and petitioners must provide detailed information sufficient for the  Commission to make the public interest finding required by Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act. The controlling parent companies of licensees may not exceed the statutory benchmark without prior Commission approval.

The Commission will continue to work with Executive Branch agencies on issues related to national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy in reviewing proposals for broadcast foreign  investment.

Woo-Hoo! The Simpsons Cash-In On Cable

Following a multiple network bidding war, FXX has become the exclusive cable home for The Simpsons.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the upstart network has secured cable, VOD and non-linear rights to the longest-running comedy series in history, the network announced Friday.

As part of the pact -- said to be the biggest off-network deal ever -- FXX will become the cable destination for all seasons of 20th Century Fox TV's The Simpsons starting in August 2014.

The deal covers 24 seasons -- a whopping 530 episodes -- as well as subsequent seasons not in first-run on Fox of the series from Gracie Films Productions and executive producers James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Al Jean.

The deal will mark the first time the series will air on cable.

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CBS To Stream Kennedy Assassination Coverage

CBSNews.com will stream CBS News' historic broadcast coverage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination to mark the 50th anniversary of the shooting. The extensive online offering will feature the minute-by-minute CBS News broadcasts in real time as they were delivered during the four-day period following the assassination.

CBSNews.com's special four-day anniversary online stream will begin at 1:40 PM ET on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 with the first breaking network television news bulletin alerting viewers shots had been fired in Dallas.

CBSNews.com will then stream the CBS News coverage, including the first report from legendary anchor Walter Cronkite and the extraordinary broadcasts from New York, Dallas, Washington and around the world as it unfolded over four days, culminating with the president's funeral.

The historic coverage will continue through the weekend, ending Monday, Nov. 25 with coverage of the president's funeral and other news of that day.

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Sports Talk Format Is Thriving

Sports talk radio is alive and well, according to a panel at the Covington & Burling Sports Media & Technology Conference Wednesday. The panel consisted of Steve Cohen of Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Chris Corcoran of WestwoodOne Sports, Traug Keller of ESPN and Chris Oliviero of CBS Radio, according to Forbes.

“More people listen to radio during the day which is our prime time than watch sports on cable (TV). We need to do a better job of educating people about that,” Oliviero said.

Keller added, “The perception is that radio has declined but that is not the case. (People) may spend less time listening than they used to but there is still an appetite for it. The new radio listening, or audio as I call it, is way up. Listening is 65% higher than what is recorded by Arbitron if you add podcasts and its 220 million downloads.”

The main sports talk show host in any major city has become the new measuring stick for teams and coaches to gauge how they are doing. “It’s not the T.V. anchor on the 11 p.m. news or the newspaper columnist they look at. It’s the local sports talk host. They want to know what he’s going to say,” Oliviero said, who has one of the best in WFAN’s Mike Francesa.

Despite the loss of popular co-host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo in 2008, Oliviero said afternoon ratings for Francesa’s show have “never been stronger” as he beats ESPN Radio’s Michael Kay by a 3-to-1 margin.

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CBS To Air Special On the Beatles

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's U.S. debut performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, will air Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT, the network announced Thursday.

According to THR, the special will be taped the day after the Grammys on Monday, Jan. 27, the special will also highlight the legacy of the seven-time Grammy-winning group.

Though though no names were announced, CBS says that "today's top artists" will cover songs performed by The Beatles while appearing on Ed Sullivan Show, as well as other songs throughout the group's career. Various presenters will also highlight the impact -- musical, cultural and historical -- of the group and their TV appearance, which drew 74 million viewers.

Lady Gaga Says She's Addicted to Marijuana

Lady Gaga said she was addicted to marijuana in an interview with Elvis Duran on the WHTZ 100.3 FM Z100 Morning Show on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, and that she decided to speak about it so young people are aware that addiction to the drug is possible. 

CCM+E And Macy’s Launch IHeartRadio Format

Starting today, Macy's and Clear Channel will officially launch mstyleradio, a new digital radio station that captures the spirit of this fusion of culture for a Millennial audience.

Mstyleradio will be the home of today's top hits, fashion expertise and fun experiences. The station, available on iHeartRadio.com and accessible via its mobile app, will also broadcast live in more than 700 Macy's Mstylelab Juniors' and Young Men's departments nationwide.

"We are extremely excited to officially launch mstyleradio in our stores nationwide. This unique station combines the collective resources and skills of Macy's and Clear Channel to create a destination where Millennials will be able to discover new music, enjoy their favorite hits and connect to the latest in fashion and pop culture," said Martine Reardon, Macy's chief marketing officer.

"mstyleradio will be a widely accessible destination that will allow Macy's to connect with our Millennial audience on a regular basis, whether through a mobile device, online or in our stores, delivering fresh and exciting content that speaks to this customer and allows us to leverage our entertainment and fashion expertise."

Tom Poleman

"What we're doing with mstyleradio is both innovative and exciting, and it's a great extension of iHeartRadio's partnership with Macy's," said Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. "The blend of Clear Channel's music programming expertise and our on-air personalities talking about music, pop culture and fashion make this station the perfect marriage of the Macy's and iHeartRadio brands."

At launch, the station will feature live Clear Channel DJ's seven days a week, playing established artists, icons and up-and-coming talent. Three DJ's will rotate shifts to provide 15 hours of live coverage per day.

Alex, the station's fashion muse, a 23-year old currently based at Clear Channel Austin, has a passion for fashion and sports. Valentine, hailing from Miami's Y100, will spin a mix of the latest in pop culture and gossip, as well as the nation's top hits. Always plugged in to social media from Twitter and Facebook to Instagram, Valentine is the ultimate guy-next-door. And finally, Nathan Fast rounds out the DJ cast. The wheeler-dealer of the group, Nathan worked his way up the ladder tackling several radio gigs from Las Vegas to Idaho and currently Clear Channel San Diego.

Report: Cumulus Wants To Sell L-A Property

Cumulus Media announced plans to sell its longtime broadcasting facility housing KABC 790 AM and KLOS 95.5 FM on South La Cienega Boulevard, according to the LA Times.

The 10-acre site at the northwest corner of La Cienega and Jefferson Boulevard in Los Angeles is near a stop on the Expo Line rail route connecting downtown Los Angeles and Culver City. The area is considered ripe for mixed-use development that might include apartments, offices and stores.

Cumulus has not set a price for its property, but real estate experts familiar with transit-oriented development say the Baldwin Hills site could command $200 a square foot, or more than $90 million.

Cumulus determined that the property was a greatly underutilized asset and decided to sell it in order to free up cash to redeploy in other areas of the business, a company representative said. Cumulus plans to consider options that would allow it to remain at the location after the sale, perhaps as a tenant.

The radio stations have occupied a 45,000-square-foot broadcast facility on the sprawling square-shaped property for decades.

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Boston Radio: Glenn Ordway Gets Picked-Up By SiriusXM

Glenn Ordway

Longtime sports Boston radio personality Glenn Ordway has surfaced after being fired by WEEI 93.7 FM in February after a 27-year run at the station.

Sirius XM Radio has announced that Ordway will be a host on its Mad Dog Sports Radio channel.

His Sirius XM program, titled The Big Weekend Show with Glenn Ordway, will air every Saturday and Sunday from 8-11 a.m. He will debut on November 16.

The Boston globe also reports there may be a radio gig  something closer to home in the works. Ordway said he has something brewing on the radio locally beginning in January.

Chris Brown Leaves Rehab — After Two Weeks

Chris Brown, the 24-year-old “No Bulls---” singer, left his inpatient facility so he can chip away at the 1,000 hours of community labor handed down last August in his Rihanna assault case, his lawyer Mark Geragos told the NY Daily News on Thursday.

“Chris is continuing his rehab program as an outpatient,” Geragos said in a statement to The News. “He appreciates all of your encouragement and support.”

Brown voluntarily checked into an unidentified rehab facility Oct. 29 to seek help for his anger issues after an alleged street scuffle in Washington landed him in jail.

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Library to Preserve Archive of Public Broadcasting

WGBH Boston and the Library of Congress are collaborating on an ambitious project to build the first comprehensive digital archive of content from the nation’s public broadcasters and will eventually make it available to the public over the Internet, according to boston.com.

WGBH and the Library of Congress will jointly establish a permanent home for the archives with the help of a $1 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that was announced Thursday.

The collection will include key moments in American history, such as coverage of the 1963 March on Washington, one of Olympian Jesse Owens’s last interviews, and early reports on the US space program. The archives will also memorialize events captured by local public broadcasters in their communities, such as the WGBH radio broadcast in 1963 from Boston Symphony Hall, when BSO conductor Erich Leinsdorf told the audience that JFK had been assassinated.

The American Archive of Public Broadcasting will include 2.5 million pieces of content from more than 100 national and local broadcasts — some 40,000 hours. Much of the content will be entire shows, such as “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and Julia Childs’s “The French Chef,” but the archive will also feature raw footage, unedited interviews, speeches, and live music.

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November 15 In Radio History

In 1926 The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) began broadcasting comprised of a network of 24 radio stations. It debuted with a 4-hour special program.

In 1921 KYW-AM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania began broadcasting. The KYW call letters were destined to travel.  They were also used in Chicago and Cleveland before returning to Philadelphia in 1965. The station is now All-News.

In 1922 the BBC conducted its first broadcasts from Birmingham (5IT) and Manchester (2ZY). Manchester and London broadcasted the first general election results. Manchester broadcasted the first children's program, called "Kiddies Corner".

On this day in 2006, radio personality, Jack Alix, died in Richmond, Virginia. Alix is best known for his syndicated oldies show "Rock and Roll Roots" at one time heard on almost 150 radio stations.

In 2007…Baseball broadcaster (Cincinnati Reds)/former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Joe Nuxhall died of cancer at 79. Nuxhall was the youngest player ever to appear in a major league game, pitching 2/3 of an inning for the Reds on June 10, 1944 at the age of 15 years, 316 days.

FCC Votes to Ease Rule On Foreign Ownership

The FCC voted to allow foreign entities to invest more than 25% in broadcast stations, although the agency will still determine whether such investments can be made on a case-by-case basis, according to Variety.

Commissioners on Thursday described the 25% cap as outdated, especially as foreign ownership above that threshold has been allowed for telecommunications.

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, presiding over his first open commission meeting, said that the change should help free up capital for broadcasters, helping improve local broadcasting, minority media ownership and a more efficient use of spectrum.  He noted that the agency was still free to review national security and other concerns in making a decision on whether to grant an ownership stake.

“This will be a case-by-case detailed review of whatever information is presented,” he said.

All five commissioners voted for the change.

Commissioner Ajit Pai called the change a “much needed step toward leveling the regulatory playing field.” Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel noted that the reasons for the cap date to concerns that a foreign entity may disrupt ship-to-shore communications.

Read More Now.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the move comes at a time of frenzied consolidation in the TV station market and could have immediate implications for Mexican media conglomerate Grupo Televisa which owns 8% of the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications in a deal structured around the foreign-ownership cap. Televisa could now be a potential suitor for Univision, which is controlled by private-equity firms but said to be considering a potential IPO in the first quarter of 2015.

The FCC has long had the ability to waive the 25% foreign-ownership cap for individual companies, but in practice has rarely used it. Mr. Wheeler said the declaratory ruling is "far from a rubber stamp" and that every application to exceed cap would be subject to a detailed review.

Chicago Radio: Peter Bolger New OM/PD At WLS-AM

Peter Bolger

Cumulus Media, the largest pure-play radio broadcaster in the United States, announces the appointment of Peter Bolger as Operations Manager/Program Director for WLS-AM 890 in Chicago. 

Bolger joins Cumulus with more than 30 years of radio programming experience, most recently serving as Director of AM Programming for Clear Channel’s flagship News Radio 1200 WOAI as well as Ticket 760 Sports Radio in San Antonio, TX.  

Prior to Clear Channel, Bolger spent almost 20 years in Miami radio, with roles including Program Director for Paxson Communication and Program Director at WIOD and WINZ. In 2000, he was listed by Radio Ink as one of America’s Top 20 Program Directors and in 2013, was recognized by Fisher House Foundation for the ongoing awareness campaign and fund raising efforts on WOAI. 

“Chicago radio is a competitive and important market where we’re excited to add Peter’s expertise that positions us for future growth,” said John Dickey, co-COO and Executive Vice President of Cumulus.

“I think Chicago radio is the best there is. Fortunately, we have incredible talent and deep resources at WLS-AM and FM,” Bolger said. 

“I want to thank John Dickey, Mike McVay and Donna Baker for the opportunity to be part of the historic WLS brand. I can’t wait to get started.”

CRM notes WLS-AM's ratings are at their lowest point since the station first flipped to an all-talk format in the late 1980s,

At WLS-AM, Peter Bolger replaces Tracy Slutzkin, who has held the title of Program Director since September 2010, when then-Operations Manager Drew Hayes promoted her up from Assistant Program Director. When Hayes exited WLS-AM to take a similar job with Los Angeles sister-station KABC-AM earlier this year, Slutzkin absorbed Hayes duties. With Peter Bolger coming aboard, he now absorbs most of Slutzkin's duties.

However, Tracy Slutzkin, who has been with WLS-AM since November 2006, is not leaving the station. She will shift back down to the Assistant Program Director role, reporting to Bolger.

Premiere Drops/Resigns Talker Randi Rhodes

UPRandi Rhodes

UPDATE 11/15/2013 4PM:  Apparently, they've kissed-and-made-up!

Randi Rhodes announced at the beginning of her show Friday that she had signed a one-year extension with Premiere Networks.  And her show will continue afterall.  No word on how this all happened.

"In a happy turn of events, we are pleased to announce that Premiere Networks will continue to produce and distribute The Randi Rhodes Show," reads the new email sent Friday morning by Premiere's Peter Tripi, Senior Vice President of Affiliate Relations.

"In an industry of constant change, it's a pleasure to provide good news about a talk talent we think so highly of," the email continues, before concluding with an apology. "We apologize for any inconvenience the previous announcement caused, but look forward to a very successful 2014 with The Randi Rhodes Show."

Original Posting....

Premiere Networks on Wednesday announced it is dropping liberal talker Randi Rhodes’ radio show at the end of the year, the syndicator confirmed to Politico.

Rhodes, whose nationally syndicated show airs Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m., had suggested to her listeners since October that her days on radio were “totally numbered.” Premiere said today it will no longer carry her show after the year ends.

“Premiere Networks will no longer produce and distribute The Randi Rhodes Show after Tuesday, December 31, 2013,” Premiere’s public relations director Rachel Nelson told Politico in an email.

Premiere began distributing Rhodes’ show in 2009. Previously, her show had been on Air America Radio, the failed progressive radio network, and she’d made headlines during her tenure there in 2008 for calling Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro “whores.”

Rhodes’ regular guest host Nicole Sandler will fill in for Rhodes from Dec. 16-31 making Rhodes’ likely last day on air this year Dec. 13.

Nashville Radio: Dave Ramsey, WPRT Part Ways

Dave Ramsey

Personal finance guru and national radio personality Dave Ramsey is moving his show from WPRT 102.5 FM The Game in 2014, according to The Tennessean.

“The Dave Ramsey Show” switched to WPRT in January, a move that the show and the station both called a “risk.”

Now the two sides have agreed to part ways, according to a joint news release. The Game is primarily sports programming.

“We have been friends for more than 20 years, and while we enjoyed this partnership from a personal standpoint, we both realize that from a business perspective our brands would be better served if we return to our respective formats,” said Bud Walters, president and owner of Cromwell Radio Group, which owns The Game.

Ramsey’s show is heard by 6 million listeners each week on more than 500 stations. Before 102.5, Ramsey's show had a 20-year run on WWTN-FM Supertalk 99.7, where his show debuted in the fall of 1992.

Dave Ramsey reportedly is being picked-up by CCM+E's Newsradio WLAC 1510 AM.

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Milwaukee Radio: Steve 'The Homer' True Critically Hurt

Steve True

A fixture in Milwaukee broadcasting has been critically hurt in a car crash.

WISN 12 News has learned 59-year-old Steve "The Homer" True was struck by an apparent drunken driver just before 10 a.m.

The radio talk show host and Marquette basketball play-by-play man was in critical condition at Froedtert Hospital on Wednesday night.

Wednesday night, the president and CEO of Good Karma Broadcasting, which owns WAUK 540 AM ESPN, said he spoke with True's wife, Nancy, who said, "Homer is doing pretty well and that doctors want to monitor his condition overnight."

Courtesy of Jockline Daily

Craig Karmazin said,  "Earlier today, ESPN Wisconsin's Steve "The Homer" True was injured in a traffic accident on Milwaukee's northwest side. I spoke with Homer's wife, Nancy, tonight. She said Homer is doing pretty well and that doctors want to monitor his condition overnight. On behalf of the True family and all of us at ESPN Wisconsin, I'd like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers."

Milwaukee police told WISN 12 News that True's car had the green light but was T-boned in the intersection when another car ran the red light.

That driver, a 44-year-old man, is suspected of driving while impaired and was taken to an area hospital for a blood test. He was later arrested, accused of intoxicated use of a motor vehicle causing great bodily harm.

He has been the voice of Marquette men's basketball for more than 20 years.

NYC Radio: Luis Jimenez Celebrates 20 Years

Success seemingly hasn’t spoiled the 43-year-old Luis Jimenez, who this year celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the day he flew to New York City from Orlando, Fla. - - where he was a parttime deejay and the station’s janitor - - to interview for a radio job at a major station in New York City, according to The NY Daily News.

“The Luis Jimenez Show,” broadcast Monday to Friday from midtown Manhattan on WXNY 96.3-FM since 2008, has attracted a huge part of the city’s overall radio audience and is regularly among the Top 10-rated shows in any language.

But it’s also the highest-rated show among New York’s diverse and ever-growing Hispanic market, thanks to a successful blend of on-air banter between the charismatic, quick-witted Jimenez and his studio crew, over-the-top sketches, song parodies and appearances by some of the biggest Latino stars in music, movies, television and sports.

Jimenez says he had one goal in life since he was a little boy - - to be on the airwaves. He ended up working part-time for a local station, and by his late teens had talked his way into a job at an Orlando station - - though his responsibilities included cleaning the building.

“I was working part-time on the radio when I was a janitor, but I just wanted to be full-time on the air and get paid to do that and not have to clean bathrooms,” Jimenez recalls.

After landing an interview at La Mega 97.9 in New York, Jimenez soon became host of “El Vacilón de la Mañana.” Working with sidekick Moon-shadow, the show built a rabid following for antics that often made rival Howard Stern’s show look like an NPR special.

Jimenez spent more than 14 years on La Mega, his high point coming in 2004 when the show was rated No. 1 in the New York market in any language.

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CBS Les Moonves Has Big Plans for TV Commercials

Les Moonves

The CBS chief isn’t prepared to stop once he persuades advertisers to pay for viewers who watch commercials as much as seven days after a show airs — a change he expects to see next year from the current live-plus-three-days, according to Deadline.

“We’re pushing eventually for live plus 30,” Les Moonves told investors this morning at the RBC Capital Markets Technology, Internet, Media and Telecommunications Conference.

Viewers increasingly watch shows on DVRs, VOD, and online. As a result, for a series such as CBS’ Hostages “when you count 30 days more, the number [of viewers] almost doubles,” he says.

Moonves adds that buyers should be willing to pay. “If you show the advertisers that a person is really watching them, that’s a good thing….Advertisers are paying for the eyeballs that are watching their spots.”

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NPR Polls Most/Least Loved Pop Albums

Is it possible to come up with a list of top ten albums that everyone can agree upon?

 It's harder said than done -- but after a summer of polling, the NPR All Songs crew has released a series of lists -- of the most-loved, least-loved, most-heard, and least-heard albums.

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TN Radio: Tullahoma Personality Busted for Sexual Abuse

John Nichols

A local radio personality was arrested Wednesday morning at 10:30am in Tullahoma. 63 year-old John Edward Nichols was arrested by Tullahoma officer Rocky Ruehling for being a fugitive from justice.

Nichols worked for WDUC 93.9 FM The Duck in Tullahoma and goes by the nickname the “Flying Dutchman” on their morning show.

Nichols was wanted on 1st degree sexual abuse out of Logan County, Kentucky. Officials in Logan County say they will extradite Nichols back to Kentucky to face the charges there.

He was booked into the Coffee County Jail on the fugitive from justice charge on a $750,000 bond.

The Duck announced that John Nichols who served as the station’s morning personality and program director is no longer employed by the station.

Wilmington NC Radio: WSFM Drops Classical Music Format

Two years after its debut, the curtain has dropped on Wilmington, NC’s only all-classical-music radio station.

Hometown Wilmington Media's Bach Radio, which began operations Nov. 22, 2011, ceased its programming earlier this month.

WSFM 1180 AM and Translator 95.9 FM will be replaced by a new one that the company will unveil later this month, general manager Beau Gunn told PortCityDaily.com, also owned by Hometown Wilmington Media.

The Wilmington area may not have to wait too long for another 24-hour, all-classical station.

Non-Com WHQR is planning one, and there's "a good chance we'll get one," said Cleve Callison, WHQR station manager. But there is no timetable yet, he added.

Callison said he wasn't surprised that Bach Radio didn't make it.

"I always felt it was an iffy proposition to say that a classical station could support itself with a commercial model, particularly in an area with a public radio station that plays classical music," he said.

Ryan Seacrest to Produce Kid’s Game Show

Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest has found his next project.

According to The NY Post, Nickelodeon has picked up 40 episodes of a half-hour game show executive-produced by the prolific TV host.

“Go Viral” (working title) will feature kid contestants competing in various elimination challenges revolving around funny viral videos — like predicting the videos’ outcome or guessing their popularity with the studio audience.

Production will begin in Los Angeles next year for a premiere in summer 2014.

Nickelodeon was known for its game shows back in the 1990s with popular series like “Double Dare,” “Wild and Crazy Kids,” “GUTS,” “Legends of the Hidden Temple” and “Figure It Out.”

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SBS To Launch Hispanic Radio Networks

With more advertisers tuning into the growing U.S. Hispanic market, Hispanic and mainstream media companies are bolstering Spanish- and English-language content offerings for Hispanic audiences, according to MediaDaily News.

In the latest such move, Spanish Broadcasting System has launched Aire Radio Networks to create and distribute Spanish-language radio programming nationwide.

The five new networks, featuring shows addressing events, health, family, finances, education, sports, and entertainment, will reach a total of around 12 million listeners, or a quarter of the U.S. Hispanic population, in 30 media markets, including nine out of the top 10, around the country every week.

The Aire Networks include the “Advantage Network,” targeting Hispanic men; the “Young Adult Network,” targeting Hispanics 18-49; “The Millennial Network,” targeting Hispanics 18-34; “Prime Family,” targeting families on weekends; and “The Mandril Network,” aggregating the audiences for the popular “El Vacilón del Mandril” talk show, featuring Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez out of KLAX-FM 97.9 “La Raza” in Los Angeles.

In addition to syndicating content, SBS will also provide promotional tie-ins, experiential marketing, and online and mobile platforms. The Aire Networks are set to debut January 1.

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Justin Bieber Apologizes For Flag Controversy

Justin Bieber has issued a lengthy apology for kicking the Argentine flag off stage during a recent concert.

According to Gossip Cop, a backlash erupted after a video surfaced online showing the singer using his foot and mic stand to push the flag out of his way during his show on Saturday in Buenos Aires.

Many criticized Bieber for treating the country’s sacred flag so carelessly, but the performer took to Twitter late Wednesday to explain that he meant no harm.

Snapchat Turns Down Facebook Offer

Facebook Inc. is indeed trying to get teens back into the fold.

Marketwatch is reporting investors, who heard the company confirm that there was a drop-off in daily visits by young teens last quarter, should take note of the reports on Wednesday that Facebook made a $3 billion or more, all-cash offer to buy the revenue-free startup Snapchat.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Snapchat rebuffed Facebook, and is instead looking into an investment round led by Chinese e-commerce company Tencent Holdings, which would value the company at $4 billion.

Snapchat is the latest trend among young teens and the tech savvy, letting them send short-lived texts or photos that can disappear within 10 seconds. It basically lets kids and adults send things that they won’t later regret when they are looking for a serious job, enabling the safe texting of all kinds of compromising photos and messages.

The move by Facebook shows how it is seeking to try and recapture its trendiness . Teens, who were the first users of Facebook when it was a network only for college students, are now onto other services and apps, such as Instagram, Tumblr, Snapchat, Wechat and other messaging apps.

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R.I.P.: Dubuque Radio Personality Mike Kenneally

Mike Kenneally

Mike Kenneally, known to Quad Cities residents from his work on the morning show on WVRE-FM 101.1 FM The River, passed away late last week.

Kenneally, 63, died from leukemia.

He  also was a  former Chicago personality at  WMET-FM and WRXR-FM 95.5 FM (now WNUA) from 1985-1986.

In his 40 year radio career, he worked all over the Midwest, but spent most of his career in the Quad Cities.

Kenneally also narrated at air shows in the region.

November 14 In Radio History

In 1921 the first opera by a professional opera company was broadcast over KYW-AM, Chicago.

In 1922 The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began its domestic radio service on 2L0, London.

In 2000 CBS Newsman Robert Trout died of congestive heart failure at 91.

Joe Ianniello Sez CBS Corp. ‘Likes’ Radio, But…

Joe Ianiello

CBS Corp. COO Joe Ianniello on Tuesday discussed Aereo, the growth upside of Showtime, and the outlook for retransmission and reverse compensation revenue at an investor conference, according to THR.

Appearing at a Wells Fargo investor conference, he also said CBS Corp. would consider buying cable networks or TV stations if the price was right and the asset provided strategic opportunities.

Asked about Aereo, Ianniello initially quipped: "How do you spell Aereo?"

Aereo captures over-the-air TV signals and relays them to its subscribers' digital devices. Broadcasters have sued, arguing that the digital company infringes on their copyrights.

How does he feel about the CBS Radio business?

"We like it" and remain bullish on it, he said. But he again signaled that the company may continue to sell smaller, medium-sized market stations. Ianniello said the digital age has in some ways made radio an even more attractive business.

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Atlanta Radio: WYAY’s ‘The Kimmer’ Suffers Heart Attack

Kim Peterson

This past Sunday afternoon, just six days after Kim "the Kimmer" Peterson started his new show on All News WYAY 106.7 FM, he said he felt a "gripping pain" in his chest and broke into sweats while driving. He pulled over, rested, then continued home.

According to Rodney Ho at accessatlanta.com, despite continued discomfort, the 63-year-old Marine vet worked yesterday on Veteran's Day. But the pain didn't totally go away.

So he finally decided to check into the North Fulton Hospital in Alpharetta Tuesday morning and discovered he had what doctors termed a "serious heart attack."

Doctors are still doing tests and will find out by today how serious the blockage may be.

His producer and sidekick Pete Davis covered for him today from noon to 3 p.m. The Kimmer said he will likely be off for at least a couple more days. His former producer Wayne "No Offense" Kitchens, now a Delta mechanic, will come in and help out while he's out.

The Kimmer hosted a popular talk show on N/T WGST 640 AM from 1992 until  2006 and had been in retirement until last week.

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Twin Cities Radio: WCCO’s Steve Murphy Attacked, Robbed

Steve Murphy

A well-known voice to many Twin Cities radio listeners was confined to a hospital room for hours after a vicious attack left Newsradio WCCO 830 AM morning news anchor Steve Murphy injured in an early-morning mugging last Thursday (11/07/13).

"I had just jogged down 53rd Street and I could see the headlights behind me," Murphy told MyFox9 News.

"Noticed an older-model white SUV had stopped, driver got out and headed towards me -- then, I knew I was about to robbed, assaulted."

Murphy said he was jogging to catch the bus to work at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday morning just like he always does when he first saw the white SUV pass him about 3 blocks from his home.

"I thought at the time, 'If I see him again, I'm in trouble,'" Murphy explained. "I was."

Murphy's intuition proved correct. The occupants of the SUV certainly were trouble, and Murphy was their target.

"He tackled me from behind, put me in a choke hold and put my arm behind me," Murphy said of his assailant. "Then, to an accomplice I couldn't see, he said, 'Get it! Get it!'"

Murphy said he knew his attackers were after his wallet, so he took it out. The crooks quickly snatched it and moved on.

"They were gone in a flash," Murphy said.

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According to the WCCO website, Murphy believes that at least one of three men arrested in Anoka County last Thursday for a similar aggravated robbery is the same person who attacked him.

He has since learned the men used his credit card to pay for fuel at a nearby south Minneapolis gas station. Surveillance video is likely to show that transaction.

Murphy says he recognized one of the men when their mug shots were published in the weekend newspapers. He will be meeting with Minneapolis police investigators in the hopes of finding those responsible for his attack.

PayTV Industry Loses More Customers

Cord cutting may be more than just a theory, according to a new report from Wall Street research firm MoffettNathanson which found the pay-TV industry shed 113,000 subscribers during the most recent quarter compared with 101,000 in the year ago-period.

That makes the past year the “worst 12 month stretch ever,” in terms of subscriber losses, compared to prior year-long periods, according to the report.

WSJ notes the losses are centered on cable companies, whereas telecom operators such as AT&T’s U-verse and Verizon’s FiOS continue to gain share.

Also playing into the debate on cord-cutting are comments during earnings season from several industry executives who voiced surprise about how quickly consumers are turning to broadband-only subscriptions.

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Suspended Dispatcher Points Gun At Orlando TV Reporter

While working on the story of a Volusia County dispatcher who was suspended for three days, WESH TV2 reporter Claire Metz had a gun pulled on her Tuesday.

Metz had gone to the home of Shauna Justice to get her side of the story. Justice was suspended because her superiors said she was using her cellphone in September while her dispatch trainee took a call. As a result of that call, emergency responders ended up at the wrong address, and the victim suffered a heart attack and ultimately died.

Justice was arrested after the incident involving the WESH 2 News crew at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. She was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and held on $1,500 bond.

Metz walked up to her door on Jungle Road without a camera or microphone to see if she would share her story, Metz said.  Justice opened the door with a gun in her hand, pointing it at Metz's head, cursing at her and telling her to leave her property.

"The gun was no more than a foot or two from my head, and Ms. Justice held it on me until I backed away to our truck," Metz said.

Consumers Still Tuning In Traditional Radio

Even though technology is rapidly changing the way consumers listen to radio, traditional tune-in remains strong and vibrant, according to NielsenAudio. 

Tech advances like satellite stations and online streaming services have certainly gained the spotlight in recent years, but traditional radio continues to attract the biggest audience.

According to Nielsen’s most recent Music 360 report, traditional radio is still the predominant way people listen to the radio. Sixty-three percent of music listeners report that radio is their dominant source for music discovery. In fact, in 2012, Nielsen measured more than 133.7 million song spins on traditional radio.

That’s not to say, however, that alternate ways to tune in haven’t piqued consumer interest. The radio industry has seen market fragmentation similar to that of television, where new ways to view shows have grown in popularity and have had an additive effect on overall time spent viewing.

David Bakula

“The accessibility of music has seen tremendous expansion and diversification,” said David Bakula, SVP Client Development, Nielsen. “While younger listeners opt for technologically advanced methods, traditional methods of discovery like radio and word-of-mouth continue to be strong drivers. With so many ways to purchase, consume and discover great new music, it’s no wonder that the consumer continues to access and enjoy music in greater numbers.”

But the growth in online listening isn’t just coming from young listeners. Up 40 percent from last year, Nielsen has seen growth in the number of consumers who report using an audio streaming service. The total number of streamers accounts for more than two-thirds of the U.S. population, with 68 percent of the population reporting that they have streamed music online in the last year. 

Carol Miller: Up Close And Personal With Rock History

Carol Miller

NYC radio personality Carol Miller has had a profound effect on the history of rock music, and she doesn't even play an instrument.  Staring in 1971, she's been a professional, lifelong friend and the audio version of the best relationship you ever had.

Carol is a radio personality but not just any radio personality, according to the Orlando-based radio show Growing Bolder. She's the one who introduced Bruce Springsteen to New York, and she's brought all the greatest bands and musicians straight to listeners on New York's WAXQ FM Q104.3, on Sirius satellite radio and before that on WPLJ and WNEW.

She's featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she's been on VH1 and Entertainment Tonight and she's written a great new book about her experiences called "Up All Night: My Life and Times in Rock Radio."

Find out how the girl who got into medical school and attended law school ended up behind the microphone instead.

Carol also shares stories from some of the famous men she dated, included Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Whitesnake's David Coverdale and why she believes rock and roll will never die.

Find more inspiring video, audio, and images at Growing Bolder.

Vice Media Bulks Up With More Journalists

Source: ypulse.com

Vice Media, home to hipster culture and other edgy content targeting millennials,  is about to get a lot bigger in news, bulking up on journalists and introducing new digital video programming with its signature voice of gonzo journalism and irreverent behavior.

The company has quietly fired more than 60 journalists over the past two months, more than doubling its formal newsroom staff, WSJ reports.

The Brooklyn-based company also plans to invest around $50 million over the next three years in news, introducing live feeds, breaking news and documentaries.

It’s a crowded market, where players like Buzzfeed and traditional TV are vying for young people’s attention. But Vice says rapid growth of its existing news content is evidence that viewers want more of its signature voice on everything from war reporting to health care stories.