April 17 Radio History

Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake

➦In 1905...Arthur Lake was born as Arthur Silverlake Jr. (Died from a heart attack at age 81 – January 9, 1987). He is best known for portraying the Blondie comic strip character of Dagwood Bumstead in twenty-eight Blondie films produced by Columbia Pictures from 1938 to 1950. He was also the voice of Dagwood on the radio series, which ran from 1938 to 1950, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6646 Hollywood Blvd. Many of the actors on the radio show noted Lake's commitment to the program, stating that on the day of the broadcast, Lake was Dagwood Bumstead.

Far from being upset about being typecast, Lake continued to embrace the role of Dagwood in a short-lived 1957 Blondie TV series, then even into the 1960s and beyond; he would often give speeches to Rotary clubs and other civic organizations, eagerly posing for pictures with a Dagwood sandwich.

➦In 1922...KPO san Francisco signed-on.  Now known at KNBR 680 AM, KPO began broadcasting as a100-watt station owned by the Hale Brothers department store. In 1925, the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper bought half-interest in the operation. Originally located in the department store at 901 Market between 5th and 6th, its horizontal wire antenna on the roof was so efficient, it immediately attracted the attention of audiences all over the Pacific Coast.

KPO Studio -1922 (Courtesy of Bay Area Radio Museum)

In 1927, KPO became an affiliate of the new NBC radio network. In 1933, KPO was sold to NBC's parent company, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), and its operation was consolidated into that of its co-owned KGO. From there, NBC operated its West Coast network, feeding dozens of stations and operating a news bureau to serve NBC. As NBC's flagship station on the West Coast, it had a full-time orchestra, five studios, and produced many live shows. During the rise of Hollywood, NBC's radio operation was moved to Los Angeles.

During World War II, KPO's news bureau was the major source of NBC of news about the war in the Pacific, and operated shortwave radio stations serving the world. It was at the KPO (RCA) shortwave facility that the message was received that Japanese emperor Hirohito had surrendered, ending World War II.

On November 23, 1947, NBC changed KPO's call sign to KNBC to strengthen its identity as an NBC station (and the only radio station NBC ever owned on the West Coast). This change lasted until fifteen years later, when the network decided to move the KNBC identity to its television station in Los Angeles. NBC had asked the FCC to restore the KPO call letters to the San Francisco radio station but later withdrew that request and 680 AM was renamed KNBR on November 11, 1962.

KNBR evolved into a Middle of the road music format mixing in Adult Standards with Soft Rock cuts by the early 1960s. The station continued to be a news intensive format with personalities in the foreground and music in the background. Personalities included Frank Dill, Les Williams, Dave Niles, and Jack Hayes. Until January, 1975, KNBR carried NBC's long-running weekend show, Monitor. By the mid-1970s, KNBR evolved musically into a straight ahead adult contemporary music format and continued as such into the 1980s.

In March 1989 NBC sold KNBR to Susquehanna Radio Corporation; it was the last radio property held by NBC, which two years earlier made the decision to sell off its radio division following General Electric's 1986 acquisition of RCA. The station soon added some sports talk in evenings, and took a full-time sports format in 1990 with the lone exception of The Rush Limbaugh Show, which KNBR carried from 1988 until 2000.

KNBR carried programs from ESPN Radio and KTCT aired shows from both ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio until 2013, when both stations switched to the Cumulus-distributed CBS Sports Radio.

In 2015, KNBR's studios were relocated from 55 Hawthorne Street to 750 Battery Street after parent Cumulus Media consolidated its San Francisco radio stations in one building.

➦In 1923...Harry Truman Reasoner was born (Died at age 68 – August 6, 1991). He was a journalist for ABC and CBS News, known for his inventive use of language as a television commentator, and as a founder of the 60 Minutes program.

Over the course of his career, Reasoner won three Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award in 1967.

During his time at the school, Reasoner developed his interest in journalism. He went on to study journalism at Stanford University and the University of Minnesota. He served in the Army during World War II and after the war, he then resumed his journalism career with The Minneapolis Times.

After going into radio with CBS in 1948, Reasoner worked for the United States Information Agency in the Philippines. When he returned to the US, he went into television and worked at station KEYD (later KMSP) in Minneapolis. He later joined CBS News in New York, in 1956, where he eventually hosted a morning news program called Calendar from 1961 to 1963, on top of doing commentator and special news narration duties

In 1968, Reasoner teamed up with Mike Wallace to launch 60 Minutes, a new news magazine series. On 60 Minutes and elsewhere, he often worked with producer and writer Andy Rooney, who later became a well-known contributor in his own right.

In 1970, Reasoner was hired away from CBS by ABC to become an anchor on the network's newly revamped nightly newscast.  After a stay of several years in the '70s at ABC. Reasoner returned to CBS and 60 Minutes where he remained until his retirement on May 19, 1991.

➦In 1934...WLW Cincinnati licensed to operate at 500kW.

In January 1934 WLW began broadcasting at the 500 kilowatt level late at night under the experimental callsign W8XO. In April 1934 the station was authorized to operate at 500 kilowatts during regular hours under the WLW call letters. On May 2, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a ceremonial button that officially launched WLW's 500-kilowatt signal.  As the first station in the world to broadcast at this strength, WLW received repeated complaints from around the United States and Canada that it was overpowering other stations as far away as Toronto.

In

December 1934 WLW cut back to 50 kilowatts at night to mitigate the interference, and began construction of three 50 ft. tower antennas to be used to reduce signal strength towards Canada. With these three antennas in place, full-time broadcasting at 500 kilowatts resumed in early 1935.

However, WLW was continuing to operate under special temporary authority that had to be renewed every six months, and each renewal brought complaints about interference and undue domination of the market by such a high-power station. The FCC was having second thoughts about permitting extremely wide-area broadcasting versus more locally oriented stations, and in 1938, the US Senate adopted the "Wheeler" resolution, expressing it to be the sense of that body that more stations with power in excess of 50 kilowatts are against the public interest. As a result, in 1939 the 500-kilowatt broadcast authorization was not renewed, bringing an end to the era of the AM radio superstation.  Because of the impending war and the possible need for national broadcasting in an emergency, the W8XO experimental license for 500 kilowatts remained in effect until December 29, 1942.

In 1962 the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation again applied for a permit to operate at 750 kilowatts, but the FCC denied the application.

➦In 1935…After more than a year as a local program on WENR in Chicago, "Lights Out" debuted to a national audience on NBC Radio Network. In June of 1936, Chicago writer Arch Oboler took over from series creator Wyllis Cooper and stayed with the program until 1943.

Lights Out revival was part of a trend in 1940s American radio toward more horror. Genre series like Inner Sanctum, Suspense and others drew increasingly large ratings. The series continued until the summer of 1947.

➦In 1964…Washington's FBI lab reported it could not determine the lyrics to "Louie Louie." The Kingsmen's recording was the subject of an FBI investigation about the supposed, but nonexistent, obscenity of the lyrics, an investigation that ended without prosecution. Ironically, the recording notably includes the drummer yelling "F#ck!" after dropping his drumstick at the 0:54 mark.

"Louie Louie" has been recognized by organizations and publications worldwide for its influence on the history of rock and roll. A partial list includes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, National Public Radio, VH1, Rolling Stone Magazine, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Recording Industry Association of America.

➦In 1965…RCA and the LearJet Corporation announced the development of the combination 8 track tape player and car radio.  The Stereo 8 Cartridge was created in 1964 by a consortium led by Bill Lear of Lear Jet Corporation, along with Ampex, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Motorola, and RCA Victor Records.

Anthony Perkins, Peter Potter, Troy Donahue

➦In 1983...Los Angeles radio personality Peter Potter died at age 78.  He was best known for his show “Juke Box Jury,” which appeared on both media during the entire decade of the 1950 s and beyond.

The syndicated show won him two Emmys, in 1953 and 1955, both for Best Entertainment Program, and put his phrase “Will it be a hit, or will it be a miss?" into American pop jargon. Most recording stars made appearances on his Los Angeles-based shows on radio stations KMPC, KFWB and KLAC.

During the 1940s, he was Hollywood's reigning disc jockey, his shows airing seven days a week, often with the highest ratings in daytime radio.

➦In 1986...WRFM 105.1 FM NYC switched from beautiful music to soft rock as WNSR. Today the station is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an Urban format as WWPR Power 105.1 FM

➦In 1994…Peter Hackes died at age 69 (Born June 2, 1924). He was a longtime TV and radio correspondent who late in life had acting roles in two prominent American films.

Early in his career, Hackes worked for radio stations in Iowa, New York, Ohio and Kentucky. He then began a three-year stint working at CBS in 1952. Starting in 1955, Hackes spent 30 years based in Washington, D.C. working for NBC, both as a TV correspondent and as a radio correspondent.

In his years at NBC, Hackes covered Capitol Hill, the State Department and NASA, and worked every national political convention from 1956 to 1986. Hackes won an Emmy award for his coverage of the Apollo space flights in 1969 and 1970, and he also won a Peabody Award for his work on NBC’s Second Sunday program.

After voluntarily taking an early retirement from NBC in April 1986, Hackes became the radio voice of the AARP. He hosted a daily radio program for retired Americans called Mature Focus, which aired on 600 radio stations nationwide.

After retiring from NBC, Hackes had acting roles in two prominent films. In 1987, Hackes played heartless network executive Paul Moore in the film Broadcast News, who oversaw an extensive layoff and restructuring of news personnel in a TV network’s Washington bureau.  Hackes also had a small role in the 1991 film True Colors.

➦In 1996...Bob Grant aired last show on 77WABC NYC.

Bob Grant

Grant was hired by WABC in 1984 and at first hosted a show from 9-11 p.m., before moving to the 3-6 p.m. afternoon time slot. The Bob Grant Show consistently dominated the ratings in the highly competitive afternoon drive time slot in New York City and at one point the radio station aired recorded promos announcing him as "America's most listened to talk radio personality." The gravel-voiced Grant reminded listeners during the daily introduction that the "program was unscripted and unrehearsed".

Grant's long stay at WABC ended when he was fired for a remark about the April 3, 1996 airplane crash involving Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. Grant remarked to caller named, Carl of Oyster Bay, "My hunch is that (Brown) is the one survivor. I just have that hunch. Maybe it's because, at heart, I'm a pessimist." When Brown was found dead, Grant's comments were widely criticized, and several weeks later, after a media campaign, his contract was terminated.

After being fired, Grant moved down the dial to WOR 710 to host the same afternoon drive-time slot. Grant's age began to show while broadcasting at WOR. He was less engaging with the callers, and not as energetic during his broadcasts. For a time, the Bob Grant show went into national syndication, but has been a local only show since 2001. Grant and his WABC replacement Sean Hannity would sometimes throw jabs at each other. Hannity defeated Grant in the ratings from 2001–2006.

Grant's WOR run ended on January 13, 2006. After several fill-in stints at WABC, Grant returned to WABC in August 2007.  His finals stint lasted less than a year and a half, until his regular nightly show was pulled by WABC in late November 2008 as part of a programming shuffle stemming from the debut of Curtis Sliwa's national show, and later Mark Levin's show expanding to three hours, leaving no room for Grant.

Grant died Hillsborough Township, New Jersey on December 31, 2013, after what was described as a "short illness".

➦In 2020...Detroit Radio Personality Robin Seymour died at age 94. In the 1960s, earned renown for “Swingin’ Time” on CKLW 800 AM.

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor David Bradley (“Game of Thrones”) is 80. 

• 

  Lindsay Korman is 44

  Musician Jan Hammer is 74. 
• Actor Olivia Hussey is 71. 
• Actor Clarke Peters (“Treme”) is 70. 
• Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 65. 
• Actor Sean Bean (“Lord of the Rings”) is 63. 
• Actor Joel Murray (“Dharma and Greg,” ″The Artist”) is 60. 
• Singer Maynard James Keenan of Tool and of Puscifer is 58. 
• Actor Lela Rochon is 58. 
• Actor William Mapother (“Lost”) is 57. 
• Actor Leslie Bega (“The Sopranos”) is 55. 
• Actor Henry Ian Cusick (“Scandal,” ″Lost”) is 55. 
• Actor Kimberly Elise is 55. Singer Liz Phair is 55. 
• Rapper-actor Redman is 52. 
• Actor Jennifer Garner is 50. 
• Singer Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls is 48. 
• Actor Lindsay Korman (“Passions”) is 44. 
• Actor Tate Ellington (“Quantico”) is 43. 
• Actor Charlie Hofheimer (“24: Legacy”) is 41. 
• Actor Rooney Mara (“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”) is 37. 
• Actor Dee Dee Davis (“The Bernie Mac Show”) is 26.

Media Silent on Psaki’s Slur Of Fox Reporter Peter Doocy

White House press secretary Jen Psaki has defended herself after she was recorded asking if Fox News' Peter Doocy was a 'stupid son of a b***h' or just played one on TV.

On Friday night, Psaki stressed that she was not deliberately attempting to insult the 34-year-old Fox News White House correspondent. 

'Full video shows I also told a story about Peter’s grace last night and made very clear I was not being critical of him or any reporter at Fox, and instead was critical of the slant of some Fox topics. He is doing his job. I am doing mine. We debate. We disagree. I respect that.' Psaki tweeted. 

Psaki — who is reportedly weeks away from leaving the White House for a gig with Fox rival MSNBC — made the comment Thursday while recording an episode of “Pod Save America,” which is hosted by ex-Obama White House aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor.

At one point, Psaki was asked by one of the hosts whether Doocy is a “stupid son of a bitch or does he play a stupid son of a bitch on TV,” as the live audience whooped and cheered.

'He works for a network that provides people with questions that, nothing personal to any individual including Peter Doocy, but might make anyone sound like a stupid son of a b***h,' Psaki said. 

The episode containing her assessment was released online Friday.  President Joe Biden earlier this year was caught on a hot mic calling Doocy a 'stupid son of a b***h' after the reporter asked Biden if inflation was a political liability for him. 

On Friday, CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter came to Psaki's defense saying she's possibly just 'tired of all this' after two years on the job and 'maybe sharing how she really feels.'

A Fox News spokesperson defended Doocy's reporting in a statement and said they do not provide questions to the reporter.

"In his role as White House correspondent, Peter Doocy's job is to elicit truth from power for the American public. His questions are his own, he is a terrific reporter and we are extremely proud of his work," the statement read.

Doocy and Psaki have clashed over the past two years as a result of Doocy's line of questioning, although the relationship seems to have smoothed over.

Twitter Moves to Block Musk Takeover

Twitter Inc. moved to prevent Elon Musk from significantly increasing his stake, a day after he unveiled a $43 billion unsolicited takeover bid for the social-media company.

The Wall Street Journal reports the company on Friday adopted a so-called poison pill that makes it difficult for Musk to increase his stake beyond 15%. The billionaire founder of Tesla Inc. already owns a more-than 9% stake that he revealed earlier this month.

Poison pills, also called shareholder-rights plans, are legal maneuvers that make it hard for shareholders to build their stakes beyond a set point by triggering an option for others to buy more shares at a discount. They are often used by companies that receive hostile takeover bids to block an unwanted suitor or buy time to consider their options.

Twitter said in a statement that the rights plan doesn’t prevent the company from engaging with potential acquirers or accepting a takeover bid if the board determines it is in the best interest of shareholders. It earlier confirmed it received Mr. Musk’s offer and is reviewing it.

Meanwhile, Musk, who has been accused of harassment himself for the way he attacks his critics on Twitter, said efforts to minimize harm often undermine the expression of unpopular ideas, according to The Wall Street Journal.

“If in doubt, let the speech, let it exist,” Musk said Thursday during an interview at a TED conference in Vancouver. “If it’s a gray area, I would say let the tweet exist.”

Executives including Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg have repeatedly said their position is the same—to err on the side of leaving content alone. The challenge is defining both the gray areas and the red lines that can’t be crossed.

Among his ideas for how to improve Twitter, Musk said, is that the social network’s algorithm should be open-sourced, meaning that its code could be available for study by outsiders. He also said any efforts to amplify or limit the reach of users’ tweets should be publicly documented.

Columbus OH Radio: WJKR Flips To Country 103.9

North American Broadcasting Company announced Friday that WJKR 103.9 FM has changed its format to country. The station will now be known as Country 103.9. The new format will feature popular country artists, like Luke Combs, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Jason Aldean, to name a few.

North American’s President and CEO Matt Mnich said, “Country music is the most popular format in the United States because of the loyalty of the audience and the attractive demographics it delivers. Having programmed country for more than three decades in the past, we know the value of the listeners and the power of the music. Central Ohio deserves more than one choice for country music and we couldn’t be happier to be back in country radio.”

North American’s Operations Manager John Crenshaw added, “I moved to Columbus twenty-eight years ago to build a world-class country station and I am proud to have been part of that success. I am looking forward to doing it once more with Country 103.9”
Country 103.9 will announce its air staff lineup in the next couple of weeks. Additional programming information will be made available at Country1039fm.com.

Nielsen's Largest Shareholder Opposes Sale

Nielsen Holdings has a new largest shareholder, a hedge fund that opposes a recent acquisition offer for the audience-ratings firm.

Barron's reports WindAcre Partnership paid $1.5 billion from April 6 through April 13 for a total of 31.6 million Nielsen shares , at an average price of $27.47, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. WindAcre now owns 91 million Nielsen shares, giving it a stake of 25.3%. 

The purchases make WindAcre the largest holder of Nielsen shares, topping Vanguard Group, which has 44.6 million, according to S&P Capital IQ.

On March 20, Nielsen rejected a takeover bid that valued the company at $25.40 a share. The offer was from a consortium that included Elliott Management and Brookfield Business Partners. 

WindAcre, a Nielsen shareholder since 2013, argued that the offer undervalued the company. “We believe strongly that the board made the right decision in the face of an inadequate offer,” WindAcre said in a statement after Nielsen rejected the bid. WindAcre contends that Nielsen is worth “well in excess of $40 per share.”

Less than 10 days later, the consortium sweetened its bid to $28, which Nielsen’s board accepted. However, WindAcre still opposed the deal, and said in an April 6 SEC filing that it “will take steps to attempt to block” it. WindAcre didn’t respond to a request from Barron’s for comment.

April 16 Radio History

➦In 1913...Les Tremayne born (Died at age 90 from heart failure - December 19, 2003). He was a radio, film and television actor.

Les Tremayne

Born in England, he moved with his family at the age four to Chicago, Illinois, United States, where he began in community theatre. His mother was Dolly Tremayne, a British actress. He danced as a vaudeville performer and worked as amusement park barker. He began working in radio when he was 17 years old.

In 1974, Tremayne commented, "I've been in more than 30 motion pictures, but it's from radio ... that most people remember me."

His radio career began in 1931, and during the 1930s and 1940s, Tremayne was often heard in more than one show per week. Replacing Don Ameche, he starred in The First Nighter Program from 1936 to 1942. He starred in The Adventures of the Thin Man and The Romance of Helen Trent during the 1940s. He also starred in the title role in The Falcon, and played detective Pat Abbott in The Abbott Mysteries in 1946–47. Tremayne was once named one of the three most distinctive voices on American radio. The other two were Bing Crosby and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In his later years, Tremayne was active in Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters as the group's historian and archivist. Those roles included interviewing people who were active in early radio to provide source material for researchers

Joan Alexander

➦In 1915...Joan Alexander was born (Died at age 94 – May 21, 2009). She portrayed newspaper reporter Lois Lane in the superhero radio program The Adventures of Superman for more than 1,600 episodes. The series began in 1940, two years after Superman's debut in the modern-day DC Comics' Action Comics #1 (June 1938), with Lane first appearing in the seventh episode.

Initially, the show, which ran through to 1951, was syndicated through the Mutual Broadcasting System's cornerstone station, WOR in New York, subsequently taken up by the Mutual network and finally to ABC.

Alexander also was heard on Dimension X and Philo Vance, Against the Storm and on Perry Mason, in the first portrayal of supporting character Della Street, secretary to defense attorney Mason. She also played Althea on The Brighter Day on radio.  Alexander additionally provided Lois Lane's voice in the 1940s Fleischer Studios/Paramount Pictures (Famous Studios) animated Superman shorts. She reprised the role of Lois Lane for one season of the 1966 Filmation animated series The New Adventures of Superman.

➦In 1922....KFI 640 AM signed-on in Los Angeles. Currently owned and operated by iHeartMedia. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on this date and after succession of power increases, became one of the United States' first high-powered, clear-channel stations. KFI is a Class A 50,000 watt, non-directional station.

KFI Original 1922 50-Watt Transmitter

KFI initially used a 50-watt transmitter made from a crank telephone. Early on, Earl Anthony operated the station from his garage, and later from atop his Packard automobile dealership. In its early days, it was typically on the air for only four and a half hours a day.

From the time of its inception in 1926, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) operated two networks, the Red Network and the Blue Network. The Red Network carried sponsored commercial programs, while the Blue Network carried the sustaining ones (those without commercial sponsors). The red and blue designations came from the colors of the lines drawn on network maps. In 1931, NBC reorganized its West Coast operations, creating Orange and Blue networks for that area to replace its previous Pacific Coast network. KFI was part of the Orange group, along with KGO, Oakland; KGW, Portland, KOMO, Seattle, and KHQ, Spokane.

KFI was an affiliate of the NBC Red Network and Early Anthony's other raido station KECA 1430 AM carried programming from the Blue Network. In 1939, KECA moved to 780 kHz, the frequency of the former KEHE. Anthony sold KECA in 1944 and it moved to 790 kHz and became KABC.

KFI and KECA Building - 1939

KFI's call letters were assigned sequentially but many people assumed that the "FI" stood for "Farmers Information." Every winter evening between 1924 and 1956, KFI would deliver a frost report at 8 pm that would tell citrus farmers whether to turn on wind machines or light "smudge pots" to keep their orange and lemon groves from freezing. The frost warnings moved to 7 pm until the late 1970s when they were removed from the schedule.

On November 29, 1944, KFI officials broke ground on Mount Wilson for construction of a new FM and TV transmitting facility. The ceremony was broadcast live over KFI (AM) from Mount Wilson from noon to 12:15 pm that afternoon. KFI-FM went on the air from that site at 105.9 megacycles (Megahertz today) in July 1946 with its first test program, though some later sources say the station went on the air in 1947.

The station only lasted until 1951 when the owner, Earle C. Anthony, decided to turn off the FM station and returned the license to the FCC. This was common at the time, when some station owners saw no money from FM and no future in FM. In the early 1950s, while the audio quality was much better than AM, FM radios were not widely available, the AM-FM combination radios were expensive and stereo broadcasting on FM didn't exist until 1961.

➦In 1935...1st radio broadcast of "Fibber McGee & Molly"

➦In 1962...Walter Cronkite succeeded Douglas Edwards as anchorman of the CBS Evening News.

The show was expanded from 15 to 30 minutes on September 2, 1963, making Cronkite the anchor of American network television's first nightly half-hour news program. Cronkite's tenure as anchor of the CBS Evening News made him an icon in television news,  known as "The Most Trusted Man in America."

During the early part of his tenure anchoring the CBS Evening News, Cronkite competed against NBC's anchor team of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, who anchored the Huntley-Brinkley Report. For much of the 1960s, the Huntley-Brinkley Report had more viewers than Cronkite's broadcast. A key moment for Cronkite came during his coverage of John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963. Another factor in Cronkite and CBS' ascendancy to the top of the ratings was that, as the decade progressed, RCA made a corporate decision not to fund NBC News at the levels that CBS provided for its news broadcasts. Consequently, CBS News acquired a reputation for greater accuracy and depth in coverage. This reputation meshed well with Cronkite's wire service experience, and in 1967 the CBS Evening News began to surpass The Huntley-Brinkley Report in viewership during the summer months.

➦In 1987...the Federal Communications Commission warned radio stations to watch the use of indecent language on the airwaves. This was directed at shock jocks, like Howard Stern. Some stations, the FCC noted, had gone way beyond the seven dirty words made famous by comedian George Carlin in a routine from the early 1970s.

➦In 1999…Regis John "Rege" Cordic died from brain cancer at age 72 (Born - May 15, 1926).

Rege Cordic

His career in entertainment was divided roughly in half. From 1948 to 1965, he was the dominant morning drive-time radio host in Pittsburgh. From the late 1950s to the mid-1980s, he was a successful voice, television, and film actor in Los Angeles.

Cordic was born in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh and attended Central Catholic High School. He started in radio as a staff announcer and substitute sportscaster at WWSW-AM. When morning host Davey Tyson left the station in 1948, Cordic was one of a number of staffers given the opportunity to replace him. At first a straightforward announcer, Cordic began introducing comedy to his program—first in subtle ways, such as reading a sports score for "East Overshoe University" along with the real scores, and later by adding a repertory company of supporting comic characters. The morning show, renamed "Cordic & Company," became the most popular in Pittsburgh.

In 1954, "Cordic & Company" moved to KDKA-AM on Labor Day, one of the first times that an American radio station had hired a major personality directly from a local competitor. Popular Bette Smiley had decided to retire from her full-time KDKA wake-up show "Radio Gift Shoppe of the Air" and move to a Sunday-only condensed version on WCAE in August 1954 in order to raise her young son Robbie. Cordic's immediate predecessor in the morning slot was the "Ed and Rainbow" show, featuring Ed Schaughency with Elmer Waltman cast in the role of Rainbow, the janitor. Waltman was dropped, and Schaughency was moved to the afternoon with a show called "Schaughency's Record Cabinet."

Schaughency lasted less than two years in that role before he was replaced by Art Pallan, who also came over from WWSW. Schaughency took on a new role as a news reader and moved back to mornings, delivering the newscasts during "Cordic & Company." The Cordic show's ratings continued to grow until, at some points, it had an 85 share—meaning that 85% of all radios in Pittsburgh were tuned to "Cordic & Company" while it was on. By the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh, Cordic was reportedly earning $100,000 a year, a huge sum for a radio host at the time.

One of Cordic's most memorable running gags at both WWSW and KDKA were fake advertisements for "Olde Frothingslosh", "the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom." The beer was supposedly brewed by Sir Reginald Frothingslosh at Upper Crudney-on-the-Thames. In 1955, Pittsburgh Brewing Company began issuing special Christmas-season cans and bottles of Olde Frothingslosh filled with real beer. Since the Cordic ad read "The foam is on the bottom", the bottles & cans were packed upside down in the cases. The humorous labels changed every year and became favorites of collectors. The brewery (as well as a few other small local Pittsburgh breweries such as Tech Beer) released new editions of Olde Frothingslosh even after Cordic left Pittsburgh, continuing until 1982 and then reviving the brand in 1998, and more recently in 2007.

In 1965, CBS Radio offered Cordic the morning drive-time spot at KNX-AM in Los Angeles. The spot was being vacated by Bob Crane, who was leaving radio to star in Hogan's Heroes. Cordic accepted the offer in July 1965, but KDKA owner Westinghouse Broadcasting Corporation refused to release Cordic from his contract until it ended in November 1965. KNX's morning ratings dropped precipitously during the four months that the show had no permanent host. They improved somewhat when Cordic arrived, but not enough to offset the drop, and the station switched to an all-news format after 18 months with Cordic as the morning host. The flair for Pittsburgh-centered satire, it seems, was difficult for Cordic to import to the more sophisticated Los Angeles radio market, despite the successes of similar personalities like Jim Hawthorne.

Cordic, still being paid for the remaining time under his KNX contract, studied acting, and began getting television roles. He first appeared on television in The Monkees in 1967 and The Flying Nun in 1968. He had small parts in a few films, but was primarily a television actor. Over the years, he appeared several times on Gunsmoke, and also had roles in Kung Fu, Nichols, Columbo, Barnaby Jones, The Waltons, and McCloud, among many others. From the late 1970s until 1991, he was heard in cartoon voice roles, starting with The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour in 1976, and also including Jabberjaw, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Transformers, and a voice part in the 1977 animated film The Mouse and His Child. While he lived in Los Angeles, Cordic would regularly fly back to Pittsburgh to tape segments for WTAE-TV's Sunday Afternoon Movie. Cordic had an uncredited part, as a featured party guest in Woody Allen's 1973 movie, "Sleeper."

Cordic returned to morning radio for a brief time in late 1981, taking over at oldies station KRLA/Pasadena. He signed on for a year, but left the job after just four months. He spent the rest of his career in the lucrative voiceover field, lending his voice to many national commercials.

➦In 2013…Sportscaster and former NFL player George Allen "Pat" Summerall died from cardiac arrest (Born - May 10, 1930).  The former football player and television sportscaster worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN. In addition to football, he also announced major golf and tennis events. In total, he announced 16 Super Bowls on network television (more than any other announcer), 26 Masters Tournaments, and 21 US Opens. He also contributed to 10 Super Bowl broadcasts on CBS Radio as a pregame host or analyst.

Pat Summerall

Summerall played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and then in the NFL from 1952 through 1961. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and played with Bobby Layne. The best playing time in his career was with the New York Giants as a kicker. After retiring as a player, he joined CBS as a color commentator the next year. He worked with Tom Brookshier and then John Madden on NFL telecasts  for CBS and Fox. Although retired since 2002, he continued to announce games on occasion, especially those near his Texas home.

He was named the National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1977, and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1994

In the early 1960s, Summerall did a variety of reporting and anchoring assignments for network flagship WCBS 880 AM in New York City. By the middle of the decade, he was the sports anchor on its morning drive Jack Sterling Show and succeeded Sterling as the host in the fall of 1966. He remained with 880 as its sports director when the station went all news in August 1967, before moving on to local and network assignments. The affable ex-player also co-hosted the syndicated NFL Films series This Week in Pro Football in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Bobby Vinton is 87

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Singer Bobby Vinton is 87. 

• 

  Sadie Sink is 20

  Midnight Oil singer-turned-politician Peter Garrett is 69. 
• Actor Ellen Barkin is 68. 
• Actor Michel Gill (“Mr. Robot,” “House of Cards”) is 62. 
• Singer-bassist Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 60. 
• Singer Jimmy Osmond is 59. 
• Singer David Pirner of Soul Asylum is 58. 
• Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 57. 
• Actor Jon Cryer is 57. 
• Actor Peter Billingsley (“A Christmas Story”) is 51. 
• Actor Lukas Haas is 46. 
• Broadway actor Kelli O’Hara is 46. 
• Actor Sadie Sink (“Stranger Things”) is 20.

Orlando Radio: iHM's Linda Byrd To Retire

iHeartMedia announced today the retirement of media veteran Linda Byrd, Division President for iHeartMedia Florida. 

As a company leader for four decades at iHeartMedia, Byrd has contributed to the success of nearly 50 different markets and countless employees. Byrd will transition out of her Division President role into an advisory role on July 15 and will continue to report to Hartley Adkins, President of iHeartMedia Markets Group. One of the duties in her advisory capacity will be the continued involvement in iHeartMedia’s Hispanic footprint, where she has made significant contributions.

“Having worked with Linda for 25 years, I can testify she is a once-in-a-generation leader: Incredibly thoughtful, passionate and courageous,” said Adkins. “I am delighted Linda will get more quality time in retirement — and very pleased we will have the advantage of three more years of her guidance as a consultant.”

Linda Byrd

Byrd has been in the industry for 45 years, the last 40 with iHeartMedia, including its predecessor companies. During this time, she has overseen 46 different markets. In addition, she has collected impressive accomplishments, including being the first female state chair for any Broadcast Association in the country and the winner of the RAB General Manager of the Year Award. Along with making Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women List for 23 straight years, the American Advertising Federation gave her the Silver Medal Award recognizing her work as an outstanding advertising professional in Florida. In addition, she has received the prestigious Florida Broadcaster of the Year Award.

“Linda has built and grown iHeartMedia in the Florida region for more than four decades, and we’re grateful for her many years of strong leadership and teambuilding,” said Bob Pittman, CEO and Chairman of iHeartMedia. “She has also been a good friend and advisor—and as she embarks on this new chapter and gives up her operating responsibilities, we are fortunate that she’ll continue on with us as an important and valued advisor.”

“Every company would benefit from having more Linda’s on their team,” said Greg Ashlock, CEO of iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group. “Linda has made a career of investing in people: From mentoring and developing to challenging, collaborating, and ultimately empowering. She is intelligent, invested, decisive and uncompromisingly authentic. We are better as a company because of her contributions.”

“It’s hard even to say the word retire,” said Byrd. “I have had the most fantastic career working in an industry that I absolutely love. I’ve never even thought about doing anything else. And I am so fortunate to have been on this iHeart train, and previous companies, for the last 40 years. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am thankful and excited to have the opportunity to transition into an advisory role for the next stage of my life. And I’m truly appreciative of the support and partnership I have had for so many years with Bob, Rich, Greg and Hartley. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to learn from and work with.”

Bay Area Radio: KRBQ Tweaks Music, Rebrands As 10.1 JAMS

Audacy today announced the immediate launch of KRBQ 102.1 JAMS in San Francisco. The station, previously known as The New Q102.1, will continue to feature a wide collection of classic hip-hop hits and throwbacks, including favorites from 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, E-40, Dr. Dre., Missy Elliott and more.

“We’re pleased to introduce the Bay Area’s newest station and continue to bring our listeners a home for their favorites in throwback hip-hop,” said Stacey Kauffman, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy San Francisco. “JAMS will embody the very best this format has had to offer and we look forward to continuing to grow this brand as the Bay Area’s go-to for hip-hop.”

102.1 JAMS will launch with Bay Area legend Chuy Gomez assuming the role of afternoon drive talent. Additional lineup updates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Listeners can tune in to 102.1 JAMS (KRBQ-FM) in San Francisco on air, as well as nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Wake-Up Call: Russia Confirms Loss Of Fleet Flagship

The warship Moskva, which was the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, sank yesterday as it was being towed to port, a day after suffering heavy damage under circumstances disputed by Moscow and Ukraine. Russia claims that ammunition on board the guided-missile cruiser detonated due to a fire, the cause of which it didn't name, while Ukraine says it hit the ship with missiles. Western officials couldn't confirm the cause of the fire. Russia says the crew abandoned the vessel, but it wasn't clear if there were any casualties. The ship's loss is a symbolic defeat for Russia, and the Moskva was also reportedly the ship that in the inital days of the war called on Ukrainian soldiers stationed on Snake Island to surrender, and a soldier answered, "Russian warship, go f*** yourself."

Meanwhile, Russian authorities accused Ukraine yesterday of sending two military helicopters some seven miles across the border into Russia and firing on residential buildings in the village of Klimovo, saying that seven people, including a toddler were wounded. It was the latest Russian allegation of cross-border attacks by Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Russia’s state security service claimed that Ukrainian forces fired mortar rounds at a border post in Bryansk as refugees were crossing, forcing them to flee. AP said the reports couldn't be independently verified.

 

"At the very end, we are not enemies, we are people!"

A woman who's son was killed by Russian troops in Bucha, Ukraine, sits down with @jamesaalongman — and delivers a powerful message to Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin. https://t.co/qgs2mUmLIL pic.twitter.com/e3RhReEDpn

— ABC News (@ABC) April 15, 2022

Zelenskyy Praises Ukrainian People: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his nation's people for their resolve since Russia's invasion in his nightly video address yesterday, and for making, quote, "the most important decision of their life -- to fight." He said Ukrainians should be proud of having survived 50 days since the late February attack when the invaders, quote, "gave us a maximum of five."

Departing Russian soldiers have left booby traps in the form of land mines "virtually everywhere" — inside the trunks of cars, in washing machines and even beneath the bodies of the dead. "You don't know what they've left behind," reports CBS News' @SayChrisLive pic.twitter.com/Xydvlnfyhj

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 14, 2022

➤SUBWAY ATTACK SUSPECT JAILED WITHOUT BAIL: Frank James, the 62-year-old suspect in Tuesday's shooting attack in a Brooklyn subway car in which 10 people were wounded, was jailed without bail Thursday after a federal court apperance. James is facing a federal terrorism charge that applies to mass transit systems. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara K. Winik told the judge, "The defendant’s attack was premeditated, was carefully planned and it caused terror among the victims and our entire city." James' attorney later cautioned outside court against a, quote, "rush to judgment." Authorities say there's currently no evidence linked James to any terrorist organizations, and that they're still trying to determine a motive. Investigators are examining ranting videos on his YouTube channel in which he railed about topics including racism, violence in the U.S., his complaints about mental health care he received in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and conditions on the subway, including homeless people on trains.

➤117 PALESTINIANS, 3 ISRAELI POLICE WOUNDED IN CLASH AT HOLY SITE: At least 117 Palestinians and three Israeli police officers were wounded in a clash at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a site in Jerusalem that's sacred to Jews and Muslims, early Friday. Israeli security forces entered the compound before dawn as thousands of Palestinians were gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, setting off clashes, with Israel saying they went in to remove rocks that had been gathered in anticipation of violence. The police said they waited until prayers were over, and that crowds starting throwing rocks toward the Western Wall, a Jewish holy site, forcing them to act, and also said they didn't enter the mosque itself. AP said videos online showed Palestinians throwing rocks and fireworks and police firing tear gas and stun grenades. Tensions are already high after a series of attacks by Palestinians in Israel in recent weeks that left 14 people dead, and Israel carrying out a wave of arrests and military operations across the West Bank in response.

Daily Mail 4/15/22

➤BIDEN LEFT EMPTY HANDED: President Joe Biden was left empty-handed following an address at a North Carolina university Thursday. Biden, 79, had just finished delivering a nearly 40-minute speech at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro when he turned towards stage right with his paw outstretched in a handshake position.

There was no one else on stage and no one from the applauding crowd approached the president to exchange the pleasantry, according to footage of the event. The Democrat did press some flesh at the start of the speech, shaking hands with Malcolm Hawkins, the electrical engineering student who introduced him. His remarks were aimed at pressuring Congress to increase funding for semiconductors production as proposed in the Bipartisan Innovation Act.

➤OHIO MAN WHO CLAIMED ACTING ON TRUMP'S ORDER FOUND GUILTY IN JAN. 6TH TRIAL: A 38-year-old Ohio man who claimed he was following Donald Trump's "presidential orders" when he took part in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol was found guilty of six charges by a federal jury Thursday. The charges against Dustin Byrton Thompson included obstructing Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory, the only felony of the six, with a potential sentence of 20 years. Jurors rejected Thompson's defense that blamed Trump and members of the then-president's inner circle for his actions. Thompson has testified that he believed Trump's false claim that the election was stolen and he was trying to stand up for him, stating, "If the president is giving you almost an order to do something, I felt obligated to do that." Thompson’s case was the third related to January 6th to go to trial. In the first two cases, jurors also convicted the defendants of all charges.

🐶DOGS ON VEGAN DIET MIGHT BE HEALTHIER, SURVEY SUGGESTS:  Dogs are known for loving meat, but a new survey suggests dogs that follow a vegan diet might be a bit healthier. British and Australian researchers found dogs on vegan diets (no animal products or byproducts) tended to have fewer health problems, based on their guardians’ reports, than those who ate “conventional” meat-based products. Owners in the vegan group reported lower rates of obesity, digestive troubles, arthritis and issues with eye and ear health. Still, veterinary nutritionists who reviewed the findings say none of this proves vegan diets are healthier for dogs. Dr. Julie Churchill, a professor of veterinary nutrition at the University of Minnesota, says, “This is really a study of owners’ perceptions.” She notes the “pet parents” who feed their dogs a vegan diet are very likely vegans themselves, which complicates the survey results for a number of reasons. Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, a professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, adds that in general, evidence is lacking that vegan dog foods actually help dogs live longer, healthier lives. Both veterinarians agreed that those caveats aside, it’s possible for dogs to get the nutrition they need on a vegan diet, but it’s critical that they eat high-quality commercial products that are formulated to meet their nutrient requirements. Both agreed you should consult your vet about dog food products in general—vegan or not—as they are not all equal in quality.

😋3 KEY RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN EATING AT RESTAURANTS, ACCORDING TO A LAWYER WHO REPRESENTS FOOD POISONING VICTIMS:  Getting food poisoning is no fun, but there are some ways to avoid it. Bill Marler is an attorney who specializes in foodborne illness cases, and has spent nearly three decades representing people who have experienced illnesses caused by ingesting E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, among other pathogens. He says in general, it’s best to eat at home to minimize your risk of consuming undercooked or contaminated food. He says, “A lot of it has to do with being able to control your own environment: washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, cooking the ones that need to be cooked.” He adds that the majority of outbreaks he’s litigated on in recent decades stemmed from foods that were technically prewashed. He explains, “Even in the best restaurants, it’s usually pretty packaged salads that they use. They may or may not cut them up themselves and wash them themselves.” He says for this reason, he usually orders cooked vegetables to play it safe in a restaurant. Also, he is sure to order his meat well done when dining out, as raw meat can contain bacteria such as salmonella or campylobacter—the most common culprits of food poisoning. He also says you should avoid ordering raw seafood like oysters or sashimi in restaurants. Since they’re not cooked they have no defense against harmful viruses and bacteria. He adds he’s seen an uptick in foodborne illnesses linked to shellfish in the past decade, in part due to warming waters.

🏀FINAL NBA PLAY-IN GAMES TONIGHT FOR LAST TWO PLAYOFF SPOTS: The final two NBA Play-in Tournament games will be held tonight for the two remaining playoff spots. The Atlanta Hawks will face off against the Cavaliers in Cleveland for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and the New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Clippers in L.A. for the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The first round of the playoffs begin on Saturday.

⚾GUERRERO STRIKES OUT FOUR TIMES DAY AFTER HITTING THREE HOMERS: The Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. showed just how much things can change in a day last night, when he struck out four times for the first time in his career against the New York Yankees, one day after hitting three home runs against the team. Yankees starter Luis Severinio also became the first pitcher to strike out Guerrero three times in New York's 3-0 win.

Luis Severino strikes out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the 3rd time tonight and he's PUMPED 🗣pic.twitter.com/DrzgHxjXfl

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 15, 2022

 

🏈USFL TO KICK OFF SATURDAY: The new version of the USFL will kick off its inaugural season on Saturday, the latest spring football league to make a run at being successful. The first game will be Saturday night in Birmingham, Alabama, between the Birmingham Stallions and the New Jersey Generals, and it will air on both Fox and NBC. That will be followed by three games on Sunday. There are eight teams in the USFL, which is owned by Fox Sports, who will play a 10-game schedule during the regular season, with the top two teams in the North and South divisions advancing to the playoffs. The championship game will be a matchup of division winners. The original USFL lasted three seasons, from 1983 to 1985.

🏀HORNETS' BRIDGES FINED $50K FOR THROWING MOUTHPIECE INTO CROWD: The NBA fined the Charlotte Hornets' Miles Bridges $50,000 Thursday for throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd after he was ejected from Wednesday night’s play-in game that Charlotte lost to the Atlanta Hawks. Bridges, who got two technical fouls for arguing a call, was heckled by a male fan as he walked in the tunnel toward the locker room and he threw his mouthpiece toward him, but hit a teenage girl instead. Bridges apologized after the game and again Thursday, saying, "I lost my cool . . . I normally don’t act like that and that was an embarrassment on my part and for the organization."

🏌DECHAMBEAU MAY MISS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER WRIST SURGERY: U.S. golfer Bryson DeChambeau revealed on Instagram that he had surgery on his left wrist Thursday to repair a fracture, saying he hopes to return to the PGA Tour within the next two months. DeChambeau said he'd tried to play through it at three recent events, including the Masters, but said, "it has caused me to alter my grip and swing, resulting in my inability to compete at golf's highest level." The 28-year-old missed the cut at last weeks' Masters, and has fallen to 19th in the world ranking. His ability to play in the next major, the PGA Championship, from May 19th to 22nd, remains up in the air.

Cumulus Media Confirms Receiving Unsolicited Offer

A Cumulus Media spokesperson has confirmed that the company had received "an unsolicited, non-binding, highly conditional indication of interest".  The company' s board of director is said to be reviewing the offer from a consortium led by radio station industry veteran Jeff Warshaw.  The offering reportedly is in the neighborhood of $1.2 billion, including debt.

Warshaw has informed Cumulus, an Atlanta-based owner and operator of 406 radio stations, that he would be willing to take it private for $15 to $17 per share according to published reports

In 2011, Cumulus offered $2.5B to Citadel Broadcasting for its stations.

Cumulus shares were hovering around $11 before news of the bid emerged on Thursday afternoon. They rose 40% on the news to end trading at $14.21.

Jeff Warshaw

Warshaw, who is the chief executive of Connoisseur Media, an operator of 13 radio stations, could not be reached for comment. Warshaw is a lifelong broadcaster. He built his first station while still a student at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1993 Warshaw founded Connoisseur Communications Partners LP, a 39 station group which he later sold to Cumulus Media in 2000 for $258MM. In 2004 Jeff reformed Connoisseur Media which now operates 13 radio station brands and digital assets in 5 markets in Connecticut, Maryland and New York.

Beyond its radio stations, Cumulus has a digital platform that ranks among the top five podcast networks in the United States. The company had net long-term debt of almost $800 million as of the end of December.

Cumulus is seeing strong advertising demand driven by sports betting, government, restaurants and cryptocurrency platforms, Noble Capital Markets analysts, who have a $27 price target on the stock, wrote in February. Cumulus' revenue grew 12% year-over-year in 2021, while its earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization grew 66%.

David Zaslav Lays Out His Vision for Warner Bros. Discovery

In an hourlong interview Thursday with Oprah Winfrey at a theater on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif., that was streamed to employees around the globe, Mr. Zaslav laid out his vision for the company, which he started leading days ago after AT&T Inc. spun off its WarnerMedia unit and Discovery merged with it, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The merger created a media giant whose properties include the Warner Bros. movie studio and the cable channels HBO, CNN, TNT, Food Network and HGTV.

Mr. Zaslav told Winfrey his ambition is to have the newly formed company’s content available on a single service—a lesson that Discovery previously learned when it launched a series of niche services that were eventually combined.

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. Chief Executive David Zaslav told employees that he wants CNN to focus on maximizing its impact, not profitability, and set itself apart from a cable-news industry that he said is dominated by “advocacy networks.”

David Zaslav

“We don’t want to go to eight places. We want to go to one place, and we want to see everything we want to see,” Mr. Zaslav said consumers told Discovery at the time, according to a person who attended the meeting. “When we put it all together, we were much more successful.”

Warner Bros. Discovery has already said it plans to combine its two most prominent streaming services—HBO Max and Discovery+. Its newest stand-alone service, CNN+, is off to a less-than-stellar start since it launched last month, and the company’s senior leaders aren’t fully on board with the strategy behind CNN+, people familiar with their thinking said.

During the town hall, Mr. Zaslav didn’t talk specifics about CNN+.

The town hall capped off a whirlwind week of meetings for Mr. Zaslav, who has to start integrating the disparate entities within Warner Bros. Discovery, which is saddled with $55 billion in debt as a result of the deal. Mr. Zaslav has said he anticipates $3 billion in cost savings.

During the town hall, Zaslav warned that staff reductions were likely as he removes layers of management and combines operators.

WI Radio: Cumulus Expands Leadership For John Rowe

John Rowe

Cumulus Media has announced that it has appointed John Rowe as Vice President/Market Manager for the combined business unit of Cumulus Green Bay and Cumulus Appleton/Oshkosh. 

Rowe has been Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Appleton/Oshkosh for nearly eight years and adds leadership responsibilities for the Green Bay market.

A 30-year media veteran, Rowe joined Cumulus Media in October 2014, after 10 years at Gannett in Green Bay and Oshkosh, where he held positions including Advertising Director, Gannett Green Bay, and Advertising Director, Gannett Oshkosh, as well as Director, Group Majors & National for Gannett. Prior to that, Rowe spent over 11 years with the Chicago Sun-Times in positions including Director, Major Accounts and as National Sales Manager. He holds a B.A. degree in Communication and Media Studies from Marist College.

Mark Sullivan, Regional Vice President, Cumulus Media, said: “John’s track record of success with his team in Appleton/Oshkosh, along with his outstanding client and community involvement made him the natural choice to lead our operations in Northeast Wisconsin. I’m excited for both John and our team members and I look forward to their many successes.”

John Rowe commented: “I am excited to lead both Wisconsin clusters on behalf of Cumulus Media. The combination of talent and quality programming in each market makes this an ideal role and provides a host of opportunities going forward. My primary focus will be to enhance these great brands while meeting the needs of both our listeners and advertisers. I want to thank Mary Berner, Bob Walker, and Mark Sullivan for this opportunity.”

Cumulus Media owns and operates five radio stations in Green Bay, including: Star 98/WQLH-FM (AC), Sports Radio 107.5 & 1400, WDUZ-AM/FM (Sports), 106.7 The Big Dog/WKRU-FM (Triple A), and 103.1 WOGB/WOGB-FM (Classic Hits).

Cumulus Media owns and operates five radio stations in Appleton/Oshkosh, including: 103.9 WVBO-FM (Classic Hits), WNAM 1280AM (Nostalgia), WOSH 93.9 & 1490/WOSH-AM (News/Talk), 96.9 The Fox/WWWX-FM (Alternative), and 99.5 PKR/WPKR-FM (Country).