Saga Communications Says Revenue Increased 12.7 Percent

Saga Communications, Inc. today reported free cash flow increased 35.4% to $4.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

• Net revenue increased 12.7% to $32.8 million. 
• Operating Income increased 40.1% to $5.3 million. 
• Station operating expense increased 8.4% to $24.7 million (station operating expense includes depreciation and amortization attributable to the stations) 
• Same Station net revenue increased 7.0% to $31.0 million
• Same Station operating expense increased 3.0% to $23.2 million.  
• Net income for the period was $3.0 million ($0.52 per fully diluted share compared to $0.36 for the same period last year). 

Capital expenditures were $1 million in the 1st quarter which was approximately comparable to the same period last year.  The Company currently expects to spend approximately $5.0 million to $5.5 million for capital expenditures during 2016.

During the 1st Quarter the Company closed on its purchase of WLVQ-FM in Columbus, OH for $13 million. The Company began operating WLVQ – FM pursuant to a Local Marketing Agreement as of November 16, 2015.

SF Radio: Official! John Lund Exits The Game For KNBR

John Lund

Cumulus Media announces that it has signed popular Bay Area sports talk radio personality John Lund as Co-Host of KNBR 680 AM’s Afternoon Drive show.

Lund will join the recently signed Tom Tolbert as Co-Host in the 3PM-7PM time slot. Lund joins KNBR 680 from Middays on KGMZ 95.7 FM “The Game”.

A graduate of Utah State University, Lund has hosted shows at stations including: Sportsradio750 The Game (KXTG-AM) in Portland, OR; 103.3 ESPN (KESN-FM) in Dallas; 97.1/1270 The Ticket (WXYT-AM/FM) in Detroit; 1250 ESPN (WEAE-AM) in Pittsburgh; and 1280 The Zone (KZNS-AM) in Salt Lake City.

He has also hosted pre- and post-game shows on networks for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Utah Jazz and Portland Trailblazers.

Lee Hammer, Operations Manager and Program Director for KNBR 680, said: “John brings a wealth of sports knowledge and experience to KNBR. He’s worked in San Francisco for several years, and has keen insights into our Bay Area teams. KNBR fans are in for a real treat when he’s teamed up with Tom Tolbert in Afternoon Drive. It will definitely be ‘appointment listening’.”

KNBR 680 AM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Lund said: "Every Bay Area sports fan knows what the KNBR brand means and I'm extremelyhonored to come aboard and help continue the tradition of great sports talk here. Tom is one of the best in the business and I can't wait to get in the studio and build on a show that is already among the most entertaining in the country.”

DNC Chair Wants TV 'Accountability'

Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said that she expects that the “outrageously imbalanced” news media coverage of Donald Trump will “begin to even out” as the race heads to the general election.

In an interview with Variety on Wednesday, Wasserman Schultz said that the general election will present a different dynamic because it will be a head-to-head matchup, versus the GOP primary when Trump dominated coverage against 16 other opponents.

She said that the DNC “will be pushing for accountability when it comes to the media’s coverage of this campaign from our perspective. The opportunities should be essentially even, and so it is my hope and our expectation that the coverage would begin to even out, and you not allow what they allowed to play out during the primary. And I expect that they will be more responsible about it than they have.”

Analytics firm MediaQuant valued Trump’s earned media coverage at $2.8 billion, compared to $1.2 billion for Hillary Clinton, $770.7 million for Ted Cruz and $658 million for Bernie Sanders. The figures are for 12 months ended April 30. The Trump coverage, she said, has “kind of been outrageously imbalanced.”

Still, Wasserman Schultz said that it was “not for us to dictate” whether news networks conduct phone interviews with Trump, as opposed to in-studio or on camera interviews. Clinton has conducted phoners too, but news networks have been criticized for the extent to which they have featured Trump by audio only.

Report: YouTube Looking To Bundle CableTV Channels

YouTube is working on a paid subscription service called Unplugged that would offer customers a bundle of cable TV channels streamed over the Internet, according to Bloomberg.

The project, for which YouTube has already overhauled its technical architecture, is one of the online video giant’s biggest priorities and is slated to debut as soon as 2017, one of the people said. YouTube executives have discussed these plans with most major media companies, including Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal, Viacom Inc., Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and CBS Corp., but have yet to secure any rights, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private.

YouTube, a unit of Alphabet Inc.’s main Google Internet business, is pursuing subscriptions for premium video to complement the largest ad-supported video site in the world. YouTube introduced its first paid subscription service, Red, last fall. Unplugged would bring more premium content onto YouTube’s web service and mobile apps, grabbing more viewing time and generating more non-advertising revenue.

YouTube has been working on an online cable package since at least 2012, one of the people said, but these plans have taken on new urgency in the past few months.

Meanwhile,  Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins yesterday confirmed reports that first appeared over the weekend that they are going to be adding live TV for subscribers starting next year. The live content will include sports, events and news, and getting it won't require having a cable TV subscription. Hopkins didn't give any details about what their live-TV bundles would look like or what they would cost, however the New York Times reported that Hulu execs believe $40 a month would be the right price for a live-TV and on-demand content bundle.

Marketers Wrong About Millennial Radio Listening

Millennials listen to more AM/FM radio than advertisers think, according to new research published today on the Westwood One blog.

Advertiser Perceptions, the advertiser sentiment experts, recently polled 305 marketers and agencies on 18-34 radio listening momentum.

Report: Apple Music To Be Revamped

Apple Inc. is planning sweeping changes to its year-old music streaming service after the first iteration of the product was met with tepid reviews and several executives brought in to revive the company's music strategy departed.

Bloomberg reports Apple is altering the user interface of Apple Music to make it more intuitive to use, according to people familiar with the product who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. Apple also plans to better integrate its streaming and download businesses and expand its online radio service, the people said.

The reboot is expected to be unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The changes will be accompanied by a marketing blitz to lure more customers to the $10-per-month streaming service.

As iTunes sales stagnate and rival Spotify continues to draw in new subscribers, Apple is attempting to reclaim its dominance in music. It acquired Beats Music two years ago in part to rethink its approach to the music business by blending its technological expertise with the entertainment industry experience of Beats executives such as Jimmy Iovine.

But the combination hasn’t yet fulfilled its potential. The deal sparked a rare culture clash within Apple that led to the departure of several key managers and, most important, created a product that many critics say doesn’t meet Apple’s own lofty standards.

Tribune Rejects Gannett's $815M Offer

Tribune Publishing's board has voted unanimously to reject Gannett's $815 million unsolicited offer to buy the Chicago-based owner of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other major newspapers.

In a letter sent to Gannett on Wednesday, Tribune Publishing said that after "thorough consideration" the offer was determined to be too low and not in the best interest of shareholders.

"The board and I remain confident in our ability to generate shareholder value in excess of Gannett's opportunistic proposal through a focused execution of our strategy," Tribune Publishing CEO Justin Dearborn said during an earnings call Wednesday afternoon. "The board has evaluated the unsolicited offer in this context and concluded it is not a basis for further discussion."

Tribune announced it was spurning Gannett shortly after releasing its first-quarter earnings but before a call with investors in which executives detailed plans to separate the company into three segments: the traditional publishing business, a digital content business and the Los Angeles Times.

Gannett, which owns USA Today, went public on Monday with its intent to solicit so-called withhold votes ahead of Tribune’s annual shareholder meeting. The NY Times reports the tactic, infrequently used in the world of deal making, encourages shareholders of the target company to essentially boycott their votes for director nominees. Gannett said it had filed preliminary proxy materials, urging investors to withhold their votes in the election of eight directors. The move is primarily symbolic, in that it will probably not block the nominees from being elected.

DC Radio: JT Bosch New WMZQ APD/Evening Host

JT Bosch

iHeartMedia/Washington Dc has announced that JT Bosch has been named APD/Evening host at Country WMZQ 98.7 FM.

Bosch will host weekdays from 7p.m. to 12 a.m. EST. He was most recently VP/Programming for iHeartMedia/Austin where he also oversaw the day-to-day for Country combo KASE and KVET.  He also was on-air and programmed stations in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

“I’m excited to welcome JT to the WMZQ family. His passion and love for country music, paired with his strong leadership skills, make him the right fit for this position,” said Meg Stevens, Executive Vice President of Programming, Northeast Division, iHeartMedia.

Added Bosch, “I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to join this legendary radio station! These are the types of jobs you dream of your whole career.  I’m beyond ready to get started! I’d like to thank Meg Stevens and Dennis Lamme for this tremendous opportunity.”

WMZQ 987.5 FM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Dave Ramsey To Keynote NAB/RAB Radio show

Dave Ramsey

Personal financial expert and radio host Dave Ramsey will keynote the 2016 Radio Show, held September 21-23 in Nashville and produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

Ramsey’s address will include a conversation with country music star and businessman John Rich and will be held Wednesday, September 21 at the Omni Hotel.

Ramsey’s nationally syndicated radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show,” is heard by 11 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations and digitally through podcasts, online audio streaming and a 24-hour online streaming video channel. His best-selling books, including “Financial Peace” and “The Total Money Makeover,” have sold more than 10 million copies combined. In 2009, Ramsey was honored with an NAB Marconi Radio Award and in 2013 was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2015.

"We’re delighted and honored for Dave Ramsey and John Rich to join us at this year’s conference,” said RAB President and CEO Erica Farber. “These two incredible innovators will share some great ideas, and Radio Show attendees will walk away with tremendous takeaways they can then put to use immediately.”

During the keynote address, titled “Cutting Edge Trends in Marketing,” attendees will receive an inside look at the marketing prowess that has driven Ramsey’s business success. Ramsey will also interview John Rich of the country duo Big & Rich regarding the development of his Rich Marks branding firm and its numerous ventures.

“The power of radio has contributed to the successful careers of both Dave Ramsey and John Rich,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David. “We’re pleased to present these talented and engaging individuals at the 2016 Radio Show in Nashville.”

More information about the 2016 Radio Show is available here.

Honolulu Radio: Larry Price Exits KSSK Morning Show

Larry Price

After 33 years, Larry Price is leaving KSSK 590 AM /92.3 FM’s top-rated “Perry and Price” morning radio show.

iHeartMedia Honolulu confirmed Price’s departure Wednesday.

Price will launch a new sports show later this month on sister station FOX Sports KIKI 990 AM with Rick Hamada, which will air Saturdays at 11 a.m.

“I decided the time is right and appropriate to make this change,” said Price. “I am grateful for the support of our loyal listeners and for all the great years on KSSK, and I am excited about the opportunity to talk sports with Rick on our new FOX Sports 990 station.”

“After 33 years of the early morning routine, Larry certainly deserves the opportunity to sleep a little more, and work a little less,” said longtime radio partner Michael W. Perry. “I look forward to talking story with him in our office every day, as always, and hearing him and ‘that other guy’ on our ‘Best of Saturday Morning’ shows!”

Hot Mic: Chris Matthews Goes Gaga Over Trump's Wife

Chris Matthews

MSNBC's Chris Matthews was caught on a live hot mic going gaga over Donald Trump's former supermodel wife during the cable network's coverage of the Indiana primary Tuesday night.

After Trump and his family came out for him to deliver his victory speech, Matthews, who apparently wasn't aware that his comments were going out over the air, said of Melania Trump, "Did you see her walk? Runway walk. My God is that good. I could watch that runway show."

Brian Williams, who was co-anchoring the coverage, quickly cut away to commercial. MSNBC declined to comment about the incident.

Fox Reporter Off Air After Affair Emerges

Ed Henry

A married Fox News host is taking some time off after his mistress did a tell all revealing salacious details of their alleged affair.

Natalia Lima spoke with In Touch and shared how her relationship with Fox News chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry went from innocent banter to something she claims was far more sexual over the course of the past five years.

Lima also shared text messages she claims were exchanged between herself and Henry detailing sexual acts they had performed on one another and hoped to perform in the future.

Fox News said in a statement shortly after details of the alleged affair were revealed in the magazine; 'We recently became aware of Ed's personal issues and he's taking some time off to work things out.'

The Daily Mail reports soon after the story about his affair was released Henry was seen smiling outside his home in his gym gear

Salem Reports Broadcast Revenue Increased 2.5 Percent

Salem Media Group, Inc. released its results for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

First Quarter 2016 Results

Consolidated

• Total revenue increased 4.4% to $64.6 million from $61.9 million;
• Total operating expenses increased 4.2% to $58.5 million from $56.2 million;
• Operating expenses, excluding gains or losses on the sale or disposal of assets, stock-based compensation expense, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, depreciation expense and amortization expense increased 6.0% to $54.1 million from $51.1 million;
• Operating income increased 6.7% to $6.1 million from $5.7 million;
• Net income increased 19.7% to $0.4 million, or $0.01 net income per diluted share as compared to $0.3 million, or $0.01 net income per diluted share;
• EBITDA (1) increased 0.4% to $10.2 million;

Broadcast

• Net broadcast revenue increased 4.2% to $48.5 million from $46.5 million;
• Station Operating Income decreased 1.1% to $12.5 million as compared to $12.6 million from the same period of the prior year;
• Same station net broadcast revenue increased 2.5% to $47.7 million from $46.5 million

Sir-Mix-A-Lot Launching New Radio show

Benztown has announced that it will distribute a five-hour Classic Hip Hop radio show, “Explicitly Old School with Sir-Mix-a-Lot” hosted by renowned rapper, songwriter and producer Sir-Mix-a-Lot.

“Explicitly Old School with Sir-Mix-a-Lot” plays the biggest Old School Hip Hop hits and artists from the ‘90’s to the early 2000’s, with features and celebrity interviews presented by host and hitmaker Sir-Mix-a-Lot, whose unique perspective, humor and broad appeal successfully crosses multiple genres, including Rhythmic, Urban and CHR formats.

The show was created and produced by Keith “Envius” Elliot’s CTC Creative. Envius, the former KDAY/Los Angeles and WMIB/Miami on-air personality, is also the creative mind behind the uber-smash Speed Bump Intros.

“Explicitly Old School with Sir-Mix-a-Lot” will launch as a one-hour weekday show, and is also available as a five-hour weekend show. It currently airs Monday through Friday from 12Noon-1PM on KUBE 93 FM (KUBE-FM) in Seattle and JAM’N 107.5 (KXJM-FM) in Portland, OR, and Saturdays from 7PM-12Midnight on 93.9 The Beat (WRWM-FM) in Indianapolis.

Masa Patterson, Vice President, Sales and Operations, for Benztown said: "Sir Mix A Lot is a true hip-hop pioneer and a natural talent. Partnering with him and Envius to bring this show to the masses was a no-brainer."

For more information and to hear a demo of “Explicitly Old School with Sir Mix-a-Lot”, contact Masa Patterson at Benztown at mp@benztown.com or (818) 842-4600.

'New Day' Folding After Just Nine Weeks

Trinity Mirror PLC said its two-month-old New Day newspaper would close Friday, in another setback for the U.K.’s print-newspaper market.

The U.K. national and local newspaper publisher, best known for publishing the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror, said on Thursday that circulation of New Day since its Feb. 29 launch failed to meet expectations, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The failure of New Day comes less than three months after the Independent, founded in 1986 and one of the U.K.’s most prominent newspapers, announced it was stopping print editions and becoming an online-only publication.

As in other countries, print advertising revenue has been under heavy pressure in the U.K. newspaper industry in recent years. Trinity Mirror reported on Thursday that comparable revenue for the four months ended May 1 was down by 8.6% from the same period the previous year.

New Day, which sells for 50 pence, is cheaper and smaller than most established U.K. national newspapers. Daily sales amounted to around 30,000 to 40,000, well short of a longer-term target of around 200,000, said one person familiar with the situation.