Birmingham Radio: Paul Finebaum To Join ESPN

Paul Finebaum will leave Birmingham to begin hosting a radio show and a simulcast television show in Charlotte, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

In Charlotte, Finebaum will be part of a package that includes a radio program on the ESPN networks, 100 televised appearances annually on ESPN, and a TV simulcast of his radio show on the ESPN-owned SEC Network when it launches in August 2014, the WSJ reported. His new, Charlotte-based radio show will begin airing Aug. 1, according to the WSJ.

"It would be the understatement of my life to say I wasn't thrilled," Finebaum said in the WSJ report. "It is incredibly exciting to be part of a new adventure, particularly one that involves the premiere brand in sports along with the pre-eminent conference in sports."

While Finebaum's new show will originate out of Charlotte, David DuBose, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Summit Media, told AL.com Tuesday that he anticipates the show will air in Birmingham on ESPN 97.3 The Zone, which is a Summit station.

"The show will be airing in Birmingham," DuBose said. "Yes, we are the ESPN affiliate, and even though this will be a separate product from the main ESPN programming, we have just talked to the ESPN folks and our intention is to carry the show here in Birmingham."

However, two other sources in the Birmingham radio market said it has yet to be decided where Finebaum's show will air here, and it could still return to WJOX 94.5 FM, where it aired for six years until his contract expired on Jan. 21.

Also, AL.com has learned that Finebaum will be at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., on Thursday to be formally introduced on a number of ESPN radio and television programs. He and his wife, Linda Hudson, are expected to be in Charlotte later that night. The new SEC Network will be based out of Charlotte.

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LA Kings Apologize For Kevin Ryder Tweet

The Los Angeles Kings of the NHL now realize letting radio personality Kevin Ryder to be a ‘guest’ Tweeter on their cutting-edge Twitter feed was not a good idea.

Ryder of KROQ 106.7 FM morning show “Kevin & Bean’ issued this now-deleted Tweet late Tuesday night:

 Reaction prompted the Kings to issue an apology.

We apologize for the tweets that came from a guest of our organization. They were inappropriate and do not reflect the LA Kings.
— LA Kings (@LAKings) May 22, 2013

Early this morning Ryder himself Tweeted an apology:

(1 of 2) My apology. I made a poor choice in the wording of my tweet. I wish I had used different words. If you were hurt by me, I'm sorry.
— Kevin Ryder(@thekevinryder) May 22, 2013

Not a mention of the incident on the KROQ website, owned by CBS Radio

CBS King Of Network TV With Ratings Win

Les Moonves

Last week, CBS boss Leslie Moonves told ad buyers his network was at the "center" of the media universe. On Tuesday, he proved why reports the LA Times.

CBS wrapped the 2012-13 TV season with a commanding victory in every single ratings category, according to Nielsen.

That includes the key demographic of viewers ages 18 to 49, which CBS -- long the oldest-skewing of the four major broadcast networks -- had not won since the 1991-92 season.

Actually, CBS was down 3% in that category compared with the previous season. But all of its competitors dropped, too. Fox, hard hit by erosion at "American Idol," slid 22% and barely scraped past No. 3 NBC.

Among total viewers, CBS was easily No. 1, averaging 11.8 million total viewers -- a 1% uptick.

Of course, a big part of CBS' success was its broadcast of the Super Bowl, far and away the most-watched show on TV every year. But the home of "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory" was strong enough that it would have won even without the big game.

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Clear Channel Seeks to Buy Time

Clear Channel Communications Inc., seeking to address more than $10.1 billion of debt due in 2016 before interest rates reverse, is offering to exchange $2.1 billion of notes for debt that matures in 2021.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, CC will exchange $796.3 million of 10.75 percent notes due 2016 and $1.28 billion of 11 percent so-called toggle payment-in-kind notes due 2016 for the new debt. According to a Clear Channel statement Tuesday, the notes will pay 12 percent in cash and 2 percent through the issuance of payment-in-kind notes, said the company, which set a June 18 offer deadline.

Free cash flow at the San Antonio-based broadcaster hasn’t exceeded $340.9 million in any year since its 2008 buyout by Bain Capital Partners LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP. Credit-default swaps tied to the bonds of the company, which owes (CCMO) about $20.8 billion total, are at about the lowest in two years, a sign investors are open to refinancing, Bloomberg data show.

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SiriusXM Forecasts More Growth

SiriusXM Radio Inc.has some new forecasts for 2013. CEO James Meyer spoke to the company’s stockholders at the Sirius XM 2013 annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday. The satellite radio giant already guided numbers up for 2013, and now have more growth expected in 2013, according to 24/7 Wall Street.

Sirius XM ended 2012 with 23.9 million users and ended the first quarter with 24.4 million users. Today’s projection is to end the year with roughly 25.3 million subscribers.

If you want to know just how much difference the company sees between it and Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) and terrestrial radio, the numbers are rather stark. Sirius XM showed $142.34 in revenue per subscriber in 2012. That compares to only $6.51 per active Pandora user and $12.91 per Clear Channel listener.

A driving force, no pun intended, is new car sales. Sirius XM says that of the 14.5 million new cars sold in 2012 the company had 67% penetration in them. The forecast used to derive the higher subscriber numbers appears to be based on expected car sales growth. The company used projections of 15.3 million new cars sold in 2013 and 15.9 million in 2014. From 2015 to 2017 it used 16.3 million cars on a static basis per year. Sirius even sees more than 100 million Sirius XM-enabled vehicles in operation in 2017 to 2018.

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FNC Tops Tornado Coverage Cable Ratings

During the breaking news of the  tornado and its aftermath in Moore, Oklahoma, FNC's coverage was the most watched among advertiser supported cable networks, outpacing The Weather Channel in total viewers, for all hours following the aftermath of the storm (from 4PM-11PM/ET).

TV By the Numbers reports FNC was also the most-watched cable news channel, ranking number one in total viewers in both Primetime and Total Day. FNC beat CNN and MSNBC combined in total day while far exceeding them in Primetime as well.

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 1,487,000 total viewers (315,000 in 25-54)

CNN: 762,000 total viewers (310,000 in 25-54)

MSNBC: 441,000 total viewers (143,000 in 25-54)

PRIMETIME

FNC: 2,603,000 total viewers (632,000 in 25-54)

CNN: 1,822,000 total viewers (790,000 in 25-54)

MSNBC: 926,000 total viewers (337,000 in 25-54)

Tweets about "#oklahoma tornado"

Formation Of Killer Tornado

The birth of the May 20, 2013 tornado at Newcastle, OK. It Moved from there to Moore where it turned into an F4 correction an EF5.

Cox Enterprises Announces $1M For Tornado Victims

Cox Enterprises, in partnership with The James M. Cox Foundation, announced today $1 million in support to assist the relief and recovery efforts of the communities affected by the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma. The contribution includes a $500,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross and $500,000 of in-kind support, including public service announcements.

“Cox Enterprises is committed to supporting the victims of this terrible storm,” said Jim Kennedy, chairman of Cox Enterprises. “As a company that operates multiple businesses in Oklahoma, we are committed to helping our employees and the communities we serve recover from this disaster. In providing this assistance, we also encourage others to support the local relief and recovery efforts.”

Cox Enterprises operates multiple companies in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, including: Cox Communications, Total Resource Auctions - Oklahoma City, Total Resource Auctions - Tulsa, News Talk KRMG, Fox23, My41, News Talk KRMG, K95, Mix 96 and Rock 103.

“In this difficult time of recovery and rebuilding, our hearts go out to the families affected by the tornadoes,” said Percy Kirk, senior vice president and general manager, Cox Communications Oklahoma.  “This gift is a symbol of our commitment to our community and it is our hope that it will provide comfort and relief to many.”

In addition to the cash donation and in-kind public service announcements, Cox’s local media properties in Tulsa are hosting a series of community fundraisers.

OK Reporter Becomes Emotional During Coverage

While reporting by phone to KFOR-TV’s two studio anchors, Oklahoma reporter Lance West broke down on-air as he happened upon the bodies of third-grade children being pulled from the rubble of a destroyed Moore, OK elementary school.

Oklahoma Benefit Concert Planned

Blake Shelton and NBC have begun to organize a benefit concert for the victims of the Oklahoma tornado that have left thousands homeless, killed at least 24 people and decimated the city of Moore.

"We'll know more about it in the next 24 hours," Shelton told Billboard at the conclusion of Tuesday edition of "The Voice." "I'm hoping it will raise a lot of money. Obviously it will be televised and will happen really quickly."

While pointing to his fellow coach on "The Voice," Usher, Shelton noted, "I can call in some really big favors."

Shelton is a native of Ada, Okla., about 75 miles south of where the tornado struck on May 20.

Shelton and his wife Miranda Lambert opened Tuesday's "Voice" with "Over You," a ballad the duo had written about his older brother being killed in a car accident. Unlike most "Voice" shows that encourage wall-to-wall applause, the Tuesday edition opened in silence.

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Tweets about "#oklahoma"

Toby Keith: "I'm proud to live here"

Toby Keith

As the residents of Moore, Okla. continue to recover from the deadly tornado that tore through their town with the strength of 200 miles per hour winds, "Piers Morgan Live" spoke to country music star and Moore native Toby Keith who shared his thoughts and reaction to the devastating event.

"This was a bad one," said a stunned Keith who had just returned to Moore earlier in the day. "But Oklahoma's prepared, they have some of the best meteorologists in the world."

"People were prepared as they can be and mother nature's just not gonna be tamed every time."

"The good thing is we're resilient here," said Keith about his hometown. "I'm proud to live here in this town and I've always called it home."

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Report: OK Country Artists Comment on Devastation

The devastating Oklahoma tornado Monday brought many comments from Country artists with ties to the area.

All About Country is reporting Carrie Underwood remarked that she was thinking and praying for her home state. “Growing up in Tornado Alley, you always know what could happen. It doesn’t change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray.”

“Pray,” said Miranda Lambert  who is a resident. “That's all we can do. Pray for peace for Oklahoma.”

Reba McEntire and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts also Oklahoma natives also sent prayers and well wishes and a tweet from Ronnie Dunn said, “Stopped to spend the night in Shawnee, OK. Just woke up to another tornado hitting Moore. Right in front of it!” Later he wrote, “We got out just before it hit. Those poor people. We will help when and where we can.”

Artists are encouraging fans, as well as others, to donate to American Red Cross by dialing 1-800-REDCROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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