FOX Sports, Premiere Extend Deal

Premiere Networks and FOX Sports today announced a long-term extension of their agreement for Premiere Networks to continue producing and distributing the FOX Sports Radio Network's leading sports entertainment programming to nearly 400 stations across North America and Canada.

Specific terms were not announced.

Under the agreement, Premiere Networks and FOX Sports will continue working together across multiple platforms to synchronize the audio, digital, online and television assets of FOX Sports, FOXSports.com and FOX Sports Radio, further extending the reach, visibility and engagement of these brands with millions of consumers. Additionally, with the recently-launched 24-hour television network FOX Sports 1, the radio and television divisions will work closely to increase cross-promotional opportunities and highlight FOX Sports' established team of top insiders, analysts and personalities, including NFL Insider Jay Glazer, NFL Analyst Kirk Morrison, NBA Insider Bill Reiter and many more.

Earlier this year, FOX Sports Radio debuted a new weekday lineup featuring the top sports talk personalities in the country. Jay Mohr, Dan Patrick, Steve Gorman, J.T. "The Brick," Jason Smith, Andy Furman and Mike North, are among the network's diverse program and personality offerings, which can also be heard on www.FOXSportsRadio.com, FOXSports.com on MSN, as well as iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's all-in-one digital radio service.

The 2014 FOX Sports Radio Monday through Friday lineup (all times Eastern):

• 6am -- FOX Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman & Mike North
• 9am --The Dan Patrick Show
• 12pm-- Jay Mohr Sports
• 3pm-- Steve Gorman SPORTS!
• 6pm-- J.T. "The Brick" with Tomm Looney
• 10pm-- The Jason Smith Show
• 2am-- The Ben Maller Show

"This renewed partnership affirms our commitment to sports fans, our affiliates and partners to provide the ultimate, multi-platform destination for sports entertainment," stated Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. "With our lineup of leading sports personalities and expanded opportunities through new platforms and extensive resources, we have one of the most powerful brands in sports entertainment."

"It was a no-brainer," said Bill Wanger, Executive Vice President, Programming, Research and Content Strategy for FOX Sports. "This broadens our fan base by putting the FOX Sports brand across audio platforms. We're excited to continue and further enhance our relationship with Premiere Networks to provide quality programming to sports fans."

Nielsen: Radio Weekly TSL Remains Second To TV

According to Nielsen's March Cross Platform Report, listening to Weekly time Spent Listening to AM/FM Radio in 4Q 2013 ranged from 7:46 for teens, 10:49 for 18-24ers, 12:04 for 25-34ers, 14:21 for 35-49ers up to 15:09 for 50-64ers.

Nielsen’s new Q4 report compares time spent with various media and you see that radio’s still clearly the second most-used form, next to live TV.

Nielsen Senior VP Insights Dounia Turrill says “looking at the face of traditional television, I continue to applaud its stability and resilience, as well as its ability to bridge the gap with digital and social media.”

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Survey: 63 Percent Use Cell Phone To Go On-Line

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of cell phone owners now use their phone to go online, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

Pew calls them “cell internet users” and define them as anyone who uses their cell phone to access the internet or use email. Because 91% of all Americans now own a cell phone, this means that 57% of all American adults are cell internet users.

The proportion of cell owners who use their phone to go online has doubled since 2009.

Judge Dismisses Shareholders Suit vs. Emmis

Emmis Communications has won dismissal of a nearly 2-year-old lawsuit brought by dissident preferred shareholders, according to indystar.com.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker in Indianapolis ruled in favor of Emmis’ motions for judgment, while denying motions by the dissident shareholders, and said she will order ­final judgment in the case.

“We were confident in our position, and the federal court has confirmed it,” Jeff Smulyan, president and chief ­executive of Emmis, said in a statement Tuesday.

The Indianapolis media company, which owns radio stations and pub­lishes city magazines, has been fighting the preferred shareholders in court ever since five of them, including four investment funds, objected to Emmis eliminating their stock dividends and stripping preferred shareholders of voting rights.

The dissident shareholders, who ­rejected Emmis’ offer to buy their shares at reduced prices, accused the company of “unfair, strong-arm tactics to ensure the plaintiffs would ­never ­receive those dividends,” which were worth more than $10 million. The lawsuit charged Emmis with breaching its fiduciary duties to shareholders and sought unspecified damages.

Plaintiffs in the suit were Corre Opportunities Fund, ­New York; Zazove Associates, Incline Village, Nev.; DJD Group, Tampa, Fla.; First Derivative Traders, Wynnewood, Pa.; and Kevan Fight, Ohio.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, Wayne Turner of Indianapolis, said his clients “respectfully disagree” with Barker’s ruling and will appeal.

Emmis took the disputed actions as it faced a fiscal crisis during the recession of 2007-09, when its stock price plummeted on declining ad revenues.

In her 44-page ruling dated Feb. 28, Barker rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments, saying Indiana law doesn’t ­outline fiduciary duties owed by a ­corporation to its shareholders and noting that the plaintiffs conceded that ­Emmis’ disputed actions ­“benefited Emmis greatly.”

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SCBA Reports Solid Revenue Start In 2014

The Southern California Broadcasters Association (SCBA) has announced that the Miller Kaplan Arase Market Summary report for January 2014 reflects a solid start to 2014. According to Miller Kaplan Arase, total market revenue for Los Angeles Radio grew by 1.7% in January.

“This summary report reflects solid, steady revenue growth that sets the stage for a strong first quarter for Southern California Radio,” said SCBA President Thom Callahan.

“The 1.7% growth rate for January is, of course, good news for our industry here in Southern  California, however, a closer look at what made up that growth reveals a market and region that  is healthy and growing,” said Callahan.

The Miller Kaplan Arase X-Ray report for Los Angeles Radio further describes both strong category growth and exceptional new business development in the first month of the New Year.  That growth includes: Insurance Companies – Up 152.1%, Education – Up 61.5%, Concerts/Theatre/Movies – Up 54.6%, Communications/Cellular/Public Utilities – Up 22.7%, and both the Auto category - Up at 6.3% and Health Care - Up at 6.4%.

“New business development was a significant revenue driver for Southern California Radio in January and showcases how new advertisers are rediscovering Radio and its effectiveness in building brands and market share for their business,” said Callahan. “With 297 new advertisers  spending $7,408,878 in new business in January alone, it’s clear our SCBA member stations are  fully engaged in new business development,” stated Callahan.

Hilton Head Radio: WXYY Moves To 100.1 FM

100.7 FM (50Kw) 60dBu Coverage

L&L Broadcasting has shifted the freqnecy for its Hot AC WXYY.  The station has moved from  107.9 to 100.1 and is branding as "Y100".

The format moves closer to Savannah using the 100.1 freqeuncy which is licensed to Rincon, GA

Program Director Tony Bristol, recently hired by L & L Broadcasting to program WXYY, has the Atlanta-based Bert Show starting mornings, Patty Steele moves to middays with Bristol in afternoons. New slogan – “Y100.”

107.9 FM (24Kw) 60dBu Coverage

As for 107.9 FM, L&L has applied for new call letters WRWN.  Stay tuned.

Fort Wayne Radio: Group Swaps FM For AM

WHPP 106.3 FM (5.6Kw) 60dBu Coverage

In a surprising and unique development for the local radio community, Redeemer Radio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will receive the gift of an FM radio station in exchange for its AM station. The exchange comes about thanks to the recently announced purchase by Adams Radio Group LLC of two commercial radio groups in Fort Wayne.

To comply with FCC ownership rules, the Adams Group will exchange WHPP 106.3 FM for WLYV 1450 AM on which Redeemer Radio currently broadcasts. Notably, no cash will be exchanged in the transaction between Adams and Redeemer Radio.

Dave Stevens, Executive Director of Redeemer Radio said “This is an incredible opportunity for Redeemer Radio made possible by Adams swapping 106.3 WHPP-FM for AM 1450 WLYV. Because of their generosity, Redeemer Radio will grow even further as we reach thousands of new listeners on the FM dial 24-hours a day."

In the transaction, Adams Radio Group is acquiring FM stations WJFX, WBTU, WXKE and WNHT, and AM stations WLYV and WGL. Calvary Church acquires WGL-FM in an exchange for an FM Translator to Adams as Redeemer receives WHPP-FM for WLYV–AM.

The deal is expected to close in approximately 90 days pending FCC approval.

Family Feud Goes Viral

Rachel Canning

The tale of Morris, NJ Catholic High School cheerleader and lacrosse player Rachel Canning suing her parents for financial support and access to her college fund has gone viral, attracting millions of readers around the country and reporters from London and Japan.

According to CBS/New York, the New Jersey couple does not have to pay — for now — for their 18-year-old daughter’s college education, a judge ruled Tuesday evening.

Rachel Canning, a high school honor student, filed a lawsuit against her parents, alleging they were verbally abusive and threw her out of their Lincoln Park home for not following rules.

Superior Court Judge Peter Bogaard denied Canning’s emergency request for $600 a month in support, high school and college tuition and legal fees.

Vice News Website Launches

Vice has been doing international reporting for years, but it’s always fit in somewhat uncomfortably amid the skateboard videos, gross-out photos, fashion spreads and drug guides.

According to Forbes,  serious journalism officially has a home on Vice: Vice News. The new web channel launched Tuesday with reports from Myanmar, Russia, Venezuela and other global hot spots.

Interviewed on “CBS This Morning,” Vice CEO Shane Smith made the scope of his ambitions clear.

Judge Rules: Black-Out Justin Bieber's Privates

Bieber's Booking

A Florida court technician has the job of blurring Justin Bieber's private parts on jail video before you can see it, according to CNN.

The video will then be handed over to CNN and other news agencies this week under Florida's open records law, a Miami judge ordered Tuesday.

It's part of several hours of video captured by surveillance cameras inside the Miami Beach Police Department's jail, where Bieber was held after his arrest on DUI charges on January 23.

 Police video of Bieber sobriety test Bieber's security guard, driver arrested.

Miami-Dade County Judge William Altfield rejected arguments from Bieber's lawyer that the video should be kept private.

"The court finds that images of the defendant while in custody at the Miami Beach Police Department are relevant to the public's right to know," Altfield ruled Tuesday.

The segments to be released include a sequence in which Bieber "appears to be urinating" in a cell, "revealing an image of the defendant's genitalia," the judge wrote.

The order, however, instructs the court's video technician to blur "the image wherein genitalia is observed."

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Atlanta Radio: Kristen Ledlow Leaves The Game Morning Show

Kristen Ledlow

Kristen Ledlow has left CBS Radio's WZGC 92.9 FM The Game morning show to focus more on TV.

According to Rodney Ho at ajc.com, mornings will now be a duo of Randy Cross, who started with the station when it launched in October, 2012, and Jason Bailey, who joined last summer from Orlando.

PD Terry Foxx wouldn’t say whether he plans to replace her.

She will continue to be a contributor to the radio station, just not as a full-time morning host. He said specifics are forthcoming.

Ledlow remains active on NBA TV, where she co-hosts a weekly show “Inside Stuff” with Grant Hill.  Foxx said her TV presence will be increasing.

She came to the Game a year ago from Tallahassee, replacing C.J. Simpson.

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NPR Radio: Carl Kassell To Retire

Carl Kassell

Carl Kasell, the beloved voice of NPR's weekly game show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!," is calling it quits.

According to CNN, he announced on Tuesday that he will record his last edition of the program sometime this spring.

Kasell, 79, will still appear on "Wait Wait" occasionally, and will continue to record one of his trademarks: custom voice mail greetings for the game show winners.

"It's a real sad day for all of us at 'Wait Wait' and for me," tweeted Peter Sagal, the show's host, on Tuesday afternoon. "But Carl deserves a chance to lay down the mic and enjoy himself."

Kasell has worked at NPR in various capacities since 1975. He was the newscaster for one of NPR's flagships, "Morning Edition," from 1979 until 2009.

He has been with "Wait Wait" since its inception in 1998, playing the "straight man" of sorts while Sagal asks questions of panelists.

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