Fresno Radio: Jose Gadea Named PD At KFSO

Jose Gadea

iHeartMedia has named Jose Gadea as Program Director for La Preciosa Network.

The network has a cross-platform presence with affiliates in Sioux City IA, Monterey-Salinas, Bakersfield, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Antonio. Gadea will also oversee daily operations at the network's flagship station KFSO 92.9 FM  in Fresno and report to La Preciosa Network General Manager Jeff Negrete.

"Jose is the ideal leader for the La Preciosa Network," said Negrete. "He is strategic, a perpetual student of our business and has displayed expertise in the communities he has worked, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Fresno. Under Jose's leadership, La Preciosa will be strengthened with the best programming and content available."

"It is an honor and a great opportunity for me to join iHeartMedia as Program Director for the La Preciosa Network," added Gadea. "I look forward to working with Jeff Negrete and Area Senior Vice President of Programming Steve Weed, and putting my more than 25 years of experience into serving the Hispanic community and growing La Preciosa's position in the Hispanic marketplace."

KFSO 92.9 FM (17.5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Gadea previously worked as the Program Director for Uniradio, where he helped managed a five-station market. He has also served as a Program Director at radio stations for Univision, Emmis, Border Media and Heftel.

Rockford Radio: AM Hosts Sean and Michelle OUT At WGFB B103

Morning host Sean Henry and Michelle McGuinn Marcomb are out at WGFB 103.1 FM B103 in rockgord, IL.

Their depature has been confirmed by Mike Paterson, general manager of the Rockford Media Group of Mid-West Family Broadcasting.

Both had been with the station for more than 15-years in various capacities with previous owners.

According to Paterson, "the release of Sean and Michelle was a performance issue as ratings and revenue on B103 are not meeting expectations."

In a Facebook message to the Register Star, Marcomb said she and Henry "were told together that it was a change in direction and we would no longer be the morning show hosts. Nothing else was said to us."

Paterson said the station has three or four finalists for the morning show position and will have a new show in place after the first of the year. He said there will be no format change.

R.I.P.: Former TV Exec, Metromedia President Bob Bennett

Bob Bennett

Bob Bennett, the founding general manager of WCVB-TV in Boston, died Tuesday in California after a prolonged illness.

“Bob was beloved by all, with an infectious personality and unparalleled leadership ability. In launching WCVB in 1972, Bob’s vision was one of a truly local television station, a blueprint which has been dutifully followed for 45 years. He was a genuine broadcasting pioneer and legend, respected equally by his staff and competitors. His impact on local broadcasting, nationwide, is his legacy,” said Bill Fine, WCVB President and General Manager.

Bennett, born in Altoona PA,  ranked among the nation’s most accomplished broadcasters over a 50-year career that was capped by induction to the prestigious Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.

At the pinnacle of his tenure in the industry in the early to mid 1980’s, Bob Bennett, 89, guided the nation’s then-largest broadcast station group as President of Metromedia Broadcasting.

He championed and captained the launch of such nationally successful shows as “Fame,” “Three’s Company," “Small Wonder,” and “Star Search.”

Bennett began his broadcasting career in 1952 as a salesman at KTTV-TV, Los Angeles. Rising through Metromedia’s broadcast division, he served as Vice President and General Manager of its TV station (WTTG-TV) in Washington, D.C., and, from 1969 to 1971, the country’s largest and most successful independent station, WNEW-TV, New York.

In 1972, the Federal Communications Commission, for the first time in its history, awarded a television license to a new group of operators in Boston. Bennett was selected to lead the group.

He emerged as the station’s principal architect, builder, manager and owner. From the start, WCVB was conceived as a model of what local television broadcasting could be in America. It produced more than 60 hours of locally produced programming at a time when most stations were content simply to run local news and occasional documentaries.

In 1985, Bennett arranged and directed the sale of WCVB-TV to the Hearst Corporation for $450 million, which was then cited as the new high watermark for any television station sale in the U.S.

December 1 Radio History

In 1931...Gene Autry's first radio show debuted on WLS Chicago. From 1940 to 1956, Autry had a huge hit with a weekly show on CBS Radio, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. His horse, Champion, also had a CBS-TV and Mutual radio series. He also sold several radio stations he owned, including KSFO in San Francisco, KMPC in Los Angeles, KOGO in San Diego, and other stations in the Golden West radio network.

Autry is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for film, television, music, radio, and live performance.


In 1941...WNEW (now WBRR) moved to 1130 AM. WNEW was located on 1250 AM and shared time with Newark station WHBI. In March 1941, WNEW and WHBI were both reassigned to 1280. Then, on December 1, 1941, a swap of call letters and frequency took place between WNEW on 1280 and WOV on 1130. WOV moved to 1280 (to later become WADO) and WNEW moved to 1130 and assumed full-time status.


In 1972...Wings released "Hi, Hi, Hi." The BBC banned the song for its supposedly suggestive lyrics and because of their assumption that the title phrase, "We're gonna get hi, hi, hi," was a drug reference. The sexual line the Beeb objected to is the one they heard as "get you ready for my body gun." McCartney has said the correct lyrics are "get you ready for my polygon," an abstract image.

In 1995...FCC eliminated the Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit requirement to operate a broadcast station.

Knoxville Radio: Cumulus' WIVK Responds To Wildfires

Cumulus Media-Knoxville Country station WIVK 107.7 FM stepped up in a big way to keep the community informed with outstanding news coverage and community response, outreach and collaboration, raising resources and delivering aid to the community during the wildfires in Gatlinburg throughout the day and into the evening on Monday, December 28, and on Tuesday, December 29.  The wildfires have resulted in at least three deaths.

WIVK was the only broadcast media outlet in Knoxville that stayed on air and provided coverage and information for evacuees and relief efforts all night long. The coverage extended to social media with an emphasis on connecting family and friends who'd been separated. The station aired reports from onsite in Sevier County with TV partner WVLT until 3am. Afterward, WIVK station staff fielded and aired calls from people who were worried that by daybreak, their homes wouldn't be standing.

WIVK staffers spent the night talking to people who were terrified and had been stuck in traffic; people who had driven through areas that they could only describe as being "like a war zone".

The station also took calls from people with boots on the ground who were providing rescue services, including local taxi companies that were giving people free rides to shelter areas and delivering supplies. Other calls came in from people who owned homes or had friends in the area who were checking up on the fire status and appreciative of the station's coverage.

There was no national television coverage of the fire, so WIVK took calls throughout the night from people across the U.S. seeking information. WIVK on-air staff aired call after call Monday into Tuesday, with news updates from Sean McNally and Dave Jeffries starting around 7pm Monday night, supported by Jimmy Holt from WIVK's morning show and Nikki Thomas, who fielded questions throughout the night on-air and on social media. Jimmy Holt and Alison Mencer picked up that task Tuesday morning beginning at 6:30am.

(Left to Right) WIVK’s Jimmy Holt (Costa hat), Big Loud recording artist Morgan Wallen (US flag hat) and band member Cody Wood (BMI hat).

Yesterday (Tuesday), WIVK aired heavy news coverage and went out into the community with a local grocery chain (Food City) and a local car dealer (Ted Russell Ford) to collect non-perishable food items, water, pet food, etc. for those affected by the fires.

Ted Russell provided trucks to carry supplies and WIVK brought in a tractor trailer and all station vehicles for transport. We have extended our efforts into other Cumulus stations in our region. WIVK's web guy set up donor pages with information for sister stations who wanted to help.

The station also worked to connect pet owners with places to keep their animals - both large and small, and collected pet food and crates for animals. The station provided updates on the Aquarium that houses more than 10,500 fish and animals that were left behind. Thankfully, those fish and animals are safe.

Arista Nashville recording artist, Seth Ennis’ Instragram repost of and comment on Morgan’s previous post

The country music community was in full force, calling in to WIVK to ask how they could help with the relief effort. Chris Janson was the first to reach out, followed by Hunter Hayes and many other artists, labels and management companies checking in throughout the day Tuesday. Big Loud artist and Knoxville native Morgan Wallen was in town visiting family and contacted WIVK and asked how he could help. He came in and helped Gunner with on-air information and updates, and helped Jimmy Holt and the rest of the staff load trucks with supplies to take to the affected areas.

WIVK 107.7 FM (91 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood, which partners with WIVK on many efforts that are beneficial to the community, was a huge concern and was thankfully spared. Virtually every other call into WIVK was from someone asking if Dollywood was O.K.  and if the bald eagles were safe inside the park.

R.I.P.: TV Exec, Former NBC CEO Grant Tinker

Grant Tinker

Television broadcasting legend and former NBC chairman Grant Tinker died peacefully at his home in California on Monday.

He was 90-years-of-age according to NBC.

The Television Hall of Fame inductee was the former husband of actress Mary Tyler Moore, and their union helped produced MTM Enterprises, which in its heyday not only spawned the hit "Mary Tyler Moore Show," but also genre favorites like "Rhoda," "The Bob Newhart Show," "St. Elsewhere" and "Hill Street Blues."

When he took over the peacock network in 1981, it was routinely finishing a distant third to competitors ABC and CBS. Tinker, embracing his mantra of "first be best, then be first," led NBC back to prominence alongside the late head of NBC's entertainment division Brandon Tartikoff, with a formidable run of blockbuster shows including "Cheers," "The Cosby Show," "Family Ties" and "The Golden Girls."

"Grant Tinker was a great man who made an indelible mark on NBC and the history of television that continues to this day," said NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke. "He loved creative people and protected them, while still expertly managing the business. Very few people have been able to achieve such a balance. We try to live up to the standards he set each and every day. Our hearts go out to his family and friends."

Tinker, who leaves behind two sons, won a prestigious Peabody Award in 2004. "Getting paid to work in television is like stealing," Tinker said while accepting that honor. "It was just too damn much fun."

San Jose Radio: Alpha Media Names Ronnie Stanton VP/Programming

Ronnie Stanton

Alpha Media announced today Ronnie Stanton has been named Vice President of Programming with direct oversight of the Rock, Classic Rock, Alternative, Oldies and Classic Hits formats.

He will also serve as Program Director of the two Alpha Media San Jose stations: AC KBAY 94.5 FM and HotAC KEZR Mix 106.5 FM.

Stanton is a 20-year veteran in the industry and comes to Alpha with deep programming experience in Australia and Canada, most recently serving as VP of Programming for Corus Entertainment. He also brings a breadth of experience in multiple formats in addition to a Morning Show Talent Coach for the Randy Lane Company. Recognized in the industry for his innovative vision, Ronnie was nominated nine times by the CMW Radio Awards for “Program Director of the Year” and nominated seven times for “Station of the Year.”

KBAY 94.5 FM (44 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

President and CEO of Alpha Media, Bob Proffitt said, “As a continuation of our rapid growth, we have been searching for the ideal candidate to help Scott Mahalick, Phil Becker and our programming teams execute strategies for on-air, online and mobile audience growth.

Ronnie is a dynamic addition.”

KEZR 106.5 FM (42 Kw)

Scott Mahalick, Executive VP of Programming commented on the announcement, “We are thrilled to have an additional visionary programmer join our team. Ronnie brings an international perspective, winning track record, great passion for the art of the product and stellar leadership traits.”

“To have a true “World Class” Program Director on the team will be a game changer for Alpha San Jose,” added John Levitt, San Jose Market Manager.

“What a thrill to join America’s fastest growing radio company! Alpha Media is a REAL radio company, where their people and their markets matter. Live and local is the way forward as a medium and Alpha is trailblazing that. It is very exciting and humbling to play a part in it all,” Stanton remarked.

Viacom CEO Looks To Improve Culture, Affiliate Relations

By Jessica Toonkel

(Reuters) - The top priorities of Viacom Inc's acting president and chief executive are improving key relations with affiliates as well as the struggling media company's internal culture, Bob Bakish told Reuters at the end of his first week on the job.

Bakish, Viacom's third CEO in less than three months, is seen by many investors as a caretaker until the company is merged into CBS Corp, a deal controlling shareholders Sumner Redstone and his daughter Shari are pushing.

But the long-time head of international at Viacom appears intent on having an impact while in charge of the company.

Bob Bakish

In his first week on the job, he met with talent, as well as distribution partners and executives and employees on both U.S. coasts, including at Paramount Studios, he said in an interview last week from his yet-to-be decorated office in New York.

"The company has been through a lot and part of my job is to revitalize the culture," Bakish said. "It's about starting to create a positive buzz and having people believe we can do great things."

Bakish's focus extends beyond within Viacom. He recently met with the CEO of a major affiliate about ways the two could partner, he said. "One thing I am committed to is working to rebuild some of our affiliate distributor relationships in the U.S,"

The Redstones, who own the majority of voting shares of CBS and Viacom through their privately held National Amusements, want to recombine the two companies 10 years after they split. Both firms have set up a special committee of directors to explore a potential merger and have hired bankers as advisers.

Bakish would not comment on whether he thinks the decision to pursue a merger with CBS could change based on his work. He also declined to provide details of his strategy to turn around Viacom, which has been struggling amid declining advertising revenue and ratings.

Before he started his new role, Bakish set up a 15 person task force to identify short-term goals that can be fixed.    

Now there are nine separate committees aimed at devising strategies to meet those goals, he said.

"If you look at how the company was being run over the past few years, it was very siloed and I believe that resulted in a missed opportunity," he said.

iHM Wants Relaxed Debt Terms

iHeartMedia Inc. warned investors it may not pay back $193 million in bonds that mature next month if creditors don’t agree to relax the terms on some of its other debt, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday, citing anonymous sources.

The San Antonio Express-News reports failing to repay the bonds due Dec. 15 would throw the company into default, accelerate payback on billions of dollars of other debt and likely drive iHeartMedia into bankruptcy, said Seth Crystall, a senior credit analyst with Debtwire.

The company actually has plenty of cash on hand to repay the $250 million due Dec. 15, Crystall said, citing two recent asset sales that raised about $800 million. About $57 million of the $250 million is owed to one of iHeartMedia’s subsidiaries, he said.

IHeartMedia is threatening to withhold the payment if bondholders don’t approve an amendment to its credit agreements that gives investors less say over how the company can restructure its debt going forward, Bloomberg News reported, citing “people with knowledge of the matter.”

“The amendment proposed in the consent solicitations would maximize our flexibility as we continue to proactively explore initiatives to strengthen our capital structure and position the company for long-term growth and success,” iHeartMedia spokeswoman Wendy Goldberg said in an email, declining to elaborate.

Investors have until Dec. 7 to decide on the change.

The struggling company has been trying to restructure its $20.5 billion in outstanding debt over the last year, Crystall said. IHeartMedia may be trying to exchange its debt to better position the company so it can meet its debt obligations over the next three years, he said.

Crystall said iHeartMedia could technically avoid default and bankruptcy by repaying a portion of the outstanding principal due, so long as the unpaid balance is less than $100 million.

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Flo & Eddie Settlement Could Cost SiriusXM $99M

SiriusXM has agreed to pay up to $99 million to settle a group of lawsuits over an obscure aspect of music copyright that has seen a flurry of litigation recently: recordings made before 1972, reports The NYTimes.

Federal copyright only began to be applied to recordings in 1972, and three years ago members of the 1960s band the Turtles (best known for “Happy Together,” a No. 1 hit in 1967) filed three lawsuits against SiriusXM for playing its songs without permission, claiming protection under state copyright laws in California, Florida and New York.

The three class-action suits, which were filed by Flo & Eddie Inc. — a company run by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of the Turtles, which controls the band’s music rights — have been closely watched in the music industry. On Monday, lawyers for plaintiffs in the case filed papers in a federal court in California revealing the proposed settlement terms, which must be approved by the court.

The deal calls for SiriusXM to make two types of payments to the plaintiffs, which include many independent artists and record companies.

For its past unlicensed use of pre-1972 recordings, the satellite radio company agreed to pay a minimum of $25 million, with up to $15 million in additional payments depending on whether the Turtles prevail in appeals that are pending in the New York and Florida cases. In addition, SiriusXM agreed to a 10-year license for recordings by class members, paying a 5.5 percent royalty rate. According to the filing, that amount could be worth between $45 million and $59 million, depending on projections of SiriusXM’s revenue growth over the next decade.

The payments would apply to the owners of any recordings from before 1972 that have been played by the satellite radio service without permission. It does not include recordings owned by the major record companies, which settled their own suit against SiriusXM last year for $210 million.

Chicago Radio: Terry Boers To Retire From WSCR The Score

Terry Boers

Chicago sports radio legend Terry Boers has announced his retirement.

A charter member of WSCR 670 AM The Score,  the first all-sports radio station based in Chicago, Boers will co-host his final afternoon show come January after 25 years on the station and on the air.

Boers made his decision official on Tuesday with a goodbye column titled “It’s Time to Say Goodbye.”

“As I write this, I’m 66 years old and I’m going to retire, leaving behind one of the greatest jobs you can have, talking sports or movies or TV or life for five hours a day on a station I couldn’t be prouder of,” he wrote. “The day of my final show will be Jan. 5, 2017, which will make my tenure at the Score exactly 25 years and three days.”

The retirement announce does not come as a total surprise to fans of Boers and The Score. After an incredible 24-year run, Boers missed several months of air time this year while dealing with serious illnesses and recovering from surgery, according to The Patch.

He returned after a longer-than-expected absence, but told readers that he underwent a second surgery earlier this month.

“This has been the worst year of my life health-wise,” Boers wrote. “I’ve been forced to miss way more time than I ever dreamed I would. There’s no part of me that thought I would ever be gone for more than four months following a major surgery that continues to plague me.”

Another Month, More Subscribers Drop ESPN

Last month ESPN lost 621,000 subscribers according to Nielsen media estimates, which was the worst month in the company's history. This month things weren't much better -- ESPN lost another 555,000 subscribers according to Nielsen media estimates, meaning that the worst month in the history of ESPN has now been followed up by the second worst month in ESPN history. ESPN has now lost a jawdropping 1.176 million subscribers in the past two months.

Putting that into perspective, that means nearly 20,000 people a day are leaving ESPN for each of the past two months, according to outkickthecoverage.com.

If that annual average subscriber loss continued, ESPN would lose over seven million subscribers in the next 12 months. And at an absolute minimum, these 1.176 million lost subscribers in the past two months will lead to a yearly loss in revenue of over $100 million.

According to Nielsen ESPN now has 88.4 million cable and satellite subscribers, a precipitous decline from well over 100 million subscribers just a few years ago.

According to SNL Kagan ESPN is on track to pay $7.3 billion in total rights fees in 2017. That's more than any company in America.

A loss of 3 million subscribers would leave ESPN with 86 million subscribers in 2017. That would be down roughly 15 million subscribers in the past five years alone. Given that ESPN makes right at $7 a month from every cable and satellite subscriber a year, that means ESPN's subscriber revenue would be $7.22 billion in 2017. Toss in an additional $1.8 billion or so in advertising revenue and ESPN's total revenue would be $9 billion.