Report: TV News Keeping Up With Technology

Americans are getting more of their news from their Twitter feeds, friends' Facebook posts and websites such as Reddit. There are live bloggers who chronicle events as they unfold — now they can even stream live video with their smartphones.

But, according to the L-A Times,  TV news is still overwhelmingly watched on televisions. Although the landscape has become more challenging, TV news can still be a lucrative endeavor. The morning shows each generate hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising revenue for their networks.

The evening newscasts remain vital to each network's image, and after years of fighting off irrelevancy, are now seeing a ratings renaissance.

In 2014, each of the programs saw audience gains.

NBC's Brian Williams

"Not only are rumors of our death greatly exaggerated — we are a growth stock," NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams said in a recent interview.

"And I have a secret theory that perhaps the best thing that happened to us is the rise of other media devices. The miniaturization of everything else has made us loom a little larger."

Williams' program is up 5% to an average audience of 8.9 million viewers. "ABC World News Tonight With David Muir" is up 6% to 8.1 million, while "CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley" rose 4% to 6.8 million. Among 25- to 54-year-olds, Muir's broadcast is the biggest gainer, up 8%, pulling up even with Williams for the lead.

The ratings boost may be the result of having three programs — which once routinely summarized the same events in lockstep — that are more distinctive from each other than they have been in recent memory.

ABC's David Muir

"ABC plays to its strengths with a faster pace and a higher story count," said Steve Capus, executive producer of the CBS Evening News.

CBS' Scott Pelley

"CBS has a smaller number of stories and we go deeper with our journalism. Brian is an immensely talented personality and NBC strikes a middle ground," he said. "Each of us is giving our audiences different options and that's not always been the case."

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CableTV News: FNC Wins Another Year

In a generally overall down year for the CableTV news genre, Fox News remained the dominant ratings force in 2014, while CNN stabilized and made some meaningful demo strides relative to a sagging MSNBC. reports Variety.

Behind the highest-rated programs in cable news — including “The O’Reilly Factor,” which was again top dog among all programs — Fox News finished on top in both total viewers and the adults 25-54 news demo for a 13th straight year, according to Nielsen’s “most current” estimates through Dec. 26.

Fox News was also the only cable newser up in the demo in primetime, as it opened up bigger advantages over the runner-up network in both 25-54 and total viewers.

MSNBC was down across the board, including declines in the demo of nearly 20%, and its prexy Phil Griffin vowed to make changes in 2015.

And while CNN fell off by 8% in overall primetime viewership, it held steady year-to-year in adults 25-54 and moved up to second in numerous dayparts. In both total viewers and the key demo, it finished ahead of MSNBC for the first time in three years.

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Report: Social Media Becoming Major Ad Platform

A convergence of three high-tech trends — precise ad analytics, programmatic audience-buying tools, and the stickiness of social apps — means social media is becoming one of the major ad platforms of the future.

New data from BI Intelligence finds that US social-media ad spend will top $8.5 billion this year and reach nearly $14 billion in 2018, up from just $6.1 billion in 2013. Social will grow faster than all other offline ad mediums, and faster than traditional digital formats, like desktop display ads and search ads.

In the report and associated PowerPoint presentation, BI Intelligence looks at all the numbers for this fast-growing ad industry and explores the drivers of social ad adoption.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Social-media advertising spend will grow rapidly through 2018. It's up 40% this year and will top $8.5 billion, growing to nearly $14 billion in 2018, a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%. 
• Social media ad spend has reached the mobile-tipping point. Spending on mobile social-media ads, including mobile app-install ads, will surpass non-mobile spend by the end of this year in the US. In 2018, two-thirds of social-media ad spend will go to mobile, creating a $9.1 billion social-mobile market. 
• Mobile app-install ads and programmatic buying are also growth drivers. Analyses suggest that mobile app-install ads could account for anywhere from one-quarter to more than one-half of Facebook's mobile ad revenues.
• Prices are increasing as performance and targeting improve, even as ad loads stay steady on the established platforms. Facebook, for example, is not likely to increase the amount of in-feed native ads an average user will see.

Wichita Radio: Harris, Cassidy To Host AM On New KKGQ

Tracy Cassidy and Brett Harris

Envision Broadcast Network will be launching off their new format on KKGQ 92.3 FM Monday, January 5, 2015.

Dynamic radio duo Brett Harris and Tracy Cassidy, formerly of crosstown KRBB,  will reunite to debut the new station as hosts of its morning show.

Heather Hogan, Envision’s Vice President of Foundation and Mission Services, announced plans for the future format and content for the station, which will serve as a source of entertainment for audiences, a medium of communication for Envision and other causes and organizations, revenues to support Envision’s programs and services, and employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Envision Broadcast Network is operating the for-profit station, which used to be KFTI.

“We are delighted to be reuniting Brett and Tracy in our first official move with 92 FM,” Hogan said.

“Wichita has been waking up to Brett and Tracy for more than 22 years, and we look forward to bringing them back to the airwaves for the community to enjoy.”

Harris and Cassidy have a long history of involvement with Envision. They have both received the organization’s “Excellence in Volunteerism” award and have participated in benefit concerts, committee involvement and internal events.

KKGQ 92.3 FM (95Kw) 60dBu Coverage

The two are thrilled to be an official part of the Envision team. “To have a non-profit agency with which we’ve been passionately involved for years approach us about reuniting on the radio is incredibly humbling and exciting,” says Harris.

“We’re absolutely energized. Local radio is not only a terrific investment for a non-profit, but what a way to spread the mission by training kids who are visually impaired to become on-air talent." Cassidy says working with individuals who are visually impaired has been tightly woven into her radio career since even before she began collaborating on projects with Envision.

The pair started working together on KRBB 97.9-FM in 1990. Harris was fired from the iHeartMedia station in 2012. Cassidy lost her job in May 2014.

Racine WI Radio: After 24-Years, Don Rosen OUT At WRJN

Don Rosen, long-time program director and morning radio show co-host for N/T WRJN 1400 AM in Racine WI, has been let go after nearly 24 years with the station.

Both Rosen and Dave Magnum, owner and president of Magnum Communications which owns WRJN, confirmed the move. According to The Journal-Times, Rosen said Magnum called at 6:30 p.m. Friday to say he was being let go after Wednesday. Magnum Communications bought the station last summer from Bliss Communications.

“I was fired without severance pay — without a dime of severance pay — and over the phone,” Rosen said. He first said he was “a little angry” but then tempered that slightly to “disappointed.”

Rosen said Magnum told him the company had heard from people who said they would not listen to WRJN because of the call-in show “Sound Off,” which Rosen hosted five days a week.

Don Rosen

“I’m glad I’m out of there,” Rosen said. “I just wanted out. It was not the same radio station” after the acquisition.

Magnum characterized the action this way: “It was a team that was running a wishbone offense and will be going to a pro-style offense. It’s nothing about Don’s performance as a professional – we’re changing the direction of the radio station; we’re calling it ‘your radio station friend.’

“It will be about companionship and the views of our listeners rather than the views of our host,” Magnum added. “Don was a very polarizing figure, by design.”

Magnum said he terminated Rosen by phone because he’d promised to let him know as soon as he’d made a decision.

About the lack of severance, Magnum said despite Rosen’s two-dozen years with the station, he’d only been with Magnum Communications since the purchase closed Nov. 1.

Morning show host Curt Vollman will replace Rosen as program director, Magnum said.

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Peoria Radio: WSWT Rebrands As 'The New Mix 106.9 FM'

Alpha Media/Peoria has announced that WSWT 106.9 FM known for years as Lite Rock 107 is now The New Mix 106.9!

"Stations as successful as WSWT don't often switch names," said Peoria SVP/Market Manager, Mike Wild.

"It's a bold move, but we believe it to be a beneficial step in the right direction for the future of the station and our listeners. We had listeners tell us the word, 'Lite' wasn't reflective of the product and had created an image that we play Celine Dion and Whitney Houston songs-but that was years ago."

Randy Rundle, Operations Manager and WSWT Program Director/Morning Co-Host, said, "We continually had listeners using the word 'Mix' when they would describe to us how they liked our music. We're often told we have 'the best mix,' or we should add a specific song 'to the mix,' so we think this evolution to Mix as our name is very natural and relevant."

WSWT 106.9 FM (50Kw) 54dBu Coverage

There will be no change in the music, and on-air personalities will remain the same. "It's business as usual," added Rundle. "We simply have to remember we have to say a couple different words when we flip on the mics!"

Medford OR Radio: Ashley Greninger New PD At KRWQ

Ashley Greninger

Country KRWQ 100.3 FM Q100-3 in Medford, OR has announced the addition of Ashley Greninger as PD and morning show cohost.  She'll join Jason Allen for mornings in mid-January.

Greninger comes from KXXK 95.3 FM Kix 95-3 in Hoquiam, Washington,, where was PM Drive host and music director. She had been with the Greys Harbor station for the past eight years.

With the addition of Greninger, the Q100.3 lineup is set and poised to continue dominating nearly every adult demographic," Don Hurley, Bicoastal operations manager noted. "Coupling Ashley's passion for the radio industry and love for country music will only add to the exciting product in Q100.3."

"I am looking forward to connecting with listeners, being active in the community, and working in a competitive market," Greninger added. "I am humbled by this opportunity. I am thankful to Don Hurley and Bill Ashenden for their faith in my abilities!"

KRWQ 100.3 FM (30Kw) 60dBu Coverage

"She clearly loves her listeners and community, and we expect her to make an instant impact here in the Rogue Valley," Bicoastal market manager Ashenden noted. "Her leadership will provide Q100.3 a very fresh and innovative approach."

Air Check Website Reel Radio Lawyers-Up Vs. RIAA

The aircheck website ReelRadio received notice last summer from the Recording Industry Association of America regarding non-compliance with conditions of their statutory license. The statutory license allows ReelRadio to stream music sound recordings heard in our "unscoped" airchecks.  ReelRadio has been paying the RIAA licensing fees for years, but a problem arose last summer when the recording organization sent a letter asking for changes in the way ReelRadio streams music.

At the time, some 1,147 unscoped airchecks became unavailable on the subscription-based website.

Aircheck curator Uncle Ricky said , “the RIAA has determined that our service fails to meet the requirements for "archived programs", which must be at least five hours in duration and may not be made available for more than two weeks. The service must also display the Title, Artist and Album of each featured song, but only while the recording is being performed. You have probably seen this type of "online radio station" elsewhere on the Web.

Obviously, we have no single airchecks with a duration of five hours, and our exhibits are permanent. Our current method for streaming content does not allow real-time metadata, such as artist and title, to be included in the media file.”

He also said in a posted statement, “The RIAA has asked ReelRadio to remedy these violations to continue operating under the statutory license. Further, the RIAA insists that we obtain permission from the copyright owners of these old radio broadcasts. Many broadcasters understand the difficulty of this requirement, since nearly all radio stations have changed ownership, format, and call letters, many times over. Nevertheless, we are expected to provide the RIAA with an explanation of how we have permission from radio stations that no longer exist and copyright owners who have no interest in historic recordings of their property. The law is too narrow and should obviously be amended to include genuine "historical archive" sites, like Reelradio.”

ReelRadio has suspended streaming of unscoped airchecks and currently, they are not offering renewals or new subscriptions.

The L-A Times last week reported Reelradio.com has found a lawy firm to work on their case. The law firm of King & Spalding has agreed to provide pro bono services to ReelRadio for the purpose of clearing up any music licensing issues.

Akron Radio: Maggie Fuller Settles WNIR-FM Lawsuit

Maggie Fuller

A sexual harassment lawsuit that one of WNIR 1001. FM’s former radio personalities filed against the station has been settled, according to Ohio.com.

Attorney Nancy Grim, representing Maggie Fuller, and radio station manager Bill Klaus both confirmed the matter has been resolved but declined to comment further.

Fuller — the on-air pseudonym of Nancy Jones, who had been part of the radio station’s morning crew — filed the civil suit in September, one year after leaving the station, when WNIR’s owners declined to discipline another radio host who was reported to have referred to her at a public event by using a crude anatomical reference.

The case, filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court, accused Bill and Bob Klaus of abetting unlawful discriminatory practices, causing Fuller to lose $38,000 a year in income plus benefits, as well as suffer mental anguish, humiliation and loss of reputation.

At the time, she asked to be reinstated at the station and compensated for lost wages, or if not reinstated, given lost income as well as “future wages and benefits.” The suit also sought $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

Fuller said that when she was hired in 1999 she understood that banter would require her to “endure a degree of sexual innuendo with her male colleagues” but that the Klaus brothers prohibited “obscene and hateful terms.”

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Atlanta Radio: Personality Porcha Williams Busted For Speeding

Demoted Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Porsha Williams was pulled over in Atlanta this week for allegedly speeding. According to TMZ, the 33-year-old Bravo reality star and currently cast member of the syndicated Ricky Smiley Morning Show was clocked doing 78 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Police claimed that Williams was driving on a suspended license. She was subsequently taken to jail, booked and released after posting $1,726 bond.

Williams addressed the incident Monday night, telling Dish Nation,

"I was headed to visit my grandfather who is very ill with cancer in the hospital, and I was pulled over. I was wrong for speeding absolutely and apologize for putting anyone at risk. I tried to explain the situation to the officer and show him that all my paperwork was in order, but he refused."

"Handcuffs are not comfortable or a good look for anyone," Williams told E Oline. "I was released, I have my license, my car and my freedom."

This was the second time in 2014 that Williams was booked by the police. In April, she was charged with one misdemeanor count of simple battery stemming from an incident that occurred during the taping of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion.

Jax Radio: WJXR Ending Iconic Shopping Channel

• Spanish Tropical Format Launching

A live, call-in shopping show that’s been on the radio in Jacksonville, FL for nearly three decades will make its final sale Wednesday nightm according to WJCT.org.

The Bargain Channel Program was an on-air staple of Jax rimshot WJXR 92.1 FM since 1985. Every day of the week, from 6 a.m. until midnight, you could buy anything and everything from necklaces, to cruises, from laptops to toilet paper and bars of soap.

WJXR 92.1 FM (25Kw) 60dBu Coverage

Not to panic, faithful Bargain Channel buyers.

The Bargain Channel has announced it is starting a new, more abbreviated, radio shopping show on 102.3 FM and 1600 AM The Beach which will debut next month during morning and evening drive time.

Meanwhile,  the new ownsers of WJXR has announced the launching of  Latina 92.1 FM WJXR. The station is the fifth FM station owned by NORSAN Media, the group also publishes the weekly newspaper HELLO news.

According to Norberto Sanchez, CEO of NORSAN Media, launching 92.1 FM strengthens its commitment to continue empowering the Hispanic community by offering unparalleled access to music, entertainment, and local community information, and national and international news.

“NORSAN Media was honored to have the support of our community and listeners for whom we make every effort to provide quality programming that comes into their cars, homes and workplaces,” said Norberto Sanchez, president and CEO of NORSAN Media.

Latina 92.1FM programming is based on tropical hits and pop in Spanish allowing you reach a vast majority of Hispanic listeners in the programming area. “This new addition enhances our portfolio and gives us a competitive advantage that will benefit our private audience and advertisers who want to reach the Hispanic market in northern Florida,” said Sanchez.

NORSAN Media also owns and operates WVOJ 1570 AM La Raza, featuring regional Mexican format in Jacksonville.

December 31 In Radio History

In 1923...In London, the BBC first aired the chimes of Big Ben.


In 1923...the first transatlantic radio broadcast of a voice occurred between Pittsburgh and Manchester, England




In 1929...Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a New Year's Eve song for the first time during their first annual New Year's Eve Party at the Hotel Roosevelt Grill in New York. The show was broadcast on the CBS Radio network and became the longest-running annual special program in radio history.


In 1940...ASCAP prevented the radio industry from playing any ASCAP-licensed music. The ban lasted for ten months. It was in reaction to a dispute between the radio networks and ASCAP, the American Society of Composers and Publishers.


In 1943...Country singer John Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf. He died in a crash of an experimental plane he was piloting on Oct. 12, 1997 at 53.


In 1948...Disco diva Donna Summer was born. She died on May 17, 2012 at 63


In 1951...The "Wild Bill Hickok" TV series was replicated on radio following its success on television.


In 1963...the "Dear Abby Show" premiered on the CBS Radio network. It ran eleven years. On this day in 1966, "Pirate Radio 390" (Radio Invicata)an off-shore station near England, resumed broadcasting.


In 1970...Paul McCartney sued the other members of the Beatles for a legal dissolution of their "partnership." On the same day, the British magazine Melody Maker announced that the Beatles were looking for a new bass player. Four years to the day later, the four of them came to terms and made the separation final.




In 1972...TV producer Dick Clark initiated a new holiday tradition with "Three Dog Night's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on NBC. The headliners, along with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy, and Al Green, appeared in performances that had been pre-taped in the Grand Ballroom of the Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach, California. Clark himself did not appear on the initial program. In 1973, he began hosting the special, its name shortened to "New Year's Rockin' Eve." The show moved to ABC-TV in 1974.


In 1982...the "CBS Mystery Theater" aired its final episode after 8 years on radio.


In 1982...the NBC Radio network cancelled practically all of it's daily features.



In 1985...Singer/actor Ricky Nelson, his fiancé Helen Blair, and five members of the Stone Canyon Band, died in the crash of his private DC-3 airplane (which was previously owned by Jerry Lee Lewis) near DeKalb, Texas, while en route to a concert appearance in Dallas. The pilot was attempting an emergency landing after a fire, caused by a malfunctioning gas heater, broke out on the plane. Nelson was 45.


In 1989...the final edit was added to the annual WLS Music Montage.

Every New Year's Eve, the "Top 89" songs of the year were counted down on WLS-AM (and FM). After the #1 song was played at about 4 minutes before Midnight, the radio station wished listeners a Happy New Year!

Then...this wonderful montage was played. Each year added about a minute of the previous top songs in Chicago. The montage originally started short, as you can guess, and ultimately ended up as this 27+ minute marathon.


After WLS-AM changed to all-talk in 1989, this montage was no longer heard in Chicago. But thanks to Scott Childers, this "rebuild" version can be heard exactly as it was played every year. Kudos to Scott for putting this together!

This is an appreciation to the production work that Scott, Tommy Edwards (the originator) and the production staff created over the years.

Thanks to Scott Childers for the permission to post this. Check out his site at www.scottchilders.com.


In 2013...Veteran talk radio personality (WOR, WABC, WMCA in New York, KABC, KNX in Los Angeles, WBBM-Chicago, WWDB-Philadelphia) Bob Grant died at the age of 84.

Chicago Radio: WLS-AM, Dan Proft Part Company

Dan Proft

• No word on status of co-host Bruce Wolf

• Is Big John Howell waiting in the wings?

Talk Radio WLS 890 AM continues to make changes to its lineup. The latest change is the exit of morning show co-host Dan Proft, whose contract expires this week and is not being renewed, according to Chicagoland Radio&Media.

The 42-year-old Proft's connection to WLS-AM began in 2009, as Proft was used as a political commentator on WLS-AM's morning show with Don Wade & Roma. Starting in May 2010, he was teamed with Chicago radio veteran Bruce Wolf for a weekend show on WLS-AM. In July 2011, the duo were promoted up to the weekday late morning shift of 9:00am-11:00am.

In September 2012, morning show host Don Wade took ill, so Wolf and Proft moved to the early morning shift on an interim basis. By December of that year, when it became clear that Wade was too sick to return, Wolf and Proft were named as the new morning show hosts going forward.

However, ratings for Wolf and Proft's show were a fraction of what Don Wade & Roma were able to bring in. That combined with a national trend away from divisive conservative talk radio drove down the ratings for the morning show, as well as for the entire station.

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Meanwhile, Proft's co-host Bruce Wolf is due to return to the air Friday.  However, there's been no official word on his status at WLS-AM. Lisa Dollinger, corporate spokeswoman for Cumulus Media, has not responded for comment.

Last Week, Cumulus Media was reportedly close to hiring Big John Howell, morning personality at Salem Communications news/talk station WIND 560 AM.  Howell chose not to renew his contract after eight years at WIND.

Chicago Radio: WGN 720 AM To Simulcast On FM

UPDATE 4PM 12/30/2014:  Weigel Broadcasting, Chicago-based parent company of The U, Me-TV and other iconic television channels, is about to extend its brand into local radio for the first time.

Chicago media writer Robert Feder cites "sources" as saying the company has reached an agreement with Venture Technologies Group to lease WGWG LP 87.7, now home of Tribune Media’s ill-fated sports/talk format known as The Game 87.7 FM.

Contracts have not yet been signed, but insiders said it’s a done deal.


Original Posting...

Chicago radio listeners can get ready to ring in the new year with WGN 720AM 720 on the FM band.

But don't get used to it, according to The Chicago Tribune.

WGN's AM signal will be simulcast on 87.7 FM beginning Wednesday night at 11 p.m., filling the programming void left by the imminent demise of sports talk station The Game, and keeping the frequency warm for an operator and format to be named later.

The FM simulcast of WGN's news/talk programming is a one-month deal, executives said.

Tribune Media, which owns WGN-AM 720, signed an 18-month lease for FM 87.7 and launched The Game in February. Low ratings doomed the sports talk format, which will end its run on New Year's Eve.

While the lease runs through September, WGN has no obligation to operate the FM station beyond the one-month simulcast.

WGWG 87.7 FM Red=47dBu Coverage Area

Los Angeles-based Venture Technologies Group owns the frequency, and is expected to announce a new long-term broadcasting partner next month. WGWG-LP is a low-power television station that has been operating as an FM radio station since it went on the air in 2008. The station has been through a variety of operators and formats, with smooth jazz and alternative rock achieving far greater ratings success than its recent foray into sports talk.

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Detroit Radio: Mike Wheeler Named New OM For Cumulus

Mike Wheeler

Cumulus announces that WJR Detroit Program Director Mike Wheeler has been promoted to the new position of Operations Manager for Detroit radio stations WJR 760 AM, WDVD 96.3 FM, WDRQ 93.1 FM, and WDRQ-HD2.

In his new role, Wheeler will oversee all programming for Cumulus’ four Detroit stations. He will work with programmers Lori Bennett and Robby Bridges on the programming of WDVD, NASH (WDRQ), and NASH Icon (WDRQ HD2).

Raised in Detroit, Wheeler started his radio career in on-air posts at Motor City stations WNIC, WABX, WHYT and WCZY. Wheeler joined Cumulus in September from Clear Channel, where served for five years as Regional Program Manager for Clear Channel’s Connecticut stations. Prior to that, Wheeler was Program Director for CBS’ DaveFM in Atlanta, and was Regional Vice President of Programming for Clear Channel in Atlanta, St. Louis, and Toledo.
 
Mike McVay, Senior Vice President, Corporate/Programming for Cumulus said: "Mike Wheeler brings a wealth of experience to the table. His history in Detroit, abilities at coaching talent and his knowledge of programming gives us another strong programming presence within Cumulus. He is deserving of this promotion."

Wheeler said: “What a thrill to work with Robby and Lori on these great Detroit radio stations. I’m grateful to John Dickey and Mike McVay for the opportunity to drive the FunBus in Detroit!”