Chicago Radio: Sirott And Murciano Leaving WGN

Sirott and Murciano

Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano are ending their two-year run as midday hosts on WGN 720 AM, station executives said Wednesday.

The Chicago Tribune reports the husband-and-wife team's last broadcast on the station will be Friday. Their noon-3 p.m. slot will be filled by expanding existing airshifts, notably extending the Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder late-morning show into afternoon.

"Right now we need to invest in one less show," said Todd Manley, vice president of content and programming at Tribune Media's WGN Radio. "It's just a matter of resources."

A longtime radio and TV veteran, Sirott left WFLD-Ch. 32 to host the WGN radio show with Murciano in September 2013. Their show has lagged other dayparts in the ratings, ranking 15th in Chicago with a 2.9 share among listeners 6+ in August, according to Nielsen.

Morning host Steve Cochran, whose show will expand to 10 a.m. with the change, was ranked No. 1 in August with an 8.2 share. Leff and Snyder are ranked fourth from 9 a.m. to noon with a 4.0 share. Overall, WGN has a 3.7 share, tied for fifth with iHeartMedia urban station WGCI-FM 107.5, according to Nielsen.

A Chicago native, Sirott hosted "The Noon Show" on WGN Radio from 2007 to 2010 while co-anchoring the WFLD-Ch. 32 news at nine. He launched his media career as a Chicago radio personality in the 1970s with shows at WBBM-FM 96.3 and WLS-AM 890. Sirott shifted to television in 1980 at WBBM-Ch. 2, and later became a correspondent on CBS News' "West 57th" newsmagazine. In 1989 he returned to Chicago television, with stints at WMAQ-Ch. 5 , WFLD-Ch. 32 and WTTW-Ch. 11, where he hosted "Chicago Tonight" for three years.

The pair talked about their imminent departure from WGN on air during their show Wednesday, fielding listener comments and expressing gratitude for the opportunity.

Alpha Media Closes On Morris Stations

Alpha Media of Portland, Oregon announced Wednesday they have closed the purchase of radio stations from Morris Communications.

The Morris purchase includes thirty-six radio stations located within the following markets; Topeka, KS; Salina, KS; Amarillo, TX; Palm Springs, CA; Anchorage, AK; Wasilla, AK; Grays Harbor-Hoquiam, WA and Wenatchee-Columbia River, WA.

The stations included are:

Topeka, KS Market:
N/T WIBW(AM), Topeka, KS
Country WIBW-FM, Topeka, KS

Salina, KS Market:
Standards KABI(AM), Abilene, KS
AC KBLS(FM), North Fort Riley, KS
Oldies KSAJ-FM, Abilene, KS
N/T KSAL(AM), Salina, KS
Classic Hits KSAL-FM, Salina, KS
Country KYEZ(FM), Salina, KS

Amarillo, TX Market:
Sports KGNC(AM), Amarillo, TX
Classic Rock KGNC-FM, Amarillo, TX

Palm Springs, CA Market:
Rock KCLB-FM, Coachella, CA
Sports KFSQ(AM), Thousand Palms, CA
CHR/R KKUU(FM), Indio, CA
N/T KNWQ(AM), Palm Springs, CA
N/T KNWZ(AM), Coachella, CA
Rock KCLZ (FM), Twenty-Nine Palms Base, CA

Victor Valley, CA, Market:
Classic Rock KDGL(FM), Yucca Valley, CA
KDGL-FM1, Palm Springs, CA
N/T KNWH(AM), Yucca Valley, CA

Anchorage, AK Market:
Country KBRJ(FM), Anchorage, AK
Classic Hits KEAG(FM), Anchorage, AK
N/T KFQD(AM), Anchorage, AK
Sports KHAR(AM), Anchorage, AK
HotAC KMXS(FM), Anchorage, AK
Rock KWHL(FM), Anchorage, AK

Wasilla, AK Market:
Classic Country KAYO(FM), Wasilla, AK

Grays Harbor-Hoquiam, WA Market:
N/T KXRO(AM), Aberdeen, WA
Sports KWOK(AM), Aberdeen, WA
Country KXXK(FM), Hoquiam, WA
Classic Rock KDUX-FM, Hoquiam, WA

Wenatchee-Columbia River, WA Market:
Sports KWIQ(AM), Moses Lake North, WA
Country KWIQ-FM, Moses Lake, WA
Country KKRV(FM), Wenatchee, WA
Sports KKRT(AM), Wenatchee, WA
Regional Mexican KWLN(FM), Wilson Creek, WA

JMJ Stations:

Topeka, KS Market:
Classic Country KTPK(FM), Topeka, KS

Amarillo, TX Market:
Classic Rock KXGL(FM), Amarillo, TX

When all pending deals are completed, it will bring the total number of stations owned by Alpha Media to two hundred, fifty-two. Chairman of Alpha Media, Larry Wilson commented on the acquisition, “I have enjoyed getting to know Mr. Morris and am thrilled to be adding stations that have been in the hands of such a successful and influential team. We look forward to expanding our Alpha family.”

George Reed of Media Services Group is the broker for Alpha Media.

Charlotte Radio: WBCN To Drop Sports for Talk

A format change away from national sports and back to conservative talk is in the works at WBCN-1660 AM, reports The Charlotte Observer.

Beginning Tuesday, the radio station will be rebranded as “America’s Pulse” and feature syndicated conservative talk hosts like Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity.

WBCN has been running announcements hinting at a change coming next week.

Morning drive time would be anchored by “This Morning America’s First News with Gordon Deal.” Afternoon rush hour will be covered by Hannity.

Aside from local news and traffic breaks, there are no locally produced shows on the new schedule.

WBCN broadcast conservative talk until January 2013, when its owner CBS Radio, ordered it to pick up the network’s national sports package. CBS Radio wanted the network carried in as many top 25 radio markets in the nation as possible, and Charlotte, at No. 24, fell in line.

But in October 2014, Florida-based Beasley Broadcast Group took over CBS Radio’s cluster of Charlotte stations, which includes sports talk station WFNZ 610 AM. To offer potential advertisers a greater variety of formats, executives decided to switch back to news talk on 1660.

Charlotte also has sports stations at WZGV 730 AM ESPN and Fox Sports Radio at iHeartRadio’s W254AZ 98.7 T-FM.

Progressives In A Tizzy Over Taylor Swift Video

The director of Taylor Swift's new music video set in Africa struck back on Wednesday at mounting criticism of the scarcity of black people in the mini-film and its romanticized portrayal of the continent.

"Wildest Dreams," a love story filmed against a backdrop of giraffes, lions, waterfalls and stunning sunsets, has been viewed more than 15 million times since it was released on Monday to accompany the American pop superstar's latest single.

Reuters reports Swift is donating all proceeds to the African Parks Foundation of America; however, critics have seized on the video as portraying a stereotyped colonial-era view of Africa.



"So thank you, Taylor Swift, for proving once again that African stereotypes are safe atop the pinnacle of American pop culture," wrote Matt Carotenuto, who teaches African studies at New York state's St. Lawrence University, in an article on Wednesday on Salon.com.

Director Joseph Kahn said the "Wildest Dreams" video depicted a love story on the set of a period film in Africa in 1950.

Kahn said there were black Africans in the video in background shots but that it would have been "historically inaccurate to load the crew with more black actors as the video would have been accused of rewriting history." He also noted that the video's producer, Jil Hardin, and editor Chancler Haynes are both African-American.

"There is no political agenda in the video. Our only goal was to tell a tragic love story in classic Hollywood iconography," Kahn said in a statement.

Swift, who has some 62 million Twitter followers and whose "1989" album has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, has not responded to the criticism.

In an article for National Public Radio's website, James Kaaga Arinaitwe and Viviane Rutabingwa, who have both lived and worked in several African countries, said Swift was not the first person to use the continent as a backdrop for romantic tales.

"We are shocked to think that in 2015, Taylor Swift, her record label and her video production group would think it was OK to film a video that presents a glamorous version of the white colonial fantasy of Africa," they added.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)


#WildestDreamsMusicVideo Tweets

The Weather Channel Pulling Plug On Al Roker show

The Weather Channel (TWC) is cancelling its morning show featuring the jovial and popular Al Roker. “Wake up with Al”, which airs from 5 to 7 a.m. eastern, will be discontinued some time this month.

The Washington Post reports the decision to ax the show was a financial one according to multiple reports. It is the Atlanta-based network’s only show out of New York City, where production costs are very high.

Co-hosted by meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, ‘Wake Up with Al” has aired on TWC for the past 6 years. A replacement program has not yet been announced nor is it clear what role, if any, Roker and Abrams will play.

“I’m proud of what our ‘Wake Up With Al’ team brought to the Weather Channel and completely understand the decision to move all shows to Atlanta,” Roker said. “I look forward to continuing to partner with the Channel on-air and through my production company on future traditional and digital projects.”

The cost-cutting measure comes at the same time TWC has seen its estimated value plummet. “As of June 30, Comcast valued its stake in the Weather Channel at only $86 million, down from $335 million at the end of last year,” The Wall Street Journal reported in July.

TWC’s conglomerate of owners, Comcast as well as the private equity firms Bain Capital and Blackstone Group, may sell the network, Bloomberg recently reported.

Salem Media Providing GOP Debate Radio Coverage

Salem Media announced Wednesday Salem Radio Network's package for radio coverage of the next presidential debate in its partnership with CNN.

The debate, September 16th, 2015 will feature the candidates for the GOP nomination, and is proving to be the most talked about political event so far in this election season. An added plus will be the optics of the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, where the retired Air Force One 707 will provide an impressive backdrop.
 
Salem Radio Network will provide exclusive radio coverage while CNN will provide exclusive TV coverage. All 31 of Salem Media Group's News Talk stations will carry the debate, as well as pre and post-debate coverage hosted by SRN's Hugh Hewitt and Guy Benson of Townhall.com. SRN is making the debate available in non-Salem markets.

The debate will be moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper with CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash and Hewitt as panelists.

For planning purposes, Salem will also offer coverage of the CNN debates on December 15th from Las Vegas and March 10th, 2016 from Florida. Salem will also offer extended election night coverage for the caucuses and primaries coming up: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina (that may be a Saturday this cycle, not a Tuesday), Nevada, March 1 Super Tuesday and March 15 Super Tuesday.

Stations interested in coverage of the debate including the pre and post coverage should contact Tom Tradup at Salem Radio Networks, at (972) 707-6885.

O'Reilly Confronts Ramos: "You're An Activist!"

On "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel,  Bill O'Reilly and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos got heated while discussing illegal immigration and what role journalists like Ramos should have in the debate.

But things really got heated when O’Reilly confronted Ramos for being more of an activist than a journalist. He told Ramos to either “recuse yourself” or “become like me.” Ramos shot back, “I don’t think you are the right person to lecture me on advocacy and journalism.”

O’Reilly insisted that he’s no longer a newsman, but Ramos insisted it’s the job of journalists to question authority.

Wife Of Redskin GM Disparges ESPN Reporter

Dianna Russini

On Wednesday, the wife of Washington general manager Scot McCloughan posted a disparaging remark about ESPN reporter Dianna Russini on Twitter.

Jessica McCloughan apparently took exception to a report from Russini, which said there were disagreements within the organization about whether or not to move on from quarterback Robert Griffin III.

"Please tell us how many BJ'S you had to give to get this story. And did they laugh at you before or after?" the tweet from Jessica McCloughan read. A subsequent tweet from McLoughan refered to Russini as the GM's "new side chick."

The NY Daily News reports the tweets were later deleted and, initially, the team insisted that it was sent by a fake account.

McCloughan issued the following apology:

Boston Radio: WEEI's Kirk Minihane Steps In It Again

If you think Deflategate has driven New England over the edge, Sports WEEI 93.7 FM personality Kirk Minihane offered up a prime example Wednesday.

The NY Post reports Minihane said Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his son Jonathan should “hire someone to murder” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the wake of the Tom Brady saga.

“He’s a rich guy,” Minihane said of Kraft during Minihane’s appearance on Comcast SportsNet New England. “It’s not that complicated.”

STORY: Unhinged Boston TV host urges Patriots owners to "hire someone to murder" Roger Goodell. http://t.co/RAu1elrjub

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) September 3, 2015

Goodell has become public enemy No. 1 to Patriots fans following his decision to suspend Brady for four games and slap Kraft’s team with a league-record $1 million fine and the loss of two high draft picks for deflating footballs in last season’s AFC Championship game.

Minihane — who got in hot water last year for calling Erin Andrews “a gutless b-tch” who would be a waitress “if she weighed 15 pounds more” — backtracked quickly, but the damage was done.


“I’m kidding,” Minihane said. “I understand the NFL’s power. I’m just joking.”

A spokesman for Comcast Sports Net New England was unavailable for comment Wednesday night. It’s unclear what fallout Minihane might face, considering he was suspended for a week without pay for the Andrews comments, but that was only after FOX Sports pulled their advertising off the station.

PBS News Anchor Gets Pushback Over Tweet

Gwen Ifill

PBS journalist Gwen Ifill isn't even trying to hide her cheerleading for the Obama administration.

She is the moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and co-anchor and co-managing editor, with Judy Woodruff, of PBS NewsHour, both of which air on PBS.

A story at Townhall.com reports, after the president gained the 34th and final vote needed to secure his nuclear negotiation with Iran Wednesday, Ifill posted a simple message for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on her Twitter account.

The graph she retweeted was originally posted by the official White House account. Story writer Cortney O'Brien writes it would appear to be a mockery of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations in 2012, when he presented an illustration of a nuclear bomb to demonstrate how Iran would progress in its dangerous pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Take that, Bibi. https://t.co/V9Gn9vP6xN

— gwen ifill (@gwenifill) September 2, 2015

In the past, Ifill has been tasked with moderating vice presidential debates, covering seven presidential campaigns and interviewing politicians on significant policy issues. In other words, she is not in a role that is supposed to be open to editorializing, according to the Town Hall story.

Detroit Radio: WCSX Charity Auction Benefits Trooper's Family

Greater Media's WCSX 94.7 FM is holding an online charity auction now until September 10 to benefit the family of Michigan State Trooper Chad Wolf, who tragically died while on duty.

Listeners can visit WCSX.com to bid on exclusive items, including a guitar personalized by Detroit rock legend Bob Seger.

Additional items up for auction are guitars autographed by Eddie Money, Credence Clearwater Revisted and Burton Cummings of the Guess Who, signed Detroit Pistons merchandise from Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Jennings and more. All proceeds raised by the auction will be donated to the Wolf family’s GoFundMe account to assist them during this difficult time.

Trooper Chad Wolf was patrolling on his state police motorcycle in northern Oakland County the morning of Friday, August 28, 2015, when he was struck by another vehicle. He leaves behind a wife and four children.

“We are always grateful for the men and women of law enforcement who protect us every day,” WCSX Program Director Jerry Tarrants says. “The surrounding communities have suffered a great loss and we want to do whatever we can to help Trooper Wolf’s family as they recover from such a heartbreaking ordeal.”

September 3 In Radio History

In 1939…In a radio broadcast, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced that Britain and France had declared war on Germany. Germany had invaded Poland two days earlier.


In 1954...Last new episode of “The Lone Ranger” aired on ABC. Repeat episodes were aired by ABC in 1955 and by NBC in 1956.

Gary Owens

In 1965... Los Angeles DJ Gary Owens KMPC 710 AM was signed to the voice for the title role in Roger Ramjet, humorous super hero of a new animated TV series. Owens performs several other voices on the show in addition to the leading character. Roger Ramjet is a super astronaut who fights assorted evildoers with the help of a high- powered “proton” energy pill.


In 1969...The hit song "I've Got You Under My Skin" by The Four Seasons was released to radio


In 1970... WMCA in New York City announced the hiring of Los Angeles talk host Bob Grant to do a daily show beginning September 22. The station recently announced it was going full-time (two-way) talk radio ending a long run of playing popular music. The station was the most popular “pop” music station in the country from 1963 through 1967.



In 1971...Paul McCartney decided to name his new band "Wings."

In 1972...DJ Mike Kelly of Cleveland's WIXY 1260 AM spends 21 days, 3-hours and 58-minutes on a Ferris wheel at nearby Cedar Point Amusement park.

Don Burden

In 1976...The FCC orders radio station KOIL 1290 and sister KEFM in Omaha off the air. Licenses for the two stations, plus WIFE-AM in Indianapolis and KISN in Vancouver Washington were revoked by the FCC on grounds of misconduct by operator Don Burden – board chairman and majority stockholder of Star Broadcasting. It’s the FCC’s most severe action to date. Revoking the license means he can’t sell.

Burden was charged with a long list of violations, including running phony contests on the air, billing advertisers twice, slanting news broadcasts and giving free airtime to some political candidates.


In 1977..."Best of My Love" by the Emotions was the #1 song again for the third week.  Andy Gibb's former #1 "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" refused to fall further and that meant Rita Coolidge couldn't advance with "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher".  The Commodores ("Easy) and James Taylor ("Handy Man") were stuck as well.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Floaters and "Float On", Crosby, Stills & Nash with "Just a Song Before I Go" at #7, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop", the Brothers Johnson edged up with "Strawberry Letter 23" and ELO landed their 11th hit and second Top 10 with "Telephone Line".


In 1977...Rumours by Fleetwood Mac spent its 17th week at #1 on the album chart, one shy of the all-time Rock Era record by More of the Monkees.  CSN, the solid release from Crosby, Stills & Nash, was #2 followed by the Soundtrack to "Star Wars".  JT from James Taylor was fourth and Moody Blue by Elvis Presley moved from 24 to 5 following his passing on August 16. 


In 1979...Don Imus returned to WNBC 660 AM from his Cleveland Exile.

After a stint at WGAR  1220 AM in Cleveland, Ohio, Imus moved to New York City and WNBC 660 AM in December 1971. During this first stint at WNBC, Imus recorded three record albums, two for the RCA Victor label (1200 Hamburgers to Go, including some of his more popular humor from KXOA, WGAR and WNBC broadcasts, and One Sacred Chicken to Go with Anthrax, a primarily studio-created album centering on his satirical character, The Right Rev. Dr. Billy Sol Hargis) and one for the Bang label.

Imus was fired from WNBC in August 1977 along with several of the station's other personalities, in an effort to revamp the station's sound and boost ratings. In 1978 he returned to Cleveland radio as afternoon drive host on WHK, making the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on his first day back in town. During that year, Imus commuted between Cleveland and New York to tape a TV talk show, Imus Plus at WNEW-TV.

In a surprise change of fortune Imus was rehired by WNBC in September 1979, and revived his morning drive show.




In 1979...Anti disco - WLUP Chicago DJ Steve Dahl’s “Do Ya Think I’m Disco” has sold more than 200,000 copies nationwide in two weeks and many radio stations are playing the anti-disco record. In Detroit  - WWWW morning DJ’s have organized a Death to Disco Ducks society, In Los Angeles, KROQ’s own insane Daryll Wayne is burying disco albums at the beach.  In Kansas City – KYYS DJ Max Floyd is recruiting listeners for an antidisco “Rock ‘n’ Roll Army. Some pop stations are featuring “no disco” music sweeps.


In 1985...songwriter Johnny Marks, who wrote the Christmas classics Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and A Holly Jolly Christmas, died at age 75.

Bob Sievers

In 2007...long time Fort Wayne, Indiana, radio personality, Bob Sievers, died at age 90.

Sievers worked for WOWO 1190 AM for more than 50 years.

Sievers, 90, retired from his morning show on WO-WO radio in 1987 after more than 50 years at the station.

During his five decades with WOWO, he earned the title of “Mr. WOWO” as host on the popular morning show “Little Red Barn Show” that aired from 5 to 7 a.m., and the Bob Sievers show that aired from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturdays.

“I can’t think of anyone more influential in this town, and I’ve been here 35 years,” said Ron Gregory, a close friend and former WOWO radio announcer. “I can’t think of anybody who comes close to the impact that Bob Sievers had. It’s definitely the end of an era.”

Bob Sievers at age 90

In the days when the station’s 50,000-watt signal was not competing with the number of stations it does today, Sievers’ voice – and popularity – stretched across the country and around the world.

WOWO listeners could be found in 28 states and even overseas, and Sievers would often receive letters from devoted listeners across oceans, like missionaries in Africa, Gregory said. In addition to his time on the radio, Sievers also made public appearances for organizations, churches and clubs on his personal time.

Half of 2015 Digital Ad Spending To Be Mobile

This will be a benchmark year for ad spending in the US, as mobile surpasses desktop spending for the first time, eMarketer predicts. Mobile will account for 51.9% of total digital spending in 2015. That's a higher figure than eMarketer forecast earlier this year.

While desktop's share of advertising dollars is expected to slowly decline through 2019, mobile's share will grow robustly. eMarketer expects mobile advertising to grow by 59% in 2015, a higher rate than forecast in March, when eMarketer last released figures for US ad spending. Meanwhile, long-term growth through 2019 has been revised downward slightly.

"Brands and marketers continue to see increased value in mobile advertising to reach consumers," said eMarketer analyst Martín Utreras. "Some of the shift is happening organically from digital ad spending dollars, but also we see additional dollars moving from traditional media and new money coming from local advertising and small businesses."

The shift to mobile ad spending is being driven mainly by consumer demand. eMarketer estimates that US adults are spending 2 hours and 51 minutes a day on nonvoice activities on mobile devices. More than half of that, or 1 hour and 31 minutes, is spent on mobile phones.

When examining the formats within mobile, eMarketer has revised all of its 2015 figures upward. Display advertising will continue to account for the largest share of the mobile ad market, capturing 51.1%, or $15.55 billion. Within display, banners, rich media, and sponsorships will account for $12.77 billion, and video $2.78 billion, with both figures revised higher than originally forecast. Search ads account for the second-largest share, 44.7% or $13.62 billion.

DC Radio: WTOP, WAMU Are Off, But Remain 1-2

Hubbard Radio's WTOP lost share, but so did crosstown rival WAMU, so the net effect is the stations remain 1-2 (6+ AQH Total Week) in the August PPMs released Tuesday by Nielsen.

Once the dust settled, WTOP 103.7 FM was down 8.7—8.0 for the month, while American University's non-com N/T WAMU 8.5 fell 8.2—7.7.

Then there's a two way-tie for #3, with iHeartMedia's AC WASH 97.1 FM moving 6.0—6.4, to tie Howard University's UrbanAC WHUR 96.3 FM, which was also up 6.2—6.4.

iHM's WIHT Hot 99.5 FM dropped 6.8—5.9 to end up in fifth place, which holding on as the market's Cume champ.

25-54: WIHT tied WTOP...WASH...WAMU...WPGC

18-34: WIHT...WKYS...WPGC...WASH...WMZQ

18-49: WIHT...WPGC...WKYS...WHUR...WTOP

Cume: WIHT-FM 1,290,600...WASH-FM 1,278,500...WTOP-FM 1,079,400...WBIG-FM 895,800...WIAD-FM 878,800

Philly Radio: Three 6+ Ties Dominate August PPMs

CBS Radio's Classic Hits WOGL 98.1 FM retains it's #1 position after moving 6.7—7.0 in the August PPMs (6+ AQH Total Week) released this week by Nielsen. 

 However, Jerry Lee's AC WBEB 101.1 FM made a better move 6.3—7.0 to grab a share of first place honors.

But that's not the only tie in Philly Radio.

Two stations are tied for #3. Greater Media's Classic Rock WMGK 102.9 FM wobbled a bit 5.7—5.5 to remain in second place. However, CBS Radio's Country WXTU 92.5 FM spiked 5.0—5.5 to tie WMGK.

And there's a two-way tie for fifth place.

iHeartMedia's UrbanAC WDAS 105.3 FM was off 5.5—5.2, but held-on to tie Greater Media's Active Rock WMMR 93.3 FM, which also lost share 5.9—5.2

25-54: WMMR...WBEB...WXTU....WUSL....WMGK tied WBEN

18-34: WUSL...WXTU...WBEB...WMMR...WZMP

18-49: WMMR...WBEB...WUSL...WXTU...WIOQ

Cume: WBEB-FM 1,795,600...WOGL-FM 1,336,200...WMGK-FM 1,161,000...WIOQ-FM 1,109,100...WRFF-FM 1,018,400

DC, Boston, Detroit, 9 Other Market PPMs Released By Nielsen

Nielsen Tuesday released the second batch of August 2015 PPM data for the following markets:

   7  Washington DC

  10  Boston

  11  Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood

  12  Detroit

  13  Seattle-Tacoma

  14  Phoenix

  16  Minneapolis-St. Paul MN

  17  San Diego

  18  Denver-Boulder

  19  Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

  21  Baltimore

  22  St. Louis

DTS To Acquire iBiquity Digital

DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq:DTSI), a leader in high-definition audio solutions and audio enhancement technologies, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer of digital HD Radio technology for AM/FM audio and data broadcasting for approximately $172 million. DTS expects to finance the transaction through a combination of cash on hand and debt.  

iBiquity is the exclusive developer and licensor of HD Radio technology, the sole FCC-approved method for upgrading AM/FM broadcasting from analog to digital. HD Radio technology provides compelling benefits, including improved audio quality, expanded content choices and new digital data services such as album cover art and real-time traffic updates. iBiquity's partners include leading automakers, consumer electronics and broadcast equipment manufacturers, radio broadcasters, semiconductor and electronic component manufacturers and retailers.

Jon Kirchner

In particular, iBiquity has very successfully driven penetration of HD Radio technology in the North American automotive OEM market.

Every one of the 36 major auto brands serving the U.S. market offers HD Radio technology on some of their vehicles, many as standard equipment. The Company's technology was built into approximately 35% of cars sold in the U.S. in 2014, and DTS expects the majority of North American vehicles to come equipped with HD Radio technology over time.  The combination is also expected to provide opportunities for additional geographic, service and technology expansion.

"DTS has long been at the forefront of the highest quality audio technology, and we saw a similar spirit at iBiquity, which identified an opportunity to revolutionize traditional AM/FM broadcasting and is now strongly positioned to capitalize on broadcast radio's ongoing digital upgrade," said Jon Kirchner, chairman and CEO of DTS.

Bob Struble

"This transaction extends our strategy of delivering a personalized, immersive and compelling experience across the network-connected entertainment value chain, and complements our existing suite of technology and content delivery solutions while enabling us to strengthen our position in the large automotive OEM market. Consumers have come to expect a higher quality sound experience in their car, and we believe there is a tremendous opportunity for DTS to capitalize on the upgrade to HD Radio technology as cars are increasingly equipped with screens and advanced entertainment systems. We are thrilled to welcome the talented iBiquity team to the DTS family."

"We are excited to join forces with DTS, a true pioneer in high definition audio," said Bob Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity. "In DTS, we have found a like-minded partner and we look forward to bringing our breakthrough HD Radio technology to the DTS portfolio of solutions. Today's announcement is an exciting step forward for our employees and customers, who will benefit from the additional scale and enhanced resources of a larger collective company."

The transaction is expected to close later in 2015 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to be accretive beginning in 2016.