News Briefs - Dec. 3, 2012

Connoisseur Media Gets OK for Nassau Broadcasting Stations. As expected, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has approved Connoisseur Media's offer to purchase ten Nassau Broadcasting stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Connoisseur takes over the stations immediately under an LMA until the change of ownerhip is approved by the FCC. The stations were put up for auction in May, but debtholders Goldman Sachs, Fortress Capital and P.E. Capital retained the assets after no buyer offer bested their $38.7 million credit bid. Connoisseur will assume that bid to buy the stations, which also include Classic Rock "99.9 The Hawk” WODE-FM in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Also included in the package are Religion WCHR-FM, Trenton; Rock "107.1 The Bone" WWYY-FM, Allentown, PA, plus clustermates "ESPN Radio 1230" WEEX-AM and its simulcast WTKZ-AM; and Christian "The Light 1160" WBYN-AM; and, in the Wilkes Barre-Scranton market, Hot AC WSBG-FM and Talk WVPO-AM. The deal also includes standalone WNJE-AM, Flemington, NJ. Some programming changes are already being reported. WNJE-AM, Flemington, has dropped "ESPN Deportes" in favor of a simulcast of Religion WCHR-FM, Trenton.

Howard Stern Returning to 'America's Got Talent'. NBC officially announces that Howard Stern will be back for a second season as a judge on "America's Got Talent." NBC Entertainment President of Alternative and Late Night Programming Paul Telegdy says, "Howard Stern’s towering presence and opinions on last season’s show as a new judge made a dramatic impact and added a sharper edge to the fascinating developments on stage. We know that Howard believes in America’s Got Talent -- which remains America’s top-rated summer series -- and that dedication comes across in a genuine way to our viewers who share his passion about our amazing talent competition." Stern himself confirmed his return to AGT on his Monday SiriusXM morning show, telling his audience, "I'm very, very excited, honestly, about going back to America's Got Talent. I'm very excited to be working again with [AGT Executive Producer] Simon Cowell and NBC and all the various folks who work there."

Dave Ramsey Makes the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Personal money-management expert and nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, set for April 9 in Las Vegas. Ramsey's nationally syndicated radio program, "The Dave Ramsey Show," is heard by six million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations and is streamed on Daveramsey.com. Previous NAB Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees include Bob Uecker, Gerry House, Ron Chapman, Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Harry Carey, Larry Lujack, Rick Dees, Dick Purtan and Dick Orkin.

Triton Digital Releases October Internet Rankings. Triton Digital has released its monthly Internet Audio Top 20 Ranker for October 2012. The Ranker is a listing of the top-performing Internet audio stations and networks measured by the Webcast Metrics® audience measurement platform. Webcast Metrics is accredited by the Media Rating Council. The October top five are Pandora, Clear Channel Radio, Cumulus Streaming Network, CBS Radio and Slacker. Rounding out the first ten, Cox Radio, Entercom Communications ESPN Radio, EMF Corporate, and NPR Member Stations. The full listings from Triton Digital are available here.

A Savage Return to Florida. Michael Savage's syndicated "Savage Nation" program returns to Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne with Genesis Communications WMGG AM, WAMT AM and WIXC AM. The show begins airing immediately, says Genesis VP of Programming Len Weiner. He tells us, "We are happy to bring Michael back to Central Florida. Rabid Savage fans that have contacted our company about Michael can now stop ringing the phones off the hook with this announcement." SVP of Affiliate Sales and Broadcast Operations for Cumulus Media Networks Dennis Green tells us, "Expanding distribution of the Savage Nation brings listeners in these markets one of the most talked about names in talk radio." Of course, Savage's show is now distributed by Cumulus following his exit from TRN.

NY Jets Extend with ESPN Radio New York. The New York Jets and ESPN Radio New York agree to a multi-year contract extension for "ESPN NY 98.7" to continue providing complete coverage of all Jets games, and pregame and post-game programs. The radio station will also continue its Jets-focused features. Jets games are also broadcast in Spanish on "ESPN Deportes Nueva York 1050AM." ESPN NY VP/General Manager Dave Roberts tells us, "We're excited to continue our relationship with the Jets. The team has a huge fan base in the New York metropolitan area and we look forward to continuing to serve them." And says Jets President Neil Glat, "ESPN New York has been a tremendous partner of ours and we are thrilled to announce this extension. This partnership not only provides the games to our English and Spanish-speaking fans, but the ancillary programming is great content for all Jets fans year-round."

Marty Reimer Leaving Seattle's 'Mountain' -- Again. Marty Reimer is again leaving Classic Triple "The Mountain" KMTT-FM, Seattle, about a year after he returned to host afternoons. His final afternoon show is set for December 20. Reimer previously was with KMTT-FM for 14 years. Why is he exiting again? He says he just has too many other current projects. "It's been a tremendous run, I've met amazing people, and been introduced to some great artists," says Reimer. "Mountain listeners are genuinely fun, smart, interesting and engaged people, and it has been my extreme pleasure to be a small part of your lives." The other things he has to do include running an educational video production company, doing podcasting, and sitting on the board of Bumbershoot, "Seattle's Music and Arts Festival."

Scott Friedlander Joins Sun Broadcasting Group. Scott Friedlander joins Sun Broadcasting Group as National Account Manager, overseeing network sales out of Sun's New York City office. Friedlander brings with him more than 20 years of sales experience, primarily in network and local radio sales. Previous stops include CBS Radio, Westwood One and Salem Communications. "Scott will be a tremendous asset to our team here at Sun Broadcast Group," says SBG Founder and CEO Jason Bailey. "His enthusiasm and passion for our business will serve us well as we foresee excellent growth opportunities." Frielander tells us, he's "looking forward to working with the whole team and bringing new brands to Sun's already extensive list of clients." He adds, "With unique programming and the ability to customize a national network campaign that targets specific regions and/or demographic groups for our clients is truly amazing. For many years Sun has been a company on the rise."

The Ins and Outs of Radio
After stunting all weekend as "Pot 107.1" featuring the "Dope Hits," Max Media's former Dance KDHT-FM, Bennett-Denver, has flipped to Adult Variety Hits "107.1 Jack FM" returning the format to the Denver market, several months after exiting KJAC-FM ... Scott Jameson is named Operations Manager of Cumulus Media's three-station Minneapolis cluster, replacing Dave Hamilton, who announced his retirement last week. Jameson was most recently VP of Adult Rock Programming for CBS Radio, as well as Program Director of Triple-A WZGC-FM, Atlanta, and Executive Producer for the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network ... Spanish Broadcasting System's Spanish Urban "LA 96.3" KXOL-FM, Los Angeles, appoints veteran programmer Pete Manriquez as its new Program Director. He previously spent a year in Peru radio. Before that, Manriquez oversaw Univision Radio's programming for its New York stations ... Budget cuts at Rhythmic AC KJHM-FM, Denver, result in the exits of air hosts Gina Lee Fuentez and Cha Cha Chavez ... Ross Mahoney joins "Modern Rock 98.7" WRMR-FM, Wilmington, NC, as Music Director and afternoon host, set to start January 2. Mahoney, who most recently was APD/MD at WPBZ-FM, West Palm Beach, replaces Fitz, who recently left WRMR-FM to move to New York.