News Updates - Dec. 30-31, 2012

Tribune Company Exits Chapter 11 After Four Years
Tribune Company ends 2012 by officially emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after more than four years. Tribune's reorganization plan becomes effective today (Dec. 31). The reorganized company, with a new board of directors and new ownership, says distributions to creditors have been initiated. Tribune also says it has closed on a new, $1.1 billion senior secured term loan and a $300 million revolving credit line. "Tribune emerges from the bankruptcy process as a multi-media company with a great mix of profitable assets, strong brands in major markets and a much-improved capital structure," says CEO Eddy Hartenstein. "The company's greatest asset, however, is its employees who, individually and collectively, have remained focused on serving our viewers, readers, advertisers and communities with a single-minded sense of purpose and dedication. I want to thank all our employees for their talent and effort throughout this four-year process." Hartenstein will remain in his role until the new board ratifies the company's executive officers. The company announced a seven-person board that includes Hartenstein, former Fox Entertainment chairman Peter Liguori, former Yahoo interim CEO Ross Levinsohn and Peter Murphy, Walt Disney's former top strategic planning executive. Liguori is expected to be named Tribune's new CEO. With the reorganization, Tribune has issued to former creditors a mix of about 100 million shares of new class A common stock and new class B common stock and new warrants to purchase shares of new class A or class B common stock. The new owners of Tribune are the company's largest creditors: Oaktree Capital Management, JPMorgan Chase, and Angelo, Gordon & Co. The company's reorganization plan was confirmed by the Delaware Bankruptcy Court in July. In November, Tribune received approval from the FCC to transfer its broadcast licenses to the owners who would take it over after emerging from bankruptcy. The broadcast properties include its one radio station, WGN-AM, Chicago, and 23 TV stations. Tribune owns eight major daily newspapers.

Expecting the Imminent Demise of Boston's 'News Talk 96.9', Howie Carr Says 'Talk Radio's Not Dead' (Just WTKK-FM)
Howie Carr, a journalist, author, and conservative radio talk show host based in Boston, is among those who believe Boston's "News Talk 96.9" WTKK-FM is about to flip to a new format, likely one that is music-based. Carr, who has hosted a weekday show on Boston's WRKO-AM since 1994, which is syndicated to stations throughout northern and central New England, says WTKK-FM wouldn't be about to abandon News Talk if he had been able to get free of his contract with Entercom, with whom he's had a well-publicized stormy relationship, and had become the saviour of Greater Media's WTKK-FM five years ago. From some of his comments, though, he's no fan of Greater Media either. But, regardless, he says FM is still the future of Talk programming, calling AM "Ancient Modulation." Carr writes in the Boston Herald, "WTKK wouldn't be turning off the lights next week if I could have just gotten over there back in 2007. No brag, just fact. And by the way, I'm still damn sorry I didn't make good my escape from the AM band." Carr adds, "Still, WTKK's failure is not the end of talk radio in Boston. Nature abhors a vacuum, and having no talk station on FM is a gaping hole. Less than 20 percent of the radio audience ever listens to AM radio -- and it’s a mighty old audience, too. They don’t call it 'Ancient Modulation' for nothing. Even without me, though, WTKK should have been able to survive, and thrive."

Sammy Suarez Is New Charleston SC 'Mix 95.9' PD
Sammy Suarez is named Program Director and afternoon host at Hot AC "Mix 95.9" WMXZ-FM, Charleston, South Carolina. Suarez most recently was PD at CHR-Top40 "107.1 A1A" WAOA-FM, Melbourne, Florida, and previously programmed CHR-Top40 "Channel 963" KZCH-FM, Wichita, Kansas. At WAOA-FM he also hosted afternoons as "Slammin'" Sammy Suarez. You might remember that we reported this past summer that Suarez resigned from WAOA-FM citing personal reasons. Prior to KZCH-FM, he was Music Director and night host at "Z106.7" KELZ-FM, San Antonio, before being named PD and afternoon host at CHR-Top "96.7 Kiss FM" KISN-FM, Bozeman, Montana. Suarez is now at his new Charleston station. He begins hosting afternoons on "Mix 95.9" Wednesday (Jan. 2).

Philly 'Wired' Morning Co-Host Shila Exits
Rhythmic CHR "Wired 96.5" WRDW-FM, Philadelphia, morning co-host Shila is out, following the recent exit of Chio. We reported on December 19 that Chio said he did not resign, as we were originally told by the station, but was fired. Now Shila tells listeners on Facebook that she's also out, although we were previously told that with Chio's exit, co-hosts Shila and and Tingle would continue. Shila says her "time at" WRDW-FM "has come to an end," adding, "I will not be a part of the station anymore." Chio had told us that the station said they "were going in a different direction," as he acknowledged that ratings on the "Chio, Shila and Tingle in the Morning Show" were not good, and he understood the station's decision. Shila now says, for her, it's "on to bigger and better things."

'The Dove' Makes A Soft Landing in Jacksonville
Cox Media Group launches Oldies-based Soft AC "106.1 The Dove" on FM translator W291CI in Jacksonville, Florida, duplicating the format and branding of Cox's "105.5 FM The Dove" WDUV-FM, Tampa. The Jacksonville version is fed to the 225-watt translator from the HD2 multicast channel of Cox Radio's Classic Hits "96.9 The Eagle" WJGL-FM, Jacksonville. It's not yet clear whether Jacksonville's "106.1 The Dove" will be programmed separately from the Tampa station or will simulcast its programming. "The Dove" format is described as a "super-soft" and "heavily oldies-based" Soft AC format, which on-air imaging calls "continuous lite favorites." W291CI, owned by Victor Vickers, was granted a license for a previous construction permit in September 2012, with announced plans to be utilized by Cox to rebroadcast an HD2 signal from WJGL-FM.

Classic Hits 'The Wolf' Debuts in Santa Rosa
Classic Hits "102.7 The Wolf" KWVF-FM debuts in California, as Redwood City Stereocasters signs-on its fourth signal in Santa Rosa, billed as "America’s Greatest Hits." KWVF-FM, licensed to Guerneville, began operating Friday (December 28), using the tower of sister "Country 106.3" KTRY-FM, licensed to Cazadero, California, and also serving the Santa Rosa area. "102.7 The Wolf" is online at KWVF.com with a splash screen displaying the new logo, a link to listen, and the notation that the website is under construction. Redwood City Stereocasters also owns and operates Sonoma County's "Smooth 93.7" KJZY-FM and AC KZST-FM (100.1). [This item was first tipped by Lance Venta at RadioInsight.com.]

'The Coyote' Replaces 'Sam' in Rochelle Illinois
"Today's Hit Country" as "102.3 The Coyote" replaces Adult Variety Hits "Sam FM" (using Dial Global's SAM, Simply About Music, format) at Rochelle Broadcasting's WRHL-FM, Rochelle, Illinois. Program Director Kris Wexell hosts "The Coyote Morning Show" 6-9am, with syndicated hosts, including "Tony and Kris" and Whitney Allen, airing in other dayparts. The station is also carrying "Country Countdown USA" and "American Country Countdown" along with "Country Gold" and "CMT Insider" among other syndicated offerings. The local morning show also features sister "Newstalk 1060" WRHL-AM News Director Jeff Leon with local and area news. Wexell, says the station, "comes from North West Illinois from the western part of the state in the Quad Cities. Kris brings listeners a refreshing approach to mornings with his upbeat sound. Kris has been in radio for over 20 years." The new "102.3 The Coyote" is online at www.1023TheCoyote.com. Rochelle Broadcasting also operates Rochelle's "Newstalk 1060" WRHL-AM.

Bangor's WZLO-FM Launches Triple-A 'The Loft'
The Zone Corporation, owned by Stephen and Tabitha King, has launched Triple-A "The Loft 103.1" on WZLO-FM, Bangor, Maine, billed as "Maine's Adult Alternative." We previously reported that WZLO-FM had split from its simulcast with Talk and Sports "The Pulse 620" WZON-AM, and changed its call letters from WZON-FM to WZLO-FM. Prior to launching "The Pulse" simulcast, 103.1 (as WDME-FM) was home to a Triple-A format. The simulcast ended in late November, when music began airing on the renamed WZLO -- Christmas music -- with promises of a new format after Christmas. "The Loft 103.1" is online at www.WZLOFM.com. A notation at the bottom of the website notes that the Kings' Zone Radio also operates Classic Rock WKIT-FM, in addition to WZLO-FM and WZON-AM.