February 19, 2013

Justin Riley Named Portland Program Director Clear Channel Portland appoints Justin Riley as Program Director for CHR-Top40 "Z100" KKRZ-FM and Rhythmic CHR "Wild 107.5" KXJM-FM, effective March 11. Riley, we're told "will oversee all programming for the broadcast and digital operations" of the two stations. He joins Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Portland from Cumulus Media Albuquerque, where he most recently was Program Director of CHR-Top40 KKOB-FM and AC KMGA-FM. Says CCME Portland VP of Programming Chris Sargent, "I'm excited to bring Justin's energy to the team. He is a Northwesterner that understands the great history of Z100 and is ready to take both stations to new heights. His passion for success has been proven over many years with KKOB-FM and he will definitely bring a fresh perspective to the team." Riley tells us, "Words can't express how excited I am to join the Clear Channel Portland family. Programming Z100 has been a dream of mine since I started in radio 18 years ago. I want to thank Portland market and Clear Channel's programming team for giving me the opportunity to propel the success of these two dominant brands even further." Program Director Randy Chase Exits 'Y100' San Antonio Longtime Cox Media Group Country 'Y100' KCYY-FM, San Antoniom, Program Director and afternoon host Randy Chase exits after nearly seven years. Chase was also a Country Radio Format Leader for Cox. So far, there's no replacement named. And he'd served as PD for 'Y100' Rhythmic CHR sister "Power 106.7" KPWT-FM while in San Antonio. Before joining KCYY-FM, he was Operations Manager and Program Director of "94.3 Country Legends" WWNQ-FM, Columbia, South Carolina. In the past Chase has programmed Country stations in Baton Rouge and other markets. 'Jason and Alexis' Moving to Mornings at Minneapolis 'myTalk 107.1' Minneapolis morning TV anchor and midday radio host Jason Matheson is exiting "Fox 9" KMSP-TV for mornings at Hubbard's "myTalk 107.1" KTMY-FM. The midday show hosted by Matheson and Alexis Thompson -- "The Jason and Alexis Show" -- moves to the wake-up slot starting March 4. Matheson leaves the Minneapolis TV station February 28, after 12 years, in favor of the radio talk program, which has aired on KTMY-FM, Minneapolis, from 9am-12noon for the past four years. The move to the earlier shift comes after Ian Punnett was forced to leave the morning show that he’s co-hosted with his wife Margery Punnett due to tinnitus. Margery Punnett remains at "myTalk 107.1" to co-host 9am-12noon with Emma Thomas. Colleen Lindstrom and Bradley Traynor move to 12noon-3pm (from 10am-12noon) when the changes take effect March 4. 'Bobby Bones Show' to Launch Nationwide on 35 Country Stations Premiere Networks tells us that 35 Country stations will carry the new version of "The Bobby Bones Show" when it launches next week. At its new Nashville base, the countrified show debuted this week on "The Big 89" WSIX-FM. Premiere says the number of Country affiliates for "The Bobby Bones Show" is continuing to grow. Bones was previously based in Austin, Texas, at "96.7 Kiss FM," offering a syndicated show for CHR-Top40 stations. When the Country version launches nationally next week, Premiere Networks says it will be heard on WFUS-FM/Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL; KSD-FM/St. Louis, MO; WCKY-FM/Findlay, OH; KWNR-FM/Las Vegas, NV; KASE-FM/Austin, TX; WCKT-FM/Ft. Meyers-Naples, FL; KNST-FM/Tucson, AZ; KTGX-FM/Tulsa, OK; KBQI-FM/Albuquerque, NM; KHEY-FM/El Paso, TX; KTOM-FM/Monterey-Salinas, CA; WAVW-FM/Ft. Pierce, FL; WMAD-FM/Madison, WI; KSWF-FM/ Springfield, MO; WSTH-FM/Columbus GA; KMFX-FM/Rochester, MN; KYKR-FM/Beaumont, TX; WTXT-FM/Tuscaloosa, AL; WOBB-FM/Albany, GA and more. The news was announced during a news conference hosted by WSIX-FM at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s legendary Ford Theater in Nashville. "To kick off the event Country star Brad Paisley shared a special video message with Bones and revealed the national markets where The Bobby Bones Show will launch on February 25," says a news release. "Paisley will also appear as Bones’ first guest, adding to the excitement of the syndication launch." Cincinnati Reds Partner with Skyview Networks Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds announce a new multi-year partnership with Skyview Networks to serve as official radio network provider. Skyview, "an integrated professional sports broadcasting company, will provide distribution services and next generation smart receivers across the Cincinnati Reds radio network. The franchise will utilize Skyview's system to regionalize advertiser messaging for its network of 93 affiliates." Says Reds VP of Corporate Sales Bill Reinberger, "We are excited to partner with Skyview to provide additional value to our Reds on Radio affiliates along with our sponsors and advertisers. We believe Skyview is the best in class in sports broadcasts and their technology is cutting-edge." According to a news release from Skyview, "With a network of affiliates spanning nine states, the Cincinnati Reds were interested in finding a distribution partner that could provide the latest technology in copy split-spot insertion (the ability to run different versions of an advertiser message simultaneously). With Skyview, the franchise now has the flexibility to carve its network into regions at the request of advertisers that are looking to tailor campaigns by market." Skyview Networks President Ken Thiele tells us, "With a radio network this large, the Reds are in a great position to utilize our receiver technology for ad regionalization across their network. I am confident the Reds and their advertisers will enjoy the options this dynamic system provides. We are proud to partner with this esteemed franchise and we look forward to the season ahead." Skyview will broadcast the first network-wide Reds regular season game on April 1, 2013. Martin Giles to Retire from Tampa's WFLA-AM News anchor Martin Giles is retiring from Clear Channel News Talk WFLA-AM, Tampa, March 1. Giles, 76, says he will exit the station after 28 years and isn't leaving over health issues, but because of a heavy workload. He says Clear Channel now requires the news staff in Tampa to also deliver news reports for Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and other regional cities. "It's an overload of work they were handing us (and) I've had a little trouble with it," says Giles. "I am really worn out when I go home on Friday." Giles started his broadcasting career with Armed Forces Radio in the mid 1950s. He later was a correspondent for the ABC Contemporary Network in New York before returning to the Tampa Bay area in the '80s to work as a reporter for WTSP-TV. He became a news anchor at WFLA-AM in 1985. Joan Jones Joins DC's WTOP-FM Wall Street Journal Radio Network anchor Joan Jones is joining All News WTOP-FM, Washington DC, March 1, as a fulltime fill-in anchor. Jones has been a network business anchor for Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal Radio Network since 2008, writing and anchoring network broadcasts and customized business updates for major market stations. Prior to joining WSJ she anchored morning news at WPHT-AM, Philadelphia, and was a morning co-host at Philly's AC "B101" WBEB-FM as part of the "Chris and JJ" show. She also worked as a Metro Traffic reporter for various radio stations in the Philadelphia market area. "What an honor to join this legacy radio station and to work alongside the best in the business," says Jones about her new job. "I'm looking forward to the transition to DC."