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Cox Enterprises Announces Executive Changes
Cox President/CEO Jimmy Hayes to Retire, John Dyer to Succeed Him 
Cox Enterprises, the parent of Cox Media Group, announces a series of executive changes, with President/CEO Jimmy Hayes set to retire from the company in April 2014. That spurs the changes, we're told, as "part of the company's long-term, succession plan." Among the coming changes, current CMG President Douglas Franklin will become EVP/CFO of Cox Enterprises. Hayes has served as President/CEO since 2008, leading the company’s four major subsidiaries -- Cox Communications, Manheim, Cox Media Group and AutoTrader Group, as well as corporate headquarters groups including financial operations, human resources and administration. Hayes will continue serving as a member of the Cox Enterprises Board of Directors. "Jimmy has led an impressive career at Cox, and I consider it a privilege having worked alongside him for so many years," says Cox Enterprises Chairman Jim Kennedy. "I thank Jimmy for his loyalty and service to Cox, and am delighted to work with him over the next 12 months to carefully and thoughtfully transition Cox’s next senior leadership team." Effective May 1, John Dyer will be named COO of Cox Enterprises and will succeed Hayes as President/CEO upon Hayes’ retirement next year. A 36-year Cox veteran, Dyer currently serves as EVP/CFO of Cox Enterprises, a position he's held since 2008. "John is a seasoned Cox leader with deep and rich experience in both finance and operations," says Kennedy. "His commitment to the Cox culture, coupled with his pursuit of excellence makes him the perfect choice to succeed Jimmy. I look forward to working closely with John as we continue to invest in opportunities to grow our portfolio of businesses." Douglas Franklin will succeed Dyer becoming EVP/CFO of Cox Enterprises, effective May 1. Franklin currently serves as President of Cox Media Group, a position he has held since 2011. In his new role, Franklin will be responsible for the company's treasury, financial reporting and control, as well as tax and audit functions. He also has responsibility for public policy, supply chain services, information technology, risk management and legal. "Doug has spent his entire career with Cox and will make a great addition to the Cox Enterprises senior leadership team," continued Kennedy. "His extensive experience in both finance and operations is the ideal background for this role, and the skills he’s honed for the past three decades will serve him well as he makes his transition."
'Rob, Arnie and Dawn' Apologize for Boston Comments, 
The syndicated morning team of Rob, Arnie and Dawn published an apology on their website for comments made on-air about Boston in the aftermath of last week's Boston marathon bombings. And they have now returned on Entercom "98 Rock" KRXQ-FM, Sacramento. Their Sacramento-based syndicated show was pulled off the air last week by the station because of comments on Tuesday and Wednesday, as previously reported here. They then posted a lengthy defense of their comments, and criticism of a crosstown host who attacked them on his show on their www.RobArnieAndDawn.com website. Now, on the same website, they have issued an apology -- and "clarification" -- for those widely-reported comments, including some made Monday (April 22) on the show which was syndicated and streamed, although not aired on KRXQ-FM. "Last week and again this morning, content from some of our broadcasts and photos from our websites were taken completely out of context and published with innuendo or suggestion that somehow we or RAD Radio have been insensitive to the victims of the Boston tragedy. We are sad and disgusted that those two monsters inflicted such extraordinary pain and damage and we stand with Boston and everyone else seeking answers and justice. To the degree anything we have done or said, regardless of context, is or has been construed as insensitive or offensive to the victims of the Boston tragedy, we whole-heartedly and sincerely apologize. As always, thank you for your continued support." That apparently was enough as Entercom returned "Rob, Arnie and Dawn in the Morning" to KRXQ-FM. Clear Channel Seattle Names Keith Cunningham VP of Programming 
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment (CCME) Seattle appoints Keith Cunningham as VP of Programming, effective May 19. He will oversee all programming operations for the seven-station Seattle cluster. Cunningham joins CCME from Jacobs Media, where he was Broadcast Media Consultant since 2005 and Morning Show and Talent Development Specialist. Before Jacobs, Cunningham operated his own firm, Media Positioning, for five years. Previously, Cunningham worked at Clear Channel stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Denver. "The past seven years with Jacobs Media has been a wonderful experience, and I feel fortunate to now have the opportunity to return to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment to work with Seattle's great brands like Kiss, KUBE, KJR AM and FM and The Brew," says Cunningham. "The Clear Channel Seattle cluster is well positioned for growth -- the resources available to the team are second to none and each brand is loaded with great talent, both on and off the air." CCME Seattle Market President Lisa Decker tells us, "I am excited to have Keith join the Clear Channel Seattle management team. He brings a wide-range of experience and knowledge to our programming operations and is well suited to lead our brands and talent to be the best they can be." CCME SVP of Programming Brad Hardin adds, "Keith's past experience working with multiple brands in a variety of markets will bring strong leadership and a unique vision to our management team in Seattle. I look forward to working with Keith to grow our already strong listener base." Denver Broncos Extend with KOA-AM, Add FM '103.5 The Fox' 
News Talk "News Radio 850" KOA-AM, Denver, signs a four-year extension with the Denver Broncos to continue as flagship station which it has been since 1969. Under the new agreement, the Broncos add FM coverage with game day play-by-play airing on sister Clear Channel Classic Rock "103.5 The Fox" KRFX-FM. KOA's Dave Logan is entering his 24th season in the Broncos broadcast booth and 17th season as the radio play-by-play voice. Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey will be back for his second year as color commentator. "850 KOA and the Denver Broncos have been a winning combination for more than 40 years," says Clear Channel Denver Market President Pat Connor.
Atlanta's WGST-AM to Return to News Talk 
Clear Channel says it will return WGST-AM, Atlanta, to a News Talk format on June 3. The station dropped the format for Spanish Sports "ESPN Deportes" in late September of last year. WGST-AM's return to Talk will feature only syndicated programming -- including "Wall Street Journal This Morning" along with Glenn Beck, Andrea Tantaros, and Dave Ramsey. Beck and Ramsey currently air in the market on "News Talk 1160" WCFO-AM.
Univision Reports 2.4% Q1 Radio Revenue Increase 
Univision reports that first quarter overall revenue increased 6.4% to $562 million from $528.4 million in the year-ago period. For radio, Univision says net revenue was up slightly (2.4%) -- from $66.8 million to $68.4 million. Univision Television, one of the top five U.S. networks, provided a much bigger chunk of the overall revenue increase. Says Univision CEO Randy Falco, "We saw strong performance across our divisions throughout the first quarter. Univision increased its primetime audience by 4% among Adults 18-49 and by 5% among Total Viewers 2+ compared to the first quarter of 2012. And, Univision had the #1 ranked Spanish-language radio station during the quarter among Adults 18-34 in 9 of the top 12 Univision markets where Arbitron’s Portable People Meter is used." Univision owns or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico. Analyst Marci Ryvicker Sees Stronger Radio Q2 
Wells Fargo Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker says in a new report that the radio business is picking up as the second quarter of 2013 begins. Ryvicker notes, "Radio started 2013 rather soft but picked up in March and April." She says that January and February of 2013 were down compared to the same months in 2012. While radio has essentially been flat in the last few quarters, she writes, "We do believe that March ended in positive territory, with upward trends continuing in April." First quarter fiscal reports from broadcasters will begin rolling out in early May. Ryvicker expects "the focus of the first quarter calls will likely be cost control," and we can expect to learn about "the impact of various format changes." Key points to look for, she says, are the early ratings at the new Cumulus Country "NASH FM" WNSH-FM, New York; more information about FM chips in mobile phones; the Sports radio battles; any mention of competitors to terrestrial radio, especially Internet radio providers; and lower radio royalty payouts to ASCAP and BMI. 'Shareholders Foundation' Sues to Block Sinclair Acquisition of Fisher 
"The Shareholders Foundation Inc." has reportedly filed a lawsuit seeking to block the sale of Fisher Communications to Sinclair Broadcast Group. We've previously reported that Sinclair announced its intent to acquire Fisher for $41 per share, but the so-called "Shareholders Foundation," based in San Diego, says that's not enough. In their suit they say that Fisher "breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to sell the company too cheaply via an unfair process," claiming the "$41-offer is too low and undervalues the company." According to a news release, "Indeed, after the takeover announcement shares of Fisher Communications, Inc. rose in the open market above the current offer. In fact, FSCI shares traded on April 16th, 2013, as high as $41.39 per share. Furthermore the plaintiff alleges that the takeover process is also unfair to FSCI stockholders." It's interesting to note that "The Shareholders Foundation Inc." fails to identify any specific Fisher shareholders in their news release or in the actual lawsuit. The news release doesn't tell us exactly where -- or in what court -- the suit has been filed. We have so far been unable to directly confirm that such a suit has even been filed, but have based our report on the news release sent out late Monday (April 22). CEA Chief Gary Shapiro: Broadcasters Impede Innovation 
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro says broadcasters are blocking technological innovation, specifically broadband spectrum auctions. Shapiro, addressing The Media Institute, said: "We are concerned that broadcasters seem less enthused about the auctions. In fact, while we were pushing for the law allowing auctions, broadcasters worked tirelessly to thwart its passage, first claiming against all credible evidence that there is no spectrum crisis, and then insisting that a complete spectrum inventory be performed prior to passage of any auction legislation. The legislation passed anyway. Now, broadcasters appear to be employing every possible strategy to slow walk the auctions." Shapiro also said that he could offer "many instances where the broadcasters tried to or actually thwarted or stalled technological innovation." Said the CEA CEO, "They push mandates, like an FM chip in cell phones, or tuners in TVs, or must carry on cable, or banning of devices, or new payments on others and no payments by them to copyright owners. Their message is clear: as long as existing broadcasters have their piece of the pie, there's no need to care about everyone else. To which I respond: innovate or die." During his address, Shapiro also offered three strategies for innovation to the NAB as well as the overall broadcast community -- Compete in the marketplace; Think beyond 30 minutes; and, Stop relying on Washington. Univision Radio Launches Uforia Music Service 
Univision Radio launches the Uforia music service, the company's "new audio strategy aligning music efforts under one umbrella." As part of the strategy, the company will also launch "an upgraded music app focused on content curation with deep Latin genres." Following previous multi-platform debuts of singles from other artists, Univision Radio will exclusively debut Marc Anthony's new salsa single, "Vivir mi vida," April 26. Says Univision Radio President Jose Valle, "Univision Communications is committed to continuing our legacy of bringing the most cutting edge entertainment to Hispanic America. By leveraging the size and scale of the company's media platforms, we provide an unparalleled promotional platform for established and emerging artists while transforming the digital music experience for our audiences." Univision Radio also tells us that UCI is helping to foster emerging talent by partnering with music labels to exclusively premiere songs from up-and-coming artists. "Univision Communications is the most comprehensive solution for artists looking to reach and engage Hispanic America," says EVP of Content and Entertainment Evan Harrison. "We know our audience's listening preferences are evolving and have developed our new music service, Uforia, to meet their multiplatform lifestyle. Uforia will become Hispanic America's #1 choice for audio entertainment." This summer, we're told, Univision will formally release the upgraded music app, under the name Uforia, focused on content curation with deep Latin genres. The upgraded app will feature exclusive channels, customizable stations housing more than 20 million songs. It will also offer "a friend-sourcing service" by which users will be able to not only see what their connections are listening to, but also recommend music to them directly. Entercom Donates $25,000 to The One Fund 
Entercom -- the radio broadcast partner of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics -- has made a $25,000 donation to The One Fund. That's the special fund set up by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help those most affected by the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. In the Boston market Entercom operates Rock WAAF-FM, News Talk WRKO-AM, and Sports Talk WEEI-FM and WEEI-AM -- but the donation to The One Fund comes from the company as a whole, says Boston VP and Market Manager Jeff Brown. "On behalf of over 2,000 Entercom employees across the country and our incredible Entercom team here in Boston, we are honored to donate $25,000 to The One Fund to help assist the victims and the families of the Boston Marathon tragedy."
Industry Veteran Phil Strider Joins The Conclave 
Conclave Executive Director Bob Shannon announces that radio veteran Phil Strider has been hired to create and sell sponsorships for "Conclave 38: The Learning Conference" scheduled to be held July 17-19 at the Doubletree Hotel in Minneapolis. Says Shannon, “My ideal candidate needed to have national sales experience, a programing background, and have an intimate knowledge of how special the Conclave is. Phil’s got it all." Strider tells us, "I'm unabashedly happy to be involved with the Conclave! I have long respected the intent and efforts of the organization and anyone who has attended in the past knows the Conclave Summer Conference is truly unique among industry gatherings. Bob Shannon and the board are mixing up some heady brew for Conclave 38." Strider's background includes independent syndication services as well as management, sales and programming stints at Westwood One, Jones Radio Network, Metro Networks, KZOK/Seattle, and KBPI/Denver. The Conclave, a 38-year-old non-profit corporation offers year-round learning to the industry -- including webinars, a Speaker’s Bureau, and the annual national media summit Summer Learning Conference. Since 1979, Conclave has provided over $1 million in media scholarships. For more information on the Learning Conference and Conclave educational programs, visit www.theconclave.com. Cox Appoints Russell Lawson Athens-Gainesville GSM 
Cox Media Group names Russell Lawson General Sales Manager for its six radio stations in the Athens-Gainesville Geogia market, effective May 13. "We are excited to have Russell join our team and to be able to tap into CMG's top internal sales talent," says CMG Athens VP and General Manager Scott Smith. "His multi-faceted experience in a variety of radio sales situations, and dedication to his craft, will make him an asset to CMG Athens-Gainesville." Prior to joining CMG Athens-Gainesville, Lawson, a Georgia native, was Account Manager at CMG's News Talk WOKV-AM-FM, Jacksonville, for the past five years. His 11 years with CMG began at Jacksonville's WAPE-FM, a heritage CHR station that's been on-air for more than 50 years. Additionally, Lawson is a 2012 CMG President's Circle honoree, a program that recognizes the company's top sellers. "I am glad to be returning to my Georgia roots, and I've seen wonderful people and systems in my visit to CMG Athens. My wife and I are thrilled about this opportunity and I look forward to joining the CMG Athens family," says Lawson. Mark Panetta Exits DMR Interactive 
Mark Panetta has exited DMR Interactive, where he was most recently SVP of Marketing Strategy. Panetta was with the company for 17 years. "Over that time I've helped dozens of radio's key players improve their ratings position," says Panetta. "After all these years on the agency side I'm actually really excited about the chance to transition to the client side." DMR Interactive develops marketing campaigns. Panetta tells us he can be contacted by email at Mark.panetta@comcast.net.
Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio
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From Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tuesday's Radio & Media News - April 23, 2013
Succeeding Franklin as President of Cox Media Group will be Bill Hoffman (pictured right), who currently serves as an EVP at Cox Media Group. In this role, Hoffman oversees the majority of the company’s radio and television operations, as well as its corporate revenue efforts. "Bill is a talented, senior executive who will provide strong leadership, continuity and direction at Cox Media Group," Kennedy adds. "His innate understanding of the integration of broadcast, print and digital media will help ensure Cox outlets maintain their enviable rankings in a highly-competitive media landscape." Prior to serving as EVP, Hoffman was VP/GM of the company's WSB-TV in Atlanta. He joined Cox in 1979 as an account representative at TeleRep and has held a number of roles within the company. Hoffman serves on the ABC board of governors as its current chairman, on the board of directors of the Anti-Defamation League, Southeast Region and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
"Now, in 2013, we're thrilled to extend our Broncos coverage to a wider audience with the addition of 103.5 The Fox as our FM simulcast partner. This new Broncos agreement, along with recent long term extensions with the Colorado Rockies and University of Colorado Football and Basketball, will ensure 850 KOA remains the play-by-play sports destination for Colorado's sports fans." Broncos SVP of Business Development Mac Freeman adds, "The Denver Broncos and 850 KOA have a partnership spanning more than four decades and we are excited to continue that Rocky Mountain tradition. The new simulcast agreement with 103.5 The Fox will further enhance our ability to reach fans with a first-class radio broadcast."
Allowing time for relocating those shows accounts for the delay in the WGST-AM flip until June 3 from the April announcement. Before flipping to "ESPN Deportes" last year, the 50,000 watt AM station's programming also aired on 92.3 FM via translator W222AF, which now is "Comedy 92.3" -- originating from WUBL-FM's HD3 multicast channel. WGST-AM is owned by the Clear Channel subsidiary Citicasters Licenses, formerly part of Jacor Communications.
"Sports Radio 560" WQAM-AM, Miami, moves 20-year Sports Talk vet John Renshaw to middays, with Alex Donno, host of the station's Miami Hurricanes in-studio game coverage, joining Renshaw as his sidekick. Renshaw started with WQAM in August 2012 as a weekend host ... Sports Talk "101 ESPN" WXOS-FM, St. Louis, names Chris Duncan and Anthony Stalter as the new midday hosts beginning May 1. Former baseball star Duncan is currently one of three afternoon hosts on "The Fast Lane." Stalter is an eight-year veteran of sports media and has been with "101 ESPN" since March 2012 ...CHR "Power 100.1" WPUP-FM and AC "Magic 102.1" WGMG-FM, Athens, Georgia, Program Director Tod Tucker resigns and is returning to Oklahoma to be closer to family. He plans to join Cox Cable in Oklahoma City, as a sales representative.
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