December 14, 2012

December 14, 2012
The Year That Was 2012 (Part II)
July: A state of emergency is declared in DC as a major storm leaves
millions in the region without power and access to clean water … WGN/
Chicago christens new studios on the 7th floor of this historic Tribune
Tower … Paul Ihander named APD/News Director at KTAR/Phoenix
… Brian Whitman and Ben Shapiro join Heidi Harris in mornings at
KRLA/Los Angeles … WYD Media Management launches Istook
Live!, hosted by former Congressman Ernest Istook … Beverly
Brannigan named VP/Programming for the Journal Broadcast Group
… Merlin Media drops All-News in New York and Chicago and reverts
to music formats … DirecTV’s Nick & Artie Show is added to SiriusXM’s
Sports/Talk lineup … KRMG/Tulsa OM Drew Anderssen named to
the same role at sister
station WDBO/Orlando
as former OM Steve
Holbrooke exits … Craig
Schwalb named PD at
WPRO/Providence
as
Paul Giammarco departs
after a seven-year run … A crazed gunman shoots up a suburban Denver
movie theater during the midnight Premiere of Batman: The Dark Knight
Rises … Ben Reed is named VP/Market Manager at Cox Media/Atlanta
… Austin Rhodes marks 20 years in afternoons at WGAC/Augusta …
Jack Silver is named PD for the new NBC Sports Radio Network …
Premiere Networks gives a national rollout to KXL/Portland-based
Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis … Over 65,000 people turn out for Glenn
Beck’s Restoring Love rally at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
August: Cumulus Media Networks host Mike Huckabee is joined
by other talk hosts around the country for a national “Support Chick fil
A Day” to counteract protests over the company founder’s statements
against gay marriage … CBS Radio debuts new Sports/Talker FM 98.7
“The Fan” in Tampa … Texas Radio Hall of Fame founder Larry
Shannon dies following a struggle with leukemia … Former WMCA/
New York owner and Talk radio pioneer R. Peter Straus dies at age 89
… WRKO/Boston and afternoon host Howie Carr renew their vows …
Debbie Greenbaum teams with Ron Hartenbaum as managing partner
and co-founder of WYD Media Management … Buckley Broadcasting
announces plans to sell the legendary WOR/New York to Clear Channel
… Cumulus Media Networks rolls out a new daily three-hour talk
show hosted by Geraldo Rivera … Florida and the east coast brace for
Tropical Storm Issac as the media descends on Tampa for the Republican
National Convention … The legendary “Voice of the Dodgers” Vin Scully
announces he’ll return for his 64th season in 2013 … Longtime WLW/
Cincinnati overnight host and SiriusXM personality Dale “The Truckin’
Bozo” Sommers dies at age 68 … KVI/Seattle returns to conservative
Talk with local legend John Carlson in wake-ups … Talk Radio Network
files suit against Dial Global and numerous other syndicators and networks
charging violation of the Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts … CBS
Radio taps SVP/Programming Chris Oliviero to oversee the company’s
new CBS Sports Radio. WFAN/New York PD Eric Spitz is named
Director of Programming and will work with WFAN Ops Manager and CBS
SVP/Sports Programming Mark Chernoff on development of the network
… 18-year Federated Media COO Mark DePrez exits as the company
restructures its management team … Jorge Sedano is named PD/Afternoon
host at WQAM/Miami … Bill Rehkopf returns to KDKA/Pittsburgh after
a short stint at sister CBS Radio all-newser WNEW-FM/Washington.
September: Talk radio descends on Charlotte for the Democratic
National Convention, where a number of conservative shows charge
that access to “A” list guests was being “policed” by the DNC … Dial
Global’s syndicated NBC Sports Radio debuts, initially offering live
Sports/Talk from 7pm-5am … Lonny Anger is upped to President/Market
Manager for Clear Channel/Miami … Glenn Beck launches TheBlaze
Radio Network, an online radio service with programs hosted by Beck
show sidekicks Stu Burguiere and Pat Gray, and by Talk radio veteran
Jay Severin … Melissa Forrest is named CC/San Diego Market Manager
… Market veteran Jennifer Lipp moves into wakeups at KMJ-FM/
Fresno … Josh Everett named PD at WGY-AM&FM and Fox Sports
980 in Albany, NY … CBS Radio/Washington rebrands WNEW-AM
as 1580 Gov.Biz Radio, featuring government and business news … Trip
Savery is upped to VP/Station Manager for Greater Media/Charlotte …
Clear Channel names longtime Premiere Networks exec Julie Talbott
President/Content and Affiliate Services, National Media Groups … NTS
MediaOnline salutes the 2012 “Titans Of Talk” and presents a rare industry
interview with Rush Limbaugh in a special edition of our regular Friday
feature publication … Dan Patrick wins 2012 NAB Marconi Award for
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December 14, 2012
Page 2
Cumulus Media Networks adds new affiliates WMCR/Oneida, NY and
KELO/Sioux Falls (The Mark Levin Show); WTIB and WNBU/GreenvilleNew Bern (The Mike Huckabee Show); WPCN/Stevens Point, WI (The
Phil Valentine Show); WTMJ/Milwaukee (Red Eye Radio); WCRN/
Worcester, MA (Savage Nation and Red Eye Radio); KJCE/Austin
(Savage Nation): and KSET/Beaumont (Red Eye Radio) … Superadio
Networks picks up syndication rights to Right Now With Ed Gordon, a daily
one-minute commentary by the BET personality. Superadio will handle
affiliate relations and national ad sales for the new short-form feature …
Diet, fitness and healthy eating website SparkPeople.com has teamed up
with the Entertainment Radio Network to launch SparkPeople Radio, a
new weekly one-hour syndicated healthy living news show. Hosted by Lily
Hills and Karen Hudson, the show is available via SparkPeople.com,
ERNLive.com, Aha Radio, iTunes and Stitcher … After 13 years “behind
the glass” -- working with the likes of Dan Patrick, Tony Kornheiser and
most recently Mike Tirico and Scott Van Pelt -- ESPN Audio Associate
Producer Phil “The Show Killer” Ceppaglia is moving to a new role as
Commercial Production Coordinator for the Bristol, CT based Sports network.
Midwest Communications has a full-time opening for a Director of Digital
Development. The Sioux Falls-based position is seeking a candidate who is
“ahead of the digital curve” and can assist radio personalities in generating
quality content with a social media drive, while also helping sales generate
revenues. Get full details on additional requirements needed and application
information HERE… Got a gig open? Looking for your next challenge?
Email details and your contact info HERE and we’ll post it free of charge
as a service to the Talk media industry.
Scott Friedlander has joined Sun Broadcast Group as National Account
Manager. Having previously held various sales and business development
positions with CBS Radio, Westwood One and Salem Communications,
Friedlander will handle network sales based at Sun’s New York City
offices … KGO/San Francisco is offering a bit of image polishing to
that ‘other’ city by the Bay, Oakland, with the debut of a new feature,
Good News In Oakland. Highlighting a person or organization that has
made a difference in creating a positive image for the East Bay city, the
segments will air six times weekly and be produced by reporter Tihanna
McCleese and Good News In Oakland founder Sean Kennedy … Cox
Media Group names Scott Smith to the new role of Radio Technology
Director. He’ll oversee CMG radio’s signal improvements, regulatory
changes as they affect radio, and CMG’s radio portfolio opportunities.
San Diego-based Dar.fm now shows stats on how many times a show
has been played in the past 30 days for every single show available from
the digital audio service that’s been called “DVR for radio.” Find out
how many times your favorite talk show has been listened to, along
with additional details HERE … Jim Norton, comedian, bestselling
author and co-host of SiriusXM’s Opie & Anthony Show, gets his own
live, weekly program where he’ll offer advice mixed with humor on
life, sex, love, work, and “whatever else listeners want help with.” The
new show airs Wednesdays from 10-11am (ET) on Sirius Premier …
Get BREAKING NEWS alerts by following us on TWITTER, or
“friend” us on FACEBOOK. Find one-click links to both HERE.
SEND ‘EM HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Volunteers man the phones during 760 KFMB/San Diego’s annual
“Warrior Foundation Radiothon.” Since it’s inception in 2004, the yearly
fundraiser has raised some $9 million in donations to assist wounded
military personnel recovering in San Diego area facilities in getting home
for the holidays. Once again spearheaded by morning host Mike Slater,
this year’s on-air event resulted in more than $250,000 in donations.
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December 14, 2012
Page 3
“Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year” … Veteran WLS/Chicago
morning co-host Don Wade undergoes surgery and ongoing treatment after
doctors discover a growth on his brain … Rush Limbaugh moves to WSB/
Atlanta as Clear Channel flips WGST to all-comedy … Dave Ramsey
celebrates 20 years in broadcasting with a blowout celebration in Nashville
… ABC News Radio correspondent Jim Hickey retires after 50 years in
broadcasting … Following a protracted legal battle, Michael Savage leaves
Talk Radio Network and subsequently signs a new syndication deal with
Cumulus Media Networks.
October: TRN moves network veteran Jerry Doyle up to 6-9pm to
replace the departed Michael Savage. Meanwhile, Rusty Humphries
moves into TRN’s 3-6pm slot and assumes Doyle’s previous hours …
Michele McPhee and Todd Feinburg exit mornings at WRKO/Boston
as midday host Jeff Kuhner moves to wake-up duties … Clear Channel/
Pittsburgh welcomes Gregg Henson as PD of News/Talk WPGB and 970
ESPN Radio (WBGG) … Matt Millar exits Clear Channel/Tallahassee
after a 13-year stint as PD for WFLA-FM and WNLS-AM … Veteran
host Doug Kellett lands mornings at WPTF-AM 850 in Raleigh … WBT/
Charlotte taps WHAM-WHTK/Rochester PD Jason Furst for the same
role at the Greater Media News/Talker … Marshall Adams makes an
unexpected exit as PD of Atlanta’s “All News 106.7” … Doug Stephan’s
Good Day marks the show’s 25th anniversary … WTMA/Charleston
hires Tara Servatius to host mornings … Steve Kass returns to afternoons
at WSAR/Fall River, MA, where he began his broadcast career in 1979
… Breeanna Malik is named Market Manager for CC/San Antonio …
Jeff Lynn takes over as OM for NRG Media’s Omaha cluster … Tom
Langmyer leaves his post as VP/GM for WGN/Chicago after a seven year
run … Mel Karmazin announces he’ll step down as CEO of SiriusXM
on February 1, 2013 … Longtime Windy City talk host John Williams
gives up his midday slot on WGN to return to Minnesota and afternoons at
WCCO/Minneapolis … Dallas talk radio fixture Mark Davis, currently in
mornings at 680 The Answer (KSKY) mark his 30th year in radio … Radio
begins prepping listeners for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, a major storm
that wreaks havoc on New Jersey, coastal New York and Connecticut … The
broadcast industry is stunned by the sudden death of former Arbitron and
Clear Channel research exec Bob Michaels, of an apparent heart attack
while on vacation. He was 54 … Jim Turner announces his retirement after
40 years in wakeups at WDBO/Orlando … Carl Anderson is named EVP
News, Talk and Sports Programming at Premiere Networks.
November: Ryan Reker named PD at WOWO/Ft. Wayne … WFAN/
New York adds an FM simulcast at 101.9 … Joe Kelley moves from
mornings on KRMG/Tulsa to the same at sister station WDBO/Orlando.
Meanwhile, KRMG afternooner Dan Potter moves to wakeups in
Tulsa … Larry O’Connor joins Brian Wilson in mornings at WMAL/
Washington … Another Brian Wilson exits at Clear Channel/Toledo
… Newsmax announces plans to develop syndicated radio programs,
hires Chad Wilkinson as Senior Media Director and Tamara Karcev
as Director/Affiliate Relations … Envision Radio Networks to launch
America Weekend. Kipper McGee is name Executive Producer … After
nine years KFBK and KSTE/Sacramento OM/PD Alan Eisenson exits …
Andy Freidman named Head of Content Operations for AOL’s Patch.com
… “Master of Motivation” Zig Ziglar dies at age 86 … Laura Ingraham
parts with Talk Radio Network after almost 10 years with the syndicator.
December: Dave Ramsey announced as 2013 inductee to NAB
Broadcasting Hall of Fame … Salem debuts “Conservative Talk
94.5” in Greenville … WFLA-WDAE/Tampa PD Steve Versnick is
among the early casualties of numerous pre-Christmas company-wide
layoffs at Clear Channel … Todd Schnitt “tweets” his pending exit
from his local afternoon show at WFLA/Tampa … Ken Charles is
named VP/Programming at Clear Channel/Sacramento … Phil Boyce
adds duties as Operational VP for Salem/New York … Jim Bohannon
re-ups with Dial Global … Don Imus re-ups for three more years with
Cumulus Media Networks and WABC/New York … John Hanson
named PD at KSCP/Kansas City … More news coming in 2013!
If you missed Part One of our year-end news wrap up, read it HERE
Al Peterson
858.486.7559
al@ntsmediaonline.com
Brooke Trissel
512.218.8228
brooke@ntsmediaonline.com
©2012 NTS MediaOnline™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.ntsmediaonline.com