ABC Grabs Kent
ABC Radio Networks VP of Programming and Distribution Carl Anderson is at it again adding Tom Kent’s Tom Kent Radio Network to the company’s lineup. TKRN is comprised of Tom Kent, airing live Monday-Friday from 7-midnight; “The Ultimate Party,” a live Saturday evening show; and “My 70s Show” on Sundays. “Tom is truly a maestro who moves and conducts the music on his shows with genuine energy while understanding how each song relates to his listeners’ lives,” said Anderson. Kent added; “With each of our shows, the goal is to create a fun experience for the listener complete with all the classic songs they love plus the banter and listener interaction that ties it all together.” “We’ve been able to reach so many people who appreciate the brand of radio we’re delivering. With the emergence of new technologies and the growing need for real content, I’m delighted to join forces with the ABC Radio Networks team who will move us to the next level.” The Tom Kent Radio Network is currently airing on more than 100 affiliates including Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Phoenix, Miami, St. Louis, Tampa and Kansas City.
Westwood Makes A “Sunday Nite” Move
Westwood One continues to agressively add to its roster by picking up syndication rights to “Sunday Nite Slow Jams with R Dub!“ effective immediately. “Sunday Nite Slow Jams” hosted by KHHT LA PD R Dub!, features love songs and dedications and airs from 8p-midnight on-you guessed it- Sundays . In addition, Westwood One will also syndicate “Slow Jams”, a weeknight version of the show, Monday-Thursday from 10p-midnight. “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to become part of the Westwood One family,” R Dub! said. “It’s an honor to have Sunday Nite Slow Jams and our new weeknight Slow Jams show as part of Westwood One’s first-class lineup of content. I’m overly impressed with the entire team at Westwood One and am really looking forward to working with them as we grow the shows together.”
Envision Debuts New Website
Envision Radio Network announced the debut of a new company website online. Envision has partnered with Single Source Marketing to create the new site, which incorporates the use of the latest Flash and RSS technologies to display Envision’s shows and services. Other additions include an interactive map on the contact page, streaming program demos and updated pages. “We are thrilled with the layout and functionality of the new website,” Envision Pres./CEO Danno Walkoff said. “Single Source’s B2B design has maximized our online presence. As a result, the Envision team is better connected to affiliates and new leads so we can response faster and more efficiently to their needs.” To take a peek at the new website click here.
Obama Radio Nation Inauguration Celebration
The media ’s embrace of Barack Obama continues to astound. On Sunday January 18th a panel of nationally syndicated progressive talk hosts will gather at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium for a three-hour live national radio broadcast to celebrate the inauguration of Mr. Obama as the nations 44th President. Hosted by veteran radio and TV talker Bill Press, the dais will include progressive talkers Joe Madison, Stephanie Miller, Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, Rev. Al Sharpton and Mario Solis-Marich. Syndicated via Media Syndication Services, Obama Radio Nation 2009 will air on progressive talk outlets nationwide from 4-7pm (ET) and will be carried on C-Span.
CBS and Dial Global Syndicate Smerconish
Here’s the announcement we’ve been waiting for…CBS Radio and Dial-Global will syndicate Philadelphia-based talker Michael Smerconish nationally beginning Monday February 2nd. Smerconish, currently heard from 6-9am on CBS Radio News/Talkers WPHT Philadelphia and WHFS-AM Washington, will launch an additional two-hour live program from noon-2pm daily. Both shows will be available to stations. WOR-AM New York is already signed as the first affiliate. Smerconish, a Philadelphia lawyer-turned-talk-host, also appears in regular columns for the Philadephia Inquirer and Daily News and is the author of several New York Times bestselling books. He’s also been a regular fill-in on The Radio Factor and a frequent guest host on MSNBC. “I have wanted to replicate my success at WPHT on the national stage for some time,” said Smerconish. “Now, with Dial-Global and CBS Radio I have a partnership with the organizational depth and reach to roll out the type of entertaining and issues-oriented program that I am privileged to host. I’m ready for launch!”
More Bad News For Opie and Anthony
Update…two more affiliates bite the dust as WZNE 94.1 The Zone Rochester, NY has pulled the plug on Opie & Anthony, who were being tape-delayed in the afternoon from 2-5p. The two also got the axe at at Nassau Broadcastings Classic Rocker WPXC Pixy103 Cape Cod MA. It’s safe to say that the curtain has closed on this one.
Dial Global Announces 24/7 Lineups
…In the meantime over at Dial Global, President of Programming Kirk Stirling announced the revamped 24/7 music format line-up for the network as follows: Kool Gold (DG says it was “formerly Jones’ Good Time Oldies and Dial Global’s Kool Gold”), Classic Rock, with Greg Kihn hosting evenings (“formerly DG’s Adult Rock and Jones’ Rock Classics”), Hot Country (“formerly Jones’ CD Country and DG’s Hot Country”), Mainstream Country (“formerly Jones’ US Country and DG’s Mainstream Country”), Hot AC (“formerly DG’s Bright AC and Jones’ Hot AC), True Country, Classic Country. Adult Contemporary. Adult Standards, Classic Hits. Hits Now (“top 40 radio, starring Nudge at Night”), Drive FX (“Trance and house music”), Jack FM (a syndicated edition for smaller markets), SAM (“Simply About Music”, the former Westwood variety format) and KPIG (“adult rock with an eclectic spirit”). The revamping is a result of absorbtion of Jones Radio Network and its formats by DG parent Triton Media back in June.
Lights Out At Sovereign City
The Green Bay Wisconsin based syndication company Sovereign City Communications is no more. The company founded by Wisconsin businessman Mark Follett to do radio that promoted positive values, has gone bankrupt. Sovereign City launched the “Positive AC” Oasis format in July with “Wendy in Your Oasis“, and had plans to assemble a 24/7 format. The closing caught employees by surprise after it told them operations were ceasing yesterday afternoon. Sovereign City was hiring and adding programming the format as recently as last month, when it added Mike Tanner for afternoons. A morning show “Great Day With Jim & Debbie”, also debuted in October. United Stations Radio Network had a deal in place to rep the morning and evening shows. The company had about 40 employees.
Miller Time At New York’s Apple
Westwood One syndicated talker Dennis Miller has joined the lineup on Salem’s WNYM “The Apple” New York for mid days airing Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Salem Radio Division President Joe D. Davis said “Miller is one of the brightest and funniest, and as a 9/11 conservative he also resonates with our listeners.” On the announcement, WNYM PD Peter Thiele added, “We are thrilled to be adding Dennis Miller to the lineup on the Talk of New York.” Miller joins Mike Gallagher, Bill Bennett, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager, and Dr. Laura Schlessinger on The Apple.
It’s Thompson For O’Reilly
Sunday’s New York Times (12/21) had an interesting piece by Brian Stelter-“For Conservative Radio it’s a New Dawn Too”- looking at the talk radio landscape and the changes that are taking place, particularly on the right. One of the most interesting comments in the article is from newly hired ABC Radio Network talker Joe Scarborough about about the need for a variety of political voices on a talk show. But the big news is the announcement of actor, former Tennesee Senator and 2008 Presidential candidate Fred Thompson as Westwood One’s direct replacement for Bill O’Reilly. Thompson’s live from DC show will air from noon-2p from the Westwood’s Washington studios.
ABC…Dees
Rick Dees‘ Dees Entertainment will be working with ABC Radio Networks on new original content targeting 18-49s under a just-signed development deal. With the agreement, the long-running Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 moves to ABC Radio Networks for syndication. The partnership is designed to create products for multiple formats, and to expand the affiliate base for Weekly Top 40. “Rick is one of the most respected talents in radio, and we’re thrilled to add his industry knowledge and keen understanding of the young-end audience to our portfolio,” said ABC Radio Networks SVP/Programming & Distribution Carl Anderson. Dees said, “My friends at ABC Radio Networks have the right team in place to maximize opportunities for all the current properties as well as new projects in the pipeline at Dees Entertainment. I’m enthusiastic about the chance to be back at home with ABC Radio and see what new levels we can take our programming to together.”
Et Tu Giuliani?
Bill O’Reilly’s got a lot of stations to divvy up after his yet to be determined exit from radio and apparently Fox’s John Gibson is just one of a few jumping into the fray. Now the rumor is that O’Reilly syndicator Westwood One is seriously considering former New York mayor and GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani as a possible replacement. All of this comes from a fairly reliable source; Page Six in the New York Post. What is Westwood thinking? Rudy’s “America’s Mayor’ schtick ran out a long time ago (see the GOP primaries…) and if this ever happens I suspect he’ll have little staying power if it clears in New York and even less interest nationally.
Gibson Fox’s X Factor
I suspect Bill O’Reilly’s “Radio Factor” affiliates already knew this but Fox News veteran John Gibson has been tapped as the one to fill the void left by O’Reilly’s departure from radio early next year. The revamped “Gibson On Fox” gets the O’Reilly 12p-3p time slot on Fox News Radio starting January 19th. Gibson’s retooled show will feature his contrarian take on the headlines as well as guest news makers from the business and political world. O’Reilly had announced last week that he was stepping down from his Westwood One syndicated daily radio show because of his television commitments.
