RadioInsight

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Roxanne Steele Joins WYCD For Middays

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 11:01 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...d-for-middays/



CBS Country 99.5 WYCD Detroit has tapped Roxanne Steele as their new midday
host.

Steele returns to the CBS Detroit cluster after previously hosting middays
at sister CHR 98.7 Amp Radio WDZH until the spring of 2015. She is best
known for her 12 year stint at B96 WBBM-FM Chicago.

99.5 WYCD (WYCD-FM) announced today, well-known personality Roxanne Steele
has been named the permanent host of the midday show airing on WYCD-FM
weekdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, which can be heard over-the-air, online
at www.wycd.com or via the Radio.com app for mobile devices.Â*

“Im having so much fun in country radio working with Country Radio Hall of
Fame Programmer, Tim Roberts,� said Steele. “In addition to taking my
passion for music to a whole new audience, Im also learning so much from
the talented staff here at the legendary WYCD. Â* Im super excited and
thankful for this new radio journey.�

Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President/Market Manager, CBS RADIO Detroit
said, “I am thrilled to add Roxanne permanently to the WYCD staff.Â* Her
personality adds a lot of fun to the workday.�

Operations Manager/Program Director Tim Roberts added, “Roxanne is a proven
winner and talented major market personality with a great friendly delivery
that fits perfect into the WYCD on-air Family!�

Steele was born and raised in Los Angeles where her love for radio was
born. After high school, she attended the Academy of Radio Broadcasting in
Huntington Beach, CA and landed her first job on air at age 19. After
stints in Washington, Texas, and Arizona, Steele’s career took off in Top
40 radio working for B96 in Chicago for 12 years. Most recently, she was
the midday host for WYCD’s sister station, 98-7 AMP Radio (WDZH-FM.). This
is Roxanne’s first stint in country radio.




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My Country 102.3 Ocala To Flip To Country/Rock Hybrid

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 10:53 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...ryrock-hybrid/



JVC Media Country My Country 102.3 WTRS-FM Dunnellon/Ocala FL will relaunch
as Country/Rock hybrid US 102.3 WXUS on Wednesday, June 29 at 10:00am.

Positioned as The Crossroads of Country and Rock, the station will feature
a mix of Country and Southern Rock such as Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, .38 Special, Tom Petty and The Eagles. Syndicated morning host
Bubba The Love Sponge will remain in mornings.

JVC Media of Florida, one of the leading independent and locally owned
radio broadcasters in the country, announces WTRS in Gainesville-Ocala, FL
will evolve its Country format into a custom music mix of Country and
Southern Rock as US 102-3 – The Crossroads of Country and Rock. The new
WXUS will sign on Wednesday June 29th at 10am. Listen online at US1023.com.

“US 102-3 has been researched and designed exclusively for North Central
Florida�, says WXUS Program Director Bo Hamilton. “We spent weeks talking
to our listeners, partners, and community leaders and found there is no
need for another ‘cookie-cutter’ top 40 Country station. This area has a
rich Country and Southern Rock heritage that is unserved and US 102-3 fills
that void.�

JVC Gainesville-Ocala Operations Manager Ben Burris adds, “Country music is
hotter than ever. The listeners in Ocala, Gainesville, Crystal River, and
all points in between say they want MORE variety and a different sounding
station.� Burris continues, “We will tap into the deep musical heritage
here by highlighting today’s biggest Country stars like Luke Bryan and
Jason Aldean alongside legendary influencing acts, including those with
ties to North Florida including Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tom Petty, plus we’ll
throw in icons like .38 Special and Eagles.�

JVC Gainesville-Ocala General Manager Sam Gerace says, “JVC Media is and
always will be dedicated to giving all of our clients, both advertisers and
listeners, the best product possible. The new US 102-3 will be a radio
station specifically for THIS part of Florida. With local businessman and
legendary talk host Bubba the Love Sponge® in mornings and The Crossroads
of Country and Rock, we expect US 102-3 to take North Central Florida by
storm�.



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Salem To Launch 860 The Answer San Francisco

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 10:43 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...san-francisco/



As we first reported on June 17, Salem Media has confirmed it will launch
Conservative Talk 860 The Answer KTRB San Francisco over the July 4 weekend.

Salem will assume the LMA currently held by Deportes Media who has been
operating the station as Spanish Sports ESPN Deportes 860. KTRB becomes
Salems 26th Answer branded Conservative Talker and is featuring a lineup of
in-house syndicated talent:

3-6am Hugh Hewitt

6-9am Mike Gallagher

9am-12pm Dennis Prager

12-3pm Michael Medved

3-6pm Larry Elder

9pm-12am Steve Deace

Salem Media Group (NASDAQ: SALM) announced today that it is launching a
News Talk station in San Francisco over the July 4th weekend. 50,000 watt
KTRB-AM covers the entire San Francisco metro, including the embedded
metros of San Jose, Sacramento and Modesto. KTRB will become 860 AM The
Answer, the 26th Answer branded talk station in the Salem family.

We are thrilled and excited to enter market #4 with a station that reaches
the entire metro population, said Salem Media Group President Dave
Santrella. Just in time for the run up to the biggest Presidential
election of our lifetime, were adding the entire lineup of Salems
outstanding network talk talent.

The lineup will include live shows from the Salem Radio Network:

Hugh Hewitt, 3am to 6am

Mike Gallagher, 6am to 9am

Dennis Prager, 9am to Noon

Michael Medved, Noon to 3pm

Larry Elder, 3pm to 6pm

Steve Deace, 9pm to Midnight

Salems news talk stations and network have grown in prominence in 2016,
with its coverage of the Presidential election. Salem surprised some in
the media when it obtained exclusive radio rights to four of the GOP
Presidential debates. SRN will offer wall-to-wall coverage of the GOP
Convention in Cleveland from 6am to Midnight, including live anchored
coverage of the evening activities. The new station in San Francisco will
be able to carry it all.

Salem Media Group will operate the station through an LMA entered into with
Susan L. Uecker, in her sole capacity as Receiver of the estate of Pappas
Radio of California.



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What's Going On At Greater Media?

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 08:01 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...greater-media/



A series of reports this week have come out surrounding Greater Media and
its operations.

Tom Taylor Now reported last Thursday on talk that the company is seeking
to sell News/Talk 1110 WBT/99.3 WBT-FM and Hot AC 107.9 The Link WLNK
Charlotte NC stations and that Beasley may be interested. Taylor followed
up this morning with a report that Greater Media has had some of its
properties on the trading block for at least a year.

DetroitSportsRag.com discusses rumors of a flip potentially coming to
Detroit Sports 105.1 WMGC. DSR states that the station has made no intent
to fill the Program Director vacancy open since Dave Shore exited. Current
afternoon host Lindsey Hunter is departing to become assistant basketball
coach at University of Buffalo and according to DSR the station is down to
one salesperson for the entire station.

These reports coincide with confirmed cuts at the companys Philadelphia and
New Jersey properties. Nine employees were let go in Philly including
Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK Morning Show Producer Rob Calvert, Rock 93.3 WMMR
Music Director Sean Rabbi Tyszler, WMMR Imaging Director Steve Lushbaugh
and WMGK Digital Marketing Specialist Gina Rullo. A reported five cuts were
made in New Jersey including Classic Hits 100.1 WJRZ Manahawkin afternoon
host Bob OBrien.



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FCC Proposes Media Ownership Rules Update

Posted: 27 Jun 2016 03:59 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...-rules-update/



As part of the long-delayed 2010/2014 quadrennial review of the media
ownership rules, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has issued a memorandum proposing
updates.

With the exception of a handful of minor tweaks, the radio ownership limits
will remain unchanged. There will be clarifications to assist in processing
license transfer applications, a new market definition for Puerto Rico, and
clarification of the grandfathering of city-of-license changes. Radio and
television cross-ownership limits remain as-is with a modification to
address the transition to digital television.

The biggest change comes on the television side where the ban of two top 4
rated network affiliates is extended to prevent companies from changing
network affiliations as a way to evade the ban, but will not limit dual
affiliations via HD multicast.

Most surprising considering the state of the publishing industry is the
retaining of the newspaper/broadcast co-ownership ban, although Wheeler
states there will be relaxation on rule providing exemptions for failing
properties and waivers will be considered.

NAB Executive VP of Communications Dennis Wharton released the following
statement in regards to the proposed changes:

We’re disappointed that Chairman Wheeler continues to ignore the will of
both the courts and Congress by proposing to retain broadcast ownership
rules that long ago outlived their usefulness. It is shocking that
regulators who bless mammoth mergers like ATT/DirecTV and Charter/Time
Warner Cable would still bar common ownership of two TV stations or
broadcast/newspaper combinations in a local market. Ultimately, NAB hopes
the five-member FCC, Congress or the courts end this indefensible FCC
charade, and that meaningful ownership reform is adopted for the benefit of
the millions of Americans reliant on free and local broadcasting.



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Evansville Welcomes Edge To FM

Posted: 27 Jun 2016 02:39 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...es-edge-to-fm/



University of Southern Indiana Alternative 820 WSWI Evansville has added
95.7 W239CI and relaunched as 95.7 The Edge.

The 250 watt translator brings the Alternative format to FM in Evansville
on the student operated station. With the addition of the FM signal, USI
will move its broadcasts of its baseball and mens and womens basketball
games from Evansville-Vanderburgh Schools 90.7 WPSR, although WSWI will
continue to produce high school sports for WPSR.



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June 1996: To Infinity And Beyond

Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:48 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/blogs/...ty-and-beyond/





In the first few months following deregulation many deals were made, but
June 20, 1996 would be the date of the first major merger of the new era.

After rumors persisted for weeks that it was pursuing a marriage with
Evergreen Media, Westinghouse Electric, which had acquired CBS in 1995 to
bring together two heritage groups who date back nearly to the formation of
the radio medium (In Westinghouses case they were the first as the first
commercial licensee with KDKA Pittsburgh), gobbled up Mel Karmazins
Infinity Broadcasting for $3.9 billion in cash and stock and the assumption
of another $1 billion in debt. The deal gave Westinghouse 83 stations (with
1 FM in Chicago and 3 FMs in Dallas needing to be divested). Mel Karmazin
joined the buyer as Chairman/CEO of the radio operation and eventually
became CEO of CBS Inc. from 1998-2004.
Station Sales

Clear Channel Communications made the first of two big plays in Spanish
radio it would make in 1996 with the purchase of the 79% of Heftel
Broadcasting it didnt own for $183.6 million. The seventeen stations owned
by Heftel would later be merged into Tichenor Media, but never was fully
integrated into the primary Clear Channel operations. The Heftel/Tichenor
stations would later rebrand as Hispanic Broadcasting Company and then be
acquired by Univision in 2002.

Newly formed Capstar Broadcasting made its first big move purchasing
Commodore Media and its 33 stations for $200 million. Funded by Hicks,
Muse, Tate Furst to purchase small and medium market stations, Capstar
would later merge into co-owned Chancellor Media and later become part of
Clear Channel. Commodore owned clusters in Allentown PA, Fairfield County
CT, Fort Pierce FL, Huntington WV, Westchester County NY, and Wilmington DE.

Greater Media and Evergreen Media made a swap involving stations in Boston
and Washington DC. Greater Media consolidated the Country audience in
Boston by acquiring 105.7 WKLB from Evergreen to add to their existing 96.9
WBCS, while Evergreen acquired AC Bright 99.5 WEBR to remove competition to
AC 97.1 WASH (see format change below). Evergreen also purchased Talk 980
WWRC from Greater Media for $22.5 million.

American Radio Systems and Chancellor Media took care of the overages they
created in two markets with a swap. ARS sent Talk 650 KSTE Sacramento and
$33 million to Chancellor for Talk 850 WEAT, Oldies 94.3 WOLL and AC Sunny
104.3 WEAT-FM West Palm Beach. ARS already owned 3 stations in West Palm
Beach, while Chancellor had 3 in Sacramento.

Barnstable Broadcasting swapped Talk 1440 WLPZ, Soft AC 94.9 WHOM-FM and AC
97.9 WCSO Portland ME to Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting for Country 1390 KSSO
and 92.5 KJJY Des Moines.

Paxson Communications acquired Hot Talk 104.1 WTKS Orlando from Press
Communications for $20 million.
Format Changes

CBS flipped long struggling Rocker KRQR San Francisco to Modern AC Alice
97.3 on June 5. The second Alice branded station behind KALC Denver would
lead a trend of person named Modern AC stations that would later lead to
the Jack/Bob Variety Hits boom of the mid-2000s.

AC CD 103.1 KACD/KBCD Los Angeles flipped back to Dance as Groove Radio
under PD Swedish Egil.

Immediately after acquiring AC Bright 99.5 WEBR Washington DC, Evergreen
Media flipped the station back to the Soft AC WGAY brand it had prior to
September 1995 to flank to new sister 97.1 WASH.

The WSHE call letters recently discarded in Miami were resurrected up the
Florida Turnpike in Orlando. With Rock 100.3 WDIZ and 101.1 WJRR coming
under common Paxson Broadcasting ownership, WDIZ flipped to Modern AC She
100.3.

Sinclair Communications began operating new sign-on 105.7 WSMJ Richmond VA
under a Time Brokerage Agreement as Smooth Jazz 105.7.

After a nearly two years as Hot Talk while retaining the B97 moniker, WEZB
New Orleans dropped Howard Stern and the local talk lineup and returned to
its heritage CHR format under new owner Heritage Media. The return of WEZB
to CHR led to rimshot 100.3 KLRZ to flip to Classic Rock a week later.

With its upcoming merger with NewCity Communications bringing Country 104.7
WBBS and 107.9 WHEN-FM under common ownership, Cox flipped the latter to
CHR Hot 107.9 WWHT following a weekend of stunting as Quick 108 with
auditorium test samples of songs.

Cargo Broadcasting began operating Country 107.9 KRGO Salt Lake City via
LMA prior to closing on its acquisition from Sundance Broadcasting and
flipped the station to Active Rock 107.9 K-Rock KRKR.
Airchecks

Bobby Jay, 101.1 WCBS-FM New York | June 26, 1996