RadioInsight

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Premiere Sets Short Term Plans For Rush Limbaugh Timeslot

Posted: 17 Feb 2021 01:32 PM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...augh-timeslot/



Following todays passing of Rush Limbaugh, Premiere Networks has revealed
their short-term plans for his show.

In a statement Premiere notes, Rushs voice will continue to be heard,
providing comfort and continued insight to his legions of loyal fans. All
of Rushs audio has been extensively archived and cataloged by subject,
topic and opinion.Â* His producers will be able to pull segments that are
relevant for each days news cycle and allow us to feature the best of Rush
for the full three hours of the program.

Guest hosts will be used to guide Rush’s audio from one topic to another,
but Rush will be the predominant voice heard for the three-hour
Monday-Friday show, the AM Daily Update and The Week in Review three-hour
show. The show will continue with this transitional programming until his
audience is prepared to say good-bye with additional information posted at
RushLimbaugh.com when necessary.

We have heard from affiliates who have been told it will be a minimum of 90
days before permanent plans for the 12-3pm eastern slot are solidified.



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Winter Storm Hinders Operations At Texas Stations

Posted: 17 Feb 2021 11:54 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...exas-stations/



The winter storm that has brought frigid temperatures and created havoc
with the power grid across Texas has taken many stations across the state
off the air.

One of the clusters affected the worst has been Alpha Media San Antonio.
The companys studios were without power from Monday morning until earlier
today. In a blog post on the website of News/Talk 550 KTSA, they explain
that the freezing temperatures created a mechanical issue with their
generator, which led to failing to bypass the issue, get a replacement
part, until finally finding a generator they could rent. The company is
running on limited power with certain signals like KTSAs 550 signal which
is located at their studio location still off the air, however they have
been able to get KTSAs translator 107.1 K296GK back on since its
transmitter at the Tower of the Americas has power.

Univision Houstons three FM signals were off the air this morning for
multiple hours after running out of fuel for their generator. Other
stations across the state have had similar interruptions due to the loss of
power at their studios or transmitter sites.



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SummitMedia Adds B-Dub Radio To Its Six Country Stations

Posted: 17 Feb 2021 11:50 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...ntry-stations/



SummitMedia has added Skyview Networks B-Dub Radio to nights on its six
Country stations.

Hosted by KNUC Seattle afternoon host Bryan B-Dub Washington, the show
recently expanded from Saturday nights to Monday through Saturday. The show
will air on 104.7 WZZK Birmingham AL, 100.3 The Wolf WCYQ Knoxville TN,
Q103.1 WQNU Louisville KY, K95 95.3 WKHK Richmond VA, 94.7 KTTS Springfield
MO, and Todays 101.3 KFDI Wichita KS.

B-Dub Radio, through its syndication partner, Skyview Networks, announces
the addition of six SummitMedia stations to its growing roster of
affiliates. The program recently expanded from a Saturday night-only show
to weeknights in new a version that offers program directors the ability to
choose their own music lineup. With the SummitMedia station additions, the
B-Dub party can be heard in Birmingham, Alabama on WZZK-FM; Knoxville,
Tennessee on WCYQ-FM; Louisville, Kentucky on WQNU-FM; Springfield,
Missouri on KTTS-FM; Richmond, Virginia on WKHK-FM; and Wichita, Kansas on
KFDI-FM.

“We are excited to have B-Dub Radio on six nights a week on all SummitMedia
country stations nationally,� said Randy Chase, Executive Vice President of
Programming for SummitMedia. “He brings unparalleled energy and incredible
content night after night.�

Host, Bryan “B-Dub� Washington, added, “We are thrilled to partner with
SummitMedia and join this family of amazing heritage country stations. We
strive to provide a truly customized sound, and A-level content in each
market the show airs. The added flexibility of stations programming their
own music allows for B-Dub Radio to deliver customized content in near real
time, no matter the daypart. If a Program Director is looking for a
content-driven afternoon show or a “more music� morning show, we can easily
fill that void.�

For affiliation information of B-Dub Radio and B-Dub Radio Saturday Night,
including show clocks and sample audio, visit skyviewcountry.com or email
.



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Rush Limbaugh Dies Of Lung Cancer

Posted: 17 Feb 2021 09:20 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...f-lung-cancer/


Image via Premiere Networks

Conservative Talk icon Rush Limbaugh passed away today at the age of 70
from lung cancer.

Limbaughs wife Kathryn made the announcement this morning at the start of
his show today.

Limbaugh was one of the radio talents who most influenced the industry as
he was fully responsible for Talk radios shift from broader topics to being
primarily focused on Conservative politics. He began his career in 1971 at
1360 WIXZ McKeesport PA under the air name Jeff Christie before moving to
1410 KQV Pittsburgh in 1973. In 1975 he became PD/afternoon host at Disco
formatted 98.1 KUDL-FM Kansas City and then hosted nights at 1140 KFIX.

Limbaugh would leave radio in 1979 and spent four years in sales for MLBs
Kansas City Royals before joining Full Service AC 980 KMBZ in 1983 and for
the first time utilizing his given name. Limbaugh lasted less than a year
at KMBZ before being fired and then hired at 1530 KFBK Sacramento. It was
at KFBK where he began his evolution to Talk host succeeding Morton Downey
Jr. in middays. EFM Media would take Limbaugh national in July 1988
relocating him to be based at 770 WABC New York. Led by former ABC Radio
President Ed McLaughlin, EFM Media would be sold to Jacor in 1997 and
eventually be folded into Clear Channel and its Premiere Networks although
Limbaugh ownded the majority of his show branded as being part of his EIB
Network. Since 2006, Limbaugh has hosted his show from studios at his home
in Palm Beach FL.

Limbaugh hosted a syndicated television spin-off of his show from 1992 to
1996 and had a three week stint on ESPNs Sunday NFL Countdown prior to
resigning following comments about then Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Donovan McNabb. He signed a four year contract extension with Premiere in
January 2020 just prior to being diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
Limbaugh was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1993 and the
National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998. He was given the
Presidential Medal of Freedom at the 2020 State of the Union Address, the
day after his cancer diagnosis.

On his final show on December 23, Limbaugh ended his program stating, I
know so many people think this program has changed their lives for the
better. You have no idea what you all have meant to me and my family. The
day’s gonna come, folks, where I’m not gonna be able to do this. I don’t
know when that is. I want to be able to do it for as long as I want to do
it.

I want to, but the day will come where I’m not going to be able to, and I
want you to understand that even when the day comes, I’d like to be here.
‘Cause I have this sense of needing to constantly show my appreciation for
all that you have done and meant to me. So I hope you all have a great
Christmas, a great New Year, and I hope that the things that are in store
for all of us in the coming year are certainly better than what we have
endured in 2020.

I don’t know too many people who’ve enjoyed 2020. There are probably some
sickos out there who have. But 2021 has to be better. We’re gonna try to
make it that way here at the EIB Network. Again, folks, thank you so much.
I wish there were a way to say it other than “thank you.� You’re just the
best. My family is just the best. Thank you. Merry Christmas, everybody,
from all of us to all of you. Make it happen!



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iHeartMedia Acquires Triton Digital For $230 Million

Posted: 17 Feb 2021 06:08 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...r-230-million/



iHeartMedia is acquiring podcasting and streaming service provider Triton
Digital from E.W. Scripps for $230 million.

The deal adds Tritons audio products to iHeartMedias platform. Tritons
businesses included audio streaming and ad insertion, similar podcasting
platforms including the Omny Studio suite, digital advertising management,
and audience measurement for streaming and podcasting. iHeart has made
similar acquisitions to build their digital audio technology over the past
few years adding Voxnest, Jelli, RadioJar, and Unified to their holdings.

Scripps had purchased most of Triton Digitals assets in October 2018 for
$150 million. The companys website platform was sold to Frankly in 2019 for
$3 million. The deal follows the sale of Scripps other podcasting
businesses to SiriusXM last July for $265 million.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT), the No. 1 audio company in America and the No.
1 podcast publisher globally, today announced it has entered into an
agreement with The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) to acquire Triton
Digital®, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio
and podcast industry, for $230 million, subject to certain adjustments.*
With this acquisition, iHeartMedia will now be able to provide audio
content to producers and advertisers with an industry-leading full ad
service package for streaming and podcasting no matter their size, reach or
distribution method.

The addition of Triton Digital’s vast array of infrastructure and
measurement solutions will complement iHeartMedia’s current advertising
technology services, data platforms and programmatic platforms while
providing additional solutions for those in the digital radio industry,
allowing iHeartMedia to be the first and only company in the audio market
to provide four distribution methods for audio, including on-demand,
broadcast and digital streaming radio and podcasting, and to service all
audio assets programmatically.

The acquisition of Triton Digital is the latest of iHeartMedia’s
investments in the audio technology space, and further enhances its
position as the leader in audio. Most recently, in October 2020,
iHeartMedia acquired Voxnest, the leading marketplace for podcasts and
provider of podcast analytics, enterprise publishing tools, programmatic
integration and targeted ad serving. Over the past two and a half years,
the company has also acquired Jelli Inc, the pioneering technology that
offers marketers a digital-compatible buying platform for broadcast radio
that includes programmatic buying, data targeting and creative
optimization; Radiojar, the centralized, cloud-based audio playout
platform, through iHeartMedia, Inc.’s subsidiary RCS; and Unified, the
leading social advertising data intelligence platform and solutions
provider.

“Adding Triton Digital and its industry leading services to the iHeartMedia
audio ecosystem establishes iHeartMedia as the only company with a total
audio advertising technology and data solution,� said Bob Pittman, Chairman
and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “iHeart, with our strong leadership position
in podcasting, digital radio and broadcast, already provides cutting edge
audio management, programmatic and data solutions for the broadcast radio,
digital audio and podcasting industries, and this acquisition further
strengthens our position as the No. 1 audio company in America and provides
unique and critical solutions for the industry and for advertisers.�

Operating in more than 50 countries, Triton Digital is a global Advertising
Technology SaaS platform for audio streaming, podcasting and metrics that
enables publishers to monetize their audiences by providing a highly
respected digital audio measurement and advanced audio-focused
infrastructure to maximize the yield of audio inventory. The company’s two
lines of business focus on advertising infrastructure and measurement,
including a content delivery system that distributes digital audio streams
and podcasts to listeners while dynamically inserting ads and measurement
business that tracks audience and creates ratings reports.

In addition to measuring audiences for customers, Triton Digital operates
the world’s first programmatic marketplace for digital audio programmatic
ad-buying and Yield-Op, a world-class Supply Side Platform (SSP) that
specializes in Audio and enables programmatic audio advertising.

“We are thrilled to join the iHeartMedia family,� said Neal Schore, CEO of
Triton Digital. “We remain deeply committed to providing the world’s
broadcasters, podcasters, and online audio publishers with continuously
innovated, best-in-class solutions and services for online audio
management, advertising, and consumption data, and are well positioned to
enhance iHeartMedia’s value proposition to audiences and advertisers.�

*The consummation of the proposed acquisition is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including
regulatory approval.


-

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has entered into an agreement with
iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) to sell Triton Digital for $230 million – a
cash-on-cash return of 1.6x for a business Scripps acquired in late 2018.

Triton is the global technology and services leader for the digital audio
and podcast industry. Scripps bought the company for $150 million, and it
has been accretive to segment margins since then.

Scripps – which sold its podcast company Stitcher in October and nearly
doubled its return on that investment – was an early entrant into
podcasting and digital audio.

The Triton divestiture reflects Scripps consistent invest-for-growth
strategy that capitalizes on emerging media marketplaces to unlock
shareholder value.

The sale of Triton creates significant value for Scripps shareholders and
employees, as we close a chapter on our growth of digital audio businesses
through a series of successful transactions and a focus on prudent
operations, including our core TV business, said Adam Symson, Scripps
president and CEO. We believe iHeartMedia is a perfect fit for Triton
Digital given their focus and position as the leader in audio solutions.

Scripps Chief Financial Officer Jason Combs said the company would use
proceeds from the Triton sale to pay down debt.

We remain focused on bringing our debt back down to our companys historical
levels as quickly as possible while at the same time we reap the financial
benefits of being a new leader in national television as we have been in
local broadcast, Combs said.

Transaction highlights:

Sale price of $230 million, representing an internal rate of return after
taxes in the mid-20% range and a low teens EBITDA multiple
Proceeds from the sale used primarily to pay down debt
Tax liability effective rate of 5%
The move of all Triton employees to iHeart


The Triton transaction is expected to close in the first quarter, pending
Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance.




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TuneIn Announces Four Executive Additions

Posted: 17 Feb 2021 05:40 AM PST
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/2...ive-additions/





TuneIn, the leading live global streaming and on-demand audio service,
today announced new executive appointments to its leadership team,
including Paul Brody to Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Rob Deichert to
Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and Joe King to Chief Product Officer (CPO).
Yasmin Coffey has been elevated to Chief Legal Officer (CLO), and Kevin
Straley will continue to serve as Chief Content Officer (CCO). The news
comes on the heels of the recent appointment of Richard Stern to Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), and a new investment in TuneIn led by Innovation
Endeavors. One of the most widely used streaming audio platforms in the
world, TuneIn’s unparalleled offering brings together live sports, news,
music, podcasts and radio.

Additionally, six new members will join TuneIn’s Board and bring their deep
expertise in the areas of business, technology, media and entertainment,
including: Eric Botto; Steve Cakebread; Sukhinder Singh Cassidy; Greg
Coleman; Rick Scanlon; and Harpinder Singh.

“TuneIn’s mission to reinvent radio for our connected world has been
greatly accelerated during this unprecedented time when live audio has
quickly become a trusted companion for millions of new listeners adjusting
to the new normal,� said Stern. “I’m proud to welcome a distinguished group
of senior leaders and board members to TuneIn who will help us build on the
incredible momentum of 2020 to drive innovation and growth at a global
scale.�

TuneIn Executive Leadership Appointments:

Paul Brody: In his role as CTO, Brody leads the Technology and Engineering
teams in regards to capabilities and systems, and oversees the technology
that underlies TuneIn’s innovative live audio streaming service.
Previously, Brody served as CTO at Rakuten Advertising, where he built and
operated the technology for the company’s ad platforms and innovative
e-commerce measurement business. Prior, he served as Chief Product Officer
for CleverTap, co-founder and CEO of Sococo, and Vice President of Products
for Yahoo!.



Rob Deichert: As CRO, Deichert is responsible for driving revenue growth
for TuneIn, and will oversee ad sales, revenue and content operations, as
well as marketing and communications. Previously, Deichert served as CEO,
Eyeview, where he refactored the product roadmap, business processes and
developed a plan to continue scaled growth. Prior, he held the position of
COO at digital advertising company 33 Across. Deichert also served as
Managing Director of North American Operations, Criteo.



Joe King: As CPO, King is responsible for TuneIn’s product management and
interaction design. Previously, he served as Principal Product Manager,
Kindle Content at Amazon.com, where he translated a vision for world-class
digital books into a new global technology and content platform across all
Kindle apps and devices and product roadmaps for readers, publishers and
authors, and led Kindle in Motion to offer customers immersive multimedia
reading experiences. Prior, he led product, engineering and design at an
early Amazon Studios incubator.



Yasmin Coffey: As CLO, Coffey is responsible for leading deal negotiations,
litigation activities, and contract oversight. Previously, she served as
Head of Legal. Prior to TuneIn, she was a Legal and Business Affairs
Attorney at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles.


TuneIn Board Members:

Eric Botto is an entrepreneur and technology executive with over two
decades of experience. He was co-founder and CTO of Slice Technologies, a
consumer purchase data analytics company acquired by Rakuten, co-founder
and CTO of FiberTower, a cell tower backhaul company which merged with
First Avenue Networks, and led large scale disk drive development programs
at Quantum, acquired by Maxtor and Seagate.



Steve Cakebread is currently the CFO of Yext, having led the company
through its IPO. Prior, Steve served as CFO of Pandora, including through
its IPO, as well as President and Chief of Strategy for Salesforce.com, and
CFO of Autodesk.



Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is an internet executive and entrepreneur with
experience building, scaling, and leading businesses for over 20 years,
including Stubhub, Google, theBoardlist, Yodlee, Polyvore, Joyus and Amazon.



Greg Coleman is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Lerer Hippeau Ventures and
sits on numerous boards at the intersection of technology, media and
advertising including BuzzFeed Japan, LoopMe, Skimlinks and Botify. He
served as President for BuzzFeed, Criteo and the Huffington Post.



Rick Scanlon is a founding partner at Innovation Endeavors and led the
firm’s investments in AlphaSense and TuneIn. He is also the Founder and
Managing Partner of Marker LLC, a New York-based leading venture capital
and growth equity firm focused on the U.S. and Israel.



Harpinder Singh is a partner at Innovation Endeavors and a former CEO and
entrepreneur. He was co-founder and CEO at Slice Technologies, which was
acquired by Rakuten, and co-founder and the head of product and marketing
at FiberTower, which merged with First Avenue Networks.