ARD NEWS AND INFO -- Archive 001
Main Page The Latest News News Archive Books To Read ARD Library	Wednesday, November 5th, 1997 LOW-POWER FM GONE As promised, Ballot Box Radio has signed off the air after one week of microbroadcasting to the city of Minneapolis. According to sources, Ballot Box Radio signed off the air under their own power very early Wednesday morning. Their website is still up at http://radparker.com/box RADIO AAHS CALLS IT QUITS? Yesterday saw the announcement of the end of Radio Aahs by Children's Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). CBC will stop broadcasting their 24-hour children's radio format on January 30th of 1998 due to circumstances relating to Disney/ABC's unethical (and illegal?) entry into the children's radio market with Radio Disney. "We have been forced to alter our business plans and operations by ABC/Disney's method of entry into the children's radio market," said Christopher T. Dahl, CEO of CBC. It seems that CBC had entered into an agreement with Disney/ABC and after about one year Disney/ABC took some CBC people and CBC methods and plans and started Radio Disney. CBC is fighting Disney/ABC in court and the trial is expected to start early next year. According the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the suit, in which Children's Broadcasting alleges fraud, breach of contract and misappropriation of proprietary business information, was filed in late 1996. ABC has denied the allegations and in September countersued, alleging breach of contract. See the BusinessWire story online here. See the LA Times story online here. See the MediaCentral story online here. See the StarTribune story online here. Wednesday, October 29, 1997 LOW POWER FM IN MINNEAPOLIS! As reported in today's issue of City Pages, the city of Minneapolis has a new radio station -- the low-power FM station going by the name "Ballot Box Radio" on 95.7 FM. Broadcasting to the city of Minneapolis, Ballot Box Radio is running political spots, interviews with community members and playing a mix of new and alternative music -- apparently all programmed by non-professional volunteers. City Pages states "Minneapolis listeners who turn their dial to 95.7 will be treated to an eclectic mix of trip hop, swing, and alternative pop from folks unofficially aligned with Americans for Radio Diversity." It should be noted that if ARD members are involved with Ballot Box Radio they are doing so of their own accord. Americans for Radio Diversity applauds the efforts of community members brave enough to challenge FCC rules restricting the general populace from utilizing public airwaves. ARD is currently drafting a proposal for rule-making to legalize microbroadcasting in the U.S. JACOR BUYS NATIONWIDE FOR $620 MILLION full story at The Columbus Dispatch In a deal that pays over $36 million each for 17 stations, Jacor Communications is buying out Nationwide Communications' properties. Nationwide will focus on handling insurance, their "core business." "These guys were insurance men and not broadcasters. They have not been particularly sensitive to (profit) margins," he said.... Officials wouldn't say how many of the 950 Nationwide employees may lose their jobs, but said that promotional and other "non-people" costs will be reduced.... Michaels said "a pretty fair number (of Nationwide's stations) are underperformers," and "we will be swapping or selling a number of the properties with negative cash flow." Saturday, October 18, 1997 PUBLIC TV SEEKS FUNDING full story at Washington Post Online "Public television broadcasters have asked the federal government for $771 million -- the equivalent of three years' worth of their usual taxpayer support -- to help cover the cost of converting the stations to new digital broadcasting technology. The unprecedented request is about 45 percent of the $1.7 billion that public stations estimate they will need to convert to digital, which offers stations the potential to transmit multiple programs simultaneously. Broadcasters hope to make up the balance through private fund-raising. The Federal Communications Commission has set a deadline of 2003 for public stations to make the switch. If they fail to do so they could risk losing their right to use the airwaves, said Bob Coonrod, president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit organization that acts as Congress's middleman in funding public radio and TV stations." (Editor's Note: Sure... give 'em some money to switch... and then give some money to the viewing public to buy the digital TVs as well (currently selling for $1500-$3000). Is this really serving the public? Or selling the public? Ok, so it's not radio, but this is something to keep an eye on.) Saturday, October 11, 1997 FREE RADIO MANIFESTO! Stephen Dunifer, of Free Radio Berkeley, has published this manifesto for the microbroadcasters, supporters, and interested public. Please read this document and by all means, feel free to fax it, copy it, print it, email it, etc, to other people! Click here: Free Radio Manifesto Thursday, October 9, 1997 STATIONS ALREADY SOLD? Well, that didn't take long... (see below) Sources are telling us that Disney/ABC/Cap Cities will be purchasing the two Minneapolis stations KMJZ 104.1 FM and KSGS 950 AM. This would effectively put them over the ownership limits set forth in the 1996 Telecom Act and would force them to give up an FM frequency. The sources tell us that Disney may be "giving" one of the former REV 105 frequencies to Macalester College to stay within the ownership limits. (This would seem to make sense since they could get rid of some of the difficulties associated with the smaller 105 signals and focus all their resources on the full-power 100,000 watt stations.) But then sources also say that Disney intends to move Radio Disney from 1440 AM to 104.1 FM and then give the 1440 AM frequency to Macalester College. Either way, they would still be one FM frequency over their limit and would have to divest themselves of one (most likely 105.3 since it is the weakest). Stay tuned for more info as it comes in... MORE STATIONS UP FOR SALE story at StarTribune Online Minneapolis StarTribune reports today that Nationwide Insurance plans to sell the 17 radio stations it currently owns. "The stations include two in the Twin Cities: smooth-jazz KMJZ-FM and "Solid Gold Soul" KSGS-AM. The others are in Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and San Diego." (Editor's Note: I believe this reduces the number of "independent" commercial station owners in the Twin Cities market to about one--KSTP, which is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. Please correct me if I'm wrong.) Wednesday, October 8, 1997 JACOR UP FOR SALE? story at NY Post Online Rumors appear to be flying around about the possible sale of Jacor Communications. Some consider Jacor the only target left standing for takeover in the ever-diminishing field of independent radio properties. Sources even estimate that the bidding "could be intense and could fetch as much as $3.5 billion" for Jacor's 160 stations. (Do the math: $3.5 billion for 160 stations = $21.875 million each!) Possible buyers are speculated to be Disney/ABC/Cap Cities, Westinghouse/ABC, buyout firm Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst or Clear Channel. CPB GETS FUNDING INCREASE story at Current Online In what seems to be a bit of good news, CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) will get an increase in funding by year 2000. This news certainly could be better, but at least it is a step in the right direction. "This means that public broadcasting may have more federal aid ahead, but it is still taking relatively small cuts for two years, as the appropriation sinks from $260 million to $250 million for fiscal years 1998 and 1999. Thereafter, as a result of this monthís votes, the sum will rise to $300 million. If that amount is not rescinded in the meantime, it will be CPBís high point in current dollars, though in inflation-adjusted spending power it will still come in 5 percent below the 1990 level of $229 million." Monday, October 6, 1997 FILMMAKER / AUTHOR MICHAEL MOORE MAKES DONATION TO ARD AND TO BEAT RADIO *Renowned Filmmaker, TV Producer & Author Supports Local Efforts to Resist Corporate Media Takeover* *Michael Moore Donates Book Sale Proceeds to Beat Radio & ARD* Michael Moore, nationally-renowned filmmaker, TV producer and author, has given his financial support to two Twin Cities entities committed to challenging the recent trend of media consolidation that has resulted in decreased competition and less consumer choice. Moore is known for his outspoken views on corporate control and greed at the expense of workers and the public. He gained initial recognition for his self-financed documentary, "Roger And Me," which revealed in uncompromising honesty the devastating impact of General Motors' mid-1980s corporate downsizing on thousands of Michigan workers. He then created and produced the like-minded "TV Nation" on NBC-TV and authored last year's book, "Downsize This!" Moore committed the funds to the two groups - ARD and Beat Radio - during a meeting at the September 20 Minneapolis preview screening of his forthcoming film, "The Big One." After hearing of their efforts in the Twin Cities to combat corporate encroachment on local radio, he donated the total of his proceeds from the sale of all books sold at the event to ARD and the Beat Radio Defense Fund. Beat Radio is the low-power FM dance music station currently off-the-air due to pressure from other radio stations on the FCC to silence it, which the FCC did on November 1, 1996. The station is in Federal Court fighting the FCC's action and the agency's prohibition on licensed low-power FM broadcasting. Wed, Sept 23, 1997 WESTINGHOUSE / CBS BUYS AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS FOR $2.6 BILLION On September 19, 1997, Westinghouse/CBS announced the buyout of American Radio Systems for $1.6 billion dollars in cash and assumption of $1 billion in debt. This latest transaction adds 98 new stations to CBS Radio for a total of 175 stations nationwide. The deal comes four days after Westinghouse announced the sale of its Thermo-King refrigeration business for $2.56 billion (in part to raise cash for more radio acquisitions.) Projections by Duncan's American Radio Inc show that this purchase will boost Westinghouse's radio-station revenue to $1.5 billion this year, just above Hicks Muse's $1.4 billion. But Westinghouse/CBS still isn't the largest radio group in the U.S. About four weeks ago, CBS lost a bid to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst when they bought SFX Broadcasting for $2.1 billion and created a radio stable of 407 stations. Westinghouse to buy American Radio by Chicago Sun Times Westinghouse buys American Radio by ABC News CBS acquires American Radio Systems by BusinessWire W'House pays $2.6B for American Radio by New York Post W'House CEO switches to role of media mogul by New York Post GOOD NEWS FROM HICKS MUSE? full story at MediaCentral Dallas-based investment firm and major radio player Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. announced the launch of a sweeping community service initiative that includes charitable donations $10 million in cash and more than $100 million worth of PSA announcements next year. Including pending transactions, Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. (which owns and operates Chancellor and Capstar Broadcasting Partners) has 407 stations nationwide. "Among all the different media, radio is the most locally oriented," said Hicks Muse senior VP Rick Neuman of the initiative. "Thus, a key component of our ownership plan is to enhance the service of our radio stations to community residents." (Note: This looks good on the surface, but isn't this sort of like Bill Gates investing in Apple computer? The biggest company needs to protect itself from anti-trust situations. We're not saying this is true, but perhaps there are alterior motives...? Now, if ALL the big radio conglomerates followed this example, that'd be a great thing!) KATZ, ELECTRIC VILLAGE TO BUILD WEBSITES FOR RADIO full story at MediaCentral Katz Radio Group (KRG) and ElectricVillage have formed a joint venture to smooth the way for radio stations wishing to get on the Web. Together, the companies plan to offer groups, networks and individual stations turnkey solutions for developing and maintaining Web sites and -- most importantly -- for attracting advertising and electronic commerce revenue. Fri, Sept 19, 1997 ARD STATEMENT ON LOCAL STATION SWAP The recent ABC/Disney station and format shuffle in the Twin Cities illustrates two things. One: Giant media corporations have no real interest in music or quality radio content. Rather, their sole aim is to simply shift formats in ways they believe steal audience from their competitors. No where in the recent press discussions was there talk of trying to provide innovative programming or better serving the public. The moves were simply business strategy and bean counting. ARD believes that the radio medium should be about more than numbers on a balance sheet. Two: The Twin Cities market has too few radio stations controlled by too few owners. So long as two or three out-of-state companies control the vast majority of the radio spectrum local community interests will not be served. For this reason ARD advocates breaking up the broadcast monopolies made possible by the 1996 Telecommunications Act and expanding the radio market by allowing the licensing of microbroadcast radio stations. While being rid of some of the more infantile inanities broadcast by the EDGE might be a welcome change, the prospect of yet another station overplaying the Wallflowers and Counting Crows does nothing for real radio diversity. The problem, however, is not format, but ownership. ARD believes that it is time for this issue to be addressed by both the public and our elected officials as well as the mainstream press, who to this point have covered radio issues in the typical "horse-race" fashion of who's winning and who's losing in a battle between homogenous corporate players. ARD welcomes your input. Call 612-841-8357 with your comments, ideas or criticism.