Entercom | Principles & Practices

Entercom Logo [1]

Jasmine Holloway

Contact: 401 City Ave., Suite 809 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Tel: 610-660-5610 ~ Fax: 610-660-5620

Web: www.entercom.com ~ Twitter: @Entercom

Overview:

Entercom Communications Corporation is one of the largest US radio broadcasting companies. Boasting 121 stations across 23 markets, Entercom is dedicated to providing listeners compelling content through music, news, and talk formats. It is also the official broadcaster for major league sports franchises such as Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Red Sox, New Orleans Saints and Hornets, and more. [2]

The company, led by President and CEO, David Field, relies on its 1,400 full-time and 800 part-time employees for day-to-day operations. [3] Entercom focuses on offering advertisers marketing strategies to reach large targeted audiences. In recent years, Entercom has increased its digital presence and has offered media clients multiple platforms for more successful advertising campaigns.

History:

Entercom began in 1968 when Joseph M. Field gave up law to enter the broadcasting business. Convinced in the future of FM radio , Field founded Entertainment Communications Inc. and began with three radio stations in Philadelphia. In 1973, the company entered into what would become one of its most important markets, Seattle. [4]

Joseph Field [5]

Field continued to grow the company slowly until the passing of the prominent Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Telecom Act enabled companies to have as many as eight stations in a single market. Backed by this legislation, Entercom entered into a trade deal with Viacom swapping a NYC station for three Seattle stations and becoming the eighth largest radio broadcasting company. [4]

1999 saw the company going public and receiving about $236 million in its initial public offering. This year also saw the company acquiring Sinclair Broadcasting Group. The deal gave the company an additional 46 stations in nine markets. This made Entercom the fifth largest US radio broadcasting company with 88 stations in 17 markets. [4]

Since then, the company has continued to grow into the 121-station group it is today. Larger markets such as Seattle provide a financial foundation for the company, complemented by smaller markets such as Buffalo. [4] “Entercom generally wants to be the big fish in medium sized markets than a small fish in a major market.” [6]

Key Executives [7]

David Field, Pres. and CEO

David Field, CEO

Steve Fisher, CFO and Exec. VP of Operations

Weezie Kramer, Station Group President

Andrew Sutor, Sr. VP and General Counsel

Pat Paxton, Sr. VP of Programming

Deborah Kane, Regional Pres.

Michael Doyle, Regional Pres.

Financials (NYSE: ETM)

The company’s major revenue source comes from local and national advertising sales. 50% of Entercom’s 2012 net revenues came from 7 of its 23 markets: Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Seattle. 2012 net revenues totaled $388.9 million, a 1.6% uptick. Revenues increased primarily from station reformats in 2011, political advertising, and 2012 acquisitions. The company lowered its operating expenses by 4%. [9]

Currently, the earnings per share are 1.0700. Earnings from Q1 2013 will be released May 8, 2013. [10] Click here for full 2012 financial report.

News

April 2013

4/3: Triton Releases February Webcasting Ranks – Entercom #10

Entercom ranks #10 in Triton Digital’s monthly online audio Top 20 ranker. It lists “top performing” Internet stations and networks. [11]

4/1: Entercom Joins Triton Digital’s a2x Platform

a2x [12]

Entercom becomes an early adopter of Triton Digital’s a2x platform. [13] a2x is an “audience-based programmatic buying platform.” Real-time bidding on targeted online and mobile audio ads allow for more effective managing, buying, and selling of third party ads. [14]

March 2013

3/26: Weezie Kramer Named Station Group President

Weezie Kramer [15]

Weezie Kramer is now one of the highest-ranking women in radio with her promotion to the newly created Station Group President. Her responsibilities would include overseeing Regional Presidents Michael Doyle and Deborah Kane and becoming the chair of the company’s operating committee. Abandoning the previous model of three Regional Presidents, the position was created to streamline operations and provide company-wide cohesiveness under a single operational leader.

Weezie is very excited to begin the duties of her role stating, “Having the opportunity to lead this team will be fun.” [16]

3/19: Entercom Dominates BEMAs

Entercom is leading the way with the most nominations for 2013’s Buffalo’s Excellence in Media Awards (BEMAs) which will take place on April 26, 2013. Entercom’s WGR Sports Radio 550 has the most nominations including Radio Station of the Year. WBEN’s Tom Puckett is nominated for Radio Personality of the Year and Sue Sullivan is nominated for Sales Executive of the Year. [17]

3/12: Rick Crandall Named Colorado’s Broadcaster of the Year

KEZW’s program director and host of “The Breakfast Club”, Rick Crandall, was named Broadcaster of the Year by the Colorado Broadcaster Association. Rick’s show is one of the top rated Adult Standards morning shows in the nation. In addition to providing entertainment, Rick has helped to raise $2 million to begin construction of the Colorado Freedom Memorial, which commemorates over 6,000 Colorado soldiers. [18]

3/4: Entercom Wins at Radio Ink Convergence Awards

After 12 of its stations were nominated for Radio Ink Convergence Awards, Entercom’s WKSE/Buffalo takes home Best Website 51+. With the company’s focus on its digital properties in 2013, next year may see the company taking home more awards. [19]

February 2013

Jelli [20]

2/28: Entercom Teams Up With Jelli

Digital radio platform, Jelli partners with Entercom to set up is platform in 104 of the company’s stations across its 23 markets. This would make Jelli available on 175 stations in 50 markets. Currently, Jelli boasts 23.5 million unique weekly listeners and 1.7 billion radio ad impressions. [21]

Jelli’s on-demand streaming service is delivered via a server installed in local broadcast towers. Users vote and decide programming. The platform takes away the need for DJs, infrastructure, ad sales team and royalty issues. [22]

2/27: Entercom PDs Named Best in Country Music

Entercom Portland’s Mike Moore and Seattle’s Mike Preston were ranked #3 and #7, respectively, by Radio Ink Magazine’s top 25 program directors for country music. [23]

2/4: Boston Celtics Radio Broadcasts Now on Multi-Platforms

Celtics fans can now stream free, live audio of game broadcasts via WEEI.com, WEEI Live

Celtics [24]

mobile app, Boston Celtics Mobile App, and the TuneIn App. [25] The move expands the company’s digital reach and appeals to the modern sports fan on the go.

January 2013

1/8: Game Time

Entercom CEO, David Field, sends a company-wide memo to inform employees that 2013 is “game time.” Following 2012, which saw the company make multi-million dollar deals and an unorthodox master royalties agreement with Glassnote and Big Machine Records, Field wanted to assure his employees of another successful year. The memorandum mentions the 30 million Americans who tune in weekly and engage digitally; strengthening existing partnerships; and Nielsen’s $1.26 billion Arbitron buyout which shows a growing future in radio. Field seems optimistic for the year ahead and hopes to keep Entercom leading the technological curve. [26]

Resources:

[1] Logo – http://images.wikia.com/logopedia/images/8/8b/Entercom_Communications_logo.png

[2] http://www.entercom.com/about-us

[3] Report – http://www.entercom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Entercom2012Annual_Report_To-Shareholders.pdf

[4] History – http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/entercom-communications-corporation-history/

[5] Joseph Field – http://thenowexplosion.com/joseph_field.jpg

[6] History – http://streamingradioguide.com/blogradio/?page_id=1250

[7] [8] Executives – http://www.entercom.com/about-us

[9] Report – http://www.entercom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Entercom2012Annual_Report_To-Shareholders.pdf

[10] Bloomberg – http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/ETM:US

[11] All Access – http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/117058/triton-digital-february-webcaster-rankers-released?ref=search

[12] a2x- http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/537337_462494273799541_563623873_n.png