Sinclair Broadcast Group #1- Stern

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Samuel Stern

Samuel Stern

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. Logo (Photo courtesy of blog.solidsignal.com) [1]

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.

10706 Beaver Dam Rd

Hunt Valley, MD 21030

sbgi.net

Company Background

The Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (SBG), is the largest broadcaster of television content in the United States. Sinclair owns and operates the majority of 164 television stations in 79 US markets, and owns the rest through local marketing agreements. The company reaches the largest and smallest US markets and controls the largest number of ABC, CBS, CW, FOX and MYTV affiliates in the country. Sinclair also operates 3 radio stations in the Seattle-Tacoma Market [3].

SBG Network Affiliates (photo courtesy of sbgi.net) [2]

The Maryland-based broadcaster is the nation’s leading local news provider, has recently begun the distribution of premium college and high-school sports programming, and operates the American Sports Network and the Ring of Honor Wrestling league. After making making several lucrative deals to acquire stations in new markets, including a re-negotiation with DISH Network, Sinclair now reaches 37.6% of U.S. television households. Recent success has given Sinclair the opportunity to pursue new business ventures and acquire new assets [4].

ONEMedia logo, one of Sinclair’s most recent technology investments [19]

Sinclair also makes strategic equity investments through its Business Venture subsidiary. The company holds interests in multiple media and technology companies such as Acrodyne Services, ONEMedia, and Dielectric, as well as in real estate properties [5] (Scroll to investments).

Leadership

David D Smith, President & CEO (Photo courtesy of bizjournals.com) [6]

David D. Smith, President & CEO
Frederick G Smith, Vice President
Dr. J Duncan Smith, Vice President
David B. Amy, Executive VP & COO
Christopher S. Ripley, CFO

For further Bio’s of Sinclair Executives: http://sbgi.net/corporate-governance/

History

Julian Sinclair Smith, Founder (photo courtesy of sbgi.net) [10]

In 1971, Julian Sinclair Smith started the Chesapeake Television Corporation, which operated one station in Baltimore. That one station would eventually be the cornerstone of the nation’s largest broadcast company. Julian’s sons David, Fred, and Duncan would take over the company, and in the early 1980’s change the name to the Sinclair Broadcast Company, Inc. David D. Smith took over the company as president and CEO. Throughout the 1990’s, the brothers would go on a buying spree of content that allowed Sinclair to dominate the industry, increasing its number of television stations from 3 to 59. They purchased content in markets across the country, large and small. The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed for some deregulation of buying control by the FCC, which allowed the company to make more important station acquisitions. This entrepreneurial attitude and progressive vision is still integrated throughout the company today [9].

Financials

The Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. went public in 1995 and is currently traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market at $35.36 per share. The company has just released its Third Quarter Financial Results, revealing that the executives expectations were exceeded over the past year. Compared to the 3rd quarter of 2014, Sinclair realized a massive 10.8% revenue increase of $548.4 million versus $495.0 million the year before. The total yearly revenue increased 17.9% to $1.6 billion, versus $1.36 billion in the prior year period [7].

According to a late September Financial presentation at the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Financial conference, Sinclair reported a large increase in the amount of money the company can use to pursue its current ventures and find opportunities to enhance shareholder value, purchase more assets, and branch out to other revenue streams [8].

This influx of revenue has allowed Sinclair to work on technological advances to the company, a new initiative it has been following over the last year.

Key Initiatives

Sinclair has been on a buying spree throughout the past quarter.

The American Sports Network (ASN), Sinclair’s premiere sports division, broadcasts sports from 18 different NCAA athletic conferences [12]. The games are aired over stations that Sinclair owns or are syndicated through non-Sinclair stations. The ASN, launched in 2014, just made two deals in September with ESPN to carry Mid-American Conference football and basketball games, and to broadcast 10 American Athletic Conference Men’s basketball games per year on the large new sports platform [11].

American Sports Network logo (photo courtesy of wikipedia.com) [15]

Sinclair is being aggressive in order to bolster the progress of the ASN. They are currently negotiating a $500 million deal to buy the Tennis Channel, which operates 90% of Tennis content in the U.S. reaching 35 million homes [13].

On October 31st, the first-ever 24/7 Sci-fi multi-channel network was launched through a joint venture between Sinclair, MGM, and Michael Eisner’s Tornante investment company. The network is called COMET, and was the largest multicast channel release ever, reaching over 60% of the country [16]. The deal notes an effort by Sinclair to own its content due to the fact that it has almost reached the FCC limit for television ownership.

COMET logo, Sinclair’s newly owned Sci-fi Network (photo courtesy of comettv.com) [14]

On November 4th, Sinclair closed a deal with Pappas Telecasting and Lincoln Broadcasting in Central Nebraska to purchase a Fox affiliate and multiple ABC affiliated news stations. Sinclair purchased the stations for $31.25 million and the FCC has approved the deal [17]. This is a basic transaction for Sinclair in their pursuit of owning broadcast platforms in more markets.

Projections

Sinclair has taken advantage of its recent success to pursue initiatives that technologically advance the company and continue its dominance over the broadcast industry. One way to increase its footprint in an increasingly digitized world is the ability to broadcast and advertise on mobile platforms and enhance the broadcast experience. ONEMedia is working with all levels of the broadcast industry, from content producers to distributors, to design the “Next Level Broadcast Platform” that integrates mobile devices, creates an Ultra High Definition layout to broadcast, and creates new business models that improve upon the current structure of the industry [18].

Marketron Logo, Sinclair’s newest business partner. (Photo courtesy of contactworld.com). [25]

In late November, Sinclair and the leading media software provider Marketron negotiated a multi-year contract for Sinclair’s stations to use Marketron’s location-based mobile advertising. By studying demographics and utilizing mobile networks, Marketron allows advertisers to maximize accuracy and reach. This is a tactical move for Sinclair as it adds revenue streams by attracting potential advertisers to Sinclair’s growing reach [20].

Sinclair was recently part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pearl TV, a partnership of 9 leading broadcast companies, and Samsung Electronics America, the nation’s leader in television sales for the last 9 years [26]. The MOU will sustain technological advances in the industry and look to develop new ways to broadcast premium content to consumers. The three companies will implement the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) to overlook and advance the technical standards for broadcasting [21].

SAMSUNG Electronics Logo (photo courtesy of commons.org). [22]

To more accurately monitor the affect of these technological advancements on consumers, Sinclair signed a new deal with Rentrak, a demographic rating service, on November 11th. Rentrak has already been working with Sinclair on a smaller deal, but will now cover all of Sinclair’s stations. Rentrak will provide Sinclair with accurate qualitative data from large sample sizes that will benefit all of Sinclair’s advertisers [23].

Sinclair is looking to consolidate the growing responsibilities of the company in order to streamline the organization of new assets. On September 10th, Jerry Lilly, a former CNN executive, was named to the new position of Vice President of Operations. He will work closely with the VP of Data Systems and the VP of Engineering to incorporate new workflows into the company and ensure that Sinclair’s TV facilities around the country are equipped with the most up-to-date technology [24].

The buying spree that Sinclair has been on recently has brought it close to the FCC station ownership cap of 39% of TV homes [27]. The company will look to start owning more of its content to create revenue streams, while still upholding its current re-transmisison and affiliate contracts that have put Sinclair at the top of the broadcast industry.

Sources

(photos contain URL)

[1] SBG Logo. http://www.valuewalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SBG-Sinclair-Broadcast-Group.jpg

[2] SBG Network Affiliate Logos. http://sbgi.net/wp-content/themes/sbgi-sparkling/images/affiliates.png

[3] SBG Summary Page.

[4] SBG Company News Release. Sinclair Broadcast Group Announces Agreement to Swap Television Stations With Gray Television,

[5] SBG Investment Information, http://sbgi.net/ (Scroll to investment information).

[6] David D. Smith Photo. http://assets.bizjournals.com/baltimore/print-edition/David-Smith*750.jpg?v=1.

[7] SBG Third Quarter Earnings Call (2015),

[8] SBG Financial Report (2015). Deutsche Bank Leveraged Financial Conference Presentation.

[9] SBG History (2015).

[10] Julian Sinclair Smith Photo (2015). http://sbgi.net/history/1970s/.

[11] Kuperberg, J. (2015). Sinclair’s American Sports Network to Televise AAC Men’s Basketball Games, Broadcasting & Cable.

[12] American Sports Network Conferences (2015). http://americansportsnet.com/conferences

[13] Cynopsis Media (2015). Sinclair Hits the Market, Cynopsis,

[14] COMET Network Logo (2015). http://comettv.com/

[15] American Sports Network Logo (2015). https://sp.yimg.com/xj/th?id=OIP.Mf26c3227d715a63de7998852578bc82fo0&pid=15.1&P=0&w=300&h=300.

[16] SBG News Release (2015). SBG and MGM Announce COMET, First-Ever Science Ficiton Multi-Channel Network, to Premiere October 31st.

[17] McAdams, D. D. (2015). Sinclair to Buy Pappas Stations for $31.25 million, TV Technology,

[18] SBG ONEMedia Information (2015). http://sbgi.net/one-media/,

[19] ONEMedia Company Logo (2015). http://www.onemediallc.com/images/logo-main.jpg.

[20] Lafayette, J. (2015). Sinclair Signs Exclusive Deal with Marketron, Broadcasting & Cable,

[21] SBG News Release (2015). Samsung, Pearl TV and Sinclair Broadcast Group Announce MOU to Speed Development and Implementation of Next-Gen Broadcast UHDTV Standards.

[22] SAMSUNG Electronics Logo (2015), http://bit.ly/1TkZ7f4,

[23] Lafayette, J. (2015). Sinclair Signs New Deal for Data From Rentrak. Broadcasting & Cable.

[24] SBG Company News Release (2015). Sinclair Names Jerry Lilly To The Newly Created Position Of Vice President Of Operations.

[25] Marketron Company Logo (2015). https://www.contactcenterworld.com/images/company/marketron-largex3-logo.png

[26] Tendra, J. (2015). Memorandum of Understanding Form. Sample Template.

[27] Halonen, D. (2013). FCC Mulls Hard 39% Cap on TV Ownership. TVNews Check.

Hearst Television #1

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Jamaya Powell

Jamaya Powell

Logo of the Hearst Corporation Source: BounceExchange.com [9]

History

The Hearst Corporation started out as a single newspaper by William Randolf Hearst in 1887.[1]

Founder of the Hearst Corporation, William Randolph Hearst
Source: Old-Picture.com [10]

Since then, the Hearst Corporation has grown to become one of the biggest media and information companies in the world. [2] Hearst incorporated broadcasting into its company in 1928, when they purchased WSOE radio in Milwaukee. The station also became the groundwork of WISN-TV. In 1948, after acquiring various stations across markets, Hearst launched WBAL-TV in Baltimore, WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, and WDSU-TV in New Orleans. These were some of the inaugural television stations in the nation. In 1953, Baltimore’s WBAL-TV was one of the first television stations to transmit in color, as well as launching the famous children’s show “Romper Room,” [3] that ran from the early 1950s to the 1980s. Throughout the years, Hearst Broadcasting acquired more broadcasting stations across various markets. In 1981, WCVB-TV in Boston was declared “the best television station in America” by the New York Times. Hearst Broadcasting acquired Argyle Television Inc., which owned six stations at the time, for $320 million dollars,[4] forming Hearst-Argyle in 1997.[2]

Here is a clip from the popular children’s TV show, Romper Room, as mentioned above. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq9-8ZxZ6_Y)

One of the Hearst-Argyle’s stations, WISN-TV in Milwaukee, was the first station within its market to create their very own website, based off its weather segment.The website, which was started in 1997, offers snow closing information, around the clock. In that same year, KITV-TV in Honolulu was the first American digital commercially licensed TV station, which meant that they could provide digital high-definition television or HDTV, for short. Television Broadcast magazine named KITV “Broadcaster of the Year” in 1997. Later in 1999, New England’s WCVB-TV station was the first stations, local and nationwide, to produce an high-definition (HD) TV episode. The TV episode was of its renowned public-affairs program “Chronicle.” [2]

One of the first HD television programs created Source: Constant Contact Archive [11]

That same year, the Hearst-Argyle company acquired the Pulitzer Publishing Co, which owned nine TV stations and five radio stations. They also bought the television properties to Kelly Broadcasting Co. out of Sacramento, California. By the end of the year 1999, Hearst-Argyle owned 26 TV stations, which reached about 17.5 percent of U.S. households, and they acquired seven radio stations. [2]

Hearst-Argyle became one of the first major station groups to release a policy about not airing R-rated movies during prime time television, which is also family viewing time. They announced this policy in 2000, which was a very busy year for the company. They also partnered with the Belo Corporation and LIN Television and launched Broadcast Sales Academy, in order to train future sales professionals and they later launched the Producer Academy in 2002, a training program for the companies’ news producers. Hearst-Argyle had a joint venture with Gannett Broadcasting, the NBC station group and NBC Enterprises to develop and carry syndicated programs on their stations, reaching 60% of U.S. households. Hearst-Argyle was also the first large TV station group to commit at least 5 minutes of on-air time every night to focus on election coverage, starting 30 days leading up to the elections. This charge became the foundation of the company’s “Commitment 2000” effort, which worked to provide comprehensive political-news coverage through the election cycles and this effort later earned them a consecutive number of Walter Cronkite Awards, awarded by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication. In 2004, the former president and CEO, David J. Barrett is named by Broadcasting & Cable magazine as “Broadcaster of the Year.” This year, every single Hearst-Argyle television station completed their transition into digital television broadcasting and some of them were the first to offer video on demand for local programming. [2]

One of Hearst’s college partnerships
Source: NCAT.edu [12]

In 2006, Hearst-Argyle partnered with North Carolina A&T University or NCAT for short, to train journalism students and it was one of many internship/ training programs partnerships the company has.[2]

Financials

Hearst Corporation is #33 of Forbes List of America’s Largest Private Companies and the company has produced over $10.3 billion in revenue. [5]

Key Executives

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Jordan Wertlieb President of Hearst Television Source: Hearst.com [13]

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Frank Biancuzzo Senior Vice President of Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [14]

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John J. Drain Senior Vice President of Finance at Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [15]

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Micheal J. Hayes Senior Vice President of Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [16]

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Rodger Keating Senior Vice President of Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [17]

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Neeraj Khemlani Co-President of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication & President of Hearst Digital Studios [18]

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George Kliavkoff Co-President of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication & President of Hearst Ventures [19]

Entertainment & Syndication

One of Hearst’s Entertainment & Syndication brands Source: Facebook [20]

Hearst Entertainment and Syndication is a combination of cable network partnerships, television programming activities, and newspaper syndication as well as merchandise licensing operations. Their brands include A&E Networks, Awesomeness TV, Complex, Cosmopolitan Television, ESPN, Hearst Digital Studios, Hearst Entertainment, King Features, NorthSouth Productions, Reed Brennan, and United Artists Media Group.[6]

One of A&E’s popular television shows
Source: Gstatic.com [21]

One of their television brands, A&E Networks, is an award-winning, global media content company. It consists of three brands: A&E Network, HISTORY, and Lifetime. [6] Some of their most popular shows on A&E Networks are Duck Dynasty, Married At First Sight, Storage Wars, The First 48, and Intervention. [7]

United Arts Media Group

The United Arts Media Group creates programming for all media platforms offered by Hearst, including on screen, online and on-the-go. [8]

Current Programming

The Voice Promo Flyer
Source: NBC [22]

United Arts Media Group (UAMG) has created many popular programming including The Voice, Shark Tank, and Survivor. The Voice is currently in its 6th season and has crushed its show rival, American Idol, by having higher viewers and its ability to hold the attention of their key demographic of Americans aged 18-49.

Their other show, Shark Tank, is steadily growing in viewership and in the young adult segment. One of their oldest shows, Survivor, has an average of 9.5 million viewers and has just entered its 29th season. They also produced a feature film called Son of God, which generated $60 million in revenue through U.S. box office sales alone. The film also sold over 700,000 DVDs. [8]

Just this year, they released a follow-up program to the mini TV series, The Bible, called A.D., a 12-hour series that premiered on Easter. They also released a new game show on ABC called 500 Questions. FOX has purchased episodes of UAMG’s hit show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Due to the popularity of the original show, Shark Tank, they released a spin-off called Beyond The Tank, which follows up with the startup companies after they launch. They also teamed up with MGM and Paramount to create a remake of the movie, Ben-Hur. They also worked with Open Road to create the film, Little Boy. [8]

Works Cited

History. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Hearst Television History. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.
Romper Room. TV Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Gilpin, Kenneth N. Hearst to Buy Argyle TV In a Rare Public Venture. The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Mar. 1997. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
America’s Largest Private Companies. Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.
A+E Networks. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
All Television Shows – A&E. AETV. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Entertainment. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.
Unlock Your Highest Conversion Revenue. Bounce Exchange. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
William Randolph Hearst. Old Picture. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Weekly News Update. Downtown Boston. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
STUDENT SCHEDULE. NCAT. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Jordan Wertlieb. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
Frank Biancuzzo. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Bios. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Bios. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Rodger Keating. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Neeraj Khemlani. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
George Kliavkoff. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
CosmoTV. Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Gstatic. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.
The Voice. NBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

CBS Radio

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Sarah Shelton

by Sarah Shelton

1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
(212) 846-3939
www.cbsradio.com

About CBS Radio

CBS Radio, a division of the television and radio company CBS Corporation, is the third largest radio station owner and operator in America with 127 broadcast stations in 28 major markets across the country under its control, and over 70 million listeners tuning in weekly.^[1] Its flagship broadcast formats are sports, news and talk, and CBS Radio continues to be the largest broadcaster of play-by-play coverage and discussion of the major sports franchises in America, including the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL.^[2] CBS Radio also offers local digital media in over two dozen markets in the US, with local traffic, news, weather as well as other recorded content for on demand access on the Internet and custom mobile apps.^[3] CBS Radio’s particular attention to on-air personalities has made it a continual standout in the increasing switch to automated and syndicated radio programming for broadcast radio today.^[4]

Key People

Dan Mason

Dan Mason was named president and CEO of CBS Radio in 2012 and oversees all stations as well as the day-to-day operations of the subsidiary. He reports directly to CBS Corporation CEO, Leslie Moonves. Mason has been with CBS Radio for almost two decades, previously serving as an advisor and consultant before stepping up for the role of CEO. He has an extensive background in radio programming and his success with the strategic growth of CBS stations has been reflected in ratings from listeners of all ages.^[5]

Kevin Weatherly

Kevin Weatherly is the Senior Vice President of Programming at CBS Radio, the Program Director of the top stations in the Los Angeles market, and also Kevin of Kevin and Bean, the flagship personalities of LA’s KROQ FM. He has been with CBS Radio for over two decades, helping develop audiences for fledgling bands through strategic programming and monumental development for the music industry and radio relationship. He has received accolades and awards from virtually every music publication, including Rolling Stone Magazine, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly and more.^[6]

A Brief History

In 1927, talent agent Arthur Jodson created the radio network United Independent Broadcasters in order to showcase the artists that he was working with and as an act of defiance to his employer for refusing to include his roster in their broadcasts. He named the new venture United Independent Broadcasters, but was soon merged with the Columbia Phonograph Company after financial struggles threatened to bury the station before it had even begun. Under the new name Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting Company, the station was launched in September 1927 and quickly grew to earn affiliates and employees, enough to catch the eye of investor William Paley, who bought the station in January 1929 rebranded as Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The station continued to grow by embracing advertising, and became a frontrunner in national radio. The company also expanded with ventures in television and film, putting CBS on the map as one of the top media companies in the world. After being outbid for the rights to NFL Broadcast in 1993 and under new leadership, CBS was sold to Westinghouse Corporation for $5.4 billion and put under the control of Viacom. In 2005 with the economic downturn, the television and film divisions of CBS were spun off under Viacom to improve stock market performance and the radio sector along with Infinity Broadcasting, a division of Viacom, were merged and rebranded as the new CBS Radio.^[7]

Timeline of Recent Events

On January 2, 2013, CBS Radio launched the largest major market 24 hour sports stations featuring high profile personalities, player and coach interviews, national game coverage and more. This is an effort to condense the 10 million listeners that tune in weekly to over 100 CBS affiliate stations for sports programming, and is meant to compete with rival ESPN Radio.^[8]

On January 3, 2013, CBS streamed Bon Jovi’s Tampa concert on Radio.com, the first live event streaming venture for the company. This is meant to rival the live streaming features of iHeartRadio, currently the frontrunner in online radio streaming and app-based radio services, and will lead to many more given the success. A first attempt in December 2012 was postponed due to a major storm affecting the East Coast.^[9]

On February 7, 2013, Kevin Weatherly announced a renewal of his contract with CBS Radio, after more than 20 years of unparalleled contribution to the music industry and radio programming today. An on air personality himself on KROQ FM as well as a main contributor to radio’s second largest market in the nation, Los Angeles, Kevin is excited to continue to use his skills and expertise to benefit CBS Radio.^[10]

The pioneering program CBS World News Roundup celebrated its 75th anniversary on March 13, 2013. It is the longest running newscast in history and provided a benchmark from which modern newscasts would be modeled. News programming was the capstone of CBS Radio programming in the 1950s and 1960s, when Americans turned to radio for entertainment and realtime war coverage. Legendary reporters such as Robert Trout and Edward R. Murrow got their start and made their mark on this program.^[11]

Financials

On March 27, 2013 CBS reported fiscal year-end results: revenue is up 2% to $3.7 billion and says that revenues from non-advertising sources is growing even faster than those from advertising.^[12]

As a venture of CBS Corporation, the stock price of CBS Radio is dependent on the overall stock performance of all areas of the company in the market. As of April 5, 2013, CBS Corporation stocks are at 45.20 a share, with over 8 million shares on the market. The stock prices tend to fluctuate and rise around the most popular sports seasons, but typically stick around 45.00 a share.^[13]

References
1. http://cbsradio.com
2. http://www.cbsradio.com/broadcast
3. http://www.cbsradio.com/local-digital
4. http://www.cbsradio.com/broadcast
5. http://www.cbsradio.com/executives?bio=dan-mason
6. http://www.cbsradio.com/programming?bio=kevin-weatherly
7. http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=columbiabroa
8. http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports-radio/releases/view?id=34174
9. http://insideradio.com/article.asp?id=2623795#.UWHZt1vwJBo
10. http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-radio/releases/view?id=34527
11. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57573836/reporting-on-history-cbs-world-news-roundup-marks-75-years/
12. http://insideradio.com/article.asp?id=2617560#.UWHZwFvwJBo
13. https://www.google.com/search?q=cbs+stock&aq=f&oq=cbs+stock&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l2j60j0j62.1484&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Clear Channel

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Lucy Bartozzi

by Lucy Bartozzi

http://www.clearchannel.com

200 E. Basse Road San Antonio, TX 78209

(210) 822 – 2828

About Clear Channel

Clear Channel Communications is a global media and entertainment company specializing in radio broadcasting and outdoor advertising. The company was founded in 1972 in San Antonio, TX with the purchase of a single FM radio station [1]. Currently, Clear Channel is privately owned by Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners [2]. Clear Channel operates as CC Media Holdings and consists of two main businesses: Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment [1].

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment (CCME) owns and operates 840 broadcast radio stations, reaching nearly 243 million monthly listeners. CCME services 150 U.S. markets, as well as 140 radio stations in Australia and New Zealand. This gives Clear Channel the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in the United States [3]. Operations of CCME include radio broadcasting, online and mobile services and products, program syndication, entertainment, traffic data distribution, and music research services [2]. CCME’s content is distributed on a variety of platforms including AM/FM stations, satellite radio, the Internet, in-vehicle navigation systems, iHeartRadio, and mobile devices. Properties of CCME include Premiere Networks, a national radio network with 90 radio programs in syndication, Katz Media Group, the leading media representation company in the United States, and Total Traffic Network, a service that delivers real-time local traffic flow and information to over 3,000 radio and 200 television affiliates [4].

iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio, launched in 2008 by Clear Channel, gives users access to over 1,500 live radio stations across the country and the ability to create custom stations. This service is available online and as a mobile application for smartphones and tablets, as well as in-vehicle systems and some gaming consoles. Users are able to stream a wide variety of content, including pop, country, talk, sports, and college radio. In just 13 months, iHeartRadio reached a milestone of 20 million registered users [5].

Key Executives [6]

Bob Pittman, Chief Executive Officer

Tom Casey, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

Robert H. Walls Jr., Executive Vice President and General Counsel

John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Media and Entertainment

Financials [2]

Clear Channel estimates that nearly half of their revenue is derived from CCME, with the primary source of this revenue being the sale of commercials on their radio stations
Clear Channel’s total revenue for 2012 equaled $6,246,884
CCME’s total revenue for 2012 equaled $3,084,780, a $98 million increase from 2011
In 2012, CCME saw an increase in digital revenue, event sponsorship revenue, and traffic business revenue; however, direct expenses and SG&A expenses increased as well

New Developments at Clear Channel

On March 6, 2013 Clear Channel and eOne, the fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S., announced an agreement to share revenue from digital and terrestrial radio. Since its inception, eOne Music has charted more than 100 albums on Billboard’s Independent Chart. Clear Channel has recently entered into similar agreements with Big Machine Label Group, Glassnote Entertainment Group, DashGo, rpm Entertainment, Robbins Entertainment, and Naxos [7].

On March 11, 2013 Clear Channel introduced a new feature for their iHeartRadio service which will enable users to to add short local news, weather, and traffic updates into their custom station when listening online. Clear Channel hopes that these “Add-Ins” will provide users with a custom experience they can’t find anywhere else. Users will be able to receive localized information based on their current location or choose to receive updates from different markets across the country. Add-Ins will soon be available on the iPhone, Android, and other platforms [8].

On March 13, 2013 Clear Channel launched its second broadcast Electronic Dance Music (EDM) station, Evolution 93.5 Miami. The new format will feature non-stop dance music from artists such as Skrillex, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and more. On March 25, the station began airing a two-hour long daily show titled “All Gone Pete Tong” featuring Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune of the Week and the hottest track from the global Top 100 chart on Beatport.com. The show broadcasts Monday through Friday from 7 – 9 p.m. EST and additionally features Tong’s mixes, on-air interviews, and guest-hosted radio shows. EDM fans across the country can listen to Evolution as well on iHeartRadio [9].

On March 28, 2013 Clear Channel announced the return of their iHeartRadio Music Festival, as well as the continuation of their partnership with Macy’s. For its third year, the event will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 20 and 21, 2013. Macy’s iHeartRadio Rising Star campaign will return as well, spotlighting America’s emerging musicians and giving one lucky artist or band the opportunity to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival. Clear Channel listeners, iHeartRadio fans, and Macy’s shoppers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite performer online until May 12. Bon Jovi, Jason Aldean, Lil Wayne, Swedish House Mafia, Taylor Swift, Linkin Park, and Aerosmith are just a few of the names that have previously performed at the festival [10].

On April 1, 2013 Clear Channel Media and Entertainment announced a partnership with Big Machine Records to launch The Band Perry’s sophomore album, PIONEER. Following the release of the album on April 2, Clear Channel will launch a two-week on-air and online Artist Integration Program to introduce the new music to fans and listeners. On April 3, The Band Perry will perform for iHeartRadio Live at the iHeartRadio Theater. The goal of this campaign is to raise audience awareness by featuring custom content and spots on a multitude of Clear Channel’s different platforms [11].

Sources

[1] http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/Pages/about.aspx

[2] http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1389/73970813000003/filing-main.htm

[3] http://www.clearchannel.com/CCME/Pages/default.aspx

[4] http://www.clearchannel.com/CCME/Pages/Brands.aspx

[5] http://www.clearchannel.com/CCME/Pages/iHeart.aspx

[6] http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/Pages/our-team.aspx

[7] http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/Clear-Channel-And-Entertainment-One-(Eone)-Announce-Agreement-To-Share-Digital-And-Broadcast-Radio-Revenue-With-Artists.aspx

[8] http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/iHeartRadio-Introduces-Local-News,-Traffic-and-Weather-Add-Ins-to-its-Custom-Stations-.aspx

[9] http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/Clear-Channel-Media-And-Entertainment-Brings-EDM-To-Miami%E2%80%99s-Airwaves-With-Evolution-93-5.aspx

[10] http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/The-iHeartRadio-Music-Festival—The-Biggest-Live-Concert-Event-In-Radio-History—Returns-to-the-MGM-Grand-in-2013-.aspx

[11] http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/Clear-Channel-Media-and-Entertainment-and-Big-Machine-Label-Group-to-Launch-Artist-Integration-Program-Around-The-Band-Perr.aspx

Daystar Television

Posted on September 18, 2012 by jtswope

by [Justin Swope]

Daystar Television Logo

Daystar Television Network is a religious broadcast network centered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area in Texas. The network focuses on Christian programming meant to evangelize and spread the scriptures to its viewers. Daystar Television was founded by Marcus Lamb and his wife, Joni Lamb on New Year’s Eve 1997. Holding over 70 major television stations in the United States and a number of stations worldwide, Daystar functions under its parent company, Word of God Fellowship, Inc. The religious network’s primary objective is to present valuable programming that effectively preaches the “good news” to its followers. Due to its progressive expansion, Daystar has left its mark as the fastest growing Christian network in the world. [1]

History

Marcus Lamb and his wife Joni moved into Dallas, Texas in 1990, striving to construct a brand new evangelical television station. KMPX-TV 29 went on air in 1993, but in 1997 the couple relocated to a larger facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth television market region. Thus, Daystar Television Network was initiated on New Year’s Eye 1997, beginning with a telecast from Bishop T.D. Jakes. Currently, Daystar is situated in its International Ministry Center, equipped with two cutting-edge studios. [1]

Major Competitor

Trinity Broadcasting Network

Key Executives

Marcus Lamb: Co-Founder, President and CEO

Photo of Marcus and Joni Lamb

Joni Lamb: Vice President and Co-Founder

Steve Gray Appearance

Steve Gray, the writer and executive producer of the religious comedy known as 3 Blind Saints appeared on Daystar’s show, Celebration on November 20 to promote and talk about the film. 3 Blind Saints was scheduled for DVD release on that day. [2]

Daystar Assists Hurricane Sandy Recovery Efforts

In the midst of the damage and destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, Daystar announced on November 7 that they had pledged a donation of $200,000 to contribute to relief efforts in New Jersey. The network also donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross to assist their emergency responses in the northeast regions affected by the hurricane. [3]

Joni Lamb’s Controversial Statement

In the midst of the 2012 presidential election on November 6, while on her talk show Joni, host Joni Lamb made a divisive comment about Christianity in the United States. Kelly Shackelford of the Liberty Institute made a guest appearance on the show to talk about a legal battle between a high school valedictorian who wished to include a prayer with her graduation speech and the family of an agnostic peer who opposed the idea of a prayer being articulated in a public school. In response to the issue, Joni Lamb expressed her personal thoughts, stating that “you shouldn’t live here” if one is bothered by prayers since the United States is, according to Lamb, a “Christian society”. The statement stirred up resentment among political blogs such as the Daily Kos, Right Wing Watch, and Opposing Views. [4]

Joni’s Controversial Statement:

[5]

Refreshing Times Conference

From November 1 through November 3, Daystar hosted its free-to-the-public Refreshing Times Conference. Marcus and Joni Lamb were both present to facilitate the event. This annual religious convention served to unite fellow Christian followers as well as Marcus and Joni Lamb themselves. This 3-day conference also brought together some respected religious speakers, like John Hagee, T.D. Jakes, and John Paul Jackson. The conference transpired at the Fort Worth Convention Center and proudly celebrated its tenth anniversary. Additionally, the event featured performances from Joni Lamb and the Daystar Singers and Band, a diverse, religious musical group. The event brought together believers from across the world. Furthermore, a DVD package of the event was made available on Daystar’s website, consisting of footage from the event. [6], [7]

Refreshing Times Conference 2012:

[8]

Extension into California and the Philippines

As of October 23, 2012, Daystar has broadened to cover northern regions of California and eight different regions of the Philippines. Viewers in California cities, such as Berkeley, Cupertino, Fairfield, Novato, and Pleasanton, can now receive Daystar programming on Comcast’s channel 234. [9]

Coverage of the Messiah in Jerusalem

As announced on October 1, 2012, in an effort to provide live coverage of the anticipated descent of Jesus Christ from the Mount of Olives, Daystar has positioned a webcam from its terrace overlooking the city of Jerusalem. After expanding its purview to a television studio in Jerusalem, the network is now contending with the Trinity Broadcasting Network, who purchased the adjacent studio in Jerusalem, to deliver unprecedented footage of the phenomenon. The network’s anticipation has resulted from accounts in the Christian Bible, which predicts the return of the major biblical figure, Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, Daystar’s motive for entering the city has also been to spread Christianity in Israel. Moreover, the network already broadcasts English programming in Israel with access to both cable and satellite television. [10], [11]

Daystar Hosts “Sharathon”

From August 20 through September 3, in an effort to reward its dedicated viewers and contributors, Daystar hosted its exclusive “Fall Sharathon.” The Sharathon included religious proclamations, singing, and relevant news from prominent traveling ministers, such as Perry Stone and Robert Morris. The program emphasized the major contributions from Daystar’s partners, those who made it possible for the network to augment its international and nationwide coverage. [12], [13]

Fall Sharathon Overview:

[14]

Daystar’s Involvement in Israel

Daystar has been notable in the past few years for establishing positive relations with the government of Israel. Moreover, the network has striven to disseminate its messages to the Israeli people. Daystar is the only Christian network accessible via Yes satellite and HOT cable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not only has Daystar purchased a new station to cover the alleged return of the Messiah in Jerusalem, but the network also has sponsored several initiatives in Israel to help strengthen its economy. One is the Olive Tree Initiative, a project designed to strengthen agriculture in Israel. Through contributions and donations from the network’s partners, the initiative has planted numerous trees dedicated to the nation of Israel. [15], [16]

Satellite Coverage

In addition to its availability in the United States, Daystar is notable for its immense satellite handling, delivering its evangelical programming to not only a national audience, but also an international one.

Daystar Satellite Coverage Map

Daystar reaches a total of approximately 100 million households in the United States alone and a total of about 680 million households worldwide. To make this possible, the network owns 13 satellites that provide programming across the globe. Furthermore, viewers can connect to Daystar in the United States through providers such as Verizon FIOS, Direct TV, and Dish Network.

[17], [18]

Programming and Distribution

Daystar broadcasts its programming from its headquarters in Texas so that its shows appear at the same times across the globe, depending on the viewer’s time zone. Thus, every viewer has access to the exact same programming. In the United States, for instance, each station receives equal coverage. In addition to its substantial international coverage, Daystar owns stations in several key markets in the United States. These key markets are listed below (those in the top 50 markets).

Call Letters Market Market Ranking TV Homes % of U.S.

KDTN Dallas-Ft. Worth 5 2,588,020 2.267

WYDN Boston 7 2,366,690 2.073

WDDN-LD Washington, D.C. 8 2,359,160 2,066

KLTJ Houston 10 2,215,650 1.941

WUDT-CA Detroit 11 1,845,920 1.617

KWDK Seattle-Tacoma 12 1,818,900 1.593

KDPH-LP Phoenix 13 1,812,040 1.587

KDTP-LP Phoenix 13 1,812,040 1.587

KRMT Denver 17 1,566,460 1.372

WDTI Indianapolis 26 1,089,700 0.954

KCBU Salt Lake City 33 917,370 0.803

KUTF Salt Lake City 33 917,370 0.803

KOCM Oklahoma City 41 718,770 0.630

[19], [20], [21]

Original Programming

Celebration

Check the Sound

Empowered by the Spirit (with Marcus Lamb)

Gospel Music Showcase

Joni

Reflections

[22]

Future

Daystar has not announced any other upcoming news or events this year, but they hope to continue bringing their original content to their audience as they await progress in Jerusalem with the alleged return of the Messiah.