RadioInsight

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July 2016 (6/16 - 7/13) Nielsen Audio PPM Ratings Day 3

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 02:01 PM PDT
http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...e=75862 030d3





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George Plaster To Exit 102.5 The Game Nashville For Belmont University

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:34 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...nt-university/



Longtime Nashville Sports talker George Plaster will exit his position as
host of SportsNight on Cromwell Sports 102.5 The Game WPRT Pegram/Nashville
to become Associate Athletic Director at Belmont University.

WPRT is the third station that has been the home to SportsNight, which
debuted on now Cumulus News/Talk 99.7 WWTN in the early 1990s before moving
the afternoons on Sports 104.5 The Zone WGFX in 2003. When Cumulus acquired
WGFX in 2011 he exited that station before jumping to WPRT upon the
expiration of his non-compete in July 2012.

At Belmont Plaster will oversee all marketing, sponsorships and group sales
for the Universitys sports programs. His current co-hosts Willy Daunic and
former Tennessee Titans General Manager Floyd Reese will remain in place in
afternoons.

Belmont University Director of Athletics Scott Corley announced Wednesday
the hire of George Plaster to the position of associate athletic director
for marketing.

Plaster, a Nashville radio mainstay for nearly three decades, brings a
wealth of experience and business relationships to Belmont.

“George is a fixture in the Nashville sports market and will be a great
addition to our Belmont team,� Corley said. “I know George to be a person
of great integrity and character, and he will infuse our department with
creativity and charisma. I look forward to working with him during this
exciting time for Belmont University Athletics.�

For the past four years, Plaster has served as the host of the afternoon
drive sports talk radio program Sports Night on 102.5 The Game and 94.9
Game 2.

“This is obviously a huge decision for me and one that was not taken
lightly,� Plaster said. “You don’t just walk away from something so
meaningful and gratifying – for me radio – unless it’s the perfect
situation. And for me, this opportunity at Belmont is it. I have the utmost
respect for Scott (Corley), and cannot wait to join his team. On a personal
level, I would like to thank Bud Walters and the entire team at Cromwell
Radio and 102.5 The Game for their dedication over the years, and support
of this career decision.�

Plaster also captained highly-rated sports talk programming on 104.5 The
Zone and 99.7 WTN.

The Nashville native boasts extensive play-by-play experience, serving as
the lead voice of Vanderbilt University, the University of Memphis, Georgia
Tech University and Western Kentucky University athletic broadcasts.

In addition, Plaster has parlayed radio success into television, most
recently as host of a weekly sports program on Nashville Fox affiliate,
WZTV-TV.

A regular emcee of choice for middle Tennessee area events, Plaster has
been a leading advocate of sporting interests and business development in
the Nashville community, notably the Music City Sports Festival, Nashville
Predators and Coaches vs. Cancer initiatives.

Plaster has been named to the coveted ‘Talkers 250’ list by Talkers
Magazine three times, spotlighting the most influential talk radio hosts in
America.

A product of nearby Battle Ground Academy, Plaster is a 1981 Vanderbilt
University graduate.



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'Ramblin Ray' Stevens Jumps To WLS Mornings; Rest Of WUSN Morning Team Let
Go

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 10:35 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...-wls-mornings/



Ramblin Ray Stevens is exiting CBS Country US 99.5 WUSN Chicago after 26
years to join Cumulus News/Talk 890 WLS starting Monday, August 8.

Stevens will join his former WUSN partner Big John Howell on the WLS
morning show. The duo were paired together from 2002 through 2006 at the
Country station. He has been in the morning slot with various co-hosts
since 1994 and with Lisa Dent since Howells departure in 2006.

With Stevens jumping to WLS, WUSN has let go of the rest of its morning
team as Lisa Dent and producer Katherine Kelly exit. Dent joined WUSN as
midday host in 2002 prior to joining Steven in mornings in 2006. Kelly
returned to the station earlier this year after a previous run as morning
show producer in the early 2000s.

US99.5 wishes Ramblin Ray Stevens and Lisa Dent all the best. There are
exciting plans in the works that will keep Chicago waking up every day with
the most popular Country music station in the market. US99.5 looks forward
to sharing its plans with all of Chicagoland in the coming weeks.

Howell joined WLS in January 2015 from Salems 560 WIND.

The new program will be billed Big John and Ray.

Cumulus Media announces that award-winning and well-known Chicago radio
personality “Ramblin’� Ray Stevens will join WLS AM 890 weekday mornings
from 5:00AM until 9:00AM CST, beginning Monday, August 8, 2016. The move
reunites Stevens with current WLS AM 890 morning personality “Big� John
Howell, as the two worked together for several years at US99.5 Chicago.

Peter Bowen, WLS AM 890 General Manager and Vice President/Market Manager
for Cumulus Media-Chicago, said: “Big John and Ray are deeply rooted in
Chicago and are well known to the community. We are excited for our
listeners, as Big John and Ray are a winning combination.�

Stevens said: “I’m thrilled to be re-joining my former partner and good
friend Big John Howell for mornings on Chicago’s News/Talk leader, WLS AM
890. I want to thank Peter Bowen, Peter Bolger and Mike McVay for this
tremendous opportunity to speak with Chicagoans each weekday about the news
and topics important to us all.�

Stevens has been a Chicago media fixture for over two decades. In addition
to winning ACM, CMA and CRB Personality of the Year awards and having been
nominated for radio’s coveted Marconi Award, Stevens is heavily involved in
leadership and fundraising roles for The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation,
The Illinois State Crime Commission, The Ronald McDonald House Charities,
P.A.W.’s Chicago and many more. Stevens is a champion for United States
Military Servicemen and Veterans, dedicating his time and energy to
America’s enlisted men and women and their families. In 2001, Stevens was
awarded the United States Marine’s Semper Fi Award for his work with
military veterans, the highest Marine honor bestowed upon a civilian.

Howell has entertained Chicago radio audiences for almost three decades,
including the last two as morning host for WLS-AM 890. Prior to that, he
hosted mornings for WIND, as well as afternoons and then morning at US99.5
where he and Ray Stevens had a long and successful run. Howell made his
name with national audiences as host of a call-in request show, Country
Gold, syndicated by Westwood One from 1999-2006. A graduate of the Berklee
College of Music, Howell has traveled nationally as a musician and
arranger. He started his radio career in 1984 in Grand Rapids, MI.




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iHeartMedia Consolidates Management In Three Regions

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 10:12 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...three-regions/



iHeartMedia is consolidating the upper management within its Midwest
Southeast Division to bring more markets under individual oversight.

Florida, which was previously broken into four regions will now be
separated into just two. Brian Olson, President of the West Palm Beach
region, will move back to Miami as President of the South Florida Region
overseeing Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Punta Gorda, and
West Palm Beach. He will also manage day-to-day operations in Miami.

Current Orlando Market President Lynda Byrd will become President of
Central/North Florida Region overseeing Jacksonville, Melbourne, Orlando,
Tampa/Sarasota, and Brunswick GA.

The Atlanta Region will be expanded to include nine markets under existing
President Justin Schaflander. The markets under his oversight are now
Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus/Albany, Macon, and Savannah in Georgia and
Columbia, Charleston, Florence, and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

iHeartMedia announced today that it has elevated the roles of Region
Presidents Brian Olson, Linda Byrd and Justin Schaflander to align the
markets within the Midwest Southeast Division to better serve the needs of
partners, advertisers and the communities it serves. All three Region
Presidents will continue to report to Tom McConnell – President of the
Midwest Southeast Division of the iHeartMedia Markets Group.

Effective immediately, Florida, formerly organized into four regions, will
now be comprised of two regions – Central/North Florida and South Florida.
Brian Olson will now become President of the South Florida Region including
West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers/Naples and
Punta Gorda, and will also manage day-to-day operations in the Miami
market, which includes a number of iconic brands and franchises such as
Y100, Big 105.9, MEGA 94.9, 103.5 The Beat, 93.9 MIA, 940 WINZ and News
Radio 610 WIOD, and produces legendary marquee events including the Y100
Jingle Ball and is home to this year’s iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina. Olson is
a 25-year media veteran who joined iHeartMedia in 2006 as Senior Vice
President of Sales in Miami. Olson has also been Market President in Miami
and most recently held the position as President of the West Palm Beach
Region.

Linda Byrd will now become President of the Central/North Florida Region,
which includes Orlando, Tampa/Sarasota, Jacksonville, Brunswick, GA and
Melbourne. Byrd is a 40-year media veteran who has been with iHeartMedia
since 1982. Byrd previously oversaw operations in Orlando, including Real
Radio 104.1, XL 106.7, Magic 107.7, 101.1 WJRR, Rumba 100.3, News Radio
102.5 WFLA, 96.9 The Game, 104.5 the Beat, WLOQ Radio, Florida’s News
Network, FNN Hispana, Alma 97.1 and Pride Radio Orlando. During her tenure
she has received many prestigious honors, including Radio Ink Magazine’s
General Manager of the Year, and received the Silver Medal Award by the
American Advertising Federation for outstanding advertising professional in
Central Florida. Byrd was also the first woman to serve as Chairman of the
Florida Association of Broadcasters and currently serves on the boards of
the Central Florida Transportation Committee and Florida Citrus Sports.

Justin Schaflander will now become President of the expanded Atlanta Region
which now includes Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Columbus/Albany, Charleston,
Columbia, Savannah, Myrtle Beach and Florence. Schaflander is a 20-year
media veteran who joined iHeartMedia in 2007 as Director of Sports for the
Atlanta Braves Radio Network. He has overseen all business aspects of
iHeartMedia’s Atlanta Region since 2014 and has held senior sales
leadership positions with the company. He is also a board member for the
Sunshine on a Ranney Day (SOARD) non-profit organization and is actively
involved with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

“Under the leadership of Brian, Linda and Justin, this new organization
will allow us to better align our regions assets and resources to improve
the listener experience and client results,� said McConnell. “All three of
these Region Presidents are proven leaders and have winning track records
for driving ratings and revenue, and I’m excited to see all of them take
these regions to the next level.�

iHeartMedia is the leading media company with the largest reach of any
radio or television outlet in America. Its radio brands and content are
available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations;
online via its branded digital sites; mobile; and social, with nationwide
listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music and live
radio service.




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Mix 100.7 Tampa Adds Brooke & Jubal For Mornings

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 10:00 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...-for-mornings/



iHeartMedia Hot AC Mix 100.7 WMTX Tampa is picking up Premiere Radio
Networks Brooke Jubal for mornings starting Thursday, August 4. The KQMV
Seattle based morning show replaces Corey Dylan who has only been in
mornings at WMTX since last November.

iHeartMedia’s Mix 100.7, Tampa Bay’s variety from the ‘90s to now,
announced today the addition of Brooke Jubal to the station’s weekday
morning lineup. Debuting tomorrow, August 4, 2016, the top-rated show will
air in the Monday through Friday, 6 to 10 a.m. ET timeslot.

Brooke Jubal brings high-energy, laughs and the best in pop culture
conversation to listeners every day. The top-rated program also features
phone taps, hilarious skits and listener interaction.

Below is the updated weekday programming lineup for Mix 100.7:

Brooke Jubal 6:00am 10:00am

Randi WestÂ*10:00am 3:00pm

On Air with Ryan Seacrest 3:00pm 7:00pm

Kristy KnightÂ*7:00pm 10:00pm

The Rendezvous with Simon and KimÂ*10:00pm 12:00am

CT The Web ChickÂ*12:00am 6:00am

“All of us at Brooke Jubal are thrilled to be added to mornings on Mix
100.7,� shared Jubal. “Tampa is an incredibly competitive radio market with
a lot of great talent, and we can’t thank Travis Daily and Randi West
enough for having faith in us to compete against the best.�

Mix 100.7 Program Director Randi West stated, “I’m excited to have Brooke
and Jubal on our team!Â*Â*They are the perfect balance of fun and music for
our listeners to start their day.�

Travis Daily, iHeartMedia Regional SVP of Programming for Tampa Bay, added,
“I have never been more excited about a show, and at the same time, afraid
that one day Jubal could prank call me.�



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Univision Shuffles Fresno Formats

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:38 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...resno-formats/



Univision has swapped formats at two of its three Fresno CA stations.

Regional Mexican La 92.1 KOND Clovis moves to 107.5 Hanford as La Jefa
107.5. That move gives KOND coverage of the adjacent Visalia market as well
as Fresno.

Concurrently Spanish Adult Hits 107.5 Mas Variedad KRDA moves in reverse to
92.1 as Amor 92.1.

In the Spring 2016 Nielsen Audio ratings KOND was eighth in the Fresno
market with a 3.9 share. KRDA was fifteenth with a 2.5 share.



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WWNU Makes Flip To His Radio

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:16 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...-to-his-radio/



Radio Training Network closed on its acquisition of AAA 92.1 The Palm WWNU
Irmo/Columbia SC on Tuesday and flipped the station to its Christian AC
His Radio network.

The His Radio programming had been airing in Columbia on 106.3 W292EU
Columbia via 96.7 WLTY-HD3. As of now the programming is simulcasting on
both stations.

Radio Training Network had agreed to acquire WWNU from Davis Media in April
for $1 million. A sale of sister Country 94.3 The Dude WWNQ Forest Acres to
Midlands Media Group is still pending.



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Palm Springs AM Duo To Go Dark

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 05:00 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...uo-to-go-dark/



RR Broadcasting will take Conservative Talk 920 KPSI Palm Springs and
Liberal Talk 1340 KWXY Cathedral City CA dark on August 12.

Owned by Ric and Rozene Supple, the two stations are the final remnants of
a one time five station cluster. 98.5 KDES, 100.5 KPSI-FM, and 107.3 K297BO
were sold to Alpha Media in August 2015, while 1450 KPTR was donated to
College of the Desert in March. The Desert Sun reports that the Supples
will file Silent STAs for the stations while awaiting a suitable offer to
sell. Both owners are in their 90s and seeking to cut back on their
businesses.

Both stations feature all-syndicated lineups. KPSIs programming includes
Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, and Michael Savage. KWXY assumed
the Liberal Talk format from KPTR when it was sold and features Stephanie
Miller, Thom Hartmann, Leslie Marshall and Alan Colmes in its lineup.



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Big Radio Launches Iron Country In Beloit

Posted: 03 Aug 2016 04:20 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...try-in-beloit/



Big Radio flipped Oldies 1490 WGEZ Beloit WI to Classic Country this
morning as Iron Country.

The flip coincides with the launch of 101.9 W270CW Beloit to bring WGEZs
programming to FM. Big Red joins WGEM for mornings from Bliss
Communications 99.9 WJVL Janeville where he hosted a Classic Country show
on Sunday mornings.

With WGEZs flip, sister News/Talk 1380 The Big AM WBEL South Beloit will
replace its ESPN Radio programming in nights and weekends with Oldies.



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Beasley Acquires Greater Media

Posted: 02 Aug 2016 09:20 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...greater-media/



The Beasley/Greater Media deal has been filed with the FCC.

The deal is structured as a merger as Greater Media will combine with
Beasley Media Group 2 and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Beasley Media
Group, Inc. All of Greater Medias owned towers will be sold to a yet to be
revealed third party and Greater Medias weekly newspaper holdings in New
Jersey will be sold with the ownership of Greater Media retaining all
proceeds.

The Greater Media Charlotte cluster of Hot AC 107.9 The Link WLNK Charlotte
and News/Talk 1110 WBT Charlotte/99.3 WBT-FM Chester SC will be placed in
The Charlotte Divestiture Trust to keep Beasley underneath the ownership
caps.

Original Report 7/19: Beasley Media has announced it has agreed to acquire
Greater Media and its 21 stations for $240 million.

Greater Media stockholders will receive $100 million in cash and a 19%
stake in Beasley. The deal will temporarily grow Beasley to 73 stations in
16 markets, although multiple stations in Charlotte NC will need to be
divested to get Beasley back under the ownership limits in that market. It
makes Beasley the ninth largest radio operator based on 2015 revenue
projections.

The deal combines Beasleys brokered AM operations in Boston and
Philadelphia with Greater Medias FM stations while the company enters
Detroit and the three suburban New Jersey markets
(Middlesex/Somerset/Union, Monmouth/Ocean, and Morristown). Both companies
have clusters in Charlotte.

The newly acquired Beasley stations a

Boston: Alternative Alt 92.9 WBOS, Rhythmic Hot AC Hot 96.9 WBQT, Country
102.5 WKLB, Classic Hits 105.7 WROR, and AC Magic 106.7 WMJX (Beasley owns
Brokered 1330 WRCA)

Charlotte: Hot AC 107.9 The Link WLNK and News/Talk 1110 WBT/99.3 WBT-FM
(Beasley owns CHR Kiss 95.1 WNKS, Urban Power 98 97.9 WPEG, Urban AC V101.9
WBAV, Country 103.7 WSOC, AC K104.7 WKQC, Sports 610 The Fan WFNZ and
Conservative Talk 1660 WBCN)

Detroit: Classic Rock 94.7 WCSX, Rock 101.1 WRIF and Classic Hip-Hop 105.1
The Bounce WMGC

Middlesex/Somerset/Union: AC Magic 98.3 WMGQ and Talk 1450 WCTC

Monmouth/Ocean: Rock 95.9 The Rat WRAT and Classic Hits 100.1 WJRZ

Morristown: Rock 105.5 WDHA and Oldies 1250 WMTR

Philadelphia: Rock 93.3 WMMR, Variety Hits 95.7 Ben-FM WBEN-FM, Sports 97.5
The Fanatic WPEN-FM and Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK (Beasley owns Sports 610
WTEL, Christian 800 WTMR, Brokered Talk 860 WWDB and AC 99.5 WJBR in the
adjacent Wilmington DE market)

Greater Media exits radio for the first time since its founding in 1956.
Pre-consolidation the company included stations in Los Angeles, Washington
DC, and Long Island as well as holdings in print, cable television, and
telephone. The company currently owns 10 weekly newspapers in New Jersey,
but no word yet on if they are included in the Beasley acquisition.

Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBGI) (“the Company� or “Beasley�),
a large- and mid-size market radio broadcaster, and Greater Media, Inc.
(“Greater Media�) today announced that they have entered into a definitive
agreement pursuant to which Beasley will acquire all of the outstanding
stock of Greater Media for an aggregate consideration of approximately $240
million, subject to adjustments.

Under the terms of the agreement, Greater Media shareholders are expected
to receive approximately $100 million in cash and approximately $25 million
in shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (at a fixed value of $4.61
per share). In addition, the shareholders of Greater Media will receive the
net cash proceeds from the sale of its tower assets, estimated to be
approximately $20 million. Beasley will refinance approximately $80 million
of debt of Greater Media. In connection with the acquisition, Beasley will
initially acquire 21 radio stations in seven markets including four new
markets (Detroit, MI; Middlesex, NJ; Monmouth, NJ; and, Morristown, NJ) and
three markets where the Company has existing operations (Philadelphia, PA;
Boston, MA; and, Charlotte, NC).

Excluding transaction costs, the transaction is expected to be accretive to
Beasley’s operating results immediately upon closing (inclusive of expected
financial and operating synergies and the planned divestiture of certain
stations). Beasley intends to fund the acquisition through borrowings under
a new credit facility that Beasley expects to enter into in connection with
the closing of the acquisition, together with cash and cash equivalents
available to the Company and the issuance of Class A common stock as
described above. RBC Capital Markets and U.S. Bank have provided committed

The acquisition of Greater Media is expected to significantly broaden
Beasley’s local radio broadcasting and digital platform, scale and revenue
base by adding stations that are geographically complementary to the
Company’s operating base while presenting the opportunity for significant
financial and operating synergies with its existing station portfolio and
digital operations. Upon closing, Beasley’s portfolio of stations that it
owns and operates (prior to planned divestitures) is expected to expand to
73 stations (52 FM and 21 AM) in 16 markets.

Giving effect to the transaction on a pro forma basis as of December 31,
2015, Beasley’s net revenue would have increased from approximately $106
million to approximately $247 million. Beasley intends to divest certain
radio stations in Charlotte, NC to obtain FCC approval of the proposed
transaction.

Caroline Beasley, Interim Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
of Beasley Broadcast Group, commented, “The acquisition of Greater Media’s
broadcasting and related digital assets represents a transformational
growth opportunity for Beasley and is strategically and financially
compelling for our shareholders. The transaction increases our broadcast
portfolio by approximately 40% and more than doubles our audience reach,
giving us both market leading stations and great brands.

“Throughout Beasley Broadcast Group’s 55-year history, we have actively
managed our station portfolio with the goal of providing our local
communities with great entertainment and critical information, diversifying
our operations, managing risk and improving financial results. Similarly,

Greater Media and the Bordes family have a 60-year track record of serving
local communities and developing new technology and services to improve
media communications. A focus on strong core programming and targeted
localism has been the foundation of both companies’ operating philosophies,
ratings strength and market leadership. As such, we intend to implement our
proven strategy of focusing on local programming and effective digital
media marketing solutions across the two companies as well as best
practices from our existing operations with those from Greater Media.�

Greater Media Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter H. Smyth
commented, “We share with Beasley a common appreciation for the enduring
strength of local radio broadcasting and we are delighted that our stations
will become part of Beasley’s expanded footprint. As part of the Beasley
portfolio, we believe our stations will be positioned extremely well for
future growth and that our team members, customers and the communities we
serve will continue to thrive.

“Our employees have provided the skills and talent necessary to drive our
ongoing growth and success over the years and we are proud of this
heritage. I am thankful for their hard work and dedication and am confident
they will continue to make many valuable contributions as part of a larger
organization. I look forward to working with the Beasley team to bring our
companies together to realize the power of this compelling combination and
ensure a smooth transition.�

The transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both
Beasley and Greater Media, is subject to FCC approval and other regulatory
approvals (including the termination or expiration of the applicable
Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period) and other customary closing conditions.

Upon completion of the transaction, expected in the fourth quarter of 2016,
Beasley shareholders and Greater Media shareholders will hold approximately
81% and 19%, respectively, of Beasley’s outstanding shares. In addition,
Greater Media shareholders will have the right to appoint one member to the
Beasley Board of Directors which will expand the size of the Board to nine
members.

RBC Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Beasley Broadcast
Group and Latham Watkins LLP is acting as its legal counsel. Rockdale
Partners is acting as financial advisor to Greater Media and Debevoise
Plimpton LLP is acting as its legal counsel.