Journal Reports 2Q Radio Revenue Up 2.3 Percent

Journal Communications, Inc. today announced results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

Steve J. Smith

Highlights:

• Revenue of $101.2 million, up 6.0%
• Broadcast revenue up 15.3% , up 6.1% on a same-station basis and excluding political revenue
• Political revenue of $0.3 million compared to $5.7 million
• Daily newspaper retail advertising revenue up 2.8%
• Publishing revenue down 6.5%, down 0.5% excluding northern Wisconsin community publications sold in December 2012
• Operating earnings of $13.1 million, down 2.6% primarily due to lower political revenue
• Closed on acquisition of WNOX-FM in Knoxville, Tennesseefor $5.96 million in cash
• Diluted EPS of $0.13 in both years

“Journal Communications had a solid second quarter, driven by revenue gains in our broadcast group, as well as improving advertising revenue trends in publishing. Total revenue of $101.2 million was up 6% year over year,” said Steven J. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Journal Communications. “Operating earnings decreased 2.6% as lower political revenue offset operating earnings increases in broadcast, driven by NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, as well as higher earnings at our daily newspaper.”

“Within the Broadcast group, we continue to see core revenue growth. On a same-station basis and excluding political advertising, revenue was up 6%, with television up 7% and radio up 5%.”

For the second quarter, revenue from radio stations increased 2.3% to $19.9 million, or 4.7% excluding political revenue.

Radio political advertising revenue was $0.1 million, compared to $0.5 million. Local advertising revenue, excluding political, increased 5.0%, primarily due to an increase in retail advertising.

National advertising revenue, excluding political, decreased 4.9% to $1.8 million, primarily due to a decrease in media advertising.

Operating earnings from radio stations were $3.8 million compared to $4.4 million, a decrease of 13.8% or a decrease of 19.0% excluding acquisition costs in both years.

Radio operating expenses increased 7.1%, or 9.3% excluding acquisition costs in both years, primarily due to employee-related expense increases and the impact of credits received from an industry-wide music licensing fee settlement in 2012.

Note that unless otherwise indicated, all comparisons are to the second quarter ended June 24, 2012. Same-station comparisons exclude the operations of NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, which we purchased in December 2012.

For the second quarter, revenue of $101.2 million increased 6.0% and operating earnings of $13.1 million decreased 2.6%. Net earnings were $6.6 million, a decrease of 13.3%.

In the second quarter, basic and diluted net earnings per share of class A and B common stock were $0.13 in both years.

The operating margin was 13.0% for the second quarter compared to 14.1%. Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in Table 4, was $20.4 million, a decrease of 1.6% from $20.7 million.

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Cumulus Reports 2Q Net Revenue Increased 3.1 Percent

Cumulus Media Tuesday reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.

Lew Dickey, Chairman & CEO stated: "This was a solid quarter earmarked by revenue growth and strong expense management. Our targeted growth initiatives are ramping on schedule and our merger integration and problem market turnarounds are largely complete."

Financial highlights are as follows (in thousands, except percentages)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2012

Net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2013 increased $8.7 million, or 3.1%, to $289.7 million, compared to $281.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. This increase was attributable to a $4.3 million increase in local advertising revenue, a $3.9 million increase in revenue related to digital initiatives and a $2.8 million increase in revenue due to the addition of stations in the Bloomingtonand Peoriamarkets we acquired from Townsquare Media in July 2012. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $2.3 million in cyclical political revenue.

Direct operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2013 increased $3.1 million, or 1.8%, to $171.8 million, compared to $168.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to a $4.6 million increase in our strategic content initiatives, a $4.1 million increase related to ongoing investments in our sales infrastructure and a $1.9 million increase in expenses due to the addition of stations in the Bloomington and Peoria markets we acquired from Townsquare Media in July 2012. These increases were partially offset by a $7.5 million decrease in music royalties.

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Dickey: NashFM Is Third Most Listened To Country Station

During Tuesday’s earnings conference call Lew Dickey sang the praises of WNSH NashFM 94-7 in NYC: 

This is one of the most exciting major market launches in recent memory. In just 5 months, we're already over 1 million weekly listeners. And in fact, it's already the third most country -- third most-listened country radio station in Americaand moving up fast. 

In addition to establishing itself as a successful New York station, NASH FM will also serve as the flagship for our multiplatform country lifestyle entertainment brand, NASH. It's a transcendent brand that has captured the attention of artists, of labels, listeners, as well as advertisers. NASH will provide a unique opportunity for advertisers to reach the large and desirable consumer lifestyle segment of country music fans, which is over 85 million now, through various multiple platforms for both engagement and activation. 

In June, we launched NASH's new morning show, hosted by the nationally syndicated country radio talent, Blair Garner. Blair leads an ensemble cast, including country superstars Lee Ann Womack, Chuck Wicks, Terri Clark, Sunny Sweeney and along with CNN's Robin Meade as our news anchor. This is the biggest show in country radio by far, and they're broadcast in front of a live studio audience out of our NASH studios, and we expect to begin our video offering of the show in early 2014.

Dickey also mentioned Cumulus now has 9 stations branded as NASH FM. He also promised a full report on the NashFM multiplatform strategy on our next earnings call in about 90 days.

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Does Cumulus Make Money On Rush?

During the Cumulus 2Q Earnings conference call with fiancial analysts Tuesday, Michael Kupinski with Noble Financial Group, Inc. asked one of the most anticipated questions of the call.  Kupinski asked Lew Dickey, “Do you -- as a firm, do you make money on Rush Limbaugh?”

Dickey refused to talk about Rush. 

Well, on that, Mike, I've got to refer you back to the last thing that I said, which is we -- in the prepared remarks, which is we really don't want to get into that subject today and we're in the middle of a negotiation, and we'll have more to say on that when we do. And I can't tell you exactly when that'll be, but it will likely be sooner than later. And we'll have more to say on that topic when we have a resolution. And what was the other -- what was the question before that?

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Limbaugh's Future Cloudy After Cumulus Earnings

Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh’s specter hovered over Cumulus Media’s second-quarter earnings call Tuesday, but Forbes reports the conservative talk radio host was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey.

Unlike three months ago, when he blamed an anti-Limbaugh boycott for a $2.4 million revenue decline, Dickey was both vague and politic, bringing up the subject of a soon-to-expire deal with Premiere Radio (which syndicates both Limbaugh and Sean Hannity) only to announce that he wouldn’t be discussing it further. 

“While there will be no comment on individual talent negotiations, I will say the framework we employ is straightforward and very consistent,” he said. The factors to be weighed, he said, include “listener interest, advertiser demand and opportunity cost.”

 If you were to sift those verbal tea leaves for meaning, they might be read as suggesting that Limbaugh’s extension on Cumulus stations past December is unlikely.

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Rush Limbaugh Talks To Greta On FNC

Rush Limbaugh joined Greta Van Susteren for the full hour Tuesday night on the Fox News Channel, and the first segment of the program bashing President Obama, sharing the "Limbaugh Theorem" for how the president governs, and taking the "slavish media" to task for not holding him accountable.

He also had some choice words for Republicans capitulating too much to the Democratic agenda.

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NYC Radio: ESPN Returns To Eastern Long Island

ESPN’s Michael Kay afternoon radio host Michael Kaye and his colleagues are East End bound, effective next week in a deal the station plans to announce Wednesday for a noon-to-midnight simulcast on Hampton Bays-based WLIR 107.1 FM.

WLIR-FM 107.1 FM 60dBu Coverage Area

That is good news for a part of Long Island that always has had a complex relationship with radio signals, what with all those miles separating it from New York Cityand all that water separating it from everything else.

"This will ensure that we cover all of the Island, particularly Suffolk County," Dave Roberts, the station's vice president and general manager, told Newsday.

To further cover central Suffolk, WLIR also will be heard at 96.9 FM, a translator based in Seldenthat should fill in most gaps between the 107.1 signal and ESPN's primary outlet at 98.7 FM.

It's good news for fans of ESPN Radio talk shows and/or the Knicks, Rangers and Jets. It also is a return to an arrangement from 2008-11 during which ESPN used WLIR as a supplemental outlet for its notoriously finicky 1050 AM signal.

ESPN left in 2011 when WLIR turned to a Christian programming format, and moved to FM last year. Now it's back on 107.1 as part of a new-look WLIR, which is switching to an all-sports approach and will launch its own local morning drive-time talk show next Monday, the same day the ESPN simulcast begins.

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Cincy Radio: WCFN FM 100.3 Flips To ‘Old School’

FM 100.3 The Fan is no more.  At noon Tuesday the Radio One-owned station flipped from CBS Radio Sports to Old School Urban oldies.

The shot with sports lasted just seven month.

Tom Gamble, Richard Skinner, Will Chambers,  Chad Brendel, Rick Ucchino, Rick Broering, Jeremy Lance and former Reds pitcher Joe Price — plus Steve Harris — were told Tuesday morning after the Gamble-Chamber morning show ended at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Ironically, John Kiesewetter at cincinnati.com notes, the decision was made after “The Fan” finally received some much-needed promotion on billboards. The station had ranked last in local Arbitron ratings – although Tom Gamble’s morning show has beaten Clear Channel’s Fox Sports WSAI-130 AM in some male demographics, and afternoon host Richard Skinner tied Clear Channel’s ESPN WCKY-1530 AM in the 35-44 male demo in July.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here

The Tom Joyner Morning Show, which the station carried in its previous “Mojo” incarnation will return to the station from sister Urban Talk 1230 WDBZ.

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TV Ratings: Diane Sawyer Tops Brian Williams

Happy news at Disney-owned ABC: "ABC World News With Diane Sawyer" scored a close victory over "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" last week.

According to media writer Hal Boedeker at orlandosentinel.com, Sawyer and the ABC team posted a razor-thin win over Williams and NBC in the 25-to-54 age group, which is most important to news advertisers.

ABC won by just 38,000 viewers. ABC averaged 1.917 million viewers in the age group to NBC's 1.879 million. The "CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley" had 1.506 million in the age group.

Williams and NBC had been No. 1 in the count for 243 weeks.

NBC, however, rounded up its count to 1.9 million and declared a tie with ABC. And that proves that ratings can be read several ways.

NBC remains the No. 1 network in total viewers: "NBC Nightly News" averaged 7.536 million viewers to ABC's 7.287 million and CBS' 5.954 million.

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Jay Mohr Talks Fox Sports Radio and Comedy

Jay Mohr

He's had a long successful career as a stand-up comic, actor and producer. So, NBC4 wondered why did Jay Mohr make the move to sports talk radio?

Now that he's the boss on his new nationally syndicated radio show, people have to do what he says. With a team of producers, there's always something happening. But it's the intern who gets some of the best jobs and Jay has a few unique tasks for his assistants.

Like any good comic, Jay has a few impressions.

His impromptu takes on his famous friends have a new twist that must be heard.

Plus, Mohr dishes on what makes a great comic and who he thinks are the best in the business.

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Boston Radio: Promotional Video Released For Herald Radio

The new interent radio station makes its debut Monday, August 6.  See original postings: Click Here

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SiriusXM Makes It Official: Art Bell Is Back

Art Bell

SiriusXM Radio officially announced Tuesday it will be the exclusive home to legendary radio personality Art Bell, marking the return of the trailblazing late night host to radio with a new, expanded live, nightly call-in show on which he will explore the paranormal, unexplained and more with expert guests and listeners nationwide.

Art Bell's Dark Matter will debut in fall 2013 on Indie, SiriusXM channel 104, airing nightly from 10:00 pm -- 1:00 am ET. Bell will host the show from his home studio in Pahrump, Nevada--near the storied Area 51--opening the phones lines and inviting listeners and expert guests to join his uncensored, unscripted nightly conversation about a wide variety of topics including: the paranormal, near-death experiences, quantum physics, extraterrestrial life and the unusual.

A 2008 inductee to the National Radio Hall of Fame, Bell was one of the top five most listened-to talk hosts in America when he was syndicated weeknights from 1993-2003, sharing the top rankings with Howard Stern, Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh, with as many as fifteen million listeners on 500 radio stations. Howard Stern and Dr. Laura are also exclusively heard on SiriusXM.

"SiriusXM is the perfect fit for me and my new show Art Bell's Dark Matter," said Art Bell. "Though invisible, dark matter accounts for gravitational forces observed in the universe--expect these forces to be at work in the uncensored, unrestricted creative arena of satellite radio, a medium with truly extraterrestrial reach."

"We are excited to be the exclusive home of Art Bell, who has captivated a nation of listeners throughout his career with his intelligent and inquisitive, yet entertaining, style," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "Art Bell left terrestrial radio after the biggest possible successes. We are honored that Art now wants to work with SiriusXM to write his next chapter; his vision takes advantage of our best strengths and his new show will be uncensored, unrestricted, uncluttered and utterly unique. With his return to radio on SiriusXM, he will be able to reach millions of longtime listeners and new fans everywhere in the nation."

Bellstarted in radio at age thirteen when he became a licensed amateur radio operator, a license and interest that he holds to this day. He hosted radio shows while serving in the Air Force in Vietnam, became an engineer when he returned to the U.S., and returned to the airwaves with a late night show on a Las Vegas radio station that ultimately became his nationally syndicated show "Coast to Coast AM."

Art Bell's Dark Matter will be available on SiriusXM On Demand after it airs for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at siriusxm.com.

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FCC Nominee Wheeler Wins Senate Panel Approval

Tom Wheeler

The Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of Tom Wheeler as the next chairman of the FCC, although questions remain as to how quickly his selection will gain a floor vote.

According to Variety, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), chairman of the Commerce Committee, urged members to approve the nomination, but said it would be left up to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to work out when it would get a vote of the Senate.

Republicans want Wheeler’s nomination paired with a Republican nominee for another vacancy on the commission, but so far none has put forward. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said that the White House would be making the nomination “very soon,” while Rockefeller vowed to move the Republican nominee through committee quickly.

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Kidd Kraddick: Deathbed Confessions Bit

Recorded on a Monday of the week he passed.

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Fans Start Petition To Keep Kraddick Show On-Air

Old School Kraddick

In the wake of the untimely death of nationally syndicated radio host David "Kidd" Kraddick, his fervent fans are asking that his morning show stay on air, and according to dallas.culturemap.com, they have launched a petition that's being deluged with signatures.

Kraddick died unexpectedly in New Orleans on July 27 of apparent cardiac disease. His morning show, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning — broadcast in Dallas on KHKS 106.1KISS-FM — reached millions of listeners across the country.

Tuesday At 10 am, the petition had more than 4,600 signatures. By 10:30 am, it had climbed to 7,500, with about 200 signatures being added every minute.

Although KISS-FM has not announced plans for Kraddick's morning show.

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'Piolin' Sotelo Hit With Harassment Allegations

Eddie Sotelo

Spanish-language radio personality Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo's mysterious departure from the airwaves last week came after a performer on his nationally syndicated program accused him of sexual harassment, according to documents obtained by The LA Times.

Alberto "Beto" Cortez, a writer, producer and performer on the popular "Piolin por la Manana" radio program, alleged that his boss Sotelo was "physically, sexually and emotionally harassing" him for a three-year period ending last January. The claim was made in an April 16 letter from Cortez attorney Robert R. Clayton to executives Roberto Llamas and Jose Valle of Univision Communications Inc., which broadcast and syndicated the show.

In addition to the claim of sexual harassment, Cortez alleged that Sotelo ordered members of his radio production team to falsify letters in support of a high-profile campaign for congressional immigration reform, an issue that Sotelo championed on his program.

Sotelo's attorney, Jeffrey Spitz, said the allegations were false and motivated by money.   Neither Cortez nor Sotelo could be reached for comment. Univision executives declined to comment.

In the documents obtained by The Times, Cortez claimed that Sotelo repeatedly made aggressive and unwanted sexual advances, including grabbing Cortez's buttocks and genitals when Cortez would arrive at work in the morning at the Glendale studio.

Cortez alleged that Sotelo taunted him during staff meetings, calling him by a derogatory term for a homosexual, and telling him to say that he was gay.

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NYC Radio: WBLS Revenue Spikes 76 Percent

The battle over radio audience measurement that raged five years ago when Portable People Meters replaced paper diaries—a move that minority stations said hurt their ratings—never really went away, according to crainsnewyork.com.

Radio stations that catered to blacks and Latinos said the people meters undercounted their audiences, making it harder to sell advertising. 

Last year, Emmis Communications threw in the towel on urban station Kiss-FM and leased its signal to ESPN.

But that story has yielded an interesting twist for 107.5 WBLS-FM. New York's oldest urban station—and onetime No. 1 in the market—is making more money than it has in years.

For the first six months of 2013, advertising revenue for WBLS spiked 76% over the same period a year earlier, in a market that was up 6%, according to accounting firm Miller Kaplan. Billings are still below where they were before Arbitron rolled out its people meters, but according to General Manager Deon Levingston, revenue is "on track" to match its old numbers, perhaps in the next year.

The turnaround is in large part the result of a couple of smart plays by YMF Media, a company owned jointly owned by Ron Burkle, Magic Johnson and Fortress Investment Group. Last year, YMF took over WBLS, along with other stations owned by bankrupt Inner City Broadcasting Corp. YMF also paid $10 million for the "intellectual assets" of Kiss-FM, including call letters WRKS, websites and databases. The two moves allowed the firm to fold in longtime rival Kiss-FM and make WBLS an urban radio powerhouse again.

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Rush Limbaugh Says It’s Business Not Politics

Rush Limbaugh

On Monday, Rush Limbaugh took about 90-minutes of show time to talk shop about his reports he was being dropped on 40+ Cumulus stations nationwide. 

The liberal blososphere, led by lefties-Media Matters and Al Sharpton, cited the reports as proof that a call for ‘advertiser boycotts’ had taken its toll.   Various groups have been harassing national and local Limbaugh advertisers since Rush called reproductive rights advocate Sandra Fluke a “slut” in early 2012.

Rush was quick to say listeners were “being treated to is just a public business negotiation”. 

RUSH: There was another Politico story that ran last night about this program and the radio stations that it is on, and is going to be on, in the future. And someday, someday I am looking so forward to being able to detail all of this for you, but suffice it to say nothing is gonna happen that you will notice. Nothing is going to change. You are gonna be able to get this radio program on as many, if not more, radio stations down the road than it's on now, and what you're being treated to is just a public business negotiation.You are gonna be able to get this radio program on as many, if not more, radio stations down the road than it's on now, and what you're being treated to is just a public business negotiation. Negotiations have been taken public by one side of this. I thought it was done. I thought it was over with. And, folks, I would love... I mean, I love inside baseball stuff, and I would love to pass this on, but I must use proper business restraint here. 

But I just want to assure you, everything's cool, and, as always, what's on the table for this program is growth.

The statement follows a weekend story by media write Dylan Byers at Politico. He wrote Cumulus Media, plans to drop the radio programs of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity by the end of the year. In the past, Cumulus has cited the fallout resulting from Limbaugh’s Fluke comment as the cause depressed advertising revenue on its stations.

The network is reportedly balking at paying the syndication costs that Premiere Networks demands to broadcast those programs – among the highest rated talk radio shows in the nation.

This latest update is in fact an extension of the same battle over distribution pricing which has been ongoing since the spring, not to mention Clear Channel would love to add Rush and Sean Hannity to is WOR 710 AM in NYC.

WOR was purchased last year by Clear Channel, which owns Premiere Networks, which syndicates the Limbaugh and Hannity shows.

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Hannity: Listeners Don’t Care About Politics of Radio

After Rush, it was Sean Hannity’s turn to downplay the story claiming his show was to be dropped by 40+ Cumulus Media stations.

Hannity brushed aside the news, reassured the audience that all is well, and sent them a rather cryptic message about new things to come.

Hannity remarked, “I wish I could talk about some of the industry nonsense that goes on,” but then acknowledged that the audience doesn’t really care about the politics of the radio business. 

“There are forces at work here that I will explain in due course, I promise, and I just can’t really explain it now. I’m not trying to be mysterious here, but it’s something that is unfolding and I’m, frankly, excited about it all.”

On another matter, Sean Hannity last night fired back at some of the commentary leveled at him by MSNBC host Al Sharpton in the ongoing cable news battle over racism in America.

He used Sharpton's past statements that have offended other groups to suggest the reverend has no ground to stand on, and tore Sharpton apart for a guest on his radio show calling Hannity and other TV pundits "professional assassins of African-Americans."

Hannity shouted, "He knows better than that, and I deserve an apology!"

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Springfield MO Radio: Natalie Randalls Gets Power Gig

Natalie Randall is joining Journal Broadcast Group-Springfield Operations as the new Program Director for KSPW Power 96.5 FM. 

Randall joins the station from WMGI-FM in Terre Haute, Ind., where she was brand manager and on-air middays and afternoons from 2008 to 2012 and 2012 to present, respectively.

Prior to that she was music director for WFBC-FM in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC., where she was voted Favorite Radio Personality twice. Previous positions included morning drive show co-host on KIZS-FM in Tulsa, Okla., and evening on-air talent for WBQB-FM in Fredericksburg, Va.

“I’m very excited to join the fantastic team already in place at KSPW and Journal Broadcast Group’s  Springfield Operations. It's an amazing group of people who share a passion for Top 40 radio and their listeners, and I can't wait to be a part of this winning cluster,” Randall said. “It's bittersweet to leave WMGI and Midwest Communications. I must thank Jack Swart and all the Mix-FM crew for making my five years in Terre Hauteso worthwhile.”

“It wasn’t easy to find an individual that can lead a successful heritage station as well as manage and coach a #1 morning team. Natalie is a talented programmer,  has a great personality and loves to do great radio!  I look forward to working with her and having great success with her leadership,” said Valorie Knight, Operations Manager.

Randall’s first day with the station is August 19.

Journal Broadcast Group’s Springfield Operations include 104.1 KSGF-AM/FM, KTTS 93.7 FM, KRVI105.6 FM The River and Power 96.5 (KSPW-FM).

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Boise Radio: Ron Harris New OM For Journal Stations

Journal Broadcast Group has added Ron Harris to its Boise Operations as the new Operation Manager for its radio division.

In his role, Harris will oversee operations of 107.1 K-Hits (KTHI-FM), 94.9 The River (KRVB-FM), 100.3 The X (KQXR-FM) and Variety Rock 105.1 (KJOT-FM).

Harris has more than 25 years of broadcasting experience and most recently was the Operation Manager in Tri-Cities, Wash. Prior to that he was Director of Operations for Clear Channel at their Yakima, Wash., cluster. He also was on-air talent in Seattle at 107.7 The End and 97.3 KBSG, and National Format Manager for Broadcast Programming in Seattlefor seven years. Harris graduated from CloverPark Collegein Tacoma, Wash., and was a part-time instructor for their Radio Broadcasting Program on campus.

“I am beyond thrilled to be moving to Boise and to have the opportunity to work for one of the finest companies in our industry, Journal Broadcast Group,” Harris said, adding that he is looking forward to joining the staff. “It would be a massive understatement to say that I am stoked!”

“We did an extensive search across the country for the right person to lead our programming division, and we are very confident that Ron is the right person for the job. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to the company,” said Roy Williams, radio station manager of the four Journal Broadcast Group Boise Operations stations.

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Report: Art Bell Bringing “Dark Matters" to SiriusXM

Art Bell

According to a story by Associated Press, Art Bell is returning Sept. 16 with a new nighttime show on Sirius XM Radio.

The show is to be called “Art Bell’s Dark Matter” and according to Scott Greenstein, Sirius XM president and chief content officer, said the show will be "uncensored, unrestricted, uncluttered and utterly unique."

Bellwas on 500 radio stations during 1990s before walking away from his nightly show in 2002 due to family issues. He worked occasionally after that.

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CBS, TWC Back From the Brink

Time Warner Cable and CBS said early Tuesday morning that they will shrug off their self-imposed midnight Tuesday deadline and continue to negotiate on a new retransmission contract, according to USAToday.

In a strange sequence of brinkmanship, their decision to pull back at the last minute from a possible blackout in key U.S. markets was announced merely 30 minutes after they separately told reporters at around midnight that they had walked away from their talks and allowed the network's signals to go dark.

If the blackout had been carried out as threatened, about 3 million TWC customers in eight markets - primarily in New York City, Dallas and Los Angeles, which have CBS-owned station - would have seen the No.1 network station disappear from their TV lineup.

TWC spokeswoman Maureen Huff said the signals were being removed when CBS asked to stop the process. "They were dark in some but not all areas," she said. "At the request of CBS, we have halted going dark on their channels."

The parties will continue to negotiate with no established deadline, Huff said.

Their retransmission contract - which dictates how much CBS gets paid by TWC for its broadcast signals - expired at the end of June.

Their negotiation involves only the 13 CBS-owned TV stations in eight markets that are served by TWC. Showtime, TMC, Flix and Smithsonian - all fully or partly owned by CBS - are also included in the contract.

CBS-affiliate stations in other markets, even if they're in TWC service areas, are not affected by the negotiations.

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Katy Perry Announces New Album With Gold 18-Wheeler

Katy Perry is making a statement -- with a semi-truck.

According to THR, an enormous golden truck with "Katy Perry - Prism - 10-22-13" emblazoned on its sides, top and back was spotted in Los Angeles on Monday.

Perry herself encouraged fans to keep an eye out for the shiny viral campaign and confirmed the truck announces the title of her new album and its release date.

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Fugees’ Video Director Sentenced To 50 Years

'Charles McGill'

Aswad Ayinde, hides his face with a piece of paper during his sentencing at Passaic County Courthouse in Paterson, on Friday. According to the NYPost, he received a 50 years prison term after being found guilty of raping his daughter.

The man behind one of the most iconic R&B music videos of all time will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was found guilty of trying to create "pure" blood lines by siring six children with his own daughter.

Aswad Ayinde, 55, of Paterson, NJ was sentenced to 50 years behind bars for sexually assaulting his daughter which will be tacked onto the 40 he is already serving for sexually assaulting another one of his daughters, according to NBC New York.

In March Ayinde was convicted of multiple charges in relation to his second daughter who he had sex with when she was between the ages of 8 and 22, impregnating four times.

Ayinde, who also goes by the name Charles McGill, is best known as the director of the music video for the Fugees' classic "Killing me Softly" which won "Best R&B Video" at the 1996 MTV Music Video Awards.

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TV Reporter Posts Online Confessional, Gets ‘Terminated’

Shea Allen

WAAY-TV reporter Shea Allen posted a controversial “confessions” blog last week, caught some heat for it, and ultimately decided to leave it up in honor of the right to free expression.

According to Mediaite, the investigative reporter for Huntsville, Alabama’s ABC affiliate wrote a blog post last week, originally entitled “Confessions of a Red Headed Reporter,” containing 10 confessional bullet-points on her looks, her TV career, and her beliefs.

Full list below: 

1. I’ve gone bra-less during a live broadcast and no one was the wiser. 

2. My best sources are the ones who secretly have a crush on me. 

3. I am better live when I have no script and no idea what I’m talking about. 

4. I’ve mastered the ability to contort my body into a position that makes me appear much skinner [sic] in front of the camera than I actually am. 

5. I hate the right side of my face. 

6. I’m frightened of old people and I refuse to do stories involving them or the places they reside. 

7. Happy, fluffy, rainbow stories about good things make me depressed. 

8. I’ve taken naps in the news car. 

9. If you ramble and I deem you unnecessary for my story, I’ll stop recording but let you think otherwise. 

10. I’ve stolen mail and then put it back. (maybe)

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R.I.P.: Herb Kaplow, NBC Veteran, Dies At 86

Herb Kaplow, who covered the Nuremberg trials, the Cuban Revolution and the civil rights movement, has died at the age of 86. NBC’s Brian Williams reports.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Read NYTimes Obit: Click Here.

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Kidd Kraddick: A Master of His Craft

Rob Chickering, Kidd Kraddick’s vice president of operations/engineering for many years, gave Radio World a few minutes of time to say a few words about Kidd Kraddick.

What was he like with the show?

“He was the definition of a perfectionist and I have never met someone better who could sense energy level and timing to his audience. He was constantly at school … He studied everything, pop culture, music, latest technology

What was it like to work with him?

“He hated a missed opportunity and you had to be on your toes looking down the road for what he was going to need to do whatever … God, he could do radio, he loved it, loved everything about it.

But Kidd was more than just a performer

“I used to say to him, ‘We do stupid really good,’ messing around creating crazy things to do on the air one minute and the next taking 50 families to Disney on the Kidd’s Kids trip. He did it all and I now realize that everybody respected him and miss him as much as I do. The world has lost a great, a master of his craft, entertaining people with audio. That’s what radio was and is a lot less today with his loss.”

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Coroner: Kidd Kraddick Had 'Cardiac Disease'

Kidd Kraddick, unidentified male

Kidd Kraddick had an enlarged heart and “cardiac disease” according to preliminary autopsy results released Monday by the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office. Investigator Tommy Evans said the cause of death is still under investigation, according to nola.com.

Pathologists are awaiting the results of toxicology tests. Evans said the autopsy, performed Monday morning, did not turn up any other abnormalities. “Heart disease was evident,” he said.

The 53-year-old Kraddick was a chain smoker. He died Saturday while in Gretna attending a golf tournament fundraiser of his charity, Kidd’s Kids. Kraddick fell ill while at Timberlane Country Club in Gretna and was taken to Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank in unincorporated Gretna.

Kraddick lost consciousness in the vehicle on the way, Evans said. He was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.

Doctors at the nearby Ochsner Medical Center -- a five-minute drive from Timberlane -- "did really just a heroic effort to resuscitate him," according to deputy coroner Granville Morse. "They really pulled out the stops. Unfortunately, they couldn't get him back."

He said the autopsy is not final because toxicology tests are not back, but Kraddick's heart was enlarged by cardiac disease, and three coronary arteries ranged from 40 to 80 percent blocked. Those conditions can lead to an irregular heartbeat and collapse, Morse said.

Kraddick was the host of “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning,” a Texas-based radio show heard on dozens of radio stations across the United States, including B-97 in New Orleans. Kraddick's charity, Kidd's Kids, annually provides trips to Disney World for chronically and terminally ill children.

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D/FW Radio: Kidd-Less Morning Show Remembers

KHKS 106.1 KissFM personality Kellie Rasberry said it at 7 a.m. Monday so no one else had to: “For the first time ever, we are ‘Kidd Kraddick in the Morning’ without Kidd Kraddick,” she said, sniffling, according to pegassusnews.com.

The radio show’s leader, David “Kidd” Kraddick, died unexpectedly Saturday in New Orleans during a golf tournament for his children’s nonprofit called Kidd’s Kids.



The show on Dallas’ Kiss FM (106.1 KHKS-FM) usually runs from 6-10 a.m., but Kraddick’s cast members Rasberry, Big Al Mack, J-Si, Jenna Owens, and "Psycho" Shannon went on air at 7 a.m. Monday for an abridged radio show to honor Kraddick. His show is broadcast in more than 100 cities nationwide and online at Dish Nation.



The early-morning broadcast was tearful as the deejays shared their stories about their boss, friend, and ringleader. Rasberry was Kraddick’s longtime sidekick, and though they were not married, they often said they bickered like a married couple. “I knew what it felt like to be divorced, and now I feel like I know what it’s like to be a widow,” Rasberry said Monday morning.



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Kidd Kraddick Radio Highlights

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The Final Photos

Radio personality Kidd Kraddick poses with his staff and others at a charity golf tournament in New Orleans on July 27, 2013, shortly before his death. The photo was provided by WEZB B97 New Orleans which carries Kraddick's syndicated morning show.

Radio personality Kidd Kraddick poses with his staff and others.

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R.I.P.: Listeners Remember Kidd Kraddick

An outpouring of grief and memories on Sunday followed the sudden death of David “Kidd” Kraddick, a nationally syndicated radio personality and “an energetic dynamo with a huge and caring heart,” according to The Dallas Morning News.

Kraddick, 53, hosted the Dallas-based Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on KissFM KHKS-FM 106.1 and more than 75 stations nationally. It is also broadcast on the television show Dish Nation.

Kraddick died Saturday in New Orleans at a golf tournament for Kidd’s Kids, a nonprofit he started that sponsors trips to Disney World for chronically and terminally ill children.

His cause of death has not been released.

Kraddick’s fans reeled from his death Sunday. Some called in to the station or left notes and flowers outside the radio studio. Celebrities tweeted condolences. His Facebook page and Twitter drew a steady stream of listeners’ memories.

KLUV-FM 98.7 radio host Jody Dean said the outpouring reflected Kraddick’s ability to connect with a wide audience of teenagers, commuters and soccer moms alike. His talent made it hard for Dean and other broadcasters to compete, he said.

“What’s remarkable about Kidd is that he took that wall that’s always been there between broadcasters and audience and in his show, he completely wiped it out,” Dean said. “You didn’t feel like you were listening to a show. You felt like you were listening to a friend.”

Longtime friend Dr. Phil McGraw, called Kraddick “an energetic dynamo” on the airwaves, but also described Kraddick as a generous philanthropist and devoted father to his grown daughter, Caroline.

Kraddick loved “cutting up” with McGraw and doing impressions of him on the radio, but off the air they exchanged advice about family, parenting and show business.

Kraddick, who was divorced in 2007, was planning to get married again. Two weeks ago, he showed McGraw the engagement ring. “I’ve never seen him happier,” McGraw said.

“My biggest asset was also my biggest detriment,” Kraddick told The Dallas Morning News in 1994. “I have a young, non-radio sounding voice. Teens really turned on to my voice and thought, ‘Hey, he’s 16.’”

He described his humorous and energetic style as “radio without a net.”

Retired morning broadcaster Ron Chapman described Kraddick as a trailblazer in the radio business.

“He reinvented how morning radio was delivered to a new generation,” Chapman said.

In the early 1990s, Kraddick started a subscription-based newsletter called Bitboard where radio personalities exchanged ideas to use in different markets. First distributed by fax machine, it became a business concept that Kraddick later sold.

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Co-Workers Pay Tribute To Kidd Kraddick

Kidd Kraddick hosted his morning show on KHKS 106.1 KissFM with Kellie Rasberry and Big Al Mack, Jose “J-Si” Chavez and Jenna Owens. They are expected to be Monday to share their feelings on Kraddick’s death.

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Rasberry wrote Sunday on her Facebook page: 

My heart is broken. Nineteen years ago, Kidd Kraddick swept me up from the middle of nowhere and took me on as his on-air wife. It will always be the biggest honor of my life. This man is responsible for every good thing that has ever happened to me. Don't get me wrong -- that man could make me so angry, I could spit. And he LOVED doing that to me. Every single day, I was sure he was going to fire me. And every single day, he was sure I was going to quit. But I could never leave Kidd, and he knew that. While we pushed each other's buttons, we truly shared an unconditional love. 

Kidd Kraddick will always be the love of my life. 

Nineteen years ago, my first words to Kidd were, "You're short." (It's a long story.) But his last words to me - well, ABOUT me, to the photographer -- "Does Kellie think to herself, 'I'm probably going to be taking pictures next to Kidd today so I am going to wear the tallest heels I can find!'" 

Yes, Kidd. I absolutely did that on purpose. And when I see you in Heaven, I'll still be taller. 

I am so grateful for my faith and the knowledge that I will fuss at that man in Heaven again some day. 

I will always love you, Kidd Kraddick.

On KissFM on Sunday, deejay Billy the Kidd invited listeners to call in and share memories.

“It’s been a rough few hours,” he told listeners. “And there’s going to be a lot of rough hours ahead, days and weeks as things kind of sink in.” according to The Dallas Morning News.

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Report: Cumulus To Drop Limbaugh, Hannity

Rush Limbaugh

Cumulus Media, the second largest operator of radio stations in the United States, will be dropping popular conservative talkers Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity at the end of the year, according to Dylan Byers at Politico.

Cumulus has decided that it will not renew its contracts with either host, the source said, a move that would remove the two most highly rated conservative talk personalities from more than 40 Cumulus channels in major markets.

The decision comes after negotiations between Cumulus and Premiere Networks, the division of Clear Channel that distributes Limbaugh and Hannity's shows, broke down due to disagreements over the cost of the distribution rights, the source said. Cumulus is known to drive a hard bargain on costs, and Clear Channel is known to seek top dollar for big names.

Sean Hannity

Cumulus declined to comment: "Cumulus is not in a position to comment about negotiations with talent under contract, no matter what the rumor of the day might be," a spokesperson told Politico.

But in recent weeks, Cumulus has been quietly reaching out to radio talent agents and political insiders about new local and regional station hosts to fill some of the airtime on its stations that will be left vacant by Limbaugh and Hannity, industry sources said. Cumulus is also expected to move some of its existing talent -- which includes Mike Huckabee, Mark Levin, and Michael Savage -- into one of the slots.

Premiere, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night, is expected to move Limbaugh and Hannity to other stations, many owned by its parent company Clear Channel Media+Entertainment, in many of the markets where they are currently signed with Cumulus.

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Boston Radio: The Herald Ready to Launch Internet Station

Jeff Katz

The Boston Herald is poised to take a dramatic step toward a richer experience for its online audience as it launches a new Internet radio station.

The countdown has begun for 6 a.m. next Monday, Aug. 5, when Boston Herald Radio goes live.

Veteran talk show host Jeff Katz will launch a morning drive news talk show that will lead into 12 hours of live broadcasting each weekday.

There will be four shows in all, including “Live from the Newsroom with Jeff Katz,” “Morning Meeting with Jaclyn Cashman and Hillary Chabot,” “The Michael Graham Show” and “Sports Townwith Jon 
Meterparel and Jen Royle.”

Throughout the broadcast day — streamed at bostonherald.com, the Herald’s news and sports apps and the TuneIn free app — listeners will be news insiders with updates and breaking news reports straight from the Herald newsroom.

The Line-Up:

• 6:00 am to 9:00 am - Live from the Newsroom with Jeff Katz
• 9:00 am to 12:00 noon - Morning Meeting with Jaclyn Cashman and Hillary Chabot
• 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm – The Michael Graham Show
• 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Sports Townwith Jon Meterparel and Jen Royle 

Herald editors, reporters, columnists and entertainment critics will provide regular commentary and analysis.

Boston Herald President and Publisher Patrick J. Purcell said, “Internet radio is exploding and it makes sense that the Herald rounds out our multimedia platform with talk radio programming. It’s perfect synergy.

“Boston Herald Radio will be fast-paced, uncensored, entertaining, completely interactive and, most important, very respectful to our listeners.”

All shows will be archived and available 24/7 at bostonherald.com and on all the apps.

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The Herald’s streaming radio station will compete for local online listeners with The Boston Globe’s RadioBDC, which arose from the remnants of the old WFNX in 2012. A big difference is that RadioBDC is primarily music, whereas the Herald  is going with news, sports and talk.

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