CBS Radio - FishbowlNY

CBS Could Reportedly Sell Off Radio Unit to Cumulus

Jerry Barmash — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:42:53 +0000

On the heels of Cumulus shaking up the radio landscape by bringing Country back to New York, there’s word that the media company may be ready to become even bigger. The New York Post reports that Cumulus may ultimately purchase CBS Radio. Cumulus is the second largest radio outfit in the country behind only Clear Channel.

The newspaper says the first step would be a spinoff of the CBS billboard division. That has fueled the fire that a radio acquisition would follow, although likely not for another year or two.

The Post says the buyout would likely fall to the hands of Cumulus, and honcho Lew Dickey. Taking over the CBS Radio properties would make Cumulus comparable in size to Clear Channel.

The Cumulus/CBS deal is not far-fetched. The Atlanta-based radio company has joined forces with CBS to help the CBS Sports Radio network take off.

However, a CBS spokesperson would not play the rumor game, telling the Post, “We just bought a major station in New York and launched the CBS [Sports] Radio network. We are not selling CBS Radio.”

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WFAN to Begin FM Simulcast Friday

Jerry Barmash — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:44:56 +0000

The deal is done! WFAN makes its debut as a FM simulcast of 660 AM Friday morning at 12:01.

Mike Francesa told listeners today that WFAN programming will duplicate on 101.9 FM, the frequency is currently owned by Merlin Media with its Alternative Rocker WRXP.

As we reported earlier this month, CBS Radio is acquiring the Merlin slot for $75 million. At the time, operations manager Mark Chernoff told FishbowlNY that the WFAN simulcast, which will use the call letters WFAN-FM, is until further notice. He said the next step for CBS Radio is to formally purchase the station.

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CBS Radio Submits Application to FCC Looking to Avoid Any Station Sell Off

Jerry Barmash — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:24:01 +0000

With CBS Radio acquiring Merlin Media’s WRXP for its WFAN-FM simulcast, now the question is what happens to its New York stations? Speculation almost immediately had CBS forced to sell off one of its seven radio stations (with the WRXP completed deal) and two TV channels.

But not so fast.

CBS has filed an application with the FCC. CBS first addressed the Local Ownership Rule, stating:

“…The common ownership of eight radio stations, no more than five in the same service, is permitted in the New York Metro. Therefore, CBS’s acquisition of a controlling interest in WRXP complies fully with the FCC’s local radio ownership rule.”

There is also the Radio-Television Cross-Ownership Rule, under which CBS may have found its loophole.

“…The noise-limited DTV contour of WLNY-TV, whose transmitter is located in a distant corner of the New York Metro – on Long Island, some 50+ miles from the center of New York City – does not entirely encompass New York City, the city of license for all seven radio stations. Additionally, the relevant contours for all seven radio stations do not entirely encompass Riverhead, New York, the city of license for WLNY-TV.”

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CBS Radio Partners with TuneIn for Spoken Word Content

Jerry Barmash — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:24:23 +0000

CBS Radio has teamed with TuneIn, a free service that lets people listen to music, sports, comedy and talk from around the world, allowing the more than 30 million monthly active TuneIn listeners access to CBS Radio programming.

Sports fans, news junkies and talk radio listeners can enjoy that collection of broadcasts on TuneIn through a variety of different platforms including smartphone apps, connected vehicle dashboards, Internet home entertainment systems and online at www.tunein.com. TuneIn Radio and TuneIn Radio Pro are the only audio streaming apps that have a 4.5 or 5 star rating on every mobile platform, worldwide.

Three New York stations are available on TuneIn: WFAN, WCBS-AM, and WINS.

“We have always believed in the value of great local content, and this agreement validates the demand we know exists for our original programming while at the same time creates a new revenue source for the company,” said Ezra Kucharz, president, CBS Local Digital Media. “By forging relationships with premiere distribution services such as TuneIn, CBS Radio will significantly grow its audiences by exposing our content to new listeners.”

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Dom Theodore Exits as CBS Radio VP; WXRK/NOW FM Program Director

Jerry Barmash — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:30:45 +0000

Dom Theodore and CBS Radio have ended their association. Theodore was initally hired by CBS Radio as the VP of Top 40 Programming. But ultimately the talented radio exec would add program director at WXRK/92.3 NOW to his resume.

He also held down P.D. duties at WDZH/Amp Radio in Detroit.

Reports say Theodore wants to focus on his consulting company and family radio business, Up North Radio.

Earlier in his career, Theodore had stops in Tampa, and Houston, along with another stint in Detroit at the Clear Channel-run station.

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Liz Dribben, Veteran CBS Radio Producer, Dies

Jerry Barmash — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:34:30 +0000

Liz Dribben was a pioneering journalist who had ties to New York City. After working at a TV station in her hometown of Buffalo, Dribben made the move to the Big Apple in 1969.

Eventually, she was hired by CBS News for their radio division, where she would spend the next 21 years. Dribben was a senior producer and writer, working closely with some of the network’s biggest names—Ed Bradley, Charles Osgood, Dan Rather, and Mike Wallace among them.

Dribben left CBS in 1993 but kept a busy schedule with numerous jobs, including as a talk show host at WEVD-AM (now 1050 WEPN). She also taught radio reporting at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

The Buffalo News reports Dribben died yesterday in a Manhattan nursing home after a long illness. She was 73.

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