Fox News Radio

TVNewser has learned John Gibson will be replacing Bill O'Reilly on FOX News Talk beginning January 19.

"Gibson on FOX" will be available for affiliates to pick up as an alternative to The Radio Factor, which has its final broadcast early next year. "Gibson" will air live from Noon-3pmET.

Gibson's current show on FOX News Talk, which airs from 6-9pmET, will end its run.

The Radio Factor is heard on more than 400 stations across the U.S.

In twelve months, the Fox News Radio "affiliate roster has more than quintupled, surging from approximately five-dozen charter stations to 331." And they want more -- especially on the FM side.

"If I programmed an FM music station, I'd very desperately want some news," senior VP Kevin Magee tells Inside Radio in a fascinating profile of the upstart net. "Programmers find themselves using liners like, 'Coming up - eight more of your Lite favorites in a row.' Well - my iPod has 10,000 Lite favorites in a row." In the words of a recent Fox print ad, "no one ever got a hurricane warning from an iPod." (Via ICN)

"Traditional radio news services like ABC and CBS might want to take a word of advice from CNN and MSNBC: Don't underestimate upstart Fox News Radio," MediaWeek says. "One year after launching its five-minute hourly news service on June 1, the network... has increased the number of affiliates from 58 to more than 330, including 24 of the top 25 markets."

"We're doing this without the confines of [traditional radio]," said FNR SVP Kevin Magee. "In a world of iPods, you need to differentiate yourself." More...

In a memo to staffers this morning, Roger Ailes celebrated the one year anniversary of Fox News Radio:

When we started the Fox News Channel ten years ago, we told the world we were the Most Powerful Name in News. At the time, many doubted that, and some scoffed. But not for long. We proved that compelling reporting and a Fair and Balanced approach to the news was an idea whose time has come.

I'm proud to tell you that Fox News Radio is following the same path. One year ago, we launched Fox News Radio's full-service news network on some 58 radio stations. Again, many doubted, and some scoffed. And again, we proved the Fox IS the most powerful name in news. With 333 stations taking our service one year later -- plus coverage from coast-to-coast and border-to-border on both XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, you can hear Fox News Radio's hourly news broadcasts everywhere in the United States. And our stations tell us that people are listening, and liking what they hear.

continued...

"The Tony Snow Show" on Fox News Radio will be replaced by "Brian & The Judge," weekdays from 9am to noon.

Fox senior legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano and Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade will do the talking. "We looking forward to giving you great radio each day on FOX News Talk," TonySnow.com says.

Fox has already reserved "brianandthejudge.com," an e-mailer notes. On the radio this morning, Kilmeade and Napolitano solicited names for the programs. In addition to Brian & The Judge, listeners suggested "The Boys from the Bar" and "The Judge and the Jock," Johnny Dollar says...

Sirius and Fox News Channel are acting friendly again. The two companies have announced a "new long-term agreement to carry Fox News and Fox News Talk channels beginning March 14th." Sirius has apparently agreed to Fox's terms, namely that the satellite radio provider offer the Fox News Talk channel.

The previous agreement expired at the end of 2005. For the last month and a half, XM has offered Fox News and Fox News Talk, but Sirius hasn't.

Sirius president of entertainment and sports Scott Greenstein chooses his words carefully in the press release:

"We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with FOX to bring back its news service to SIRIUS and to add what is a compelling talk channel," he said. "Our goal was to negotiate a new agreement that would be in the best interest of our subscribers and shareholders, and the new agreement fulfills that objective."

A letter from Sirius to one of the listeners who had complained about losing Fox is after the jump...

> Jan. 5: Fox will talk if Sirius calls

> Jan. 2: Sirius drops Fox News feed

> Oct. 28: Talks break down

continued...

Sirius could still strike a deal with Fox News Channel to bring the cable net's audio feed back to their satellite radio platform. "They have my cell phone number, and I'm available to talk at a moment's notice," senior VP Kevin Magee tells The Hollywood Reporter.

"I have to tell you, anyone who thinks you can swap Fox News with CNN Headline News and no one will notice, is wrong," Magee added. "I personally got 500 e-mails about it."

Following up on yesterday's post about Sirius and Fox News: A tipster forwards the message he received from Fox senior VP Kevin Magee after he complained about the situation:

"I'm sorry you're disappointed, but you should know that we made every effort to come to terms with Sirius and, despite what you may have read on the Internet, offered them the same deal XM was happy to commit to for a long-range contract. Sirius simply didn't want it. I can't make them take it. My suggestion to you is that you call Sirius at 888-539-7474 and let them know you're unhappy with their decision. I hope you and your family have a great New Year. Kevin Magee"

This morning, Fox News launched "Fox News Talk" on XM Satellite Radio. The station is a complement to XM's current FNC feed, focusing on Fox's political personalities. XM 168 promises "news, analysis and the pulse of the nation from Bill O'Reilly, Tony Snow, John Gibson, Alan Colmes and more. News Talk like only Fox can give you." Fox News Radio's top-of-the-hour newscasts are also included.

The Fox News Talk schedule is downloadable here (PDF). It includes the Tony Snow Show from 9am to noon, Bill O'Reilly Live from noon to 2pm, the John Gibson Show from 6 to 9pm, and the Alan Colmes Show from 10pm to 1am. The overnights and weekends consist of "Best Of" shows and FNC programming repeats.

Between 2 and 5pm, "loudmouthed," "fiercely conservative" California talk show host Spencer Hughes hosts "Fox Across America." (I don't recall ever seeing Hughes on FNC.) The program is billed on Hughes' Web site as "a daily trip from border-to-border and coast-to-coast exploring the major topics, newsmakers, personalities and everyday people, places and things that make this the greatest country in the world."

> Oct. 18: "XM Launching 'Fox News Talk'"

Sirius Satellite Radio's simulcast of Fox News Channel ceased on January 1 when the two corporations couldn't come to a carriage agreement.

"As of January 1st, there will no longer be any FOX NEWS programming on Sirius. Please let them know how you feel about this change," the Web sites for the radio shows of Alan Colmes and Tony Snow say. "Call SIRIUS at 1-888-539-7474 to tell them you still want" Tony/Alan.

Last month, Variety reported that Mel Karmazin walked across West 48th Street from Sirius' headquarters to News Corp. HQ to meet with Roger Ailes in person about the situation. Ailes wanted Sirius to broadcast Fox News Talk and "a carriage fee that reflects that popularity." This Sirius blog says suggests Sirius was expected to pay "almost 200% higher prices then XM is paying."

Two weeks ago, Sirius stopped airing Snow and Colmes' radio shows. They were replaced by Stephanie Miller and Laura Ingraham, respectively.

> Oct. 28: Talks break down...

> Sirius offers CNN, HLN, CNBC, and ABC...