• [RadioInsight] Educational Media Foundation Acquires WROZ

    From RadioInsight via rec.radio.broadcas@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jul 13 16:48:57 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.info

    RadioInsight

    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Educational Media Foundation Acquires WROZ

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 12:45 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/209333/educational-media-foundation-acquires-wroz/



    Educational Media Foundation has purchased AC Fun 101.3 WROZ Lancaster PA
    from Hall Communications for $1.725 million.

    The deal gives EMF a third signal in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York region albeit its first one that covers the entire region. K-Love currently airs
    on 92.1 WKHL Palmyra PA, while Air 1 is heard on 101.7 W269AS Carlisle fed
    via iHeartMedias 99.3 WHKF-HD2. Neither signal reaches the Lancaster and
    York markets.

    Hall retains Sports simulcast ESPN 92.5/92.7 1490 WLPA/92.5 W233CH
    Lancaster and 92.7 WONN-FM Starview in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York
    markets.



    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Report: Good Karma Broadcasting In Talks To Operate ESPN Radio O&O's In New York and Los Angeles

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 12:00 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210688/report-good-karma-broadcasting-in-talks-to-operate-espn-radio-oos-in-new-york-and-los-angeles/



    The New York Posts Andrew Marchand reports that Good Karma Brands is in
    serious talks to take over operations of ESPN Radios stations in New York
    and Los Angeles.

    Good Karma took over operations of ESPN Inc.s ESPN 1000 WMVP Chicago in September 2019. It also owns ESPN Radio affiliates in Cleveland, Madison, Milwaukee, and West Palm Beach as well as other stations in Milwaukee and Beaver Dam WI.

    A deal for the other markets would add 98.7 ESPN New York WEPN-FM, which is operated via LMA from Emmis Broadcasting, and 1050 WEPN New York and 710
    ESPN LA 710 KSPN Los Angeles and 1110 KRDC Pasadena. ESPN Inc. resumed operating 103.3 ESPN Dallas KESN Allen TX in October 2020 after Cumulus
    Media operated the station for seven years. ESPN eliminated all local programming on KESN when it regained operational control of the station.



    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    FCC Approves Alpha Media Bankruptcy Restructuring

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 11:41 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210686/fcc-approves-alpha-media-bankruptcy-restructuring/



    The FCC has rejected Larry Wilson and Paul Stone’s petitions to deny and
    has approved the Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring of Alpha Media
    conditioned upon the filing of a petition for declaratory ruling within 30
    days of closing on the transaction described therein, would serve the
    public interest.

    Alpha had filed for Chapter 11 protection in January. The restructured
    Alpha Media USA will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Alpha. amilton
    Lane Incorporated and its subsidiaries will be the largest shareholder of
    the company controlling 49% of the equity and voting interests. MetLife
    Inc. will control 43.7% of the equity and voting interests, while
    Intermediate Capital Group PLC’s will hold 5.8% of Alpha. Approximately 22% of the companys equity and 14% of voting interests will be foreign
    controlled.



    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Carl Jackson To Replace Larry Elder On Syndicated Talker During
    Gubernatorial Run

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 11:08 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210684/carl-jackson-to-replace-larry-elder-on-syndicated-talker-during-gubernatorial-run/



    Salem Media Group syndicated Conservative Talk host Larry Elder has
    announced he is running for Governor of California in the upcoming recall election.

    While Elder is running, Salem has tapped 950 The Answer WORL Orlando
    weekend host Carl Jackson to take over the 6-9pm Eastern/3-6pm Pacific
    show. Jackson has been a regular fill-in host for Salems Dennis Prager Show.

    Elder hosted afternoons on 790 KABC Los Angeles from 1993 to 2008 and again from 2010 to 2014 and was syndicated by ABC Radio Networks from 2002 to
    2007. He joined Salem in 2015. He will remain away from the show for as
    long as he remains in the political campaign.

    Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM) announced today that Salem Radio
    Network national host, Larry Elder, threw his hat into the ring to run for Governor of the State of California. That means that Salem must replace
    Larry on his radio show for the period of time he is a legal candidate,
    through the election on September 14th. If Larry loses Salem will return
    Larry to his position in the Salem Lineup, Monday through Friday 6-9pm ET.

    During the time that Larry is away from the microphone, Salem has tapped
    Carl Jackson as Larry’s replacement. Carl already has a show on Salem owned AM 950 The Answer in Orlando. He also is a regular substitute host for
    Dennis Prager, having done the Prager show 6 times already this year.

    Carl is a black conservative, who grew up outside Compton, California. He
    now owns his own business in Orlando, but has a secret desire to become a
    radio talk show host. That desire is not so secret anymore.

    “Carl has a warm and engaging personality on the air, and because he had to fight his way out of hard circumstances, he is able to convince others of
    his correct life style decisions,” said Salem Sr. VP of Spoken Word
    Formats, Phil Boyce.

    “When I was trying to find my way out of the poor life choices I had made,
    I read two of Larry’s books. Now it is such an honor to sit in his chair
    for a time, during Larry’s run for governor,” said Carl.



    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    87.7 The Bridge Moves To AM/Translator Pair

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 09:34 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210664/87-7-the-bridge-moves-to-am-translator-pair/



    On the day that most Franken-FMs are required to shut down their analog
    signal preventing them to keep operating, Kids Television LLC Classic Hits
    87.7 The Bridge WJMF-LP Jackson MS has gained a reprieve.

    The stations format and and branding have relocated to Radio Jackson LLCs
    1240 WZQK Flowood and Kids Televisions 94.3 W232DD Jackson. All three
    signals are owned by companies held by Kenneth Rainey Sr., while the Bridge
    is operated by William Griffin.

    WZQK had been operating as Classic Country branded as Super Country.




    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Maine Public Appoints Rick Schneider As President/CEO

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 08:36 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210661/maine-public-appoints-rick-schneider-as-president-ceo/



    Maine Public has announced the appointment of Rick Schneider as
    President/CEO effective August 2.

    Schneider joins the organization from the National Center of Family Philanthropy where he has served as Senior Vice President of Advancement
    since November 2018. He previously served as Executive Vice President and
    Chief Operating Officer of WETA Washington DCs TV and radio properties, President/CEO of WPBT-TV Miami and KNPB-TV Reno, and Station Manager of
    WUFT-TV Gainesville FL where he rose from a reporter to anchor and news director.

    Schneider fills the opening created by the retirement of Mark Vogelzang
    last month. Maine Public operates statewide Public News/Talk, Classical and television networks.

    Maine Public announces the selection of Rick Schneider as the network’s new President and CEO. He will begin his new position on August 2.

    Schneider is an experienced public media leader who served as chief
    operating officer for WETA, the PBS station and classical music radio
    station for Greater Washington, from 2013 to 2017. He helped implement the
    2014 acquisition of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions and was named the first president of NewsHour Productions, WETA’s LLC with oversight of PBS
    NewsHour.

    He was previously president and CEO of WPBT in Miami and KNPB in Reno. He started his career as a broadcast news reporter and anchor before moving to news director and then station manager of WUFT-TV in Gainesville, Florida.

    “Rick’s extensive background in public broadcasting and journalism make him the right choice for Maine Public’s next president and CEO,” stated Marion Freeman, the Chair of Maine Public’s Board of Trustees. “He has the experience and vision to lead the network to an exciting new level of
    audience outreach with meaningful, relevant content as we embrace the technological changes in public media. We are delighted to welcome Rick and
    his family to Maine.”

    “Maine Public’s journalism and services during the pandemic epitomize the best of public media,” said Schneider. “I’m thrilled to join an organization that is so vital and beloved by residents across the state.”

    Schneider served on the PBS board of directors and chaired the boards of
    the Public Television Major Market Group, Florida Public Media, and the
    Pacific Mountain Network. After leaving WETA, he joined the National Center
    for Family Philanthropy, a DC-based nonprofit serving family foundations nationwide.



    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Erika Pulley-Hayes Joins WAMU As General Manager

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 07:27 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210658/erika-pulley-hayes-joins-wamu-as-general-manager/



    American University Public News/Talk 88.5 WAMU Washington DC has appointed Erika Pulley-Hayes as General Manager effective August 30.

    Pulley-Hayes has been President/CEO of Community Communications Public News/Talk 90.7 WMFE Orlando/89.5 WMFV The Villages FL since January 2020.
    She previously spent fifteen years in Washington at the Corporation For
    Public Broadcasting as Business Manager, Director of Business Performance,
    and from 2014-2020 as Vice President of Radio.

    Erika Pulley-Hayes has been named the new general manager of WAMU,
    Washington, D.C.’s, NPR news station, which is licensed by American University.

    Pulley-Hayes has been a leader in public media since 2005. She comes to
    WAMU from Orlando where she serves as the president and CEO of Community Communications, Inc., an NPR affiliate. She has been leading operations and resource allocation for Community Communications’ two stations, WMFE in Orlando and WMFV in The Villages. Pulley-Hayes also serves on the NPR Board
    of Directors.

    Pulley-Hayes previously served as radio vice president at the Corporation
    for Public Broadcasting, where she directed several initiatives within the public radio system. She was integral to the development of the Community Service Grant program, which provides the largest source of funding for
    public radio.

    “Erika is an extraordinary and accomplished leader in public media,” said Seth Grossman, American University’s vice president of people and external affairs and chief of staff. “With her impressive background at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and leading an NPR affiliate and
    extensive management experience, Erika is the perfect general manager to
    build on WAMU’s strengths and lead it to an even brighter future. We are excited to welcome her to WAMU and American University and back to
    Washington, D.C.”

    As general manager, Pulley-Hayes will, in partnership with the team at
    WAMU, develop and implement a vision for the future of WAMU’s broadcast and digital programming, community engagement, and financial strategies. She
    will oversee all aspects of WAMU’s operations and a staff of more than 100, and she will serve as WAMU’s ambassador to the Washington, D.C. region and the public media system. Pulley-Hayes will ensure that WAMU continues to
    serve those who live and work in the region and deepen its relationships
    with its diverse communities.

    Since August 2020, WAMU has made significant strides in building a strong foundation for better supporting its staff and serving the community. These efforts include a newly established board of advisors to support the
    station in strategic and financial planning and to foster community
    outreach and philanthropy; a multiyear plan to reshape WAMU and DCist’s newsroom in order to better cover critical local issues and serve under-represented voices in the community; and the development of a series
    of measures to enhance the workplace culture at WAMU by a staff-led task
    force.

    “I consider WAMU to be my home station for the 20 years I spent living and working in the region,” said Pulley-Hayes. “To say I’m thrilled about this
    opportunity would be an understatement. I look forward to connecting with
    the staff and the greater community through conversations, and I look
    forward to working on building a sustainable pathway for success for WAMU. Being able to do all that and return to Washington, D.C., is a bonus.”

    WAMU led a nationwide search for a new general manager with assistance from executive search firm partner Russell Reynolds Associates and an internal search advisory committee. The search advisory committee was made up of employees and key stakeholders from American University and WAMU.

    Pulley-Hayes will take the helm of WAMU on August 30, 2021.



    ///////////////////////////////////////////
    Tom Calderone Joins WBFO/WNED As President/CEO

    Posted: 13 Jul 2021 06:51 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/210653/tom-calderone-joins-wbfo-wned-as-president-ceo/



    Buffalo-Toronto Public Media has announced the appointment of Tom Calderone
    as President/CEO effective August 2.

    Calderone spent much of his early career in radio programming starting in college at 91.3 WBNY Buffalo and later at 103.9 WRCN Riverhead NY, 92.7
    WDRE Garden City NY, and 99.1 WHFS Annapolis MD. After a stint as a
    consultant with Jacobs Media, he joined MTV in 1998 as Executive Vice
    President of music and talent programming and then rose to President of VH1 from 2008 to 2015. He later spent time as Global Head of Content
    Partnerships at Spotify before opening his own consultancy in 2018.

    Calderone will oversee Public News/Talk 88.7 WBFO, Classical 94.5 WNED-FM
    and PBS affiliate WNED-TV.

    The Buffalo Toronto Public Media Board of Trustees announced today its pick
    for the organization’s new President and CEO – Tom Calderone, media and entertainment executive who has held leadership positions with Spotify,
    VH1, and MTV. The executive search began last October, after Donald K.
    Boswell announced his intention to retire. Calderone will take over from Boswell Aug. 2, 2021.

    “We are confident that Tom Calderone is the right leader for Buffalo
    Toronto Public Media because of his vast experience creating content from different perspectives,” said Board Chair Alphonso O’Neil-White. “Tom loves
    Buffalo and Southern Ontario and is excited to bring his experience as an innovator in radio, TV, and music to serve our communities on both sides of
    the border.”

    “Buffalo is home for me, and being able to lead its public media stations with their rich history and long community partnerships, is an honor,” said Calderone who has been a media consultant since 2018, advising media
    companies, startups, cable television, and investment firms on the future
    of streaming services and multi-platform consumption. “I’m looking forward to working with the talented and experienced staff to continue to create
    high touch documentaries and immersive storytelling series, to broadcast
    fun and accessible classical music on WNED Classical, and to champion WBFO which is continuously the voice of news and stellar reporting in Buffalo.
    And I cannot wait for the border to open so I can meet the producers,
    funders, and organizations we partner with in Canada.”

    Calderone, an expert in understanding media audiences, noted the challenge facing all media organizations – keeping the attention of audiences who
    have so many choices for what to watch or listen to.

    “I believe in following the audience, studying their video and audio likes and habits, asking them what they want from all our platforms, and
    delivering that to them. But just as important, leading them to new content
    and new ideas, especially ‘snackable,’ short-form content that will keep them in our video and audio ecosystem no matter how it is distributed. Our audience expects that from us. Plus, we are coming from a position of strength,” Calderone said.

    Calderone served as the Global Head of Content Partnership/Global Head of Studios for Spotify, pioneering the company’s expansion into new areas of audio and video content, including podcasts and mobile-friendly video
    series. For 10 years (2005-2015), Calderone was President of VH1/Viacom,
    during which he led the organization into the Top 5 cable channels for
    adults 18-49 years old. He was Executive Vice President of Music Talent Programming at MTV/Viacom from 1998 to 2005, during which he introduced new programming such as Total Request Live, MTVIcon, and music documentaries.
    He also served as Chairman of Save the Music from 2005 to 2015.

    After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Communication from
    SUNY Buffalo State, Calderone worked in radio as on-air talent, program director, and operations manager before moving on to radio consulting with Jacobs Media. Since college, Buffalo has been a home base for Calderone. He owns a home here, has been a Buffalo Bills season ticket holder for more
    than 20 years, and is a frequent visitor to Toronto for culture and entertainment. He was elected to the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in
    2012 and the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2014. He also received an
    honorary Doctorate from SUNY Buffalo State in 2008.

    O’Neil-White expressed thanks to Board member Maureen Hurley, who chaired
    the search, to her committee and to the BTPM Executive Committee.

    Boswell, whose official retirement date of June 30, 2021 has been extended, will assist during the leadership transition and with ongoing projects.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)