INFINITY TO AGGRESSIVELY MARKET STERN REPLACEMENTS Paul Heine – Billboard Infinity plans to aggressively market the new morning shows it’s launching in 27 markets after Howard Stern says sayonara on December 16. “We’re going to be out there, all over the place,” Infinity chairman/CEO Joel Hollander told reporters during a telephone press conference after the company unveiled its Stern replacement strategy.
“Howard had a 20-year brand awareness,” Hollander said. “We realize that. The company is affording us a lot of money to do outdoor, TV and Internet advertising.”
After a month or two of honing his on-air chops, David Lee Roth, who replaces Stern in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Cleveland and West Palm Beach, will make a series of market appearances. “He very much wants to get out and do remotes,” Hollander said. “Remember he’s used to playing in public . . . We have plans for him to get to every market to do some special events.”
Hollander said Infinity has made a “significant investment” in the former Van Halen frontman but won’t say how long it’s for.
Hollander said Roth, Adam Carolla, Rover and the other Stern replacements won’t be as edgy as Stern so that Infinity can “fish in a pond of advertisers that we were not able to secure on the Stern show.”
“With Howard leaving radio, we decided this was a time to change the game and open up the doors for a lot more talent to come into radio,” Infinity president of programming Rob Barnett said about the company’s multi-host regional strategy.
“The ones that do well we can spread to other markets,” Hollander said, suggesting it will take 12-24 months for the shakeout to occur.
Stern himself had a fleeting presence during the teleconference -- in the form of wackpacker Beetlejuice posing as a reporter. After being introduced by the teleconference operator as Mike Johnson, the Stern regular said: “Hello? Okay, I’m Beetlejuice” “Get him off, operator” Hollander ordered, calling it a “typical Howard Stern prank.”
Later, in the conference, Hollander said: “I’m glad Howard thinks that this call was important enough to put on Beetlejuice. But one thing you can expect from Infinity Broadcasting moving forward is no 24-hour channels of people farting and people with mental illnesses. You won’t get that here.” STERN REPLACEMEMTS: LIST BY STATION
Here's Infinity’s complete list of Howard Stern markets, replacement talent and station format.
WXRK-FM New York David Lee Roth/FREE FM* KLLI-FM Dallas David Lee Roth/FREE FM WYSP-FM Philadelphia David Lee Roth/FREE FM* WBCN-FM Boston David Lee Roth/Active Rock WRKZ-FM Pittsburgh David Lee Roth/Active Rock WNCX-FM Cleveland David Lee Roth/Classic Rock WPBZ-FM West Palm Beach David Lee Roth/Alternative Rock KLSX-FM Los Angeles Adam Carolla/FREE FM KPLN-FM San Diego Adam Carolla/FREE FM* KZON-FM Phoenix Adam Carolla/Alternative Rock KUFO-FM Portland Adam Carolla/Active Rock KXTE-FM Las Vegas Adam Carolla/Alternative Rock WCKG-FM Chicago Rover/FREE FM WKRK-FM Detroit Rover/FREE FM WAQZ-FM Cincinnati Rover/Alternative Rock WMFS-FM Memphis Rover/Alternative Rock WZNE-FM Rochester Rover/Alternative Rock WJFK-FM Washington, D.C. The Junkies/FREE FM WHFS-FM Baltimore The Junkies/FREE FM/Alternative Rock KITS-FM San Francisco Morning Music Co-Op/Alternative Rock KIKK-AM Houston CNN Radio News WBZZ-AM Tampa Talk* KHWD-FM Sacramento JACK-FM* WBUF-FM Buffalo JACK-FM KKDG-FM Fresno JACK-FM WOCL-FM Orlando Drew and Mel/Alternative Rock KXBT-FM Austin Star & Buc Wild/Rhythmic CHR |