Archived News and Articles - February 2007
Archive Date - February 28, 2007
CAPTURING YOUR WEB USERS
Dana Hall – Radio and Records
Radio station Web sites have come a long way, baby, in the past two years. In fact, it’s not unusual for PDs to be “programming” their site’s content as much as they do their station’s on-air sound. For many listeners, their favorite radio station Web site is like home—literally, their home page. The Web site becomes a supplement to what they get on the air: daily news, weather, horoscopes, information on songs and artists, as well as station and community events and more.
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Archive Date - February 28, 2007
ASTRAL COAST TO COAST
Grant Robertson – Globe and Mail
A Canadian radio giant is about to be born after months of negotiations produced a deal that will see Astral Media Inc. swallow Standard Broadcasting Corp. Ltd.
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Archive Date - February 28, 2007
ASTRAL FINE-TUNES DETAILS OF PURCHASE
Analysts split on whether company is paying too much
Grant Robertson – Globe and Mail
Though Astral Media Inc. has announced its intention to buy Standard Radio Inc., key details must be worked out this week, including which broadcasting businesses are included in the deal — such as its burgeoning Internet radio operation.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2007
MERGERS SHOW DIGITAL ARENA CROWDED
Sue Zeidler – Reuters
The urge to merge within both the recording and satellite radio industries this week reflects how tough it is to compete profitably within the evolving digital media market.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2007
ASTRAL MEDIA TO BUY STANDARD RADIO
Peter Koven and Barbara Shecter – Financial Post
Astral Media Inc. confirmed that it has signed a letter of intent to buy Standard Broadcasting Corp. Ltd., a deal that will make Astral Canada’s biggest radio broadcaster with 81 stations across the country.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2007
ASTRAL INTENT TO ACQUIRE STANDARD
CNW
Astral Media Inc. today announced that it has signed a letter of intent and has entered into exclusive negotiations regarding the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of radio broadcaster, Standard Radio Inc.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2007
KARMAZIN TO TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE
Jeffrey Yorke – Radio and Records
The Antitrust Task Force, a brand new subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, will examine the proposed $13 billion merger between Sirius and XM satellite radio companies and has already confirmed that Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin will testify on Feb. 28 when the committee makes its debut.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2007
CRTC BOSS TO TACKLE NEW-MEDIA
Financial Post
CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said Friday he expects his "principal" challenge during his term will be to ensure that Canadian content can remain relevant in a landscape dominated by new media.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2007
BROADCASTING DECISION CRTC 2007-69
Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation - English-language FM radio station in Goderich
In this decision, the Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language, commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Goderich, Ontario.
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Archive Date - February 24, 2007
SATELLITE STOCKS PULL BACK
David B. Wilkerson – MarketWatch
Shares of XM Satellite Radio Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. headed lower Wednesday amid worries that their proposed merger may not get approval from regulators.
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Archive Date - February 24, 2007
EMI CONFIRMS APPROACH FROM WARNER
Associated Press
The long courtship between EMI Group PLC and Warner Music Group is on again. EMI confirmed Tuesday that it had received an approach from Warner about a possible bid.
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Archive Date - February 24, 2007
SAT DEAL DISCORD IN CANADA
Grant Robertson – Globe and Mail
The marriage of satellite radio giants XM and Sirius is being touted as a friendly merger of equals in the U.S., but the situation looks much different in Canada, where the two companies disagree over whose operation is worth more.
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Archive Date - February 24, 2007
ASTRAL STALKS STANDARD
Price estimated at $1.1B: Sources point to 'strategic logic' of broadcast union
Barbara Shecter – Financial Post
Astral Media Inc., the TV and radio operator that missed out on two recent billion-dollar media takeovers, is in talks to buy radio powerhouse Standard Broadcasting Corp., sources say.
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Archive Date - February 23, 2007
ECMA HANDS OUT INDUSTRY AWARDS
ECMA Release
The people who work diligently behind the scenes to make the East Coast Music industry strong and vibrant were honoured by their peers today during the 2007 ECMA Industry Awards Show and Brunch, sponsored by FACTOR and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters. The event was held today at the World Trade and Convention Centre’s Port Royal Room (Sunday, February 18 at 10am) as part of the 2007 East Coast Music Awards, Festival and Conference.
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Archive Date - February 23, 2007
CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY AWARDS
CMW Release
If you haven’t experienced it, you haven’t really attended CMW. The Canadian Music Industry Awards have attained a life of their own over the years, shaking power lists and creating media “buzz.” It’s an event like no other, with drinks flowing, voices raising and the most colourful personalities in the industry cracking wise and cutting loose. Join host Comedian Sean Cullen for an evening of great entertainment as we pay tribute to legendary David Foster, CHUM Chairman, Jim Waters and Rush manager Ray Danniels.
2007 Canadian Music Industry Awards Nominees
Archive Date - February 23, 2007
CWC ANNUAL AWARDS GALA
Broadcaster
Canadian Women in Communications is a national, bilingual organization, with over 1,400 members in nine chapters across Canada, committed to the advancement of women in the communications industry through strategic networking, targeted professional development and meaningful recognition.
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Archive Date - February 23, 2007
ANTITRUST ISSUES MAY AID DEAL
Andrew Ross Sorkin – New York Times
Mel Karmazin, the chief executive of Sirius Satellite Radio, made a lot of phone calls seeking advice before he entered into a merger deal with XM Satellite Radio on Monday.
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Archive Date - February 23, 2007
XM-SIRIUS DEAL MAY NOT FLY
The combination needs approval from the FCC. But the commission's chairman is skeptical—and the regulatory body has rejected similar deals
Phil Mintz – BusinessWeek
The long dance that led XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio to agree to what's being termed a $13 billion "merger of equals" announced Feb. 19 may have been the easy part. Now the two companies need the Federal Communications Commission to go along. And that might very well be even tougher than reaching an agreement on how to combine the two long-standing rivals.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
SATRAD FALLS ON DEAF EARS
Appealing to today's youth may be an even bigger challenge for XM and Sirius than winning FCC approval of their merger
Ron Grover – BusinessWeek
My 17-year-old ought to be the target audience for Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, the two competing companies that now are asking the Federal Communications Commission for a green light to merge. After all, she spends much of her life with an ear glued to anything that will satisfy her urgent need for the soothing vibrations of Blink-182, the White Stripes, and a bunch of other groups that may have come and gone by the time you read this. Apple's iTunes is the start page on her computer, and she plugs her iPod into her 1999 Jeep. Her computer, well, that plays tunes as well, usually when she's cramming for a test.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
KARMAZIN SAYS MERGER ‘VERY DOABLE’
Jeffrey Yorke – Radio and Records
The proposed $13 billion, tax-free, all-stock exchange “merger of equals” between Sirius and XM satellite radio companies is “very doable with multiple benefits for all stakeholders,” said Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin. And the deal, which must clear some significant regulatory hurdles, has a “solid basis for approval,” he told investors during a 60-minute plus teleconference with XM chairman Gary Parsons.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
REC INDUSTRY'S OFF-KEY STRATEGY
Michael Geist – Toronto Star
Ten years ago, as the Internet began to mushroom in popularity and emerging technologies enabled consumers to make nearly perfect copies of digital content, the recording industry embarked on a two-pronged strategy in response to the changing business environment.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
SIRIUS CANADA STATEMENT ON MERGER
CNW
Sirius Canada, the country's fastest growing satellite radio company, issued the following statement today following the announcement that U.S.-based Sirius Satellite Radio and XM intend to merge:
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
XM CANADA RESPONDS TO MERGER
Canadian impact being determined; merger positive for satellite radio industry
CNW
XM Canada is carefully reviewing the proposal by XM Satellite Radio Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. after the two U.S. companies announced plans to merge their operations earlier today.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
RADIO IF THERE’S VIDEO
Richard Siklos – New York Times
Ted Stryker, a D.J. at KROQ in Los Angeles, considers it a perk of the job to wear shorts and T-shirts to work. But last Sunday as he dressed for the Grammy Awards, he pulled out his best blazer and a flashy belt buckle, knowing three video cameras would stream live coverage of his show to the Web sites of 147 CBS radio stations.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
LAWMAKERS TO REVIEW MERGER
AllAccess
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) said this afternoon that a new congressional antitrust task force will hold a hearing on February 28 on the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio and that Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin will testify, AP reports.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
SATCASTER MERGER IS IFFY DEAL
Jeffrey Yorke – Radio and Records
Banc of America Securities analyst Jonathan Jacoby has been bird-dogging XM and Sirius for a number of years, and he's not all that confident that they are going to pull off their proposed merger. In a review of Tuesday (Feb. 20) morning's joint XM-Sirius teleconference with analysts -- including Jacoby -- the veteran analyst tells investors in a note, "It seems to us that management and Wall Street are not very far apart on the estimated likelihood of a merger being completed. We believe that the probability of success is something less than 50%, and the managements seem to be only slightly more confident."
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
CONGRESSMAN CALLS FOR HEARING
Susan Butler – Billboard
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is urging the House Judiciary Committee to examine the potential merger between XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. He wants the committee to hold a hearing to look more closely at legal parameters and competitive ramifications.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
SIRIUS & XM COMBINE IN $13B MERGER
Provides Consumers with Enhanced Content, Greater Choices and Accelerated Technological Innovation - Enables Satellite Radio to Better Compete in Rapidly Evolving Audio Entertainment Industry - Extraordinary Value Creation for Shareholders - Mel Karmazin to Serve as Chief Executive Officer and Gary Parsons to Serve as Chairman of Combined Company
PRNewswire
XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement, under which the companies will be combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger of equals with a combined enterprise value of approximately $13 billion, which includes net debt of approximately $1.6 billion.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2007
NAB, FCC RESPOND TO SATCASTER MERGER
Jeffrey Yorke – Radio and Records
Not unexpected, the Sirius Satellite Radio/XM Satellite Radio deal was met with immediate resistance from the powerful National Association of Broadcasters.
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Archive Date - February 20, 2007
CHICKS NOT MAKING NICE WITH COUNTRY
Gail Mitchell – Billboard
After the Dixie Chicks swept the Grammy Awards with five trophies, the group's tenuous relationship with country radio moved back into the spotlight.
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Archive Date - February 20, 2007
AJA’S ENTRIES AT 460
CNW
80 independent judges from coast to coast are now reviewing the 460 entries submitted to the 2006 Atlantic Journalism Awards. In announcing the total entries, AJA’s Chair, Dawn Chafe, Editor of Atlantic Business Magazine said, "We continue to be amazed at the quality of journalism in Atlantic Canada and the emphasis journalists place on winning an AJA. The 460 entries reflect a strong commitment to journalistic excellence in Atlantic Canada."
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Archive Date - February 20, 2007
RADIO-NET CAN IMPROVE WEB TRAFFIC
AllAccess
According to just-released research from the Radio Ad Effectiveness Lab (RAEL), recall of advertising is dramatically enhanced when a mix of radio and Internet ads is used together compared to website ads alone. Conducted by Harris Interactive, the new study was released at RAB'07 in Dallas.
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Archive Date - February 20, 2007
HEARING AND LISTENING
Fran Lytle – AllAccess
Women and men are different. OK, that's no surprise. But what you might find surprising is how these differences manifest in gender-specific hearing ability and listening behavior. Women have a keener sense of acoustic response (science-speak for hearing) than men. Typically, she's comfortable with sound that is 40%-50% lower than a man's comfort level. This means she will turn the radio down when she hears a spot that uses the loud "Crazy Eddie" approach. She'll tell you that it's "irritating"-- it doesn't just irritate her sensibilities, it irritates her sense of hearing.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
MUSICRYPT REPORTS 500% GROWTH IN US
Deliveries via DMDS to US destinations increase 500% in Q4 over Q1 2006
CNW
Musicrypt Inc., the leader in secure digital media distribution, reports that deliveries of music tracks using its Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) in the US increased 500% from the first quarter of 2006 to over 219,000 deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2006. This rapid growth is attributed to the widespread adoption of DMDS by radio stations and major and independent labels throughout the US. In 2006 DMDS delivered songs from superstar artists such as American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, Beyonce, Neil Young, U2, Ludacris, Norah Jones, Dixie Chicks, Tony Bennett, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and hundreds more.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
SATELLITE Q4 SUBSCRIBER TRENDING
Satellite Retail Off Pace with Q3 2006 - The Year's Softest Quarter
Bridge Ratings Release
2006 ended with the satellite radio sector delivering an additional 4.5 million new subscribers for a composite total of 13.6 million for both companies. Though this was down from their original sector estimates of 15 million, the number marks a quite respectable 48% increase year over year. With Sirius off 200,000 and XM off an additional 1.4 million the year of growth for the satellite radio sector belonged to Sirius - at least from a numbers perspective.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
HEAVENLY DEAL
Peter Lauria - New York Post
Satellite radio operators Sirius and XM are expected to announce their long-awaited merger today, according to a source familiar with the deal.
The two sides were locked in negotiations over the weekend trying to hammer out a final agreement with an eye toward going public with the merger today in Washington, D.C., where XM is based, this source said.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
ANALYST TO XM, SIRIUS: QUIT QUIBBLING
A Bear Stearns analyst says merger talks between the satellite radio operators are hung up on control issues, not regulatory hurdles
Sonja Ryst – BusinessWeek
Federal regulators aren't likely to block a combination of the nation's two satellite radio operators, XM and Sirius, but disagreement over how to split control of a combined company is probably slowing matters, a Bear Stearns analyst wrote Feb. 16, urging the companies' shareholders to press the issue.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
SIRIUS ADDS 100,000 NEW SUBSCRIBERS
Sirius Canada Surpasses 300,000 Paying Subscribers – Sirius Leads Industry in Canada with 78 per cent Market Share
CNW
Sirius Canada Inc., Canada's fastest growing satellite radio provider with 110 full-time channels, announced today that it has surpassed 300,000 paying subscribers nationwide, with more than 100,000 of those subscribers joining since November 22, 2006.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
FRESH BLAST FROM CANADA AT SXSW
CNW
Canada will make its biggest showing ever at the 2007 edition of the South by Southwest Music & Media Festival in Austin, Texas from March 14 through March 18 with the return of the Canadian BLAST initiative. A record number of 108 Canadian artists have been invited to perform at one of North America's largest annual music industry events and some of Canada's hottest buzz acts - from Malajube to K'naan to Mother Mother - are slated to appear. Established acts such as Kid Koala, The Tragically Hip, Ron Sexsmith, Sloan, and The Dears are also confirmed. Terry McBride, the visionary founder of Nettwerk Music Group, will be featured in a SXSW interview. "The diversity and number of truly gifted musicians alone simply staggers," says Brent Grulke, Creative Director of SXSW.
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Archive Date - February 19, 2007
DIXIE CHICKS, BLIGE WIN AT GRAMMYS
Jonathan Cohen – Billboard
The Dixie Chicks triumphed over their critics, Mary J. Blige played comeback queen and the Red Hot Chili Peppers reasserted their rock dominance at the 49th Grammy Awards, held Sunday night (Feb. 11) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Chicks won five awards, including record and song of the year for "Not Ready To Make Nice" and album of the year for "Taking the Long Way." Blige won best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance for "Be Without You" and best R&B album for "The Breakthrough."
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Archive Date - February 15, 2007
COPYRIGHT GROUP SEEKS DIGITAL LEVY
Christopher Maughan – Canadian Press
Canadian music industry representatives are re-opening an old debate about MP3 players that could see the average price of the devices climb by as much as $75.
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Archive Date - February 13, 2007
BYRNESMEDIA CLIENT PROMOTES IN SALES
Gary Dorosz to Retail Sales Manager of Country 95 and B-93 FM in Lethbridge and Anne Graham to General Sales Manager of Big Country 93.1 FM in Grande Prairie
Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Release
The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group continues to implement its ongoing management strategy of promoting personnel within the group to new opportunities.
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Archive Date - February 13, 2007
CFRB HOSTS VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT
CNW
CFRB Morning Man Bill Carroll and evening host Jim Richards have fallen prey to a Toronto man who has been impersonating them on internet chat rooms for the past three to four years. The identity theft came to light Tuesday night on the Jim Richards Show when the man confessed on air to communicating with people on internet chat rooms using the names of Bill Carroll and Jim Richards.
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Archive Date - February 12, 2007
BILLY TALENT, K-OS LEAD JUNO RACE
Reuters
Rockers Billy Talent, hip-hop star k-os and songstress Nelly Furtado lead the pack with five nominations each for the 2007 Juno Awards, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced late on Tuesday.
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Archive Date - February 12, 2007
FIRST FEMALE CHAIR OF BBM BOARD
Broadcaster
BBM Canada is pleased to announce that Kathy Gardner, Senior Vice President of Integrated Media Research and Corporate Promotions for CanWest MediaWorks, has been elected Chair of the BBM Board of Directors.
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Archive Date - February 12, 2007
SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL FOR PAYOLA
Paul Davidson – USA Today
The nation's four largest radio broadcasters would make payments and other contributions valued at about $10 million under a proposed settlement of a year-long probe by the Federal Communications Commission into pay-for-play claims in the music industry, say FCC officials and others with direct knowledge of the matter.
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Archive Date - February 8, 2007
NEW CRTC CHAIR NAMED
Heritage Canada Release
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced the appointment of Konrad von Finckenstein, of Ottawa, as Chairperson of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
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Archive Date - February 7, 2007
MRC ACCREDITS PPM IN HOUSTON
Katy Bachman – Mediaweek
The Media Rating Council granted accreditation to Arbitron’s portable people meter radio ratings in Houston, Arbitron announced Monday (Jan. 29). A critical milestone in the death of the diary and the industry’s subsequent transition to electronic measurement, MRC accreditation also means radio stations will have little reason to oppose the PPM except for price.
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Archive Date - February 7, 2007
FESTIVAL LINE-UP ANNOUNCED
CMW Release
After months of reviewing artists submissions, selecting performers, and coordinating time slots, The Festival schedule has taken form and is now available online by going here . In association with publications, booking agents, music organizations and labels, The Festival, sponsored by MaxTrax, promises to be bigger, better and badder than ever. Over 500 Canadian and International bands will be performing at over 40 venues throughout downtown Toronto, reinforcing the event as the nation’s largest New Music Festival.
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Archive Date - February 7, 2007
CHANGES AT BYRNESMEDIA CLIENT STATIONS
Quinte Broadcasting Release
Quinte Broadcasting President, Bill Morton is please to announce the following changes at MIX 97, LITE 107 and CJBQ.
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Archive Date - February 1, 2007
FCC CLOSING IN ON PAYOLA SETTLEMENT?
FMQB
Could the FCC be closing in on a settlement over payola in the radio industry? Various reports are suggesting that the Commission is getting closer to a done deal and more than one group is urging the FCC to hold radio to a higher standard and enforce stiff penalties. Earlier this month, potential details of the settlement emerged, which included additional airtime for independent music and a code of conduct. However, the four radio ownership groups implicated in the investigation (Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Entercom and Citadel) would not admit to any wrongdoing.
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Archive Date - February 1, 2007
CRTC CHIEF 'PRO-CONSUMER'
Executives see continuation of no-nonsense style
Grant Robertson and Catherine McLean – Globe and Mail
Konrad von Finckenstein has never shied away from decisions that spark controversy in Corporate Canada, and industry executives are expecting he will bring that tough, hands-on administrative style to his new role as head of Canada's broadcast and telecom regulator.
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Archive Date - February 1, 2007
RADIO STAYS IN TUNE
Broadcaster
New evidence from Foundation Research reveals that with all the choices available today, Canadians continue to spend one third of their daily media time with radio. It further solidifies earlier findings that radio is a perfect fit for modern life. It's effortless, entertains and informs throughout the day, and is uniquely compatible with the Internet. Above all, radio remains relevant to Canadians.
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