Clear Channel Interactive will use Encite Commerce.
Clear channel = Clear-Cutting the
Radio Forest By Randy Dotinga
We endorse the
Boycott Petition to the Clear Channel Network.
Radio's big bully
Dirty tricks and crappy programming:
Welcome to the world of Clear Channel, the biggest station owner in America.- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Eric Boehlert April 30, 2001 (5 pages Very good ;)
Randy Michaels strikes again
by: ricketzz (99/M/Sulphur Springs, CA) 06/24/02 09:42 am
Msg: 6715 of 6715
Clear Channel Sued For Bruce Da Moose Ruse
Adrienne Breidigan says a man called her on June 12 claiming to be the doctor of her former boyfriend, who the doctor said had been diagnosed with an incurable sexually transmitted disease. Upon believing she'd been infected, she began to cry and answer questions about her sexual history. .
When those questions became graphic and impertinent, Breidigan suspected a hoax. Sure enough, the episode was being recorded by CHR/Rhythmic WBTT/Ft. Myers. Breidigan — a licensed bondsman and a private investigator — tells the Naples Daily News the stunt had been set up by a friend and that she was only told it was a prank shortly before nighttimer Bruce Da Moose - who's also named in the suit - aired the conversation. But WBTT also aired her name, and she insists she didn't give the station permission to do so. Clear Channel execs did not respond to the newspaper's calls seeking comment.
rronline.com
-=-=-=
STATEMENT OF US SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD ON MARKET CONCENTRATION IN THE RADIO, CONCERT, AND PROMOTION INDUSTRIES
June 13, 2002
Thank you Mr. President. I rise today to voice my concerns about the concentration of ownership in the radio and concert industry and its effect on consumers, artists, local businesses, and ticket prices.
I will be introducing legislation to address these concerns in the coming weeks, but wanted to make my colleagues aware of the seismic changes that have taken place in the radio and concert industries following the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Real Audio Show from Eric and Nic talk about
how record's get on the corporate radio staitons , pay'ola in the year 2001
you have to pay someone $1000 to get your song on the radio stations.
get busted , it's only a $7000 fine...., and then start right back at it.
undeniably brash. In fact, back in 1993 while
overseeing "The Power Pig," an outlandish Tampa Top 40 outlet,
Michaels waged a relentless on-air war with crosstown rival Q105,
mocking the station and its employees. When Clear Channel bought
Q105, the Pig laid into its new owner, Lowry Mays, with recorded
comedy bits, dubbing him
"Lowry Mayonnaise," and later "Low Rent
Mayonnaise," a womanizing, "evil Texas banker" whose first priority,
when not telling a black disc jockey to wax his Cadillac, was to "cut
costs" at Q105. Mays is still Clear Channel's CEO -- and now
Michaels' boss. Michaels was the boss of BUBA the love sponge
this is the view of the corporate lader at CCU
Before 1996, a radio broadcast company could own only two stations
in one market and no more than two dozen nationwide. If it earned a
too-unpleasant reputation, jocks, programmers and salespeople might
simply stay away.
But the Telecommunications Act of 1996 removed
those restrictions, and now Clear Channel has amassed
5-2001
Clear Channel’s WHTZ-FM, New York night jock
Billy Hammond fired.
Last day was Friday. Hammond tells Newsday that he blames his departure
on Clear Channel’s cost-cutting. Hammond had been
with WHTZ-FM for four
years as night jock. Hammond’s contract with Clear Channel expired in March.
Claiming he submitted a proposed renewal to Operations Manager Kid Kelly
which was rejected with no counteroffer made.
Next time you goto the mall look for the clear channel mall dept... brainwashing
display adds
Play MP3's any time with this pager size 64 meg mp3 player under $130
K-Ci Hailey pleads no contest to lewd conduct charges.
Charges stem from a performance Hailey gave at
Clear Channel’s
KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball in December. Hailey allegedly pulled
his pants down
in front of a full audience of children and parents at the Shrine Auditorium.
Hailey pled no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court. Will be sentenced on
June 5th and is expected to get community service and a fine.
Thank you inside radio for this labor information!
[2-26-2001] This , from www.Insideradio.com , a great news source for the radio's
working class
Ex-KYLD-FM , San Francisco jock gets jail time for prank.
Joseph Lopez – an ex-employee of
Clear Channel 's KYLD-FM – was
sentenced to 45 days in San Mateo County Jail for his participation in
an on air stunt. Lopez and KYLD-FM intern Graham Herbert were arrested
on August 30, 2000 for dressing up as escaped convicts and knocking on
residents doors in Millbrae, CA. Both were charged with falsely causing an
emergency to be reported. Herbert pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor of
disturbing the peace and received a year probation. Lopez received 45 days in
county jail and must pay restitution – about $1,000 – to Millbrae police.
hay CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS , why ???
Corporate-Nepotism , a mp3 stremaing audio newscast
Clear Channel Radio Station
Tortures and Kills in Feast of Cruelty
In 1998, Loeffler and his
firm received $340,000 to represent big-wigs Hicks, Muse Tate, and Furst,(
Clear Channel/AMFM )
a Dallas-based investor partnership that is one of the largest in the country,
according to his lobbying
disclosure forms.
In that same year, Bush and his co-investors sold the Texas Rangers ( tax payer
assets )
to little Thommy Hicks, an investment banker.( evil owner of Cheap Channel )
Radio stations owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications, Inc., have
a history of abusing
and killing
animals. The most recent example of cruelty to animals and macho cowardice exhibited
by employees of Clear
Channel Communications, Inc., occurred in the parking lot of WXTB-98 Rock in Tampa,
Florida, on Tuesday,
February 27, 2001.
According to witnesses and listeners of WXTB, a boar was brought to the radio
station’s parking lot
(see photos) ,
where
he was tied up and castrated,
then had his throat slit while fully conscious.
The boar’s screams were heard across the airwaves.
Instead of showing remorse for this heartless and obscene
act of cruelty toward animals, the radio station has made light of the public’s
concerns
No Prank
Too Wild In the Ratings Game
Costly lawsuits don't deter radio station
Peter Hartlaub, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, December 31, 2000
PITA is requesting that law-enforcement officials investigate this crime and bring
charges.
In the meantime, please write Clear Channel Communications and demand that:
1) “Bubba the love sponge” be disciplined(X);
2) Clear Channel Communications MUST adopt an immediate “zero tolerance”
policy banning stunts involving animals on all its radio stations.
3) the station manager issue an “on air” apology for the torture and
killing of the boar as well as a promise that this type of behavior will not be
repeated. Contact:
L. Lowry Mays
Chair & CEO
Clear Channel Communications Inc,Public File
200 E. Basse Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78209
Tel.: 210-822-2828
Fax: 210-822-2299
E-Mail: lmays@clearchannel.com
( SucksAzz )
STOCK TIP
[CITC feedback]
AFTRA accused Clear Channel Albany of unfair labor practices.
Accusations levied at Clear Channel’s WGY-AM, WRVE-FM and WHRL-FM, Albany.
AFTRA has represented the stations since the 1970s. Clear Channel took over
the stations
from Dame Media in August 1998 and assumed the terms of the bargaining agreement
at that time.
The current agreement expired on June 30, 2000 and parties have been in negotiations
since then.
The last negotiations took place on January 18th and 19th when the parties signed
an agreement to settle grievances. The parties agreed on a wage and fee increase
of 3%
over three years to be retroactive from June 30,2000.
On February 5th Clear Channel told the union that it was canceling
the negotiations scheduled for February 13th and 14th.
The union requested evidence that Clear Channel did not have majority
support from the bargaining unit and has not received a response from Clear
Channel to date.
The union is now saying the Clear Channel violated Section 8 (a)
(1) and (5) of the Act by "failing and refusing to continue negotiations,
and by unilaterally withdrawing recognition from the
Union as the lawful collective bargaining representative of the unit."
[from all access.com...]
In Rememberance of Chris Connors...
It's 8 am and I just got off the phone with a friend in New Hampshire.
WGIR personality Chris Connors commited suicide this past weekend.
WGIR was one of the station's purchased by Capstar/AMFM
(NYSE=" CRB / AMFM " AKA= AMF ) last year and
90% of the staff was replaced by the Prophet system.
(PSI wizard computer automation WAN under Win3.11? ? ? )
After years in the business Chris still pulled weekends at the station
and was seriously thinking of getting back in full-time when he was let go
like so many have. I'm sure this wasn't the only reason as to why he chose
to take his life, but I'm sure it had an impact.
My condolences to his many friends and family.
We tend to forget how business effects people.
Have we become so hard, so greedy, so uncaring for our fellow man that we would trample all over him just for the sake of Prophet(Tm).
May this serve as a scorching reminder to those in the corporate world.
I've watched so many friends lose jobs, lose careers, lose their roots
from moving to find work, and lose heart. Now it's become much more personal.
Posted by scott hawk,on ALLACCESS.COM abcd, 2/10/99 9:37:24 AM, scott_hawk@hotmail.com
AMFM cut this little station staff to the bone ,
but has plenty of money for the ....
"Queen of All Media" RuPaul will host a nationally
syndicated radio show starting later this summer, for AMFM
RADIO NETWORKS. RUPAUL RADIO will be a
two-hour weekend dance music show, with various feature
segments she? developed at New York City's WKTU-FM,
such as "RuPaul's Fashion Review," and "Plastic Surgery Update."
Check out THE 'inside' radio web site at ....
Radio Pro's hang out & swap storys here --= Allacces.com
Corporate Media
Portal
A repository of information
about Corporatized Media
.
In July, U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.)
sent a letter asking the Department of Justice
to investigate whether
Clear Channel's concert-promotion company is
engaging in unfair LABOR and business practices
-=-=-=-=-=-
9-17-2001
Salon's rolled it into one big site..
A complete guide to Salon's reporting
on Clear Channel,the most powerful -- and some would say pernicious --
force in the music industry.
- - - - - - - - - - - - For the past few months, Salon reporter Eric Boehlert
has been tracking
the story of Clear
Channel Communications, the little-noticed
media giant that has quietly taken over the
country's radio and concert industries.
The company owns nearly 1,200 radio stations ( less a few in new york )
and effectively controls the rock radio market. It
also owns SFX Entertainment, the nation's
dominant concert-venue owner and touring promoter.
-=-=-=-=-=-
5-2001
Clear Channel's WHTZ-FM, New York night jock
Billy Hammond fired.
Last day was Friday. Hammond tells Newsday that he blames his departure
on Clear Channel's cost-cutting. Hammond had
been with WHTZ-FM for four
years as night jock. Hammond's contract with Clear Channel expired in March.
Claiming he submitted a proposed renewal to Operations Manager Kid Kelly
which was rejected with no counteroffer made.
also in may-2001
a longtime Los Angeles morning man. He's suing
Clear Channel for several million dollars in unpaid salary and stock
options. Last fall Clear Channel closed on its $24 billion purchase of
AMFM Inc. and its 460 radio stations nationwide, including KCMG,
where London was a host.
Within 60 days of the purchase/merger London was terminated,
and despite what London says were assurances to the
contrary,
Clear Channel refused to honor his two-year written contract.
Clear Channel & Payola:
The Federal Communications Commission has fined the nation's largest radio conglomerate $ 8,000 for violating payola laws....
"This is a weak slap on the wrist from a feeble commission that is no match for Clear Channel or any of the other big
radio conglomerates that are powerful players in Washington," said Jeff Cohen, founder of Fairness and Accuracy in
Reporting, a New York-based media watchdog group. "The FCC is obviously ill-equipped to deal with this new
form of payola. It's no longer about some deejay in the control room stuffing a few bucks into his back pocket.
These days payola is being done right out in the open by huge conglomerates. And nobody in Washington seems to
care."
-
Fair.org
-Los Angeles Times (10/20/00)
. . .
*
And a big Radio Engineer welcome to
Chris Bakker
attorney from the Department of
White Collar Criminal Defense
for Clear Channel Radio
of San Francisco,California law firm Thelen
Reidan Priest LLP We would like to thank them very much for visiting
Transmiter sites from HELL !!!
From our PUBLIC user log
18 May, Fri, 01:20:11am ( IP address 12.22.43.240 ) MSIE 5 Windows
98
( 12.22.... is clear channels Law firm )
19 May, Sat, 00:08:11am 12.22.43.240 MSIE 5 Windows 98
19 May, Sat, 00:47:27am 12.22.43.240 MSIE 5 Windows 98
19 May, Sat, 01:08:40am 216.142.92.254 MSIE 5 Windows NT (NT!haha )
216.. is Clear Channel I.T. , surfing our site
19 May, Sat, 01:55:03am 216.142.92.254 MSIE 5 Windows 98
19 May, Sat, 02:39:29 12.22.43.240 MSIE 5 Windows 98
Seems clear channel workers have to look 'outside' for LABOR and WAGE help
From all the after midnight log-on's we know Cheap channels burning the midnight
oil trying to back pedal
out of big labor trouble
Stay tuned for a complete update and inside radio station reports from your
long time COMMUNITY BROADCASTER and media activist friends at Transmitter
sites from hell
UpDate 07-30-2001 Clear Channel gives up on unpaid 'over-time' Labor case
and sends $3000 to California Labor commission
At
the annual meeting of the National Association of Broadcasters,
Clear
Channel kept a low profile.
Yet its impact on media diversity is anything but casual -
- it owns roughly one in every ten radio stations in the United States.
Listen
to [
real-audio link ]
Clear Channel Rewrites Rules of Radio Broadcasting
Far from fostering a diversity of voices, Clear Channel's
monopolistic practices are accelerating the homogenization
of our airwaves.
This company syndicatesboth Rush Limbaugh
and Dr. Laura to hundreds of stations nationwide, shuts out
independent artists who can't afford to go through high-priced middlemen,
and is responsible for taking the practice of voice
tracking to new heights (or depths, depending on your perspective).
Voice tracking
:
Is the practice of creating brief, computer-assisted voice segments
that attempt to fool
the listener into thinking that a program is locally produced, when
in fact the same content is being broadcast to upwards of 75 stations
nationwide from a central site.
So you have one overworked
'radio personality' recording the phrases, "Hello Modesto!"
"Hi Fowler!"
"How you feeling Oakdale?"
all day long.
Clear Channel is the
corporation that has benefited most dramatically from the FCC's weakening
of ownership rules in 1996.
That makes the company a strategic target because they have damaged
media diversity and violated the public interest so severely in cities across the country.
Sadly, the FCC has generally ruled in the interest of
large corporations
that use extraordinary pressure through their numerous and well-paid
lobbyists.
It's gotten so bad that even FCC
Chair Michael Powell,
son of Secretary of State Colin Powell, has publicly
stated that he doesn't know what is meant by "the
public interest."
To determine which stations near
you are owned by Clear Channel,
simply visit the company's radio section at http://www.clearchannel.com
and enter your locality in the station finder.
Then boycott the stations!
clear channel hate clear channel communications and employees albany radio personality
arrested clear channel sucks
Prophet Clear Channel clear channel communications streaming audio ccu lawsuits
sfx the contours of labor & meaning rupaul plastic surgery Audio Engineer AND
Labor Union
Broadcasting & Cable TV, Communications Services,
Internet Symbols CCU;Clear Channel Communic.,
CXR;Cox Radio, Inc., ETM;Entercom Communications, NETR ;NetRadio Corp., SIRI;Sirius
Satellite Radio
, XMSR;XM Satellite Radio KYLD-FM1 CA PLEASANTON, ETC. USA Service Designation:
FB Booster
(Retransmitting) Facility or Application 299D 107.7 MHz Licensed File No.: BLFTB
-19900803TD Facility ID No:
28878 CDBS Application ID No.: 151318 37 ° 52' 55.00" N Latitude 121° 55' 5.000"
W Longitude (NAD27
) Polarization: Horizontal Vertical Effective Radiated Power (ERP): .185 kW
ERP Ant. Height Above
Average Terrain (HAAT): meters HAAT Ant. Radiation Center Above Mean Sea Level:
1155. meters RCAMSL
Ant. Radiation Center Above Ground Level: 19.0 meters RCAGL Directional Antenna
ID: Pattern Rotation: °
Not in a Border Zone . Antenna pattern not in database. Links will display information
in new browser windows.
Close or minimize the new windows to return to this page. . CDBS data: Station
Info Application Info Mailing Address Maps:
Region Map Area Map Local Map HAAT/Distances to Contours/Service_Map/DA Relative
Field Plot Previous Record --- Next Record KYLD CA SAN FRANCISCO USA Service
Designation: FS Auxiliary (Backup) Facility or Application 235B 94.9 MHz Construction
permi File No.: BPH -19990406IF Facility ID No: 59989 CDBS Application ID No.:
283603 37 ° 41' 17.00" N Latitude 122° 26' 7.000" W Longitude (NAD27) Polarization:
Horizontal Vertical Effective Radiated Power (ERP): 26.0 26.0 kW ERP Ant. Height
Above Average Terrain (HAAT): 402. 402. meters HAAT Ant. Radiation Center Above
Mean Sea Level: 444.0 444.0 meters RCAMSL Ant. Radiation Center Above Ground
Level: 69.0 69.0 meters RCAGL Not directional Not in a Border Zone . Links will
display information in new browser windows. Close or minimize the new windows
to return to this page. . CDBS data: Station Info Application Info Mailing Address
Maps: Region Map Area Map Local Map HAAT/Distances to Contours/Service Map Previous
Record --- Next Record KYLD CA SAN FRANCISCO USA Service Designation: FS Auxiliary
(Backup) Facility or Application 235B 94.9 MHz Licensed File No.: BLH -19900104AC
Facility ID No: 59989 CDBS Application ID No.: 288975 37 ° 41' 22.00" N Latitude
122° 26' 10.00" W Longitude (NAD27) Polarization: Horizontal Vertical Effective
Radiated Power (ERP): 30.0 30.0 kW ERP Ant. Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT):
357. 357. meters HAAT Ant. Radiation Center Above Mean Sea Level: 413.0 413.0
meters RCAMSL Ant. Radiation Center Above Ground Level: 40.0 40.0 meters RCAGL
Not directional Not in a Border Zone . Links will display information in new
browser windows. Close or minimize the new windows to return to this page. .
CDBS data: Station Info Application Info Mailing Address Maps: Region Map Area
Map Local Map HAAT/Distances to Contours/Service Map Previous Record --- Next
Record KYLD CA SAN FRANCISCO USA Service Designation: FM 'Full Service' FM Station
or Application 235B 94.9 MHz Licensed File No.: BLH -7071 Facility ID No: 59989
CDBS Application ID No.: 300141 37 ° 41' 22.00" N Latitude 122° 26' 10.00" W
Longitude (NAD27) Polarization: Horizontal Vertical Effective Radiated Power
(ERP): 30.0 30.0 kW ERP Ant. Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT): 369. 369.
meters HAAT Ant. Radiation Center Above Mean Sea Level: 425.0 425.0 meters RCAMSL
Ant. Radiation Center Above Ground Level: 52.0 52.0 meters RCAGL
pirate,tube,RF,CITC,fcc,shortwave vs Citadel Communications Corporation,tower,antenna,amateur,1998,2000,Mt.,cell,site,cellsite,Broadcasting
& Cable TV, Communications Services, Internet Symbols CCU;Clear Channel Communic.,
CXR;Cox Radio, Inc., ETM;Entercom Communications, NETR ;NetRadio Corp., SIRI;Sirius
Satellite Radio , XMSR;XM Satellite Radio speech,transmitter,CITADEL,Modesto,Stockton,Station,KOSO,KHOP,KDJK,KATM,KBUL,KJAY,KFRY,KJSN,KFIV,KCBC,KPSA
SamsDirect Internet Registers 60,000 ".CC" Domain Names Since January 2000 Via
www.SPOT.CC; Company Credits It's Marketing Alliance With Clear Channel Communications,
Inc. Beverly Hills, CA, March 2, 2000—SamsDirect Internet, the Beverly Hills-based
Internet marketing firm announced today that it has registered 60,000 domain
names in the top-level ".CC" domain since January of this year. The ".CC" Domain
works worldwide just like .com—with the difference being that millions of good
.CC domains are still available, while nearly all good .com names have been
taken. SamsDirect Internet credited the success of the SPOT.CC marketing campaign
to the general public’s appetite for easy-to-remember domain names, the ease
of using the company’s www.SPOT.CC Domain Retrieval Service and, most importantly,
SamsDirect Internet’s unique marketing alliance with Clear Channel Communications,
Inc. Clear Channel is one of the world’s largest radio broadcasters with, including
announced acquisitions, over 800 radio stations in the United States alone.
"It’s like catching lightning in a bottle," states David Sams, Chairman/CEO
of SamsDirect Internet. "The last time I experienced something with this much
instant heat was when I launched the Oprah Winfrey Show while head of marketing
for King World." "This is truly one of the great marketing stories of the new
millenium," states Randall Mays, Executive Vice President and CFO of Clear Channel
Communications, Inc. "It clearly illustrates the incredible branding power of
Radio as an advertising medium. We are very committed to this effort and plan
to make the .CC Domain as popular as .COM." Clear Channel stations benefit from
the sale of each domain name sold, and is putting much of the proceeds back
into the local markets to enhance each station’s Internet presence. The SPOT.CC
marketing campaign began testing in Orlando, Florida earlier this year. National
rollout of the SPOT.CC radio advertisements began in early February. Many of
the Clear Channel radio stations have, or are in the process of switching their
current .com websites to .CC. Some of these include http://www.magic107.cc ,
Orlando; http://www.y-100.cc , Miami; and the popular http://www.kissfm.cc in
Los Angeles. "Our stations are enjoying this promotion," states Clear Channel
Radio Group President Randy Michaels. "They feel as though they are at the center
of something big on the Internet. It really is a convergence between the two
mediums. Our desire is to make .CC the second most popular Domain on the net
over the next 12 to 18 months—ahead of .net and .org." "This campaign targets
the general consumer who did not think about registering a good .com domain
four or five years ago," states Renee Sams, Co-Chair and COO of SamsDirect Internet.
"We have moms registering domains for their kids; new brides registering domains
to post their wedding pictures; and small business owners registering a good
.CC domain to replace a long, not-so-memorable .com domain name. This is the
public's second chance to grab a good Domain while they're available." About
Clear Channel Communications Clear Channel Communications, Inc., is a global
leader in the out-of-home advertising industry with radio and television stations
and outdoor displays in 36 countries around the world. Including announced transactions,
Clear Channel operates 830 radio and 19 television stations in the United States
and has the equity interests in over 240 radio stations internationally. Clear
Channel also operates more that 550,000 outdoor advertising displays, including
billboards, street furniture and transit panels across the world. The Company
is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit www.clearchannel.cc.
About SamsDirect Internet SamsDirect Internet is a division of David Sams Industries,
Inc. (DSI). DSI has its world headquarters in Beverly Hills, CA. The Company’s
direct-to-consumer marketing division is responsible for campaigns that have
generated over $100 million via the Internet, radio and television. Prior to
forming DSI, David Sams was head of marketing for King World where he helped
to turn WHEEL OF FORTUNE, JEOPARDY!, and OPRAH WINFREY into household names.
The company’s TV division has won nine Emmy awards and numerous advertising
awards. Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual results performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed Donna Stockton-Hicks or implied by such forward-looking
statements. For more information, contact: jcore wireless SamsDirect Internet
David Sams Chairman/CEO (310) 772-0770 Clear Channel Communications
Aka Randy Michaels aka jcore wireless aka christmas party pooper
President, Radio (606) 655-6500
Cassette Tape ? NO ! MP3-CASSETTE ! !
This mp3 player works with headphones OR slap it into any tape deck even your
CAR !
RCA , it's a dirty job
KVFX KFOX San Jose SFX/Clear channel radio studio hotline for DJ request and
complants 408-451-7759
11-26-01 , just in time for the christmas holiday
"People are crying in the hallways."
That's what one Clear Channel employee,
who still had a job, said
about last Thursday's job terminations.
Thursday was the day that Clear Channel,
the largest radio conglomerate in America,
got around to a
mass firing in San Diego.
After similar episodes in Los Angeles,
Houston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia,
the company (which has 1200 stations nationwide,
owns or operates 11 stations locally, and
under employs 283 full- and part-time
employees in San Diego) fired 12 of those employees.
The station did not issue a release on the firings.
* Longtime newsperson * Allison Ross was released from KOGO.
Steve West ,who started in San Diego at 91X in *1983*,
was jettisoned from his afternoon gig on the Mix 95.7.
CheapChannel Profit over people (tm)
The world of the mass media is shrinking. How a handful of companies came to
exercise such control over the media is one of the astonishing stories of our time.
But there are real consequences to what's happening that affect democracy and
consumers.
Virtual Radio and the Monopolies and Mergers
Merging Media
Approximate number of daily newspapers in North America:
1800
Approximate number of magazines in North America:
11,000
Approximate number of radio stations in North America:
11,000
Approximate number of television stations in North America:
2000
Approximate number of book publishers in North America:
3000
Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media
listed above in 1984:
50
Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media
listed above in 1987:
26
Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media
listed above in 1996:
10
Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media
listed above in 2002:
6
The Massing of the Media
THE LAW: Many media watchers point to the Telecommunications Act of
1996 as crucial to the growth of media giants. The Act removed long-standing
limits on the number of media outlets that any one company could own in any
single market. Currently the cap stands at 35% of national television station
ownership. As a visit to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC)
website shows, the comment period on relaxing many ownership restrictions
further is still open.
TELEVISION: The U.S. seems awash with TV choices. Between cable, dish
and digital channels, choices number in the hundreds. A recent study by THE
ECONOMIST found that though the market continues to grow, most people
routinely watch only 15 channels. The top ten cable channels and the five
networks still make up 90% of the watching audience. And what are they
watching? American cable fare breaks down as follows:
Entertainment — 36.6%
Children's programming — 21.1%
News &3151; 14.1%
Nature/Education — 11.1%
Women — 7.0%
Music — 5.4%
Sport — 4.7%
NEWS: A few years ago, newspeople were lamenting the results of a study
by Harvard's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy which
showed a marked decrease in international news coverage from 45% in the
1970s to just 14% in 1995. In the wake of September 11, some news
organizations were revitalized. Overseas bureaus were saved from closure
and hard news seemed important again — but the companies lost money.
Just this week, CNN announced its biggest prime-time audience of 2002
for...the arrest of Robert Blake.
Media analysist Andrew Tyndall watches the news every night and publishes
the results in the Tyndall Report. Here's a round-up of the top stories on the
three big networks for selected weeks past from the Tyndall Report:
July 19-31, 2001 (av. number of minutes):
Disappearance of Chandra Levy (24 minutes)
Human embryo stem cell research (14 minutes)
Shark attacks (14 minutes)
April 8-12, 2002
Enron bankruptcy (12 minutes)
Anti-U.S. sentiment in Islamic world (10 minutes)
Catholic pedophile priests (10 minutes)
Andrew Tyndall also recently completed an evaluation of three major cable
news networks for THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER. Although he found
that the three had different presentations and viewpoints — the news they
covered was similar in content (and very male-dominated). Read the whole
report at Cable News Wars.
BOOKS: Big media holds sway over more than the airwaves, many
conglomerates have interest in major publishing houses as well.
TimeWarner -- Warner Books/Little Brown/Time-Life
Viacom -- Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books, etc.
Bertelsmann is the largest book publisher in the United States
Walt Disney -- Hyperion/Talk Miramax Books
Vivendi International -- Houghton Mifflin
The British paper THE OBSERVER noted on April 7, 2002 a case illustrating the
power of the big houses. Random House won Pulitzer Prize-winner Charles
Frazier's second book away from the smaller, independent house, Grove
Atlantic, who discovered his first hit, COLD MOUNTAIN. Random House paid a
reputed 5 million dollars.
RADIO: The changes to the way radio playlists are compiled is amply
demonstrated in our piece on Virtual Radio. However, as recently reported by
NPR radio, there may be another side effect of the standardizing of radio
playlists. Nationally programmed classic rock stations often only play the
biggest hits of bands. Thus a whole generation might be growing up
constantly hearing "Satisfaction" but never even knowing that B-sides like
"Parachute Woman" exist.
Sources: "The Frankenstein Syndrome," JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS,
March 2002; THE ECONOMIST, April 13, 2002; Shorenstein Center on the
Press, Politics and Public Policy; THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER; The
Tyndall Report; THE OBSERVER, London; NEWSDAY; THE NATION;
FORBES: NPR News; ON THE MEDIA
