12-13-2011
Employees love to work for him. Listeners love his radio stations. Shareholders love to invest in him. Radio Ink has named Saga Communications CEO Ed Christian Radio Executive of the year for 2011. There was a time the major players in radio were the darlings of Wall Street. Times have certainly changed as many of those monster radio companies have seen their stocks crater into the single digits, some having to file for bankruptcy to survive, leaving investors looking elsewhere to put their money. Then, there is Saga Communications. The Saga stock price will open today at $36.72. Year-to-date, Saga is up over 40%. The Company operates 61 FM's, 30 AM's 3 state radio networks and 2 farm networks in 26 small and medium markets. Christian says the key to his success, "everything that you do and say has to be centered around the community."
Here's a little preview of our interview with our 2011 Radio Executive of the Year, Ed Christian. "I have had a chance to listen to a lot of radio and watch TV as of late and it amazes me on television how much they mention local communities, local events on their newscasts, even in their breaks to try to involve the people and make them feel, "this is really my TV station." Once you have the feeling that "the station belongs to me" it becomes immaterial. Perception becomes reality. After a while, you are so good for so long. Let me give you an example. Look back at the old days, the days of The Real Don Steele. He had long outlived his usefulness and really wasn't a great morning talent. But the fact is, everybody listened to him just out of habit because he had always been there. You establish this thing in the community where you are what they expect. You are their go-to place. You are their destination. The whole radio station and everybody else there has to have the central philosophy of what we do here is important. We are the ones who control the community."
Christian with will be featured on the cover of Radio Ink's January 9th issue.
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(12/13/2011 11:12:05 AM)
Looking forward to an audio of this hopefully in addition to the article. Congrats to him!
(12/13/2011 10:53:36 AM)
I knew Ed before his parents did - mid 60s at WTRX, Flint, MI. A good friend, a smart cookie, and all these years, he never got me a job anywhere.
(12/13/2011 8:20:11 AM)
Worked for Ed years ago at WNOR. He is a good guy and I congratulate him on this great award!
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