Ramsey Launching Christian Financial Show

5-13-15

Dave Ramsey, host of the nationally syndicated The Dave Ramsey Show and CEO of Ramsey Solutions, has partnered with Salem Media Group to launch a new financial radio show for 20 of Salem's Christian radio stations. The 30-minute show, Chris Brown's True Stewardship, will launch sometime in June.

Said Ramsey: "Creating a Christian radio show, hosted by Chris Brown (pictured), allows Ramsey Solutions to help even more Americans take control of their money. Chris has been speaking to crowds in excess of 10,000 attendees with an incredibly positive response. He is the perfect person to host this new half-hour show!"

Salem President of Broadcast Media David Santrella said: "Financial Stewardship and Dave Ramsey are synonymous in the Christian community.  Having Chris Brown on our stations providing our listeners with sound biblically based, financial advice that comes from inside the walls of Ramsey Solutions is a huge service to our audience and we are thrilled to have this program in our lineup."

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Christian Disagrees With Liggins About Share Shift

8-11-13

The debate is on about why radio advertising is soft. Is the economy to blame? The winter weather? Is the money shifting to digital? Answering a question specifically about radio losing a share of business to digital, Saga CEO Ed Christian said he did not agree with what Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins said last week on his quarterly earnings call. Liggins said part of the issue with radio being soft in the second quarter could be "share shift," specifically, radio losing money to digital. "I really don't agree," Christian said. "I can appreciate Alfred's position and it's a nice way to say that somebody else has caused the problem. It's like the old saying, 'She made me hit her'."

There's a whole different world out there on what advertising and marketing is on the Internet, according to Christian. "There's a lot of misleading information about what's going on in digital. Is there money going there? Absolutely. Is it fresh money? Does it create brands? I ask anyone to tell me, other than the name of a company like Yahoo, what was created as a result of Internet advertising? Who is the poster child for how it's done right, to launch your brand, soley using the Internet or social media. Most people on social media don't want to talk to a brand. They don't want to talk to brand people." Christian said as an adjunct professor he learned that the only thing that would get people to change brands was if they got something for free. And he added, the only thing that has really been successful on the Internet is search engines, calling them "the I-Tunes of the Internet."

(8/12/2014 5:47:30 PM)
While Bob Hoffman has nailed it, the onus is still on radio to significantly upgrade its own advertising messaging - and all by its own damn se'f - while waiting for the digi-phase/trend/fad-thingie to start breaking down in any useful or time-sensitive way.

This isn't one of those deals where radio is going to win by default - right after advertisers "see the light".

(8/12/2014 1:16:21 PM)
Ed mentioned Bob Hoffman in his call yesterday so I reached out to Bob to get a link to his video. You shuld all check it out, especially if you think Digital is winning the day. You may be surprised. By the way Bob is keynoting the Radio Show next month. I'd be interested to read your comments after you view it...and I hope none of you are sensitive to harsh language. Here's the link to his video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyTn_DgfcFE&feature=youtu.be
(8/12/2014 1:10:24 PM)
What he said is 100% correct. There is a lot of "Emperors New Clothes" going on with Digital (read Roy Williams this week) as Pepsi and their 5% loss in market share learned. Technology changes quickly but people change slowly and the tech only acerbates existing tendencies. Most of what people consider "digital" is just print on an electronic platform and as such, people process it the same way (ie. ignore it unless they are in the market). You can't brand without electronic media.
(8/12/2014 12:44:03 PM)
Say, Ed (the ed.), can I take on the winner...? That is, so long as they both go the full 15 rounds first.
(8/12/2014 12:38:09 PM)
If you guys can set it up, we'd be happy to facilitate that debate, record it and play it back for our readers to hear.

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Atkins Joins The Christian Crew

5-21-14

Tom Atkins will relocate from Buffalo to Grosse Pointe Farms to become Saga's new Director of Engineering starting June 9. Atkins was Senior Corporate VP/Director of Engineering for Backyard Broadcasting for 12 years. He's also been Director of Engineering for Entercom Buffalo, an Engineer for WKBW-TV in Buffalo, and has held other Director of Engineering and on-air positions throughout his career.

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Christian Host Dies in Surgery

8-7-13

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reports 47-year old Kerri Drees died in Surgery Monday while having a lap band removed. Hundreds of friends and fans showed up at a local church to show their support for the host. Drees began working at QFM in 2011, which has offices in Fosston, Minn., and Bemidji, Minn. She had previously worked at Power 92 in Fargo.

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Salem Communications CEO Ed Atsinger is Christian Conservative Power

7-10-13

Ed Atsinger has been on Radio Ink's 40 Most Powerful People in Radio list for 17 years. That will be no different when the 2013 issue, and Atsinger's position on our list, are revealed next week. Salem Communications has a corner on the conservative Christian market. With nearly 100 stations pumping out $165 million in revenue, Atsinger and company are superserving its target audience, and no one has been able to compete in Salem?s particular arena. Here's a sneak preview of what Atsinger says about the radio industry in our power issue.

Ed Atsinger has been CEO, a director of the company, and a director of each of the company?s subsidiaries since Salem?s inception and was president from its launch through June 2007. He?s been engaged in the ownership and operation of radio stations since 1969, and has been a member of the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters for a number of years; he was re-elected to a new three-year term on the NRB board in February. He?s been a member of the NAB board since 2008.

Atsinger believes radio has not been able to tell a better story for two primary reasons, ?First,? he says, ?the sheer magnitude of technological developments impacting audio and video entertainment ? whether it be the creation of new audio platforms, complementary video platforms, or the technological evolution of existing platforms ? has so monopolized the popular imagination and so dominated the news media that there has been little room left to promote the impact and effectiveness of free, local, over-the-air terrestrial radio. Second, that same rapidity of technological development has presented a major challenge to the radio industry in terms of the emergence of a coherent industry consensus about that ?better story.??

Atsiner says ?Radio does have a better story.' In our 40 Most Powerful Pople in Radio issue, which you can order HERE, Atsinger summarizes his points in five bullet points. Here are two of those five:

?The automobile continues to be the number one location where audio content is consumed, and in spite of all of the technologically sophisticated talk of the ?wired dashboard,? safety, simplicity of use, local information, and being free of all costs, including bandwidth, will likely ensure radio?s prominence.

?In spite of online audio competition having a minor impact on time spent listening, terrestrial radio, with its 93 percent reach, is more effective today because the digital revolution allows terrestrial radio to more fully exploit its inherent advantages of being free, live, and local with enormously expanded interactive capability. This provides a richer experience for our audiences and improved accountability for our advertisers.

Salem owns the Salem Radio Network, which syndicates both secular and religious talk and news and Christian music to 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives, a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network, a leading Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming; and Salem Publishing, a leading publisher of Christian-themed magazines. Salem owns and operates 60 stations in the nation?s top 25 markets, with 29 in the top 10. And over the past year, it?s been gobbling up digital properties like Godvine.com and SermonSpice.com and has launched the all-new ChristianRadio.com.

To see what else Atsinger - and everyone on our Power List - has to say, subscribe to Radio Ink in time to receive the Top 40 Issue  delivered to your home or downloaded to your device.

(7/10/2013 6:45:55 AM)
I've known Ed and his brother-in-law, Stu Epperson, for 34 years. The wise counsel they offer their employees behind the scenes is deeply touching. If all employers related to their employees in the manner of Ed and Stu, I believe we would be a happier nation. Knowing Ed, I'm sure he's embarrassed by the headline, "Ed Atsinger is...Power." In their private lives, these guys do nothing that would indicate, "I have power." They're even gracious and kind to really bad waiters in restaurants.

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Christian Named Top Jock by his Employer

6-4-13

Australian DJ Michael Christian, who along with Mel Greig, were at the center of a nurse's suicide has been named "Top Jock," by his employer Southern Cross Austereo.  Christian said in a statement, "Regardless of all that's happened in the past few months, I'm still at the top of my game. It felt good to see my name at the top of the final leader board."

Christian and Greig made a prank call to the London hospital treating Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha put the call through. She later committed suicide.

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Techsurvey 9: Christian Radio Fans Love To Share

5-17-13

Listeners to Christian radio stations "continue to share and recommend at a record pace," according to Jacobs Media's Techsurvey 9. Jacobs president Fred Jacobs said the improved "net promoter" recommendation score is "a major advantage for stations in the format." Techsurvey 9 also showed that 56 percent of Christian radio listeners now own a smartphone, up 30 percent from Techsurvey 8, and 34 percent have acquired a tablet. That's up a full 56 percent from TS8.

The 9,400 fans surveyed, across 10 stations and the K-LOVE and Air 1 Christian radio networks, are also very social, Jacobs Media reports, with 87 percent having a social networking profile. And they're the most likely of any format group to "like" their favorite station on Facebook. More than one-third of those who have social media profiles are signed up on Twitter and/or Pinterest, which Jacobs Media notes are "major engagement opportunities" for Christian stations.

Christian radio listeners listen to less broadcast radio than average, the survey found, but they also spend more time with their favorite Christian station than most other formats' fans. The main reasons they listen to radio: the music, and -- more than for any other format -- to "get in a better mood." Though they are less likely to listen to Pandora and SiriusXM than other radio listeners, 56 percent of Christian radio fans listen to streaming radio at least weekly, more than any other format but Alternative.

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How Saga CEO Ed Christian Got Into Radio

When I began my career as an agent, Ed Christian was one of the first people I met at an NAB in the 80s. He was so nice to me that I wanted to do business with him just to spend time with him. I quickly learned that before owning stations he had worked in a similar career as me and knew a great deal more than I did. What Ed taught me was to know my client and know the product. It wasn?t long before our paths crossed and one of my clients went to work for Saga Communications. 

It was a pleasure for me to place a client with a company whose leader had integrity, knew the radio business, and actually cared about talent. Twenty years later, my client still works for Saga and Ed reminds me how smart I was to place my client with his company. I think I was smarter for recognizing Ed?s genius and staying on the path he had blazed.

How Ed Christian, President, Chairman and CEO Saga Communications got into radio.

I never have understood where the passion came from. There was no family background in radio. All I know is that it started early and grew exponentially. My first memory was in (no kidding) kindergarten where we had a microphone on a stand and each morning a different kid was to get up in front of the dead mike and tell the rest of the class what he had for breakfast. When my turn came I grabbed the stand and mugged the mike. I guess it started there.
In the 5th grade I can remember listening to radio serials, many produced in Detroit about a five-minute drive from my house at WXYZ Radio on Jefferson Avenue. Lone Ranger, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, and the Green Hornet originated nationally from there. I also spent nights listening to skywave on a tube-type radio in my bedroom and listened to everything from ballroom bands on WWL to The Mad Daddy Giggle Jiggle on WJW in Cleveland.
In my teen years, before I could drive I took the bus, or had someone drive me to work at FM radio stations in Detroit. This was the great time when FM was new and it seemed that in Detroit there was a new station signing on every few months. Through the beginning of high school I ended up running the board (ahh..the good old days, before labor boards, when you could volunteer to work for free) at WHFI, WABX, WQRS and WGPR in Detroit.
Finally when my voice "changed" I started making audition tapes on a tape recorder in my room using "start and stop" technology and holding the mike up to the radio to catch the song. I sent tapes all over Michigan, Ohio and part of Indiana and Illinois. At the end I had three stations call back, one in Gary, Indiana; Alma, Michigan and Houghton Lake, Michigan. I was applying for "summer work" as the ?daytimers? needed an additional person because of the extended summer hours and I was still a junior in high school. I actually went to interview in Alma and Houghton Lake and struck out at both places, but on my drive back to Detroit I stopped into WMIC in St. Helen, Michigan, and visited with the afternoon jock, who was a St. Helen local. 

I actually stayed there a couple of hours and even met the owner. I left never thinking that anything would come of it but a week later I got a call on Saturday asking me if I was still available. Without even asking my parents I said "yes" and was told I could start on Monday. I went and told my mother who was a little aghast but after she recovered and resigned herself to the fact that her 16-year-old son was pursuing his dream, she lent me her car and her good wishes and sent me on my way. I was on top of the world, ?a mini master of the Universe.? After all, I was going to be doing middays at this 500-watt daytimer at 1590 on the dial...all for the princely sum of $52.00 per week. Sadly the station left the air a number of years later. Thus, my saga began and continues to this day.

No regrets, no look backs, and only one career. I have been blessed by the magic of radio.

Lisa Miller is the President of Miller Broadcast Management in Chicago. She's also one of Radio Ink's Most Influential Women in Radio. Miller can be reached at Lisa@millerbroadcast.com or 312-454-1111.

So, how did you get into radio? We'd love to hear the story about why you're passionate about radio.

How Dan Mason Got Into Radio
How John Gehron Got Into Radio
How Joe Schwartz Got Into Radio

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And Now The Macro From Christian

11-7-2012

Analyst Jim Boyle asked Christian to analyze why radio's 2011 revenue results are coming in consistently soft, despite having weak 2010 numbers to overcome and such high expectations for banner political ad revenue. Boyle wondered if the cause was related to radio fighting radio for advertising dollars or was it something else. Saga operates in 23 medium and small markets and Christian was more than willing to tackle that question. He said the radio business is "fundamentally sound," but there are some problems.

According to Christian, major market radio stations are fighting each other for ad dollars and in the secondary markets, business has just been sluggish. He also says radio is not seeing new product categories come along like it had in previous years. He also blames the lack of excitement from advertisers on radio's adoption of centralization. He used the example of more and more stations going to voicetraking and said, as he always does, "you cannot save yourself to prosperity."

Christian was also critical of the relationship radio now has with advertising agencies. "It's trouble where national is headed. There is a depersonalization between radio stations and advertising agencies. Everything comes in on the fax. You just fill in the blanks and hot the button." He also took a little swipe at Clear Channel regarding national, "It's nice when you own the rep firm."

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Christian Radio Listeners Very Loyal

10-26-2012

New research from Mark Kassof & Co. reveals that Christian format P1 listeners have the highest level of preference for the station they listen to most. Overall, 50% of listeners think their P1 station is ?a lot better? than other stations they listen to. But of those who name a Christian station, that number is 73%. These research is based on 732 online surveys of 18-64 year olds in the U.S. who can name a station they ?spend the most time listening to.?

Other formats with above average station preference are Public Radio (64%), News/Talk (61%) and Country (56%). CHR stations have the lowest preference among their P1 listeners...39% think their station is a lot better (while 55% find it only ?slightly better?). Other formats with ?a lot better? scores below average are Oldies/Classic Hits (42%), Adult Contemporary (43%) and Sports (44%).

The survey was conducted October 1-4, 2012. More details can be found at kassof.com. This research is the latest in a series of ListenerThinkTM surveys conducted by Mark Kassof &

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Christian Named Broadcaster Of The Year

12-29-2011

At the end of every year Radio Ink magazine picks a single broadcaster who has had an outstanding year and names that person Broadcaster of the Year. For 2011 that person is Ed Christian. As of yesterday the Saga Communications (SGA, AMEX) stock price is up 38% YTD. That's PLUS 38%. For the most part Radio has become the ugly duckling of media stocks on Wall Street. Quarterly conference calls for 2011 were nothing short of depressing as CEO's sang a consistent song of "flat" and "limited visibility" and so on and so forth. For sure the economy has been stagnant and Washington's political bickering deflates the consumer, but through it all Ed Christian's company, with his medium and small market stations, has weathered the storms others could not. But at Saga it's more than the stock price. Employees and managers love to work for Ed Christian.

25 years ago Saga Communications started with stations in Columbus, Norfolk, Milwaukee and Rochester (NY). In 1992, the company went public. Today, Saga operates 61 FM's, 30 AM's 3 state radio networks, 2 farm networks 5 television stations and 4 low-power television stations in 26 small and medium markets.  Ed Christian has been at the helm since day one.

Regarding his 25 years of successful radio, Christian says everything you do and say has to be centered around the community. Here's an excerpt from our January 9th issue with Ed Christian on the cover (which you can order HERE) "Growing up in this business, I always thought there were certain precepts that were important to make a radio station valuable to a community. It can be a very simple business if you want it to be. That is, if you do compelling radio, people will listen. If people listen, you can go out and sell advertising with absolute assurety, that it will work as long as you have good, creative copy. If that happens, the merchant can advertise and get results. He's happy. He will repeat, and you will make money. The whole premise starts with compelling radio. God knows there are a lot of awful radio stations out there and people at those stations sit around and say "Oh my God, we can't sell". I would suggest they analyze their product. If you look at the failure of any company, the failures have basically been because their products were not germain or relative or natural to what?s going on in the marketplace. You have to be able to reach the needs and sensitivities of the marketplace. You don't really need to be a general manager. You need to be an environmental behaviorist, and judge the pulse of the people. You have to find out what's important to them, what's necessary to them."

And as mentioned above, employees love to work for Ed Christian. Senior Vice President of Operations for Saga Warren Lada says ?Ed has been able to attract, hire, and retain some of the best broadcasters in the business. We have never once lost a GM to the competition and many of our GM?s have been with us for many years.? Ray Garon is a Vice President for Saga in Manchester. "Ed Christian is a broadcaster. He thinks like a broadcaster. He is still excited about a good blood drive. At the same time, of course, he is a business man, he acts like a CEO, he expects you to run a profitable operation. But, boy he gets excited when you call him and tell him you had a good promotion, or you did a good spec sell, and you got this client on because you did a good ad for him."

Congratulations to Ed Christian of Saga Communications for being named The Radio Ink Executive of the Year for 2011.

(1/2/2012 8:58:41 PM)
Ed Christian is an excellent choice for Broadcaster of the Year. He has been a mentor and inspiration to those who call broadcasting a craft, not a business, for many years; quite simply, he "gets it.". My wife Sue and I are proud to call him a great personal AND professional friend. Kudos on another well-deserved recognition, Ed!
(12/30/2011 12:33:31 PM)
Congrats Ed--well deserved!
(12/30/2011 12:07:11 PM)
Ed is an excellent choice for this honor! I always found his input perceptive and on-target when we served together on the AP Board. He always had great radio stories to tell over dinner.
(12/30/2011 10:58:16 AM)
I'm new to Saga this year and my family and I have counted ourselves blessed since day one. There is more heart in this company than I/we've ever experienced, both for its people and for the communities it serves. Thanks and congratulations Ed!
(12/30/2011 10:14:11 AM)
Ed has served as a mentor to other broadcasters and is always willing to share his passion, knowledge, resources and connections with others. Great choice!

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Christian Named Broadcaster Of The Year

12-29-2011

At the end of every year Radio Ink magazine picks a single broadcaster who has had an outstanding year and names that person Broadcaster of the Year. For 2011 that person is Ed Christian. As of yesterday the Saga Communications (SGA, AMEX) stock price is up 38% YTD. That's PLUS 38%. For the most part Radio has become the ugly duckling of media stocks on Wall Street. Quarterly conference calls for 2011 were nothing short of depressing as CEO's sang a consistent song of "flat" and "limited visibility" and so on and so forth. For sure the economy has been stagnant and Washington's political bickering deflates the consumer, but through it all Ed Christian's company, with his medium and small market stations, has weathered the storms others could not. But at Saga it's more than the stock price. Employees and managers love to work for Ed Christian.

25 years ago Saga Communications started with stations in Columbus, Norfolk, Milwaukee and Rochester (NY). In 1992, the company went public. Today, Saga operates 61 FM's, 30 AM's 3 state radio networks, 2 farm networks 5 television stations and 4 low-power television stations in 26 small and medium markets.  Ed Christian has been at the helm since day one.

Regarding his 25 years of successful radio, Christian says everything you do and say has to be centered around the community. Here's an excerpt from our January 9th issue with Ed Christian on the cover (which you can order HERE) "Growing up in this business, I always thought there were certain precepts that were important to make a radio station valuable to a community. It can be a very simple business if you want it to be. That is, if you do compelling radio, people will listen. If people listen, you can go out and sell advertising with absolute assurety, that it will work as long as you have good, creative copy. If that happens, the merchant can advertise and get results. He's happy. He will repeat, and you will make money. The whole premise starts with compelling radio. God knows there are a lot of awful radio stations out there and people at those stations sit around and say "Oh my God, we can't sell". I would suggest they analyze their product. If you look at the failure of any company, the failures have basically been because their products were not germain or relative or natural to what?s going on in the marketplace. You have to be able to reach the needs and sensitivities of the marketplace. You don't really need to be a general manager. You need to be an environmental behaviorist, and judge the pulse of the people. You have to find out what's important to them, what's necessary to them."

And as mentioned above, employees love to work for Ed Christian. Senior Vice President of Operations for Saga Warren Lada says ?Ed has been able to attract, hire, and retain some of the best broadcasters in the business. We have never once lost a GM to the competition and many of our GM?s have been with us for many years.? Ray Garon is a Vice President for Saga in Manchester. "Ed Christian is a broadcaster. He thinks like a broadcaster. He is still excited about a good blood drive. At the same time, of course, he is a business man, he acts like a CEO, he expects you to run a profitable operation. But, boy he gets excited when you call him and tell him you had a good promotion, or you did a good spec sell, and you got this client on because you did a good ad for him."

Congratulations to Ed Christian of Saga Communications for being named The Radio Ink Executive of the Year for 2011.

(12/30/2011 12:33:31 PM)
Congrats Ed--well deserved!
(12/30/2011 12:07:11 PM)
Ed is an excellent choice for this honor! I always found his input perceptive and on-target when we served together on the AP Board. He always had great radio stories to tell over dinner.
(12/30/2011 10:58:16 AM)
I'm new to Saga this year and my family and I have counted ourselves blessed since day one. There is more heart in this company than I/we've ever experienced, both for its people and for the communities it serves. Thanks and congratulations Ed!
(12/30/2011 10:14:11 AM)
Ed has served as a mentor to other broadcasters and is always willing to share his passion, knowledge, resources and connections with others. Great choice!
(12/30/2011 9:21:01 AM)
Radio Ink, you chose well. Never have I been as enthusiastic about a selection for Broadcaster of the Year. Radio needs more leaders like Ed Christian. Congratulations, Ed! It is an honor well deserved.

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Christian Named Executive Of The Year

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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Christian Broadcasters Not Jumping For Joy Over LPFM News

July 13, 2011

By John O. Broomall

The Commissioners used glowing rhetoric to outline a plan where LPFM stations, regular translators, and translators rebroadcasting AM stations would harmoniously work together to serve the public - 200 million teenagers and adults who listen 15+ hours weekly to terrestrial radio. Un-official reports that the next LPFM window will be ?the summer of 2012? were confirmed. This will be the first Window since the original 200-01 cycle.  The FCC Plan will carve out LPFM frequencies in crowded urban markets by dismissing pending translator applications from 2003 and implementing the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 which will open up second ? and third ? adjacent spots on the dial nationally.

It appears that while the FCC has invested many hours in a market-based proposal, it is still . . . a proposal.  Whether the FCC is making progress or is merely moving in a large circle is yet to be determined. Shortly after LCRA became laws, CCB (and other groups) made substantive comments in the ever-open 99-25. None of these comments were acknowledged in any way by the FCC.  This is frustrating!  I don't know how long it will be before the Future Notice shows up from GPO and Comments can be filed.
The FCC is relating LCRA and the Great Translator Invasion (GTI) in a plodding sequential manner which actually give preference to existing rural GTI applications over future LPFM urban and rural applications - next summer.  Within a year GTI applications could become licensed translators.  The listening public does not know or care the difference between full-power, low power, translator or "AM translators."  However, next summer listeners could be hearing full power stations, relayed by translators, while the first LPFM Window in 11 years is just taking place.
Based on LCRA second and third-adjacent opportunities, thousands of LPFM stations could be licensed in the ex-urbs, small towns, and rural areas of America now, without waiting for translator apps to be dismissed and elaborate "false floors" developed in cities.  The FCC could - and should - open an LPFM Window in the next few months for areas where the dial is not full.  By using new automated selection techniques, based on "rolling one-day windows" and a new priority system for older established groups, the FCC could eliminate all MX situations and allow new LPFM stations to the licensed and operating by next June.

The FCC will immediately start processing rural translator applications which have been pending since the so-called ?Great Translator invasion of 2003.  One of the FCC speakers emphasized that the next LPFM Window would probably be the last opportunity ? ever ? to add new local grassroots community groups to the radio dial.  This is an opportunity, challenge, and unspoken warning.  CCB believes that with spectrum limited nationally, and the 6500 pending translator applications, that few small town and rural opportunities will be left after the new translators get on the air.

After a decade of waiting, the opportunity for new LPFM stations, in congested markets is exciting indeed.  CCB hopes - as the complete FCC plan is developed in the next few months - that the reality will be as exciting as the promise!

Christian Community Broadcasters is a low power advocacy organization, consulting firm, and RF equipment supplier, founded by John O. Broomall, Sr. Based in Canton, GA, in the Atlanta market, CCB has successfully filed hundreds of LPFM filings from routine applications to complex Petitions.  CCB has an Internet LPFM discussion group, website www.ccbroadcasters.com and has participated in industry workshops and seminars.

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Christian Broadcasters Snap Back at NAB LPFM Comments

June 28, 2011

Yesterday we told you how the NAB was sticking up for niche-formatted stations in its comments to the FCC about LPFM stations. Today we hear from the Christian Broadcasting community. They are none too happy with the NAB comments that an LPFM station could hurt a niche-formatted commercial stations revenue. John Broomall from the CCB writes, "No LPFM operator or advocate, including CCB, believes that LPFM has had (or will have significant impact on commercial broadcasters.  If this premise is correct, the FCC has an impossible task ? proving a negative.)"

Broomall says if a commercial station fails don't blame us. "Nearly 100% of the revenues generated by commercial stations is from advertising.  This is the only useful metric to consider. Evaluating the impact of a 100-watt LPFM that cannot legally air commercials having a five-mile radius coverage against a 100,000 watt commercial station with a 50-mile reach is like comparing mice to elephants. Elephants may be afraid of mice but 100K stations cannot blame LPFMs on any of their economic problems."

"Everyone wants to ?be successful?. Hopefully broadcasters want to ?serve the public interest? and have a positive impact or influence on their listeners. No one brags that they are failures in any way, including financially.  However, neither the IRS nor the FCC expects or wants non-profit organizations to hurt businesses economically.  Based on the purpose and design of LPFM, this low power non-profit service was not intended to have ?significant impact? on any business, including commercial full-service broadcasters. It is impossible to predict the future.  Prognosticators disagree as to whether history is a ?straight line? or if it repeats itself.   Individuals who are ?successful? at economic predictions don?t work for the FCC ? they are independently wealthy and called ?billionaires?!

Broomall founded CCB in early 2000 at the beginning of LPFM.  CCB has filed hundreds of LPFM filings with the FCC from routine Form 318?s to complex and highly disputed MX pleadings, all with a high level of success.  The Broomalls have a website and an Internet discussion group devoted to LPFM and have conducted workshops and seminars. 

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Saga Boss Ed Christian Takes Pay Cut

June 24, 2011

Saga Chairman, President and CEO Ed Christan's new employment agreement says he will receive an annual base salary of $860,000. Christian has agreed to a 2.5% reduction to his base salary in conformance with the same current reduction to salary taken by all of the Company?s employees. On each anniversary of the new employment agreement, the Compensation Committee will determine the amount of any increase to Christian?s annual salary. The increase can not be less than the greater of 3% or a cost of living increase based on a consumer price index. Christian The company Christian started will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.
Christian is also eligible for an incentive bonus at the discretion of the Board of Directors and an annual performance bonus of up to 100% of his base salary. The Saga compensation committee will determine the size of Christian's bonus based on his performance and whether specific goals are achieved. Saga has 91 stations in 12 markets and generates about $113 million in 2010 according to BIA. Christian

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