Two Stations in Chico go for $500K

11-30-2012

The sale of KCKS-FM and KEWE-AM in Chico, CA was announced by Media Venture Partners. Deer Creek Broadcasting and Coloma Hamilton City announce  the deal to sell KCKS-FM and KEWE-AM to Tom Huth for $525,000.

KCKS-FM is a Class A FM at 101.7. KEWE-AM is a non-directional Class C at 1340 and operates with a daytime and nighttime power of 1,000 watts. The stations serve the Chico, CA radio metro. Deer Creek Broadcasting will be retaining the four other stations it currently owns that serve the Chico market: KHHZ-FM, KHSL-FM, KMXI-FM and KPAY-AM.

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The FCC Moves to Process Translators

11-30-2012

The FCC today took a significant step toward processing the remaining 6,000 or so FM translator applications from the 2003 Auction #83 translator window by deciding that no greater than 70 FM translator applications from one applicant may remain pending nationwide, and no greater than three FM translator applications from one applicant may remain pending in any of 156 rated markets.  

This action was a reconsideration of the FCC?s previous decision that limited translator applicants to no greater than 50 pending nationwide, and no more than one pending in any of 156 listed rated markets.
Most of the FCC?s actions today concerned LPFM.  Most notably, we now know that the FCC is aiming for an October 15, 2013 nationwide LPFM window.  This is important for FM translator applicants as the FCC has previously informally indicated that it expects to have most of the pending FM translator applications resolved prior to the opening of an LPFM window so as to free up as much spectrum as possible for LPFM stations.   Thus, if all goes according to the FCC?s expectations, most of the pending Auction #83 applications should be resolved by mid-October 2013.

The FCC in its LPFM actions adopted largely intact its proposals for LPFM 2nd adjacent channel spacing waivers.  The FCC eliminated I.F. spacing for LPFM stations.  Notably, the FCC did not adopt either proposed 250 watt or 50 watt power levels for LPFMs, both which were advocated by LPFM proponents.  The FCC also put a final nail in the coffin of 10 watt LPFMs saying that LP10s were too spectrum inefficient to be considered further.

The resolution of the nationwide and market caps for FM translator applications is a small but essential step toward the FCC?s processing of the remaining 6,000 or so pending FM translator applications.  Unfortunately, the FCC provided few details on the next FM translator processing steps but here is what is expected to occur. 

Sometime in December, it is expected that the FCC will release a public notice giving a deadline for pending translator applicants with multiple applications pending nationwide, or multiple applications in any one of the 156 rated markets, to choose which of the 70 or three respectively of its applications to remain pending.  If an applicant does not choose, the FCC will dismiss applications based upon file number filing order.  For those FM translator applicants that wish to have in excess of 50 applications pending nationwide, or greater than one in one pending in the 156 rated markets, the FCC also adopted new overlap and LPFM availability procedures.     

The FCC?s staff speculates that the mass dismissal procedure in which FM translator applicants choose which applications to keep pending will result in approximately 2,000 of the now pending 6,000 FM translator applications being dismissed.   The dismissal of these FM translator applications will eliminate many mutual-exclusivity conflicts now existing with a number of the remaining pending FM translator applications.  Applications with no mutually-exclusive conflicting applications are called ?singletons? by the FCC?s staff. 

Once this mass dismissal procedure of FM translator applications takes place, the FCC?s staff is expected to release a public notice of the singleton applications giving the opportunity to file a long-form FM translator application with full engineering, and asking for LPFM non-preclusion showings where required.  Assuming that a long-form singleton application is grantable, a grant of an FM translator construction permit is the next step.     

For remaining FM translator applications that are mutually-exclusive with other applications even after the mass dismissal procedure, the FCC will open a settlement window in which either engineering changes may be filed, or agreements between applicants may be reached, to eliminate mutual-exclusivity.  If mutual-exclusivity remains even after such a settlement window, the FCC will then hold an auction between remaining mutually-exclusive applications. 

For AM radio stations seeking FM translators, the take-away from today?s FCC actions is that there are likely to be several thousand FM translators granted that may potentially be used for carriage of an AM stations.  Whether or not these FM translators once granted and if for sale, may be moved to a location to re-broadcast the AM station, is a significant question.  Future transmitter site and channel moves of FM translators greatly depend upon how the FCC acts on the AM revitalization proposal now before it asking for the removal of current regulatory barriers to FM translator moves.  

For FM translator applicants, after almost ten years of waiting it appears that FCC processing of the applications may finally resume.   Ten years ago the FCC had regulatory barriers in place to keep FM translators from re-broadcasting AM and HD2 stations.   With those regulatory barriers being removed, the service that FM translators can provide to the listening public has been greatly expanded by the FCC. 

And for LPFM proponents, today marks the culmination of a long battle and high expectations in a quest to expand the LPFM service.   If nothing else, for the radio broadcasting industry LPFM stations may be end up being a training ground for future broadcasters, just as AM carrier current college radio stations were in past decades the incubator of future broadcasters, broadcast attorneys and FCC Chairmen.  

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(SALES) Look In Their Eyes

11-30-2012

One thing that has changed very little in selling radio is that virtually all sellers try to make their first impression on the telephone. ?It?s a game of numbers? we?ve been hearing all of our lives. Make 50 calls today and hopefully you?ll get a few appointments. Some of radio?s greatest sellers today don?t practice their craft this way and haven?t for some time.

They?ve come to understand a telephone call to a business in the heart of the work day is categorically an interruption; an unwanted call. It?s like getting that annoying call at home in the evening when you?re in the middle of dinner from someone wanting to clean your carpets because they?re going to be in the area anyway (which they aren?t).

The following reality will make sales managers everywhere cringe? I wouldn?t give you 25 cents for a call report. I don?t want to read about 100 phone calls, most of which didn?t really happen anyway. I can buy fiction at Barnes & Noble. I want to know how many cast-in-stone appointments you have booked for next week with someone who either owns or controls the advertising of a business. I want to see the real plan!

If you can prove to me at 5 p.m. on Friday, that you have just eight to 10 of these cast-in-stone appointments booked and on the calendar for next week,  neither one of us will ever miss budget! So, what do I do instead of calling 50 businesses on the telephone, you ask? Just walk in the door of three or four businesses each day, offer a business card, get a business card and start asking questions.

There are a few key messages you must communicate: (1) Neither I, nor my radio station hit a home run every time we step up to the plate, but we help many businesses every day and they?ll tell you we do. (2) I don?t make promises I can?t keep. I may be able to help you. I may not. (3) I?m willing to learn about your current challenges, invest time in your business and see if I can help if you?re willing to answer my questions and spend some time with me. (4) No obligation, no promises, except one? I work harder for my clients than any other media sales representative you?ve ever met. If we determine I can help, I?ll do the same for you.

Looking in the eyes of an advertising decision-maker and conducting your first call this way will make you unplug your telephone and put it in the drawer. Saying, ?I?m not interested? and hanging up the phone is easy for a business-owner. Hearing your sincere desire to help while looking in your eyes and shaking your hand is much harder to reject.

Don?t call 50 businesses today. Go shake the hand of a few of a few of these folks and LOOK IN THEIR EYES!

Rob Adair is the President of Pinnacle Solving. His company provides revenue growth solutions, branding and differentiation strategies to radio and other industries. Adair is a former radio industry COO and Sr. VP overseeing 25+ stations and multiple major markets. He can be reached at 405-641-0458 or by e-mail rob@pinnaclesolving.com

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Kenny Jay Named CBS APD in Minneapolis

11-30-2012

Jay assumes the Assistant Program Director at KMNB (Country) in Minneapolis as of December 17th. Jay is moving to the Twin Cities from Savannah, GA, where he is PD of WUBB-FM (Bob).  Before that, he worked in Madison and Lacrosse.

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"Internet Fairness Act is Dead"

11-30-2012

That's according to CNET writer Greg Sandoval who was unimpressed by the case made by Pandora CEO Joseph Kennedy this week. Sandoval says unlike the tech companies that rallied to kill the anti-piracy bill referred to as SOPA, the effort to push though the Internet Radio Fairness Act was SOPA-thetic. Sandaval says "Pandora CEO Joseph Kennedy met with skepticism from many lawmakers on the subcommittee. Some of the congressmen suggested that the bill should have been called the "Unfairness Act" or the "Paycheck Reduction Act" for the way it seeks to reduce artist compensation."

Read Sandoval's full article at CNET HERE

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Glenn Beck Wows The Forecast Crowd

11-29-2012

Glenn Beck always plays down his success by saying things like, "I'm not the best broadcaster" in the business, yet there's no denying his tremendous success. He's the third-most listened to talk show host in America and has been for quite some time. Yesterday at Forecast, Beck gave a keynote speech to a sold out Forecast crowd in New York City about why he loves radio and how he's become so successful at it. He gave the crowd a great lesson on what they should be doing every day when they show up for work.

Beck said he got into radio because of his love for the spoken word. "Radio allows you to connect with one other individual. Radio is you and me. And so we become friends. I strangely feel like my audience is a friend. You learn never to talk to the masses. When you do it right you think of the person as the individual. That connection is there. We're friends."

On the business side, Beck says too many people are in this for the money. They wear it on their sleeve that they have to make the bottom line or they have to sell more spots. "That won't connect with anyone. It won't work in the future. People who are consumers today have been marketed to since the day they were born. That's why Steve Jobs/Apple works. Because they mean it. What's your WHY? Is it money?"

Beck says his main goal is to help advertisers. "I'm the only talk show person that hires a local salesperson. I do it because I believe in the local advertisers, the small businessman. Not for the money. I help them. I make sure my team helps them. I'm a businessman. How can I help the small businessman while achieving independence as a broadcaster? I'm tired of people who have never listened to my show make decisions on how to spend dollars. I'm not going to be told I'm not effective. My listeners are more valuable than anyone else's. Because I have a connection with my listeners." Beck says he tells advertisers, "I can't wait for you to meet my audience."

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Agreed! Radio Is All About Local

11-29-2012

When CBS Radio President and CEO Dan Mason asked NAB CEO Gordon Smith and RAB CEO Erica Farber to describe what radio's fastball was, they both agreed on the answer. Smith said, "One word...local." Farber added, "It's a connection. No other vehicle touches consumers in such a personal way." Mason, who is very big on local programming, added, "People listen for companionship. First, our radio station must be human. And it's a direct reflection of the PD's personality. For your station to have friends, you need to be a friend."

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