Innovating During A Recession What’s Up With Tom? TRN’s Boyce Hiring In “Gig Alerts”

Innovate Or Die – CelleCast CEO Andrew Deal says there’s no better time to innovate than during a recession. Read why tough times are opening the door to innovations that didn’t make sense even just a year ago starting on PAGE ONE.

Leykis Unleashed – Check out what former KLSX/Los Angeles and Westwood One syndicated talker Tom Leykis is up to on PAGE TWO.

Prime Time Pro Wanted – Talk Radio Network is developing its new wake-up show with the Washington Times and network programming prez Phil Boyce is looking for a national level talent in “Gig Alerts” on PAGE THREE.

Read it all here in NTS MediaOnline Weekly.

VP/GM Steve Jones tells affiliates in a memo released this afternoon (4/2) that there is “no change” in the ABC News Radio brand or name in the wake of the announcement today that ABC Radio Networks has changed its name to Citadel Media (see story below). “Citadel Media remains our partner in syndicating ABC News Radio and our sports and entertainment products, along with a wide array of features,” writes Jones. “Please be assured the quality programming that your station relies on from our seasoned team of ABC News correspondents and anchors will remain the same. Your listeners will continue hearing this news and information delivered under the ABC News Radio brand. ABC News Radio is a division of ABC News, owned by the Walt Disney Company.”

It’s the end of an era as the heritage network changes its name to better reflect the company’s new ownership, Las Vegas-based Citadel Broadcasting. ABCRN is home to a number of major Talk radio personalities including Sean Hannity (in partnership with Premiere Radio Networks), Mark Levin and Don Imus, as well as the syndicator of ABC News Radio. Network President Jim Robinson says the name change will “provide a great opportunity to expand our legacy which we have developed within the heritage of the ABC name.” In a company release about the name change Citadel says it “represents the company’s dedication to connecting audiences with advertisers across multiple platforms beyond its core radio business, including mobile, out-of-home, digital and experimental marketing,” and adds that it will “allow the company to capitalize on synergistic opportunities throughout the marketplace.” Robinson says that through a number of different owners of the network over the years, including Capital Cities Broadcasting and the Walt Disney Company, “one constant has been the passion and dedication of our people to create innovative programming for our affiliates and advertising partners and that aspect of our company will never change.”

Next month’s previously announced  ”Town Hall For Hope,” hosted by syndicated radio talker and FOX Business Channel host Dave Ramsey, is shaping up to be a huge event. While Ramsey will be live on stage at Oklahoma City’s Life Church for the event, millions of people are expected to participate via satellite at local “Town Hall” events being planned nationwide. As of today (4/2) Ramsey EVP Bill Hampton reports that more than 3000 locations have already signed-on to carry the event, offering a a capacity for more than 1.3 million attendees across the U.S. “The response has been unbelievable,” says Hampton. Ramsey is seeking to offer a message of economic hope to Americans through the event that will air live April 23rd, at 8pm (ET). “I’m an American and I am not participating in this recession,” said the independently syndicated talk host.

The long-rumored addition of Dial-Global syndicated radio talker Ed Schultz to the MSNBC lineup becomes reality as The Ed Show debuts next Monday (4/6) on the left-leaning cable news channel that already features nightly talk shows hosted by Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann … Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey, Entercom CEO David Field and Cox Radio EVP/COO Marc Morgan are all named as new members of the NAB Radio Board … Veteran broadcasting programmer and consultant John Mainelli has listed his Top 25 picks for Talk radio’s “Local Limbaugh’s” in a feature for NewsMax magazine. You can view them at www.newsmax.com … Air America Media names Mike Opelka, most recently with CBS Radio’s Opie & Anthony Show, as executive producer for AAM’s new Montel Across America show which debuts April 6 … New York State Governor David Patterson guests on tomorrow morning’s (4/3) John Gambling Show on WOR/New York where he’ll discuss his controversial New York State budget plans with guest-host Rita Cosby. You can listen in online at 8:40 (ET) at www.wor710.com.

While some see only doom and gloom in the current economic environment, CelleCast CEO Andrew Deal believes opportunity is truly knocking at the door for broadcasters. Deal says radio can lead the way on a number of new media trends but only if the industry is ready to commit to some real changes. “It’s not enough for radio executives to simply act like they’re listening and engage in a few initiatives that repackage the exact same product,” says Deal. “The gauntlet to innovate well lies before us and there’s no excuse for delegating this burden to the ‘digital guy,’ or for following the path of least resistance.” Read more of Deal’s challenge to broadcasters only in the April 3 edition of NTS MediaOnline Weekly – arriving in your inbox tomorrow morning!

Internationally renowned table tennis champ Biba Golic (left) paid a recent visit to ESPN Radio’s Mike And Mike In The Morning where she quickly whipped both hosts in a humiliating defeat. Biba, often called the ‘Anna Kournikova’ of table tennis, is not related to show co-host Mike Golic (right) and showed no concern about going one-on-one with the former NFL defensive lineman. Asked if she thought Golic would score any points against her in their match the 5-foot-6, 27-year old Serb quipped, “I could bagel him.”