Longtime radio broadcaster Sara Kalish has been named Affiliate Relations Manager for WestStar Multimedia Entertainment’s syndicated Kim Komando Show, where she’ll maintain current relationships with the Phoenix-based weekly program’s reported 450 affiliates and generate new radio partnerships nationwide. “Sara’s stellar background of 15 years in the business, combined with a true love of radio, will make her a tremendous success in this position,” said Komando. “I am proud to have her on her team.” Meanwhile, Kalish (pictured) thanked both Kim and WestStar exec Barry Young for “inviting me to the party” and added, “I am honored and excited to be a part of the Kim Komando Show family. The team that WestStar has assembled is an amazing, innovative and forward thinking group!” Congratulate Sara on her new gig HERE.
Genesis Communications is marking the company’s 25th anniversary in 2013. Founded in 1988 with the purchase of WLQY/Miami and WNIV/Atlanta, today Genesis owns and operates six Florida radio stations including All-News WWBA, Sports/Talk WHBO, and News/Talk WMGG in Tampa Bay, and Sports/Talk WHOO and all-newsers WAMT and WIXC in Orlando and Melbourne. Led by President/CEO Bruce Maduri, the company owns and operates two popular Sunshine State websites — SportsTalkFlorida.com and NewsTalkFlorida.com … Comedy, food and Country music all came together during a recent edition of SiriusXM’s Opie & Anthony Show. Grabbing photo evidence of the cultural mashup above are (l-r): comedian Colin Quinn, celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Anthony Cumia, Country music star Trace Adkins, Opie Hughes, and comedian Tom Papa.
SiriusXM launches No Labels Radio: A Town Hall With America, a monthly series of town hall style specials produced in conjunction with the bipartisan No Labels political movement. Today’s (5/15) first edition of the show features SiriusXM host Michael Smerconish (pictured) moderating a discussion featuring No Labels honorary co-chairs Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah and former United States Ambassador to China, and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). The monthly show can be heard on the satcaster’s 24/7 ‘Politics Of The United States’ (P.O.T.U.S.) channel.
iHeart Radio, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s digital radio platform that offers some 1,500+ live radio stations — including the company’s considerable roster of News/Talk/Sports outlets — marks a milestone as the service has surpassed a reported 30 million registered users. Launched just two years ago, CC reports that in reaching the milestone iHeart Radio is now “second only to Instagram as the fastest growing digital service in Internet history, with a growth rate two times faster than Facebook.” Additionally, CC says that the number of registered users “reflects only a small snapshot of iHeart’s overall reach” since the service does not require listeners to create an account in order to stream broadcast stations. iHeart is available across all major platforms including web, mobile, tablets, automotive, television and gaming devices. Go to iHeartRadio.com for a complete list of app availability.
A stark reminder that pretty much any web site is vulnerable to an attack in our Internet world, as WTOP/Washington was forced to block visitors using Internet Explorer (IE) from accessing the Hubbard all-newser’s popular website. The cyber attack, which also hit the website of sister station Federal News Radio (WFED), attempted to use the sites to infect visitors’ computers with malware. A story posted on the WTOP website today says the station is just one of a number of media and other websites that have been compromised recently, with hackers exploiting a security flaw in IE to redirect traffic to a fake site that then installs malware on a user’s computer. Meanwhile, Weststar Talk Radio Network host Kim Komando reports that as of now, Microsoft doesn’t have a fix for the security flaw in IE 8 and that even up-to-date security software might not protect you. In an email sent to her fans and followers, the ‘Digital Goddess’ suggests that you “upgrade to IE 9 or 10, or switch web browsers.” Komando has details on how to upgrade or switch your browser HERE.
In a recent post to his company’s blog, Paragon Senior Research Consultant Larry Johnson explores some facts that “leaped out” to him from the recently released Arbitron/Edison Research Infinite Dial 2013 study that could help to explain why some radio operators and formats have been slower than others to see benefits from Social Media initiatives. Calling it a “demographic digital divide,” Johnson points out that older demos — a prime audience for News/Talk stations — have not yet embraced social media in anywhere near the numbers that that those 12-44 have. “People over 45 are far less likely to have a profile on any social media network (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) than their younger counterparts,” writes Johnson. “And while 86% of people 18-24 have such a social media profile, only 58% of the 45-54s do; 43% of those 55-64, and 29% of people 65-plus.” Read more of Johnson’s analysis HERE.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced a cooperative effort with Premiere Networks that will provide an alternative method for radio stations to receive emergency information during a national emergency. FEMA has added Premiere Networks as a Primary Entry Point station to deliver information and instructions to the public in an emergency when there is no commercial power. As part of the cooperative effort, Premiere, would use its satellite program receivers in thousands of affiliate radio stations across the country as another tool for delivering national Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages. Commenting on the new alliance Clear Channel Media & Entertainment President of Content and Affiliate Services Julie Talbott (pictured) said, “FEMA’s Emergency Alert System is one of the most important tools for preparing and notifying the public during times of emergency. We’re honored to work with FEMA to help distribute these potentially life-saving messages to U.S. citizens and strengthen disaster readiness on a national level.”
Coleman Insights taps Joanna Douglas as VP for the North Carolina-based media research firm. Douglas (pictured) joins the company from Arbitron, where she held several positions during her 13-year run, most recently serving as Director of Sales/Regional Manager … Clear Channel Media and Entertainment announces that Huffington Post COO Brian Kaminsky will join the company’s digital division as Executive Vice President of Operations, effective immediately. Kaminsky will be based in New York City and report to CC President/Digital Brian Lakamp … In other Clear Channel news, Tom Davis has been named VP/Market Manager for the company’s Melbourne, FL clusterthat includes News/Talker WMMB. Prior to his most recent position as GM for a NASCAR race team, Davis has a 20-year radio and TV media resume including stints with Beasley Broadcasting, Centennial Broadcasting and Cox Media.
In a post today at Access Atlanta, longtime Peachtree City radio and TV scribe Rodney Ho says that Clear Channel plans to flip WGST-AM back to News/Talk on June 3rd. The station has been airing ESPN Deportes for the past several months, ever since CC and Premiere Networks moved Rush Limbaugh to crosstown WSB. Read more HERE … Industry veteran Phil Strider joins the team at Conclave, where he takes on duties as Business Development Director for this summer’s upcoming Conclave 38 … On Thursday (4/25) at 2pm (ET), Arbitron and Edison Research will debut The Infinite Dial 2013: A Look at Radio Format P1s. The webinar will explore consumer use of media, technology, and digital platforms by radio format, including News/Talk/Sports. Registration is free but advance sign-up is required HERE … DirecTV Entertainment syndicated host Artie Lange will host the next SiriusXM Town Hall on Thursday (4/25), featuring legendary comedy team Cheech & Chong (pictured). The special program will air at 2 and 9pm (ET) on the satcaster’s limited-run Cheech & Chong Channel (99).
When two bombs went off at the Finish Line of the Boston Marathon last Monday, thousands took to their cellular phones for instant information and to check on the safety of loved ones. But, as a commentary by New York University Senior Research Fellow Anthony Townshend notes, all those callers found themselves totally disconnected as the result of a network shutdown. While that shutdown was first reported to be an action taken by government officials to prevent any chances for remote detonating of any additional devices, as Townshend points out, “It didn’t take government fiat to shut down the cellular networks, they fell apart all on their own.” In the face of an ongoing debate over just how efficient broadcasters are as users of spectrum and whether or not cell phones should include radio chips, Townshend notes that cell phone users shouldn’t be surprised. “The same thing happens every time there is a crisis in a large city. On an average day, Americans make nearly 400,000 emergency 911 calls on their mobile phones. Yet during large-scale crises this vital lifeline is all-too-frequently cut off.” Read the full op-ed that will make you want to re-evaluate your plans to rely on a cell phone during an emergency HERE.
