» Cox Consolidates: Cox Enterprises, Inc. is bringing together its three media units -- Cox Newspapers, Cox Television and Cox Radio -- under a new organization named Cox Media Group, Inc., effective January 2009. The subsidiary will be headquartered in Atlanta and Cox veteran Sandy Schwartz will serve as President of the newly formed unit. The businesses comprising Cox Media Group will include 86 radio stations, 17 daily and 26 non-daily newspaper publications, 15 television broadcast stations, and more than a hundred digital services associated with those businesses. Following the formation of Cox Media Group, Cox Radio will continue to trade publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CXR."

» "Jimmy V." Exits Hedgecock Show: Longtime KOGO/San Diego producer Jimmy Valentine gets the axe as the Roger Hedgecock Show -- which Valentine has produced for years -- gets set to move from a local broadcast to a national show via Radio America next January. Valentine will be replaced by Brett Winterble as Executive Producer for Hedgecock's new national show which is taking the slot currently occupied at Radio America by Michael Reagan. Winterble was most recently with Mt. Wilson Broadcasting News/Talk simulcast KGIL/Los Angeles-XESURF/Tijuana-San Diego.

» Free Stuff! A heads up on a couple of things bearing our favorite four-letter word -- "free." KZOK/Seattle morning maniac Bob Rivers is once again offering his Twisted Christmas Tunes for free download. Seriously, what's Christmas music without a rousing sing-a-long of "Wreck The Halls" and "Walking 'Round In Women's Underwear?" All Rivers asks is that you credit him for use of the holiday songs. Type in the password "radioxmas" to download your favorites HERE ... Also in the spirit of the holidays Radio America VP/Programming Michael Packer is offering free access during December to his Packer Smart Talk online training sessions that are designed to cover the basics of creating, producing and hosting a Talk radio show. Get your password for free 24/7 access to Packer's experienced tips HERE.

» CBS Radio And Yahoo Strike A Deal: In an agreement similar to one reached by CBS with AOL earlier this year, the broadcaster will power Yahoo Music's LAUNCHcast Radio beginning in early 2009. The agreement unites two of the largest online radio providers and expands the breadth of free news, talk, sports and music content available to millions of Yahoo users. A newly created CBS Radio player will be integrated into the Yahoo Music site, and for the first time LAUNCHcast will be available to Firefox, Mac and Safari users. Among the CBS Radio News/Talk/Sports outlets that will be available through the newly merged entity are WFAN/New York, WPHT/Philadelphia and KNX/Los Angeles.

Public Memorial For Putnam Set: A memorial service honoring legendary Southern California news anchor and CRN Digital Talk Radio host George Putnam will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Los Angeles. Once described by former President Richard Nixon as, "one of the most influential commentators of our times," Putnam died last September at age 94. His radio and TV career which began on his 20th birthday at WDGY/Minneapolis spanned an amazing seven decades. Among those scheduled to remember the longtime broadcaster and commentator are LA County Sheriff Lee Baca, veteran KTLA/Los Angeles reporter Stan Chambers, former LA Police Chief Daryl Gates, KABC/Los Angeles morning man Doug McIntyre, nationally syndicated talker Mike Reagan, CRN President/CEO Mike Horn and others.

Lunch With A Legend: The gang at WEPN (1050 ESPN)/New York held its annual "Lunch With A Legend" at NYC's Van's Steak House this week featuring former New York Knicks star Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Pictured at the event are (l-r): WEPN's Peter Doherty, Frazier, WEPN's Nina Roth, Michael Kay and Tim McCarthy, Knicks radio broadcaster John Andariese and WEPN's Aaron Spielberg.