June 2004 News Archive
June 30, 2004
UPDATE: All Access reports that Pittsburgh's WBZZ is dropping its CHR format in favor of modern rock, with the new name "93.7 K-Rock".
June 30, 2004
Infinity Broadcasting made a stunning announcement this morning concerning the Howard Stern show, announcing that the show is going on in nine new markets, all on Infinity-owned stations, effective July 19, 2004. This covers five of the six markets that Stern lost when Clear Channel dropped his show, along with adding four new markets (technically only two are truly "new", since he was carried on KJFK in Austin, TX
until 9/11/2000 and KFRR Fresno from 4/29/1996 to 4/24/2001). Pittsburgh: B93-7 (WBZZ), San Diego: 103.7 The Planet (KPLN), West Palm Beach: Buzz 103.1 (WPBZ), Orlando: O-Rock 105.9 (WOCL), Rochester: 94.1 The Zone (WZNE), Houston: Business Radio 650 (KIKK), Tampa: 1010 ESPN Radio (WQYK), Austin: The Beat 104.3 (KQBT), Fresno: Viva 106 (KRNC).
Stern is on a Dance CHR in Providence, but for the most part he's been carried on rock-based (be it classic, active or modern) or Hot Talk stations. But the list of new stations brings some new formats on board that are right up there with Bob & Tom being on an Adult Contemporary station in Pikeville, KY in the "odd fit" category.
Modern Rock (3): West Palm Beach, Orlando, Rochester
Classic Hits (1): San Diego
CHR (1): Pittsburgh
Business (1): Houston
Sports (1): Tampa
Rhythmic CHR (1): Austin
Romantica [Spanish] (1): Fresno
The only market lost in the Clear Channel drop that won't be regaining Stern is Louisville, where Infinity does not own any stations. Also, WPBZ West Palm Beach reaches down to Ft. Lauderdale, but beyond that the signal really drops off and dies out before it reaches the Miami metro area (unlike WBGG-FM, Stern's former Miami affiliate, which covers all of Miami and West Palm).
June 29, 2004
The Cumulus connection with Bob & Tom grows one station stronger, as Harrisburg, PA's WTPA replaces local morning show Coffee and Jammer with the syndicated duo out of Indianapolis, effective immediately.
June 28, 2004
Howard Stern is indicating that he plans to make a somewhat important announcement on Wednesday (6/30/2004). The topic has not been announced, though the original venue of the announcement was going to be in front of Clear Channel's New York City offices, according to All Access. Stern has since decided not to hold his announcement there, though the context clues would lead one to believe that the announcement has something to do with the nation's largest radio ownership group (Clear Channel) and/or the FCC's indecency crackdown.
June 25, 2004
Lex & Terry have landed their third North Carolina affiliate, inking with brand new modern rocker 98X (WOBX-FM) in Nags Head. Their first show there is scheduled for Monday 6/28.
June 24, 2004
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Mancow is likely going to sign a renewal with Emmis' Q-101 (WKQK-FM) Chicago to remain the flagship station of the Mancow Morning Madhouse. Mancow is off for the next two weeks on vacation, but the paper reports that Mancow's agent and Q-101 are expected to have a deal complete by the time Mancow returns. This would take Mancow out of the running to move to satellite radio (Sirius or XM), unless the deal contains a provision that allows his syndicated program to be carried on one (or both) of the satellite services.
June 15, 2004
Inside Radio reports that Howard Stern is being talked about in a return to the San Diego market (one of the six cities where his show was dropped by Clear Channel in March of this year). There's no word on a timetable for a return or what station he'd be on (though Infinity's KPLN is rumored as the most likely location for him). This would make the third station in the market for Stern, who was on XETRA-FM Tijuana from February 13, 1995 until his show was moved to KIOZ San Diego on May 1, 1997.
June 10, 2004
Clear Channel has agreed to a (roughly) $1.75 million settlement with the Federal Communications Commission that settles all pending indecency complaints against the company. The settlement included a nearly half million dollar fine that Clear Channel faced from a NAL (Notice of Apparent Liability) issued in April against Clear Channel for a broadcast of the Howard Stern show and a fine from an NAL against the Elliot in the Morning program (which aired, and continues to air, on three Clear Channel stations, including Washington, DC's WWDC-FM).
June 7, 2004
Talk on AllAccess.com is that Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) is going to back off from putting political pressure on Infinity Broadcasting regarding the Howard Stern show. I'll believe that when I see it, but Broadcasting & Cable magazine reports that the backdown is coming because of the departure of Mel Karmazin from Infinity/Viacom.
Bob & Tom have landed another major market affiliate, as the Indianapolis-based duo are now on Portland's KRVO (105.9 The River).
June 3, 2004
The rumors have come to fruition, as Ron & Fez are now simulcast on Baltimore's WXYV (Live 105.7) -- the show originates from WJFK-FM in the Washington, DC market. The move bumps Tom Leykis from four hours live to three hours tape-delayed (11 PM-2 AM Eastern).
June 2, 2004
Howard Stern addressed the departure of now-former Infinity radio boss Mel Karmazin on this morning's show, saying that he had a close relationship with Karmazin. Stern mentioned that he hopes to stay with Viacom as long as they'll have his back when it comes to the FCC.
June 1, 2004
In what could be a forebearer to a forthcoming crackdown on edgy content at Infinity Broadcasting, Mel Karmazin is leaving the company. CBS reports that Karmazin stands to make nearly $25 million in salary, deferred compensation and bonuses. Not a shabby buyout.
Here's where things get interesting for the Infinity Hot Talk crew (Howard Stern and Tom Leykis in particular). For now, CBS President Les Moonves and MTV chief Tom Freston will share the responsibility for running Infinity (Viacom's radio side). But it's expected that the eventual successor to Karmazin will be 50-year-old Shari Redstone, daughter of Viacom CEO and Chairman Sumner Redstone. Karmazin defended his company's programming choices hard in the wake of a firestorm of FCC controversy; how his successors choose to handle the situation, however, remains to be seen.
Full News Archive
May 2004 News/July 2004 News
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