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Thom Hartmann Lands New York Affiliate

Progressive talker Thom Hartmann picks up a coveted New York affiliate according to the WWRL-AM New York website. Hartmann re-joins the Access.1 Communications owned talk outlet filling the 3p-6p slot vacated by Montel Williams when Air America closed it’s doors last month. Hartmann who last appeared on the station back in 2008 is also [...]

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Phil Hendrie Keynote Speaker at NAB Radio Show

Syndicated radio talk host Phil Hendrie will be the keynote speaker at the NAB Show Radio Luncheon on April 13 in Las Vegas. Hendrie, whose career also includes both television and movies, will demonstrate the role of radio as an entertainment platform. Syndicated by Talk Radio Network, “The Phil Hendrie Show” airs on 100 radio stations [...]

Updates

• New Generation Programming President of  Programming Chuck Geiger has announced the launch of Mainstream Country and Top 40 Programming services for economically challenged small and medium market radio stations. Country kicks off today (2/8), and Top 40 debuts on February 22nd; several other formats- Classic Rock, Classic Hits, AC and Hot AC - launch by mid-March. Later in the year, the company will launch Triple A, Alternative and Urban AC formats. Adding a unique spin to the out-of-the-box satellite distributed format and voice-tracking, all of the writing, imaging, music, talent, promotions and digital entries will originate in the market and will be set up by New Generation Programming. Geiger said, "Our goal is to offer local programming using out-of-market talent who will weave the consistencies of the market and community into the station. With the prospective stations' sonic sound readied for them, they can concentrate on their business blueprint. The goal of the local station and town is to cease reliance on satellite programming ventures and free up commercial units for local sales demands, while installing quality programming and talent relating to the individual market. #
• Patrick McGeehan's blog post in the New York Times is reporting that failed liberal talk network Air America, owes some of it's former talent a few paychecks.  According to the company’s Chapter 7 filing today in Manhattan bankruptcy court, unsecured debts exceeded its net worth by more than $15 million at the end and some of the networks' syndicated radio talkers had not been paid for the last few airshifts.  Rachel Maddow is due a last payment of  $3,952  and Ron Reagan’s company was owed $6,351.  The article also mentions a curious $1,050 owed to the New York Fire Department which I'll submit had something to do with a bed bug infestation at the networks studios late last year. #
• United Stations Radio Networks (USRN) adds Doug Stephan's "Good Day," "Good Day Weekend" and the "TalkRadio Countdown" to its lineup of information and talk programming. USRN will handle all network functions including affiliate relations and national ad sales. Now in its 22nd year, Doug Stephan's "Good Day" is broadcast live Monday-Friday from 4-10am ET and has over 280 affiliates.  Talkers Magazine recently estimated Stephan's audience to be the 6th largest in the nation among all talk radio programs. #
• Janet Parshall, a syndicated radio talk-show host and the nation's pre-eminent female Christian broadcaster, is leaving the Salem Radio Network this weekend to start up a new show with the Chicago-based Moody Broadcasting Network.  The last day on the air for "Janet Parshall's America" will be a Friday rebroadcast.  Parshall recorded her last live show Monday, when she announced she was leaving. Officials at Dallas based Salem Radio, the nation's largest commercial Christian network, refused to say why they did not renew her contract. Janet Parshall's "America" reached 3 million listeners on 265 stations, about 100 of them commercial stations. #
• TVNewser is reporting that 11 staffers of Atlanta-based CNN Radio have been cut in a reorganization of the news network's radio operations. While 11 staffers have been cut, new positions will be created. The reorganization began late last year when CNN and Westwood One entered into a new multi-year deal extending their 15-year relationship. #
• At first glance this seems incredible but then again, not surprising. In a just released Harris Poll that asked people to identify their favorite TV host, Premiere Radio Network and Fox News personality Glenn Beck comes from nowhere to rank second only to television talk icon Oprah Winfrey. Of the ten personalities on the list, seven are talk show personalities. The rest of the list includes (in order) Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Hugh Laurie, Jon Stewart, Charlie Sheen, Mark Harmon, David Letterman and Bill O'Reilly. #
• Howard Stern in an interview Thurday (1/21) with "Howard 100" Sirius XM partner Bubba The Love Sponge,  said that several terrestrial radio stations have invited him to return to syndicated radio. Stern is in the final year of a five-year, $500 million contract that Sirius used to lure him from broadcast radio syndication. Most feel that Sirius,  just emerging from years of weak financial performance, would not be willing to pay him that much again. Stern said on the air that several regular radio stations executives have approached him. "I actually have an offer," he said.  "Well, not a bona fide offer, but people have been making them."  Stern also said that he “can’t ever imagine the day” that he would return to his former employer Clear Channel.  Note: With the way Arbitron PPM methodology is treating talk driven stations and personalities,  Clear Channel may not be imagining that either. #
• Westwood One and the MTV Radio Networks will offer non-exclusive broadcast radio access to Help For Haiti Now, a worldwide benefit for the earthquake shattered island nation. A star-studded lineup will perform on the 1/22 8pm (ET) broadcast, anchored by actor George Clooney in Los Angeles, singer and Haitian native Wyclef Jean in New York and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in Haiti. Facebook and MySpace are the event’s social media partners, with audio also available on Sirius XM Radio and streamed online globally. #