Mediabuyerplanner.com reports that Network Radio sales went up 4% in 2007 to $1.15 billion. No such increase was realized at the rest of the radio spectrum with sales down 3% to $18.5 billion. Network is off to a solid start in 2008 with May on the way to being sold out. As a former clearer of Network radio shows for ABC Radio, I was happy to hear that good news...
In 1991 I was hired by ABC Radio to clear Dick Bartley's oldies shows after he left United Stations and had a brief 3-year fling with Westwood One. It was a start-up for Dick and ABC and my job was to clear stations for Dick's two oldies shows - "American Gold" and "Rock & Roll's Greatest Hits". Because of Dick's track record and the great quality of both shows, my job was easy compared to clearing most network shows. Unless you have Rush Limbaugh or Imus, it ain't easy to clear talk, food or any other kind of network show. Ask anyone who's ever done it. Am I happy that network radio is up? You bet...
And what accounts are coming to the network table? The big guys, like Home Depot, Sears and Wal-Mart and no one is happier than ABC Radio, Premiere, Westwood One and Dial-Global. While local radio is still the bread-and-butter standard for radio, how nice to see a healthy, do we dare say - trend - developing in any form of radio...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1513] The first real estate mogul: Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon lands in Florida and puts up a condo in Boca...
- 1877] With 6 you get egg roll: President Rutherford B. Hayes rolls out the first Easter egg as the annual Easter Egg Roll begins on the White House lawn...
- 1889] You won't get foiled again: Charles Hall patents aluminum...
- 1902] Pass the popping corn: The first motion picture theater opens - The Electric Theatre in Los Angeles. Orville Redenbacher kvells...
- 1932] Blood Money: A $50,000 ransom is paid for the infant son of Charles and Anna Lindbergh. The child is not returned and will be found dead the following month...
- 1972] 'Happy Trails': Mets manager Gil Hodges who managed the Mets to their first world championship in 1969, dies of a heart attack while playing golf in West Palm Beach (FL) two days before his 48th birthday. Yogi Berra replaces Hodges as Mets manager...1998] Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli dies of a drug overdose in a Frankfurt, Germany hotel room. Pilatus was 32...2005] Pope John Paul II dies of natural causes at 85. Karol Jozef Wojtyla is succeeded by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who becomes Pope Benedict XVI...
- 1978] Debuted on this date: The first episode of "Dallas" airs on CBS-TV. The series will run for the last time in May of 1991...
- 1986] The Trey goes to college: The NCAA adopts the 3-point shot in men's basketball and decides to use instant replay to check scoring and timing errors...
- 1992] Guilty as charged: Mob boss John Gotti is convicted in New York of murder and racketeering. He's later sentenced to life in prison where he will die...
- 2007] Gator attack: The Florida Gators beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 84-75 in the NCAA basketball championship game to become the first school in Division I history to win both the men's basketball and football titles in the same academic year...
Music Memories:
- 1964] Recorded on this date: "I Get Around/Don't Worry Baby" - Beach Boys...1967] "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - Beatles...
- 1967] Playing in Traffic: Steve Winwood leaves the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic...
- 1978] Released on this date: "Sir Duke" - Stevie Wonder (Stevie's tribute to Duke Ellington)...
Commentary:
The tip off to Donnie Walsh becoming president of basketball operations for the Knicks was his denial. When you see a denial, the deal is already done. The Knick fans on the street are ecstatic but are waiting for the next size 18 sneaker to drop - the dismissal of Isiah Thomas and it doesn't stop there. They also want to see James L. Dolan out too but how do you get rid of the owner of the team? You don't - sorry...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
'Law and Order's' Christopher Meloni (47), Emmylou Harris (61), Linda Hunt (63), Leon Russell (66), Dr. Demento (67), Rita Gam (80) and Carmen Basilio (81)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the Final Four, 5 days until the NCAA Championship Game, 17 days until Passover and 31 days until the Kentucky Derby...
