Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Radio Distances Itself From Newspapers...

At one time, not long ago - radio and newspapers were both headed toward oblivion, but as radio starts to turn the corner, newspapers continue to decline. Radio leaves ICU - newspapers gets last rites. Radio's little guys may still be struggling but most big radio groups reported single-digit growth in revenues in the third quarter compared to last year - modest, but noteworthy on the heels of straight declines, notes Media Post. Big newspaper publishers continue to struggle in Q3 with single-digit declines across the board. Radio and newspapers - two ships passing in the night...

Just yesterday, Citadel reported that its station group posted a 3% revenue gain in the third quarter. Other Q3 radio gainers include Clear Channel Radio, the country's largest radio group where total revenues increased 6%, thanks to automobile, political, financial services and health care business. CBS Radio's revenues grew 9%, Cumulus chalked up revenue gains of 3.6%, Emmis grew 4% and Entercom reported third-quarter gains of 3%. The average big radio group Q3 gain totaled 5% compared to Q3 of 2009. Newspaper revenues headed in the other direction in the third quarter...

At the New York Times Co., total revenues dipped 2.7%, due to a 1% drop in ad revenues and a 4.8% drop in circulation. McClatchy declined 5.7%, reflecting a 6.4% drop in ad revenues and a 3.8% drop in circulation. At Gannett, publishing revenue slipped 4.8%, mostly due to a 5.1% drop in advertising revenue. Total revenues were flat thanks to its TV business. The lone newspaper gainer was the Washington Post, up 5% in newspaper revenues, due mostly to increases in general advertising and digital revenues. Minus the Washington Post increases, smaller newspaper publishers took it on the chin, much like everyone else...

In a Radio vs. Newspaper comparison, what we're seeing is the former, slowly returning to respectability while the latter continues to suffer. Radio is recovering, newspapers are being forced to go online in order to survive. Radio is not out of the woods yet, but it is out of ICU...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1957] The streak ends: Dick Lynch scampers around right end for a touchdown, ending Oklahoma's streak of 47 consecutive wins. Notre Dame beats the #1 ranked Sooners 7-0 in Norman (OK)...
2.1959] The birth of The Pats: William "Billy" Sullivan Jr. and a group of Boston businessmen is awarded the 8th and final franchise in the American Football League (AFL). The Boston Patriots are born...
3.1960] "Happy Trails": Clark Gable dies of a heart attack at 59...
4.1966] Dr. Sam is free: Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard is acquitted in his second trial on charges of murdering his pregnant wife in 1954...
5.1973] Put this in your pipe and smoke it: President Richard M. Nixon signs the Alaska Pipeline measure into law...
6.1981] Wedding Bells: Luke marries Laura on "General Hospital" before a TV audience of 16 million viewers...1987] Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet rock down the aisle. They separate in 1990 and divorce in 1993...
7.1982] Over and out: An agreement is announced in the 57th day of a strike by the NFL players...
8.1995] Diseased: Attorney General Janet Reno discloses that she has Parkinson's disease...
9.2001] A federal case: Congress passes an aviation security bill mandating that airport screeners be federal employees...
10.2004] Rice is nice: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is picked as the new secretary of state. She succeeds Colin Powell...

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Oksana Baiul (33), Maggie Gyllenhaal (33), Lisa Bonet (43), Diana Krall (46), Dwight Gooden (46), Marg Helgenberger (52), Jo Jo White (64) and Clu Gulager (82)...

Timeline Countdown: 9 days until Thanksgiving, 15 days until Hanukah, 35 days until winter & 38 days until Christmas...
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