Radio Wires

Radio Crow: - why is this website putting the bad emphasis on Clear Channel in the Britney Spears Death Hoax? Clear Channel itself had nothing to do with the false report, it was the deejays that are to blame.

Clear Channel to Begin Testing Internet-only Ads

The chief executive of Clear Channel Interactive, Kevin Mayer, said Clear Channel may begin testing Internet-only advertisements on some of its Websites next week, marking the largest broadcaster's return to streaming after retreating from the Web two months ago due to a dispute over fees for traditional radio commercials.

Says Mayer, "We are going to put them back up soon. It is our intention to put the streams back up when it makes legal and financial sense. It's possible that we'll be running some tests as early as next week. Having streams available is a real driver of traffic. Not having streams available has had a negative impact."

The dispute, analysts said, could provide a boost to companies that market Internet ad-insertion technology, including RealNetworks Inc., Hiwire Inc., Lightningcast Inc. and StreamAudio.

Clear Channel, like several major broadcasting companies, pulled their streams down over two months ago, at the request of advertisers unwilling to pay additional AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) fees for radio commercials running on the Internet.

Other stations owned by Emmis Communications and Walt Disney also recently pulled the plug on Web streaming citing the even more greedy and money concious American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' (AFTRA) contract, the union demanding the higher fees. Blame AFTRA for Clear Channel's pulling of the streams.

The AFTRA contract requires advertisers to pay union talent 300 percent of the normal session fee if a spot originally recorded for radio is streamed online. But with access to a growing audience at stake, the union demanding the higher fees is in danger of finding itself shut out by technology that inserts Web-specific advertising spots in lieu of the established commercials. Hate to say this, AFTRA, but I'm on Clear Channel's side on this issue. AFTRA screwed me out of listening to several radio shows not heard in San Diego and I hope that they pay dearly for their mistake.

Ad-insertion technology providers hope to provide these stations solutions that substitute terrestrial radio ads with Internet-only ads, which are exempt from the fees.

Advertisers urged broadcasters to pull spots that were not authorized to be streamed and then the Webcasters just pulled out of streaming altogether.

While still in its early stages, more and more listeners, particularly music fans, are turning to Web radio.

Some say the AFTRA fall-out could be a boost for stations who may now get added revenue from sale of Internet-only ads. But the overall impact has been a ``chilling'' effect because the supply of conventional ads will be curtailed. ``Right now, streamers are not making money. They're losing money,'' Mayer said.

But five years from now, once the Interenet streaming technology has gotten into place, the stations will be making money on the Internet streams.

Rose McGowan is 'Charmed' Replacement

Prince Cleans Up His Language

Instead, the former symbol-man singer will be using stuff like this when he's cursing...

News From ZENtertainment(tm)

Copyright and Credit: All Contents Copyright 1995-2001 ZENtertainment. All Rights Reserved. ZENtertainment is a Trademark of Sean Jordan. Excerpts Used with Permission by the List Owner. These twice-weekly reports run about 40-50,000 bytes long covering TV, Movies, Books, and others.

'POWERPUFF GIRLS' MARATHON ON SUNDAY
The CARTOON Network celebrates Father's Day this Sunday with 
a POWERPUFF PAPATHON marathon of POWERPUFF GIRLS 
episodes, from noon to 7pm.
http://cartoonnetwork.com


ALEX THOMAS TO FILM COMEDY SPECIAL
Comedian Alex Thomas, a writer on MY WIFE AND KIDS who 
played the lead in THE PLAYERS CLUB, will film his first comedy 
special at the WILSHIRE EBELL Theater in Los Angeles on June 22nd.
Tickets for the event, which will feature taped guest appearances 
by friends Tyra Banks, Dr. Dre, Jamie Foxx, Shaq, and Will Smith, 
are available through TICKETMASTER.
Thomas stars in the upcoming films TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME and THE 
WASH.
http://www.alexthomasyall.com


'MAN SHOW' EXCLUSIVE WITH FILM ROMAN 
FILM ROMAN will be supplying animated bumpers, title cards, 
and logos to the third season of COMEDY CENTRAL's THE MAN 
SHOW, premiering Sunday, July 1st, at 10pm.
The animated bumpers will feature MAN SHOW mascot Uncle Phil 
in such "manly" situations as being engulfed in flames while 
barbecuing in his living room and napping on the couch while 
snoring and passing gas.
http://www.level13.net
http://www.themanshow.com


'DOWNER CHANNEL' PREMIERE IN JULY
NBC has announced a July 24th premiere date for THE DOWNER 
CHANNEL, a new skitcom from creator Steve Martin which 
stars Mary Lynn Rajskub (Mr. Show, Anniversary Party), 
Wanda Sykes (The Chris Rock Show), Jeff Davis (Whose Line 
Is It Anyway?), and Lance Krall (The Cindy Margolis Show).
http://www.nbc.com


FOX RETURNING TO 'SPIN CITY'
Michael J. Fox has announced he'll appear in next 
season's premiere episode of his old ABC sitcom, 
SPIN CITY. Fox is expected to appear in a handful 
of episodes over the year.


'HAIRBALLS' COMING TO MTV
FILM ROMAN is developing its award-winning online 
short HAIRBALLS into an ongoing animated series for MTV.
The satirical, dark take on the traditional "cat and mouse" 
cartoons was created by Mr. Lawrence (Ren & Stimpy), and 
developed by Eric Radomski (Freakazoid, Batman: Mask of 
the Phantasm, HBO's Spawn).
http://www.mtv.com

Mandatory Britney Spears News

Britney Spears on TV - "MTV's 20 Most Outrageous Moments," MTV. Saturday, 3 p.m. ET.

False Britney Spears Rumor Travels Around The World

This time, radio tried to kill the video stars.

You can blame it on Kramer and Twitch of KEGL-FM "The Eagle" http://www.kegl.com/nights2.html in Fort Worth, Texas, for passing along such a hoax that was so terrorizing that it may very well make the news of infamy columns (remember Dewey Defeats Truman?)

Only this time, this hoax was of a much more global level.

Contrary to other slanted news sites, Clear Channel, which owns the station, is not to blame for the incident.

K & T jokingly reported on their radio show Tuesday night that, citing a "source" in Los Angeles giving them the false scoop, told their listeners that Spears and Timberlake had been in a car crash in Los Angeles, leaving Spears dead and Timberlake lingering in a coma at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Alcohol involved.

The two "confirmed" the report, which aired during their 7-11 p.m. (CT) Extreme Night Time Radio show, by quoting representatives from Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

That hoax set off an international flurry of rumors. Alarmed locals immediately took to the Internet with word of the supposed wreck, and the hoax took on a life of its own on newsgroups, fan sites and chat boards.

Television stations in Dallas started receiving phone calls from people who had heard the rock radio station joking around that Britney died in Los Angeles. Police and fire officials in Los Angeles were deluged with phone calls by fans and reporters on Tuesday night and into Wednesday after the phony report was blurted out by the two radio jocks in Fort Worth. The show is based in Dallas but also airs in San Jose on KSJO-FM.

KEGL was bombarded with more than 200 calls and faxes regarding the hoax. The prankster deejays, who have been with the station for two years, have also concotted pranks such as having motorists striking and running over bicyclists or leading them to a short suspension, and paid thousands of dollars in fines by saying expletives over the airwaves.

But reports of her death were greatly exaggerated as Spears is alive and well according to her publicist. The false report triggered hundreds of frantic phone calls to Los Angeles authorities.

The Louisiana-born Spears, whose album ``Oops! I Did It Again'' was one of the best-selling releases of 2000, was scheduled to perform at a concert at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday during the Wango Tango weekend. Spears is recording a new album and Timberlake is on tour with his teen heartthrob band 'N Sync.

The rumor, most likely fueled by the internet and e-mails, travelled overseas to Moscow, where CNN's bureau there, and many television stations in Australia called CNN's Atlanta headquarters to find out if the reports were accurate.

Representatives for both Spears and Timberlake are looking into the situation to determine the original source of the rumor and if legal action is appropriate.

Clear Channel didn't comment at first and KEGL apologized before the K&T Wednesday show. Check out these URLs:

http://web.star-telegram.com/content/fortworth/2001/06/14/topstory/fw010102-0614-XA001-rumor.htm and http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/13/spears.rumor/index.html

In an update on Friday, KEGL-FM (97.1) "The Eagle" aired a brief apology after nighttime DJs Kramer and Twitch reported the false death report.

"Last night, this radio station erroneously reported an incident involving Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake," KEGL's recorded message said Wednesday. "'The Eagle' apologizes for any confusion this erroneous report may have caused."

Kramer & Twitch were back on the air as usual Wednesday night.

The Federal Communications Commission prohibits the broadcasting of false information "if the licensee knows this information is false, it is foreseeable that broadcast of the information will cause substantial public harm, and broadcast of the information does in fact directly cause substantial public harm."

"Public harm" includes causing "diversion of law enforcement or other public health and safety authorities from their duties," according to FCC guidelines.

Britney Spears Debuts in Yahoo Shop-Along

Britney Spears and Yahoo Inc. have teamed in a new video that allows fans to follow Spears and her 'N Sync heartthrob boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, on a recent New York shopping spree and click along to shop with the stars.

The interactive feature, launched on Yahoo last weekend, features a soundtrack by Spears, and prompts users to buy everything from her hit 2000 album ``Oops! I Did It Again'' to a size-four lavender halter, which like many other items, she deems ``cool.''

In the seven-minute video, sponsored by PepsiCo Inc., 19-year-old Spears fills her virtual shopping cart with $887.37 of merchandise, including a $194.90 Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt.

Britney Spears Gets Covered

Alternative rock combo, The Faces of Sarah, have covered the classic Britney Spears song '...baby, one more time.'

The track, taken from the band's debut album 'twentyfour', is already creating a stir in Europe, where it was released a few months ago. As one band member puts it "We tried to do the impossible; interpret the song our way, put a spin on it and at the same time remain close to the original sentiment. I think we've succeeded, and I know Britney fans will love it ". Critics have been quick to agree and although others have covered the track, many have lauded TFoS's interpretation as being the "definitive version".

Britney was not available for comment.

Hear and judge for yourself @ http://artists.music4free.com/The_Faces_of_Sarah/

Britney Spears Wraps Up Movie Prodction

Britney Spears' recently wrapped up production of her as-yet untitled movie directed by Tamra Davis

Spears' character is set upon finding the mother who abandoned her at age 2. Taryn Manning plays one of Britney's companions on a cross-country trip. Manning's is unhappily pregnant. Each character has serious issues to cope with in the story.

"People are surprised it actually has some depth to it just because Britney's in it," Manning observes. "I was a little skeptical myself at first. Then I read the script and auditioned with her, and ... she blew my mind with her acting. She has it. It's within her, it's natural. She's fun to act with. You don't have to push, pull or struggle."

Crowds of Lousianians would drive miles just to see Spears at work on her movie. Says Manning, "When Britney would look over at them, they'd scream -- we'd have 30 little girls yelling, 'We love you, Britney!' And she'd give a little wave. But when it was time for the camera to roll, she'd focus on us and shut out all the distractions -- she's very good at that -- and the crowd would be quiet and respectful."

Britney Popular With The...Middle-Age Set?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/music/newsid_1389000/1389899.stm

Could Britney Spears possibly be a late Baby Boomer icon, three decades removed from their early teenhoods?

In a poll reported by BBC News Online, the biggest fans of pop stars like Britney Spears and 'N Sync are those in the 35 to 40 age range, rather than younger listeners. Britney is "more popular" among 35 to 40-year-olds.

Eight is Enough Upcoming Episodes

Eight is Enough airs Saturday nights at 6pm on PAX-TV (Cox 51, other numbers on other systems). See the unofficial website at http://www.eightisenough.com/

Some Weekend Radio Reminders...

KCBQ 1170 Programming Notes

I Still Q in My Car, Sat 6pm-10pm, KCBQ 1170 http://www.kcbq.com (also heard in streaming audio on their website)

Reminder - AM 1170 is at 50,000 watts until 8:00 p.m. each day this month. I guess eight is late enough for a 50kW daytime power in the summertime (segueueing from the last segment).

Classical Music For Dummies

Premium Radio 92.1 Escondido Programming Notes

To send in your CD's, its KFSD, 550 Laguna Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

Sets 102.1 Encinitas Programming Notes

KKSM 1320 Oceanside Programming Notes

If you live in an area out of KKSM's signal range, then pack up the kids and go to a park in the North County Coastal area. Find them all over the place. Tune in 1320 and get amused!

Jeff and Mike Show

It's still the beta version...but it's a start.

KIFM 98.1 Programming Notes

Groove Music Saturday Night