Obit: Loyd Sigmon (June 5, 2004)

As a radio station executive, Sigmon invented the system in 1955, hoping to get more listeners by broadcasting traffic information. His device, using a tape recorder and shortwave radio receiver, allowed station engineers to broadcast traffic messages in seconds.

The police department accepted the device on condition that it be available to all interested stations.

The first SigAlert was broadcast Sept. 5, 1955, and urged doctors and nurses to respond to a train derailment outside downtown's Union Station. The system also was used to report rabid dogs, a ship collision and the impending collapse of the Baldwin Hills Dam in 1963.

The California Highway Patrol later took over freeway traffic duties and handles SigAlerts, which now are computerized.

During World War II, Sigmon was head of noncombat radio communications on Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's staff.

Sigmon also was a partner with Gene Autry in KMPC's parent company, Golden West Broadcasting. He retired in 1969. Autry died in 1998.

The Wires - Nationwide (June 5, 2004)

Viacom Inc. plans to dump underperforming radio stations, but will not sell its Infinity Broadcasting unit, company chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone said on Thursday . Viacom has already begun identifying which stations to sell under its Infinity umbrella, Redstone told investors at a conference organized by Sanford C. Bernstein in New York. He did not elaborate on how many stations would be sold. "We probably will sell some of those stations to others, who are more avaricious about radio than we are," said Redstone, who reiterated a commitment to not sell Infinity (read Reuters) read

Mediocrity deplores excellence. It's a truth of human behavior, and it applies to the media, too. It's on display right now as the commercial radio establishment, where mediocrity is king, tries to quash the best thing that's happened to radio in a long time: satellites. I've had satellite radio in my car for several months now, and it has changed my media life. The people behind satellite radio understand that the dreadful quality of most commercial radio has alienated a lot of listeners. When was the last time you tuned in a traditional commercial radio station and were impressed? A huge swath of American radio is now controlled by a handful of corporations, and they've turned the airwaves into the aural equivalent of McDonald's: a product that was designed for least-common-denominator tastes, and is pretty much the same everywhere you go. Why? Because, like McDonald's, Big Radio is very profitable. Fine, if you like cheeseburger radio-top 40s, idiotic drivetime talk shows, the usual ideologue ranters, traffic and weather every 10 minutes. But what if you like jazz? (read The Atlantic) read

Steve Mason & John Ireland to fill in for Colin Cowherd, host of the nationally syndicated program, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, on Friday, June 4 from 6-10 am on ESPN Radio 710 in Los Angeles (visit ESPN 710) read

Freedom of the airwaves or hate radio? The talk radio industry has recently come under fire for its frequent use of inflammatory language and aggressive rhetoric on the air, especially with regard to the Arab and Muslim world. Some contend that this errant use of free speech has exploited the anxieties of its audiences, while others believe that even the worst of these incidents is still an accurate reflection of popular opinion and the upholding of free speech principles (read Al Jazeera - Abd Allah al-Arian in Arlington, Virginia ) read

AirAmerica, the newly launched radio network aimed at liberal listeners who prefer Al Franken's smirk to Rush Limbaugh's snarl, had a rough start this spring. But in cyberspace, AirAmerica has been a hit. In its heavily hyped first week of broadcast, the network sent 2 million streams out to listeners who dialed in via computer--either because they were away from a nearby radio or, in most cases, because no local radio station carried the programming. AirAmerica fits that bill, , . "All of a sudden you had Mr. Mainstream America, who isn't advanced technologically, trying out radio on their computers," Michael Harrison publisher of Talkers, a radio trade magazine, says. "Suddenly AM/FM stations seem very old-fashioned." Right now, old-fashioned AM/FM stations are where advertisers prefer to spend their dollars--some $20 billion each year. The Internet radio advertising market, by contrast, is so small that there are no reliable estimates. But think single-digit millions. Still, Net radio backers argue that they are already primed to start competing for at least a sliver of the terrestrial market. "The audience is there," says David Goldberg, vice president of music at Yahoo!, which offers Internet radio through its Launch service. "The consumer demand is tremendous. Now it's really kind of figuring out how to make it work from the advertisers' perspective." (read Forbes - Peter Kafka) read

(read Elizabeth Jensen - LA Times) read

Oedipus, the veteran program director at FM rock station WBCN, is stepping down after almost three decades at the station. Oedipus, whose real name is Edward Hyson, said the time was right to retire because of changes in the industry, including increased scrutiny by the Federal Communications Commission. Howard Stern, whose show airs on WBCN 104.1 has been a prime target. "The culture is changing," Oedipus said. "The right ... is trying to regulate everything it can. What they consider 'rude radio' is an easy target. Radio needs to be defined by a new generation of programmers. I'm of a previous generation. I've defined it long enough." The move follows the resignation earlier this week of Viacom president and chief operating officer Mel Karmazin. WBCN's parent company, Infinity Broadcasting, is a division of Viacom (read The Boston Channel) read

Clear Channel Entertainment, a leader in live entertainment event production and marketing, announced today that it has launched a nationwide partnership with Communities In Schools, the country's leading community-based organization helping children succeed in school and prepare for life. CCE Charities, the company's newly launched charitable division, will work with its network of amphitheatres across the country to kick off the company's "Ticket to Change" initiative, which will raise awareness and provide financial support for CIS. Concertgoers will have the opportunity to get involved by making a donation to CIS through specially-marked "Ticket to Change" canisters located at concession stands in a majority of Clear Channel Entertainment amphitheatres throughout the U.S. (read) read

What will radio look and sound like in 15 years? Had we asked the same question 15 years ago, the answer would have been "pretty much the same." But it's clear that radio is going through one of the most fundamental changes in its history since the dawn of stereo FM signals in the 1960s. Already, satellite radio services like XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio have proved there's a market for pay radio, though both have a long way to go before satellite radio is truly a mass-market service the way cable television is today. Ask any subscriber of either service and they'll tell you they wonder how they ever got along without it. Terrestrial broadcasters--those that broadcast from the ground, as opposed to in space via satellite like XM and Sirius--are in the process of rolling out enhanced services that will boost sound quality and add the ability to broadcast two programs on one station (read Forbes - Arik Hesseldahl) read

Loyd Sigmon, who invented the SigAlert - warning of traffic jammed so bad it can ruin a commuter's day - as a way to boost the audience for his radio station half a century ago, has died. He was 95. Sigmon died of natural causes Wednesday in Bartlesville, Okla., where he lived at the Green Country Assisted Living Facility (read LA Times) read

Elvis died August 16, 1977 ... That was the very day I headed out I-10 WEST to Houston for my new assignment at KIKK FM! Chris Collier was the KIKK FM program director who hired me! FM and AM were simulcast daytimes. KIKK AM was a daytime only frequency. A brand new building was under construction on Gulfton in the popular southwest section of Houston! When relocated, KIKK FM and AM would become two seperately programmed radio stations each with its own airstaff and main studios. When all that was completed, I was to do either 9a-noon or noon-3p on KIKK FM (read more from Jim Rose) read

All Access (registration required)
HOWARD STERN probably shouldn't be counting on JOHN KERRY to help him in his battles with the FCC and Congress on indecency. KERRY, according to BROADCASTING AND CABLE magazine, told C-SPAN in an interview scheduled to air SUNDAY that while he's against applying indecency standards to pay cable programming, he supports indecency crackdowns on broadcasters "where you have children involved, where you have a broader cross-section of the public, where there is sort of a sense of family time or hour." KERRY cited the infamous JANET JACKSON SUPER BOWL exposure as "in poor taste and wrong... there are some standards and pretty generally people should know what they are." KERRY also said while he failed to vote on the law intended to overturn the FCC's ownership rule changes, he was "100% in favor of overturning this rule... too much media in the hands of one powerful entity or one individual is a mistake. I think it runs counter to the foundation of our country. I think it runs counter to the need for Americans to know what they are getting news and information from multiple sources that are not singularly controlled."

rronline
ESPN Radio Kicks Off NBA Finals Coverage... For the ninth consecutive year, ESPN Radio will present exclusive national coverage of every game of the NBA Finals beginning with game one between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons this Sunday night. Brent Musburger and Dr. Jack Ramsay will serve as ESPN Radio's play-by-play commentator and analyst, respectively, while Fred Carter and ESPN the Magazine's Ric Bucher will report from the sidelines. Hear the games on 800 in San Diego and 710 in Los Angeles, as well as XM Radio.

The Wires - Los Angeles (June 4, 2004)

The Wires - Nationwide (June 4, 2004)

Controversial radio jock Howard Stern has hinted he would take his adult antics to satellite radio if kicked off his nationally syndicated show because of indecency problems with the Federal Communications Commission. So, is satellite radio ready to put Stern, or "shock jocks' in general behind one of its microphones? "I don't think either company wants to become the service of shock jocks,' said Stan Kozlowski, senior vice president of retail distribution for SIRIUS Satellite Radio, talking about SIRIUS and industry rival, XM Satellite Radio. "I don't think we're in the business to challenge decency.' (read Press-Telegram) read

The Wires - Los Angeles (June 4, 2004)

The Wires - San Diego (June 4, 2004)

The Wires - San Diego (June 3, 2004)

The Wires - Nationwide (June 3, 2004)

In news related to our top story, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone has even hinted at the possibility that Infinity Radio may not be a part of Viacom's future plans...

Insideradio.com: Sumner Redstone quickly throws water on the rumors about a selloff of Infinity. Very smart - The Viacom chief appears on CNBC to tell David Faber that the chances of selling the radio division are "minimal." Redstone says "the margins are high, the cash flow is great." He also says "You're not going to get me to say anything to denigrate" the suddenly-resigned Mel Karmazin.

Viacom CEO and Chairman Sumner Redstone on Wednesday played down speculation the company was looking to get rid of its sluggish radio unit, in an interview with CNBC. "I would say our chances of selling Infinity are minimal," said Redstone, in a CNBC interview. "The margins are high, the cash flow's great." Redstone, the octogenarian chief of the company that owns CBS, MTV and the Paramount movie studios, on Tuesday stoked the fires of speculation after telling Wall Street Viacom intended to re-evaluate its asset portfolio (read Reuters) read

Throughout his career, Howard Stern has had no more powerful and vocal champion than Mel Karmazin, particularly during Mr. Stern's tangles with the Federal Communications Commission over the content of his radio program. Now, with Mr. Karmazin's resignation yesterday as president and chief operating officer of Viacom, the always cantankerous Mr. Stern may have added incentive to leave when his contract expires in less than two years (read NY Times) read

Although they didn't announce Tuesday that they were joining Sirius Satellite Radio as had been the buzz, New York City shock jocks "Opie and Anthony" may still jump to pay radio. If they do, it could signal a move to satellite for performers too hot for traditional radio in the post-Super Bowl peep show environment. The country's two competing satellite radio companies, Sirius and XM Satellite, each provide around 100 channels of programming to subscribers for around $10 a month, without the same FCC controls that commercial radio deals with. The person to watch in all this is the king of the shock jocks - Howard Stern - whose guru, Mel Karmazin, resigned Tuesday as head of Viacom (read Tim Cuprisin) read

Now that Viacom president and chief operating officer Mel Karmazin has left the company, will shock jock Howard Stern be close behind? Karmazin stepped down yesterday for ``personal and professional reasons'' after more than 20 years with the company that includes nearly 180 radio stations across the country as well as radio personalities Stern and Don Imus. Karmazin had been Stern's strongest supporter in the syndicated jock's ongoing battles with the Federal Communications Commission over allegedly indecent programming on Stern's syndicated morning show, carried locally on WBCN-FM (104.1). Even last week, Stern said on his show that when Karmazin left the company, he would, too (read Dean Johnson - Boston Herald) read

Brozo, a foul-mouthed clown with a green wig and a shiny red nose who was one of Mexico's hottest newscasters, bowed out of morning television Wednesday with the usual cheap laughs and a touch of tragedy. "El Mananero," a daily morning romp on the Televisa network that has influenced Mexican politics at the highest level, was aired for the last time after Brozo this week decided to end the program after the death of his wife (read San Diego Union Tribune) read

rronline
Les Moonves Chosen To Oversee Infinity. Decision comes on Karmazin resignation As R&R reported yesterday, CBS Chairman/CEO Leslie Moonves (pictured) and MTV Networks Chairman/CEO Tom Freston will succeed Mel Karmazin as co-Presidents/co-COOs of Viacom, effective immediately. Karmazin resigned from the company early yesterday, and in a statement said that Moonves will retain his duties while also taking charge of the operations of Infinity, Viacom Outdoor and Paramount Television. Viacom described Karmazin's departure as "part of a corporate succession plan, which will provide for the orderly transition to the next generation of senior management." Meanwhile, Karmazin will receive a $31 million cash payout for two years' worth of salary, bonuses and deferred compensation - in addition to $8.8 million in accelerated stock options that he has up to two years to exercise. FMQB: Why Mel Resigned

Labels Test Anti-Piracy Technology The main focus is limiting the number of copies that could be made from the original, to prevent burned copies from having illegitimate babies.

The Wires - Nationwide (June 2, 2004)

Stern Laments For Mel... With Karmazin on his way out the door, Howard Stern is left pondering his future, saying, "With Mel gone, I am seeing the darkness at the end of the tunnel. Over the past few weeks, Howard Stern has joked that he would follow Mel Karmazin out the door if he ever left Viacom. After Karmazin's sudden resignation this morning, the ball is now in his court. Stern signed on this morning saying today's show would be an infamous one, knowing that the news of Karmazin's departure had yet to fully break into the mainstream press and having been informed by a phone call from newly named Viacom Co-President/Co-COO Les Moonves. Not letting out the news to begin the show, Stern began by talking about how he started his radio career "against all odds" and with parents that treated his dream to be "this crazy nut" on the radio by saying, "Why not you? Someone's got to be on the radio." He talked a bit about his love/hate relationship with radio and the daily aggravation of trying to get his vision for The Howard Stern Show on the air. Read more at the link.

rronline
Les Moonves To Oversee Infinity... In addition to overseeing Viacom's broadcast-television businesses, Moonves will take charge of the operations of Infinity, Viacom Outdoor and Paramount Television in his new role as Viacom co-President/co-COO. Moonves, who has been in the top role at CBS since last year, joined the network in 1995 as President of CBS Entertainment.

Also...Viacom Committed To Radio, For Now... Viacom Chairman/CEO Sumner Redstone said this morning that while the company is standing by its Infinity radio division in the wake of Viacom President/COO Mel Karmazin's departure, no part of the company is exempt from possible sale.

Karmazin...Out! 6-1-04!

MEL KARMAZIN is out as Pres./COO of VIACOM.

The resignation ends a long power struggle between KARMAZIN and Chairman SUMNER REDSTONE. KARMAZIN will get close to $25 million in salary, bonuses, and deferred compensation as his parting package under the terms of his current contract.

KARMAZIN has been replaced by VIACOMÆs MTV NETWORKS CEO TOM FRESTON and CBS Chairman and CEO LESLIE MOONVES, named co-Presidents and co-COOs. In their new roles, FRESTON and MOONVES will jointly oversee all of the operations of VIACOM, as directed by Chairman/CEO SUMNER REDSTONE. FRESTON will be responsible for overseeing the operations of SHOWTIME, BET, PARAMOUNT PARKS, SIMON & SCHUSTER and the motion picture operations of PARAMOUNT PICTURES. In addition to overseeing VIACOM's broadcast television businesses, MOONVES will be responsible for the operations of PARAMOUNT TV, INFINITY BROADCASTING and VIACOM OUTDOOR.

Remaining to be seen -- whether HOWARD STERN wil follow through on last week's "if he goes, I go" threat.

More details at allaccess.com

The Wires - Nationwide (June 1, 2004)

The Wires - Nationwide (June 1, 2004)

Satellite radio service was launched about two years ago. The satellites beam down over 100 channels of digital sound, blanketing the entire country. The only time these radio stations fade as you drive is when you drive right out of the country. And, as CBS News Correspondent David Pogue observes, the trend is only likely to intensify. The receiver will set you back about a hundred dollars and up-way up. But don't put your credit cards away just yet. You also have to sign up for the service, for the low, low price of 10 or 13 dollars a month. Yes, that's right: We've actually entered an age when people will actually pay a monthly fee to listen to the radio. Still, the 2.1 million people who've signed up so far consider that a small price to pay. In fact, one satellite radio wasn't enough for Sarkis Hagopian, öI actually have five official subscriptions.ö The hard part is choosing between the two companies that offer satellite radio: Sirius and XM (read CBS News)

Thanks to Janet Jackson's exposed breast and Howard Stern's big mouth, Jim Richards is having a tough time doing his job. The furor over the Super Bowl halftime show and the huge fines levied against shock jocks have changed the broadcasting world almost overnight. And Richards, Clear Channel's regional vice president of programming in San Diego, is bearing the brunt of it locally. "You are walking around just trying to figure out, is this going to cause the radio station to get fined or get me fired," Richards said. "It is a lot of pressure." Clear Channel, which owns 1,200 radio stations, has fired Tampa, Fla., morning personality Bubba the Love Sponge (aka Todd Clem) and canceled Stern's show after the Federal Communications Commission fined the company almost $1.3 million for indecency infractions. In February, Clear Channel booted Stern from six of its stations, including San Diego's "Rock" 105.3, where he had been a staple for some seven years. The specter of Stern's ouster is affecting the entire radio and TV industry (read San Diego Union-Tribune)

From XM Radio - The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the organization that represents the large radio and television owners, is using its lobbyists, campaign contributions and political influence to have Congress and the Federal Communications Commission limit XM's ability to provide you with "locally oriented" content, including the new XM Instant Traffic & Weather channels. The broadcasters feel threatened by the success of satellite radio. Instead of competing and improving their services, they want the government to protect their businesses by attacking satellite radio. This same group has tried to block every innovative technology that has been warmly welcomed into America's homes and cars. In the 1940's, radio broadcasters tried to squash television. In the 1970's, AM broadcasters tried to put the kibosh on FM stations. They never win and they never learn (read more at XM Radio's Web site)