Media Frenzy

By Rob Holbert Managing Editor

Many may have noticed some advertisements in the local daily newspaper concerning the transfer of Clear Channel stock to something called BT Triple Crown Merger Co. This relates to the pending sale of many Clear Channel radio and television stations across the country, including WPMI TV-15, WKSJ, WPMI (AM) and WRKH.

The advertisements are part of the FCC comment period required for such a sale. The agency will accept comments from the public or petitions to deny the sale through Jan. 19.

Clear Channel filed with the FCC in December to transfer its TV and radio licenses to Triple Crown. In mid-November, Clear Channel agreed to be sold to two groups – Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital Partners. The total sale is reportedly for more than $26.7 billion.

The stock is being transferred to BT Triple Crown Merger Co., which is held by the two groups, during this transition period. Speaking with those working on the ground level here, little is known about the stations’ future owners and what changes, if any, might be coming.

Anyone with a real or imagined interest in all of this business can view the FCC filing at WPMI’s office on Azalea Road or in the Clear Channel radio complex on Broadcast Drive.

Radio numbers

Speaking of radio, this column has been remiss in publishing the radio ratings numbers from the summer ratings period. They were available at the end of October, but other matters seemed more pressing. Well, in the holiday doldrums, we’ve got time to crunch the numbers a bit.

For the summer ‘06 period, WDLT moved back into the market’s top spot, posting an 11.3 share, up from a 9.6 share in spring and a 9.1 from the same period in ‘05. Right behind WDLT was fellow Cumulus property WBLX, which posted an 11.0 share, down slightly from 11.1 in spring and up from a 10.9 in summer of ‘05. WABB remains the highest ranked independently owned station in the market.

WKSJ slipped back to third place in the market, posting a 9.6 share in summer, after a 10.3 in spring. WABB-FM stayed solidly in fourth place, nailing an 8.0 share, following its 8.8 share in the spring. It should be noted that across the board, most ratings shares seemed to fall from spring to summer. WABB’s summer ‘06 number compared very favorably to its summer ‘05 share of 7.5.

WMXC also held position at fifth with a rating of 7.3, down from 7.7 in spring. In sixth was fellow Clear Channel station WRKH, which actually bumped up slightly in summer to a 6.3 share from a 6.2 share in spring.

WGOK held fast in the seventh spot with a 4.8 share, followed by WTKX, which jumped from 3.1 in spring to 4.0 in summer. WYOK made a big jump from a 2.2 share in spring to a 3.6 share in summer.

Rounding out the top 10 was WPMI (AM). The talk radio station held fast at a 3.1 share, as it did in spring.

All of these numbers were collected by Arbitron and available on radioandrecords.com. The next numbers are due out at the end of January. We’ll try to be more timely in reporting them.

Petering out at WALA

Meteorologist Doug Peters has reportedly left WALA-TV 10. His last day was Nov. 30. There’s little info on his departure. WALA management did not respond to our queries by press time and Peters was also unavailable.

No word yet on Peters’ replacement or where he might land.

Staying focused?

I’m hearing a lot about the use of focus groups in making changes at one of our local television news stations. According to those working in the fields, management is putting great weight upon the reactions of focus groups to the station’s content and on-air personalities.

This seems to be becoming the norm in television news.

New dog in the fight

It seems there is a new dog entering the local publishing fray. Alabama Dog appeared in several locations around town a couple of weeks ago, offering a publication dedicated to man’s best friend.

Calls and e-mails to publisher Cindie Carter went unanswered, so I was unable to gather too much info on the endeavor, other than what could be gleaned from the paper and an advertising rate sheet. Alabama Dog is a tabloid-sized newspaper – like the one you’re holding – and intends to publish 5,000 copies six times a year. Its mission statement is to “make a difference in the lives of dogs and their owners in the Lower Alabama area.”

Welcome to the Mobile publishing world Alabama Dog, the pool’s getting a bit more crowded. Hope you can dog paddle.

With the Press-Register about to launch its new lifestyle magazine and its own alternative weekly newspaper in the next couple of months, and the rumors of one or two other publications coming from other sectors, 2007 may be an interesting year for publishing in the Port City.

Of course, keep reading your favorite newspaper for the latest. Happy New Year.

Rob Holbert is Lagniappe managing editor. Contact him at rholbert@lagniappemobile.com.

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