KCAA. I thought NBC Radio Died in the 1980's

[recto101]

http://www.kcaaradio.com/
NBC News Radio largest station is in the Inland Empire. But its on dial global agreement.

I look at the affiliates list and it has the fewest stations of all the major radio networks.

 

[michael hagerty]

http://www.kcaaradio.com/
NBC News Radio largest station is in the Inland Empire. But its on dial global agreement.

I look at the affiliates list and it has the fewest stations of all the major radio networks.

Westwood One bought the rights to the "NBC Radio" name about 20 years ago. Ironically, CBS bought Westwood One, so CBS now owns NBC Radio. I'm sure that has a lot to do with its small size and low profile.

 

[Rusty Muck]

http://www.kcaaradio.com/
NBC News Radio largest station is in the Inland Empire. But its on dial global agreement.

I look at the affiliates list and it has the fewest stations of all the major radio networks.

Westwood One bought the rights to the "NBC Radio" name about 20 years ago. Ironically, CBS bought Westwood One, so CBS now owns NBC Radio. I'm sure that has a lot to do with its small size and low profile.

Actually, Westwood One bought the whole NBC Radio Network in 1987, merged it into the co-owned Mutual Broadcasting System in 1991, and drove both networks virtually out of existence.

As for Westwood One, they no longer exist. CBS spun it off in 2007 as a separate entity. Dial Global (a unit of Triton Digital and sister company to Townsquare) swallowed up WW1 this past October. DG now controls the distribution rights to CBS Radio, "NBC News Radio," CNN Radio, "The NFL on Westwood One," etc. etc.

"NBC News Radio" has no correlation to the original NBC Radio Network, which ceased newscast production in 2004 (at SOME point, date unknown) and last was mentioned over-the-air on "First Light" days after the WW1-DG merger took effect (as "from Westwood One, this is NBC Radio.").

 

[recto101]

Wow NBC News Radio is exactly like Fox News Radio and Fox Sports Radio.
NBC News Radio is owned by Dial Global and not NBC/GE/Xfinity/Universal.
Fox News/Sports Radio is not owned by Rupert Murdoch News Corp but by Clear Channel.
Disney owns ESPN Radio/ Radio Disney but Cumulus owns ABC Radio via Citadel merger.

CBS is the only major broadcast group that still own both radio and TV stations and the CBS Radio Network via the Dial Global division of CBS as a result of the Viacom/infinity Radio era.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Wow NBC News Radio is exactly like Fox News Radio and Fox Sports Radio.
NBC News Radio is owned by Dial Global and not NBC/GE/Xfinity/Universal.
Fox News/Sports Radio is not owned by Rupert Murdoch News Corp but by Clear Channel.
Disney owns ESPN Radio/ Radio Disney but Cumulus owns ABC Radio via Citadel merger.

CBS is the only major broadcast group that still own both radio and TV stations and the CBS Radio Network via the Dial Global division of CBS as a result of the Viacom/infinity Radio era.

Goes to show that the media is no different than any other type of business, as names/logos/branding/trademarks are bought and sold like any other commodity. Any "Brand X" is likely to have absolutely nothing to do with a historical namesake.

 

[TheBigA]

Goes to show that the media is no different than any other type of business, as names/logos/branding/trademarks are bought and sold like any other commodity. Any "Brand X" is likely to have absolutely nothing to do with a historical namesake.

Not exactly. Fox News Radio is a partnership with Premiere Radio Networks. Fox News owns the trademark, and programs the service.

NBC Radio News is owned by NBC Universal. It is programmed by NBC News employees. But it's syndicated and sold by Dial Global.

ABC Radio and its trademarks are owned by Disney, not Cumulus. Cumulus has a distribution deal with ABC News Radio. It is staffed by ABC News employees, not Cumulus employees. Cumulus also licenses the various call letters to radio stations, such as KABC and WABC from Disney.

The CBS News Radio deal is similar to all of the above. CBS News Radio is owned and programed by CBS, but marketed and sold by Dial Global. And I believe CNN Radio is handled the same way.

Now one might debate the concept of "historical namesake," because these companies have gone through corporate changes, and some no longer reflect their historical namesake.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Wow NBC News Radio is exactly like Fox News Radio and Fox Sports Radio.
NBC News Radio is owned by Dial Global and not NBC/GE/Xfinity/Universal.

Not exactly.  Fox News Radio is a partnership with Premiere Radio Networks.  Fox News owns the trademark, and programs the service.

NBC Radio News is owned by NBC Universal.  It is programmed by NBC News employees.  But it's syndicated and sold by Dial Global.

Actually, NBC got out of the radio business in 1987, when the sold the "NBC Radio Network" over to Westwood One. "NBC News Radio" isn't as much of a network as it's a continuation of Westwood One's perpetual licensing agreement with NBC, one that continues with Dial Global. That's also why some shows like "First Light" (which was the last "NBC Radio" program ever) still uses sound and actualities from NBC News.

It was also WW1's response to when Fox News ended their agreement with them, and eventually struck their current operating deal with Premiere. Recall that "First Light" host Dirk Van, an WW1 employee at the time, also was a Fox News Radio anchor during the WW1 arrangement, and IIRC, an early "NBC News Radio" anchor.

Unlike "NBC News Radio," Fox News Radio is more of an operational network, with long-form talk programming (Alan Colmes, Brian Killmeade, Tom Sullivan, et al.) also offered, but not, IIRC, overtly syndicated by Premiere. (Hannity's show notwithstanding - that is still a joint venture between Premiere and Cumulus, with the latter distributing the show and handling sales on the "legacy" ABC Radio stations only.) Fox's radio reporters also do occasionally contribute to the cable news channel, most notably Todd Starnes.

And to be honest, "NBC News Radio" is only a brief one-minute headline blurb from 6am-10pm weekdays Eastern Standard Time. It's not a 24/7, five minute TOH newscast. I'm pretty sure that the content is now written by NBC News employees (could be wrong); at the beginning, WW1 staffers wrote the content for NBC News employees to deliver.

Dial Global also does transmit the audio simulcasts for "Meet The Press" and Leno's monologue from "The Tonight Show," but those were set up after the 1987 sale of the NBC Radio Network.

CBS is the only major broadcast group that still own both radio and TV stations and the CBS Radio Network via the Dial Global division of CBS as a result of the Viacom/infinity Radio era.

It was a prolonged spin-off by CBS of the "CBS Radio Network" when they realigned it into Westwood One back in 1998, extinguishing "NBC Radio" and the Mutual Broadcasting System once and for all, only to spin off WW1 as a whole in 2007. Both Triton Digital (Dial Global's parent company) and CBS Corp. do exchange trademarks freely, as per the spin-off. (Interestingly enough, Triton Digital also owns Townsquare Media, the former Regent Broadcasting which owns several radio stations spun off by CBS Radio.)

Note that when Charles Osgood signed a contract extension for his radio commentaries last month, he did it with Dial Global and not CBS.

Outside of "Music and the Spoken Word" (handled outright by Bonneville) there is really no other programming offered by the "CBS Radio Network" outside of sports PBP (currently branded as from "Westwood One," but will likely switch to "Dial Global" as of next year) and "CBS Radio News." I'm not including in-house syndicated programming by CBS Radio stations themselves - i.e., Mike Francesca's "NFL Now" program, which is relayed by WFAN/New York over to many of CBS Radio's other sports stations.

 

[TheBigA]

Actually, NBC got out of the radio business in 1987, when the sold the "NBC Radio Network" over to Westwood One. "NBC News Radio" isn't as much of a network as it's a continuation of Westwood One's perpetual licensing agreement with NBC, one that continues with Dial Global.

Hmmm...not exactly true. NBC's original deal sold the assets of NBC Radio, such as affiliates, contracts, and programming. Not not ownership of the trademark or even the archives. That was always retained by NBC. That's why they need a licensing agreement. And that agreement needs to be negotiated and renewed on a regular basis. As I said, NBC News is still in the radio business, because they provide the content. And even from the first days, NBC News TV reporters filed stories for NBC Radio News. IIRC Tom Brokaw even did a daily commentary.

The NBC Radio deal predates the Fox News deal. So I don't understand your point. As for it being an "operational network," that goes back to my point that Fox programs the service, not Premiere. Providing a radio companion to the TV network is exactly what Fox was hoping to do. Disney has done the same thing, to a greater degree, with ESPN.

 

[chrish]

Like everything else in America these days.....a convoluted mess

 

[ercjncpr]

Maybe it's better to think of it this way: The ORIGINAL CBS, NBC, ABC and MBS radio networks no longer exist but the brand names are being used by other entities. Come to think of it, you could say that about a whole lot of things from food products to movie studios.

 

[Pronkie]

As far as the station itself , it's all over the place......Seems like if you got money, you got airtime.......Some of the lowest ratings in the region....Station in a shopping mall with a make shift recording room made out of a closet..........I've seen it......No kidding......

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I believe Premiere basically has nothing to do with Fox News Radio, aside from perhaps selling/repping it and providing satellite space. But the product is out of Fox News in New York, period.

All of the Fox News Radio hosts broadcast from the Fox News complex in NYC with the exception of one satellite-only host.

There is one big tie between FNR and Clear Channel - the deal that put FNR on CC's big news/talk stations a ways back. That also generally puts local CC reporters on FNR for stories of national interest.

Again, same with ABC News Radio and Cumulus.

ABC News Radio is owned lock, stock and mouse ears by ABC News/Disney. The anchors and reporters are all ABC employees, and the broadcasts originate from West End Avenue in NYC.

When the ABC/Citadel deal happened, Citadel gained a 10 year deal to sell ABC News Radio to affiliates, and provide satellite distribution (they took over the ABC Radio space on satellite). Cumulus continues that after acquiring Citadel.

I don't know about the "NBC News Radio" deal. If they're even on after morning drive, does Brian Williams do a 5 PM ET hit, like the anchors on ABC/CBS/Fox's news radio products have? Though I don't know if Diane Sawyer is still doing it on ABC, or for that matter, Scott Pelley on CBS. I'm pretty sure Shepard Smith does a 5 PM FNR hit.

 

[recto101]

I believe Premiere basically has nothing to do with Fox News Radio, aside from perhaps selling/repping it and providing satellite space. But the product is out of Fox News in New York, period.

All of the Fox News Radio hosts broadcast from the Fox News complex in NYC with the exception of one satellite-only host.

There is one big tie between FNR and Clear Channel - the deal that put FNR on CC's big news/talk stations a ways back. That also generally puts local CC reporters on FNR for stories of national interest.

Again, same with ABC News Radio and Cumulus.

ABC News Radio is owned lock, stock and mouse ears by ABC News/Disney. The anchors and reporters are all ABC employees, and the broadcasts originate from West End Avenue in NYC.

When the ABC/Citadel deal happened, Citadel gained a 10 year deal to sell ABC News Radio to affiliates, and provide satellite distribution (they took over the ABC Radio space on satellite). Cumulus continues that after acquiring Citadel.

I don't know about the "NBC News Radio" deal. If they're even on after morning drive, does Brian Williams do a 5 PM ET hit, like the anchors on ABC/CBS/Fox's news radio products have? Though I don't know if Diane Sawyer is still doing it on ABC, or for that matter, Scott Pelley on CBS. I'm pretty sure Shepard Smith does a 5 PM FNR hit.

The real owners of CNN Radio is Dial Global too. I know that Time Warner owns CNN TV division.

 

[ercjncpr]

As far as the station itself , it's all over the place......Seems like if you got money, you got airtime.......Some of the lowest ratings in the region....Station in a shopping mall with a make shift recording room made out of a closet..........I've seen it......No kidding......

You should have heard one of their former program directors attempt to read a news script....she could not finish even one sentence without screwing it up!

 

[TheBigA]

The real owners of CNN Radio is Dial Global too. I know that Time Warner owns CNN TV division.

No. CNN owns all aspects of CNN, including CNN Radio. All staff are CNN employees, and it's based in Atlanta. It is merely distributed by Dial Global.

 

[LKellerIII]

Like everything else in America these days.....a convoluted mess

"Mess?" Maybe. With fewer corporations owning more and more, this is the result. Maybe a better term would be 'inter-corporational synergy.' It's even more true inTV. If you watch the end credits of TV shows, you'll see that Fox produces shows that air on CBS, CBS produced shows air on NBC, etc.

Little ironies abound. I was watching Jeopardy the other night and noticed that it is now distributed by CBS (apparently they bought King World). That show airs primarily on ABC O&Os and affiliates.

I guess nobody minds as long as everyone is making money.

 

[michael hagerty]

Like everything else in America these days.....a convoluted mess

"Mess?" Maybe. With fewer corporations owning more and more, this is the result. Maybe a better term would be 'inter-corporational synergy.' It's even more true inTV. If you watch the end credits of TV shows, you'll see that Fox produces shows that air on CBS, CBS produced shows air on NBC, etc.

Little ironies abound. I was watching Jeopardy the other night and noticed that it is now distributed by CBS (apparently they bought King World). That show airs primarily on ABC O&Os and affiliates.

I guess nobody minds as long as everyone is making money.

Llew: King World has been distributed by Paramount for as long as I can remember. And CBS has owned Paramount (or vice-versa) since 1999. They changed the name from Paramount Television Distribution to CBS in the past couple of years.

Syndication deals are often packaged. It's easy to clear multiple markets by selling to a group owner. While Jeopardy! is heavy on ABC O&Os and affiliates in the top 20 markets, I'd bet that overall, clearances are pretty evenly split between ABC, CBS and NBC affils in medium and smaller markets.

 

[Rusty Muck]

The real owners of CNN Radio is Dial Global too. I know that Time Warner owns CNN TV division.

No. CNN owns all aspects of CNN, including CNN Radio. All staff are CNN employees, and it's based in Atlanta. It is merely distributed by Dial Global.

Confusion could be understandable, as CNN Radio's five minute top-of-the-hour newscasts were shortened to two minutes a few years ago. The :03 segment is now generally filled by Marketwatch.com (curiously, owned by Dow Jones, a News Corp. property), which Dial-Global also distributes.

CNN always has had control over their radio news division.

 

[Bongwater]

If you think the corporate acquisition twists are bizarre in radio and food, you should see what the recording industry has turned into...

 

[TheBigA]

If you think the corporate acquisition twists are bizarre in radio and food, you should see what the recording industry has turned into...

Good point. Americans have sold their culture to other countries. Master recordings by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Janis Joplin are owned by the Japanese. Hank Williams, Marvin Gaye, and Steely Dan are owned by the French. The Brits just sold EMI Recording to the French, and EMI Publishing to the Japanese. American musicians are working for foreigners today. Current law prevents American broadcasting to be owned by foreign companies, but LMAs are permissable.

In my view, the collapse of the American recording business began with the sales of the labels to foreign companies. Their approach was very different from American owners.