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More Cox downsizing and how it affects the home base of Atlanta

S

Slinmet25

From RAMP (an online industry news site):

"Now, the less-than-good news -- Cox Media Tampa has undergone some senior-level management restructuring, which has resulted in the exit of VP/GM Wendi Power. VP/Market Manager Keith Lawless will now oversee the cluster solo. Apparently CMG Tampa was the company's only remaining cluster that still had a dual VP/GM and VP/Market Manager system in place, and the obvious redundancy made this move almost inevitable. The company is reportedly looking for another management position that will make use of Power's many valuable skills."

Word has it that in markets where they have TV and radio they will go to ONE manager and the odds are on it being the TV person running the show. Radio people and radio in general have been relegated to a second-tier in Cox. Also if any market is "only radio" you can bet they are looking to unload no matter the market size. This may not be the case in their hometown of Atlanta as radio with its flagship stations are money makers but radio will become more of a promotion vehicle for TV and the "on life support AJC.". However, eventually look for one manager for all Cox Atlanta media entities with token heads running each medium. Additionally there will be massive layoffs in the "digital" division based in Atlanta. It is well known that this endeavor has been nothing but a cashhemorrhage.

Finally,I am being told of talks with Cumulus about the Cox Texas markets. Cox no matter what they may say is not interested radio except where it may be an adjunct to other media outlets. This includes even Houston. KKBQ would be a great yet sad acquisition for Cumulus. It makes total sense. Cumulus is not in San Antonio at all and that market would be a strong addition to the Cumulus Texas portfolio. Finally, if, or make that when, Cumulus acquires these Cox stations word has it that Lew boy will have one manager for the entire state based probably in Dallas! This has become such a sad industry.
 
In Atlanta, Cox just named a heavyweight as Market Manager, Ben Reed, so I doubt the Atlanta market will have one manager in the near future. Tim McVay, WSB-TV GM, is very highly regarded within Cox. Miami is only radio for Cox, but they just transferred Dan Kearney, another heavyweight, there from Atlanta so I doubt Cox has plans to sell that cluster.
 
And..worth noting is that most all terrestrial stations..Cox, Cumulus, CC, CBS etc etc..TV and Radio are becoming barker channels for their respective Internet websites...INCLUDING promoting listening and/or viewing online. Nearly every radio and TV client I do rounds out their promotional spots with "...log on for details" or "..visit us online" or "..Like us on Facebook". so..maybe the real thrust here is that corporations are finding the "new media" is easier to control, faster to measure, and overall what most people are now using for their information and entertainment.

Just sayin....
 
Jeff Laurence said:
And..worth noting is that most all terrestrial stations..Cox, Cumulus, CC, CBS etc etc..TV and Radio are becoming barker channels for their respective Internet websites...INCLUDING promoting listening and/or viewing online. Nearly every radio and TV client I do rounds out their promotional spots with "...log on for details" or "..visit us online" or "..Like us on Facebook". so..maybe the real thrust here is that corporations are finding the "new media" is easier to control, faster to measure, and overall what most people are now using for their information and entertainment.

Just sayin....
Click to expand...


Good observations, Jeff.
Funny how people, only a few years ago, ridiculed those of us who said media would evolve towards online delivery.
We are still in the infancy of this evolutionary process. Wait until "smart" receivers and phones really get intelligent! I foresee a future with hybrid RF/Ethernet receivers utilizing neural network intelligent learning technology which will allow your "listening device" to know more about you and your daily life than your spouse/mama! When a business places a buy it will get results so precise it can quantify and qualify each and every person who heard the spot. Advertising will become so efficient it will scare you!
 
taylorengineer said:
Jeff Laurence said:
And..worth noting is that most all terrestrial stations..Cox, Cumulus, CC, CBS etc etc..TV and Radio are becoming barker channels for their respective Internet websites...INCLUDING promoting listening and/or viewing online. Nearly every radio and TV client I do rounds out their promotional spots with "...log on for details" or "..visit us online" or "..Like us on Facebook". so..maybe the real thrust here is that corporations are finding the "new media" is easier to control, faster to measure, and overall what most people are now using for their information and entertainment.

Just sayin....
Click to expand...


Good observations, Jeff.
Funny how people, only a few years ago, ridiculed those of us who said media would evolve towards online delivery.
We are still in the infancy of this evolutionary process. Wait until "smart" receivers and phones really get intelligent! I foresee a future with hybrid RF/Ethernet receivers utilizing neural network intelligent learning technology which will allow your "listening device" to know more about you and your daily life than your spouse/mama! When a business places a buy it will get results so precise it can quantify and qualify each and every person who heard the spot. Advertising will become so efficient it will scare you!
Click to expand...


We certainly do not need Big Brother watching us any more than he already does................
 
Roddy, while those new market managers are certainly Cox vets, however I would suggest that the way Cox is now there no longer exist any "radio heavyweights". Some have suggested this is actually a step down for the new Atlanta radio manager as he was already responsible for the market in a more corporate role. The Miami move is also odd in that the market while very large, with top Cox stations, is much less important in regard to overall revenue.

Jeff, I agree completely that the amount of air time dedicated to promoting these various companies online endeavors is way out proportion. The terrestrial companies online offerings are years behind what is available by internet specialists. It seems radio is becoming what many ad agencies wished for all along; simply promotional vehicles for selling a product at the cost of irritating or annoying listeners.
 
Slinmet25 said:
Roddy, while those new market managers are certainly Cox vets, however I would suggest that the way Cox is now there no longer exist any "radio heavyweights". Some have suggested this is actually a step down for the new Atlanta radio manager as he was already responsible for the market in a more corporate role. The Miami move is also odd in that the market while very large, with top Cox stations, is much less important in regard to overall revenue.

Jeff, I agree completely that the amount of air time dedicated to promoting these various companies online endeavors is way out proportion. The terrestrial companies online offerings are years behind what is available by internet specialists. It seems radio is becoming what many ad agencies wished for all along; simply promotional vehicles for selling a product at the cost of irritating or annoying listeners.
Click to expand...

I heard Dan requested the transfer because he and his family missed being near the water.
 
Well, they certainly wouldn't make a dime selling a newspaper or two. Radio is now just a cash cow existing solely to prop up print.
 
Every owner really likes radio's margins but they act like they keep the radio stations because they "have to."
Those pesky bean counters and their whining about cash flow.......
 
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