RBR-TVBR First:
We had wondered how Compass and Dial Global would jibe their sports offerings after DG’s purchase of Westwood. Now we know: Compass Media Networks has extended its sales rep agreement with Dial Global. Currently, Compass provides play-by-play sports (2011 featured 100 major sporting events including the Big 10 Championship game, college hoops and some 60 NFL football games) and Talk and entertainment. In that category, 1,000 affiliates are running 10 shows, including Lars Larsen, Todd Schnitt, Ron Insana short form and Free Beer & Hot Wings.
Dial Global will continue to be the exclusive sales agent for all of those programs. The full list of the Compass-DG extension:
Free Beer & Hot Wings
Lars Larson Show
Norman Goldman Show
Schnitt Show
Services and short-form reports (Download HDFX, MVP Sports Imaging, Ron Insana’s Market Score Board Reports)
Sports (college basketball, college football, NFL Doubleheaders, Compass’ presentation of the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders Radio Network).
Compass has also launched Compass Media Marketing – a national ad rep firm for audio industry. Peter Kosann, CEO and Founder of Compass Media Networks, tells RBR-TVBR that within the next two weeks there will be announcements of who will be running it and the new hires: “The vision here is that network radio is a $1.2 billion pie and it has been very much consolidated. Similar to how we represented up-and-coming shows and programs that needed more time and attention to the ad sales side, there is clearly an opportunity to deliver very focused salesmanship for additional audio providers.”
Compass Media Marketing will announce a full roster of programs and networks shortly. It also allows Compass to be a good incubator for new programs with Dial Global. Dial Global will provide Compass Media Marketing with support systems and marketing services. DG will also have new products soon that Compass will be selling for.
RBR-TVBR observation: There are so many more Sports stations now (especially on FM), that this is a way for Dial Global to continue to dominate the play-by-play categories that they’re in. As well, this deal continues to fortify Dial Global as a leader in sports, because Compass’ sports programming augments Dial Global’s March Madness, Super Bowl and NFL Playoffs. It was only a matter of time before these two partners worked their sports offerings in tandem.
