Fisher rejected $550 million buyout offer
Fisher Communications has confirmed that its board rejected an unsolicited takeover bid in April for $43-45 per share. At the high end, that would have valued the TV and radio company at $550 million
Iowa broadcasters soaked in localism
If FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants to find out about broadcast localism, he has an invitation to come to Iowa. Sue Toma, Executive Director of the IBA, has written to Martin to tell him what’s been going on
Group claims it was shortchanged by label
The glam-rock band Poison is hardly the first musical act to claim it was cheated by its record label, but it is the latest...
CPB in line for budget increase
After years of battling to keep its federal funding from going to zero, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is finding the Democratic majority in...
Winners at the 35th annual Daytime Emmys
ABC's new approach to a lagging and dull awards show turned out to be a fun event. The 35th Daytime Emmys added a new...
On Stephen Chessare named SVP/Sales at Westwood One last week
Rich Russo, JL Media’s SVP/Director of Broadcast Services commented: “Every morning, I debate whether or not to go to 7-11 and buy a newspaper...
Gores Group is now a big part of Westwood One
Westwood One shareholders on Tuesday approved a transaction to have The Gores Group invest $100 million in the company. The first $25 million investment...
Clear sailing for CBS’s buy of CNET
Dissident CNET shareholder Jana Partners has officially dropped its proxy battle for control of the company’s board. Rather, it is banking on the pending...
CBS Corp. and Ecomedia team with mayors to “Green” cities
EcoMedia, an environmental media company, and CBS Corp. announced a strategic partnership to work with U.S. mayors and local municipalities to "green" cities across...
Arianna Huffington vs. Sam Zell
The UK’s Guardian newspaper reports that Huffington revealed plans to have Huffington Post launch local news sites in dozens of US cities. The first is to be Chicago
Merger dreams dashed
Dish Network shares dropped Wednesday after the company said in an SEC filing that a subsidiary of AT&T was requiring the satellite TV company...
Surprise! Anti-consolidation measure surfaces
Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA) were handling the House version of Byron Dorgan’s Resolution of Disapproval, which would remove the force...
Campaign gets a rest
Less than one fourth of available journalistic time and space went into coverage of the 2008 elections, one of the few times we've been able to say that all year. That's according to the latest report
Second source sees Tate as possible merger wildcard
We were the first source – FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate is a Republican and usually seems to prefer as hands-off a stance as...
All units down at Journal
Journal Communications reports that May revenues were down 4.1% for its radio group and 5.9% for its TV group. That actually looks good compared...