Entercom
 | |
| Type | Public (NYSE: ETM) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Advertising |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Bala Cynwyd, PA |
| Key people | David Field, President & CEO |
| Products | Radio |
| Website | www.entercom.com |
Entercom Communications Corporation (NYSE: ETM) is one of the largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States, with over 100 stations in 23 US markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento, and Kansas City.
President and CEO
Entercom is led by President and CEO David Field, the son of founder Joseph M. Field.[1] David Field was formerly an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York. After joining Entercom, he served in a number of positions, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, before becoming Entercom’s president in 1998. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Amherst College, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Field serves on the boards of Entercom, The National Association of Broadcasters, The Radio Advertising Bureau, and The Wilderness Society. He served as Chairman of the Radio Board of the National Association of Broadcasters from 2005 to 2007. He was named 2006 Radio Executive of the Year by Radio Ink Magazine, and also one of the Best CEOs in America by Institutional Investor Magazine in 2006, 2007, and 2008.[2]
History
Joseph M. Field founded Entercom in 1968, on the conviction that FM broadcasting, then in its infancy, would surpass AM broadcasting as the leading aural medium.
During the 1990s, the Federal Communications Commission's regulations on the ownership of multiple radio stations were eased, beginning with the introduction of duopoly rules, which allowed a company to own two stations in each radio band. Entercom took the opportunity to expand its presence in the markets where it already operated. In April 1995, Entercom paid $24.5 million for three stations in Portland, Oregon, acquiring KGON, a classic rock station; KFXX, an all-sports station; and KMUZ-FM, a modern rock station.[citation needed]
In 1999, Entercom announced an agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group, of Baltimore, to buy 43 stations for $821.5 million in cash. It was Entercom's largest deal to date,[3] and more than doubled both the number of stations under the company's control, and the number of markets in which it had stations. The acquisition made Entercom the fifth-largest radio broadcaster in the United States, with 88 stations in 17 markets.[4]
On August 21, 2006, Entercom agreed to buy 15 stations from CBS Radio. Locations included Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; and Rochester, New York.[5] However, due to ownership limitations set by the FCC, Entercom had to sell off three of its stations in the Rochester market; these were acquired by Stephens Media Group.[6] After its purchases in the Cincinnati market, the company quickly sold its stations there to Bonneville Broadcasting and Cumulus Media, and exited the market.
It was reported that Entercom attempted to purchase Citadel Broadcasting in February 2011.[7] However, on March 10, 2011, Citadel announced that it had been purchased by Cumulus Media, in a deal worth $1.7 billion.
Entercom was one of four broadcasting companies bidding to buy The Walt Disney Company's ABC Radio unit,[8] but was outbid by Citadel Broadcasting. Had Entercom completed the deal, it would have had to sell off some of its small-market holdings.
Controversy
On January 12, 2007, Entercom's Sacramento-area station KDND hosted a water-drinking contest promoted as "Hold Your Wee for a Wii", in which one of the popular Nintendo video game consoles would be awarded to whichever contestant could drink the most water without urinating or vomiting. That same day, a contestant named Jennifer Strange died as a result of acute water intoxication, caused by her participation in the event. Although no criminal charges were filed, Strange's family members filed a wrongful death suit to hold Entercom Corp.'s Sacramento subsidiary responsible for her death. On October 29, 2009, a Sacramento Superior Court jury awarded the Strange family $16.57 million.[9]
Internet streaming
On August 2, 2013, Internet streaming of all Entercom music stations was blocked to users outside of the United States and Canada, except for those at overseas military bases. NTS stations continued to stream all over the world, as they do not pay royalty fees.
Many radio groups were contacted recently by UK music licensing company PPL. This organization is the UK's version of SoundExchange. Entercom was asked to pay royalties for streaming within the UK. Because of the expense, Entercom decided to geo block the streams instead.
Stations
The following is a list of radio stations owned by Entercom Communications. As of 2012, Entercom operates over 100 stations in 23 markets across the United States of America.
Austin, Texas
- KKMJ-FM 95.5 FM Adult Contemporary
- KAMX 94.7 FM Modern Adult Contemporary
- KJCE 1370 AM News Talk Information
Boston, Massachusetts
- WRKO 680 AM Talk/Personality
- WEEI 850 AM All Sports
- WEEI-FM 93.7 FM All Sports (simulcast of WEEI)
- WAAF 107.3 FM Active Rock
- WKAF 97.7 FM Active Rock (simulcast of WAAF)
- WVEI 1440 AM All Sports (simulcasts WEEI/Boston)
Buffalo, New York
- WGR 550 AM All Sports (Local talk)
- WBEN 930 AM News/Talk
- WWWS 1400 AM Rhythmic Oldies
- WWKB 1520 AM All Sports (ESPN)
- WKSE 98.5 FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio (WGR simulcast on HD2)
- WTSS 102.5 FM Hot Adult Contemporary/Christmas Music (WBEN simulcast on HD2)
- WLKK 107.7 FM Modern Alternative (Classic Alternative on HD2)
Denver, Colorado
- KEZW 1430 AM Adult Standards/Nostalgia-Oldies
- KQMT 99.5 FM Classic Rock
- KOSI 101.1 FM Soft Adult Contemporary
- KALC 105.9 FM Hot Adult Contemporary
Gainesville, Florida
Greensboro, North Carolina
- WPAW 93.1 FM Country
- WJMH 102.1 FM Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio
- WQMG 97.1 FM Urban Adult Contemporary
- WSMW 98.7 FM Adult Hits
- WPET 950 AM Southern Gospel
- WEAL 1510 AM Gospel
Greenville, South Carolina
- WFBC 93.7 FM Top 40
- WSPA-FM 98.9 FM Adult Contemporary
- WTPT 93.3 FM New Rock
- WROQ 101.1 FM Classic Rock
- WYRD-FM 106.3 FM News/Talk/Information*
- WORD 950 AM News/Talk/Information*
- WYRD 1330 AM News/Talk/Information*
Indianapolis, Indiana
Kansas City, Kansas/Kansas City, Missouri
- KQRC-FM 98.9 FM Active Rock
- KZPT 99.7 FM Hot AC
- KRBZ 96.5 FM Alternative
- WDAF-FM 106.5 FM Country
- KMBZ-FM 98.1 FM News Talk Information*
- KMBZ 980 AM News Talk Information*
- KCSP 610 AM All Sports
- KUDL 1660 AM Business News Talk
Madison, Wisconsin
- WOLX 94.9 FM Classic Hits
- WMMM 105.5 FM Album Adult Alternative
- WMHX 105.1 FM Adult Hits
Memphis, Tennessee
- WKQK 94.1 FM Classic Hits
- WRVR-FM 104.5 FM Adult Contemporary
- WMC-FM 99.7 FM Hot Adult Contemporary
- WMFS-FM 92.9 FM - ESPN Radio*
- WMFS 680 - ESPN Radio*
- WMC 790 AM Classic Country
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
New Orleans, Louisiana
- WEZB 97.1 FM Contemporary Hit Radio
- WLMG 101.9 FM Adult Contemporary
- WKBU 95.7 FM Classic Rock
- WWL-FM 105.3 FM News Talk Information*
- WWL 870 AM News Talk Information*
- WWWL 1350 AM Talk/Personality
Norfolk, Virginia
- WVKL 95.7 FM Urban Adult Contemporary
- WPTE 94.9 FM Modern Adult Contemporary
- WNVZ 104.5 FM Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio
- WWDE 101.3 FM Adult Contemporary
Portland, Oregon
- KYCH 97.1 FM Adult Hits
- KRSK 105.1 FM Hot Adult Contemporary
- KGON 92.3 FM Classic Rock
- KNRK 94.7 FM Alternative
- KFXX 1080 AM All Sports
- KWOD 1390 AM All Sports (Simulcast 1080 AM)
- KWJJ 99.5 FM Country
- KMTT 910 AM Alternative
Providence, Rhode Island
- WVEI-FM 103.7 FM Sports Talk (simulcasts WEEI/Boston)
Rochester, New York[10]
- WROC 950 AM Sports Talk (partially simulcasts WGR/Buffalo)
- WBEE 92.5 FM Country
- WCMF 96.5 FM Classic Rock
- WPXY 97.9 FM Contemporary Hits
- WBZA 98.9 FM Rock
Sacramento, California
- KSEG 96.9 FM Classic Rock
- KDND 107.9 FM Contemporary Hit Radio
- KRXQ 98.5 FM Active Rock
- KBZC 106.5 FM Hot Adult Contemporary
- KKDO 94.7 FM Alternative
- KCTC 1320 AM Sport Format ESPN
San Francisco, California
- KUZX 102.1 FM Classic Rock
- KUFX 98.5 - Classic Rock (simulcast of KUZX)
- KGMZ 95.7 FM; Sports
- KOIT-FM 96.5 FM; Adult Contemporary
- KBLX-FM 102.9 FM; Urban Adult Contemporary
Scranton, Pennsylvania/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- WGGY 101.3 FM Country
- WILK 980 AM News Talk Information
- WKRZ 98.5 FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio
- WKRF 107.9 FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio* (simulcast of WKRZ-FM)(Broadcasts to Poconos/Western NJ)
- WDMT 102.3 FM Album Adult Alternative
- WILK-FM 103.1 FM News Talk Information
Seattle, Washington
- KNDD 107.7 FM Alternative
- KHTP 103.7 FM Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
- KISW 99.9 FM Active Rock
- KKWF 100.7 FM Country
Springfield, Massachusetts
- WWEI 105.5 FM Sports talk (simulcasts WEEI/Boston)
Wichita, Kansas
- KDGS 93.9 FM Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio
- KFBZ 105.3 FM Hot Adult Contemporary
- KNSS 1330 AM News Talk Information
- KFH-FM 98.7 FM & KFH 1240 AM Talk/Personality
- KEYN 103.7 FM Classic Hits
*=simulcast
References
- ↑ "David Field". Forbes.
- ↑ http://www.entercom.com/executive_profiles/david-j-field
- ↑ The deal included 46 radio stations in nine markets, Kansas City, Mo.; Milwaukee; New Orleans; Memphis, Tenn.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Norfolk, Va.; Scranton; and Wilkes-Barre.
- ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/1999/08/02/weekinbiz.html?page=all
- ↑ Entercom to Buy CBS Radio Stations
- ↑ Entercom Sells Three In Rochester, NY - Radio Ink (May 1, 2008)
- ↑ Call Him Big Lew Now.
- ↑ Source: Citadel, Entercom Final Bidders For ABC Radio allbusiness.com (December 6, 2005)
- ↑ Jury awards $16.57 million to radio contestant's survivors - The Sacramento Bee (released October 29, 2009)
- ↑ "Radio Stations in a Battle for Ears". Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
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