Southwestern Ontario Radio/TV/Broadcast Media Forum (The Big Blue Board) » I Heart Radio

Mike · March 27, 2017 4:01 PM

I think it's been long enough to come to a conclusion.

Is it an unmitigated non-event-yawn like AM stereo?

Or something else?

Discuss.

aflem · March 27, 2017 5:13 PM

My problem with it is that it won't allow you to listen to U.S. stations, of which plenty are listed but few work. Like so many other things broadcast related, you get penalized for living in Canada. I can understand it in the case of an entity like Netflix, but if a Texas station is playing the latest Katy Perry single, there can't possibly be any rights issues.

And the Corus-Rogers-Shaw etc. thing isn't any better. That one at least doesn't list any other countries and the only choice you get are Canadian stations. Yeah, I want to use up data to hear more Can Con.

Big yawn to both of them.

Last edited by aflem (March 27, 2017 5:19 PM)

GOD HELP US · March 27, 2017 5:20 PM

Ditto

Mike · March 27, 2017 5:26 PM

Kinda what I was getting at --- lets say I'm a talk-radio consumer. Why would I want to listen to another right-wing ranter in another city? Complete with 6 or 8 minute stops sets? Being Captain Obvious, I DON'T. Why would I want to listen to another city's 'Best Music Mix' when the city I live in has a station that is also the 'Best Music Mix' and they are both full of shit? Again, I DON'T.

GOD HELP US · March 27, 2017 5:41 PM

Sorry to disagree. But I enjoy listening to a variety of U.S. local talk show hosts including WBZ's Dan Rae. In fact Roy Green on CHML is the only Canadian radio program I listen to.

aflem · March 27, 2017 6:22 PM

Mike wrote:
Kinda what I was getting at --- lets say I'm a talk-radio consumer. Why would I want to listen to another right-wing ranter in another city? Complete with 6 or 8 minute stops sets? Being Captain Obvious, I DON'T. Why would I want to listen to another city's 'Best Music Mix' when the city I live in has a station that is also the 'Best Music Mix' and they are both full of shit? Again, I DON'T.

Ah, but I at least want the option if that's my choice. And that's what's missing - real unlimited choice. While I understand the reasons behind geoblocking for TV shows (although I don't like it) for radio it's complete BS. There is simply no reason not to let other countries hear your output. It simply makes no sense and in the early days of streaming, it was never an issue. Big players like CBS have made it into one for reasons I can't fathom.

Last edited by aflem (March 27, 2017 6:36 PM)

Mike · March 28, 2017 5:23 PM

@ God Help Us -- touche... you got me in the goolies with WBZ, one of the all-time greats. Is it part of I Heart? If it is, and if it's as good as it always has been, I gotta bag me a crow for dinner.

Exidor · November 21, 2017 8:01 PM

Now that WBZ 1030 id part of IHeartRadio, no longer with Entercom (owned by CBS 72%), there will be no more affiliation/mention of WBZ-TV. I miss the 10:00 p.m. news crosstalk with the TV news anchors.

When they drop CBS news, they will also drop their Sunday night 60 minutes simulcast.

Exidor · November 30, 2017 7:56 PM

Cumulus (owners of WABC radio) has just "restructured under chapter 11". Iheart is next...

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/109270/cumulus-to-restructure-under-chapter-11

Exidor · December 19, 2017 6:27 PM

Looks like Ifart Radio Canada has picked up the exclusive rights (why?) for CoastToCoast, just as IFart U.S. struggles.

It's ironic that talk show hosts syndicated by IFart always criticize government debt but ignore their own.
http://deadline.com/2017/12/radio-creditors-reject-iheartmedia-debt-pitch-bankruptcy-1202218461/

Exidor · February 1, 2018 7:18 PM

iHeartMedia misses bond payment, places 30-day deadline on possible bankruptcy

[size=75]http://www.chron.com/business/local/article/iHeart-misses-bond-payment-takes-another-step-to-12542717.php?ipid=hpctp

One of the fallouts of the Cumulus bankruptcy: WLS AM 890 loses rights to Bulls & White Sox
http://www.columbiachronicle.com/metro/article_1743b61c-02f5-11e8-a2f1-632c0620a656.html[/size]

Exidor · February 9, 2018 6:38 PM

Pending Bankruptcy Fallout:

Matt ‘Knox’ Shiflett laid off at Alt 105.7
http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2018/02/06/matt-knox-shiflett-laid-off-at-alt-105-7/

Last edited by Exidor (February 9, 2018 6:38 PM)

Exidor · February 22, 2018 7:23 PM

Senior Lenders to iHeartMedia Plan Bid to Unify Creditors
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-21/iheart-senior-lenders-are-said-to-plan-bid-to-unify-creditors

Exidor · February 27, 2018 5:22 PM

Liberty Media Offers $1.16 Billion for 40 Percent in Restructured iHeart
https://www.newsmax.com/finance/companies/liberty-media-iheart-radio/2018/02/27/id/845615/
This is great news if it happens; now liberals like Solomon and Mary Tyler Moore on RB will now work for a company 40% run by the same guy who owns the Atlanta Braves and Formula One. John Carl Malone is a billionaire! A registered republican!

Exidor · February 27, 2018 5:29 PM

Liberty also owns 69% share in SirusXM.

http://fortune.com/2012/09/27/meet-the-largest-landowner-in-america/
John Malone owns 2.2 million acres; the largest landowner in America. (Mary Tyler Moore in the Mourning must be wetting his pants.)

I pray he is a gun owner. Oh God I hope so.

Last edited by Exidor (February 27, 2018 5:33 PM)

Exidor · February 27, 2018 5:36 PM

...and he is a trump supporter:
He donated US$ 250,000 to Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017, with colleague Greg Maffei, Liberty Media, and Liberty Interactive each donating a further US$ 250,000.[29]
How delicious!

Exidor · March 2, 2018 4:27 PM

iHeart said to prepare for bankruptcy as soon as this weekend

https://www.bnn.ca/iheart-is-said-to-prepare-for-bankruptcy-as-soon-as-this-weekend-1.1014813

Not hearing much of this on Canadian iHeart radio stations for some reason.

Exidor · March 5, 2018 5:07 PM

With the company still $20 billion in debt, iHeartMedia has circulated documents for a bankruptcy filing. According to multiple sources, the filing will come as soon as this weekend.
According to Bloomberg, the company’s creditors rejected the LIBERTY offer as too low.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2018/03/05/iheartradio-imminent-bankruptcy/

I hope Jerry Agar doesn't lose his job.
Is there any hypocrisy when radio hosts criticizing governments for running high debts when their own companies are highly in debt?
DBRS cut its rating on Bell Canada's debt to BBB (high), down from A (low), and reduced its rating on BCE to BBB, down from BBB (high). The company's debt remains investment grade, according to the agency. - From a March 24, 2017 article in the Globe and Mail.
Corus Entertainment Inc.: Is the Dividend Safe?- https://www.fool.ca/2018/03/04/corus-entertainment-inc-is-the-dividend-safe/ - Corus reached new 52-week lows, and its dividend yield is now above 14%.

Exidor · March 6, 2018 5:38 PM

The latest term sheet from iHeartMedia summarizes a proposed restructuring of the company that would reduce its debt (in exchange for equity) to $5.75 billion. As part of the proposed terms, it would spin off Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings.

John Malone purchased $400 million of iHM’s debt last week and now becomes a creditor in the event of a bankruptcy.

Exidor · March 8, 2018 7:18 PM

The deadline for the Forbearance Agreement signed on Sunday was last night at midnight. Prior to that deadline however, iHeartMedia and the Consenting Lenders agreed to extend the term of that Forbearance Agreement to next Monday (3/12) at midnight CT. iHeartMedia – seeking to find a long-term solution to its $20 billion debt problem – is past the grace period and, without the Forbearance Agreement, would be in default on a missed $106 million payment on 14% Senior Notes. That default would likely trigger bankruptcy for iHM, but clearly the group of senior creditors are trying to find a way to avoid putting the fate of the company in the hands of a bankruptcy judge. This extension leads some analysts to conclude that some progress is being made toward that end.
-From Talkers

Last edited by Exidor (March 8, 2018 7:18 PM)

Exidor · March 13, 2018 4:53 PM

This article on the future possibilities of IFARTRADIO is delicious.
iHeartMedia and Consenting Lenders Extend Deadline by 24 Hours.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/geneely/2018/03/12/what-to-look-for-in-a-deal-to-rescue-iheart-from-a-breakup/#5ffd2e4e774e

"To succeed, the restructured iHeart would have to go on a major hiring binge, recruiting new talent (Goodbye Jim Richards), while making major investments in station (CKTB, CHAM) upgrades."

"The new company will need a crackerjack management team of no-nonsense, seasoned radio executives. " Goodbye Mike BenDick's son.

And the commentators on these radio stations are lecturing government on debt?

Mike · March 14, 2018 10:23 AM

But Iheart in Canada is just like the Canadian version of Hoody Doody, isn't it? They might pay some rights fees but are otherwise independent of whatever nightmare the U-S version is going through. No? I don't think anyone is worried about Bell's (the Canadian rights holder) financial viability. With their rapacious pricing they might be hurting MY financial viability, but ...

Exidor · March 14, 2018 5:57 PM

Mike wrote:
But Iheart in Canada is just like the Canadian version of Hoody Doody, isn't it? They might pay some rights fees but are otherwise independent of whatever nightmare the U-S version is going through. No? I don't think anyone is worried about Bell's (the Canadian rights holder) financial viability. With their rapacious pricing they might be hurting MY financial viability, but ...

But you hear Floyd Robertson's voice every hour on CFRB calling it "AN IHEART RADIO STATION", no longer 'A DIVISION OF BELL MEDIA". They should clarify this, until then...why would they want to be associated with a company with bad economic management? Even Donald Trump fires people, contrary to the approval of the commentators on their radio stations.

Exidor · March 14, 2018 6:03 PM

https://radioink.com/2018/03/14/still-no-deal-between-iheart-and-lenders/
UPDATE: Yet Another 24-Hour Extension for iHeart
A fourth extension to the negotiations was announced Wednesday morning, as iHeart and lenders continue day-to-day negotiations to restructure iHeart’s $20 billion of debt. This latest extension was the second 24-hour extension. It expires at 11:59 tonight.

Last edited by Exidor (March 14, 2018 6:04 PM)

Mike · March 14, 2018 8:26 PM

Let me put it this way ... no Canadian radio or TV station can be owned by a foreign entity in whole or in part. Once upon a time, but not any more. The most famous being CKLW, but there are other examples. CKEY in Toronto was once a Westinghouse station apparently in the 60's. And at least one TV station in Quebec. Famous Players, IIRC. Ergo, US I Heart has zero ownership of Canadian stations. Bell bought rights to the name I guess, but as I suggested in my original post --why?

Exidor · March 15, 2018 5:02 PM

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/15/iheartmedia-files-for-bankruptcy.html

$0.48 cents per share, I guess you'll hear more read commercials for my pillow on the radio.

I haven't heard very much on the radio about this for some reason; someone call Lou.

Exidor · March 15, 2018 6:19 PM

In an unrelated matter:

I don't know if he is related to David Bellevia of WBEN, but they look the same, both underwent weight loss, both work(ed) for Entercom, and David lost his own show at WBEN a few years back for an undisclosed reason.

Deke Bellavia Exits WWL-AM/FM, New Orleans. Longtime sports talk personality Deke Bellavia – known as to many as “Big Chief” – has exited Entercom’s New Orleans news/talk WWL-AM/FM in what appears to be a budget-related move. NOLA.com reports that Entercom has made no public comment about Bellavia’s departure. For the past 10 years, Bellavia has worked alongside Bobby Hebert on the daily “SportsTalk” program.

Exidor · March 19, 2018 4:27 PM

You'll listening to news talk 1010 Toronto, a bankrupt radio station?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-16/iheart-creditors-are-said-to-be-open-to-bids-including-liberty-s
iHeart Creditors Are Open to Bids Including Liberty’s

Exidor · March 20, 2018 5:56 PM

In The IHeartMedia Bankruptcy, Expect A Major Selloff Of Radio Stations
https://www.forbes.com/sites/geneely/2018/03/20/in-the-iheartmedia-bankruptcy-expect-a-major-selloff-of-radio-stations/#631a50d912bd

I remember when they (CTV) well selling off TV stations for $1.00 each, but the ones in Barrie, Wingham and London couldn't be sold. http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/ctv-selling-3-stations-to-shaw-for-1-apiece-1.791851

Last edited by Exidor (March 20, 2018 5:56 PM)

Exidor · March 22, 2018 6:45 PM

Is BCE Inc. (BCE)’s Fuel Running Low? The Stock Reaches 52-Week Low Today
https://bzweekly.com/2018/03/22/is-bce-inc-bces-fuel-running-low-the-stock-reaches-52-week-low-today/