Archive for August, 2009
DR. LAURA JOINS KFWB-AM AS CENTERPIECE OF STATION’S UPDATED
Program Schedule to Feature Well-Known Personalities, Along With Array Of
News, Sports And Entertainment Coverage
(Los Angeles, Calif. Aug. 10, 2009) Dr. Laura Schlessinger, world-renowned radio host and best selling author, will join KFWB 980 AM beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the same day the station launches its new news-talk format featuring a host of first-class local and national programming. The announcement was made by CBS RADIO Los Angeles Senior Vice President and Market Manager Ed Krampf. Dr. Laura’s popular program will be broadcast weekdays on-air and online (www.kfwb.com) from 12:00Noon–3:00PM, PT.
“When the opportunity to add Dr. Laura – one of radio’s preeminent talk talents – to our lineup became available we moved swiftly to bring her award-winning program to KFWB,” said Krampf. “Throughout her more than 30-year career, Dr. Laura has built an incredible following by connecting to her audience on a personal level many other talk talents have tried unsuccessfully to replicate. She is an established voice in the Los Angeles community and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her on our team.”
Having KFWB serve as the flagship station of the Dr. Laura show comes on the heels of the recent announcement that Talk Radio Network (TRN) is involved in the syndication of her program, which reaches approximately 8.25 million weekly listeners in markets across the country. Dr. Laura is currently heard on KFI in Los Angeles where she is the top-ranked talk show host with Women 25-54 in her daypart.
“I’m unbelievably thrilled to join KFWB,” Dr. Laura said. “We worked closely to create an opportunity that was too good to turn down, including unprecedented marketing support. In teaming up with the award-winning KFWB news team and terrific hosts like Laura Ingraham, we’ll be able to reach more listeners and be part of an exciting new chapter further up the AM dial.”
Added Krampf, “As a result of this acquisition we looked to build a station that would continue to provide our listeners with thorough reporting on local news, including entertainment industry updates, while at the same time offering programming that features an array of opinions and advice on a number of topical issues. I believe that with the new lineup that launches next month we have achieved both goals.”
Following is the lineup for KFWB NEWS TALK 980 beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 8:
6:00-9:00AM: Local News hosted by Phil Hulett and Penny Griego
9:00AM-12:00Noon: Laura Ingraham
12:00Noon-3:00PM: Dr. Laura
3:00-6:00PM: Local Talk/News (host TBA)
6:00-9:00PM: Michael Smerconish
Local news updates will also be broadcast at the top of every hour 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dr. Laura has a Ph.D. in physiology from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and received her post-doctoral certification in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from the University of Southern California. She was in private practice for 12 years and has been on the faculty of the Department of Biology at the University of Southern California and the Graduate Psychology Department at Pepperdine University.
Dr. Laura is also a bestselling author of 12 adult books and four children’s books, which range from the provocative New York Times chart topper “The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands” to the poignant children’s book title “Why Do You Love Me?.” Her latest book, “In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms,” was released in April and debuted at #3 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Dr. Laura also writes a column for NewsMax and a daily blog.
In addition to hosting her own syndicated radio program since 2001, Laura Ingraham is an author, frequent columnist, and television commentator. After graduating from Dartmouth College, she worked as a speechwriter in the final two years of the Reagan Administration at the White House, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education. Ingraham went on to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was Notes Editor of the Law Review. Ingraham also served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Ralph K. Winter on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. After clerking, she worked as a white-collar criminal defense attorney for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Michael Smerconish, attorney-turned-political commentator, has been recognized by Talkers magazine as one of America’s most important talk show hosts. Named Radio and Records Local Personality of the Year in 2009, Smerconish hosts a nationally syndicated radio program based at CBS RADIO’s The Big Talker 1210 AM WPHT in Philadelphia. He is the author of four books, including two New York Times bestsellers: Muzzled: From T-Ball or Terrorism, True Stories That Should be Fiction, and Murdered by Mumia, which he co-authored with Maureen Faulkner. He frequently appears on major television programs where politics are discussed and is a regular contributor at MSNBC. Smerconish also authors separate weekly columns for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Press Contact: Howard Freshman 323-964-8340; 562-810-7072 hfreshman@cbs.com
TRN Announces Long-Term Syndication Agreement with The Dr. Laura Program
Los Angeles, CA – Talk Radio Network Ventures, Inc. (TRNV) and Take On The Day, LLC (TOTD) announce they are joining forces for the syndication management and affiliate marketing of the wildly popular syndicated radio show, The Dr. Laura Program, hosted by the most listened-to woman in radio broadcasting history, Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
With over 8.25 million* weekly listeners in over 40 countries on over 250 radio stations, as well as Armed Forces Radio and Sirius/XM Radio, The Dr. Laura Program is now in its 16th year in syndication. The show airs live from Noon to 3:00 p.m. PST.
Talkers Magazine ranks The Dr. Laura Program as the third most-listened-to show and the number one female-hosted program in the U.S. She is the author of eleven New York Times bestsellers, including The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands, Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives, and her most recent best-seller, In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms. In 1997, Dr. Laura became the only woman to win the prestigious Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year and has won Radio Ink’s award for Best Advice Show for the past 6 years.
TRNV Inc. is the latest entity in the constellation of outstanding radio syndication companies operated by C.E.O. Mark Masters, which also syndicate The Michael Savage Show (Co-Ranked 3rd largest syndicated show in the US*), The Laura Ingraham Show (Ranked 4th largest*), The Jerry Doyle Show (Ranked 7th largest*), The Rusty Humphries Show (Ranked 8th largest *), The Mancow Morning Show (Ranked 9th largest*), The Phil Hendrie Show, and The Monica Crowley Show.
The TRN Companies also have outstanding brand alliances, and syndicate Motor Trend Radio nationwide as well as “America’s Morning News”, an investigative morning drive news show, created in affiliation with The Washington Times Company.
In addition, The Science Channel’s and BBC’s “Science Fantastic” with Dr. Michio Kaku and Chris Markowsi’s “Watchdog on Wall Street” are but two examples of the TRN companies’ syndicated niche offerings.
With this agreement, TRNV brings its best-in-breed syndication expertise to the affiliate marketing of The Dr. Laura Program. TRNV will work with TOTD to develop new affiliates on both the AM and FM dial.
TOTD, an independent radio syndication company established in 2005 by Dr. Laura and veteran radio syndicator Geoff Rich, will continue to produce the program. Premiere Radio Networks continues its role in handling satellite distribution and as the exclusive national ad sales representative. TOTD will super-serve Dr. Laura’s affiliates, advertisers and audiences via digital platforms and market visits, and maintain a dedicated customer service support staff.
“It is an honor and a pleasure to work with Dr. Laura, Geoff Rich and TOTD,” said TRNV’s Mark Masters. He continues by saying, “Dr. Laura’s track record in grabbing and keeping audiences glued to their radios is unparalleled. She is the industry leader in the advice genre, and her show’s unique appeal and reach continues to grow. Dr. Laura is both a leading opinion-maker and an advertiser boon. By partnering with Dr. Laura and TOTD, TRNV will combine the finest radio talent with the best-in-breed affiliation and marketing management available. We could not be more excited about our new relationship with Dr. Laura and TOTD, and we look forward to expanding Dr. Laura’s already stellar brand and audience.”
“Mark Masters and his team have succeeded in bringing great radio talent to audiences and bringing new stations on both the AM and FM band into the talk format. I am confident this syndication and marketing partnership will ensure the Dr. Laura Program will expand its reach and be an even greater value for advertisers and affiliates,” said TOTD President, Geoff Rich. He goes on to say, “There is no more beloved host on the radio than Dr. Laura, and her ratings show it. With TRNV’s syndication skill-set behind her, Dr. Laura’s audience will continue to grow.”
Dr. Laura chimed in, “With the accumulated experience, wisdom and business acumen of Mark Masters and Geoff Rich, I look forward to growing my program exponentially. With all the overboard media focus on news, so many people yearn for the human touch of dealing with their emotions, families, friends, religion, ethics and morality. I am gratified to be able to be in that position to help folks of all demos with their real, everyday lives. With this unique partnership, I feel assured that my ability to reach people will increase – for that, I am very grateful.”
“With the addition of The Dr. Laura Program, the TRN companies now have the two most successful syndicated female voices in America, TRNV’s Dr. Laura (Ranked 3rd largest Show*) and TRNE’s Laura Ingraham (Ranked 4th largest Show*). This is a reality that we are very excited and honored be a part of,” says Phil Boyce, President of Programming for TRN.
For more information contact Greg Doyle at Talk Radio Network Ventures, Inc. at 1-888-383-3733 or Geoff Rich at Take On The Day, LLC. at 212-239-2988 ext. 306.
*According to Nationally Syndicated Show size Rankings as published by Talkers Magazine in the March, 2009 Issue
