Washblog

I rarely watch TV anymore. But I remember that in the past they'd often interrupt regular programming for editorials, including guest editorials. But recently you don't see that, do you? I emailed the producers of KIRO TV and KOMO TV, separately, and asked if they air editorials. Both said they don't.

They don't have much local content at all, except for local "action" news and sports and weather. It's a shame. And it's a shame that the FCC regulations let them get away with it.

Corporate media has tremendous power but they have little accountability -- just like some of our political leaders.

by ThinkerFeeler on Fri Feb 01, 2008 at 02:59:54 PM PST

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"Bonneville International Corporation, managed by Deseret Management Corporation, is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church). Headquartered in the Triad Center Broadcast House in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bonneville's name alludes to the prehistoric Lake Bonneville which once covered much of modern-day Utah.
"Bonneville owns about 30 radio stations and one NBC affiliate television station. Additionally, the Bonneville Communications division provides broadcast distribution services and award-winning PSA production services to non-profit organizations, notably the LDS Church during its semi-annual General Conferences."
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Bonneville_ International

"For more than 30 years, the creative professionals at Bonneville Communications have designed public service and direct response messages for national nonprofit organizations such as the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Boy Scouts of America, National Hospice Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and The Salvation Army. Their unique strength is the ability to touch the hearts and minds of audiences, evoking first feeling, then thought and, finally, action. They call this uniquely powerful brand of creative HeartSell® -- strategic emotional advertising that stimulates response.... "
http://www.bonnint. com/story- 1467e.php

There you have it, folks.  Looks like we gotta keep an eye on AM1090 to make sure the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops doesn't buy that station.

by Karen Backman on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 11:29:22 AM PST

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Friday, January 19, 2007
Entercom trades radio stations: KIRO returns to Bonneville fold
By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER
Entercom Communications Corp. said it plans to swap three of its Seattle radio stations -- one of them its local flagship, news-talk KIRO-AM (710) -- to Bonneville International Corp. for three stations in San Francisco.

Also in the deal are conservative talk station KTTH-AM (770) and oldies-format KBSG-FM (97.3), as well as four Entercom stations in Cincinnati. Bonneville also will pay Entercom $1 million in cash.

The deal represents something of a homecoming for Salt Lake City-based Bonneville, which owned KIRO-AM and a predecessor to KTTH until 1997, when it sold those two and an FM station to Entercom. It also owned KIRO/7, which it sold in 1995.

"This allows us to go back to a market we did very well in," said Craig Haslam, Bonneville's director of corporate communications.

In a statement, Entercom President David Field called the deal "bittersweet," but said the opportunity to move into the nation's fourth-largest radio market, and pick up a perennial leader in that market, "was incredibly compelling."

Both Bonneville's departure from and return to Seattle were a bit mystifying, said Robert Unmacht, a former owner of radio stations in the Northwest and now an industry consultant. Bonneville no longer has the Houston station it picked up when it did the first deal with Entercom. Although the San Francisco stations are "incredibly profitable," Unmacht said, KIRO has high ad billings but "is not particularly making money." ...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/300350_radioswap19.html

by Karen Backman on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:22:03 PM PST

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