Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications (NASDAQ: EMMS) is a media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company owns radio stations and magazines in the United States, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
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[edit] History
In 1980 Emmis Broadcasting founder Jeffrey Smulyan purchased his first radio station, WSVL-FM Shelbyville, IN. In July 1981, Smulyan moved that radio station's tower and transmitter closer to Indianapolis, changed from country music to adult contemporary and renamed it WENS. The station's quick success led him to purchase other radio stations throughout the country.
Around 1984 the company bought Magic 106 in Los Angeles, California. Then L.A. Lakers player "Magic" Johnson was an early spokesperson for the station. In early 1986, Emmis changed Magic 106 to Power 106 KPWR. Also in 1986 the company's expansion grew as they purchased WAPP-FM (renamed WQHT) and WHN (now WEPN) in New York as well as WAVA-FM in Washington D.C. from the Doubleday Broadcasting Company.
Emmis took full advantage of the money-minded 1980's as it acquired five NBC radio stations in 1988 but sold two to avoid a duopoly.
Emmis purchased the Seattle Mariners in 1989 but sold them in 1992.
In 1994 the company purchased WIBC and WKLR in Indianapolis from the Horizon Broadcast Corporation and WRKS in New York City from the Summit Communications Group. WKLR was changed from an oldies format to a classic hits format with the call letters of WNAP in September 1994.
Emmis became a public company in 1994. The expansion continued as the company purchased numerous television and radio stations in the late 1990s.
Emmis Broadcasting changed its name to Emmis Communications and moved into its Monument Circle Indianapolis Headquarters in 1998.
In 2003 Emmis appointed its first black VP/General Manager, Barry Mayo. He oversaw 98.7 Kiss FM, Hot 97 and WQCD (CD 101.9), all in New York City. After 3 years in which the station moved behind Power 105.1 as the second-tier rap station in New York, Mayo announced his departure from this post in January 2006.
In 2005, Emmis changed the format of their first radio station from its long-term adult contemporary format to country. The call letters were changed from WENS to WLHK. Emmis was also named one of FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For.
In 2006 Emmis flipped KZLA/Los Angeles to Adult Rhythmic Contemporary as "KMVN, Movin' 93.9." The move gives Emmis a companion station to complement KPWR. However, on April 15, 2009, KMVN switched to Spanish-language programming, KXOS, under a seven-year Local Marketing Agreement with Grupo Radio Centro of Mexico City.[1]
On June 9, 2009, Emmis announced it has formed a strategic alliance with StreamTheWorld, the radio industry's streaming technology and services company, to put all Emmis radio stations on a new streaming platform.[2]
On January 12, 2011, the share price of Emmis stock surged 42% as insiders speculated that the company could be close to selling off several of its radio stations. In their January, 2011 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company reported that it had the necessary cash to survive through February, 2011. "Absent asset sales, which the company is actively pursuing," Emmis attorneys stated in the regulatory filing, "the company believes it is unlikely it will be able to maintain compliance with the financial covenants after Sept. 1, 2011."[3]
[edit] Controversies
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Most of the controversies involving Emmis Communications have involved its stations in the New York City market. Among them:
- WQHT-FM provoked a controversy in January 2005, a month after the Asian tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, by playing the Tsunami song entitled USA for Indonesia, a parody sung to the 1985 tune "We Are the World." Listeners, politicians and civil rights groups protested in front of the station. Three persons associated with the production were suspended for two weeks, and two were terminated.
- Also involvng WQHT, there have been controversies involving slapping, indecency, and violence around the station's broadcast location. In 2004, as a result of continued indecency complaints, Emmis signed a consent decree with the FCC and paid a $300,000 fine..
- In 2009 Austin,Texas affiliate KLBJ's "Todd and Don Show' the host Don Pryor used the term "Wetbacks" to describe Mexican-Americans. KLBJ "AM Morning Show" has also been the focus of bigoted, and Religious overtoned commentary by Non-Austin resident Samuel Cox who is a retired Austin Police Department officer who in the past has said unkind words about African-Americans.
[edit] Company portfolio
[edit] Emmis Interactive, Inc.
Current clients include: Astral Media, Renda Broadcasting, Greater Media, Corus Entertainment, Emmis Radio, and Lincoln Financial Media
[edit] Radio
The company owns Rádio Expres in Slovakia, Radio FM Plus, Radio Fresh and Star FM in Bulgaria and Sláger Rádió in Hungary, however Emmis Communications' Hungarian national radio station, Sláger, was taken off the air on November 18, 2009 because of the expiration of their broadcasting license. The license were given to another radio station, but Emmis went to court and won the trial on July 14, 2010.
It also owns the following:
[edit] Austin
[edit] Chicago
- WWWN (currently under LMA to Merlin Media, pending sale)
- WLUP-FM (currently under LMA to Merlin Media, pending sale)
[edit] Indianapolis
[edit] Los Angeles
[edit] New York
[edit] St. Louis
[edit] Terre Haute, Indiana
[edit] WorldBand Media HD Radio Deal
Emmis has announced on September 9, 2008 that it has teamed up with digital radio network WorldBand Media and will be using the "HD-3" subchannels to produce programming for the South Asian communities in Chicago (on WLUP), Los Angeles (on KPWR), and New York (on WQHT). It will include a combination of both local and international content and should be available by mid-October 2008.[4]
[edit] Television
Emmis announced in May 2005 announced its intent to sell some or all of the sixteen television stations they owned at the time. In August 2005 sale of nine television stations were announced, as well as four more in October, an additional station in May 2006, another station in February 2007, and its final station in May 2008. Emmis no longer owns any television stations.
[edit] Former Emmis Owned and Operated Stations
- Now owned by Gray Television:
- Charleston/Huntington - WSAZ
- Now owned by Hearst Television:
- Now owned by Raycom Media:
- Now owned by Journal Broadcast Group:
- Now owned by LIN Television:
- Now owned by Louisiana Media Company:
- New Orleans - WVUE
- Now owned by New Vision Television:
- Now owned by Radio One Inc
- Now owned by Tribune Broadcasting (both stations sold pre-2005):
- Grand Rapids - WXMI (swapped in 1997 for Tribune's WQCD-FM New York City)
- Seattle - KTZZ (also swapped for WQCD, was reacquired for part of 1999 after Tribune purchased KCPQ but prior to the FCC allowing television duopolies)
[edit] Magazines
- Atlanta
- Cincinnati Magazine
- Country Sampler
- Indianapolis Monthly
- Los Angeles
- Orange Coast Magazine
- Texas Monthly
[edit] Article Source
April 18, 2006: http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=9791
[edit] Board of directors
- Jeffrey Smulyan - Chairman of the Board, President and CEO
- Susan Bayh - Visiting Professor, Butler University
- Gary Kaseff - Executive Vice President and General Counsel
- Richard Leventhal - President & Majority Owner of LMCS, LLC.
- Peter Lund - Media Consultant and former President & CEO of CBS Television.
- Greg Nathanson - former Television Division President
- Lawrence Sorrel - Tailwind Capital Partners
- Patrick Walsh - Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
[edit] References
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This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2008) |
- ^ Emmis Press Release April 15, 2009
- ^ Emmis Press Release June 9, 2009
- ^ Emmis surges as industry anticipates radio sale
- ^ "Emmis partners with WorldBand Media to launch HD channels for South Asian communities". Radio-Info.com. September 1, 2008. http://www.radio-info.com/news/emmis-partners-with-worldband-media-to-launch-hd-channels-for-south-asian-c.
[edit] External links
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373.26 million USD 
