Saga Communications Q4 2023 Dips 3.3%
Saga Communications reports its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2023 and for the full year of 2023. The company reports Q4 2023 net revenue of $29.1 million, a decline of 3.3% from the same period in 2022. The company adds that political impacted the quarter’s performance as for the quarter Saga had $407 thousand in gross political revenue this year compared to $1.9 million for the same period last year. Without political revenue the company’s gross revenue for the quarter would have
increased approximately 1% compared to last year. Saga says net income for Q4 of 2023 was $2.5 million, compared to net income of $4.3 million for the fourth quarter last year. For the full year of 2023, net revenue was $112.8 million, a decline of 1.8% from the full year of 2022. Net income rose year-over-year to $9.5 million in 2023 from $9.2 million in 2022. Saga says its balance sheet reflects $40.2 million in cash and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023, and $30.4 million as of March 4, 2024. It expects to spend approximately $5 million to $5.5 million for capital expenditures during 2024. As previously announced, Saga has entered into an agreement to purchase stations serving the Lafayette, Indiana radio market for $5.3 million. This acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2024. Also announced today is Saga’s paying a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on March 8, 2024. The aggregate amount of the quarterly dividend will be approximately $1.6 million.
program currently in development with executive producer Chris Mathis. Lane will take on a new role as host of the signature Rays pre-game show “The Inside Pitch.” He will also continue his seasonal hosting duties with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers radio network. WDAE program director John Mamola says, “We couldn’t be more excited for Ronnie and Tom as they embark on their new opportunities at WDAE. These programs promise fresh content and compelling, engaging experiences for our listeners. We will continue the legacy of high performance the hosts built as a duo and the voice of Tampa Bay sports fanatics everywhere.”
Indeed, TikTok has been caught engaging in a pattern of illicit surveillance and making false statements about personnel in Beijing accessing sensitive U.S. user data. These facts were laid bare for the world to see when the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a TikTok oversight hearing last year. And that is why there is now a broad, bipartisan consensus that TikTok cannot continue to operate in the U.S. in its current form. I want to applaud the strong, bipartisan leadership that Members of Congress have shown in advancing this bill, which would definitively resolve the serious national security threats TikTok poses by banning the app or requiring that it genuinely sever ties to the CCP. This is a smart, threat-specific bill that would address a clear and present danger. I hope that this bill will soon become law.”
Twitter. In the 2024 Infinite Dial, 19% of the total population in the U.S. are using X – a 30% drop. Edison says, “While The Infinite Dial has recorded many incremental changes over its long history, a 30% change in any metric year-over-year is incredibly rare and noteworthy, acknowledging that in 2022 and 2023 the survey referred to the service as ‘Twitter’ and in 2024 it referred to the service as ‘X (formerly known as Twitter).’ Keep in mind this is not a measure of subscribers or Twitter/X accounts, but a measure of people who say they are ‘currently ever’ using the service. In addition to this overall usage drop, Twitter/X saw declines in monthly and weekly usage.” 
been serving as assistant program director and executive producer. iHeartMedia San Diego market president Noreen Ippolito says, “Mary has been a part of our cluster for many years and is more than ready to take the lead role of our talk stations. She’s smart, experienced, and incredibly detailed with her work.” Ayala comments, “This is an exciting time to be taking over the program director position for these brands. Each station has its own distinct flavor, and all of them are filled with great talent I’m looking forward to working with.” 
market (fed by WXUS-HD3). Florida Man Radio continues to air on WZLB-FM, Fort Walton Beach. The programming includes Bubba the Love Sponge in morning drive, Don Miller in middays, and Shannon Burke in afternoon drive. JVC president and CEO John Caracciolo says, “Programming like FMR is what makes terrestrial radio relevant and strong. We have to dare to be different and produce content that drives listeners to our platform and that entertains, educates and sometimes just makes us laugh out loud. The vision of a locally based talk station that isn’t afraid to confront the big topics while not taking itself too seriously, screams the mantra of JVC. We need to keep live and local radio working for our clients and listeners.”
Original ideas are golden and rare. Here are five ideas worth stealing because of their novelty, success and oh-wow factor!
First” are #2 and #3, respectively, with NBC News’ “Dateline NBC” at #4. Other talk radio-related podcasts of note include The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rising two spots to #7, iHeartPodcasts’ “Stuff You Should Know” up two places to #9, and Dan Bongino’s “The Dan Bongino Show” up one spot to #11. 
also bestowed its 2024 Edward F. McLaughlin Lifetime Achievement Award upon Emmy-winning news anchor Deborah Norville. The annual gala is a major fundraiser for the BFoA, which provides financial assistance to broadcasters in acute need. One of last night’s most poignant moments was a video of Foundation grant recipient Terrie Commare bravely sharing of the death of her TV general sales manager husband Luke Commare losing his life to brain cancer and how the BFoA stepped in with a monthly grant to help the family make ends meet. 
Reynolds fell from his bed, head-first onto a hardwood floor where remained in various stages of unconsciousness for more than 20 hours before being found by his landlord. Vuolo will travel to New York in two weeks. Well-wishers may send cards for Reynolds to: PO Box 55 Walled Lake, MI 48390. Emails are being collected by Vuolo at 
filed by Albert Adam David, who claimed the changes would create interference for other licensees. Good Karma proposes to relocate the WMVP facility approximately 31 kilometers to the currently licensed nighttime transmitter site of WCPT-AM, Willow Springs, Illinois. Good Karma proposes to retain WMVP’s Class A designation, operating frequency (1000 kHz), and 50 kW daytime operating power, but reduce nighttime operating power to 37 kW while diplexing nighttime transmissions with WCPT (WCPT broadcasts at 1.5 kW on a different frequency).
other content he creates with the station’s partnership with A to Z Sports. Cumulus Nashville VP and market manager Allison Warren says, “In the heart of Middle Tennessee, where sports pulse through our veins, we proudly announce the contract extension for our dynamic midday host, Buck Reising. Our airwaves resonate with the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the unwavering passion of fans. As the must-listen sports station, we’re more than a frequency; we’re the heartbeat of every game, every play, and every championship.” Reising comments, “I’m so grateful to ‘The Zone’ and Cumulus for believing in and investing in Lucas, Jackson, and me. We could not be happier to continue to do the show for such an incredibly supportive audience and the city that we love. We’re just getting started.”
Williams, who has been highlighting the GameChangers honorees throughout February, hosted the ceremony. The 2024 recipients were nominated by audience members, selected by a panel of previous honorees and vetted by KYW Newsradio editorial staff. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “We are delighted to honor the exceptional individuals who are driving positive change and making a profound impact within communities of color across Philadelphia. This yearly program highlights their unwavering dedication to making lasting contributions to this community, and we’re proud to leverage our platform to shine a light on their great work.” 
questions as it did answers about what young broadcasters entering professional media today should be prepared for in navigating the unpredictably turbulent waters of the next decade and beyond. Among the sweeping panorama of topics covered in his address, Harrison told the students, “When looking to the future, don’t be too sure that current events will follow a predictable script. There are always ‘black swan events’ that change the storyline and our expectations in an instant. Plus, there are multiple outcomes, possibilities, and forks in the road for almost every situation.” Regarding the current focus on artificial intelligence, Harrison advised, “All technology is a double-edged sword and AI will prove to be a particularly consequential one with both positive and negative implications. However, don’t fall into the age-old trap of thinking that productions and performances created or enhanced by new technology are necessarily ‘artificial’ or ‘fake.’ New tools not only create new art, they have an irrepressible influence on giving rise to new culture. The immediate years ahead are likely going to provide us with the challenging question of ‘what does it mean to be truly human?’” Harrison concluded, “As young broadcasting students in 2024 looking to make a difference in the world, be prepared to face the challenge of following your dreams, ideals and inspiration while confronting the harsh realities of making a living in a stressed environment of relentless change. We live our lives in this business at the dangerous intersection between art and commerce.”
Is that host read you are pitching “baked-in?”
It’s not your imagination. The world has gone daffy. The USA is all-but boots-on-the-ground in rough neighborhoods around the world. Weather is getting even wackier. The next gun nut could open fire, at any moment, anywhere. 2024 campaign? It’s a long way to November. And even in this rebounding economy, supermarket prices still hit-home… if you can get there.
as “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” and “The Dan Patrick Show,” the station will air “Inside New Orleans with Eric Asher” from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by “All Access with Ken Trahan” from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Cumulus Media New Orleans RVP and market manager Pat Galloway says, “The love and passion of New Orleans’ sports fans is amazing. It starts in the playgrounds and ends up in the Superdome and Smoothie King Center, and now we can talk about it all the time on the all-new ‘106.1 The Ticket.’”
best team in the industry to power our next chapter… A major area of focus is expanding our relationships with top podcasts as we look to grow both our exclusive content portfolio and support our successful advertising business. To help us achieve our goals, we decided to bring in an expert to champion SiriusXM in the marketplace. I am thrilled to welcome Sarah van Mosel back to SiriusXM in a new role as SVP of podcast strategy, reporting directly to me. In this role, Sarah will develop a targeted podcast acquisition strategy as well as source and attract up and coming new talent to the SiriusXM Podcast Network.” Greenstein says van Mosel will work with SVP of podcasting content Adam Sachs.