1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: All right, so well we'll go ahead and talk about 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: it now, because look, I think this is very interesting 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: and WIBC dot Com amongst others, have reported that Next 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: Star Media Group and this will impact how how you 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: view television here in Central Indiana, which they own Fox 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: fifty nine, CBS four, that's what they're best known for 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: around here. They're set to buy the company was called 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: is it tegna? Is that how you pronounce it? 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 2: And they are the company now that owns WTCHR. 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 3: Six point two billion dollar deal. 11 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that, let's be specific. 12 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: That is not it's not six point two billion dollars 13 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: being paid for WTHR. It's all the television properties that 14 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: this that this company owns across the country. And television 15 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: by and large is much like radio. There are very 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: few While it may be a quote unquote local television station, 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: there are very few independent operators anymore. Mostly just like us, 18 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: we're owned by a large corporation. Now, in fairness, they're 19 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: wonderful in the they just leave us alone. They just remember, 20 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: remember when you were here. You were here when all 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: these days merge together. Now, you were here when when 22 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: Urban one bought yeah from from u MS and. 23 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 3: Remember the whole thing, the first time that's happened to me, 24 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: by the way, really where you just got in your job, 25 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 3: and then they're like, you know, a few months in. 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: By the way, we got sold. Yeah, yeah, wish you 27 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: the best there was. 28 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: There was like mass panic and then the industry, the 29 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: people outside that's it for IBC. They were doing a 30 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: victory dance down at the State House. No more Rob Kendall, 31 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: and we were like, no, these people like money, They're 32 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: not gonna. 33 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 3: You got to understand that if they were to have 34 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 3: changed the format of this radio station, they'd be starting 35 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 3: back at zero, right, and we are expensive to do. 36 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: I don't I don't mean to brag, but I'm going 37 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: to brag because you know me, I'm a humble person. 38 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: Case. 39 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: Sure, we are the golden Goose, okay, and I don't again, 40 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: I mean that in the sense of you are the 41 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: audience are the golden goose. We are We always says 42 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: we are about a reflection of you, and you are 43 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: so passionate about good politics and good government and entertaining 44 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: radio that we are able to produce the ratings and 45 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: the advertising revenue that comes with that. 46 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 2: And it was like they're not. They're not giving that up. 47 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 2: They own a talk station. 48 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: I think it's Charlotte they own, and it was doing fine, 49 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: and it was we're not going anywhere. And this is 50 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: the thing I will say about Urban One is not 51 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: only do they just leave us alone and let us 52 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: make them money, but on more than one occasion I 53 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: might have said or done something, or someone facility with 54 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 1: this property, this piece of programming, real estate might have 55 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: said or done something that caused an uproar, and they. 56 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 2: Always stand behind us and they back us up. And 57 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: they are great. 58 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: I mean they've they've been excellent as owners in terms 59 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: of like what I like to make double what I'm making, sure, 60 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: but who wouldn't. But in terms of Urban One standing 61 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: behind us every bit the way Emmas did, maybe even 62 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: more to a certain extent, they've done that. That being said, 63 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: corporations are media now. I mean there's very few. There 64 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: are local radio stations that are still locally owned, like 65 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: your county radio station or whatever. But in terms of 66 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: big properties, there are very few family run businesses anymore. 67 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,839 Speaker 1: And that's true with television as well. And so you're 68 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: seeing another merger in the TV industry that will affect 69 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: how you view television in Indianapolis the same way in 70 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: radio it has happened. 71 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 3: So this deal still requires FCC approval, and it would 72 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: give next Our some control over some big markets. They 73 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 3: already have their financing approved, so they're ready to go. 74 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 3: They're just waiting on the stamp. 75 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: You know, what's fast is how quickly now? 76 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: And you're seeing this in the food industry. Troy Kenna, 77 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: who's on the program yesterday, a keyboard player for Mellencamp. 78 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: His wife is a very works for Piazza and and 79 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: they had a big food expo down at Lucas Oil 80 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: yesterday and so we went. We went down there after 81 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: his interview aired here, and we're looking at the food 82 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: vendors and stuff and got to I can't go anywhere Casey. 83 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: I know, And it's just like like so the hordes 84 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: of fame. 85 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 3: Even you're in Indianapolis, it happens in Chicago's great. 86 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: And so so many people are WIBC fans and were 87 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: coming up and it was great to talk to those people. 88 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: But you know, walking around seeing these food vendors, and 89 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: one of the things you're realizing is it's true everywhere 90 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: in America where there's you know, companies buy other companies, right, 91 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: the industries are consolidating. 92 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: It's just it's a war of attrition, right. 93 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 3: Your goal is to own the small company that's being 94 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 3: bought by the big company. 95 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely one hundred percent. 96 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: And so it's not just we always limit well, you know, 97 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: it's a bygone era of locally owned media companies. That's 98 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: a bygone era of locally owned anything these days. That's 99 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: just the true the way it works, right. And one 100 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: of the things that's interesting is how relatively quick properties 101 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: will move now from one owner to the next. Like 102 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: I think the days of Jeff Smullyan who owned WIBC 103 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: for generations MS, I think that's over with. I just 104 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: don't think that's going to happen anymore. I could be wrong. 105 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: But thhr last sold according to this article in twenty nineteen. Well, 106 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: the company that owned thhr last sold in twenty nineteen, 107 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: So in a relatively short period of time six years now, WTCHR, 108 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: which as has been for generations a major staple of 109 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: news and local programming NBC affiliate here in Central Indiana, 110 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: is going to be under new ownership. 111 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 3: It's interesting when I think about the state of Indiana 112 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 3: actually used to have a lot of locally owned at 113 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 3: least radio groups. I mean in northern Indiana. Notre Dame 114 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 3: University owned WNDU for many years. They sold to Gray. 115 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: You had Sure's Communication, they sold to Sinclair. You had 116 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 3: Simoleon here who owned w IBC, sold to Urban One. 117 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 3: Uh Sarcus Tarzian still around. They owned WTTs and some 118 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 3: stations in Fort Wayne. And then you had the Angattis 119 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 3: who owned a lot of radio stations, and I believe 120 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 3: they've sold to larger companies as well. 121 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: Well, you and I both worked for a guy who 122 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: was a He wasn't from here, but he owned several 123 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: radio stations both in Indianapolis and the and the Fort 124 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: Wayne area. And he was a real adventure to work for. 125 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 2: But look, I liked me, he liked you. You were 126 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 2: he liked Were you a problem? I wasn't a I 127 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: was the overnight guy. 128 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: But everyone says, like I always said this in hindsight, 129 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: right when you're young, you're stupid, and you you viewed 130 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: things through the lens of the moment versus the reflection. 131 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: I think about like working for that guy, he was 132 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: would be fair to say he was aclectic. He was 133 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: he was in a venture, right, Yeah, but you do 134 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: realize he was one of the last local operators who 135 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: you don't even realize when you're twenty years old and 136 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: you're gifted of being other overnight guy. Of there's no 137 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: other live overnight shows anymore. You better get out on 138 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: bended knee and thank you're lucky stars. But you're too 139 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: young and stupid to recognize that radio stations television stations 140 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: were never meant to be owned by corporations. 141 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 3: No, because they're supposed to be entrenched in the community, right, 142 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: and when you have orders coming down from another market. 143 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 3: I mean I can use the example of music radio 144 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 3: stations or even television stations. I know that there's a 145 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 3: TV station in South Bend that is now setting a 146 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 3: lot of the programming for Toledo. Yeah, they send stuff 147 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: over for a completely different market. Radio is the same 148 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: music gets handed down by somebody in a completely different state. 149 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you think about the creativity. I mean, there 150 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: was once upon a time not to be an old 151 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: man who yells at clouds, where if you owned a 152 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: local radio or television station, you were some like we said, eclectic, 153 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: adventurous guy who money was almost secondary to you. 154 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 2: Now don't. 155 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: There were a lot of wealthy people who owned these properties, 156 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: but there was a status symbol of walking around your 157 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: community saying you owned fill in the blank. And then 158 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: there was the creativity side with so many of these people, 159 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: of what can I produce that I will be remembered for? 160 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: Because it used to be that when cities and towns 161 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: and communities had connectivity, which also doesn't really exist today 162 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: because of explosive, out of control growth, the things that 163 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: the local TV or radio station would do, the advertising campaigns, 164 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: the events they would host, contest whatever, would be remembered 165 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: for years and years and years. And so those were 166 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: the people that were drawn to own and run radio 167 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: and TV stations and that just simply it doesn't exist anymore. 168 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: While we again praise our ownership that we are left 169 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: alone to do the programming that our audience likes, WIBC 170 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: isn't the same. 171 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,959 Speaker 2: As it was twenty twenty five years ago. It just doesn't. 172 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: Nor is any really radio station Q ninety five or 173 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: ZPL or any of these any of these radio stations, 174 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: and you know. 175 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 3: Now they have national contest line. 176 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 2: Too, right. 177 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: I mean there's a good chance, like you said, some 178 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: person who's delivering your break now, not here. All of 179 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: our stations are still locally staffed for the most part, 180 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: but a lot of these big stations, they're some guy 181 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: doing a break is based out of some other city, well, 182 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: talking about what's going on in your city. 183 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 3: And in some cases it's not even a person anymore, 184 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 3: it's AI. 185 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: That's a good point. 186 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, some robot is is is giving away tickets to 187 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: the Rod Stewart concert