Entercom Communications
Encyclopedia
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States
.
The company was once called Entertainment Communications; its current name is a partially redundant portmanteau of its former title.
. Locations included Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; and Rochester, New York. However, due to ownership limitations set by the Federal Communications Commission
, Entercom had to sell off 3 of its radio stations in the Rochester market to Stephens Media Group
. After its purchases in the Cincinnati market, the company quickly sold its stations to Bonneville Broadcasting and Cumulus Media
and exited the market.
CBS Radio has announced that it would sell 50 more radio stations in 12 markets to focus on major market stations and as of September 22, 2008; Entercom is (again) among the seven candidates to make first-round bids. However, as of early 2009, the company has yet to announce any acquisitions of these stations.
's ABC Radio unit, but was outbid by its competitor Citadel Broadcasting
. Had Entercom gone through as the highest bidder, it would have had to sell off some of its small market holdings.
It was reported that Entercom attempted to purchase Citadel Broadcasting
in February 2011, but lost to Cumulus Media
.
-based FlyTunes on July 1, 2008 to make their stations available on smartphone
s such as Apple, Inc.'s iPhone
. After it was announced that the deal was finalized that day, stations in the San Francisco and Seattle clusters were the first to air broadcasts for area smartphone customers. The rest of the stations in Entercom's portfolio are now available throughout the United States since September 2008.
hosted a water-drinking contest promoted as "Hold Your Wee for a Wii
" that promised the popular Nintendo
video game console to whoever could drink the most water without urinating
or vomiting
. That same day, a contestant named Jennifer Strange died as a result of acute water intoxication
in participating the event. Although no criminal charges were filed, the surviving family members of Jennifer Strange filed a wrongful death suit
, holding Entercom Corp.'s Sacramento subsidiary responsible for her death. On October 29, 2009; a Sacramento Superior Court jury awarded the Strange Family $16.57 million.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The company was once called Entertainment Communications; its current name is a partially redundant portmanteau of its former title.
Buyout of CBS Radio stations in Slow Markets
On August 21, 2006; Entercom agreed to buy 15 radio stations in slower markets from CBS RadioCBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
. Locations included Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; and Rochester, New York. However, due to ownership limitations set by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, Entercom had to sell off 3 of its radio stations in the Rochester market to Stephens Media Group
Stephens Media Group (broadcasting)
Stephens Media Group is a Tulsa, Oklahoma based radio holding group that owns a few radio stations particularly in small to mid-size markets. Its flagship station is KXOJ-FM in Tulsa....
. After its purchases in the Cincinnati market, the company quickly sold its stations to Bonneville Broadcasting and Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
and exited the market.
CBS Radio has announced that it would sell 50 more radio stations in 12 markets to focus on major market stations and as of September 22, 2008; Entercom is (again) among the seven candidates to make first-round bids. However, as of early 2009, the company has yet to announce any acquisitions of these stations.
ABC Radio
Entercom was one of 4 broadcasting companies in a bid to buy The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
's ABC Radio unit, but was outbid by its competitor Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
. Had Entercom gone through as the highest bidder, it would have had to sell off some of its small market holdings.
It was reported that Entercom attempted to purchase Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
in February 2011, but lost to Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
.
Radio on Smartphones
Entercom teamed up with LancasterLancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
-based FlyTunes on July 1, 2008 to make their stations available on smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s such as Apple, Inc.'s iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
. After it was announced that the deal was finalized that day, stations in the San Francisco and Seattle clusters were the first to air broadcasts for area smartphone customers. The rest of the stations in Entercom's portfolio are now available throughout the United States since September 2008.
Water-death Controversy
On January 12, 2007; Sacramento area Entercom-owned station KDNDKDND
KDND is an FM radio station licensed to Sacramento, California at 107.9 MHz. It is owned by Entercom. KDND broadcasts a Pop Contemporary Hits format under the name 107.9 The End...
hosted a water-drinking contest promoted as "Hold Your Wee for a Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
" that promised the popular Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
video game console to whoever could drink the most water without urinating
Urination
Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, peeing, weeing, pissing, and more rarely, emiction, is the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. In healthy humans the process of urination is under voluntary control...
or vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
. That same day, a contestant named Jennifer Strange died as a result of acute water intoxication
Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. In the vast majority of cases, hyponatremia occurs as a result of excess body water diluting the serum sodium and is not due to sodium deficiency. Sodium is the dominant extracellular...
in participating the event. Although no criminal charges were filed, the surviving family members of Jennifer Strange filed a wrongful death suit
Wrongful death claim
Wrongful death is a claim in common law jurisdictions against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives, as enumerated by statute...
, holding Entercom Corp.'s Sacramento subsidiary responsible for her death. On October 29, 2009; a Sacramento Superior Court jury awarded the Strange Family $16.57 million.
Syndicated programs
Entercom syndicated some of its programming in the late 2000s. Programming syndicated by Entercom included:- The Howie Carr ShowThe Howie Carr ShowThe Howie Carr Show is an American radio talk-show presented by journalist and author Howie Carr. Its flagship station is WRKO AM 680, based in Boston, Massachusetts, on which the show airs every weekday between 3 and 7 PM. It is syndicated throughout northern New England and northeastern New York...
- Talk radioTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
- Hosted by Howie CarrHowie CarrHoward Louis "Howie" Carr, Jr. is an American journalist, author, and conservative radio talk-show host based in Boston with a listening audience rooted in New England.-Radio:...
, syndicated only in New England - Your Time with Kim IversonKim IversonKim Iverson is an American radio personality best known as the host of the nationally syndicated radio program, "Your Time with Kim Iversen", heard on many radio stations across the country. She is one of few notable women to have achieved national syndication in the radio broadcast industry...
- Adult contemporary musicAdult contemporary musicAdult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
and women's lifestyle - now handled by United Stations Radio Network. - The 2nd Shift with Alan Kabel - country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
- discontinued. - WEEI Radio Network - Flagship station WEEI in Boston and currently 7 other affiliates across New EnglandNew EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Still active.