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Radio Facts: WNYM (970AM) The Apple announces another addition to its distinguished cast of New York's favorite talk show hosts. Effective January 5, 2009, Dennis Miller will move his witty, intelligent show of political and social commentary to WNYM (970AM) The Apple. The show will air Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

Joe D. Davis, Salem Radio Division President calls Miller one of the "brightest and funniest, but as a '9-11 conservative' he also resonates with our listeners. And yes, this is the same Dennis Miller we all remember from Saturday Night Live. We carry Dennis in many of our markets, and this is just the latest example of his growing popularity as a talk show host."

"WNYM (970AM) The Apple offers the best midday punch in New York Talk Radio with Mike Gallagher starting at 9:00am, Dennis Miller at 11:00am and Dennis Prager at 1:00pm," says Peter Thiele, Program Director. "We are thrilled to be adding Dennis Miller to the line-up on The Talk of New York." "Advertisers are learning that WNYM (970AM) The Apple provides results, and adding the Dennis Miller Show proves that the station is attracting some of the very best programming in New York City," says Sean O'Neill, General Manager. The Apple features talk show hosts like Mike Gallagher, Bill Bennett, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and now Dennis Miller. The Apple is New York's newest station broadcasting at the FCC approved limit of 50,000 Watts. Salem Communications (NASDAQ: SALM) is a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns Salem Radio Network ®, which syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives(TM), a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network(TM), an Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming; and Salem Publishing(TM), a publisher of Christian-themed magazines. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the company will own 94 radio stations, including 59 stations in 23 of the top 25 markets. Additional information about Salem may be accessed at the company's website, www.salem.cc.

Radio Facts: Debbie Wagner, who has spent all but 14 months of her 29-year media career in Tucson " and is as responsible as any executive for the success of the Å“Johnjay and Rich  morning radio show " has left the market. She was promoted by her bosses to take over as president and market manager of Clear Channel Communicationsâ„¢ seven radio stations in San Diego. In Tucson, Director of Sales Tom Zlaket Jr., was named acting market manager. Wagnerâ„¢s appointment to her new position must have come suddenly. Not only was it effective immediately, Dec. 18, but she had not changed her Tucson phone voice message, which as of last week still had her saying she would be out of the office until Dec. 16. According to others, Wagner has remained in San Diego. Wagner is replacing a market manager who had been running Clear Channelâ„¢s San Diego stations for three years but, judging from accounts from advertising agencies there, theyâ„¢ve been three years of at least some turmoil within the group. Although Clear Channelâ„¢s announcement of the management change wished the former manager, Bob Bolinger, Å“well in his future endeavors,  there had been speculation for at least three months that he was going to be replaced. [source]

Radio Facts: Debbie Wagner, who has spent all but 14 months of her 29-year media career in Tucson " and is as responsible as any executive for the success of the Å“Johnjay and Rich  morning radio show " has left the market. She was promoted by her bosses to take over as president and market manager of Clear Channel Communicationsâ„¢ seven radio stations in San Diego. In Tucson, Director of Sales Tom Zlaket Jr., was named acting market manager. Wagnerâ„¢s appointment to her new position must have come suddenly. Not only was it effective immediately, Dec. 18, but she had not changed her Tucson phone voice message, which as of last week still had her saying she would be out of the office until Dec. 16. According to others, Wagner has remained in San Diego. Wagner is replacing a market manager who had been running Clear Channelâ„¢s San Diego stations for three years but, judging from accounts from advertising agencies there, theyâ„¢ve been three years of at least some turmoil within the group. Although Clear Channelâ„¢s announcement of the management change wished the former manager, Bob Bolinger, Å“well in his future endeavors,  there had been speculation for at least three months that he was going to be replaced. [source]

Radio Facts: Amid all the pressures on the radio industry, news-talk stations see an opportunity " and his name is Barack Obama. Skip to next paragraph Enlarge This Image Ruby Washington/The New York Times Rudolph Giuliani is also a potential host. After eight years of playing defense for President Bush, the conservatives who dominate talk radio are back on offense. Hours after Mr. Obamaâ„¢s election, the countryâ„¢s most popular radio host, Rush Limbaugh, was talking about the Å“rebirth of principled opposition.  Sean Hannity, the second highest-rated host, quickly cast his afternoon show as the home of Å“conservatism in exile.  It is a lively time to be behind the microphone. One television talker, Joe Scarborough, is starting a radio show. Another, Bill Oâ„¢Reilly, is ending his. Several of the supporting actors in this yearâ„¢s Republican primary are showing interest in the medium, too. Fred Thompson, the Å“Law & Order  star turned presidential cand idate, will begin hosting a two-hour show in March, as the syndicator Westwood One is expected to announce this week. Mr. Thompsonâ„¢s show would take the place of Mr. Oâ„¢Reillyâ„¢s. Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and a Republican presidential cand idate, had been in negotiations with Westwood One for Mr. Oâ„¢Reillyâ„¢s time slot, according to two people with knowledge of the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because a deal was not struck. Mike Huckabee, the former Republican presidential cand idate who now has a weekend program on the Fox News Channel, is trying radio as well, hosting short segments for ABC Radio beginning Jan. 5. While there are plenty of topics to talk about " and plenty of hosts willing to do the talking " nagging questions about the business remain. A sharp advertising downturn is limiting revenue for stations. And some hosts are worrying about the relevance of talk radio in a digital age. But radio, at least for now, still acts as a national megaphone for influential voices. This year, news talk ranked as the most popular radio format in the United States, surpassing country music for the first time ever. Forty stations have added news talk in the last year, for a total of 2,064 that use the format, up from about 1,500 a decade ago, according to the trade publication M Street. That means 2,064 stations need 24 hours of programming every day. Stations with tight budgets increasingly rely on programs from Premiere Radio Networks, ABC Radio Networks and other syndication companies. Five of the most popular syndicated names in news-talk radio " Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Hannity, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage and Laura Ingraham " signed new contracts in the last 12 months, all but guaranteeing that they will be rallying listeners for the duration of Mr. Obamaâ„¢s four-year term. Mr. Limbaughâ„¢s land mark contract, announced in July, promised a total of $400 million through 2016. With a Democrat in the White House, Å“the conservative hosts will have more fun. Thereâ„¢s no doubt about that,  said Gary Schonfeld, the president of network programming for Westwood One. But will listeners stay tuned? Talk radio usually Å“becomes a little less popular the year after an election,  said Maja Mijatovic, the vice president and director of national radio for the media buying agency Horizon Media. However, next year promises to be a unique one, with grim forecasts about the economy and renewed interest in the presidency. Advertisers and syndicators are expecting a busy year because of the incoming administration. Å“I think people are going to tune in more than ever,  Ms. Mijatovic said. Premiere Radio, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications, is projecting a consistent audience from 2008 to 2009 as it signs on advertisers. Å“Thereâ„¢s more to talk about than there has been in a hundred years,  Charlie Rahilly, the president of Premiere, said. Å“There is something almost historical in nature in the news every single day.  Mr. Limbaugh, who is syndicated by Premiere, continues to command a much larger audience than any other radio host. According to Arbitronâ„¢s spring 2008 ratings report, he reached 3.58 million listeners during an average quarter-hour, while the No. 2 host, Mr. Hannity, averaged 1.65 million. A middle tier of radio hosts helps fill the schedules of AM and FM stations. Å“Because you donâ„¢t have a commodity like music to rely upon, it is all up to the host,  said Carl Anderson, the senior vice president for programming and distribution at ABC Radio Networks. Å“They are on stage by themselves.  The talk-radio formula that Mr. Limbaugh pioneered two decades ago remains evident on the air today. Syndicators look for hosts who are entertaining, have a point of view and , as Mr. Anderson put it, show an ability to Å“connect with an audience.  [source]