Talk Radio Network Suspending Operations?

It appears that Talk Radio Network and America’s Radio News Network may have ceased operations.

A number of staffers have posted comments that they were let go on Friday without notice, while the following press release was issued by an anonymous TRN staffer today:

Media giant Mark Masters is suspending operations at the Oregon-based Talk Radio Network, which launched “The Michael Savage Show” and other high profile programming. The company has been refusing to communicate with staff and they are not issuing final paychecks to talent across the network. The company will not even confirm that we are no longer under contract with them. They are simply ignoring pleas for answers. I have heard through a phone call that the staff of America’s Morning News (100+ affiliates) has been told not to report to work Monday morning. Those stations (and possibly hundreds more) will check the satellite for their usual programming on Monday and get silence.

As many of us were 1099 contractors, we are not eligible for unemployment. Many of us are owed two months of pay at the termination of our contracts. One of those good people is a cancer patient who might not be able to afford her health insurance and treatments.

We need help and I hope someone hears our story.I would prefer to remain anonymous, but someone can reach me at hippienewschick@yahoo.com. I have others who can collaborate on this story. Thanks for your consideration.

Rumors about the demise of TRN began popping up on Friday following a report at Talkers.com. Mark Masters, CEO of Talk Radio Network, claimed there were many inaccuracies in that report, but that a full statement would not be released until Monday. TRN programming includes Andrea Tantaros, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, Mancow, and Monica Crowley. They also own the America’s Radio News Network that produces long-form news blocks for stations. If you carry any of their programming it might be worth preparing alternate solutions in-case there is nothing produced to air in the coming days.

TRN has seen a rash of high profile talent departures recently. Michael Savage departed for Cumulus last year after winning a lawsuit against the company. Laura Ingraham left for Courtside Entertainment And Phil Hendrie, whose show was syndicated by TRN until moving to WYM Media Management/Dial Global earlier this year tweeted the following:

At the risk of being sued for saying this, the failure of TRN is the direct result of the disastrous leadership of Mark Masters

Talk Radio Network has been very vocal about its issues with Dial Global in particular. TRN head Mark Masters sued Dial Global last year; alleging monopolistic practices and anti-trust violations. That led to TRN moving its ad sales and affilate relations to Sun Broadcast Group in Februrary. The company was the first to come out against the pending Cumulus/Dial Global merger.

We’ll be monitoring this closely and updating as further information becomes available.

from talkers.com:

>> Since then, subsequent corroborating reports have been appearing on the internet and in social media posted by people who had been working for the company. TALKERS hears that employees have been given official “Termination of Services” letters citing financial reasons as the cause of the layoffs containing the following language: “Due to the actions of Dial Global (renamed Westwood One) which are the subject of pending antitrust and other actions, combined with the non-payment of long overdue funds owed to each of the syndication companies we service, Dial Global is effectively forcing us to suspend most of our business operations.” As to what “most of our business operations means” is not entirely clear at the present time – particularly regarding whether an effort is being made to continue providing programming services to the network’s affiliates of such shows as those hosted by Andrea Tantaros, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, Mancow, and Monica Crowley, in addition to “America’s Morning News” and the services of the company’s all-news operation America’s Radio News Network.

TALKERS hears from sources inside the company that an effort to keep these services on the air is indeed being made today and will continue to report on these developments. This information is backed up by confirmation that Andrea Tantaros’ mid-morning show aired live today between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon ET and reports are that Rusty Humphries will also do a live show from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET. In the meantime as indicated in the story posted immediately below (9/6), TALKERS received word late in the day Friday directly from TRN CEO Mark Masters that there is more to the story than our coverage to that point indicated and a full clarification would be forthcoming on Monday (today 9/9). We will post those comments when we receive them. TRN, which has been involved in high-profile antitrust litigation filed against Dial Global throughout this past year, has a rich history dating back to the early 1990s of being one of the most influential and industrious independent syndicators in the talk radio business under the direction of Masters bringing such stars as Art Bell and Michael Savage to national prominence and playing a key role in developing the career of Laura Ingraham in addition to many other top talents.

http://www.talkers.com/2013/09/09/monday-september-9-2013/

http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84948/talk-radio-network-suspending-operations/

more details
>>Mark Masters has released a statement regarding the status of TRN.

Blaming all the company’s problems on Dial Global and not itself, the company shut down the America’s Radio News Network as of Friday, September 6 and is currently sending its Talk programming to affiliates until they find replacement programming. Nowhere does Masters address the comments by many of its employees regarding the termination of their employeent.

The remainder of TRN’s programming will continue unaffected as of now.

Are you Dial Global’s (Westwood One’s) Next Victim?