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Colorado Media Newsroom
August 28th, 2012, 01:42 AM
Since Dial Global has studios here. I thought this would be appropriate to be in the Denver radio section...

From Radio Online:

Talk Radio Network Inc., Talk Radio Network Enterprises LLC and Talk Radio Network-FM Inc. have announced that the filing of a federal action against Dial Global Inc. and multiple other parties, asserting antitrust, anti-monopoly and other claims. In announcing that action, CEO of the plaintiff companies Mark Masters said, "This is a sad but necessary day for us."

He continued, "But the steps we take today are for the sake of the entire community of independent spoken word syndicators, and independent radio networks who depend on outside sale representation for their very financial survival."

Masters says the move is a reluctant one that he feels thry were forced into. "In doing so, we hope this signals a beginning of the end to active monopoly and anti-competitive actions within radio's independent spoken word syndication markets."

The plaintiff companies note that the federal action is necessary, as the "community of independent spoken word producers, syndicators and networks of national radio programming cannot afford for a single company to have critical control of the revenue streams." The announcement declares if one company is permitted to continue to monopolize the sales representation function, it can use that monopoly to form a second generation monopoly which will use the first monopoly to ultimately wipe out independent spoken word programmers, syndicators and networks and replace them with its own programming.

The plaintiff companies point to the recent destruction of CNN radio which was on over 1100 outlets in the U.S. and had been operating for over 20 years. Masters noted, "The sudden death of CNN Radio News, after 20 years, and in a Presidential election year besides, is a veritable canary in a coal mine for independent spoken word syndication in radio."

more (http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=b13398)

Colorado Media Newsroom
August 28th, 2012, 07:42 AM
TALK RADIO NETWORK has filed suit in U.S. federal court for the Central district of CALIFORNIA against DIAL GLOBAL, alleging that the rival syndicator has violated anti-trust and monopoly laws.
The action alleges a monopoly in sales representation of independent spoken word radio that could generate a "second-generation monopoly" over intellectual property rights, and cites the "recent destruction of CNN radio" in an election year to be replaced by a "branded news operation, at the election of its sales representatives" as a "canary in a coal mine for independent spoken word syndication in radio."
TRN CEO MARK MASTERS, in a press release, said, "This is a sad but necessary day for us. But the steps we take today are for the sake of the entire community of independent spoken word syndicators, and independent radio networks who depend on outside sale(s) representation for their very financial survival."
Saying that his companies THE ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK, INC., TALK RADIO NETWORK ENTERPRISES, LLC and TALK RADIO NETWORK-FM, INC. "reluctantly are forced to bring this action" hoping that the suit "signals a beginning of the end to active monopoly and anti-competitive actions within radio’s independent spoken word syndication markets," MASTERS, noting that TRN was initially a long-term client of DIAL GLOBAL's, said that the suit is necessary "as the community of independent spoken word producers, syndicators and networks of national radio programming cannot afford for a single company to have critical control of the revenue streams which cash flow AMERICA’s national spoken word radio programming providers."
The suit also names as defendants OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, VERGE MEDIA COMPANIES, COURTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, COMPASS MEDIA NETWORKS, WYD MEDIA MANAGEMENT, WYM MEDIA MANAGEMENT, DIAL GLOBAL's SPENCER BROWN, KEN WILLIAMS, and DAVID LANDAU, COURTSIDE's NORM PATTIZ, COMPASS' PETER KOSANN, and WYD/WYM's RON HARTENBAUM.

more (http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/109629/talk-radio-network-sues-dial-global-alleging-spoke?ref=rss)http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/allaccess/radio-news/~4/dCwxDvSZaD8

Colorado Media Newsroom
August 29th, 2012, 08:33 AM
Dial Global announced a response today to emails circulated yesterday by Mark Masters, President of Talk Radio Networks, announcing he was filing a lawsuit against Dial Global.

Spencer Brown, co-Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Despite the comments in Mr. Masters' email to the press distributed yesterday in which he announced his company Talk Radio Networks (TRN) is suing Dial Global, at this time, Dial Global has not been served a complaint. We have provided outstanding service to TRN for over ten years and continue to represent several of TRN's programs today. Based on the information contained in the complaint distributed by Mr. Masters to the press, which complaint was filed by a law firm run by Ron Severaid, TRN's own internal legal counsel, we believe the complaint is entirely frivolous. We are confident we will defeat these spurious claims, assuming they are ever heard in a court of law."

Meanwhile, Masters is apparently going after additional companies and individuals in the complaint filed Tuesday including: Compass Media, Oaktree Capital, Excelsior Radio Networks, Triton Radio Networks, Triton Media, Verge Media, Courtside Entertainment, WYD Media and individuals Spencer Brown, Ken Williams, David Landau, Norm Patitz, Peter Kosnan and Ron Hartenbaum.

Masters contends that Compass Media, Courtside Entertainment and WYD and WYM were formed solely to create the false impression of an independent content provider. Compass lists The Lars Larson Show, Todd Schnitt Show and The Norm Goldmann show under programming on its website. WYD Media carries Michael Smerconish, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, David Webb, Mike Malloy and Zach Sang. Courtside lists Loveline with Dr. Drew, The Dave Koz Show and Talking Points with Bill O'Reilly.

more (http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n25408)

Colorado Media Newsroom
August 29th, 2012, 09:06 AM
TALK RADIO NETWORK filed suit in U.S. federal court for the Central district of CALIFORNIA against DIAL GLOBAL, alleging that the rival syndicator has violated anti-trust and monopoly laws.
DIAL GLOBAL has responded , with Co-CEO SPENCER BROWN saying, "Despite the comments in Mr. MASTERS' e-mail to the press distributed YESTERDAY in which he announced his company TALK RADIO NETWORKS (TRN) is suing DIAL GLOBAL, at this time, DIAL GLOBAL has not been served a complaint. We have provided outstanding service to TRN for over 10 years and continue to represent several of TRN's programs TODAY. Based on the information contained in the complaint distributed by Mr. MASTERS to the press, which complaint was filed by a law firm run by RON SEVERAID, TRN's own internal legal counsel, we believe the complaint is entirely frivolous. We are confident we will defeat these spurious claims, assuming they are ever heard in a court of law."

more (http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/109699/dial-global-responds-to-trn-complaint?ref=rss)http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/allaccess/radio-news/~4/QCu5RpGmWCY