NEW YORK, May 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Westwood One announced today a multi-year management agreement with Excelsior Radio Networks for the day-to-day operation of the Westwood One 24/7 music formats. Under the agreement, Excelsior Radio Networks, through it's Dial Communications - Global Media, will assume responsibility for affiliate sales and programming of the Westwood One 24/7 music formats effective August 1, 2006, and oversight of all aspects of the formats -- including advertising sales -- effective January 1, 2007.
"This partnership will enable Westwood One to focus on its other programming and new media initiatives, while benefiting economically from this platform," said Peter Kosann, President and CEO of Westwood One. "We will work hard over the coming weeks and months to ensure a seamless transition for our affiliates, advertisers, and employees."
"We are thrilled to expand our programming and marketing platform via a partnership with Westwood One," said Spencer Brown, CEO of Excelsior Radio Networks. "We plan to aggressively manage this product line by growing affiliations and introducing new formats."
David Landau and Ken Williams, Co-Presidents of Dial-Global noted, "The Westwood One 24/7 Music Formats will be a nice complement to our existing three RADAR Networks."
Operated out of Valencia, California, Westwood One's 24/7 music formats consist of eight nationally-distributed turn-key music formats -- Adult Standards, Oldies Channel, SAM (Simply About Music), Bright AC, Soft AC, Adult Rock n' Rock, Mainstream Country, Hot Country -- as well as selected programs during certain dayparts including Saturday Night All Request 80s and Young & Verna.
About Excelsior Radio Networks
Excelsior Radio Networks owns and operates Dial Communications-Global Media, MJI Interactive and X Radio. Dial Communications-Global Media represents X Radio, MJI Interactive and over 60 other leading radio producers to network radio advertisers and their agencies. MJI Interactive (http://www.mjiinteractive.com/) is a leading supplier of innovative web content programming for nine music formats and interactive software tools for radio stations. X Radio (http://www.xradionetworks.com/) syndicates text and audio prep services, including X Prep, Country Kickers, Urban Fun Factory and The Ross Brittain Report, urban programs from Walt 'Baby' Love, Russell Simmons, Big Boy and others, and programming from Rick Dees, Kid Kelly, Whitney Allen and other top personalities. X Radio is based in New York, with offices in Los Angeles.
About Westwood One
Westwood One provides over 150 news, sports, music, talk, entertainment programs, features, live events and 24/7 Formats. Through its subsidiaries, Metro Networks/Shadow Broadcast Services, Westwood One provides local content to the radio and TV industries including news, sports, weather, traffic, video news services and other information. SmartRoute Systems manages traffic information centers for state and local departments of transportation, and markets traffic and travel content to wireless, Internet, in-vehicle navigation systems and voice portal customers. Westwood One serves more than 5,000 radio stations. Westwood One is managed by CBS Radio.
