Regent was one of two major broadcasting companies to give its first quarter financial statement on Friday, and the news was not good. The company posted a $32.5 million loss for the first three months of the year, compared to a $3.0 million loss in the same period of 2008.
Following a move similar to what Saga did in January, Regent Communications is reportedly proposing a reverse stock split. It's an effort to help boost the company's stock price, which stood at 15 cents as of 9:20am Friday.
Several sources say Regent Communications, the owner of four stations in the Utica-Rome market, could be very close to defaulting on $195 million in debt on loan from Bank of America. The reports were triggered by Regent's latest SEC filing.
UTICA-ROME -- Regent's Big Frog 104 (WFRG) is looking for local music groups to perform at its annual Frogfest concert. The 21st installment of the free listener appreciation bash will be June 20 at Verona Beach State Park. Interested bands can find details on the station's website. No word yet on the headliners.
UTICA-ROME -- Today was the last day for Gary "Big Poppa" Spears on morning drive at Kiss-FM (WSKS/WSKU). A press release from the CHR station late this afternoon says Spears "has left the building."
SYRACUSE -- For at least the second year in a row, the morning show crew at B104.7 (WBBS) has received a nomination for the Academy of Country Music awards. And a programmer who used to work in Utica and Watertown gets a nomination for his current station in Albany.
UTICA-ROME -- The Arbitron Persons 12+ numbers for the Fall 2008 ratings period are out. Regent's Big Frog 104 (WFRG) and Lite 98.7 (WLZW) still own the top 2 ranks, but the duo traded ranks as Lite loses nearly 3 ratings points since the spring.
UTICA-ROME -- It's been awhile since we had a Picture of the Week from Big Frog 104 (WFRG), so we'll kick off the new year with a snapshot from the country station's recent food drive.
UTICA-ROME -- This one slid under our radar earlier this month: a familiar set of call letters is back on the air, though with a new frequency and a new location. WRUN-FM is simulcasting Northeast Public Radio programming on 90.3 from Remsen.
Regent Communications has signed a deal with Radiolicious, making it the first major radio group to make all of its web streams accessible to users of Apple iPhone or iPod Touch devices.