Oregon Media Insiders

CBS Radio announced today that it will be selling off 50 of its 140 stations:

Radio [earnings] continued to lag, with revenue falling 10% to $416.4 million, compared with $463.4 million for the year-earlier period. On a same-station basis, revenue was down 9%. Operating income declined 16% to $150.7 million.

Just two years ago, CBS Radio boasted nearly 180 radio stations. It has since shed about 40 stations, and with the planned sale of 50 more, the company would cut its holdings to about 90 stations.

What do it mean for Portland, you're asking. Looks like they'll divest the entire Portland group; their stated strategy is top-five markets. The stations already on the bubble are KINK, KUFO, KUPL and KLXM; the potential buyers are currently unannounced. The other stations in the local group are KLTH and KCMD.

Yesterday KINK finally broke its silence about Les Sarnoff's extended absence. After approximately 3 weeks of saying Les was on vacation or saying nothing at all, Dave Scott and Sheila Hamilton did quite the little on-air dance around the subject. They talked about Les taking some time off to address a personal matter, mentioning that it was not health related, and that he had been at the beach with his wife last week trying to figure out some things related to the direction of his life. (All of this is highly paraphrased because I was barely awake.)

KINK ND/afternoon drive anchor Sheila Hamilton's husband Michael has been found dead. A memo from KINK PD Dennis Constantine said Michael had been missing for six weeks; his body was found over the weekend. I don't know Sheila but I'll be lighting a candle tonight for her and her family.

I missed this one yesterday in Mr. Nicholas' column. Les Sarnoff celebrates 20 years on the air at KINK:

Les Sarnoff got an anniversary call Friday from Bonnie Raitt. The redhead thanked the radioman for staying true to the music. For 20 years, Sarnoff has steered mornings on KINK-FM, all the way from albums to iPods. First he survived, then he thrived, by providing Portland just what it wanted: more love, less attitude.