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Analyst initiations: Cable and Satellite Pay TV industry and FPIC

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Cable and Satellite Pay TV industry and FPIC Insurance were today's noteworthy initiations:
OTHER INITIATIONS:

Citadel (CSL) may give mike back to Imus

The Hat That Mumbles, aka Don Imus, is close to reaching agreement with Citadel Broadcasting (NYSE:CDL) to bring his talk show back to the public airwaves. According to Variety, Imus will spurn the interest of Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) to join Citadel's network. The corporation, the third largest radio group in the U.S., owns ABC Radio, as well as a number of web sites and on-line radio stations.

Imus, you will recall, was canned by CBS Radio (NYSE:CBS) for his idiotic 'nappy-haired ho's' remark in reference to the Rutgers woman's basketball team. Ironically, the controversy proved to be a goldmine for Mumbles, who won a $20 million settlement from CBS Radio for improperly terminating his contract.

Variety wrote that, since ABC Radio traditionally chooses its own talent (and I use the word loosely), Citadel's signing of Imus would not guarantee that he would appear on ABC Radio stations. However, given the money that Imus will likely demand, I believe he'll have to run on the radio network in order for Citadel to recoup its investment.

Continue reading Citadel (CSL) may give mike back to Imus

Media World: Why Citadel Broadcasting (CDL) may take a chance on Don Imus

Citadel Broadcasting Corp. (NYSE: CDL) may be struggling even more than its potential new employee Don Imus.

Shares of the Las Vegas-based company have tanked more than 55% this year because the company is in the radio business which continues to suck wind. Excluding the acquisition of ABC Radio from Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS), the company's revenue fell 2 percent in the second quarter. Net income was a tiny $3.8 million, or 3 cents per share. The acquisition made Citadel the proud owners of New York's WABC, Imus' possible new home.

Imus seems to be a good fit with the rest of WABC's lineup which includes Sean Hanity and Rush Limbaugh, both of whom can be at least as offensive if not more so. The I-Man's legion of fans, many of whom responded to my posts on their hero, will no doubt flock to his new show. He will be hailed as someone who got beaten down by the forces of political correctness and lived. Advertisers will be attracted to the program like moths to a flame.

The question is will this new Imus be much different than the old one. If he's too nice, people won't listen. If he's too much like his old self, people won't think he's learned his lesson and advertisers will be turned off.

Interestingly, Craig Carton who is replacing him at CBS Corp.'s (NYSE: CBS) WFAN is no slouch in the controversy department himself. As the more talkative and funny half of the "Jersey Guys" radio show, Carton grabbed huge ratings and controversy for offending politicians and members of minority groups.

Back in April, I suggested that he would make a good replacement for Imus. Someone emailed Carton the post which he read on the air. I called into the "Jersey Guys" and spoke with him briefly. He promised to send me token of appreciation. I'm still waiting.

And Craig, you're welcome.

Disney completes sale of ABC Radio

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) opened at $33.50. So far today the stock has hit a low of $33 and a high of $33.55. As of 12:30, DIS is trading at 33.09, down 0.02 (-0.1%).

After hitting a one year high of 36.79 in May, the stock has dropped sharply over the past three weeks. News yesterday evening confirmed that Disney has completed its sale of its ABC Radio Holdings Inc. unit to Citadel Broadcasting Corp. (NYSE: CDL) for approximately $1.35 billion. Recent technical indicators for DIS have been bearish and steady, while S&P rates the stock as a 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an October bear-call credit spread above the $37.50 range. DIS has not been above $37.50 since the technology boom and bust and has shown resistance around $36 recently. This trade could be risky if the weaker dollar spurs more international tourists to Disney's theme parks, but even if that happens DIS would have to rise by 13.1% and break through its previous highs before this position would be in trouble.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer. Do you have any deadwood in your portfolio? Check out the 18 Warning Signs That Tell You When To Dump A Stock.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, he neither owns nor controls a position in DIS or CDL.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-47.2410,244.02
NASDAQ-7.042,159.86
S&P 500-6.071,092.44

Last updated: November 12, 2009: 12:09 PM

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