PREMIERE DEAL MEANS MORE LAUGHS : COMPANY TO ACQUIRE RADIO COMEDY PROGRAMMING RIVAL.Byline: Deborah Deborah (dĕb`ōrə), in the Bible, prophetess and judge of Israel, the only woman to hold that office. Under her guidance Barak conquered Sisera and delivered Israel from the oppression of the Canaanite King Jabin. Adamson Daily News Staff Writer Two major providers of radio comedy programming are joining forces. And that's no joke. Premiere Radio Networks Premiere Radio Networks is a radio syndication and preparation company based in the United States. It is currently the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming. Inc. in Sherman Oaks said Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire a Tarzana-based rival for $8.5 million in cash. The provider of radio programs and services will buy Cutler Productions Inc., which will become a division of Premiere. Ron Cutler, president of the Tarzana firm, will become president of the division. The deal, which is expected to close by Sept. 30, is the fourth acquisition for Premiere in the past two years. ``Premiere is the largest supplier of comedy programming in the U.S. and Cutler is the second largest,'' said Harold Wrobel, Premiere's senior vice president of business and legal affairs. ``We can be a real brain trust of programming in the U.S.'' Premiere is known for comedy snippets poking fun at news figures such as O.J. Simpson Simp·son , Sir James Young 1811-1870. British obstetrician and a founder of gynecology. He is also known for introducing the use of chloroform as an anesthetic. and Hillary Rodham Rodham is an English surname which may refer to a number of persons or places. People Family of Hillary Rodham Clinton
It produces 30 syndicated programs and services with more than 4,600 radio station affiliates. Besides comedy, the company also produces shows such as ``Entertainment Tonight on the Radio with Leeza Gibbons'' and ``The Michael Reagan Michael Edward Reagan (born March 18, 1945 as John L. Flaugher), adopted son of the late United States President Ronald Reagan and his first wife, the late Jane Wyman, is the host of a conservative talk radio show, the Michael Reagan Show Talk Show.'' Cutler produces six comedy and music programs with more than 700 affiliates. It created ``The Rick Dees Top-40 Show,'' which it has since sold, said Lloyd Greif, president of Greif & Co. in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , the investment banking firm that put together the acquisition. The Cutler purchase is expected to add $5.5 million in annual revenues and 15 employees to Premiere, Wrobel said. Excluding Cutler, Premiere makes $26 million in revenues a year and has 115 employees. Premiere is paying for the purchase with $25 million raised from a secondary public offering in January, Wrobel said. |
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