Quarterly profit, revenue slides at Emmis
The Indianapolis-based media company reported a larger loss on falling revenue in its fiscal first quarter, mostly due to the sale of a group of radio stations and cheaper advertising rates.
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IndyCar seeks presenting sponsor, bigger schedule
IndyCar Series officials have approached two of its existing sponsors, Verizon Wireless and Firestone, about becoming the open-wheel race series’ presenting sponsor, a deal motorsports business experts said could be worth $3 million annually.
Lawsuit: Smulyan angling for Emmis buyout
Jeff Smulyan has been considering a new plan to buy out other Emmis Communications Corp. shareholders—a deal that could clear the way for him to finally take the Indianapolis media company private. But Emmis’ founder and CEO insists he has no plans to do so.
Bold challenge to country giant WFMS paying off for Hank
After more than two decades as one of the Indianapolis market’s top ratings- and revenue-generators, country radio station WFMS-FM 95.5 is getting some serious competition from relative newcomer WLHK-FM 97.1—popularly known as Hank.
Local ad firm BrandWidth rebounds after internal turmoil
BrandWidth puts legal scuffle behind it, emerges to nab several national accounts.
Google unveils biz photo service in Indianapolis
The interactive virtual tour gives customers a glimpse of the layout and decor of a business without setting foot inside the location. For St. Elmo Steak House, where the service was introduced locally, it was an easy sell.
Judge upholds Indiana Facebook ban for sex offenders
The ACLU has said it will appeal a federal judge’s decision to uphold an Indiana law that bans registered sex offenders from accessing Facebook and other social networking sites used by children.
Boutique Anderson ad agency expanding to Indianapolis
Four-person shop opening office downtown got its start at Flagship Enterprise incubator.
Experts say Buchman’s move to WTHR could lift station’s ratings
WTHR led in the ratings for its nightly newscasts during the May sweeps in the key 25-to-54-year-old demographic, but TV stations are rapidly losing these coveted viewers. The addition of popular meteorologist Angela Buchman could help Channel 13 staunch further losses.
Compendium moving its business beyond blogging software
Compendium Software says there’s money to be made in creating a place where marketing content can be centralized and repurposed and sent out via e-mail newsletters, social media channels and—of course—blogs.
Colts enlisting outside help to sell tickets
Stung by a 2-14 season and the departure of star quarterback Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts this month hired Get Real Sports Sales and six summer interns to help sell 3,000 season tickets that weren’t moving.
Durham prosecutors ask to admit IBJ story as evidence
Federal prosecutors in the Tim Durham fraud trial on Wednesday sought to introduce into evidence an IBJ investigative report from October 2009, but a judge agreed with a defense attorney and denied the request.
WISH meteorologist Buchman leaving for rival WTHR
Several local broadcast television sources say Angela Buchman will leave Channel 8 when her contract expires this summer. A non-compete clause likely would keep her from appearing on-air for Channel 13 until next year.
Star hires Taylor as top editor
Detroit Free Press senior managing editor Jeffrey Taylor was introduced to the Indianapolis Star's staff on Tuesday. He succeeds Dennis Ryerson at the helm of the state’s largest newspaper.
PROXY CORNER: Emmis Communications Corp.
Emmis Communications Corp., One Emmis Plaza, 40 Monument Circle, Suite 700, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (www.emmis.com), is a media company that owns radio stations and magazines.
New ads reflect IMS’ more-aggressive sponsorship mindset
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is selling advertising along the world-famous, 103-year-old race course for the first time ever, a break with tradition that promises to boost its financial firepower as racetracks nationwide are struggling.
Herff Jones goes digital to invigorate yearbook sales
Local firm hired Carmel-based MediaSauce two years ago to help design, develop and market Stitch, a platform for schools to create an online version of their yearbook. The product, tested at 54 schools, is expected to roll out nationally in July.
City aims to attract additional sponsors
Third Street Partners, a marketing firm that hoped to land half a million dollars in corporate sponsorships for the city of Indianapolis, has received a four-year contract extension to bring home red meat.
New Colts quarterback a ‘marketer’s dream’
Sports marketers call the genuineness and awe-shucks personality of new Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew luck a marketer’s dream. The line is forming to forge both for-profit and not-for-profit partnerships with the No. 1 NFL draft pick.
After years of ‘pushing water uphill,’ Emmis now nimble
The Indianapolis media company is on track to have less than $75 million in debt by this summer—down from $1.6 billion before it launched the divestiture of its TV stations seven years ago.