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Emmis is a Hebrew word meaning "truth." HISTORY In 1980 Emmis Broadcasting founder Jeffrey Smulyan purchased his first radio station, WSVL-FM Shelbyville, IN. In July 1981, Smulyan moved that radio station's tower and transmitter closer to Indianapolis, changed from country music to adult contemporary and renamed it WENS . The station's quick success led him to purchase other Radio Stations throughout the country. Around 1984 the company brought Magic 106 in Los Angeles, California . Then L.A. Lakers player "Magic" Johnson was an early spokesperson for the station. In early 1986, Emmis changed Magic 106 to Power 106 KPWR . Also in 1986 the company's expansion grew as they purchased WAPP (renamed WQHT ) and WHN (now WFAN ) in New York as well as WAVA-FM in Washington D.C. from the Doubleday Broadcasting Company. Emmis took full advantage of the money-minded 1980's as it acquired five NBC radio stations in 1988 but ended up selling two stations to avoid a duopoly. Emmis purhased the Seattle Mariners in 1989 but sold them in 1992 . In 1994 the company purchased WIBC and WKLR in Indianapolis from the Horizon Broadcast Corporation and WRKS in New York City from the Summit Communications Group . WKLR was changed from an oldies format to a classic hits format with the call letters of WNAP in September of 1994. Emmis became a public company in 1994. The expansion continued as the company purchased numerous Television and Radio Stations in the late 1990s. Emmis Broadcasting changed its name to Emmis Communications in 1998. Emmis also co-owns a nationally syndicated morning news show called The Daily Buzz . In 2003 Emmis appointed its' first African American VP/General Manager, Barry Mayo . He currently oversees 98.7 Kiss FM , Hot 97 and WQCD (CD 101.9) in New York . Mayo has maintained higher ratings for all three stations there. In 2005, Emmis changed the format of their first radio station from its long time adult contemporary format to country. The call letters were changed from WENS to WLHK . Emmis was also named one of FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. CONTROVERSIES Emmis owned WQHT-FM in New York (known as Hot 97) is known for playing the allegedly racist Tsunami Song entitled '' USA For Indonesia '', a parody sung to the 1985 tune " We Are The World ." Listeners, politicians and civil rights groups protested in front of the Radio Station about the song. Miss Jones, Hot 97 's morning DJ, Production Assistant Tasha Hightower and DJ Envy received a two week suspension while producer Rick Del Gado and co-host Todd Lynn were fired from the Radio Station . In 2004 , as a result of continued indecency complaints, Emmis signed a consent decree with the FCC and paid the US government $300,000. COMPANY PORTFOLIO Radio The company owns Sláger Rádió in Hungary, Be One Radio in Belgium, Radio FM Plus in Bulgaria and Rádio Expres in Slovakia. It also owns the following: Austin: Chicago: Indianapolis: Los Angeles: New York: Phoenix: St. Louis: Emmis Communications is part of a group currently in negotiations to buy the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team. Television Emmis announced in May 2005 announced its intent to sell some or all of the sixteen television stations they owned at the time. In August 2005 sale of nine television stations were announced, as well as four more in October. On April 18, 2006, the sale of WKCF is expected to be annouced by the 2nd quarter of 2006 with the other two to follow thereafter. The following stations still in company hands: Florida: Hawaii: Louisiana:
Former Emmis Owned and Operated Stations:
Article Sources April 18, 2006: http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=9791 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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