Post by snarfdude on Dec 27, 2008 14:32:33 GMT -5
here's something that might help from the united stations.com website:
In 1981, American pop icon, Dick Clark, joined with Nick Verbitsky, Chief Operating Officer at Mutual Radio, to form United Stations. The new company's first show was Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember (still on the air more than two decades later!). From that beginning, United Stations grew in a span of only 12 years to become one of the country's top three radio networks. Growth was achieved through a combination of astute management, intimate knowledge of the network radio business, strategic acquisitions and a great deal of sweat equity.
Several key events contributed to United Stations’ early success. In 1985, United Stations acquired the RKO Radio Networks, a once proud name that had fallen on hard times. In short order, the deluge of red ink was halted and a substantially bigger and stronger company remained.
In 1987, United Stations entered into an advertising sales and marketing alliance with Transtar Radio Networks. This alliance worked so well that in 1989 the two companies merged. The new entity became known as Unistar Communications. Nick Verbitsky remained as the CEO.
In 1993, Unistar merged with the Westwood One Radio Network.
In 1994, Dick Clark and Nick Verbitsky decided to do it all over again. They took the United Stations name out of mothballs to form the United Stations Radio Networks. The first move for the new company was the purchase of DB Communications, a radio comedy services company with five programs and services on the air. By the end of 1994, a lineup of weekend programming was introduced including two of Dick Clark's existing radio programs along with the company’s first Rock, Country and Urban shows.
so, John Leader was the original host of countdown america, and dick assumed duties when the company took over RKO property. NMS continued under the mutual/westwood one banner as late as 1987 under new hosts. i've seen shows on ebay that late at least. One can only assume westwood one halted production at some poiint.
locallly, stations have run rock, roll and remember, NMS and countdown america. I have some vinyl of all 3. 2 stations even ran RRR and CA at the same time on saturday night at one point. kinda funny flipping the dial and hear dick that way.
In 1981, American pop icon, Dick Clark, joined with Nick Verbitsky, Chief Operating Officer at Mutual Radio, to form United Stations. The new company's first show was Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember (still on the air more than two decades later!). From that beginning, United Stations grew in a span of only 12 years to become one of the country's top three radio networks. Growth was achieved through a combination of astute management, intimate knowledge of the network radio business, strategic acquisitions and a great deal of sweat equity.
Several key events contributed to United Stations’ early success. In 1985, United Stations acquired the RKO Radio Networks, a once proud name that had fallen on hard times. In short order, the deluge of red ink was halted and a substantially bigger and stronger company remained.
In 1987, United Stations entered into an advertising sales and marketing alliance with Transtar Radio Networks. This alliance worked so well that in 1989 the two companies merged. The new entity became known as Unistar Communications. Nick Verbitsky remained as the CEO.
In 1993, Unistar merged with the Westwood One Radio Network.
In 1994, Dick Clark and Nick Verbitsky decided to do it all over again. They took the United Stations name out of mothballs to form the United Stations Radio Networks. The first move for the new company was the purchase of DB Communications, a radio comedy services company with five programs and services on the air. By the end of 1994, a lineup of weekend programming was introduced including two of Dick Clark's existing radio programs along with the company’s first Rock, Country and Urban shows.
so, John Leader was the original host of countdown america, and dick assumed duties when the company took over RKO property. NMS continued under the mutual/westwood one banner as late as 1987 under new hosts. i've seen shows on ebay that late at least. One can only assume westwood one halted production at some poiint.
locallly, stations have run rock, roll and remember, NMS and countdown america. I have some vinyl of all 3. 2 stations even ran RRR and CA at the same time on saturday night at one point. kinda funny flipping the dial and hear dick that way.