Jones Radio Networks
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| Jones Radio Networks aka Jones Media Group | |
|---|---|
| Type | wholly owned by Glenn R. Jones |
| Founded | 1969 for Jones International |
| Headquarters | Centennial, Colorado |
| Key people | Glenn R. Jones |
| Industry | Radio |
| Products | Radio Services |
| Website | www.JonesRadio.com |
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group are branches of Jones International. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows, music scheduling, show preparation, and music and sales Research. Jones Media Network also owns many national syndication shows such as Lia, All Night with Danny Wright, The Ed Schultz Show, The Stephanie Miller Show, The Bill Press Show, The Neal Boortz Show, The Clark Howard Show, and A&E Network's Live by Request. Jones Media Networks & Jones Radio Networks own production studios in: New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago; Washington, DC; Seattle, WA; Centennial, CO; and Florida. Clark Howard and Neal Boortz are broadcast from the studios of WSB-AM in Atlanta, GA; those shows are produced by Cox Radio. Jones Media Networks that reaches about 1.3 billion weekly listener in radio. In 2006, Jones purchased TM Century, a Dallas-based company providing jingles and production services for radio stations across the country.
What became known as Jones Radio Networks started as a satellite format provider. The company originally started in the late 1960's as Drake-Chenault radio programming services. The company began legendary in its offerings such as music delivered on reel-to-reel tape, program consultant services, and station imaging. The company had its first foray into satellite programming in the late 80's by launching five different full-time satellite-delivered formats.
Though satellite-delivered formats were not new, its presentation was. Many stations using satellite formats were required to clear up to two minutes of network commercials as part of their affiliation agreement. Drake-Chenault's formats were all commercial free, but the affiliate station paid more for the service rather than giving up commercial time.
This practice ended in 1993, following the Jones acquisition of Drake-Chenault. Though affiliates now had to clear commercials like other networks, the format was available entirely through inventory barter, unlike its competitors, which required an affiliation fee plus inventory.
In 1996, Jones Radio Networks started the cable network GAC (Great American Country). Up against stiff competition from CMT, "GAC" failed to capture market share and was later sold to The E.W. Scripps Company, owners of Home & Garden Television and the Food Network.
In 1999, Jones International acquired and absorbed "Broadcast Programming," a company that handled syndicated radio shows, including the popular evening program Delilah. Delilah left Jones to join Premiere Radio Networks in 2004.
In 2002, Jones Radio Networks entered into a deal with the Sports USA Radio Network to distribute nationally syndicated sports programming, primarily National Football League games.
Jones Media is the largest independent radio network, providing many programming options for local radio stations. The company syndicates many 24-hour formats to affiliated radio stations across the United States. Their formats include Adult Contemporary, Hot Adult Contemporary, a.k.a. "The '80s, '90s and Now"), Good Time Oldies ("The Oldies Station"), Classic Hits, "Rock Classics" (Classic Rock, a.k.a. "The Classic Rock Station"), "Music of Your Life" (Adult Standards), Smooth Jazz, and several different Country music formats, including "CD Country" ("Today's New Hit Country") which you can find the station feed in over 1,000 markets such as Rushford/Winona, MN, "U.S. Country" (current hits mixed with popular gold tracks of recent decades), "True Country" (similar to ABC Radio's "Real Country"), and "Classic Hit Country."