Salem Announces 7 New Answer Branded NewsTalk Stations

CAMARILLO, Calif., Jan. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Salem Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: SALM) announced that today it is converting 7 more of its News Talk stations to the Answer.  It will bring the number to 20 Answer branded stations owned by Salem around the country. 

The following stations made the brand change this morning, including:

• KCBQ-AM in San Diego, now AM 1170 The Answer
• KLFE-AM in Seattle, now AM 1590 The Answer
• KZNT-AM in Colorado Springs, now AM 1460 The Answer
• WGKA-AM in Atlanta, now AM 920 The Answer
• WGUL-AM in Tampa, now AM 860 The Answer
• WGTK-AM in Louisville, now 970 AM The Answer
• WLSS-AM in Sarasota, now AM 930 The Answer 

Salem began using the Answer branding for AM 970 WNYM, its News Talker in New York City in April of 2012.  The name caught on, and soon Salem stations in LA, Dallas, and Chicago had joined the crowd.  "We discovered that our listeners are information seekers, always craving the answer to every possible question, from why am I stuck in Traffic to who won the November election," said Salem Senior VP of Spoken Word Formats Phil Boyce.  "This branding allows our stations to cut through in markets where they are competing with more established stations that only need their call letters as a brand.  We needed something more, and this works," said Boyce. 

Boyce added that while some of Salem's competitors have begun to shift away from either politics or hard news in favor of more fluff, his stations have stayed true to the course and many of them benefited in the fall with better audience numbers.  In New York, where Salem completely re-vamped its lineup at the start of the year, online listening is up over 100%.  "Shows like Piscopo, Gambling, and Walsh, added to the already strong Salem national lineup, resulted in huge audience gains.  Other Salem stations also saw very strong performances," according to Boyce. 

"I have said this before,  and nothing has emerged to change my mind,"  said Boyce.  "The NewsTalk format is alive and well, and if 2015 is anything like the past year, this will be another very strong year for the Salem stations that stick with this simple principle:  give listeners what they want." 

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ABOUT SALEM COMMUNICATIONS:

Salem Communications Corporation is America's leading Christian and conservative multi-media corporation, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book, magazine and newsletter publishing.  Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally.  With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the media landscape.

The company, through its Salem Radio Group, is the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company providing Christian and conservative programming.  Salem owns and operates 106 local radio stations, with 63 stations in the top 25 media markets.  Salem Radio Network ("SRN") is a full-service national radio network, with nationally syndicated programs comprising Christian teaching and talk, conservative talk, news, and music.  SRN is home to many industry-leading hosts including: Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager and Janet Mefferd.

Salem New Media is a powerful source of Christian and conservative themed news, analysis, and commentary.  Salem's Christian sites include: Christianity.com®, BibleStudyTools.com, GodTube.com, GodVine.com, WorshipHouseMedia.com and OnePlace.com. Considered by many to be a consolidation of the conservative news and opinion sector's most influential brands, Salem's conservative sites include Townhall.com®, HotAir.com, Twitchy.com, Human Events.com and Red State.com.

Salem's Regnery Publishing unit, with a 65-year history, remains the nation's leading publisher of conservative books.  Having published many of the seminal works of the early conservative movement, Regnery today continues as the dominant publisher in the conservative space, with leading authors including: Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, Newt Gingrich, David Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and Mark Steyn.  Salem's book publishing business also includes Xulon Press™, a leading provider of self-publishing services for Christian and conservative authors.

Salem Publishing™ publishes Christian and conservative magazines including Homecoming®, YouthWorker Journal™, The Singing News, Preaching and Townhall Magazine™.

Salem Communications also owns Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness. Eagle Financial Publications provide market analysis and specific investment advice for individual investors from seasoned financial experts Mark Skousen, Nicholas Vardy, Chris Versace and Doug Fabian. Eagle Wellness provides practical health advice and is a trusted source for nutritional supplements from one of the country's leading complementary health physicians.

Company Contact:   
Evan D. Masyr
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer                                    
(805) 384-4512
[email protected]

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SOURCE Salem Communications Corporation

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