Posted by Bud on December 02, 2009 at 10:41:21:
CBS will pay for synergy
CBS to "reward radio employees who go the extra mile to support their colleagues at our TV stations."
And vice versa - but come on, how many TV people are typically thinking overtime about cross-promotions with radio? Yesterday's memo to CBS radio and TV station employees comes from radio head Dan Mason, TV chief Peter Dunn and new COO of "Local Media" Anton Guitano. And the CBS re-org of the radio and TV stations and associated Internet operations into the new "Local Media" division is what this is all about - creating new ties between divisions. After a lot of nice words about CBS stations setting "the standard for greatness in broadcasting", here's the heart of the memo - "we need each of you to embrace an even greater spirit of collaboration with your fellow members of the new CBS Local family." Yes, it's Kumbaya time, but for a good business reason - "While we, along with your local managers, will continue to evaluate our employees based on their contributions to the success of their specific local business, we will also be looking to recognize and reward radio employees who go the extra mile to help support their colleagues at our TV stations, and vice versa." So money's involved. Mason and his fellow execs say "We realize there are no one-size-fits-all solutions... Also, we don't anticipate wholesale changes in how we locally manage our collection of assets." They'll be brainstorming "best practices in each market."