Talk Radio Network Sues Dial Global, Alleging Spoken Word Sales Monopoly

TRN Charges Dial Global As 'Monopoly'

TALK RADIO NETWORK has filed suit in U.S. federal court for the Central district of CALIFORNIA against DIAL GLOBAL, alleging that the rival syndicator has violated anti-trust and monopoly laws.  

The action alleges a monopoly in sales representation of independent spoken word radio that could generate a "second-generation monopoly" over intellectual property rights, and cites the "recent destruction of CNN radio" in an election year to be replaced by a "branded news operation, at the election of its sales representatives" as a "canary in a coal mine for independent spoken word syndication in radio."

TRN CEO MARK MASTERS, in a press release, said, "This is a sad but necessary day for us.  But the steps we take today are for the sake of the entire community of independent spoken word syndicators, and independent radio networks who depend on outside sale(s) representation for their very financial survival."

Saying that his companies THE ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK, INC., TALK RADIO NETWORK ENTERPRISES, LLC and TALK RADIO NETWORK-FM, INC. "reluctantly are forced to bring this action" hoping that the suit "signals a beginning of the end to active monopoly and anti-competitive actions within radio’s independent spoken word syndication markets," MASTERS, noting that TRN was initially a long-term client of DIAL GLOBAL's, said that the suit is necessary "as the community of independent spoken word producers, syndicators and networks of national radio programming cannot afford for a single company to have critical control of the revenue streams which cash flow AMERICA’s national spoken word radio programming providers."

The suit also names as defendants OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, VERGE MEDIA COMPANIES, COURTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, COMPASS MEDIA NETWORKS, WYD MEDIA MANAGEMENT, WYM MEDIA MANAGEMENT, DIAL GLOBAL's SPENCER BROWN, KEN WILLIAMS, and DAVID LANDAU, COURTSIDE's NORM PATTIZ, COMPASS' PETER KOSANN, and WYD/WYM's RON HARTENBAUM.

ALL ACCESS contacted DIAL GLOBAL, whicj had no comment at this time.

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