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Disney taps Compass Media to handle ABC Audio sales

The logo of the Walt Disney Company's radio programming service ABC Audio.
The logo of the Walt Disney Company’s radio programming service ABC Audio. (Graphic by The Desk)

The Walt Disney Company’s radio programming division ABC Audio has selected Compass Media Networks to serve as its new advertising representative, starting next year.

Compass Media will begin marketing ABC Audio’s commercial inventory this week, the companies said, while starting as ABC Audio’s exclusive commercial representative in January 2024.



“We are thrilled to usher in a new phase of growth for ABC Audio with the announcement of our strategic partnership with Compass Media Networks,” Liz Alesse, the vice president of ABC Audio, said in a statement.

ABC Audio’s core product is ABC News Radio, which provides news and current affairs program and hourly headline updates to around 1,500 affiliate radio stations across the United States.

“ABC News Radio remains steadfast in its mission to provide our news affiliates incisive, up-to-the-minute headlines, and we’re equally committed to creating top-tier entertainment content,” Alesse said.

Peter Kosann, the CEO and founder of Compass Media, said the agreement was like Christmas in July.

“ABC Audio represents some of the most iconic brands and media assets in the world, and we will move mountains to be a wonderful ambassador and advocate for our new partner,” Kosann said.

The agreement comes several weeks after ABC Radio ended its business relationship with Skyview Networks, which handled multiple distribution and sales-related functions for ABC Radio programming since 2014.

Skyview Networks suffered from a crippling cyberattack earlier this year that impacted some of its distribution systems, which left it unable to provide affiliate radio stations with ABC Audio programming for a significant amount of time.

It wasn’t clear if the cyberattack ultimately led ABC Audio to end its business relationship with Skyview Networks, which will continue to distribute ABC Audio programming to affiliates through the end of the year.

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is a nationally-recognized, award-winning journalist who has covered the business of media, technology, radio and television for more than 11 years. He is the publisher of The Desk and contributes to Know Techie, Digital Content Next and StreamTV Insider. He previously worked for Thomson Reuters, the Walt Disney Company, McNaughton Newspapers and Tribune Broadcasting.
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