Variety on air with United
Co-venture offers daily showbiz coverage
A year in the making, the new broadcast venture marks Daily Variety's first foray into the radio programming field as part of a collaboration with the nation's largest independently owned and operated radio network.
"Our job is to bring our affiliates and advertisers an association with the best in the business, and with 'Variety Radio,' we've accomplished that," said United Stations prexy and CEO Nicholas J. Verbitsky.
The co-venture will provide stations with daily showbiz coverage with exclusive and behind-the-scenes news, weekly film reviews, celebrity interviews and a complete package of audio clips from the worlds of film, television and music using the publication's staff of reporters, columnists and editors.
"It is a pleasure to join forces with United Stations, a leader in radio networking. We know this is just the beginning of a successful partnership," Daily Variety publisher Gerry Byrne said.
With a launch targeted for fall, affiliations and flagship station relationships are being developed with on-air talent announcements forthcoming. Operations will be bi-coastal with marketing and sales offices in Manhattan and Los Angeles.
