Premiere was founded in 1987 with an investment of $30,000. Founders included Steve Lehman, Tim Kelly, Louise Palanker and Ed Mann. The network produced 3 programs with approximately 250 affiliates. In 1992, Premiere entered the agreement with Mediabase, and later acquired the said company in 1994. In 1997, Jacor Communications acquired both Premiere and EFM Media, and in turn, Clear Channel Communications ultimately bought Jacor. Following the merger with AMFM Inc. in 2000, its syndication arm, AMFM Radio Networks, and its radio shows, were folded into Premiere's operations. Premiere entered a long-term agreement with Fox Sports to launch Fox Sports Radio, with Premiere handles distribution of the network to radio affiliates.
Distribution
Premiere Networks' programs are currently distributed over satellite, NexGen Digital WANcasting, and downloadable via FTP. The FTP server serves both primary and backup delivery needs for weekly pre-recorded content. For years, Premiere used the popular Starguide Digital III satellite system to distribute their programs but has fully converted over to X-Digital Systems for satellite delivery. Premiere's entertainment programs are distributed on a mixture of fee and barter-based deals.
Program schedule
All times are Eastern. Programs are organized alphabetically by franchise and display their date and time if they're available for online download, and additional information. See also List of programming syndicated by iHeartMedia. - The show requires a paid subscription to download.
"Live From the 60's with the Real Don Steele". A syndicated 3 hour radio program marketed to radio stations with an Oldies format. It launched in early 1988 and aired over 200 radio stations before ending production in 1993. Some stations continued airing reruns from 1993-1996. Steele died in August 1997 from lung cancer; producer M. G. Kelly took over the show, retooled it into American Hit List, and distributes the show himself. In 2015, "Live From the 60's" was re-launched with MG Kelly producing and syndicating the show out himself.
Sex with Dr. Natasha - Ended in Spring 2004 out of fear of being cited or fined by the FCC, as part of its crackdown following the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy.
Matt Drudge. Drudge voluntarily ended his show on September 30, 2007; Drudge would keep with this Drudge Report Web site and continue hosting as a guest host on various shows, most notably Clear Channel radio shows.
Wake Up With Whoopi - canceled in November 2007.
Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
Mid-day with Mike McConnell - Reverted to a local show in February 2008.
Radio Kandy - Hot AC countdown show hosted by John Candy. Lasted from 1988 to 1990.
Costas on the Radio - show ended May 31, 2009 so that Bob Costas could concentrate on his other projects.
American Top 20 and American Top 10 with Casey Kasem - Ended July 3, 2009 after Kasem retired.
Premiere also syndicated the Cutler Comedy Networks, a series of sketches and parody songs for morning drive time radio programs produced and written by Gil Christner.
Dawson McAllister Live - ended in 2012; moved to Benztown Radio/Hollywood Radio Network since 2015.
Evolution with Pete Tong - ended in December 2016. Also known as the "Evolution Beatport Show".
The Randi Rhodes Show - Following the demise of the Nova M Network, Rhodes' show was distributed by Premiere Radio Networks from 2009 to 2014, when she voluntarily ended her show. It was one of the network's highest-rated liberal shows, but Rhodes chafed at how it was treated by the company. Following the end of the PRN show, Rhodes took time off to regroup, then returned in 2016 with a subscription-based show, stating that she had ended the PRN show because the network did very little if anything to promote her, claiming that liberal talk radio was a losing proposition.
Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx and Jenn Marino, and The Side Show Countdown with Nikki Sixx and Jenn Marino - ended in December 2017.
