CAMARILLO, Calif., Sept. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Salem Media Group (NASDAQ: SALM), announced today Salem Radio Network's package for radio coverage of the next presidential debate in its partnership with CNN. The debate, September 16th, 2015 will feature the candidates for the GOP nomination, and is proving to be the most talked about political event so far in this election season. An added plus will be the optics of the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, where the retired Air Force One 707 will provide an impressive backdrop.

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Salem Radio Network will provide exclusive radio coverage while CNN will provide exclusive TV coverage. All 31 of Salem Media Group's News Talk stations will carry the debate, as well as pre and post-debate coverage hosted by SRN's Hugh Hewitt and Guy Benson of Townhall.com. SRN is making the debate available in non-Salem markets. The debate will be moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper with CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash and Hewitt as panelists.

SRN coverage will begin at 5pm ET, with the pre-debate special and end at Midnight ET with its post-debate special. There will be an intermission between the two segments of the debate that SRN will also cover, giving expert analysis of the comments and proceedings. The last debate August 5th drew 24 million viewers, the most in history to a cable news broadcast. This one is proving to have the same great interest.

"Recent history has proved these debates to be of massive interest," said Salem President of Broadcast Dave Santrella. "As the exclusive radio provider Salem will provide this important and historic coverage to countless hundreds of thousands in their cars allowing them to have continuous coverage of the debate between us and of course, CNN." Salem Senior VP of Spoken Word Format Phil Boyce added: "The buzz and excitement about this presidential campaign has eclipsed anything in recent memory, and I am sure this debate will not lessen that enthusiasm."

Salem also plans to go to various debate watching parties around the country hosted by Salem Media talk stations and air talent. SRN's Mike Gallagher will be at one such watching party hosted at Hillsdale College where students will watch the debate and then tell Mike what they think about it, live on the post-debate show.

For planning purposes, Salem will also offer coverage of the CNN debates on December 15th from Las Vegas and March 10th, 2016 from Florida. Salem will also offer extended election night coverage for the caucuses and primaries coming up: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina (that may be a Saturday this cycle, not a Tuesday), Nevada, March 1 Super Tuesday and March 15 Super Tuesday.

Stations interested in coverage of the debate including the pre and post coverage should contact Tom Tradup at Salem Radio Networks, at (972) 707-6885.

Follow us on Twitter @SalemMediaGrp.

ABOUT SALEM MEDIA GROUP:

Salem Media Group is America's leading Christian and conservative multi-media corporation, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book, magazine and newsletter publishing. Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally. With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the media landscape.

The company, through its Salem Radio Group, is the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company providing Christian and conservative programming. Salem owns and operates 112 local radio stations, with 67 stations in the top 25 media markets. Salem Radio Network ("SRN") is a full-service national radio network, with nationally syndicated programs comprising Christian teaching and talk, conservative talk, news, and music. SRN is home to many industry-leading hosts including: Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager and Eric Metaxas.

Salem New Media is a powerful source of Christian and conservative themed news, analysis, and commentary. Salem's Christian sites include: Christianity.com®, BibleStudyTools.com, GodTube.com, GodVine.com, WorshipHouseMedia.com and OnePlace.com. Considered by many to be a consolidation of the conservative news and opinion sector's most influential brands, Salem's conservative sites include Red State.com, Townhall.com®, HotAir.com, Twitchy.com, BearingArms.com and Human Events.com.

Salem's Regnery Publishing unit, with a 65-year history, remains the nation's leading publisher of conservative books. Having published many of the seminal works of the early conservative movement, Regnery today continues as the dominant publisher in the conservative space, with leading authors including: Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, Newt Gingrich, David Limbaugh, Ed Klein and Mark Steyn. Salem's book publishing business also includes Xulon Press(TM), a leading provider of self-publishing services for Christian and conservative authors.

Salem Publishing(TM) publishes Christian and conservative magazines including Homecoming®, YouthWorker Journal(TM), The Singing News, and Preaching.

Salem Media Group also owns Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness. Eagle Financial Publications provide market analysis and specific investment advice for individual investors from financial commentators Mark Skousen, Nicholas Vardy, Chris Versace, Doug Fabian and Bryan Perry, as well as a stock screening website for dividend investors (DividendInvestor.com). The business unit's other financial websites include EagleDailyInvestor.com and ETFU.com. Eagle Wellness provides practical health advice and is a trusted source for nutritional supplements from one of the country's leading complementary health physicians.

Company Contact:
Tom Tradup
VP of News and Talk Programming at Salem Radio Network
(972) 707-6885
Ttradup@srnradio.com

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SOURCE Salem Media Group