Radio+Television Business Report

Forty years ago, it perhaps would have made more sense to schedule an appearance on TODAY. That’s because Byron Allen was part of the lineup of hosts on what many believe is the first “reality” series to air in prime-time, NBC’s Real People. 

Much has changed in the years since that television program aired in the 8pm slot each Wednesday on the Peacock network. Today, Allen is a media mogul who wants to grow his broadcast TV assets and has an interest in owning an NFL franchise.

He’ll be sharing his thoughts about the Denver Broncos, among other topics, on CBS come February 20.

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It’s quickly become of one the broadcast media industry’s most anticipated honors of the year.

Starting today, you’ll have the power to help shape this year’s ranked list.

The nomination window has officially opened for BROADCAST TELEVISION’S BEST LEADERS of 2022!

For the fourth consecutive year, RBR+TVBR is turning to its readers to help us determine who the top-ranked individuals that oversee over-the-air broadcast TV groups are.

From understanding AVOD and FAST Channel opportunities to the voluntary rollout of NEXTGEN TV, these are exciting times for over-the-air television. Furthermore, the desire for broadcast TV — from live sports to news programming and from syndicated fare to prime-time favorites — remains strong amid increased competition. That’s why it is our honor to salute the individuals that have demonstrated management prowess, guiding their broadcast television stations to ratings and revenue success.

VOTE TODAY! You may make up to three nominations by our deadline of Friday, March 4, 2022, at 5pm Eastern.

Remember: This is a reader-generated ranked honor roll — the voting is in your hands. Don’t miss this opportunity to help create BROADCAST TELEVISION’S BEST LEADERS of 2022.

VOTE NOW BY CLICKING HERE!

 

Across the nation and around the world, radio stations are being recruited to celebrate the unique and undying format of vinyl records by doing something that on January 26, 1987, would have seemed absurd given the tech trends of the times.

No CDs. No MP3s via computer. Not even a cart machine, if they still exist.

A vinyl-only day in celebration of “Vinylthon 2022” is planned for Saturday, April 23.

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Jeff Winemiller and his Lowcountry 34 Media has been involved in many transactions involving low-power television stations over the last several months.

The latest one has just been filed for approval with the FCC, and it sees Winemiller signing off on an agreement that would give one of his properties to the Chicago-based entity led by Norman Shapiro that is readying the launch of a sixth digital multicast network.

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A home for “praise and inspiration” serving Texas’ capital city with a Class D AM with a 2kw signal from 3 towers has been sold.

The price the buyer is paying for the daytime-only operation to the northeast of Austin is something to take note of. Why? It’s actually a pretty impressive valuation.

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Until now, it has served as the home in the Tampa-St. Petersburg market for Miami-based América Tevé. 

Soon, the independent Spanish-language television programming seen on the facility, a low-power TV station licensed to Pinellas County’s biggest municipality, will say adios to the fare.

That’s because a religious broadcaster has just snagged the station.

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In mid-September 2021, Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned Dielectric first shared how the company literally changed how FM broadcast antenna manufacturers validate directional pattern studies for new FM broadcast antennas.

This led Dielectric to submit a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC. And, if the FCC moves forward with a NPRM and subsequently approves the rules, a process that could take just months, a move from physical to AI-driven simulated modeling could come to fruition.

The engineering guys may get this, but those in the C-Suite may already have eyes glazed over. In this encore InFOCUS Podcast, Keith Pelleiter explains this so the only thing glazed in their office is a Krispy Kreme donut.

Given the FCC’s decision this week to eliminate six of 7 “outmoded” radio broadcast technical rules, the timing is right to revisit this audio discussion with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.

Listen now!

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC on Wednesday (2/16) adopted a Report & Order released today that effectively eliminates or amends what the Commission calls “outmoded” broadcast technical rules.

One will remain, however, and it is thanks to the NAB.

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The FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC) will gather online on February 23.

The agenda for what will transpire has been released by the Commission.

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How important are AVOD, OTT and FAST Channels to broadcast TV? The latest data from The Gauge, Nielsen‘s total TV and streaming snapshot, show that streaming reached an all-time high in first month of 2022, while overall television usage increased 8%.

Combined, a powerful metric for broadcast TV emerges.

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Ad-ID, used for identifying advertising assets across all media platforms, has agreed to a  new partnership with TelevisaUnivision to support advertising asset identification and tracking for Univision’s media portfolio.

The agreement is designed to improve targeting and delivery for Univision and its advertising partners.

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It could be «Cosas que debes saber» or “Вещи, которые вы должны знать.”

Whatever the language, “Stuff You Should Know” could soon be available to listen in it.

And, it is all thanks to a new collaboration to produce and translate podcasts for new marketing opportunities forged between iHeartMedia and Veritone.

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On February 22, 1922, a Northern New Jersey department store that eventually became part of the Macy’s family had an idea. Since it was selling radio receivers, why not establish a radio station to help sell them?

From a studio on a high floor atop the Bamberger’s building in Newark, WOR-AM signed on the air at 833 kHz. Today, it is stronger than ever, and the spoken word East Coast flagship of the iHeartMedia family, which is readying plans for the station’s 100th birthday celebration.

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It describes itself as an independent nonprofit business development corporation, that consists of 33 licensees.

Public Venture Media Group stations “are led by some of public media’s most dynamic leaders, operating 130 television stations that serve over 240 million people,” it notes.

Now, it is gaining two low-power TV stations thanks to a donation by an active trader of LPTVs in recent months.

 

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The woman who serves as Executive Vice President of The Weiss Agency will be embarking on her second term as Chair of the boards of the Alliance for Women in Media & Foundation.

At the same time, the AWM Board is gaining two new radio industry leaders, while the AWM Foundation sees an Audacy Inc. join its distinct board.

Serving as the Chair for both the AWM Board and AWM Foundation Board is Heather Cohen.

Cohen will also serve as one of three chairs for the Gracie Awards, alongside Crown Media Family Networks Chief Communications Officer Annie Howell and veteran radio programming consultant Mike McVay.

Howell is also the incoming Chair for the AWM board, with Keisha Sutton-James, CEO and Founder of Sutton Button Productions LLC, serving as immediate past chair; Brenda Hetrick, Chief Revenue Officer of Matrix Solutions, serving as Treasurer; and Katina Arnold, Vice President of Corporate Communications at ESPN, serving as incoming treasurer.

New to the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Board are:

• Catherine Badalamente, VP/Chief Innovation Officer (Incoming CEO), Graham Media Group
• Monica Bloom, VP of Marketing, First Look Media
• Thea Mitchem, Executive Vice President of Programming, iHeartMedia
• Marie Tedesco, Chief Financial Officer, Beasley Media Group

New to the AWM Foundation Board are Tim Clarke, SVP of Digital Audio Content at Audacy, and Vicki Lins, President and CEO of CTAM.

“The role of the AWM and Foundation boards is to lead our organizations and industry as we recognize, connect and educate women in all facets of media,” said Becky Brooks,  who serves as President of AWM/F. “The past two years have proven that leadership of an organization is critical to navigate through uncertain times. It is as important as it’s ever been to have insightful, diverse leadership. This year’s directors are dedicated to donating time and resources to guide us to the next level. We are thrilled to have these talented, accomplished women and men guiding our strategic initiatives.”

The following leaders will continue to serve as Directors at Large of AWM:

• Marsha Cooke, VP/Executive Producer, ESPN Films and 30 for 30
• Abby Greensfelder, Founder & CEO, Everywoman Studios
• Katherine Wolfgang, Head of Public Relations, CBC

McVay, along with Svetlana Gans, VP President and Associate General Counsel at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association (NCTA); Streamline Publishing’s Deborah Parenti, Publisher of RBR+TVBR, Radio Ink and Podcast Business Journal; Josie Thomas, retired EVP/Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at CBS; and Christine Travaglini, President of Katz Radio Group will each continue to serve as a Director at Large of AWMF.

The TVB on Thursday (2/17) released new research conducted by GfK on its behalf that puts a spotlight on identifying the importance of media platforms in influencing consumers during the purchase decision process.

The study looks at consumers exposed to advertising across seven categories, through any of 20+ media platforms.

She’s the Chief Research Officer of the not-for-profit trade association representing America’s local broadcast television industry, TVB. And, she’s the latest RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast guest. In this recent episode, Hadassa Gerber talks to RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson to talk about some very intriguing new info from the just-released GfK 2022 Media Comparisons Study. In short, it’s great intelligence for broadcast and cable TV.  CLICK HERE TO LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS!

 

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Full year 2021 radio billing stats for New York and Miami are being shared by Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS). 

Why? According to Miller Kaplan, one of their radio stations is the top-biller of the year, regardless of format or language, in la gran manzana. The same can be said in its home market of Miami.

Specifically, SBS’s flagship, Tropical WSKQ-FM “Mega 97.9” in New York, garnered the top spot in local total billing among all radio stations in the nation’s largest radio market, Miller Kaplan data shared by SBS show.

Spanish Adult Contemporary WPAT “93.1 AMOR” was No. 6 among all stations in 2021, in terms of billing, the Miller Kaplan data also show.

Meanwhile, SBS’s Spanish Adult Hits WCMQ-FM “Zeta 92” was the No. 1-billing radio station in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood market in 2021. Tropical/Reggaetón sibling WXDJ-FM “El Zol 106.7” was the No. 5 biller in Miami last year, Miller Kaplan data show.

SBS’s WRMA “Ritmo 95.7,” with a specialty “Cubatón” Latin Urban format, was No. 6 in billing in Miami during 2021, total market.

“These leadership rankings are a testament to our people, our brands and the vibrancy and loyalty of the tremendous audiences we have attracted and sustained in these major markets,” said SBS President/COO Albert Rodriguez, in prepared comments. “Our ability to surpass every radio station, regardless of language, in local total billings in the nation’s largest radio market speaks volumes regarding the strength of our content and marketing initiatives, as well as our importance among advertisers looking to target Latino consumers. Likewise, advertisers recognize our radio stations in Miami as key platforms for connecting with the fast-growing Spanish-speaking population in South Florida. We remain committed to building on our success and consistently serving our audiences with the best music, the most compelling personalities and the most exciting content in these major markets, while continuing to strengthen our multimedia platform spanning radio, television, digital media and live events across the nation.”

In Gotham legal circles, it is considered to be one of the City of New York’s top real estate law firms.

Now, it is playing a key role in getting broadcast license agreements at 1 World Trade Center consummated.

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Until now, Regina Davis and her Buma Group has served as the licensee of a low-power digital TV station serving Texarkana, the market straddling Texas and Arkansas.

Now, the property is being sold. And, it marks yet another LPTV deal for the company that last year merged with Meredith Corp. and acquired Quincy Media, Inc.

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In September 2021, RBR+TVBR first shared the news of a proposed sale involving a Class A FM radio station with a signal blanketing a one-time Spring Break destination that remains a popular winter burg.

The deal, brokered by Jay Meyers’ Broadcast Management & Technology, has now closed.

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