Industry News

Gigi Sohn (image credit C-SPAN)

A divided Senate Commerce Committee finally voted Thursday (Mar. 3) along party lines to send the nomination of Gigi Sohn to the full Senate for a vote, a big step toward her ultimate confirmation. The vote was 14–14, which means the nominee can get a floor vote, but with no favorable or unfavorable recommendation.

The FCC has been at a 2–2 political tie for well over a year, so a tied committee vote to potentially break the commission tie was appropriate.

Sohn would be the fifth commissioner, giving the Biden Administration the majority it needs to tackle some tough issues, including network neutrality and media ownership/equity.

Also reported in a partisan vote was a fifth Federal Trade Commission member, Alvaro M. Bedoya. The vote on Bedoya was also 14–14.

Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said Sohn needed to be seated, in part because of the importance of the administration’s broadband priorities. Cantwell thanked all her colleagues for being there, which may have been a reference to reports that Republicans had considered not showing up to deny a quorum, and thus a vote, on Sohn.

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Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said he could not vote for Sohn or Bedoya. He said he appreciated Sohn’s responsiveness, but said she was not the right choice to fill the FCC vacancy because she would continue to have an appearance of a conflict of interest.

Sohn was nominated last year but had to be renominated in January after the committee Democrats were unable to secure enough votes, then her first vote had to be postponed after one of the committee Democrats — Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico — suffered a stroke.

Luján got a lengthy standing ovation when he entered the chamber for the meeting.

Republicans have pushed back on her nomination over past criticism of Fox News and her relationship to Locast, the shuttered streaming service that was found by a court not to be entitled under a copyright carveout from streaming TV station signals without having to ask permission or pay for the transmissions.

But her backers have suggested that ISPs were pushing back because they did not want the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules, and Republicans were pushing back generally because they wanted to stall the Biden regulatory agenda until the Midterms.

If the Republicans took over the Senate and House, they could nullify any FCC attempt to reinstate the rules, as they did to an FCC privacy regulatory regime under then FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

Wicker took issue with Cantwell’s phrasing of the nomination as being reported to the floor, saying only that the tie vote was being reported to the floor. Though Cantwell first said she thought that was the proper wording, she agreed that that technically constituted reporting a tie vote to the floor.

According to the Congressional Research Service, “a Senate majority can vote to discharge a committee from consideration of a matter, including a nomination, if it is not reported because of a tie vote in committee.”

The post Senate Commerce Sends Sohn Nomination to Senate for Vote on FCC Seat appeared first on Radio World.

Curtis LeGeyt, CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, will provide the opening keynote on June 22 at the Hispanic Radio Conference.

The conference will be presented June 22-23 in Miami at the Intercontinental at Doral.

The theme of the NAB chief’s remarks will be “Promoting a Strong and Diverse Radio Industry Through Public Policy and Industry Engagement.”

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According to LeGeyt, “Radio’s ability to reach and directly serve diverse audiences is a cornerstone of the business. The Hispanic Radio Conference is an important forum for an ever influential and dynamic segment of the industry to convene, assess challenges, and discover opportunities in today’s complex and competitive media environment. NAB is a proud supporter, and I look forward to participating in this year’s event.”

Deborah Parenti, President/Publisher of Radio Ink and the Radio + Television Business Report, said, “We are especially excited and honored to have Curtis LeGeyt open the Hispanic Radio Conference. It will be a tremendous opportunity for Hispanic broadcasters to share their concerns and challenges with him as well as to hear his vision for the future of the industry.”

More agenda details are available HERE. Register now and save $200. The Hispanic Radio Conference is proudly supported by: PLATINUM SPONSOR Bronze Sponsor Medallas de Cortez Sponsor Corporate Sponsors Participating Sponsors Media Partners

He serves as President of Networks for Nexstar Media Group, and in addition to his role with NewsNation, the cable TV news channel, he also has a hand in ensuring that the company’s lone radio station — heritage spoken-word WGN Radio at 720 on the AM dial across the Midwest — remains a success.

That it has, based on the latest ratings results from Nielsen Audio. Sean returns to the InFOCUS Podcast to share more about WGN’s resiliency and rebirth in Chicago. He talks about the No. 1 performance of John Williams in middays and Bob Sirott in mornings, and the ongoing growth in afternoons; letting nighttime legend John Landecker be himself; and thanking Rollye James for turning a temporary gig into a long-term late-night program.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Sean Compton” on Spreaker.

Just past 10am Eastern on Thursday, Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee stopped their activities, stood in unison, and applauded at length.

It wasn’t for any of the 10 presidential nominees up for a Committee vote, including Gigi B. Sohn, but rather for Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N. Mex.). The Senator is recovering swiftly from suffering a stroke, which delayed the vote on Sohn.

Sohn’s nomination remained contentious right up to the vote, and Luján’s vote proved to be the decisive one for the nominee, with an expected tie the outcome.

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One month ago, Connected TV advertising and measurement platform Innovid struck a deal to acquire television measurement company.

The acquisition has just closed, and creates what Innovid calls “an end-to-end, independent TV measurement alternative that brings together streaming and linear television.” As such, founder and CEO Calum Smeaton is transitioning to a strategy role in support of the integration between the company — TVSquared — and Innovid.

For TVSquared President Jo Kinsella, leading the measurement business at Innovid is Job One.

So is making Innovid’s “Nielsen’s newest competitor.”

“We believe the combination of independent global ad serving and cross-platform measurement sits at the heart of solving TV measurement’s biggest challenges,” said Zvika Netter, CEO and Co-founder at Innovid. “We’ve spent over a decade building foundational ad delivery and personalization technology to power TV across channels and devices. Now, together with TVSquared by Innovid, we provide advertisers a complete view of the total TV and digital universe through a scalable, currency-grade measurement platform.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Innovid acquired TVSquared for $100 million in cash and 12.5 million in Innovid stock. Shares were at $3.85 as of 10am Eastern on March 3.

Mix 106.5 personality Priestly (right) with Mo, a Children’s Center patient, during the radiothon.

Celebrating the second largest radiothon fundraiser in its history, Baltimore station WWMX(FM) and its parent company Audacy raised more than $1.3 million to benefit the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore.

Held Feb. 24–25, the event marked the 33rd time that the station has hosted the annual Mix 106.5 radiothon. The radiothon is a part of Audacy Serves, the company’s social impact platform that is designed to raise awareness of social issues of issues like mental health and anti-bullying; veterans and service members; children’s health; the environment; civic education; and diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Mix 106.5 has been a long-time champion for families and kids in Maryland and year after year, we are excited that the radiothon supports the vital, life-saving mission of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center,” said Tracy Brandys, senior vice president and market manager for Audacy Baltimore. “With the uncertainty in our world in the weeks leading up to the radiothon, we weren’t sure what to expect, but Maryland residents came through again.”

“Radiothon is such an important event for everyone at the Children’s Center,” said Margaret Moon, M.D., M.P.H., co-director and pediatrician-in-chief at the Children’s Center. “We are incredibly thankful for all of the generous support from this event, as well as to Mix 106.5 and our volunteers and staff members who work tirelessly to make this event such a success every year.”

This year’s radiothon was the second biggest radiothon event since the program began in 1989, said Tom Cook, brand manager for Mix 106.5. The station’s on-air personalities shared stories of inspiration from families and kids treated at Johns Hopkins. Sponsors who contributed to the radiothon’s success included Chick-fil-A, Johns Hopkins Federal Credit Union, Weis Markets, Rite Aid Healthy Futures, Wawa, Carroll Fuel Services and Royal Farms.

Since its inception in 1989, the radiothon has raised more than $25 million for the Children’s Center.

The post Audacy Radiothon Raises $1.3 Million for Children’s Center appeared first on Radio World.

Planning for the 2022 NAB Show is ramping up, and Radio World is asking exhibitors about their expectations for what will be the first in-person spring show in three years.

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will be on hand in the North Hall. Manny Centeno is project manager, National Public Warning System — EAS.

Radio World: What will be your most important news or exhibit message at the convention?

Manny Centeno: FEMA IPAWS encourages all broadcasters and EAS Participants to continue supporting the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and broadcasting in times of emergencies. Broadcasters provide a tremendous public service on a daily basis, and especially during times of extreme situations. IPAWS will provide best practices to attendees about the EAS and emergency broadcasts.

RW: FEMA has a program to harden Primary Entry Point stations. At the same time, the government is promoting the use of electric vehicles. What can or should be done about the EAS reliance on AM stations, while fewer cars may have AM radios? And what should we know about the FCC’s recent changes to the rules for broadcasters regarding EAS?

Centeno: EAS messages can be heard on AM and FM radio, terrestrial digital television, cable television systems and wireline operators.

AM radio continues to be a viable pathway for dissemination of EAS messages to the public. Its ability to reach vast geographical areas originating from a single transmission point and its inherent resilience make AM radio one of the best methods for reaching the public.

FEMA operates and sustains the National Public Warning System (NPWS), which includes 77 broadcast AM and FM station participants and relays covering 90% of the U.S. population. FEMA is currently modernizing its NPWS Primary Entry Point (PEP) facilities to provide added resiliency to assure the nation can be alerted and informed in times of extreme emergencies.

FEMA encourages the automobile industry to continue installing AM and FM radios in cars. Broadcast radio saves lives and supports our national security.

Additionally, FEMA encourages the public to keep a portable, battery-operated AM/FM radio at home with fresh batteries. Broadcast radio has and will continue to save lives in times of disasters and emergencies.

FEMA also encourages broadcasters and local/state jurisdictions to work together to assure that the public continues to receive urgent alerts and warnings.

FEMA Booth: N7106

The post Exhibitor Preview: FEMA at the NAB Show appeared first on Radio World.

From our Who’s Buying What page: Calrec said Radio i Televizija Crne Gore (RTCG), the public service broadcaster of Montenegro, has completed a major upgrade of its radio and television facilities.

Calrec technology is being used on its two radio channels, Radio Crne Gore and R98, as well as on four TVCG television channels.

For radio, RTCG uses five native IP Type R consoles, a Brio36 and a Hydra2 router. For television, it installed three Artemis consoles, a router core, a Brio36 and two Type R consoles.

The system supports analog, AES and AoIP in a hybrid workflow. It uses Calrec’s H2 IP Gateway platform to integrate the proprietary and AoIP networks.

Dejan Vujovic is deputy general manager for technology at RTCG.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post RTCG Goes With Calrec appeared first on Radio World.

The broadcasting company controlled by Apollo Global Management with radio stations in four Florida markets, in addition to three other cities, and a collection of television stations that even includes the NBC and CBS affiliates in Eureka-Arcata, Calif., has inked a multi-year renewal with the nation’s dominant audience measurement and consumer data analytics provider.

The new deal allows Cox Media Group‘s local TV stations in 10 full service radio and TV markets to continue to use various Nielsen measurement services.

The new agreement also includes CoxReps, which provides television sales representation of broadcasters with a wide network of advertising agencies.

Included in the agreement is Nielsen Local Media Impact, which has been licensed by CMG radio stations in Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa-St. Petersburg.

CMG radio stations will also have access to the National Regional Database (NRD), a customizable tool of radio listening information for every market that Nielsen Audio surveys.

Furthermore, the new Nielsen pact renews access of CMG radio and TV stations and CoxReps to Nielsen Scarborough, which provides local market research and measures 2,000 market categories. The stations will continue to have access to Scarborough MARS Healthcare Module.

CMG television stations also subscribe to Arianna, which delivers local market overnight TV audience estimates providing analytics on program performance as well as trending programs and time periods, and Nielsen’s Local TV View (NLTV).

There’s more.

CMG will also use Grabix, a web-based application that combines Nielsen’s minute-by-minute television audience metrics to actual audio and video content.

Lastly, Cox also subscribes to Nielsen Radio County Coverage data, which provides local insights by breaking out of the standard Nielsen Radio metro boundaries for a broader understanding of listeners.

While CMG has a presence in some of the nation’s smallest markets thanks to Apollo’s acquisition of Brian Brady’s Northwest Broadcasting and subsequent combination of the TV station assets, it owns and operates TV stations in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dayton, Jacksonville, Memphis, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Seattle-Tacoma, Tulsa, Spokane, Syracuse and Yakima-Tri Cities, in addition to the small markets of Eureka-Arcata and Yuma, Ariz.; Alexandria, La.; Medford, Ore.; Binghamton, N.Y.; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Greenville-Greenwood, Miss.

“We had another very strong quarter, with revenue exceeding expectations,”  Urban One President/CEO Alfred Liggins III said in prepared comments as the company superserving Black consumers released its Q4 results.

On the surface, it appears Urban One didn’t do well, as the results showed net income down while net revenue rose. But, political dollars in Q4 2020 proved to be big for Urban One, too.

So, how did Urban One do in Q4 2021 in comparison to two years earlier?

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