Salem Media Group executives are gearing up for a presentation scheduled for October 13 at a key investor event of the fall season.
As they finalize what they plan on sharing, investors on Wall Street can’t decide if they should buy Salem, or make a quick profit by selling their stock.
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The National Hockey League now has an agreement in place that will help bring audio coverage of select regular season games and the Stanley Cup Finals to radio stations across the U.S.
Sports USA is now the NHL’s exclusive live national radio play-by-play partner, thanks to a three year agreement that ends following the 2024-2025 season.
Sports USA began broadcasting NHL games with the 2020-2021 season. It starts its 2021-2022 regular season coverage with the first-ever game from the newest NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken. They’ll play the league’s second-newest franchise, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, on Tuesday (10/12).
Other regular season games on Sports USA include the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic, which features the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild at Target Field in Minneapolis on January 1, and the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series, which includes the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on February 26.
“We look forward to building on the success we had during our coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season and are thrilled to expand upon this partnership,” said Larry Kahn, Sports USA’s founder and CEO. “The NHL has a loyal and passionate fan base and we couldn’t be more excited about the next four years.”
In addition to terrestrial radio, the live broadcasts will also be distributed digitally via Tune-In, SiriusXM and other NHL digital partners, as well as SportsUSAMedia.com.
The company’s connection to the NHL began last February with its coverage of the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, featuring two regular-season outdoor games played at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nev. and continued through the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals and Stanley Cup Final.
For the second consecutive year, the Radio + Television Business Report has partnered with Media Staffing Network for a comprehensive analysis of television industry sales compensation.
With more years of data to glean from, MSN has tracked trends and can offer television station owners and managers valuable insights — information that can empower them to budget accordingly.
The report’s highlights are available in the RBR+TVBR Fall 2021 Special Report, our quarterly magazine. The full report has now been released by Media Staffing Network, in partnership with RBR+TVBR.
“This year brought a new area to investigate,” notes Media Staffing Network CEO Laurie Kahn. “Our survey was conducted over the summer when we were well into the COVID-19 pandemic. Covid triggered many changes in our business and impacted how we employ and compensate people. We added more questions, and as situations arise in the future, we will continue to adjust accordingly by including questions that are relevant to current market conditions. We always probe for information that is critical to decision-making, and we accommodate as many requests for new questions as possible.”
He most recently served as the station manager of a TV station serving Midland-Odessa, Tex., and before that was in Alaska.
Now, The E.W. Scripps Co. has appointed this local leader VP/GM of its CBS affiliate serving Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.
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SAVANNAH, GA — For 36 years, he was an omnipresent figure at a Classic Rock station serving Georgia’s Coastal Empire. Before that, he enjoyed a stint at the former Rock 40 WSHE-FM 103.5, both in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market.
Now, the radio industry is mourning over the loss of Don Scott, who has succumbed to the COVID-19 coronavirus. He was 65 years old.
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The SVP and Market Manager of the Boston-market properties owned by Audacy, the company formerly known as Entercom, has been promoted to the C-Suite position of SVP of Digital Audio Content. He’ll now be working with the company’s central digital team, as his successor has been named by Audacy.
Earning the new role is Tim Clarke.
This makes Clarke responsible for all audio content across the Audacy digital platform. This includes the recently rebranded Audacy app formerly known as Radio.com, the Audacy.com web portal and the websites for each Audacy-owned station.
He is also being asked to “drive strategy and execution for new exclusive and original content for the platform” and will have oversight of Audacy’s new exclusive digital music stations. Furthermore, Clarke will also be responsible for the digital audio experiences of Audacy’s portfolio of broadcast stations, local and national station affiliates, and podcast partners.
Clarke will now work alongside Pam Russo, EVP/GM of the Audacy digital platform; and John Pacino, Audacy’s EVP of Product. Additionally, Clarke will work closely with EVP and Head of Programming Jeff Sottolano and Audacy’s programming and content teams across the company.
“Tim is a rising star in our industry and we’re excited to add his talents and capabilities to our digital business,” said J.D. Crowley, Chief Digital Officer at Audacy. “He brings rich experience leading content and consumer strategies that we trust will enable him to help us further elevate our mission of delivering dynamic digital audio content through a listener-friendly platform every day.”
Tim ClarkeClarke added, “I am truly honored to join our industry-leading digital and content teams as we build the future of audio with Audacy. A sincere thanks to the team at Audacy, including Mark Hannon and my colleagues in Boston. I have loved working with the incredible people and brands in this market and look forward to seeing their continued success under Mike Thomas’ leadership.”
Clarke joined Audacy in March 2021 and previously served as VP of Content and Audience for Cox Media Group. At Cox, Clarke also held the roles of Director of Branding and Programming for Top 40 WPOI-FM “Hot 101.5” in Tampa; and served as PD of Top 40 WAPE-FM in Jacksonville. He’s also been Music Director for the company’s WBLI-FM in Patchogue, N.Y.
AUDACY’S NEW BACK BAY LEADER
With Clarke’s rise, Mike Thomas has been chosen to succeed him as Audacy/Boston SVP/Market Manager.
This gives Thomas oversight of six radio stations: Classic Hits WBGB “Big 103,” Adult Contemporary WMJX “Magic 106.7,” Hot Adult Contemporary WWBX “Mix 104.1,” and the WEEI Sports Network.
He’ll assume his new role on November 1.
Mike Thomas“I am thrilled to welcome Mike back to Boston to lead Audacy’s leading brands here,” said Audacy Regional President Mark Hannon. “Mike’s a proven winner and his leadership will be critical in moving the business forward. I also want to thank Tim Clarke for the exceptional job he has done this past year and wish him continued success as he moves to our central digital team.”
Thomas served as the Brand Manager for WBZ-FM 98.5 “The Sports Hub” from 2017-2019 and returns to Boston after serving as Market Manager of WMVP-AM “ESPN Chicago 1000,” today owned by Craig Karmazin’s Good Karma Brands.
Before that, Thomas spent nine years with CBS Radio, holding multiple roles including VP of Sports Programming.
Classic Rock veterans are likely familiar with Thomas for his 11-year run as PD of WZLX/Boston, in addition to serving as CBS Radio/Boston’s Vice President of Programming.
Before that, Thomas got national notice in such trade publications as Radio & Records for his roles as a PD and on-air personality at Clear Channel Classic Rockers KGB-FM in San Diego and WFBQ-FM in Indianapolis.
“Boston evokes memories of great times and celebrations,” Thomas said. “When Mark Hannon reached out about coming back and leading such a diverse group of stations, it was exhilarating! I can’t wait to reconnect with a lot of talented people, some which I spent over a dozen years working side-by-side with, and celebrating many more victories.”
Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Scott McIntyre, BakerHostetler” on Spreaker.
Nielsen, which offers streaming content and ad measurement in its role as the nation’s dominant ratings and consumer data supplier, is congregating its streaming measurement tools under a single platform.
This, Nielsen explains, will include both ad-supported and subscription-based service models across content, ads and platforms.
Nielsen explains that its renewed focus on “comprehensive streaming measurement” comes at a moment when U.S. consumers now spend over a quarter of their total TV time engaging with this type of content.
“By combining our streaming solutions under one banner, Nielsen is providing the industry with a single destination to understand streaming audiences and how they are engaging with content, allowing media buyers and sellers to make the best decisions around ad strategies,” said Deirdre Thomas, Nielsen’s Managing Director of U.S. Audience Measurement Product Strategy. “Content creators, platforms, studios and advertisers will have an unprecedented view of who is streaming, what they’re watching, which platforms consumers are gravitating to and how much time they are spending with streaming content.”
The relaunch results in the rebrand of two streaming measurement platforms “to better align with its transition to Nielsen ONE,” the company’s cross-media product. In addition, Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings “will provide the most comprehensive view of streaming activity across connected TV (CTV), computer, mobile and tablet,” Nielsen claims.
Streaming Video Ratings will now be referred to as Nielsen Streaming Platform Ratings. Nielsen’s Streaming Platform ratings will still provide a macro view of streaming activity across major subscription and ad-supported streaming services. It was launched in January 2021.
Nielsen SVOD Content Ratings will be known now as Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings. Launched in 2017, Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings is used by seven of the top 10 TV network groups and 14 of the top agencies, the company says.
Nielsen’s Digital Ad Ratings (DAR) will continue to deliver audience measurement for streaming ads on CTV devices.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in streaming throughout the past year — with ad-supported content, in particular, generating incredible growth,” said Iván Markman, Chief Business Officer of Yahoo.
This explains why the heritage online brand has expanded its partnership with FOX Entertainment’s ad-supported Video-on-Demand (AVOD) service known as Tubi.
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Between Utica and Albany, N.Y., along the Erie Canal is the city of Amsterdam.
Here, an AM radio station with an FM translator are being spun. The buyer: THNK Think Tank Media.
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Astute Wall Street watchers on Tuesday may have wondered what, exactly, was going on at Emmis Communications.
It appeared that Emmis’ stock, traded on the OTC Pink Sheet, had suddenly plummeted in value. On Wednesday (10/6), there was no movement.
What’s the story?
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According to section “47 U.S. Code § 331” of the Communications Act, the Rules that the Federal Communications Commission enforces, it is the policy of the FCC to allocate channels for VHF commercial television broadcasting “in a manner which ensures that not less than one such channel shall be allocated to each state, if technically feasible.”
But, does that language require that station to focus on content for that state’s viewers?
A group of Capitol Hill Democrats say yes, and they want to use the language to help craft legislation that would force a Secaucus, N.J.-licensed station owned today by FOX to turn its attention away from the Big Apple and focus instead on the Garden State.
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The organization that represents some 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals has reached a tentative three-year agreement for a new contract with Telemundo.
It’s positive news for unionized employees, and comes four years after a trio of unfair labor practice charges filed against the NBCUniversal-owned Hispanic television network on behalf of certain telenovela actors by the labor union were settled.
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Happy Diwali … and earnings release day, Gray Television investors.
The broadcast TV station owner has finalized the date and time for the distribution of its Q3 2021 fiscal report card.
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As of October 25, the FOX brand won’t be known for solely news, sports, business news, and for reality programming including The Masked Singer.
It’s a new entrant in the growing desire to offer consumers more coverage of a subject largely free of political bias concerns — the weather.
Introducing FOX Weather, which will use FOXWeather.com and an app available via download from the Apple App Store and for Android-based phones, too.
“You’ll be able to read all the awesome web stories we’ve been writing over the past several months … Excited for everyone to see!,” Scott Sistek, a meteorologist at FOX TV Stations-owned KCPQ-13 in Seattle, Tweeted on Wednesday morning.
The new service marks FOX News Media’s eighth platform under the leadership of CEO Suzanne Scott, as its original linear FOX News Channel network celebrates its 25th anniversary this week.
Who can viewers expect to see when they log on to FOX Weather? WABC-7 meteorologist Amy Freeze has joined FOX Weather as an anchor; her departure comes after the notable exit of Bill Evans from WABC-7 in late 2019.
FOX News Media President Sharri Berg said, “We have been working towards this moment for the last nine months and are thrilled to debut FOX Weather with our talented and innovative team, including Amy Freeze whose versatility and decades of experience are a great addition.”
A free service, FOX Weather will also be available on internet-connected TVs via FOX NOW, the FOX News app, and Tubi.
It is defined as “a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.”
That said, allegations, in today’s world, can create myriad concerns for the individual being accused of a crime, or inappropriate behavior. It can also present a host of challenges for their employer.
When the allegations involve a high-profile personality at a broadcast media station, extra scrutiny can only exacerbate the matter for the station’s local management and, ultimately, its owner.
What’s a market manager to do if a situation mirroring that of Hubbard Broadcasting in Chicago surfaces at their stations?
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Jim Thompson, President of the Broadcasters Foundation of America since 2009, will retire at the end of 2022.
A succession plan is in place, which sees Thompson and broadcast veteran Tim McCarthy serve as Co-Presidents through 2022, at which time Thompson will move into an active consultancy role.
The changes are effective November 1.
Thompson is well-known across the broadcast industry. During his 40+ year career, he was President of Westinghouse Broadcasting’s Radio Division, President and Co-Owner of Liberty Radio Group, and served as General Manager of KYW-3 in Philadelphia.
The BFA says its Search Committee unanimously chose McCarthy as the best candidate for the position, and that its Board of Directors unanimously endorsed him and the succession plan.
Scott Herman, Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation, commented, “I have known Tim for almost 20 years. He is an outstanding leader and I look forward to working with him and Jim for a seamless transition. Jim has done a phenomenal job getting the word out about our mission and increasing the number of broadcasters we help. The entire Board and I are delighted that he will remain with the Foundation as Co-President and then as a Consultant.”
“Serving the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Thompson. “I cannot think of a more worthy task then helping our colleagues in their darkest moments. The search committee and the Board have made an excellent choice in Tim — I know I will be leaving our mission in good hands.”
Chairman Emeritus Phil Lombardo added, “I worked with the search committee 12 years ago to bring Jim onboard, and I am pleased to again have worked with the current search committee to identify Tim as the best person to take on our mission of helping broadcasters in acute need.”
Commenting on his new role, McCarthy said, “I look forward to working with Jim and the entire Board to continue the important work of the Broadcasters Foundation. I have been in broadcasting throughout my career, and it is an honor to be in a position to give back by providing aid to those in our industry who need it most.”
McCarthy is widely known for his lengthy tenure at The Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN Audio, and before that with ABC Radio under Disney ownership. He served as SVP/GM of Audio Play-By-Play and General Manager of New York and Los Angeles, overseeing ESPN Radio stations in each market. He joined ESPN in 1998 as President/GM of WABC-AM in New York and for ESPN Radio and Radio Disney. McCarthy began his career in radio at WABC Radio in 1990, in an era when its Talk format was surging in popularity, fueled by local hosts including Bob Grant and the syndicated Rush Limbaugh.
The Broadcasters Foundation has distributed millions of dollars in aid to broadcasters who have lost their livelihood through a catastrophic event, debilitating disease, or unforeseen tragedy. Personal donations can be made to the Foundation’s Guardian Fund, corporate contributions are accepted through the Angel Initiative, and bequests can be made through the Foundation’s Legacy Society. For more information, please visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org, call 212-373-8250, or email info@thebfoa.org.Yet another battle royale over retransmission consent fees is taking shape.
This time, it involves one of the nation’s two direct broadcast satellite (DBS) companies and the company that Standard General, headed by Soo Kim, and Apollo Global Management seek to own.
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Vistar Media, a programmatic technology provider for the digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising segment, has extended OpenRTB integrations to include audio-only out-of-home opportunities to marketers.
As such, The Trade Desk is the first omnichannel demand-side platform (DSP) to support this extension, allowing it to programmatically purchase audio inventory from networks such as Vibenomics.
An emerging category within the out-of-home media landscape, audio OOH “allows brands to influence consumers with engaging messaging seamlessly blended into a retail environment,” Vistar says.
Call it addressable advertising, radio style — but, minus the local radio station airing throughout a store.
“With the growth we’ve seen from both DOOH and Audio as separate emerging channels, it was the logical next step to expand our omni-channel offering into audio OOH,” said Maggie Mattingley, Senior Manager of Inventory Partnerships at The Trade Desk. “Through Vistar’s new audio capability, we continue to provide the best possible digital media available for advertisers and agencies to deliver a holistic digital advertising campaign.”
To be fair, the technology is likely in use at large retailers with a regional or national imprint, such as a grocery store chain.
In a recent visit to Tint World in Boynton Beach, Fla., Hubbard Broadcasting’s WRMF-FM was audible in the showroom; a nearby Hyundai dealer had sibling WEAT-FM “Sunny 107.9” on for customers.
Still, it presents a possible opportunity for Radio — unique streams to retail that it could use for its own addressable advertising opportunities.
“Exposing our unique audio inventory to omnichannel DSPs such as The Trade Desk to transact against Audio Out-of-Home is a logical next step in the growth trajectory for our network and the industry at large,” said audio industry veteran Paul Brenner, today an executive at Vibenomics. “The reach of our audio network combined with Vistar’s market-leading SSP capabilities helps the buy-side flex their programmatic spending, target specific market areas, provide brand support and measurement such as incremental lift and return on ad spend.”
For more information about Vistar, please direct inquiries to info@vistarmedia.com.
How has revenue recovered from the onset of a pandemic that saw generally steep declines and where some categories continue to experience slower than hoped for rebounds? As the country continues to emerge from restrictions and quarantines, what’s in store for 2022, the first full year after COVID-19? Where are the strong pockets of opportunity for broadcast advertising, and what are the challenges to growing its share? A panel of experts are preparing for a provocative Forecast 2022 discussion about who is going to “show us the money” in the year to come.Moderator: Mark Gray, CEO, Katz Media Group
Steve Lanzano, President/CEO, TVB
Jen Soch, Executive Director/Specialty Channels, GroupM
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC on Tuesday kicked off a mid-band spectrum auction to support next generation wireless services – including 5G – in the 3.45 GHz band.
Auction 110 will make available 100 megahertz of contiguous mid-band spectrum for commercial use this year.
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