On July 30, RBR+TVBR first reported on agreement signed by the children of the late Ray Moran that involves the sale of a full-power TV station in Albuquerque and its associated full-power and low-power repeater stations in a transaction brokered by Kalil & Co.
The buyer has now closed on the transaction.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
When it comes to low-power TV facilities, Ravi Kapur has been a buyer of late.
The Bay Area entrepreneur who once appeared on-camera at KGO-7 in San Francisco and today is behind the Diya TV operation targeting South Asian consumers recently grew in Florida, and in late April agreed to buy a construction permit for a LPTV facility in Chico, Calif.
Now, Kapur is expanding his holdings by traveling north to Redding.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
It sounds hard to fathom just one day after a global outage crippled Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, immediately triggering cybercrime concerns that Cybercrime Magazine Editor-in-Chief Steve Morgan will be addressing at Forecast 2022 on November 16.
Yet, it is indeed true. Some 27.6 million U.S. households lack a home internet connection.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
Add Beasley Media Group to the list of radio station owners who will be sharing their third quarter 2021 fiscal report prior to the opening bell on Election Day 2021.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST NEWS NOW.
The company, which is also invested in the Overwatch League, an eSports operation, will host a conference call to discuss the results on November 2 at 10am Eastern.
As has been the case in recent quarters, CEO Caroline Beasley and CFO Marie Tedesco will not be conducting a live Q&A with investors and analysts. Rather, it will be taking questions from analysts, institutional investors and debt holders via email until 9am on November 2. They may be e-mailed to ir@bbgi.com.
“Management will answer as many questions as possible during the conference call and webcast, provided the questions are not addressed in their prepared remarks,” Beasley said.
Beasley enters Q4 2021 with a stock price that has been relatively steady since early February. In fact, the last eight months has seen BBGI near $3 and dip below $2.50 just once — in late September.
From September 28 through noon Tuesday (10/5), BBGI is up 30 cents a share, with pricing at $2.70 in light trading on the Nasdaq GlobalMarket.
What can investors and analysts expect to see from Beasley in Q3? Event dollars could be present, with NTR and events shifted to the third quarter owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ll get the revenue upside in third and fourth quarter, assuming no further negative impacts from the Delta variant,” Caroline Beasley said on the company’s Q2 earnings call in August.
Beasley noted at the time that the third quarter was pacing up 30%, with July up 40% and August and September pacing up 29% and 23%, respectively.
How was the third quarter of 2021 pacing against the same period in 2019?
Caroline Beasley noted that the company was “looking at that being about 5% compared to 2019 at this point.”In terms of second quarter pacing from 2019, spot dollars were down about 16%, offset by increases in digital of about 67%.
The “big if,” however, is NTR and event revenue. In the third quarter of 2019 event revenue accounted for almost $3 million. In Q4 2019, it accounted for almost $4 million.
Media Financial Management Association’s “Media Outlook 2022,” designed to prepare financial professionals in the broadcast radio and television industries for the coming year, is gearing up for a two-day virtual event scheduled to begin in two weeks.
Scheduled for October 19 and 20, 2021 under the banner of “Opportunities Await – Ready…Reinvent Revenue,” this year’s event offers participants “a fresh view of how media financial leaders can continue to navigate the current uncertainties brought about by the pandemic and changes in the industry to help their companies thrive.”
The seminar is comprised of two two-hour sessions on the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, respectively.
Jay Bryson, Managing Director and Chief Economist of Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Bank, will give the seminar keynote on October 19 at 1pm Eastern. Bryson will discuss the current state of the U.S. economy and its outlook over the next two years, including forecasts of GDP growth, inflation and interest rates.
The second October 19 session, starting at 2:05pm Eastern, will feature Andrew Prior, Managing Director of Tax Policy Services at PwC US, who will review potential new tax legislation and implications for media businesses.
Two sessions will take place on October 20. At 1pm Eastern, the “Reinventing Revenue” panel will discuss ways media businesses can re-imagine and reinvent revenue. Panelists include Sinclair Broadcast Group SVP of Digital Sales Ryan Moore; Chase Rankin, SVP of Sales and Marketing at the Las Vegas Review-Journal; and Beasley Media Group e-Sports COO Lori Burgess.
At 2:05pm Eastern, the “Ad Sales and Data Analytics” panel will examine using data analytics to improve results for ad sales clients. Panelists include Audacy VP of Data and Analytics Dan McKinney.
This year’s Media Outlook 2022 co-chairs are Audacy Chief Accounting Officer and Controller Elizabeth “Beth” Bramowski, who on Friday (10/1) was faced with a company-wide direct deposit problem tied to employee payroll; and Cliff Ejikeme, a SVP, Controller and Treasurer at A&E Television Networks.
Dave Bochenek serves as Chair of MFM/BCCA’s Board of Directors.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS have cemented partnerships with 10 public media stations designed to extend the reach and impact of Ready To Learn-funded PBS KIDS early learning resources to local communities.
Centered in understanding local assets and needs, each station will collaborate with community partners to develop and build a “Learning Neighborhood” that fosters a community-wide culture of learning at home, in the neighborhood, and within local systems and spaces.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
It’s been in the news across the last year for its stated desire to own up to nearly 50% of iHeartMedia.
Now, the British media and entertainment group that owns such U.K. radio brands as Heart has purchased a next-generation digital audio content and technology start-up that will be added to the digital audio advertising and programmatic OOH advertising platform DAX.
With the acquisition, Remixd technology will be added to Global’s Digital Ad Exchange, or DAX.
Remixd automatically converts text articles into audio files with naturalized language,
allowing publishers to provide “premium short form audio content” to their users, DAX notes.
It’s a technology Tribune Publishing and the USA TODAY Sports department is already using. It could present opportunities for broadcast TV and radio station websites and other online platforms.
Les Hollander, who serves as CEO at DAX North America, elaborated, “This technology means digital publishers can meet the growing consumer demand for audio and publisher need for improved ad monetization. It’s the perfect pathway to reaching consumers with
customized marketing messages in the burgeoning smart speaker space. Adding text to audio conversion is a further enhancement of the tech Global has developed for DAX. Publishers, who have rafts of written content, can now use the power of audio to open up audience opportunities and revenue streams.”
According to Global-owned DAX, Remixd offers “plug and play” direct sales and programmatic ad sales. “Pre-roll bumpers, interstitials and sonic branding can
be easily added to text-to-audio,” the company noted.
DAX has a footprint of publishers in the U.S., Canada and across Great Britain.
Two weeks ago, the PR team working with Pearl TV distributed literature indicating that consumers are purchasing approximately 10,000 NEXTGEN TV sets per day.
If that’s not breathtaking enough, Pearl TV reports that more than three million total sets are anticipated to be sold by the end of 2021.
Given the average price of a TV equipped with NEXTGEN TV capabilities, we just had to catch up with Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle. Are chip shortages and supply chain issues a factor? Are consumers really coughing up more than $1,000 for a new set?
Schelle shares all, along with what TV viewers in big Canadian markets with access to U.S. TV stations, can expect, in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM.
The broadcast media inventory and revenue workflow management company known as WideOrbit has just released a “Total Radio Solution” it believes can bring radio station groups improved efficiencies, cost reductions and, ultimately, higher revenue across the entire ecosystem.
Those are the promises of the new product, launched October 5 by the San Francisco-based tech company.
“As listening patterns continue to shift, today’s radio broadcasters require tools to both streamline traditional AM/FM operations as well as generate additional revenue,” WideOrbit says. “Radio station automation, remote access, and digital delivery and monetization are no longer just nice-to-haves; they’re critical for stations to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry.”
So, what exactly does WideOrbit’s Total Radio Solution offer? The company’s marketing literature highlights “streamlining workflows across the radio ecosystem; increased opportunities for revenue generation through digital audio (streaming and podcasting); improved advertising customer satisfaction and retention through simplified cross-channel transactions, from order to invoice to cash; and simplified access to in-depth performance insights to make smarter, data-driven decisions.”
To be more precise, WideOrbit’s Total Radio Solution incorporates digital management and monetization, business intelligence, and A/R automation and payment tools, in addition to integration with a variety of third-party systems.
“The products that make up our Total Radio Solution were specifically designed to build upon and enhance each other,” said WideOrbit VP of Radio Sales Danny Tankersley. “Radio organizations of all sizes, from independent local stations to mid-sized regional station groups, to national radio brands, will benefit from our end-to-end solution’s ability to help deliver compelling programming to engage listeners, all while improving efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing revenue.”
WideOrbit Founder and CEO Eric R. Mathewson added, “WideOrbit has a longstanding commitment to continuous innovation and investment in improving our core products. We’re proud to continue that tradition with the launch of our Total Radio Solution, bringing radio workflows together in a single, unified platform to help our customers maximize revenue.”
ST Engineering iDirect’s broadcast technology has been selected by USSI Global, the provider of customized network, broadcast and digital signage systems and services worldwide, to enable the modernization and compression of satellite programmers’ distribution uplinks to comply with the FCC’s C-band spectrum transition.
ST Engineering iDirect is a key technology partner in the upgrade and will be providing broadcast equipment including M1600 modulators, USS02012 redundancy switches and FR0730 up and down converters, enabling USSI Global to ensure a smooth transition and high-efficiency, future-proof infrastructure.
The modernized compression systems will serve extensive sports distribution encompassing MLB, NHL and NBA teams, as well as several major programmer distribution systems in the USA.
The upgrade is expected to be completed by August 2023.
The upgrade work is part of the FCC’s initiative to clear 300MHz of the C-band’s 500MHz bandwidth frequency for 5G mobile services and relocate service providers within that spectrum to the remaining 200MHz. As the C-band spectrum is mostly used for TV and radio operations, many providers will vacate the 300MHz targeted for 5G services. These transitions will require affected providers to navigate complex technical changes including installation of new and existing antennas and the repointing and filtering required for the antenna upgrades.
— Brian Galante
On October 15, three FEMA representatives will be on hand to help commemorate the launch of “an all-hazards upgrade” to what is considered to be a “Primary Entry Point” facility at the heritage home for News and Talk in New England — iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM 1030 in Boston.
FEMA and iHeartMedia Boston are teaming for the event, scheduled for 11am on that Friday in mid-October. It will be held at the WBZ transmitter and “PEP” site, in Hull, Mass.
According to iHeartMedia, the modernization to the emergency studio increases WBZ Radio’s resiliency to continue broadcasting under all conditions, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
The facility is one of 77 across the country that serve as a National Public Warning System Primary Entry Point (PEP) station, participating with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during and after incidents and disasters.
This makes WBZ Radio the 13th station in the nation to work with FEMA to complete the all-hazards upgrade, which includes increased sheltering capabilities, expanded broadcast capacity, and sustainable power generation for all types of hazardous events.
A ribbon cutting, official remarks, a Q&A session for local media, a tour of the facility, and a live demonstration at the WBZ PEP station emergency studio are scheduled.
Speakers include Antwane Johnson, Director of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System; FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Nick Russo; IPAWS Program Manager Manny Centeno; iHeartMedia EVP of Engineering & Systems Integration Jeff Littlejohn; and iHeartMedia Boston Market President Alan Chartrand.
Politicians set to appear include Sen. Ed Markey, State Senator Patrick O’Connor, State Representative Joan Meschino, and Hull Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Jennifer Constable.
WBZ on-air host Dan Rea will also be in attendance.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC has announced the winners of the agency’s Excellence in Engineering Awards, which recognize Commission staff who have made outstanding engineering, scientific or technical contributions.
Julia Tu and Ryan Hedgpeth from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau share the 2021 Excellence in Engineering award for their work on the Commission’s technical investigation into the nationwide outage of a major wireless network.
“Their efforts will help ensure that rapid, efficient, nationwide radio communications service is available to all the people of the United States,” the Commission said. Their work on the project will help to avoid similar outages in the future, including through recommendations to service providers regarding periodic improvements to network diversity, validation of software upgrades in a lab environment, and active monitoring of 911 network components, the FCC added.
“Every day, the FCC benefits from the immense source of talent working within the agency,” acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said at the September Open Meeting, held last week. “I’m proud to recognize Julia and Ryan for their commitment to using their creativity and ingenuity in service of the public.”
The pro-MVPD American Television Alliance (ATVA) on Friday filed brief reply comments in response to the FCC’s quadrennial review.
To perhaps little surprise, the group, which counts ACA Connects as a member, blasted broadcasters for having “largely repeated” old arguments in support of their desire to relax or eliminate the duopoly prohibition.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
The latest quarterly broadcast station totals have been released from the FCC.
And, when one compares the numbers to the end of the second quarter of 2021, one big takeaway is obvious: There are more than 150 fewer radio and TV stations licensed in the U.S. than on June 30.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
The company getting notice for its technology that empowers “dynamic visuals” to radio broadcasts has just signed up Cox Media Group as its latest clients.
Already, the company’s radio stations are using the Steve Newberry-led company’s patented web-based software to publish synched messages on vehicle dashboards.
The capabilities provided to such stations as Hot Talk WHPT “102.5 The Bone” in Sarasota/Tampa is courtesy of Quu Inc.
It uses “Visual Quus” to bring artist information, local promotions and, importantly, ads to the in-dash audio entertainment system. “Radio stations with Visual Quus offer a better user experience in the car and generate immediate incremental revenue by adding text, logos, and images to on-air advertisements,” Quu claims.
Quu CEO Newberry says, ”The opportunity for radio to use Visual Quus as a sales and marketing tool is huge — 80% of the cars on the road today can display text on the dash. We’re delighted that the innovative team at Cox Media Group has signed on as a long-term partner and look forward to evolving the future of our industry together.”
The year 2020 was a year like no other. A pandemic of global proportions coupled with a summer of activism brought on by social unrest and renewed questioning of the “status quo” resulted in a call to action as never before seen, at least not in our lifetime.
Brands are paying attention. Consumers are watching and listening to see how brands are reacting. Creative directors and media buyers are shifting greater focus and budget to better reach a more diverse audience and engage the same in marketing partnerships.
That’s why Forecast 2022 is poised to present 2021’s most provocative in-person conversation on the course of advertising — and what broadcast media leaders need to know.
Deborah Wahl, Global Chief Marketing Officer of General Motors, sits down with American Urban Radio Networks CEO Chesley Maddox-Dorsey for an exclusive conversation on GM marketing — how broadcast fits into its strategy, and what the major automotive company looks for in marketing partnerships. Wahl and Maddox-Dorsey also plan to discuss GM’s commitment to increasing minority media expenditures over the next few years.
They will be joined by Doug Ray, Chief Product Officer for Global Media at dentsu Americas.
Ray has been instrumental in the creation and launch of Project Booker, an initiative focused on African American- developed and -owned content that is being distributed on African American-owned radio and is leading the way in how the global media agency community is doing business with that minority-owned media. Ray will offer his agency perspective on a topic that has all of Madison Avenue rethinking and recasting their role in marketing to American consumers — and who those consumers are today.
Register now for Forecast 2022 and take advantage of early bird pricing. Registration includes admittance to the Broadcast Leadership Reception honoring the 2021 Top Radio and Television Leaders.
Always a great networking event, this year’s is even more important!
The Radio and Television Industry’s Financial Summit: Forecast brings together the best and brightest talent in broadcasting and advertising to forecast the coming year, and to discuss the trends and momentums that will affect ratings and revenue. From Washington to Wall Street, Forecast focuses on what’s ahead in the broadcast community’s future and how to prepare for its opportunities and challenges. Join today’s industry leaders and be part of the discussions and debates about what’s ahead for radio in 2022 and beyond.Register today for Forecast 2022. The venue is small – demand is higher than usual – don’t be left out due to a sellout!
NOTE: The Harvard Club adheres to City of New York rules and regulations pertaining to COVID-19 vaccination. Please make your plans accordingly.
An individual who has served as an in-house marketing expert for NBCUniversal Local‘s local business initiatives has been promoted to VP of Marketing for the NBCUniversal division.
She’ll be in charge of leading the creative marketing efforts for OTT spaces as NBC and Telemundo Owned Stations continue to expand originally produced programming across multiple platforms.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
Benjamin L. Homel has moved forward with the sale of another FM radio station serving a far northern portion of New York’s Adirondack Region.
For the majority of radio industry professionals, Mr. Homel is better known as one of the most colorful leaders of the last 25 years: Randy Michaels.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
Tom Troland has gained attention in recent years for his partnership with Michael Mallace and for his role as the head of RedRock Media Group, the entity that wished to spin an Oldies FM in Grand Junction, Colo., to the owner of a local daily newspaper.
Today, Troland is in the news for his decision to shed an FM translator serving the popular outdoor enthusiast hub of Moab, Utah.
Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
The much anticipated Fall 2021 edition of the Radio + Television Business Report‘s quarterly magazine is being distributed Monday via digital PDF download to all subscribers.
It’s the exclusive home to this year’s Top Local TV Leaders rankings, based on reader nominations; important media technology company updates; and the only place readers will find the findings of the Media Staffing Network/RBR+TVBR annual TV Sales Salary Survey.
What else can you find inside the latest RBR+TVBR magazine?
Not a RBR+TVBR Member? Don’t wait! Click here to secure your access to all that the Radio + Television Business Report has to offer media business professionals every day.
Please show your support by using the Ko-Fi link at the bottom of the page. Thank you for supporting REC's efforts!
