Radio+Television Business Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau have a reminder for all full power and Class A TV stations assigned transition completion dates in phases 1-5 of the Transition Scheduling Plan, and for repacked stations that were granted permission to transition prior to the phase 1 testing period.

If you want a reimbursement check, don’t hesitate.

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Why are you not you using a green screen when you Zoom? Public relations veteran Rosemary Ravinal recently conducted an informal poll on LinkedIn and was surprised at the findings. What did she learn? More than 80% of respondents do not use a green screen with a virtual background. “That was disappointing, but not surprising,” she says in this column.

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Quietly, and with hardly any media attention whatsoever, the FCC late Friday (9/3) released its Fifth Report on the ownership of broadcast media stations in the U.S.

It tabulates 2019 biennial ownership data from FCC Form 323 and form 323-E, and the latest findings led Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to react. In his view, the data only strengthen the need for action on the “lack of progress” toward increasing the number of owners who are women and/or people of color.

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The E.W. Scripps Company has named two industry leaders to oversee programming and news standards for the Scripps Networks news division.

Both individuals report to Kate O’Brian, head of the news group for Scripps Networks.

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In May 2020, he was named VP of Broadcast Operations at RNN, the over-the-air news and information network based in the New York Tri-State area, born out of the former WTZA-62 in Kingston, N.Y.

Now, this individual with experience at a L.A. UHF station and, before that, at a Tribune property in Portland, Ore., is joining Sinclair Broadcast Group.

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Licensed to the municipality of Egypt Lake, Fla., is a Class B AM with 2,800 watts from 2 towers when the sun is up and 800 watts from 3 towers after dark. It serves the entire Tampa-St. Petersburg region, minus Polk County.

Giving it a boost in central Hillsborough County is an FM translator at 101.9 MHz.

Both have been sold by Neal Ardman‘s NIA Broadcasting. 

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With a Class A signal blanketing a one-time Spring Break destination that remains a popular winter burg, one blasted by Hurricane Michael in 2018, Horizon Broadcasting  serves Panama City Beach, Fla., with sports talk programming supplied by ESPN Radio.

The affiliation has been in place since late June 2017. Now, it is being solidified as a LMA-to-buy opportunity is being executed more than four years later.

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While Philip Falcone‘s Sovryn Holdings snaps up a New York City LPTV property from Charles Wong, he’s also signing off on a deal involving one of several “special” low-power facilities being sold by Mako Communications — a low-power CP that doesn’t need to be built until 2023.

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What are some of the biggest brands using spot television and spot cable to best connect with consumers, and grow their sales? The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Reports are out for the week ending September 5.

What categories and products are leading the way with viewers?

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The Media Bureau of the FCC has opened a Docket that serves as an intelligence gathering mechanism for determining just how accessible children’s educational and informational programming is.

It could set off protests among the Republican Commissioners at the FCC, who during the Pai Commission stated that commercially licensed broadcast TV stations need not adhere to rules requiring it to air programming during certain hours of the week due to the “abundance” of other sources available to Americans.

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A 1,000-watt daytime-only AM radio station could be on the hook for a financial penalty for being delinquent with its FCC license renewal application.

It’s just the latest Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture handed out to a radio station that was tardy.

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By Rob Dumke and Adam Jacobson

A battle is brewing among broadcasters with respect to how the FCC should move forward with its media ownership rules. Late last week, the NAB and a coalition of nine broadcast media companies including Townsquare Media each submitted comments to the Commission reiterating their calls for a loosening of the “subcaps” pertaining to AM and FM radio station ownership in a given market.

If it were up to the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), zero amendments should be made as part of the FCC’s 2018 Quadrennial Review of its broadcast ownership rules.

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By Rob Dumke

Eight former FCC Chairman and the first woman to serve as Acting FCC Chairs have joined the growing list of supporters who advocate for the reinstatement of a federal tax certificate program.

The legislative efforts are designed to encourage investment in Radio and TV station ownership by women and minorities.

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By Rob Dumke

The FCC is seeking comments on three main issues related to broadband deployment in Multiple Tenant Environment (MTE) buildings.

Given the growing use of OTT, “FAST” channels, and video-on-demand, along with the continued use of smart speakers for streaming audio, it could be a matter that effects broadcast media more than many industry leaders realize.

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He most recently served as VP/Communications for VICE Media Group.

Now, this PR and media relations pro is back in familiar environs — ABC News.

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By Rob Dumke

There’s a Director of Business Development/Streamers for streaming TV operation Wurl.

It’s the former Head of Business Development for Dish’s Sling TV.

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By Rob Dumke

Hearst Television is expanding its original program production and distribution capabilities with the creation of the Hearst Media Production Group.

And, a longtime Hearst Television executive has been named president of the new group.

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By Rob Dumke

Circle City Broadcasting and Metro Video Productions have signed an agreement that effectively expands the “Indiana News Network,” based at the DuJuan McCoy-owned TV stations serving Indianapolis, to another Hoosier State market.

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Audio advertising has gone through some seismic shifts in the last decade thanks to a number of factors. There’s more listeners and more ways to listen – according to Edison Research, 74% of 25- to 54-year-olds are regularly streaming music, news and podcasts, with smart speakers emerging as one of the most popular ways to listen. While technology makes it possible to harness the power of data to create truly targeted advertising. How then, to turn all of this potential into profit for broadcasters? Introducing Adthos Creative Studio For the first time, Adthos Creative Studio enables the production of broadcast-quality advertising audio using synthetic voice technology for on-the-go spot creation, with a powerfully targeted approach.  So much more than a text to speech solution, it’s a first-of-a-kind browser based multitrack editor that allows you and your advertiser to collaborate online, combining music, human and synthetic voice to produce real-time audio advertising. Hearing is believing Adthos Creative Studio harnesses the power of AI to produce natural sounding and programmable audio that needs to be heard to be believed. Within the standard package choose from up to 14 US – English different voices, with many more available in Adthos’ exclusive voice talent library as part of the professional voiceover package. Once you’ve chosen your voice, bring it to life with character and personality: control intonation, speed and apply reading rules for certain types of content such as phone numbers or emails to deliver realistic and engaging audio. Almost like directing your own voice actor! Advertising that’s always a step ahead Alongside text-to-speech functionality, Creative Studio’s one-of-a-kind embedded webserver allows the insertion of content based on different data sets to produce timely, relevant advertising. From web-based information such as the weather pages, using geo-targeting for location-based advertising, or even Excel files in the case of information such as pricing catalogues for supermarket deals. Taking care of the humans It may sound as if this takes away opportunities from voiceover professionals, but it’s quite the opposite. We provide several ways for voice talent to monetize their synthetic voices, for example a royalty system. They also have access to a complete audit of where, when and what their voice has been used for, including being able to playback the recording, and opt out of various kinds of advertising e.g., Alcohol or adult-themed content. Where you decide to use your own voice talent, they’ll also be able to sign up to enjoy the same conditions. Astonishing possibilities. Unbelievable price. You’d expect all of this to come at a cost wouldn’t you? Think again. Adthos Creative Studio comes in at just $49.99/month for a standard subscription. While it’s ready for production and available, Adthos Creative Studio will launch initially with Limited Access, meaning customers must apply and be approved by Adthos before they can access it.  Once approved, customers will get the chance to experience and utilize the full potential of broadcast-quality AI-generated audio advertising.  Curious? Prepare to be amazed 

In partnership with Telos Alliance, Grass Valley is releasing Telos Infinity VIP (Virtual Intercom Platform) on GV AMPP (Agile Media Processing Platform), a professional intercom tool for cloud-based media production workflows.

Infinity VIP on AMPP supports essential intercom functionality that is already well known to production professionals, including partylines, IFBs, groups and peer-to-peer communication.

This new cloud-based production functionality is being beta-tested by All Mobile Video (AMV) and will be live with an AMV customer later in the year..

“It’s critical to us that the maximum number of productions are able to get the most out of our industry-leading intercom solutions,” commented Scott Stiefel, Chief Operating Officer of Telos Alliance. “As a GV Media Universe Alliance Partner, our technology is now tightly integrated with AMPP, putting our intercom solutions in prime position for productions using the cloud-based platform. Through seamless access to our solutions, we look forward to gaining new customers as well as pleasing existing users looking to move as much functionality as possible to the cloud.”

Telos Infinity VIP on AMPP is a native SaaS solution tightly integrated from both an operational and commercial standpoint for a frictionless experience. The Infinity VIP on AMPP cloud server and virtual panel apps are available from the AMPP app store and deploy in the same way as any AMPP application.

AMV CEO Eric Duke commented, “Our beta trials of Infinity VIP on AMPP have gone incredibly well with our customers, and we look forward to Grass Valley building in all the functionality we need to take the fullest advantage of cloud production. This will make us more profitable, more flexible and most important of all, enables AMV to offer the best possible service.”

“The undoubted advantages of cloud-based production, even in a studio environment, means that the methodology behind GV AMPP is a hugely positive paradigm shift for the video production industry,” noted Grass Valley President/CEO Tim Shoulders. “Today, the concept of cloud production is widely understood throughout the industry; it’s now the job of the GV Media Universe to make available to production teams all the professional functionality they need through the cloud. The Telos intercom solution is a fantastic example of how this works to everyone’s benefit. Video producers get access to the latest tools wherever they are, Telos gains new users and we can enable customers, like AMV, the functionality they need to provide workflows that produce exciting content.”

With Infinity VIP on AMPP, operators supporting live productions from anywhere can access the application from any connected browser. The microphone and speakers from the connected phone, tablet, or computer allow operators to communicate with team members, while using the same device for performing their job functions using other AMPP-enabled solutions such as switching, audio mixing, replay, routing, and monitoring.

Usage monitoring is consolidated with other AMPP applications to provide a single billing experience. While providing the latest in flexible user interfaces, this new intercom solution also provides cloud connection for existing intercom hardware, providing all the benefits of a new cloud-enabled system while retaining existing intercom infrastructure and workflows.