Radio+Television Business Report

Neal Scarbrough is joining American Public Media business news franchise, Marketplace. He comes over from FOX Sports where he was VP and Executive Editor.

“We are excited for Neal to come on board as Marketplace’s new Vice President and General Manager. He has an extensive background in media, broadcast journalism and a strong track record when it comes to innovation, program development and building audiences,” said Dave Kansas, President of American Public Media. “In addition, Neal is a proven culture leader, with a deep devotion to diversity and inclusion. We are excited to have him joining the APM leadership team and look forward to adding his gifts and talents to all that we do at Marketplace and APM.”

“What we thought we knew about our economy changes every day, and Marketplace has established a gold standard using interviews and storytelling to make real sense of it to real people,” said Scarbrough. “It’s a big win for me to be able to work with such a dynamic collection of talent, producers and editors.”

Scarbrough will oversee a team of broadcast and digital journalists, editors and producers across radio and on demand in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, London and Shanghai.

Hearst Television has promoted Eric Meyrowitz (left), SVP Sales, and Ashley Gold (right), VP Sales, to Executive Vice Presidents and group heads of the company. In their new roles, Gold and Meyrowitz will share oversight of Hearst Television’s 33 television stations and two radio stations along with Michael J. Hayes, EVP.

“For the last five years, Ashley and Eric have been a fantastic team leading our sales organization to new heights,” said Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb. “I am truly excited that both will join Mike Hayes in providing outstanding leadership and assistance to our local operators. Our ability to have such accomplished executives, who have successfully served in both station sales management and general management, seamlessly step into these important roles speaks to the outstanding depth of talent in our company.”

The promotions come on the heels of Frank Biancuzzo, a longtime Hearst Televison EVP, being

This week marks the 20th Anniversary of ‘The Sean Hannity Show’ in syndication. The Premiere Networks syndicated talker is heard on more than 650 stations.

“But for this audience, I would not be where I am today,” shared Hannity. “I am humbled and grateful for the men and women who give me this microphone every day, and to the greatest country in the world, that allowed me the opportunity to pursue this dream. Thank you.”

“Sean is one of the most talented personalities in all of talk radio, and we couldn’t be happier to mark this special milestone with him,” said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “His passion for talk radio and dedication to his audience continue to drive growth and success for our station and advertising partners.”

Along with being a member of the Radio Hall of Fame, Hannity has been honored with two Marconi awards.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is offering comment on the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), on a number of broadcast radio technical rules under consideration for elimination or adjustment.

“NAB appreciates the Commission’s goal of eliminating or updating unnecessary or outmoded regulations and supports many of the changes proposed in the NPRM. However, given the thousands of radio stations currently operating in the U.S. under challenging economic conditions, it is critical that none of the changes cause any unanticipated consequences.”

Several of the proposed changes noted in the NAB comments:

The Commission Should Eliminate the Maximum Rated Power Limit for AM Transmitters-
“The rated power of a transmitter has nothing to do with compliance with the station’s license terms, and elimination of this rule is not likely to result in increased noncompliance. Further, elimination of this rule should broaden the market of transmitters available to stations and enhance the secondary market for AM transmitters by allowing stations of any class to use transmitters of any rated power. Elimination of this rule may also improve the economics of running an AM station and may reduce the number of transmitters scrapped.”

The Commission Should Harmonize the Second-Adjacent Channel Protection Requirement for Class D (FM) Stations-
“NAB submits that the interference potential for Class D stations is no greater than for other classes and there is no reason to have a different second-adjacent channel protection requirement, particularly given the demonstrated success of the less restrictive requirements for other stations. NAB also observes that few, if any, new Class D licenses have been granted in the past decade and therefore the impact of this rule change will be minimal.”

The Commission Should Not Eliminate the Regulatory Requirement to Consider Proximate Transmitting Facilities-
“The Commission proposes to eliminate a section of the rules, which provides that applications proposing the use of FM transmitting antennas in the immediate vicinity of other FM or TV broadcast antennas must include a showing as to the expected effect, if any, of such approximate operation. The Commission concludes that the rule is unnecessary because broadcast radio antennas within this physical proximity are unlikely to create interference problems. NAB respectfully disagrees. We submit that this requirement provides an important legal tool for defining interference protection rights. NAB believes that eliminating the rule is tantamount to instructing applicants not to worry about the potential effects of their operation on existing stations.”

Other proposed changes addressed in the NAB comments included concerns that broadcasters in the Canadian and Mexican border areas should not be adversely harmed by “Spacing” changes in the regulations.

You can view the full comments from the NAB HERE.

How much value does a 1,000-watt Class C AM serving half of a major metropolitan area have in 2021?

For one Hispanic broadcaster in an area with a fast-growing populace of Spanish speakers, there’s a lot of value — as reflected in the price of a transaction seven years in the making that has just been filed with the Commission.

It’s the best Hispanic Radio Conference ever, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it. Join us later this month in Miami!

 

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

The entity that calls itself the “only” sports betting network dedicated to providing real-time news and analysis across every major sport 24/7 has signed a content distribution deal with YouTube TV.

The arrangement means that subscribers have access to the DraftKings Inc. subsidiary’s sports betting and entertainment programming.

To view VSiN’s content, a YouTube TV Sports Plus add-on package for $10.99 per month is required.

“VSiN is incredibly excited to bring its new 24/7 fall lineup of premier sports betting analysis to YouTube TV,” said Brian Musburger, founder and Chief Executive Officer of VSiN.  “As the first sports betting content provider of the streaming service, we look forward to delivering original programming from some of the biggest names in the industry to the millions of YouTube TV subscribers and the growing number of fans who wager on sports across the country.”

The VSiN channel on YouTube TV gives subscribers access to such talk personalities Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard, sports betting analytics expert Gill Alexander, former football executive Michael Lombardi, and veteran sportscaster Brent Musburger.

— RBR+TVBR West Coast Bureau

Borrell Associates has just completed the analysis of its survey of local ad agencies, and it is now releasing the findings.

What’s the biggest takeaway for the radio industry, or for TV industry executives?

Radio is the largest non-digital media among agencies buying and/or managing media for clients, the survey finds.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

It’s the best Hispanic Radio Conference ever, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it.

 

 

Don’t miss the EDUCATION.

• Learn how the pandemic has reshaped programming and redefined executive vision.
• What’s new at the FCC, and how will future regulations and initiatives impact Hispanic radio growth?
• Where are revenue opportunities most likely to flourish, and what categories will be up/down over the next year for Hispanic radio?
• Get the straight scoop from ad agencies on how marketing and advertising strategies have changed since COVID. Share the IDEAS. • Join forces with other Hispanic radio broadcasters to brainstorm strategies focused on garnering a larger share of the ad pie.
• Gain at least 5 new insights about multicultural marketing to millennials.
• Find out how podcasting can help build your brand — and make money (hint: it’s not all ad revenue, either). Be INSPIRED

• Don’t miss this year’s Medallas de Cortez awards presentation, celebrating the best of the best in Hispanic radio.

 

 

The Hispanic Radio Conference is an annual opportunity to share ideas, discuss, and debate challenges in a multi-platform world, and network in a unified setting. Check out the complete agenda here! Register today, and if you are staying in Miami, don’t forget to take advantage of our limited room block at the Intercontinental at Doral.

 

We care about your safety and comfort. The conference will be presented in a larger than customary conference room to provide maximum space and more distancing. And read here for how the Intercontinental has strengthened procedures designed to give you greater confidence and protection throughout all of the hotel’s facilities.

 

NEW YORK — The VAB, which advocates for television industry sales growth initiatives, has moved forward with the launch of a Measurement Innovation Task Force.

This group, the VAB says, “formally mobilize a highly effective group of the top strategic minds in research, analytics and insights from TV publisher companies to accelerate the pace of overdue innovation in media measurement and currency.”

Already committing to the MITF: NBCUniversal and former Nielsen executive Kelly Abcarian. 

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

In December 2020, TEGNA‘s Board of Directors authorized the renewal of its share repurchase program — a decision that allows the company to repurchase up to $300 million of its issued and outstanding common stock over the next three years.

On Thursday morning, the owner of broadcast TV stations, two digital multicast networks, a podcast network and Connected TV/OTT advertising platform Premion “updated” its repurchasing plans.

How so? It is accelerating the repurchase of shares, and it is “driven by accelerated achievement” of TEGNA’s leverage target.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

TEGNA-owned Quest, the 24/7 adventure and exploration digital multicast network, has launched an ad-supported free streaming service — a move that could widen its reach.

The streaming app offers on demand programming from a catalog of factual entertainment, science, history and engineering programs, and daring adventure-reality series.

The Quest app is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android and iOS.

Brian Weiss, VP of Entertainment Programming and Multicast Networks at TEGNA, says,  “Coupled with our prior launch of the True Crime Network streaming app, this launch furthers TEGNA’s commitment to providing outstanding ad-supported entertainment products to our viewers.”

Seriesavailable to stream include entertaining and informative fare, such as The Aviators, Scrap Kings, Mayday, Huge Moves, Monster Moves, Giant Lobster Hunters, Chasing Monsters and Aussie Gold Hunters. More series will be added in the coming months.

The app will also feature Farpoint Film’s Ice Vikings. For the second season premiering on Quest and streaming in October 2021, TEGNA will serve as a co-production partner. The Quest streaming app will also feature documentary originals such as WFAA’s award-winning VERIFY “Road Trip: Climate Truth” and more from TEGNA stations later this year.

Philip Falcone‘s re-emergence as the CEO of Sovryn Holdings, following his not-so-savory split with HC2 Holdings in June 2020, has captured headlines across 2021.

Under his leadership, HC2 was a buyer. Now, Sovryn is shaping up to be an acquisition player, too.

Falcone has just signed off on paperwork that will bring him a Big Apple low-power TV property.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

A veteran global news executive whose rise in television came in Australia has been appointed to the role of EVP/News Operations and Transformation, CBS News and Stations.

He’ll report to CBS News and Stations Presidents and Co-Heads Wendy McMahon and Neeraj Khemlani in a newly created senior leadership role, in which he will be responsible for “reimagining and aligning” the News Operations and Engineering functions across CBS News and Stations.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

That’s a question financial blog Simply Wall St. is asking about the audio media company that’s home to Cadence13, Pineapple Street and what had been the Radio.com app until its rebranding to Audacy.

With the company’s shares on the NYSE sputtering of late, it’s an interesting look at “who really controls” the company formerly known as Entercom.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Ivis Alexis Padilla believes in the power of Hispanic radio. As such, the media company she manages has just struck a deal to purchase an AM radio station in Durham, N.C.

It happens to be a station the Winston Salem-based broadcasting company led by Stuart Epperson Jr. acquired in December 2020 from Mark Janbakhsh‘s TBLC Media.

It’s the best Hispanic Radio Conference ever, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it.

To learn more, simply click here.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)