Radio+Television Business Report

KNXR-FM in Rochester, Minn. is the top-rated station in the market, ranked No. 217 by Nielsen Audio.

It’s a 100kw boomer, and the crown jewel in a 19-station operation focused on Southern Minnesota owned by Lynn Ketelsen and John Linder’s Blooming Prairie Farm & Radio.

How has this Classic Hits station branded as “Minnesota 97.5” managed to stay live and local from 6am-7pm, and keep both local and national advertising buys flowing some 11 1/2 months into the COVID-19 pandemic?

Station Operations Manager and morning co-host Lou Kastler shares the details in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Lou Kastler, KNXR-FM” on Spreaker.

MIAMI — He was part of the legendary team that made Y-100 one of America’s most successful FM Top 40 stations in the 1970s. Later, he would propel Power 96 to the top of the ratings as a Latino-focused dance-fueled alternative to his former station.

In the 1990s, he would pivot by becoming one of the nation’s most respected Hispanic radio programming executives. But, he also had his challenges, with negative press nearly costing him his job some 30 years ago and a botched format change at WASH-FM in Washington, D.C., a career low point.

Today, the radio industry is coming together to mourn Bill Tanner, the EVP/Programming at Birmingham, Ala.-based SummitMedia.

RBR+TVBR OBSERVATION: Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson grew up listening to “Tanner in the Morning.” He later spent decades interviewing Tanner for R&R and Hispanic Market Weekly, maintaining a close professional relationship across three decades. He shares his thoughts below.

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The nation’s largest owner of broadcast TV stations on Thursday announced that its Board of Directors has approved a big new share repurchase program, one that authorizes it to repurchase up to $1 billion shares of its Class A common stock.

That’s not the only huge news from Nexstar Media Group. It’s board has also approved an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend — a somewhat incredible feat as some radio broadcasting companies saw COVID-19 suspend their dividend altogether.

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Entercom and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to an extension to their broadcast partnership agreement today, keeping WJZ-FM “105.7 The Fan” in Baltimore as the flagship station for the American League baseball club.

As part of the partnership, Entercom will manage the Baltimore Orioles Radio Network – comprised of more than 40 stations across the mid-Atlantic region.

The contract ensures that Baltimore Orioles Radio Network programming, including live game broadcasts, pre- and postgame shows, regular season weekly shows and additional offseason programming will air exclusively in the Baltimore market on WJZ-FM.

“We are very excited to continue our broadcast partnership with the Orioles,” said Tracy Brandys, Entercom/Baltimore’s SVP/Market Manager. “This ongoing partnership with the team is a major component of Baltimore’s number-one sports brand – 105.7 The Fan. As the nation’s unrivaled leader in sports radio, we’re proud to continue to be the station Baltimore turns to for the latest updates on their local teams.”

T.J. Brightman, SVP and Chief Revenue Officer for the Major League Baseball team, added, “Entercom has been a valuable partner for the Orioles and we are pleased to continue our relationship. Through our partnership of the Orioles Radio Network, we have provided millions of fans across the Mid-Atlantic access to every single Orioles game and our corporate partners the opportunity to showcase their own brands.”

WJZ-FM, once Oldies WQSR-FM under Sconnix Broadcasting ownership, also serves as the flagship station for the Maryland Terrapin Radio Network and provides Baltimore gameday football coverage.

On December 13, Sirius XM Holdings successfully launched its SXM-7 satellite. In-orbit testing of the satellite began on January 4, 2021.

Something went wrong. Now, Sirius XM is assuring consumers and investors that it “does not expect” its satellite radio service to be impacted by “adverse SXM-7 events.”

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From Podcast Business Journal

The media company that owns such stations as WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C., and WTSP-10 in Tampa has acquired a podcast network focused on sports.

TEGNA has acquired Locked On Podcast Network, which produces daily shows for every team across the four major professional sports leagues, as well as more than 30 college sports programs.

TEGNA, formerly known as Gannett, already owns VAULT Studios, which produces podcasts.

“Local communities are at the heart of what we do, and nothing brings communities together like local sports,” said TEGNA President/CEO Dave Lougee. “That’s why we’re very pleased to welcome Locked On to TEGNA. We look forward to growing the Locked On network through collaboration with our local stations, including the potential for video simulcasts of shows, and further increasing distribution, engagement and monetization of these fan favorite podcasts.”

Locked On CEO David Locke added, “With local stations in many of America’s largest professional and college sports markets, joining the TEGNA family was a natural fit as we seek to grow our audience and expand our offerings. We’re excited to begin our next phase as we work with TEGNA on new innovations that will enhance our value with our loyal listeners and help us reach new sports fans across the country.”

Founded in 2016, Locked On produces 160 podcasts, providing in-depth coverage of every NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL team plus major college sports teams. Locked On publishes more than 600 podcast episodes each week, generating eight million listens a month. Its podcasts were downloaded more than 80 million times in 2020.

Locked On also produces industry-leading, league-wide daily podcasts for fantasy sports, sports betting, the NFL Draft and national shows featuring industry-renowned writers, reporters and insiders. Big 5 college conference experts deliver daily podcasts for college basketball and football fans for each major conference.

Locked On will continue to operate as a standalone business within TEGNA. Locke, who is also the radio voice of the Utah Jazz, COO Carl Weinstein and Locked On’s staff will join TEGNA as part of the transaction. It is expected that current contributors will continue to provide content to Locked On.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. TEGNA will finance the acquisition through available cash on hand, and the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on TEGNA’s 2021 financials or leverage.

If you weren’t yet convinced that the confluence of pro sports and gambling wasn’t just more than a fad, Sinclair Broadcast Group has perhaps just made a move that will change that for good.

The company led by CEO Chris Ripley has shed all vestiges of FOX Sports branding from its recently acquired regional sports networks (RSNs) by moving forward with the release of logos reflecting their previously announced rebranding.

Bally Sports regional logos will replace the existing FOX Sports regional logos when the networks officially rebrand in the coming months.

For Sinclair President of Local Sports Steve Rosenberg, the formal unveiling of the Bally Sports logo — along with its regional variants — “signifies a new, transformative chapter in the regional sports business and is representative of our cohesive partnership with Bally’s. The upcoming rebrand across our RSN footprint is incredibly exciting, not only for our entire portfolio, but for loyal sports fans across the country.”

Created in concert with Interbrand, Bally’s marketing consultancy group, the logo features the iconic red Bally script atop a red “sports” typography.

As part of the rebrand, two RSNs will transition to new geographic monikers when
Prime Ticket becomes Bally Sports SoCal. At the same time, Sports Time Ohio (STO) becomes Bally Sports Great Lakes.

The moves, says Sinclair, come in an effort “to further align the regions with their true
geographical roots and the new Bally’s partnership.”

The Prime Ticket name has disappeared once before, only to come back by popular demand from local sports fans. STO has a long heritage in the Buckeye State.

Meanwhile, two limited part-time channels – FOX Sports Carolinas and FOX Sports Tennessee – will be “sunset.” All live games and original programming – namely Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes content – will shift to FOX Sports South under the new name Bally Sports South and FOX Sports Southeast, which becomes Bally Sports Southeast, respectively.

Upon rebranding, the Sinclair-owned and operated RSN portfolio will include the following 19 network brands: Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally
Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports
Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports
Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports
Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West, and Bally
Sports Wisconsin.

Bally’s and Sinclair in November struck a long-term strategic partnership that would
combine Bally’s sports betting technology with Sinclair’s market footprint, which includes not only 188 local broadcast stations but also the Tennis Channel.

The Bally’s brand is known primarily for its casinos, online sports betting and iGaming solutions.

The partnership also marked “a major milestone” for Sinclair, it says, “setting the stage for further gamification of live sports that will provide audiences a first-of-its-kind interactive viewing experience.”

A Class A FM serving Cape Cod and the famed town of Provincetown, Mass., is changing hands.

It marks a new era for a station offering rock ‘n’ roll favorites along the Dunes.

And, there’s a restaurant getting some ad time as part of the deal’s terms.

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She was what Nexstar Media Group founder and Chairman/CEO Perry Sook calls “an integral member of HBO’s executive team,” with leadership expertise in marketing strategy, audience development and multi-platform content distribution that helped HBO scale its business into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

Now she’s set to join Nexstar’s Board of Directors.

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Four stations operated by Gray Television via a shared services agreement with their licensee now have new measurement services pacts with Nielsen.

But, Gray had nothing to do with the contracts, as the stations’ owner is responsible for inking such deals.

The agreement was signed between Nielsen and American Spirit. It includes a new contract for Local TV measurement and Nielsen Ad Intel for FOX affiliate WDBD-40 in Jackson, Miss., and a renewal for Local TV measurement and Nielsen Ad Intel for FOX affiliate WSFX-26 in Wilmington, N.C.

In addition, dual FOX/ABC affiliate KVHP-29 in Lake Charles, La., recovering from strong 2020 hurricane damage to the city; and FOX affiliate WXTX-54 Columbus Ga., have signed new agreements for Nielsen Ad Intel.

Nielsen Ad Intel is a provider of competitive advertising intelligence information, tracking ad activity and spending across all local markets.

American Spirit Media, based in Charlotte, was founded in 2003 by Thomas B. Henson as Ottumwa Media Holdings.

 

She joined iHeartMedia in October 2019 as SVP of Multicultural Sales, responsible for developing sales opportunities with key advertisers and their agencies across the company’s broadcast stations, digital, podcast, events and its Premiere Networks arm.

Now, this former Google U.S. Multicultural Sales Lead, with experience at Hulu following a nearly eight-year run in sales at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, is iHeart’s D&I leader.

Yesenia Bello has been selected to serve as iHeartMedia’s first SVP of Diversity and Inclusion. She reports to Chief HR Offier and Chief Diversity Officer Michele Laven, who Bello will work closely with “to drive comprehensive long-term and measurable diversity and inclusion strategies across iHeartMedia.”

Bello will also be charged with the development and implementation of specific Diversity and Inclusion goals and solutions for employee, community, client and agency engagement that drive inclusive behaviors and business practices.

Further, iHeart says Bello will spearhead the development and implementation of inclusion strategies for iHeart that focus on employee retention and development, including identifying and showcasing existing high potential talent across iHeartMedia and promoting internal mobility; collaborating on ongoing Diversity and Inclusion training and education for employees and leadership; and attracting dynamic, diverse and multi-generational talent across the company’s spectrum of audio brands and platforms.

There’s more: Bello will be tasked with creating opportunities to engage and collaborate with iHeartMedia’s advertising and business partners on Diversity and Inclusion initiatives; supporting the advertising sales and marketing teams on Diversity and Inclusion client and agency conversations; working closely with iHeartMedia’s sales and marketing teams on sales and marketing materials; and partnering on Diversity and Inclusion events and projects supporting various iHeartMedia businesses across the country.

“At iHeart, we know that supporting our company’s diverse voices while continuing to bring in new ones is essential to our company’s success,” Laven said. “Throughout her career, Yesenia has made it a priority to understand the needs and goals of multicultural communities. This, combined with her deep knowledge of our company, makes her the right person to take on this newly created role.”

Bello added that she was excited to move into “this critical new role” at iHeart. “I’ve seen iHeart’s commitment to diversity and inclusion up close since joining the company in 2019, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our entire company on new, exciting initiatives to continue to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion at iHeart.”

Bello immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 11. Upon graduating from CUNY-Staten Island in 2003, she traveled to Rome for a study abroad program. When she returned, she joined Telemundo as a sales assistant working on the network level and for Mun2, now Universo. She’d rise to a sales planner and eventually to a sales associate.

In December 2011, Bello departed to become Hulu’s Multicultural NSM, a role she’d hold for nearly five years.

In August 2016, Bello joined Google to lead multicultural sales, exiting in October 2019 for her most recent role at iHeart, in New York.

The Center for Sales Strategy (CSS), a sales performance company, has released its 2020 Media Sales Report, an annual review of data from two surveys conducted in the final three months of last year.

The report studies the media landscape over the past year, including the expectations for sales managers and the strategies employed by media sales professionals to assess their impact across five key topics: Sales Department Structure, Training and Development, Setting Appointments and Sales Process, Sales Enablement, Culture and Industry Outlook, and the effects of COVID-19 on the Media Sales landscape.

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It has been absent from the channel lineup of a small MVPD ensconced within the vast Washington, D.C. DMA since the end of 2018.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, this Nexstar Media Group property once owned by Quorum Broadcasting is back on the lineup.

 

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The Mentoring & Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) Group is extending the application window for the 2021 Mildred Carter Mentoring Program.

The new deadline is Friday, February 5.

Established in 2002, the MIW’s heritage annual mentoring initiative connects mentees with accomplished women recognized as leaders, mentors, and game-changers within all aspects of radio broadcasting. vCreative, the nation’s leading provider of media workflow solutions, is sponsoring the 2021 Mildred Carter Mentoring Program for the second consecutive year.

Four candidates from the radio broadcasting industry within the sales, marketing, programming, and digital disciplines will be selected for the 2021 program.

For mentee criteria, and instructions on how to apply, please visit https://miw.secondstreetapp.com/Mildred-Carter-Mentee-App-2021/

 

“The MIW’s Mildred Carter Mentoring Program has been instrumental in providing guidance, leadership, and bridging connections within the industry,” said 2009 mentee and mentoring program chair Lindsay Adams, who serves as Entercom’s VP/National Partnerships. “From personal experience, I can attest It’s an invaluable experience that helps shape and curate career paths and potential.”

Jinny Laderer, founder and CEO of vCreative, adds, “Investing and supporting the personal and professional development of the next generation of female leaders in radio is something I am truly passionate about, and I look forward to watching the 2021 MIW Mildred Carter mentees continue to excel in their careers.”

The MIW Group Mentoring Program is named in memory of Mildred Carter, who, along with her husband, Andrew “Skip” Carter, founded the first African American owned radio station in the U.S. in 1950, when they turned on KPRS Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Carter ran the Carter Broadcast Group for many years after the death of Skip Carter, before turning over control of the company to her grandson, Michael Carter in 1987.

New York Festivals® Radio Awards, established in 1982, is now accepting entries.

Every year, NYF Radio Awards carefully evaluates and updates the category roster to provide the most current categories to reflect the innovative content produced in today.

“In a year marked by disruption of every kind, New York Festivals is implementing additional categories for social justice across all genres,” said Rose Anderson, VP & Executive Director of New York Festivals Radio Awards. “These categories spotlight storytellers who are using all of their creativity to engage with their listeners on this critical topic.”

New categories for 2021 include: Best Social Justice Report, Social Justice Reporting, Social Justice Documentary, Best Regularly Scheduled Social Justice Program, Best Social Justice Special, Social Justice Promo, Best Digital Social Justice Program, Social Justice Podcast, and Social Justice Student Content.

For a complete list of the 2021 Radio Awards Categories, click HERE.

This year is the eleventh year of NYF’s strategic partnership with NAB Show, the ultimate marketplace for people passionate about media, entertainment, and technology. All attendees will have access to the multi-day NAB event which is the world’s largest media entertainment marketplace.

“We will be honoring Radio winners at NAB Show in Las Vegas in October,” Anderson said. “Combined with our TV & Film Winners, it will be a celebration of innovative storytellers across all platforms.”

The Radio Awards receives entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from over 30 countries around the globe. The mission of the competition is to honor the achievements of the men and women who make up the global audio storytelling community.

NYF invites award-winning industry leaders from around the world to become members of their world-class Radio Awards Grand Jury. The 2021 Grand jury will be set in the coming months. Those jurors will include some of the most world’s recognizable voices and captivating content producers in the radio industry. Entries are judged on production values, organization, presentation of information, creativity, and use of the medium.

All Entries in the 2021 competition will be judged online by NYF’s Radio Awards Grand Jury of 200+ producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals from around the globe. Nominated Finalists are judged by a panel at the United Nations for the UNDGC Awards. Award-winning entries will be showcased on the Radio Awards winners gallery.

The deadline to enter the 2021 Radio Awards competition is May 20, 2021.

To enter please click HERE.

The newest FCC Commissioner has named his wireless advisor and chief of staff while also selecting a media advisor, confidential assistant and staff assistant.

At the same time, he’s already saying farewell to two individuals who helped him set up his office.

 

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The C-Band, an essential for many broadcast TV and radio stations’ programming services, is in the midst of a four-year transition that’s moving at full speed. Some are likening this move to the TV repack process.

If you’re not wholly familiar with the importance of the C-Band, this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM, is just for you!

In just 10 minutes, Greg Palm, the Vice President of Broadcast and Network Solutions for USSI Global, shares with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson how satellite networks play a vital role in the broadcast content acquisition, distribution and delivery chain; the central purpose of the C-Band transition, and how broadcasters can work with companies like USSI Global to operate and maintain their systems.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Greg Palm, USSI Global” on Spreaker.

Entercom Communications on Monday launched an audio network that includes broadcast radio stations and its Radio.com platform expressly for the sports gaming community.

It followed the November 2020 closing of Entercom’s all-cash purchase of sports data and iGaming affiliate platform QL Gaming Group (QLGG).

Investors liked the programming move. With 15 minutes remaining in Tuesday’s trading on Wall Street, ETM had climbed to its second-highest value in the last 12 months.

At 3:45pm Eastern, Entercom shares were priced at $4.42, up 18 cents.

Volume was slightly higher than average, at 2.80 million shares.

After an initial drop in value at the Opening Bell, ETM took off like a rocket, reaching $4.46 at 10:26am Eastern.

Trading softened slightly, only to pick up again in mid-afternoon.

As the Closing Bell approached, ETM’s activity increased, as did the slight price fluctuation.

Entercom’s short-term, mid-term and long-term performance outlooks are all “favorable” to Wall Street analysts.

There’s little movement of significance in the latest Spot Ten TV report from Media Monitors.

And, that’s a good thing as it demonstrates the ongoing commitment of several brands to campaigns involving free-to-air television stations.

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“Congress has given the FCC its marching orders, and we are not wasting time.”

Those are the words of acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who released on Tuesday (1/26) the agenda for the Commission’s February Open Meeting.

It will be her first heading the agency.

Taking a cue from her predecessor, Ajit Pai, Rosenworcel released “Notes from the Acting Chairwoman” that follow his lead in offering a preview of what’s to be discussed at the next Open Meeting.

“There are significant tasks for the agency in last month’s new appropriations law,” she said, outlining what will be immediately taken up by the Commission, which presently is comprised of two Democrats and two Republicans. “They include helping Americans afford broadband, expanding access to telehealth technologies, building better maps that reflect where high-speed service is and is not, and improving the safety and security of our nation’s communications.”

Rosenworcel adds that the FCC’s challenge as of today “is to couple Congress’s vision with strategies for successful implementation, so we’re going to hit the ground running.”

And, she adds, “It’s not time to think small—and we can’t afford to act slowly either.”

That’s why I have asked the FCC staff to prepare presentations for the Commission’s February Open Meeting on the plans for each of these tasks.

What’s on deck? Progress on the effort to create an Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, next steps for the agency’s COVID-19 Telehealth program, the work the agency is doing to improve its broadband maps, and two rulemakings seeking comment on security initiatives from Congress are on the agenda.