Industry News

(Image credit: Public Knowledge)

Gigi Sohn, the Democratic nominee for the FCC told the commission this week that she would recuse herself from television broadcast copyright and retrans issues if her nomination for commissioner is approved.

Sohn’s nomination has garnered some pushback from broadcasters who object to her role as a member of the board of Locast, a streaming service that was found by a court to violate broadcast copyright laws. In add

In a letter to acting FCC general counsel Michelle Ellison and obtained by TV Tech sister publication NextTV, Sohn said the recusal would last for the first three years of her term, but that she would not recuse herself from other media related issues such as media ownership or transfer of control of broadcast, cable, and satellite companies.

Sohn told Ellison that in 2010, as president of Public Knowledge, she signed a Petition for Rulemaking to change rules governing retransmission rules and that in order “to avoid any appearance of impropriety and in interest of ensuring that the public has full confidence that policymakers will make decisions free of bias,” she would voluntarily recuse herself when the FCC considered retrans and broadcast copyright issues.

The NAB welcomed Sohn’s decision.

“Ms. Sohn’s recusal agreement resolves the concerns NAB raised regarding her nomination. NAB appreciates Ms. Sohn’s willingness to seriously consider our issues regarding retransmission consent and broadcast copyright, and to address those concerns in her recusal. We look forward to the Senate moving forward with Ms. Sohn’s confirmation and are eager to work with her and the full complement of commissioners in the very near future,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.

The Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote on Sohn’s nomination next week.

A version of this story first appeared on our sister publication TV Technology’s website.

The post Sohn Says She Will Recuse Herself from Broadcast Copyright, Retrans Issues appeared first on Radio World.

Radio World’s latest ebook is the biggest yet, almost 50 pages chock-full of photos of new studios recently built by leading broadcast organizations.

Yes, new radio studios are still being built during the pandemic, and here’s the proof. Check out the equipment and design choices made by your peers who solved technical problems and overcame challenging deadlines in these exciting buildouts.

You’ll read about new facilities at Audacy Miami, 77 WABC in New York, Nashville Public Radio, CBC/Radio-Canada, Educational Media Foundation in Tennessee, IB3 in Spain, Rider University’s WRRC, Hubbard Cincinnati, the Huskers Radio Network, Midwest Family in South Bend, Urban One Atlanta, The Station of the Cross in Buffalo, University of Sherbrook’s CFAK, Cumulus Kansas City and Cumulus Lake Charles.

Read it here.

The post Spectacular Radio Studios: A Radio World Ebook appeared first on Radio World.

As RBR+TVBR first reported in December 2021, ViacomCBS is investing in the build-out of a news department at its owned-and-operated CBS station serving Detroit, Ann Arbor and Western Ontario.

Now, it has selected a local news and community affairs veteran to serve as its News Director.

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Nexstar Media Group’s Board of Directors have taken an action that’s become something of a rarity in the broadcast media world.

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“The way your face and body appear on a Zoom call can cast the wrong first impression,” notes public relations veteran and “Zoom expert” Rosemary Ravinal. As she notes in this fresh column, “The rule of thirds will help you set up your video, so you show up on the screen looking professional, alert, and ready to do business.”

 

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Gimme Radio announced $3 million in funding in a round led by iHeartMedia.

Gimme is a digital radio service for artists and music fans. It provides a venue where artists choose the music and fans show support through tipping, merchandise sales and vinyl subscriptions.

iHeartMedia joins The Orchard, Concord, Metal Blade Records, Riser House Entertainment and Quartz Hill Records, who also have backed Gimme. Gimme said iHeartMedia’s investment enables the company to extend its reach to more fans and genres while offering iHeartMedia a way to build communities around its own programming and talent.

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Gimme noted that more than 1,200 artists host shows on two stations, Gimme Metal and Gimme Country.

The Gimme Radio executive team, led by Tyler Lenane, CEO and co-founder, consists of music industry executives with experience at digital music services including Beats, Apple Music, Google Play Music, and Napster (formerly Rhapsody).

In a statement announcing the funding and partnership, Lenane said, “Creating rich communities of artists and fans who can have meaningful conversations, build real relationships and transact directly with one another is how the world will experience music and support artists.”

Chris Williams, GM and chief product officer at iHeartRadio, said the company was pleased to help extend the connection between artists and fans, as well as enabling Gimme to reach the iHeartRadio audience.

Submit business announcements to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Gimme Radio Raises $3M, Partners With iHeartMedia appeared first on Radio World.

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As FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sees it, the Commission’s current rules for full-power and translator radio stations “contain a number of provisions that are redundant, outdated, or in conflict with other rules.”

Come February 18, she plans to do something about that.

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As of January 25, the President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of radio broadcasting industry pure-play Saga Communications has a new compensation and employment agreement with the company he leads.

A “third amendment” to an employment agreement first signed in June 2011 by Ed Christian has been finalized. It extends the term of the original agreement from March 31, 2025 to March 31, 2027. It also makes various minor changes to Christian’s agreement pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

The biggest takeaway from the new deal involving Christian, who has been CEO of Saga since 1986: Should there be any change in control at the company, he’d get a lump-sum payment.

Christian is presently 75 years of age. According to the Saga 2021 10-K filing it made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the three years ended December 31, 2020 Christian’s average annual compensation, as defined by the employment agreement, was approximately $1,862,000.

On December 14, 2018, Christian agreed to defer approximately $100,000 of his 2019 salary to be paid 100% on January 3, 2020. On December 6, 2019, Christian agreed to defer approximately $100,000 of his 2020 salary to be paid 100% on January 15, 2021. On December 16, 2020, Christian agreed to defer approximately $100,000 of his 2021 salary which was scheduled to be paid 100% on January 15, 2022.

The National Association of Broadcasters had been pushing for President Biden’s FCC nominee Gigi Sohn to recuse herself from several broadcast issues. The NAB was concerned about her time as a board member of Locast, a nonprofit which was ordered to shut down after illegally streaming programming.

In a letter to FCC general counsel Michele Ellison Sohn has now agreed to recuse herself from matters involving retransmission consent or television broadcast copyright for the first three years of her term. She has also agreed to recuse herself for four years from a docket concerning the rules governing retranmission consent.

While it’s still unclear if Sohn has the votes to be confirmed by The Senate, NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt said that’s good enough for the NAB. “Ms. Sohn’s recusal agreement resolves the concerns NAB raised regarding her nomination. NAB appreciates Ms. Sohn’s willingness to seriously consider our issues regarding retransmission consent and broadcast copyright, and to address those concerns in her recusal. We look forward to the Senate moving forward with Ms. Sohn’s confirmation and are eager to work with her and the full complement of commissioners in the very near future.”

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has accused Sohn of supporting free speech only if it involves speech by liberals.

— Ed Ryan