Radio+Television Business Report

Four months ago, RBR+TVBR first shared the news that The E.W. Scripps Co. would be launching two new national TV networks, capitalizing on its position “as a full-scale national television company.”

While Scripps slightly altered the original plan, with respect to one of the digital multicast networks’ names, the debut of the two reality-based offerings came as expected on July 1.

Defy TV and TrueReal have been launched by Scripps, prompted largely by the company’s blockbuster merger with Ion Media. The channels have coverage of 92% of the U.S.

Defy TV is sticking with its original plan of action. It will cater to men ages 25-54 “with programming that celebrates fascinating and independent-minded people living life to the fullest.” Programming will include popular series such as “Swamp People” (Mondays), “Counting Cars” (Tuesdays), “American Pickers” (Wednesdays), “The Curse of Oak Island” (Thursdays), “Forged in Fire” (Fridays), “Ax Men” (Saturdays), “Alone” (Saturdays), “Dog the Bounty Hunter” (Sundays) and “Pawn Stars” (Sundays).

TrueReal was originally intended to be Doozy, targeting women aged 25-54 and tap into their ”strong interest in can’t-stop-watching, unscripted drama that’s surprising and true.”

The name is different; the programming is the same as envisioned, with off-network shows including “Storage Wars,” “Married at First Sight,” “Hoarders,” and “Little Women: LA” on the lineup.

Defy TV and TrueReal join ION, Bounce, Laff, Grit, Court TV, Court TV Mystery and Newsy, which remains on-track for its launch as a free over-the-air network on Friday, Oct. 1. This is a major shift for Newsy, which began life as a millennial-targeted OTT offering and then shifted to cable TV distribution.

NEW YORK — ViacomCBS has decided to unify the visual content-focused media company’s domestic and international businesses under what it calls “a simplified global leadership structure.”

As such, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins are each being promoted to the role of President/CEO, with global oversight for their respective brand groups.

George Cheeks also has a new, expanded role.

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Envy Gaming, the Texas-based esports and entertainment company that in March saw Gray Television invest $28.5 million in its Series C fundraising round, has added two directors and filled one empty seat on its board of directors.

Two of the new directors represent Gray.

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One of the world’s top data, insights and consulting companies has appointed a new Group Chief Executive Officer.

But, he won’t be taking the role until November 1.

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A low-power television station serving the capital city of Florida is being sold.

The buyer? It’s been broadcasting on television since 1992 and launched an international television network in 2016.

That offering is likely on the way for Tallahassee.

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Since 2018, she’s served as President/GM of TEGNA‘s ABC affiliate serving Louisville, WHAS-11.

Now, this longtime company local station leader is being promoted to the role of President/GM for TEGNA’s stations serving the Pacific Northwest’s largest market.

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Serving the Centralia, Wash., area is an FM translator at 99.7 MHz. It is a sibling to an FM translator at 102.1 MHz, sandwiched between Renton and Tacoma, Wash., and serving the southern portion of the Seattle DMA.

These translator twins are seeing an ownership adjustment. It’s not a “sale,” given the assignor and assignee.

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The rise of subscription-based video on demand (SVOD) digital platforms is not only attention-getting but increasingly lucrative for media companies seeking to capture the consumer that’s rapidly shifting from linear to digital content delivery vehicles.

Among the SVOD players making noise is Disney+, with discovery+, Paramount+ and Peacock among the newest entrants offering paid access to various shows.

Now, you can add an Allen Media Group-owned brand to the mix.

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On February 1, the radio station owner then-known as Entercom Communications revealed that “later in 2021” the Sports Format Captain for the entire company — and Brand Manager for one of its most iconic properties — will step down.

On May 12, the exact date for his departure from WFAN-AM & FM in New York and CBS Sports Radio was revealed.

Now, that day has come. As of July 1, Mark Chernoff will be succeeded by Spike Eskin at “The Fan.”

To commemorate his years of service at WFAN, which is the first Sports Talk and play-by-play-focused radio station in the world, Audacy on Wednesday officially unveiled “The Mark Chernoff WFAN Newsroom.”

The plaque reads: “Program Director 1993-2021. Influenced the sound of New York sports over four decades while nurturing the careers of many who traveled this space. Dedicated June 30, 2021.”

Among those saluting Chernoff can be seen in the above photo — (Top left to right): Craig Carton, Mark Chernoff, Al Dukes, and Eddie Scozzare. (Bottom left to right): Boomer Esiason, Jerry Recco, and Chris Oliviero.

The audience for terrestrial radio remains high. That’s a point made by many of the leaders of commercially licensed broadcasting companies over the last several years.

Here’s the bad news: A Pew Research Center analysis of MEDIA Access Pro and BIA Advisory Services data confirm that average radio revenue dropped “fairly sharply” in 2020.

And, for the all-news format, the dip in revenue was no different.

Or, are the numbers skewed?

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Until today, Townsquare Media had separate digital content and radio content teams. Now, it is combining both units.

As a result, a new Chief Content Officer has been named. At the same time, additional responsibilities beyond his current programming duties are being given to Kurt Johnson, making him the company’s chief music industry liaison.

Jared Willig will hold the Chief Content Officer role. He’s a 10-year Townsquare Media veteran, and he’ll lead content strategy and execution across all platforms for 322 local radio stations, over 350 local websites and mobile apps, and Music & Entertainment brands XXL Magazine, Taste Of Country, Loudwire, Ultimate Classic Rock, ScreenCrush and PopCrush.

He will also continue to oversee AMPED, the monetization of the Townsquare brands’ digital platforms.

With Willig’s appointment comes the creation of the “Townsquare Content Team,” which Johnson will help lead under the new title of SVP/Content and Programming.

And, as aforementioned, he will continue to lead Townsquare’s music industry relations.

Jackie Corley, who had been overseeing Townsquare’s Digital Content team, widens her responsibilities to become the VP of Local Content and Programming.

Townsquare COO of Local Media Erik Hellum commented, “Given Townsquare’s multi-platform approach to entertaining and informing our audiences and our communities, we will no longer have separate central teams for broadcast and digital content, but rather one incredibly talented content team led by Jared, Kurt and Jackie.”

Prior to joining Townsquare in 2010, Willig spent almost 10 years at AOL as the GM overseeing entertainment brands such as AOL Music and AOL Radio, Moviefone, and AOL Television. Before joining AOL in 2001, he worked in online marketing at BMG Entertainment. Willig is also a former club and radio DJ in New York, Philadelphia and Central New Jersey.

Johnson is well known for his role from 2001-2011 as VP/Programming for CBS Radio in Dallas. He also served as OM of AMFM Inc.’s Philadelphia stations. Johnson is also the former Program Director of Adult Contemporary WLTW “106.7 Lite FM” in New York, and was PD of Active Rock WAXQ “Q104.3” in New York under Viacom ownership.

Corley has been with Townsquare since 2014, serving as Digital Managing Editor of Townsquare’s Mid-Hudson Valley properties in Poughkeepsie and Middletown.

David Santrella, president of Broadcast Media for Salem Media Group, was elected chairman of the NAB Joint Board of Directors, NAB announced today. Santrella takes over from Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television, Inc., whose term expired.

Bill Wilson, chief executive officer of Townsquare Media Group, was elected Radio Board chair by the NAB Radio Board. John Zimmer, president and owner of Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Inc., was elected Radio Board first vice chair, while Kevin Perry, vice president and chief operating officer of @Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company, was elected Radio Board second vice chair.

Collin Jones, senior vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy for CUMULUS MEDIA, Inc., was elected to the Radio Board’s major group representative seat on the NAB Board’s Executive Committee.

Perry Sook, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Media Group, was elected as NAB Television Board chair. Lynn Beall, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Media Operations for TEGNA, was elected as TV Board first vice chair, Pat L., president and co-chief executive officer of Gray Television, Inc., was elected TV Board second vice chair and Emily Barr, president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, was elected TV Board third vice chair.

Christopher Wood, senior vice president and associate general counsel for Government and Regulatory Affairs at Univision Communications, Inc., was appointed to the designated TV network seat on the NAB Board’s Executive Committee.

The Board elections took place at the NAB Board of Directors meeting, held June 28-29.

BizVibe has identified the expansion of OTT delivery systems as a major trend for the radio and television broadcasting industry.

Why? OTT services are rapidly becoming a primary source of news and public information. Several TV stations are expanding news coverage on OTT delivery systems such as Apple TV and Roku.

These platforms are trying to supplement traditional broadcasting services and open up new monetization opportunities. As BizVibe sees it, this trend is expected to have a strong influence on radio and television broadcasting companies around the world.

The end of the 2021 fiscal year is ending tomorrow for many companies. For others, it marks the first half of a year in which broadcast media transactions have yielded A Tale of Two Signals.

For over-the-air broadcast TV, huge deals have come to fruition since the start of the year. For AM and FM radio, nary a deal that doesn’t involve a religious institution has been had. What’s to come? Veteran media broker Dick Foreman shares his analysis of the media transactions marketplace in this exclusive podcast, presented by dot.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Dick Foreman” on Spreaker.

In November 2019, Jeff Andrulonis-led Colonial Media + Entertainment agreed to the $90,000 sale of a Class A FM with a booster allowing it to better serve the small city of Bradford, Pa., within the Buffalo DMA.

Now, the company that bought this station is selling it. And, it is making a small profit.

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It markets itself as “an invaluable free tool for residents to stay informed about major storms, health updates, local news, weather, and sports on local broadcast TV.”

As the NAB and the nation’s Big Four networks see it, it is illegally distributing local television channels to its users without a retransmission consent agreement.

Despite court efforts by the TV industry to shut it down, donation-based Locast continues to grow. It just added its 34th DMA — and it is in the Buckeye State.

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Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, the charitable organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting, has revealed the recipient of the 2021 MIW Airblazer Award.

It’s being handed to DeDe McGuire, host of the nationally syndicated “DeDe in the Morning” program.

The MIW Airblazer Award stems from an alliance formed in 2015 between MIW (formerly known as the MIW Group) and Morning Show Bootcamp (MSBC).

“The recipient is carefully selected, as is tradition, by the prior year’s winner and is recognized for her dedication and contributions to the broadcast industry and to the communities she serves,” MIW notes.

The 2021 Airblazer Award will be presented to McGuire on August 12, during MSBC Chicago.

“It’s an honor and I’m completely blown away,” says DeDe McGuire, one of only a few women nationwide to have her own nationally syndicated morning show.

After ten successful years co-hosting the nationally syndicated program “The Doug Banks Show,” McGuire went on to host her own show, syndicated through Compass Media Networks via Service Broadcasting. It can be heard in over 55 markets.

MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff commented, “What a joy to celebrate DeDe and her many accomplishments. Her non-stop work in radio is impressive enough, but it’s her support of so many organizations, and her commitment to mentoring that makes her so special, and so deserving of this award.”

Previous MIW Airblazers include Kellie Rasberry (2019), Mercedes Martinez (2018), Roula Christie (2017), Angie Martinez (2016), and Ellen K (2015).

To register for 2021 MSBC Chicago visit: http://www.morningshowbootcamp.com.

Cordless television consumers are on track to become the predominant TV consumer in the next year.

That’s the primary finding from the fourth Future of TV survey from The Trade Desk.

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FORT PIERCE, FLA. — The future of a noncommercial voice of the African American community across a three-county region of Florida that enjoys a simulcast partner in the important agricultural communities of Belle Glade and Clewiston is now in question, thanks to an agreement  reached last week that sees the FMs heading to a new owner.

Upon closing, ownership will be handed to the local institution of higher learning that owns and operates the NPR Member station serving Florida’s Treasure Coast.

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If you’ve ever been to North Florida Christian School, you can’t miss the large broadcast tower that sits between the school’s athletic field and North Florida Baptist Church in the Macon Community that sits between Interstate 10 and the state capital of the Sunshine State.

Until now, it has relayed a low-power FM’s Spanish-language religious programming. That could change very soon, as the FM translator is being sold.

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