Radio+Television Business Report

It’s always nice when a new ad category takes shape at broadcast media. Radio may have found one, and the pandemic could’ve played a role.

In a silver linings story, Peloton has emerged as an active user of national radio to help attract more users.

As shown in the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report, the home athletics brand has surged to become the third-largest brand at Spot Radio by play count.

Only Progressive and Indeed, heavy users of radio for months, are ahead of Peloton.

The activity from Peloton puts it far ahead The Home Depot, which is taking a post-Memorial Day break in its heavy spot activity.

Also new this week: Mattress Firm, as the home update shopping season starts.

He has been a researcher and writer for the Senior VP of News at Sinclair Broadcast Group for the past three years.

Now, he will be that C-Suite executive’s Chief of Staff — a position that appears to be unique to Sinclair.

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ORLANDO — At first glance, it seems like all is functioning normally for the website of Cox Media Group Classic Rocker WMMO-FM, which serves Central Florida.

“Desire” by U2 is playing. A “First Responder Fridays” nomination form can be filled out and submitted. The “Listen Live” button is ready for a push. Once it’s pressed, an “audio temporarily unavailable” message appears. Still.

“You may be offline,” it reads. “Please check your connection and try again using the Retry button.”

The problem isn’t that of the user, however. WMMO, like all of CMG’s radio and TV properties, have fallen victim to a ransomware attack — a cyber nightmare that began late last week.

It’s just the latest in a string of incidents involving radio broadcasting companies. What would you do if your operation is next?

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TORONTO — On March 10, the latest PPM top-line radio statistics for Canada’s largest media market were released by Numeris, the nation’s measurement services company.

Among all of the radio stations appearing in the report, a Rogers Sports & Media AM that 28 years ago today dropped its 20-year-old Top 40 format for all-News was the No. 2 radio station by cume, and again one of North America’s most-listened-to stations on the AM dial.

That ratings supremacy has no bearing on branding, however, and the growing trend of optimizing advertising and marketing opportunities in a cross-platform, national manner.  As such, “680 News,” along with four other Rogers-owned all-News stations, are getting a name change once autumn brings fall foliage to full tilt.

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Its two TV stations have gained international recognition for their roles as pioneers in the advancement of ATSC 3.0-powered NextGen TV in the U.S.

Now, those stations’ owner has re-evaluated its access to local TV ratings data, which in recent years has seen an exclusive relationship with Nielsen.

That’s about to change.

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At 12:26am Eastern on June 6, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral.

It was a successful launch, carrying a SiriusXM satellite into space.

While that was successful, Sirius XM Radio Inc. has a whole other kind of launch ready for takeoff — and this one is on Wall Street.

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LONDON — Global, the Media & Entertainment group that seeks up to 49.9% equity interest in iHeartMedia, has selected a North America CEO for its digital advertising platform, DAX.

It sees the internal promotion of a U.S. media industry veteran and the shift of the person currently in the chief executive chair to “a key advisory position with the company.”

Matt Cutair is relinquishing his role as DAX US CEO, a position he has held since the 2017 launch of DAX US.

DAX US launched in 2017, following Global’s purchase of AudioHQ, where Cutair was co-founder and CEO.

With the change, Les Hollander (pictured) has been promoted from Chief Growth Officer to CEO/North America at DAX.

This consolidates North American operations for DAX, with Hollander overseeing the U.S. and Canada.

Hollander took his most recent role for DAX North America in May 2020. In that time, Hollander re-aligned the U.S. and Canada markets for growth as DAX added NPR, Wondery and Sounder to its roster of digital audio publishers.

Hollander will continue to report to Guy Jones, Product of Data and Digital Director for DAX. Jones is based at Global’s Leicester Square headquarters.

Hollander is a digital audio advertising veteran with over 30 years of expertise. He joined DAX from Spotify, where he was responsible for building the organization’s digital audio monetization business through direct, programmatic and automated channels, as Head of Global Audio Monetization.

Prior to joining Spotify, Hollander was a VP of Ad Revenue at Pandora and held senior management positions at Gannett, CBS Radio, and, interestingly, iHeart predecessor Clear Channel Communications. Hollander also co-chaired the United States IAB Audio Committee from 2016-2020 and has sat on several industry boards throughout his career including the Mobile Marketing Association.

Hollander commented, “In the past year, despite major disruption to the industry, we have collaborated with our colleagues in the U.K. to demonstrate innovation in streaming, podcasting and voice activation as well as signing some fantastic new partners. At a time when audio is thriving and we’re seeing a huge shift in consumer habits; I’m looking forward to this opportunity and the next stage of DAX’s growth.”

It is de rigueur for a public relations or communications pro to release news that it really doesn’t want to have to discuss late on a Friday afternoon.

For the FCC, late in the day on June 4 proved to be the perfect time for the Commission to adopt an Order that puts its long-awaited loosening of local media ownership rules into effect — something the acting Chairwoman voted against during the leadership of Ajit Pai.

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Call for Entries for the 30th anniversary Radio Mercury Awards is officially open.

Fifteen trophies will be awarded in 12 categories, and the final round judges have the option to award a Best of Show winner.

Starting this year, the Radio Mercury Awards is now accepting entries in any language for work that was broadcast, aired digitally, released or transmitted initially and primarily in the U.S. and its territories.

For 2021, a new category, Purpose-Driven Spot or Campaign, will award a radio spot or campaign for an advertiser or corporation that promotes their actions and effort towards the public good and demonstrates how they addressed social, environmental or public health/safety issues. There are also updated categories, including Creative Radio Spot: Insightful Voice and Radio Station or Group Promotional Spot or Campaign.

The Radio Mercury Awards is bringing back several popular categories, including Integrated Brand Campaign and Creative Spot for a Cause, to this year’s competition. In addition, in the Creative Radio Spot category, two awards will be given to an agency/production company/advertiser, and two awards will be given to a radio station or group. The Creative Radio Campaign category is also open to two awards this year.

The Call for Entry deadline is on August 9, 2021.

Finalists for the show will be announced in late September and winners will be announced at the 2021 Radio Mercury Awards event on November 17, during a virtual event.

The Radio Mercury Awards is introducing a “Thirty Years in Your Ears” campaign produced in collaboration with Chief Judge Robin Fitzgerald and the creative team at BBDO Atlanta. The campaign highlights several of the Best in Show winners from the last 30 years of the competition. It can be viewed on www.RadioMercuryAwards.com and will be featured in social media and digital marketing.

For more information regarding entry categories, guidelines, entry fees and deadlines, click here.

On June 3, Clear Channel Airports announced that it has partnered with Rockbot to fill a void left by the demise of the CNN Airport TV Network service.

Now, NBCUniversal is doing the same.

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As organizations around the world make plans for their people to return to the workplace, the latest research report from Accenture finds that 83% of people say a hybrid work model is optimal ─ where individuals have the ability to work remotely between 25% and 75% of the time.

The Accenture research report encompassing 9,326 workers in 11 countries titled, “The Future of Work: Productive Anywhere,” found that 40% of individuals feel they can be productive and healthy anywhere — either fully remote or onsite or a combination of the two — as the hybrid workplace emerges.

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In 2002, a Class A FM serving Fort Wayne, Ind., on the commercial band was acquired by Northeast Indiana Public Radio for $1.8 million.

Over the next 19 years, listener contributions have done little to offset the debt associated with the purchase. Now, NE Public Radio is parting ways with this station.

As such, Classical music is about to depart. Gospel programming targeting African Americans is ready to debut.

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Jeff and Callie Dauler have managed to turn finding the upside in everyday living and their relationship with one another not only into a happier and more successful lifestyle — but a money-making, listener-generating podcast as well.

After Jeff lost his Atlanta radio gig in August 2019, The Upside landed on Apple Podcast’s top 10 shows in less than 24 hours. How this couple took a lemon and made lemonade with it by covering pop culture, current events, and real-life ups and downs offers a road map for others who may also be sitting on untapped podcasting potential.

Learn from Callie and Jeff when they share their story of The Upside and how to turn the ordinary into an extraordinary career path.

Callie and Jeff Dauler are confirmed participants in How to Make Real Money Podcasting virtual conference, presented by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink and Podcast Business Journal.

They appear Thursday, July 15, from 12:20pm-1:15pm Eastern, right before Steve Dahl, the legendary Chicago “shock jock” turned podcaster!

CHECK OUT OUR SPEAKERS HERE
CHECK OUT OUR MONEY-MAKING AGENDA HERE
AND DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER HERE

 

TITLE SPONSOR VENDORAMA SPONSORS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS

In the final days of 2020, the FCC approved a request by Univision to accept foreign investment in excess of the 25% benchmark set forth in its regulations.

Now, the company that’s now majority controlled by Searchlight III UTD and ForgeLight and led by CEO Wade Davis is seeking the Commission’s OK for two specific non-U.S. based entities to grab a share of Univision ownership.

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Burke Magnus has been promoted to the role of President/Programming and Original Content at ESPN.

A 26-year ESPN veteran, Magnus previously served as EVP/Programming Acquisitions and Scheduling. It’s a role he has held since May 2015, adding oversight of ESPN’s relationship with BAMTech in June 2017 and of original content in November 2020.

“Burke is a talented leader and collaborative colleague who has been instrumental in guiding ESPN through what has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging and critical periods in our history,” Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman for ESPN and Sports Content, said. “He is an industry-leading programming strategist who continues to take on new challenges with his signature combination of relationship building and creativity.”

Magnus is responsible for all programming and rights acquisition and scheduling, as well as ESPN and ESPN+ original content development and scheduling (including ESPN Films and 30 for 30 franchise). In his role, Magnus is responsible for rightsholder relationships, content strategy and cross-platform programming rights acquisition/scheduling on a global basis. He is a key driver of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer priority, including ESPN+, through his team’s close collaboration with DMED (Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution).

In late 2020 and 2021, he guided ESPN and The Walt Disney Company through one of its most active and notable sports rights acquisition periods. He helped drive new, cross-platform (linear, direct-to-consumer, digital, social, etc.) agreements and/or extensions with the NFL, MLB, NHL, SEC, LaLiga and more. Additionally, he led a programming team that collaborated with numerous league, conference and event partners to navigate the postponement, cancellation and rescheduling of thousands of events across ESPN platforms in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previous agreements forged during Magnus’ time as executive vice president include the NBA, the Masters and PGA Championship, UFC, the German Bundesliga, and more.

Magnus previously served as SVP/Programming and Acquisitions (January 2014 – May 2015).

Magnus joined ESPN in 1995 as a program associate and in 1996 was promoted to program planner.

Six days following the release of its first quarter 2021 fiscal results, Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) hosted an earnings call for analysts and investors featuring COO Albert Rodriguez and CFO José Molina.

On the call, an analyst asked for additional color on “bullish” commentary provided May 28 with the release of its quarterly results. Rodriguez obliged.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  — A FCC auction of AM and FM broadcast Construction Permits is scheduled for July 27.

Ahead of the event, the Commission has given a full status report pertaining to the short-form applications to participate in what’s being called “Auction 109.”

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It’s a nationally recognized television advertising sales organization representing more than 800 TV stations across a majority of the 210 DMAs.

And, it says it is giving its unwavering support to the industry-wide adoption of impression-based selling and buying for local broadcast television.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON FACEBOOK!

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A “variable interest entity” of Nexstar Media Group has closed on a new Term Loan B Facility.

It has a seven-year maturity and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%, with a 0% LIBOR floor.

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Its stock price hasn’t been this high since March 2015. With a 1-year price target of $18.67 in place, Townsquare Media has successfully weathered the COVID-19 pandemic storm by already offering comps to 2019.

This led the Wall Street whizzes at Zacks Equity Research to conduct an assessment on Townsquare’s stock. They conclude that TSQ, while enjoying swift share growth, is a good investment to consider today.

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