Radio+Television Business Report

On January 25, ten brands in the state of Michigan went live with sports betting.

To better understand the consumer reaction in Michigan to the launch of sports betting, Cumulus Media and its Westwood One national radio arm commissioned MARU/Matchbox to conduct a study of 700 Michigan adults aged 21 and older.

The research was conducted from Friday, Jan. 29-Monday, Feb. 1. The findings are now being shared.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has selected the agency’s next Press Secretary.

It’s an individual joining the Commission’s Office of Media Relations after having served as Communications Director for then-Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico.

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Have you downloaded Discovery+ yet? If not, perhaps you’ve heard about the new OTT platform from the company behind some of cable TV’s most watched networks.

Or, maybe you haven’t — given the ad plan of action from the company.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot 10 Radio report shows a big gap between the leading auto insurance brand and its closest competitor. Is this the start of a new trend?

It may be way too soon to make such predictions, but Progressive has a commanding lead by play count over GEICO in the latest report.

And, Progressive is the lone fully paid brand over 55,000 plays.

Otherwise, there’s little movement in the Spot Ten for the week ending February 14, 2021, with McDonald’s now at No. 10.

She began her career in 2011 as an intern at iHeartMedia/Milwaukee’s WKKV-FM.

Now, this sales talent has come full circle, as she’s been named VP of Sales for the company’s entire group of stations in Wisconsin’s largest market.

Jasmine M. Johnson has been named Vice President of Sales for the company’s Milwaukee stations, comprised of WISN-AM, WKKV-FM, WMIL-FM, WOKY-AM, WRIT-FM, and WRNW-FM.

Johnson reports to Nathan Tonarelli, Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia Milwaukee, and will be responsible for leading multicultural initiatives for broadcast, digital and iHeartRadio customers across the region.

“This for me is a full circle moment,” said Johnson. “To return to the company that gave me my first start – from an intern to my first job post-undergrad – as Vice President of Sales leading such an iconic brand in our community and serving such a loyal listenership base is a gift.”

Johnson’s resume includes roles as Diversity Programs Director for Manpower Group, a role she held until January 2021. Before that, she spent more than 12 years at Pfizer, serving as Senior Manager of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs. From May 2002-July 2006, Johnson was an account executive for iHeart predecessor Clear Channel Communications.

It continues to build momentum in sports audio, with a marketing alliance with FanDuel, an acquisition of sports data and iGaming affiliate platform QL Gaming Group and the launch of the BetQL Audio Network exciting investors of Entercom Communications of late.

Now, it is adding a Vice President of Sports who arrives at Entercom from regional NBC Sports Washington.

Starting today, Matthew Volk is Entercom’s Vice President of Sports.

Mike Dee, appointed President of Sports in May 2017, stays in that role.

However, an Entercom representative explains to RBR+TVBR that Dee’s focus is on revenue strategy and business growth, while Volk’s role is content-based. This explains why Volk reports to EVP/Programing Jeff Sottolano and not to Dee.

Nevertheless, Dee and Volk will collaborate on their respective sports-focused efforts at Entercom.

According to Entercom, Volk will collaborate with national and market-level leadership “to ideate and manage the integration of existing and new sports and sports-betting content and partnerships” across the company’s broadcast, podcast and on-demand sports audio portfolio. He will also be charged with expanding on Entercom’s sports betting content through the expansion of the BetQL Audio Network and additional broadcast and digital concepts.

“This is an incredible opportunity to build on the core assets of Entercom’s sports brands and its broadcast pipes to drive its premier content both locally and nationally across digital, editorial, audio, video and betting content on all platforms,” said Volk. “Our multiplatform first approach will enable us to leverage our market-leading talent, programs and access to bring our fans all of the content they crave on the devices they choose.”

Volk had been VP of Content Strategy for NBC Sports Washington since 2018. Before that, Volk held multiple roles for ESPN from 2003 to 2018, including Director of Programming and Acquisitions for its NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL content. From 2001 to 2003, Volk was a Coaching Assistant and Football Operations Assistant for the New England Patriots.

Former Entercom VP of Sales & Strategy James Ingrassia now serves as VP of Media Strategy of Oxford Road, based in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He’s held the role since June 2020.

The Alliance for Women in Media and its Foundation (AWM/F) has cemented its 2021 National Board of Directors.

New to the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Board are:

• Kenetta Bailey, SVP/Marketing, Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO)
• Marsha Cooke, SVP/Global News and Special Projects, Vice Media
• Melissa Wright, Chief Content Officer, Twin Cities PBS

New to the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) Board are:

• Svetlana Gans, VP/Associate General Counsel, NCTA—The Internet & Television Association;
• Mike McVay, President, McVay Media Consulting
• Josie Thomas, former Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, CBS
• Christine Travaglini, President, Katz Radio Group

Officers of the board have been announced as The Weiss Agency EVP Heather Cohen, serving as chair; Crown Media Family Networks Chief Communications Officer Annie Howell, as incoming chair; Sutton Button Productions LLC VP/CEO Keisha Sutton-James, as immediate past chair; legal consultant Joyce Fitch, as treasurer; and Matrix Chief Revenue Officer Brenda Hetrick as incoming treasurer.

RBR+TVBR Publisher Deborah Parenti will continue to serve as a Director at Large of AWMF.

AWM/F board members Heather Cohen, Annie Howell and Mike McVay will continue to serve as chairs for the Gracie Awards. 

On January 16, 2018, a radio station licensee headed by Jason Zinzilieta and Janice Derks reached a LMA agreement with an entity led by the COO of member-manager Farmworker Educational Radio Network.

That involved two fully licensed properties and an FM translator serving the Prescott Valley of Arizona. Now, Zinzilieta and Derks have struck a deal to partially convert the lease to a purchase.

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In our special Presidents’ Day edition of the RBR+TVBR Daily Headlines E-mail, readers first learned of a big transition at online music research pioneer TroyResearch.

Jonathan Little, the company’s longtime VP of Sales and Client Services, on Tuesday spoke with Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson to share more about those changes in this new InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.fm.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Jonathan Little” on Spreaker.

When it comes to serving Greene County, Tenn., just west of the Johnson City-Kingsport market, there’s perhaps no media group more locally focused than Radio Greeneville.

Radio Greeneville is the licensee of three radio stations and two FM translators. Now, the properties are being involuntary transferred into an estate. The reason? The stations’ sole owner has passed away.

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Yes, it’s a Direct Broadcast Satellite TV service provider — one that’s involved in many retransmission fee impasses with broadcast TV companies.

But, it could also be TV’s ally in the widening of 5G, bringing more access to AVOD and streamed content created by broadcast TV. That’s why Dish‘s 5G expansion should be of note.

Dish is building what it calls the nation’s “first cloud-native, Open RAN-based 5G wireless network.”

As such, the company on Tuesday (2/16) said it has signed seven new tower agreements.

The agreements are with Harmoni Towers, Mobilite, Parallel Infrastructure, Phoenix Tower International (PTI), Tillman Infrastructure, Tower Ventures and Vogue Towers.

With these pacts, Dish has won access to more than 4,000 towers and wireless infrastructure assets.

Dish says the vendors will also provide a variety of services to help accelerate the installation of 5G radios on the newly acquired infrastructure.

“Securing strong tower partners is a key component of any network expansion, and is tremendously important for DISH’s rapid roll-out of a new, nationwide 5G network,” said Dave Mayo, Dish’s EVP of Network Development. “Each of these new tower partners will play an important role in bringing our network to life, connecting next-generation wireless service to American consumers and enterprises.” 

Many know him for his long tenure at KITS-FM in San Francisco, the Alternative station formerly known as “Live 105” and today called “ALT 105.3.”

But, few may have realized that he is also the co-founder of one of the nation’s most influential indie music club nights.

Now, Aaron Axelsen is leveraging his role in the creation of Popscene by landing a job as the head of a soon-to-launch audio division of FLOOD Media.

Axelsen will serve as the head of programming of the soon-to-launch audio division, a FLOOD entity under parent Anthemic Agency.

FLOOD Media founder and CEO Alan Sartirana said, “I’ve known and worked with Aaron for over 25 years and have always had a great deal of admiration for the work he did with Alt 105.3/Live 105 and Popscene. FLOOD Media’s mission is to tell the stories often overlooked by other traditional publishers and media outlets. We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past five years and the audio division was the next logical step.  I know Aaron will be on the forefront of the audio medium and continue to champion the best artists for discerning music fans all around the world.”

In his new role, Axelsen will oversee the programming and development of FLOOD FM, described as “a 24/7 digital indie, alternative and electronic radio station.” There’s also branded podcasting.

Axelsen will work alongside FLOOD Magazine co-publisher Randy Bookasta as part of the music and culture team.

“With FLOOD Media, Alan and team have built something truly special and I’m thrilled to be joining an ever-evolving team filled with top creatives and music industry leaders,” Axelsen said.  “I look forward to bringing my passion for new music discovery and experience of cultivating communities to such a reputable and trustworthy brand.”

Expanding into the audio universe, Anthemic Agency says FLOOD Frequency Modulations and FLOOD FM will offer a brand-new take on indie “radio” and podcasts, providing content that traditional radio outlets don’t.

It’s an indirect shot at Entercom Communications and its KITS-FM, a former CBS Radio property. Axelsen was Program Director for two HD multicast stations tied to KITS, and was one of its most visible personalities from July 1995 through his April 2020 departure. At KITS, he hosted two weekend new music shows, indie and emerging artists-focused Soundcheck and EDM-driven Subsonic in addition to his weekday afternoon on-air shift.

Axelsen joined then-Live 105 after record industry stints, including a role from February 1993-November 1994 as an EMI Music Promotions and Marketing representative for the San Francisco Bay Area.

ORLANDO — Attention, media companies with apps and other digital consumer tracking software designed to build databases filled with viewer and listener data optimized for marketing and advertising solutions.

The Sunshine State is about to send a big Central Florida-sized thunderstorm in your direction.

Proposed statewide legislation just introduced and supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis would increase data privacy and security “and uphold the rights of Floridians over major technology companies.”

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There’s a part of the U.S. where New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas meet.

Here, an AM/FM combo licensed to a husband and wife has been adjusted due to a death. The result: the wife will be the sole owner of the stations.

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On November 4, Salem Media Group stock sat at 84 cents per share. As 2020 ended, the company’s shares finished December 2020 at $1.04.

Since then, SALM has been on the rise. Then came February 8. In the last seven days, Salem shares are up by 70% in value.

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On Feb. 17, 2020, iHeartMedia shares were priced at $17.82. Then came COVID-19.

By the end of March, IHRT had shriveled to $4.87 per share. Questions about iHeart’s ability to see profits amid a flurry of advertising cancellations and “hold for now” calls arose. An early June rally fizzled just one month later.

Then came Election Day 2020. Since then, iHeart shares haven’t stopped growing.

The question is now is … now what?

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It seemed inevitable.

Nexstar Media Group shares have over the last five years enjoyed progressive growth, with intermittent dips that have only served to fuel further increases in the broadcast media company’s stock price.

Even as shares dipped to nearly $50 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic’s stay-at-home restriction period, there was an underlying belief that NXST would rebound at some point.

That point is now. Nexstar shares begin Tuesday’s trading on the Nasdaq GlobalSelect market at a record high.

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TORONTO — It’s over … at least for now.

Bell Media last week received much press attention across Québec and Ontario for a substantial reduction in force at its heritage Anglophone News/Talk AM in Montréal following major shifts at its Windsor operations that reach Detroit listeners.

Now, a staff memo from the company’s president has emerged, indicating that a significant cull of Bell’s employee roll has ceased. And, it impacts its TV network, too.

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In 1997, he launched what is one of the first software systems designed specifically for online music research. How, he’s ready to call it quits.

What does that mean for Madison, Wisc.-based TroyResearch?

Its longtime VP of Sales is poised to launch a new service that picks up where Troy will conclude its operations.

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The coronavirus pandemic-led macroeconomic downturn, to little surprise, impacted the Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television industry portfolio in a negative way.

Furthermore, the increased rate of cord-cutting and significant delays in production of movies and shows have cast a shadow on the industry’s prospects, the respected financial analyst house notes.

Nevertheless, one broadcast TV company stands out as one with a stock to buy.

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