Radio+Television Business Report

It’s a small world, after all, thanks to Zoom and the stay-at-home edicts some continue to endure across the globe as a result of the now 10-month old COVID-19 pandemic.

For some media organizations, this has increased the need for content — and, perhaps, breaking the language barrier. Guess what? Some 200 media organizations including the BBC now have access to a product that uses cutting-edge AI and hardware technology to offer verbal translation to English of content in a foreign tongue.

Introducing the M2 Translator Earbuds courtesy of TimeKettle, billed as the “world’s first offline” device of its kind. It’s been featured as part of the CES 2021 Innovation Awards, and via the American crowdfunding website Indiegogo has raised $770,792 toward its dissemination as a product with global reach and use.

Timekettle M2 translator boast multiple functions aside from translation, including phone calls, music listening, and access to a voice assistant.

Then, there is the Remote Mode capability, which allows up to 40 people to translate content from 40 languages simultaneously; this means people can enjoy group chatting and remote video calls via Zoom or Skype.

What about distinct accents? The device can detect 93 accents among the 40 languages it can translate — including 13 accents, allowing someone from Hawaii to easily communicate with English speakers in Timaru, New Zealand; Leeds, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Boston; Frankfurt, Ky.; and Odessa, Tex.; with ease.

Sound quality is provided by a Qualcomm aptx 5.0 technology.

The M2 runs off mobile devices, requiring iOS 11.0 or higher in an iPhone and Android 7.0.

It also requires Bluetooth 4.2 and above for tech specification.

HOW TO LEARN MORE

Time Kettle operates a U.S. office from an office building directly opposite the famed Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Perhaps it is fitting, as Time Kettle is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.

General Questions: info@timekettle.co

After-sales Questions: support@timekettle.co

For Marketing/Branding: social@timekettle.co

For Business: dorothy.cui@timekettle.co

Address: 6922 Hollywood Blvd., 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Operation Hours: Monday – Friday 9:30AM – 6:30PM

Less than 24 hours after a major shakeup in its corporate ranks, Univision Communications has moved forward with its widely discussed plans to launch an advertising-supported streaming service serving Spanish-speaking U.S. Hispanics.

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Over three years after the launch of the HDMI Specification Version 2.1, major products are now widely available that support HDMI 2.1 features including 4K@120Hz, 8K@60Hz, Dynamic HDR and eARC.

Instead of asking when HDMI 2.1-enabled products will be available, people are now asking for advice about which new HDMI 2.1-enabled products to buy.

 

“It’s exciting to see so many new products available with these new features,” said Rob Tobias, CEO and president of HDMI Licensing Administrator Inc. (HDMI LA). “And with the launch of the latest gaming consoles, consumers can now enjoy a thrilling HDMI 2.1 end-to-end experience with consoles, AVR’s, cables, TVs and monitors. With shipments of HDMI products reaching almost 10 billion since it launched in 2002, HDMI technology continues to be the universal interface for consumer electronics products.”

HDMI 2.1 technology’s enhanced gaming features deliver gaming experiences into the home. These features include Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Quick Frame Transport (QFT); and when combined with new 4K and 8K displays, HDR and eARC immersive audio, HDMI 2.1 brings the best of home entertainment to life. The new Fixed Rate Link (FRL) mode of HDMI 2.1 ensures much more robust video delivery over the cable, by using a robust forward error correction scheme, combined with a link training protocol which adapts the link rate, if needed.

Accomplishments for the HDMI Forum

“The HDMI Forum didn’t rest after releasing the 2.1 specification and 2020 was one of its busiest years ever,” said David Glen of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and President of the HDMI Forum. “We launched the Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable Certification Program (UHS Program) and now these UHS Cables are available in the market to enable full the 48Gbps performance of HDMI 2.1. We also released the Compliance Test Specification for Active Cables, and end-users will shortly be able to purchase Active Optical Cables that support longer length installations, an important step in completing the HDMI 2.1 ecosystem.” Regarding the future he added, “In addition to the great products released in 2020, we’re expecting many new products in 2021 supporting the enhanced features of HDMI 2.1.”

The mandatory UHS Program ensures that quality Ultra High Speed HDMI® Cables reach the market and support 4K and 8K video, HDR, VRR, eARC and all other HDMI 2.1 features, and cables are required to affix an Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label to each package notifying consumers of the certification status of the product. These Certified cable designs must pass rigorous testing requirements for 48G signal performance and pass new state-of-the-art EMI tests designed to minimize interference with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio frequencies.

The HDMI Forum is also promoting HDMI Cable Power. With this feature, active HDMI Cables can now be powered directly from the HDMI Connector, without attaching a separate power cable. This makes attaching and using active HDMI Cables as easy as using passive, wired HDMI Cables.

Shipments of Premium High Speed HDMI Cables grow along with expansion of 4K content distribution

With the explosion of 4K content, this cable is vital to both the consumer and commercial sectors connecting 4K cable, satellite and IPTV set top boxes to TVs. It is specified globally for use by service providers for in-home installations. It also requires packaging to display the Premium HDMI Cable Certification Label for added verification of compliance and to prevent counterfeiting; this cable certification program is also administered by HDMI LA.

HDMI LA Ramps Up International Enforcement of Counterfeit Products

HDMI LA ensures licensed and compliant products reach the market and works with international law enforcement and customs and borders officials to conduct factory raids, product seizures and takedowns of counterfeit product listings on e-commerce and social media. This benefits the licensed HDMI Adopters and authorized resellers and ensures end-users can purchase legitimate products, enabling a seamless plug-and-play experience.

HDMI LA at CES 2021 HDMI LA is participating in the all-digital CES 2021 and will be hosting content as well as a webcast featuring David Glen and Rob Tobias providing a more detailed update on the status of HDMI technology and HDMI 2.1 in the marketplace.

 

RBR+TVBR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The global economy has been decimated by COVID-19, and while governments continue to try and contain the pandemic, industries and societies have had to adapt.

Ahead of CES 2021, Futuresource offered a third COVID-19 update that reflects on progress governments have made towards addressing the economic impact of the pandemic. This includes how the Consumer Electronics, Entertainment and Pro-AV markets have fared in H2, as well as what the indications are for the first half of 2021.

Chris Pennell, the Principal Analyst for Futuresource Consulting, notes that the promising news coming from COVID-19 vaccine trials has provided industries and citizens with the hope that we might be about to turn the corner. But, the impact and disruption to socio-economic trends will likely be with us for some time, he predicts.

In June 2020, when Futuresource last wrote about the impact COVID-19 was having on technology sectors, the outlook was for market disruption to continue through the second half of 2020, with both demand and supply-side issues not being fully resolved until the first half of 2021. “We were expecting as much as $120 billion to be wiped off the retail value of Consumer Electronics, Entertainment and Pro-AV markets by the end of 2020,” Pennell notes.

Where there were uncertainties in the first half of 2020, governments have stepped in and provided support; it is estimated that globally, more than 50 million jobs have been retained due to direct government support, he says.

“Thanks to the success of national lockdowns the spread of the virus had slowed enough that by the end of H1 2020, governments had rolled back restrictions on trade and mobility to encourage consumers and workers to return to pre-COVID-19 patterns,” he says. “However, since then cases have risen once more, forcing governments to implement short term national lockdowns or localized approaches.”

The second wave notwithstanding, the combination of government support and easing of lockdowns has softened the economic impact. In the first half of last year, forecasters were estimating that the pandemic would lead to a 7.6% decline in the global economy. Forecasts have since been revised and it is now thought that the global economy will shrink by 7.2%, a slight improvement. However, this level of support has come at a cost. Globally, government debt is now on average equivalent to 76% of GDP.

Have government actions been enough to revive those markets most impacted in H1 from the pandemic? “Currently it appears not,” Pennell says. Areas such as box office and live events remain subdued.

“The reliance of pay-tv on key events, many of which have been cancelled or scaled back, has led to an overall decline in ARPU,” Pennell notes. “Instead, consumers are subscribing to media content via on demand services and Futuresource forecast spend on premium video on demand (PVOD) will top $500 million by the end of 2020.”

Media consumption is not the only area where Pennell has seen significant changes in channel preferences by consumers. Industries that have previously been slow to adopt digital channels in comparison to consumer facing enterprises have had to catch up. At the same time, vendors with large retail outlet footprints have had to consider how to blend online experiences with existing channels, with stores modifying customer engagement strategies to include curb-side pick and digital signage.

“2020 has not only left a lasting mark on consumers; it has also led to a shift in the relationship between work and technology,” Pennell continues. “With two thirds of enterprises allowing employees to work from home, the home working genie is well and truly out of the bottle and it is difficult to see it going back. Vendors are starting to place big bets on the integration of collaboration and communication tools with enterprise systems, as evidenced by the recent announcement that Salesforce is looking to acquire Slack (a work-based chat and collaboration platform) for $27.7 billion. For the rest of the sector, 2020 was a year of two halves. In H1, demand far outstripped the ability of vendors to supply devices, while H2 saw a gradual return to more rational patterns of demand.”

And, while 2020 might have been a particularly difficult year for vendors, the trends of 2020 are set to accelerate next year. Pennell believes vendors of consumer technology and media will need to confront the lack of investment into online channels, as well as the low cost of sourcing goods and switching enabled by digital channels by developing customer experience programs. For enterprises, investment in digital tools is now a priority. “Enterprises are having to use technology to be able to react faster to unpredictable changes by enabling teams to maintain productivity no matter where they are working from,” he says.

NEC Personal Computers Ltd., a joint venture company of Lenovo and NEC Corporation, has announced the launch of the upgraded “LAVIE Pro Mobile” at the virtual CES 2021.

Having garnered recognition for its light weight and durability at last year’s CES, the new LAVIE Pro Mobile returns with what the company calls “even more tempting features for on-the-go professionals, including a long-lasting battery life and more comfortable typing experience to boost productivity.”

This PC comes outfitted with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and a keyboard design exclusively available to customers outside of Japan, while retaining the same compact 13.3-inch-wide screen and 889 grams (1.95lbs) weight. An optimized lift-up hinge function also tilts the keyboard to fit personal preference for the typing experience with 19mm key pitch.

At the event, NECPC also presented a sneak preview of the “LAVIE MINI” — an 8-inch convertible PC prototype built for fun and premium entertainment with cool gaming accessories.

The LAVIE MINI pocket-sized PC is one of the smallest form-factors featuring the power and performance of the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 mobile processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics. To personalize their experience, users can simply attach a gaming controller and a non-portable gaming console connected to an external monitor for home use. The prototype was showcased at the world’s largest consumer technology event to collect customer feedback and assess plans to launch in the future.

Main highlights of the above-mentioned products include:

Stylish Durability on the Go: The New LAVIE Pro Mobile

The new 13-inch NECPC LAVIE Pro Mobile laptop in Navy Blue

With lightweight components housed in a rich Navy-Blue hued compact body, the device boasts a 13.3-inch-wide screen while weighing only 889 grams (1.95lbs).

Despite its compact build, it offers USB Type-C connectivity for productivity at home/office.
The PC also includes other features making it ideal for flexible working. With a durable top and bottom carbon casing and a long-lasting battery run-time of up to 10 hours*, users can work from nearly anywhere, whether at home or back in the office.

The LAVIE Pro Mobile starts at $1,699.99.

RBR+TVBR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

It was adopted by the FCC on November 20. Now, it has formally appeared in the Federal Register. 

The Commission is open to receiving comments associated with its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to enable FM booster geo-targeting capabilities.

Specifically, the FCC wants input on whether it should modify its rules governing the operation of FM booster stations by FM radio broadcasters to enable geo-targeted content “in limited circumstances.”

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ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — CP Communications has joined forces with a producer of sports and documentaries to “demonstrate the value” of remote production models for sports and live events.

Greenlight Television produced and live-streamed the muscle car racing championship known as the Trans Am Series for fans worldwide — and it did so by using IP and bonded cellular systems from CP Communications.

Greenlight Television is the first company to provide helicopter coverage for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle races in 1996, and the first to produce live HD coverage of the Royal Automobile Club’s Tourist Trophy from Silverstone in 2008.

In late 2019, Greenlight was asked by the Trans Am Series to develop a quality live stream — without the costs of an Outside Broadcast Truck. It developed a solution. “As the pandemic changed the live sports production model, Greenlight Television found a like-minded partner in CP, and one that had the appropriate remote production knowledge, infrastructure and experience,” CP says.

“We do a lot of live streamed events for clients with a range of budgets, and simply cabling cameras to optimize redundancy can quickly escalate costs, let alone using a full production truck,” said Lauren Roberts, Director of Greenlight Television. “We made the commitment to invest in bonded cell technology and CP Communications were instrumental in helping us implement that new technology. The success of the live On Board Camera systems deserve a special mention and CP’s assistance in developing them was invaluable.”

CP Communications established its Red House Streaming (RHS) brand in 2018 to evolve live content acquisition, while strengthening convergence with Remote Integration Model (REMI) production techniques. The RHS unit houses CP’s own content acquisition systems, plus third-party products, including Mobile Viewpoint (MVP) live encoding, bonding and streaming solutions.

Leveraging 12 MVP Agile Airlink encoders for six in-car systems, four fixed camera positions, a roaming pit and podium camera and a drone, the small local crew captured the fast-paced action live in HD. All content was delivered to Greenlight’s remote production studio on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, with CP Communications providing real-time production support from its distributed network operations center (NOC). The live cut feed was sent back to the commentators at the track, and then streamed back to the Isle of Man. Voice and graphics were then added to the final live stream, all with a latency of only 1.6 seconds.

CP Communications CEO Kurt Heitmann emphasized how the company’s increased reliance on IP and bonded cellular systems, along with the now-proven viability of their remote production model, has forever changed the cost and labor structure for sports and live event production.

“The traditional production approach for this kind of event would require a mobile production truck, an RF unit, and a seemingly endless amount of fiber, technicians and production equipment onsite,” Heitmann said. “Working with partners like Greenlight who embrace the REMI model substantially reduces costs. The new generation of live event television is here and it delivers cost-effective acquisition with remote management, and the ability to make the entire content chain far more efficient.”

From its Isle of Man production studio, Greenlight live-streamed the race, driver interviews and other content direct to consumers over multiple platforms (including Facebook and YouTube) using Vimeo’s Livestream Studio 6 platform. Greenlight used a Unity intercom system to communicate with on-location crew and engineers at CP’s Canadian NOC, where the Airlink servers were controlled using MVP’s LinkMatrix management portal.

“From Nova Scotia we consistently optimized all Airlink encoding and multiplexing settings based on local conditions, assisted with stream routing, and provided continuity checks as Airlinks came online for each race,” said Allen Harris, Lead IP and Bonded Cellular Technologist for CP Communications. “The NOC reduced the workload in Greenlight’s control room, removing any concerns about backhauling signals so that they could concentrate on producing great content.”

Roberts emphasized that the end-to-end production workflow and technical infrastructure helped them substantially reduce headcount compared to the “traditional way” they produce events. “We typically have a large crew for these kinds of events, and reduced that number to 10 for the Trans Am Series,” she said. “That’s a massive reduction in labor costs, and a far more efficient process for setup and breakdown. We admit to being nervous about the implementation of our idea, but CP helped us every step of the way. We’re delighted with the results and excited for the future.”

— Brian Galante

On December 29, Searchlight III UTD and ForgeLight‘s acquisition of a majority stake of Univision Holdings formally closed. As such, Searchlight, a private investment firm founded by CEO Wade Davis, and associated entity, ForgeLight — an operating and investment company focused on the media and consumer technology sectors — are now the holders of shares in Univision previously held by Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, TPG, Thomas H. Lee Partners, and Saban Capital Group.

As expected, Davis assumed Univision’s Chief Executive chair from Vince Sadusky.

What wasn’t expected: a major house cleaning in Univision’s C-Suite.

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P1 Learning has teamed up with Marketron to expand the resources on digital advertising that are available to media sales professionals in the Marketron Learning Center, an online training platform that provides best practices, how-tos, industry information, and product guides.

“Today’s sales professional prefers bite-sized modules, so P1 Learning’s library of over 2,000 courses was exactly what we needed when launching Marketron’s NXT Training Academy,” Marketron Senior Manager, Digital Transformation & Enablement Jeff Ulrich said. “P1 Learning’s industry-specific videos have helped us quickly scale our sales enablement efforts. The measurable increases we’re seeing in learning engagement will undoubtably lead to further revenue growth for our customers.”

P1 Learning’s digital ad sales courses are designed to train sales professionals on the essentials of interactive media and how to build successful customer programs integrating both traditional and digital assets.

“We pride ourselves on being responsive to the needs of our industry and short, up-to-date and easily understandable digital sales courses continue to top the list,” said Bryan Marriott, President and GM for P1 Learning. “It’s an honor to become the preferred training provider to one of the most highly respected broadcast-based companies around.”

All Marketron NXT and Pitch customers have access to a digital education and sales training program that includes portions of P1 Learning’s video-based training content focused on selling digital advertising.

Between July 13 and November 5, 2020, Townsquare Media shares were rather stagnant, trading in the mid-$4 range for much of the period.

It was a far cry from the first days of February, when a $10.25 closing price was seen and many Wall Street observers noted how the local digital and audio company had enjoyed two solid years of share growth.

It appears the election of Joe Biden as U.S. president may have served as some sort of spark for TSQ, given its performance over the last nine weeks.

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Travel some 90 minutes to the east of Pittsburgh, and you’ll find yourself in the Johnstown, Pa., media market.

Here, Sinclair Broadcast Group owns and operates NBC affiliate WJAC-6, which airs The CW+ national network feed on a digital multicast channel. Sinclair also operates two other stations in the market, via somewhat complex master service arrangements.

Now, one of those stations is shifting from its licensee to its Time Brokerage Agreement partner — an entity with a long history of letting Sinclair handle most of the operations.

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Take a glance at the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten TV report, and you’ll see one matter of fact as clear as today: auto insurance brands are as competitive as ever.

And, they’re spending money at spot TV.

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He has more than 30 years of programming and production experience, having held leadership roles at Viacom, The Walt Disney Company and CBS.

Most recently, he led programming strategy for MGM Global Networks’ linear and digital networks.

Now, he’ll serve as the head of programming for The E.W. Scripps Co.’s national TV networks business — which now incorporates ION Media’s brands.

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If you were wondering where one big auto insurance specialist has been of late, perhaps it was simply in production on new creative to freshen up its 2021 marketing and advertising slate.

Progressive is back at spot radio — and in a big way.

Thanks to a new effort, the brand has propelled its way to No. 3 for the week ending Jan. 10, 2021 on the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report.

It’s the No. 2 paid campaign for the week, behind new No. 1 Babbel.

As shown below, Progressive is competing for consumers at spot radio with GEICO and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

 

New York, NY – Nexstar Inc., America’s largest local broadcasting company, is seeking an experienced and dynamic Vice President/General Manager to oversee its operational agreement with Mission Broadcasting, providing services to WPIX-TV in New York City, the #1-ranked market in the country.

In this role, the Vice President/General Manager will have full oversight over Nexstar’s operations at WPIX-TV (CW), as well as the station’s digital, mobile and social media assets. WPIX-TV is owned by Mission Broadcasting and Nexstar Inc. provides operational support under the terms of a Local Programming and Marketing Agreement.

Nexstar seeks a proven leader to join the ranks of the country’s largest local broadcast company in the largest DMA in the United States. Proven skillsets and demonstrable experience in leading broadcast operational teams with sales-driven organizations, developing locally originated content, and a commitment to community service are fundamental requirements of this position.

Additionally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated results in developing revenue across multiple platforms, promoting teamwork within all station departments and a track record of success in maintaining a focus on operational efficiencies and growth in programming performance and new local revenue generation.

Essential Duties and Requirements

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of five years of general management experience at a commercial broadcast television station with accompanying digital assets. The right fit for this position will be a seasoned and knowledgeable professional who is a driven advocate of local broadcasting and digital service to the community in which they have previously served. This position requires a leader with exemplary strategic vision, focused execution, and a verified understanding of local outreach and thoughtful community involvement. In addition to having a proven track record of managing high-performing sales, and news teams, the successful candidate must be effective in collaborating with department heads, staff members and promoting teamwork within all areas of station operations, preferably with oversight of a large staff. The ability to engage local community leaders and develop long-term relationships with key station clients is essential.

If you are interested in joining the executive ranks of Nexstar Inc.’s operational leadership team, and making an impact in the nation’s largest DMA, you are encouraged to apply online at www.nexstar.tv/careers/

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Leadership Foundation is now accepting entries for the 2021 Celebration of Service to America Awards, recognizing outstanding community service by local broadcasters.

Following the pattern of the 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards, winners and finalists will again be honored during a special televised event, available for stations to air next summer.

The one-hour program will feature celebrity guests, past honorees and D.C. policymakers commending local radio and television stations from across the country for their commitment to public service and the measures taken throughout 2020 to keep communities informed, supported and safe.

Eight Service to Community Awards will be presented, with one radio and one television honoree in each of the following categories:

• Broadcast Ownership Group
• Large/Major Market (TV DMAs 1-50, Radio Markets 1-50)
• Medium Market (TV DMAs 51-100, Radio Markets 51-150)
• Small Market (TV DMAs 101-210, Radio Markets 151-300)

Radio and television stations, as well as broadcast groups, are encouraged to enter their best community service efforts from the past year. Both NAB members and non-members are eligible to enter.

Entries must be submitted by Friday, March 5, 2021 at 11:59 PST.

Additional information on the awards entry rules is available at ServiceToAmericaAwards.org.

New research released Monday (1/11) by groupM finds that more than half of its respondents believe it is important to be equipped with the latest technology.

An even greater percentage of respondents think that either they or a family member should be the only ones with access to health and fitness tracker data — an interesting privacy concern that media may wish to take note of when seeking to build their consumer databases based on opt-out criteria some may not be aware of.

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In January 2015, she joined conservative Talk station WIND-AM 560 in Chicago as a Senior Account Executive. In August 2018, she rose to GSM.

Now, she’s been promoted to Director of Sales for Salem Media Group‘s entire Windy City operations.

Earning the bump up in responsibilities is  Angenette Natkowski. It’s a newly created position, one that sees her add duties for Salem Surround Chicago and sales leadership for Christian Talk & Teaching WYLL-AM 1160.

“As a salesperson, she not only had success selling AM 560, Angenette was instrumental with the launch of Salem Chicago’s digital division,” said Salem Media Group Chicago VP/GM Jeff Reisman. “Over the past two plus years, Angenette has proven herself to be a strategic sales manager and a strong leader. She is a seasoned marketing and communications professional. I am thrilled to put Angenette’s creativity and expertise to work on AM 1160 and have her lead Chicago’s talented sales team.”

 

On Wednesday (1/6), Cox Media Group lit the PR cannons and lobbed a cannonball in the direction of Suddenlink, in the form of a warning to subscribers that its broadcast TV channels were in danger of being “blocked” in lieu of a fresh retransmission consent agreement.

Suddenlink responded. But, talks didn’t progress since a day that will be long remembered for a Capitol Hill insurrection. As such, Suddenlink, by law, has prevented its paying subscribers from getting any CMG-owned station.

At 6:30pm PT on Friday (1/8), FOX affiliates KAYU-28 in Spokane, WHBQ-13 in Memphis and KOKI-23 in Tulsa; ABC affiliate KLAX-31 in Alexandria; the CBS and NBC affiliates serving Eureka-Arcata, Calif.; and the ABC, FOX, NBC and CBS stations serving Greenwood and Greenville, Miss., are now being blocked from viewers.

The blame game is on.

On Friday, Cox beat Suddenlink to the PR punch, pointing fingers that the Altice USA-owned MVPD for making “an anti-consumer decision to drop Cox Media Group (CMG) TV stations.”

Rather than reach a fair market deal with the Apollo Global Management-controlled CMG, Suddenlink “unfortunately opted to place their customers in the middle of their negotiations.”

Is that true, or a one-sided opinion?

Less than one hour later, Suddenlink issued a statement “related to Cox Media Group pulling its networks” from its TV lineups in six markets.

Intriguingly, Suddenlink used the word “networks” instead of “channels,” although none of the Big Four networks are involved in the negotiations.

“Despite being in the midst of a pandemic when access to affordable news is incredibly critical, Cox Media Group has pulled its channels from Suddenlink TV lineups in certain markets in an effort to extract an exorbitant increase in fees from us and our customers,” Suddenlink claims. “With so many households across the nation struggling, we call on Cox Media Group to stop holding our customers hostage, return the channels to our lineups, and focus on working with us to negotiate a new deal that is fair to our customers.”

To its defense, Cox points out that it has “over 100 agreements in place, including those with every other major cable and satellite provider in the markets we serve.”

Suddenlink responds that through parent company Altice USA in recent months, it has reached “dozens of deals with programmers, including many broadcasters in just the last several weeks, with no disruption to our customers.” Further, it assails CMG in asking for higher rates than what it pays “any other broadcaster.”

And, Cox EVP/Television Paul Curran took note of the pandemic while insisting that CMG stations get what they deserve in the way of retrans compensation.

“Our country continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and, during these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that our viewers know their trusted local stations are there for them, providing the news and information they need to make decisions for their families,” Curran said. “CMG stations take pride in being trusted and vital resources for our communities, and we will fight to continue to fulfill this responsibility.”

The Humboldt County, Calif., stations present an ironic twist for Cox. Fifteen years ago, it owned the MVPD. The stations it owns today, dominant NBC affiliate KIEM-3 in Eureka and CBS sibling KVIQ-LP 14, came to CMG in late 2019 after Brian Brady’s Northwest Broadcasting was sold to Apollo, ahead of its Cox deal. In 2005, KVIQ was a Clear Channel-owned property using Channel 6, picked up in 2002 from Ackerley Group. KIEM was owned by Pollack/Belz Broadcasting.

An Class D AM in Barstow, Calif., in November with well-remembered call letters for Los Angeles radio listeners of the past was acquired in mid-November 2020 by The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council.

What wasn’t immediately known was that the MMTC had an immediate buyer. Now, paperwork filed with the Commission shows the little AM known as KIQQ is being spun to a new operator.

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