Radio+Television Business Report

In Indiana’s biggest market, there are two big FM spoken word stations that attract listeners. One is owned by Emmis Communications. The other is an NPR Member station operated by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media.

The latter licensee is expanding. And, it’s thanks to Purdue University‘s decision to sell its radio stations — becoming the latest in an increasingly lengthy list of schools opting to part ways with their audio broadcast properties.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

MIAMI — It’s had a bitter history in recent years with performers union SAG-AFTRA at its two FM radio stations in Los Angeles, with accusations that the company engaged in “a series of unfair labor practices” and by November 2019 had failed to comply in part with a settlement agreement.

Now, SAG-AFTRA has been outright decertified at “La Ley 107.9,” the Chicago-market FM owned by Spanish Broadcasting System.

SBS late Thursday (7/1) announced that employees at its WLEY-FM, which airs regional Mexican programming, voted to decertify and remove the union that had previously represented them in dealing with SBS.

That union is SAG-AFTRA, voted in nearly three years to represent “certain on-air talent and production employees” in Chicago.

Since that time, SBS and SAG-AFTRA had been negotiating the terms of an initial collective bargaining agreement. However, no agreement was ever reached.

Employees voted on the decertification question by mail over the past few weeks, and the results of the vote were officially confirmed on June 28 by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the government agency that conducted the vote.

Commenting on the vote, SBS General Counsel Richard Lara said, “We greatly respect the important decision made by our employees to move forward without a union to act as intermediary between them and the company in the resolution of personnel matters at our Chicago facilities. The company looks forward to working more directly with our employees to build an even stronger presence in Chicago.”

The vote comes some 2 1/2 years after SBS sought to resolve two complaints lobbed at SBS’s KLAX and KXOL in Los Angeles on behalf of SAG-AFTRA.

“For over three years, SBS has continuously violated labor laws,” SAG-AFTRA claimed in November 2019. SBS’s alleged violations were set forth in a consolidated complaint, available here.

In Dec. 20, 2017, SAG-AFRTA and SBS reached a settlement valued at roughly half a million dollars. All was fine until May 2019, when SAG-AFTRA called on Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) to extend “fair contracts” to its on-air talent in two key markets.

One was Los Angeles. The other? Chicago.

Earlier in the week, it was Little Rock.

Now, Central Florida is getting “a taste of the future” as eight Orlando TV stations have banded together to launch NEXTGEN TV in the home of Tomorrowland.

As of July 1, NEXTGEN TV enables TV stations to better personalize their broadcasts with information and interactive features, making the content more relevant and engaging for viewers.

The eight stations launching the digital TV broadcast technology are Fox Television owned-and-operated WRBW-65 and FOX affiliated WOFL-35; Cox Media Group’s ABC affiliated WFTV-9 and unaffiliated WRDQ-27; Graham Media Group’s CBS affiliated WKMG-6, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliated WESH-2; and The CW Network WKCF-18, and PBS Member station WUCF-24, owned by the University of Central Florida.

“Viewers in Orlando have a lot to be excited about, as NEXTGEN TV is going to change the way they experience live broadcast television, and it will only get better as more features are added down the road by their local stations,” said John Soapes, President/GM of WESH-TV. “NEXTGEN TV ensures the future of television, where content and the experience of watching culminates, leaving viewers informed, entertained, and inspired.”

Orlando, which is the nation’s 17th largest television market, joins Tampa, Tallahassee, and Pensacola, Fla., as locales where NEXTGEN TV service is already available.

— Adam Jacobson, in Boca Raton, Fla.

The FCC has quietly released a public notice confirming that its reinstated media ownership rules — legislation that the acting chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, voted against — are now effective.

The effective date? Yesterday.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Starting tonight (7/1) at 10pm, a new entrant in the local news war that has been fiercely waging across Western New York for years will arrive.

It comes courtesy of Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is launching local news operations at its owned-and-operated FOX affiliate serving Buffalo, Niagara Falls and the Canadian province of Ontario’s most populous areas.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

MIAMI — Did you know that 82% of advertisers are looking for “direct to consumer” strategies to grow in an increasingly competitive environment? This is one of the challenges Kantar mapped out in a Media Navigator study that it has just launched.

The research endeavor sees Kantar interview 672 professionals working for advertisers in 39 different countries to understand the main challenges and trends in their data management strategy.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

TORONTO — With the TSX closed on Thursday in observance of the Canada Day holiday, the start of the second half of 2021 led financial blog Simply Wall St. to take a closer look at Corus Entertainment.

Corus is one of Canada’s biggest media companies and owns 39 radio stations and 15 broadcast television stations. Its stock price has seen a healthy 52-week rebound, with its June 30 closing price its best since May 2019.

With a 1-year price target poised to put Corus at its best stock price since the start of 2018, is the share gain “well earned”?

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

As part of RAB’s Business Accelerated initiative, Provoke Insights, a full-service market research firm, will be rejoining the radio industry sales advocacy organization for a live presentation offering insights on today’s consumer.

The event, “Meet the New Retail Shopper,” sees Carly Fink, President of Provoke Insights, share insights into today’s retail shopper. Fink will provide guidance for broadcasters helping their clients plan their back-to-school and holiday campaigns.

“While most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, consumers are not going back to the standard shopping routines of 2019,” the RAB says. “As brands prepare for the upcoming back-to-school and holiday seasons, it is important they understand the new buying behaviors.”

The session will take place at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific on Wednesday, July 28.

Registration for the presentation is free for RAB members. The presentation will also be available for on-demand viewing.

To register, click here.

Comscore has lured the former Sales and Client Relations head at Tunity to lead its commercial relationship with Publicis Groupe.

In doing so, Comscore is selecting an individual who brings more than 20 years of business media and sales success across local television stations, networks and advertising agencies.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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?

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

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.