Radio+Television Business Report

The ability for a radio to toggle between an audio stream and over-the-air broadcast is coming to vehicles manufactured by a big German automaker.

And, the rollout includes the North American marketplace.

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In April 2021, RBR+TVBR first reported on the sale of WNUE-FM 98.1 by Entravision Communications — a move that would begin a wind-down of Orlando DMA operations for the multimedia company superserving Hispanic consumers in the U.S.

Now, the individual who most recently served as SVP/GM for Entravision/Orlando — a 2021 Medallas de Cortez finalist — has joined the broadcast television company that will soon be led by Soohyung Kim.

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She’s served as the Senior Affiliate Sales Director for the Networks Division since September 2019.

Now, this individual, who played a key role in the launch of digital multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV for Nexstar Media Group, is being promoted to VP/GM under Networks Division President Sean Compton.

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The 9am Eastern earnings call scheduled for today was cancelled. That’s because TEGNA is going private, with Soohyung Kim’s Standard General and Apollo Global Management teaming up to acquire the television broadcasting company.

That didn’t stop the owner of such stations as WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C., and KGW-8 in Portland, Ore., from issuing what will likely be its final fourth quarter results under CEO Dave Lougee.

How did TEGNA do in the last three months of 2021? Total company revenue came in as expected, and beat the Zacks Consensus Revenue forecast.

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VIZIO Ads is expanding its omnichannel offering via a partnership with TransUnion.

This, VIZIO says, will enable its advertising partners to leverage its data from 19 million Smart TV households off-platform, to reach consumers on millions of mobile devices with a “cohesive” experience.

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Public speaking is so much about the words we say and how we say them that we seldom think about the pauses. For “Zoom expert” and longtime public relations professional Rosemary Ravinal, “The periodic mini moments of silence or breathing are just as important as speaking. They vary in length and can be powerful allies to build trust and make your verbal communication more human.”

A pause holds many benefits. She explains what they are in this column.

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For African Americans, content is the common language.

According to Nielsen, the U.S. Black population spends more time with media than any other group, with content engagement that consistently drives breakout hits and trending topics alike. Increasingly, Black consumers are taking control of both the economic and media influence they wield and using it to invest in Black experiences, Black communities and Black content.

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The parent company of the group of television stations that includes WDIV-4 in Detroit and WKMG-6 in Chicago has released its fourth quarter 2021 earnings report.

How did this diversified company’s television broadcasting arm, led by soon-to-retire President/CEO Emily Barr, perform in Q4?

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On December 22, 2020, Cumulus Media closed a transaction that saw the sale of five radio brands serving the Albany, Ga., market to First Media Services for $450,000.

Now, 7.11% of the funds Cumulus earned from that deal, consummated in April 2020, could be heading to the FCC as a financial penalty for apparent violations of the Commission’s EEO rules.

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A veteran multiplatform media strategist and executive at Paramount’s CBS Stations division has been appointed Sr. VP of Streaming, reporting to division President Jennifer Mitchell.

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It’s known for six radio brands, a health and fitness directory, and a classifieds website serving Northeastern Nevada from the city of Elko.

Now, Ken Sutherland‘s Ruby Radio Corporation is preparing to part ways with the radio assets, according to the broker of record in this pending transaction.

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Introducing the Radio Masters Sales Summit — presented by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink and The Center for Sales Strategy.

The event is scheduled for September 22-23, 2022 at the Intercontinental at Doral, minutes away from Miami International Airport.

“For decades Radio Ink has led this industry and revealed information that is critical to its survival,” said Eric Rhoads, Chairman and Founder of Radio Ink and the Radio + Television Business Report. “At the time when only eight stations in the U.S. had websites, we brought you the Radio Ink Internet Conference, and it resulted in significant industry change. We then launched the Radio Ink Convergence conference to reveal online radio and what radio needs to do to be a part of it.”

Rhoads added, “We know you’re busy. So, the Radio Masters Sales Summit will be a quick in and out. Depending on flights, you can fill your mind with incredible knowledge and powerful tools without more than two days out of the office.”

 

Space is Limited so Register Today for The Radio Masters Sales Summit September 22-23 in Miami.

 

“I’m super excited about the Radio Masters Sales Summit in September. This sort of NEXT-level sales and management conference for the radio industry is needed as the business has clearly changed over the past few years,” Matt Sunshine, of The Center for Sales Strategy, commented. “The summit is about more than selling in today’s environment and with today’s trends. It will help you master sales in a new way, with critical directives every seller, manager, and owner needs.”

Radio Ink has decided to take immediate action and step up for the industry we love, throw it a lifeline, and give it new tools and new hope. Following two years of turmoil and distractions, it’s time to get back on track. It’s time to rethink sales strategy, refresh management skills, and refocus goals and expectations. Don’t Wait! Register Today for The Radio Masters Sales Summit September 22-23 in Miami.

The Ed Stolz Saga continues, as Royce International Broadcasting has assumed control of KREV/San Francisco, KFRH/Las Vegas and KRCK/Palm Springs, Calif.

And, the three stations are now silent, RBR+TVBR has learned, putting an LMA of the stations by VCY America on ice — at least for now.

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Since May 2019, she has served as Executive Producer of “Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren.”

Now, she has been promoted to VP/GM of the Washington, D.C., operations for Gray Television.

Taking the role is Lisa Allen. This will see her manage the various elements that comprise Gray’s operations on Capitol Hill and ensure their close integration with other newsrooms and resources across the company.

Gray’s Washington operations include the following:

• The Washington, D.C. News Bureau that serves local newsrooms in all of Gray’s
  markets, headed by Bureau Chief Jacqueline Policastro
• Legal and political analysis for individual stations by Greta Van Susteren
• Political reporting led by White House Correspondent and Senior National Editor
  Jon Decker
• The Washington-based team of investigative journalists under Gray Television Vice
  President of Investigation Lee Zurik

Gray Television SVP/Local Media Sandy Breland commented, “Our Washington operations are expanding to serve our growing company’s reach, making it necessary for a strong
local leader who understands both our challenges and our strengths. We are thrilled to promote Lisa to this new role, as she will ensure that we continue to provide our stations and our audiences with the highest possible level of unique, quality journalism from the Nation’s Capital while also accelerating collaborative political content partnerships involving Gray’s D.C. Team.”

Prior to joining Gray, Lisa was a Supervising Producer for Scripps-owned Newsy, based in Chicago.

When it came time for broadcast media analysts to ask questions during The E.W. Scripps Co.‘s fourth quarter earnings call, two clear focal points quickly became clear. What are the dynamics surrounding retransmission consent revenue, given all of the money being put into the “streaming wars”? And, what’s the long-term revenue model for ATSC 3.0?

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It’s known as a home for “Middle Georgia Gospel” programming, and serves as an FM translator tied to a Class D AM licensed to Perry, Ga.

Now, the owner of that AM has secured the FM translator by converting a lease to an outright purchase.

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It has 27 watts of power and serves the municipality of Marion, Ohio, one hour north of Columbus and home to the presidential home of Warren G. Harding.

And, it could be stripped of its license, as the FCC’s Media Bureau has designated for hearing its license renewal application. Why? Those in charge of this low-power FM may have lied with respect to its board members.

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The Board of Directors of Gray Television has authorized a quarterly cash dividend of its common stock and Class A common stock.

The reward to shareholders comes as GTN, traded on the NYSE, is at the top end of its historical price chart — a good sign for the company led by Hilton Howell Jr. and Pat LaPlatney.

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As a benefit to investors and analysts, Gray Television offered a look at its net income and Broadcast Cash Flow on a year-over-year-over-year basis, with comparisons to Q4 2019 and Q4 2020 offered in its fourth quarter 2021 fiscal report card.

How did Gray do? Net income was down, while BCF was ever-so-slightly under what the 2019 level was.

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Mark 10am on Thursday, March 3, on your calendar. That’s when the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by State of Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell, will convene an executive session that puts to vote the presidential nominations of nine individuals.

Among them: Gigi B. Sohn, the controversial selection by the Biden administration to fill the fifth Commissioner’s seat at the FCC.

A vote on Sohn’s nomination is third of the nine on the agenda, with the first vote for Arun Venkataraman, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service.

Other votes are for nominees to serve in roles at the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, and the CPSC. Also up for a vote: the nomination of Alvaro Bedoya to be a Federal Trade Commission Commissioner.

As of today, Sohn’s nomination remains highly contentious. And, her path to the FCC could come down to Sen. Ben Ray Luján, who is recovering from a stroke. The New Mexico Democrat is said to be the deciding vote, one that would seat Sohn.

Then, there’s chatter Inside the Beltway that Ranking Member Roger Wicker and other Republicans, likely to include Ted Cruz, would “boycott” a vote on Sohn based on how she answered their follow-up questions. Republicans are extremely concerned about Sohn’s ties to now-shuttered “OTA via IP” television service Locast, and of her tweets that called Fox News a form of state-sponsored propaganda during the Trump administration.

Sohn is also a supporter of “net neutrality,” fueling concerns among Democrats that the GOP is “blocking” Sohn, despite Wicker’s testimony at a second nomination hearing that this was not the case.

While the opposition to Sohn is vocal, she does have an ally in Christopher Ruddy, as the head of conservative cable TV news operation Newsmax has come out in support of Sohn for her commitment to diversity, something Newsmax can benefit from as it further seeks to grow against established news and political opinion-focused cable giant FOX News.