It’s known for the Ave Maria Grotto and for being the halfway point between Birmingham and Decatur, Ala. Now, this town of some 18,500 people is in the news as a low-power television station licensed to this municipality is heading to a new owner.
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LOS ANGELES — It’s known as one of the few live audio streaming platforms to offer direct access to radio stations across the globe. Now, it is augmenting its already rich array of Spanish-language content from across Iberoamérica with the addition of radio stations tied to one of Mexico’s largest spoken word radio broadcasting companies and the regional Mexican-formatted stations held by a U.S. multimedia company based in Southern California.
TuneIn has inked partnerships with Estrella Media and with Grupo Fórmula, respectively.
For Estrella Media, known for such radio brands as “Qué Buena” in L.A., TuneIn will help expand the company’s revenue opportunities by reselling instream advertising outside of the local markets of Estrella Media’s 11 stations, all of which are now on the TuneIn platform.
According to a recent RIAA study, which TuneIn cites, revenue from online radio based Latin content grew 24% in the first half of 2021, which has helped pave the way for TuneIn’s collaborations with Estrella Media and Grupo Fórmula.
“Both Estrella Media and Grupo Fórmula are market leaders in Spanish-language entertainment and news radio content,” TuneIn CEO Richard Stern says. “We are extremely pleased to be expanding our Spanish-language offerings to a new generation of Latin radio fans and listeners around the world through the TuneIn platform. We’re also thrilled to help Estrella Media’s local stations increase monetization outside of their local markets as an added benefit of our partnership.”
René Santaella, EVP of Digital & Streaming at Estrella Media, adds, “Our partnership with TuneIn amplifies our popular shows like Don Cheto Al Aire and our Regional Mexican music stations by being available for free on all streaming platforms including the rapidly growing smart speaker and auto markets. It is a great pairing of our programming expertise with TuneIn’s scale and innovative distribution.”
Isaid Mera, Digital Manager for Grupo Fórmula, comments that the partnership with TuneIn represents an opportunity for the company to amplify the reach of our content and to increase profit for our clients. “We live in a hyperconnected world where we have access to much information, that’s why we need serious and trusted sources,” he says. “Grupo Fórmula achieved our goal of ‘Keep Mexico Well Informed’ by using our multi-platform presence and adding alliances with other important organizations who can help us in moving forward. Here is where TuneIn plays an important role as it lets us reach listeners during all moments of their days.”
Until one week ago, Beasley Media Group stock hovered near the $2 mark, with small fluctuations seen across much of December 2021 and into the first half of January 2022.
This seemed to be a stabilization point for the company’s shares, which began a downtrend to start the fourth quarter of 2021. With Beasley poised to release its Q4 and full-year 2021 fiscal results within the next 2 weeks, BBGI is showing particular weakness on the Nasdaq market. As of midday Wednesday, a new 52-week low is taking shape.
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The CFO Summit, Media Financial Management Association’s (MFM’s) “signature winter event” designed to help the media industry’s financial leaders prepare for the challenges ahead, will return to an in-person experience for 2022.
Additionally, MFM has selected co-chairs and agenda for the annual summit, which will once again be held at the Grand Pelican Resort in Ft. Lauderdale.
The dates of the event at the boutique beachfront hotel on A1A are March 3-4, 2022.
The 2022 CFO Summit co-chairs are Andre Alexander, CFO of GBH; Virginia Hernandez, CFO of Trilith Studios; and Glenn Krieg, CFO of Morgan Murphy Media.
Now in its 16th year, MFM’s annual CFO Summit is an opportunity for senior media finance professionals to exchange thought leadership as they discuss ongoing and future issues facing the industry. The event features expert speakers from across the media landscape who will share best practices and lead in-depth discussions on a range of topics of importance to high-level financial professionals in the media industry.
The sessions in the two-day summit include:
“As the media industry – and it particular its financial leaders – continues to grapple with the repercussions of the ongoing pandemic, legal and political developments, and other business issues, companies must look to new strategies for growth,” said Dave Bochenek, Chair of MFM/BCCA’s Board of Directors. “The CFO Summit has long been known as the place for high-level media financial professionals to gather and share information vital to keeping their companies moving in the right direction. We’re excited that we can once again meet face to face to exchange ideas, network and be armed with new strategies and tools to effectively address what lies ahead.”
This MFM event is limited to senior financial professionals working for media companies. Attendees can obtain CPE credits over the 2-day summit. For additional details visit https://www.mediafinance.org/cfo-summit
Cumulus Media has made a series of promotions at its Rhode Island operations, elevating five individuals across its stations serving Providence and its surrounding communities. Among them: the appointment to a key programming post for a well-known industry veteran.
Now serving as Director of Music Programming for Adult Contemporary WWLI-FM “Lite 105,” heritage Top 40 WPRO-FM and rhythmic Top 40 WWKX “Hot 106” is Mary Ellen Kachinske. She was previously Operations Manager and Program Director of Lite 105.
Kachinske is well-known across the radio industry, as she spent eighteen years at WTMX-FM “101.9 The Mix” in Chicago, the Hubbard Radio Hot Adult Contemporary station that recently saw a change in its morning show following a period of instability tied to allegations of sexual misconduct and abusive behavior against longtime host Eric Ferguson.
Kachinske joined Cumulus/Providence in January 2020.
Before taking the WTMX role of Program Director some 20 years earlier, Kachinske was in Cleveland, serving as PD of WQAL “Q104.” She held that role for nearly 6 years, rising through the ranks over a tenure that began in fall 1987, when she joined WQAL as Traffic Director.
Holly Paras, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus in Providence, praised the Kent State University graduate. “When Mary Ellen Kachinske came to Providence in 2020, WWLI immediately benefited from her many years of broadcasting in larger markets. Elevating her to a position where she can oversee music programming for the entire cluster will allow all the stations to draw from her successes. In addition, the team of individuals working with Mary Ellen will provide the necessary support to succeed in the ever-changing landscape.”
Among the other moves at Cumulus/Providence, Nick Giuliano adds duties as Assistant Program Director of WPRO-FM. He will continue in his previous roles as an on-air talent in afternoons at WWKX, where he also serves as Asst. PD/MD.
Meanwhile, WPRO midday host Jess Schiano rises to Music Director and shifts to afternoons. Succeeding her in middays is J Buff, who will continue to produce the station’s Giovanni and Kim Show, its wake-up program.
Lastly, Heather Gersten is now MD for Lite 105, adding the role to her Asst. PD duties.
Cumulus Media owns and operates five radio stations in Providence: WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM (News/Talk); WPRV-AM/AM 790 Talk & Business (News/Talk); WPRO-FM/92PRO-FM (CHR); WWKX-FM/Hot 106 (Rhythmic CHR); and WWLI-FM/Lite 105 (AC).
For 22 years, he’s been a top programmer and Brand Manager for stations such as legendary News/Talker KMOX. Now, this Brand Manager is being promoted to Operations Manager for Audacy Corp.‘s St. Louis six-pack of radio stations.
Steve Moore will now oversee Adult Contemporary KEZK-FM, Hot Adult Contemporary KYKY “Y98,” Talker KFTK-FM 97.1, R&B WHHL-FM “Hot 104.1,” Adult Hits WFUN “96.3 The Lou,” and the aforementioned KMOX, which has a nighttime signal bigger than no other in the USA and an FM translator to help attract audiences in St. Louis who do not consume AM radio.
“I am beyond delighted to have Steve ascend into this new role,” said Becky Domyan, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Audacy in St. Louis. “He has been so instrumental in building operational alignment, collaboration, and synergy across our St. Louis footprint. I am looking forward to Steve helping us continue to grow our incredible brands.”
“I couldn’t be more excited for this new opportunity,” Moore commented. “I appreciate the trust that Becky Domyan and Audacy have shown me and I’m looking forward to working more closely with Derrick, Leo and the talented broadcasters on these incredible music stations.”
Moore officially rises from Operations Director, a role given to him in November 2017 following the merger of CBS Radio with Audacy (then Entercom).
National radio programming provider United Stations has signed an agreement to sell national network commercial time for the team at KRS Audio Productions and their “Country Music Countdown” package.
The deal is effective immediately.
KRS Audio Productions is the radio group formed by Ken Halford, Roger Ramsey and Shawn Studer, who handle the production and affiliation for Bob Kingsley’s long-running Country Countdown show.
The decision follows a summer 2021 decision by KRS Audio Productions to produce a new Top 30 Country Countdown in a “brown bag” format.
In commenting on the addition of KRS Audio Productions to the company’s ad sales portfolio, United Stations’ Greg Janoff commented, “Country remains the most prevalent format in U.S. Radio, and the KRS team know how to super-serve local stations in that format. We’re happy that we can now include the environment of their programming to our marketing partners.”
KRS Audio Productions’ Shawn Studer added, “The guys at United Stations recognized immediately what we are doing at KRS, and we appreciate their partnership as we roll out and grow our programming.”
United Stations Media Networks was founded in 1994 by the late Dick Clark and Nick Verbitsky.
ATSC 3.0-delivered next-generation TV signals, promising better sound and picture and improved reception, has been launched in the professional home — at least for today — of NFL star Aaron Rodgers.
Now offering NEXTGEN TV signals are five broadcast TV stations serving Green Bay, Wisc.
With BitPath coordinating the launch, as of January 25, 2022, local viewers with a NEXTGEN TV-capable set can watch ATSC 3.0-delivered signals for Gray Television-owned ABC affiliate WBAY-TV, CBS affiliate WFRV-TV, FOX affiliate WLUK-TV, NBC affiliate WGBA-TV and The CW Network affiliate for the northern Wisconsin market, WCWF-TV.
WCWF, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group as part of a duopoly with WLUK, is the lighthouse station for the market.
WFRV is owned by Nexstar; WGBA is a E.W. Scripps Co.-owned station.
If you were a National Football League fan, last weekend’s matches — all of them — offered some spectacular thrills. From superstar Tom Brady’s furious comeback attempt to the Cincinnati Bengals’ victory over the Tennessee Titans, there was much to keep viewers glued to the TV. Then, there’s the epic match that saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Buffalo Bills in an overtime match shown on CBS.
Just how many people were tuned to CBS, and to the Gray Television-owned affiliate in Kansas City showing the game, one of the greatest in NFL history?
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DAYTON, OHIO — Cox Media Group has moved forward with the naming of Rob Rohr’s successor as VP/GM of its “CMG Ohio” unit, comprised of the radio and television properties serving the Gem City and its surrounding communities.
Taking the role is 26-year company veteran Darren Moore.
Effective today, he’ll oversee all CMG Ohio operations including news, programming, sales, digital, engineering, production and community affairs for dominant CBS affiliate WHIO-7, and for three radio brands: Classic Hits “95.3 and 101.1 The Eagle,” News/Talk WHIO-AM & FM, and market-leading WHKO-FM, branded as “K99.1 New Country.”
Moore has spent many years in Pittsburgh, where he began his career at CMG as a WPXI-11 intern in 1996. After that experience, he took an Account Executive role at WAXN-64 in Charlotte, which had just gone on the air. He later returned to the ‘Burgh, serving as NSM of WPXI and two other stations, WJAC-6 in Johnstown, Pa., and WTOV-9 in Wheeling, W. Va. Today, WJAC and WTOV are owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Moore would then rise to LSM and, ultimately, Director of Sales at WPXI.
“Darren’s passion for people, the broadcasting industry and CMG is infectious and inspiring,’ said Paul Curran, EVP of Television at CMG. “His strong track record of forging internal and external relationships will make a positive impact on our Dayton operations and in the Dayton community. I look forward to watching him excel in this new role as our approach to broadcasting in Dayton continues to evolve.”
Moore added, “I am honored to join the outstanding broadcasters at CMG Ohio, home to some of the most iconic TV and radio brands in the entire industry. I can’t wait to start working with the Dayton team, further enhancing our award-winning brands, serving our customers and viewers, and partnering with the local Miami Valley community.”
In May 2018, the Media Bureau Policy Division’s Senior Deputy Chief denied a petition filed by Gray Television concerning a CBS-affiliated UHF station and its absence on both DISH Network or DirecTV in several towns within a half-hour drive of the property’s city of license.
Steven Broeckaert, the division leader, made the decision on the grounds that the resulting carriage obligation “is not technically and economically feasible for each of the satellite carriers, and would effectively circumvent Section 338(c)(1).”
One month later, Gray filed an Application for Review of the Memorandum Opinion and Order. Now, nearly four years after the FCC’s inaction on the matter, Gray has asked that the petition be dismissed.
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At-home production and REMI — an acronym that non-tech leaders may not know — have grown in importance over the last several years. It was only accelerated by the pandemic. Thus, having Jim Jachetta, EVP/Chief Technology Officer of VidOvation, as Adam R Jacobson’s guest on the latest InFOCUS Podcast couldn’t be timelier.
Jachetta shares some of the “5 Essential Elements of At-Home Live Remote Production Workflows and discusses how local news organizations can best take advantage of this.
Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Jim Jachetta, VidOvation” on Spreaker.
As of today, the Local Radio Freedom Act has the support of 208 House representatives and 24 Senators. While that’s a sign that the resolution has strong support on Capitol Hill, there’s no guarantee that it will get passed by the House or Senate.
Here’s how you can led your support to the LRFA.
If your Congressional representatives are not on this list, we strongly encourage that you take a few minutes and ask them to join in supporting the act. And, if they have already signed on, it wouldn’t hurt to remember what your mother taught you: Say thank you.
Here is a form provided by the NAB that makes it easy to do both. It encourages those in Congress who have yet to add their name to the act to do so and it says thank you to those who have already done that. How easy can that be?
As a reminder, here is a list of the current congressional supporters of the Local Radio Freedom Act.
Click here and do your part for the Local Radio Freedom Act. Your e-mail could be the one that helps enact the Local Radio Freedom Act.
Nexstar Media Inc. has upped a pair of experienced broadcast leaders and current Nexstar executives to the respective roles of VP/GM to the company’s broadcast and digital operations in Peoria, Ill., and in Columbus, Ga.
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It’s a company offering radio stations products and services products and services designed to increase sales, improve ratings and lower expenses for barter that’s sister to a radio programming syndicator.
As of today, both entities have a new COO. And, it is a 30-year veteran of network radio sales and operations.
Taking the Chief Operating Officer role at Sun & Fun Media and Key Networks is Dennis Green.
He rises from the role of Chief Revenue Officer.
Green will continue to report to Rob Koblasz, Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Sun & Fun Media and Key Networks and will continue to be based in New
York.
Green joined Sun & Fun Media as Chief Revenue Officer in May 2018 and added Chief
Revenue Officer responsibilities for Key Networks upon the network’s launch in March
2019.
In his new role, Green will oversee operations for Sun & Fun Media’s products
and services for barter to radio and for Key Networks’ portfolio of nationally syndicated
programming and services including Bloomberg Radio, The O’Reilly Update With Bill
O’Reilly, The O’Reilly Update – Morning Edition, Shawn Parr’s Across the Country,
Virtual Jock and other programs. “Dennis is one of the hardest working people in radio, and we are very pleased to reward his efforts with this much-deserved promotion,” Koblasz said.
Green added, “I’ve been fortunate in my career to work with amazing talent and provide
programming and services for stations. Rob Koblasz gave me an opportunity to build
upon the success at Sun & Fun and to start Key Networks … Thank you to the best-in-class staff we have assembled to help lead the charge to provide best-in-class products and services to affiliates around the country. The best is yet to come.”
Prior to joining Sun & Fun Media and Key Networks, Dennis spent 22 years at Westwood One, where he departed as SVP of Affiliate Sales and Broadcast Operations rising from other affiliate sales roles.
Earlier in his career, Green served as Head of Multimedia Syndication for Bloomberg.
Audience engagement and sales intelligence tech firm Futuri has expanded its leadership team by welcoming a Chief Strategy Officer and, concurrently, a Chief Revenue Officer.
The two individuals are taking roles Futuri says are designed to support its growth and expansion initiatives.
Taking the Chief Strategy Officer role is Tracy Gilliam. In this role, Gilliam will focus on M&A and strategic growth, as well as further developing Futuri’s products and customer experience specialists.
Gilliam is one of Futuri’s founding members, thanks to the company’s acquisition of a sales intelligence system she launched in 2015, TopLine Matters.
The product is now known as TopLine.
Gilliam’s resume includes role as General Sales Manager for CBS Radio in Los Angeles, and as a VP/Market Manager for Clear Channel Communications, today known as iHeartMedia.
Meanwhile, Todd Storch has been named Chief Revenue Officer. Storch will be responsible for driving Futuri’s continued revenue growth through aligned sales and marketing go-to-market strategies and operational plans for profitable growth. He brings more than 25 years of executive business management experience to Futuri, having held CEO roles at Kindrid and Five Star Global, and serving as SVP/Strategic Initiatives at Ministry Brands. He is also a former VP/senior consultant at The Center for Sales Strategy.
Storch also co-founded Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a non-profit organization providing grief support to organ donor families. It was created after the loss of his oldest daughter, Taylor.
Storch and Gilliam report to Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig.
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Los Angeles-based U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin gave a big win — or so it seemed — to one of the world’s biggest Quick Service Restaurant brands, McDonald’s.
In a six-page order, Olguin moved forward with McDonald’s Corporation’s Motion to Dismiss a racial discrimination case filed against the company by the Byron Allen-led Entertainment Studios Networks Inc. But, the judge left the door open for ES to file a Second Amended Complaint.
Allen’s team moved forward with doing so. A second Motion to Dismiss was filed by McDonald’s attorneys. Olguin has now denied that second motion.
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It’s known across the radio industry for its compliance and content distribution software that provides stations products designed to reach total ad accountability.
Now, it is joining a portfolio of media companies including vCreative and Counterpoint Software.
In an announcement released Tuesday (1/25), Banyan Software Inc. revealed that it has purchased Mr. Master Inc.
Terms of the deal, including the price, were not disclosed.
However, Banyan notes that it “employs a decentralized management philosophy, allowing Mr. Master to operate independently and continue the successful practices that led to Banyan’s acquisition interest.”
Mr. Master products include Automation Import Manager (AIM) software, which processes more than 1 million spots each week in addition to short and long-form programming for the radio industry.
“The Mr. Master team has deep, network radio software expertise and has spent over two
decades developing market leading products that serve the unique needs of its long-standing customers,” said David Berkal, CEO of Banyan Software. “We are excited to welcome Mr. Master into the Banyan family of companies and look forward to supporting the company’s future growth in the coming years.”
Mr. Master was founded by President Stu Jacobs. He commented, “We have a great team and product that radio has embraced as its go-to traffic and production workflow solution and partnering with Banyan marks an exciting new chapter in our journey.”
Jacobs is remaining in his role as CEO and will work alongside Banyan.
Mr. Master’s client roster includes iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media, Townsquare Media, Audacy Inc. and Cox Media Group.
As of today, the U.S. television industry has “one-stop access” to patents that are essential to the next generation broadcast standard developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).
Now available: the ATSC 3.0 Patent Portfolio License, courtesy of MPEG LA.
“As a convenience to ATSC 3.0 implementers and the potential that ATSC 3.0 brings to market, our ATSC 3.0 License will continue MPEG LA’s rich and reliable tradition of addressing the market’s need for transactional efficiency and predictability in accessing necessary intellectual property rights owned by many different organizations under a single license,” says MPEG LA President/CEO Larry Horn. “We are especially proud to be joined in this effort by leading ATSC 3.0 developers from all over the world.”
The initial patent owners to MPEG LA’s ATSC 3.0 License are CableTelevision Laboratories, Inc.; Cerinet USA Inc.; Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC), part of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation; Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.; Koninklijke KPN N.V.; Koninklijke Philips N.V.; NEC Corporation; Nippon Hoso Kyokai; ONE Media, LLC; Panasonic Corporation; Shanghai National Engineering Research Center of Digital Television Co., Ltd (NERC-DTV); and Sun Patent Trust.
ONE Media, the joint venture between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Coherent Logix and one of the primary architects of the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, applauded the formation of the ATSC 3.0 Patent Pool by MPEG LA. As ONE Media sees it, “formation of the pool will dramatically simplify the efficient licensing of the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast technology in multiple-receive devices, easing the distribution and deployment process.”
Patent pools provide for a consortium of companies agreeing to combine related intellectual property and offer “one-stop licensing” to vendors that want to include the technology in their equipment for sale to the public. MPEG LA is a pioneer in the formation and management of these types of pools, ONE Media notes. It adds that ATSC 3.0 is an ideal candidate for such pooling. Multiple companies have “standard essential patents” necessary for vendors to offer the advanced services in their equipment, ONE Media notes.
The ATSC 3.0 Patent Portfolio License and a summary of the License terms may be obtained here.
Comcast and Team Gleason have partnered to drive inclusive innovation to improve the independence and quality of life for people with physical and speech disabilities, including those living with ALS.
Together, Comcast and Team Gleason are actively engaging with people with ALS (pALS) and caregivers, as well as preeminent clinicians, technologists and assistive technology partners to define and develop accessible, empowering experiences — from TV control to smart home solutions, among other needs.
Specifically, the companies are working together on the latest evolution of Comcast’s Xfinity Adaptive Remote.
The Adaptive Remote, first launched in 2019, is a web-based remote control for Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex. It works on any computer, smartphone or tablet by connecting with the assistive devices that people with disabilities use, including eye tracking technology, sip and puff technology, switch control technology, and voice control software.
When asked to rank the technologies and experiences that are most important to them, people with ALS and other physical disabilities consistently list controlling their TV and entertainment experience independently.
— Kate Panarese and Suzanne Alford
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