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U.S. financial markets were on the rise Friday, and so were most publicly traded radio and television companies.

Among the big gainers: Audacy, perhaps benefiting from a strong assessment from Wells Fargo Securities released Thursday.

At the closing bell, AUD was up 7.7% to $3.5850 — a sign that a much-needed rebound for the company formerly known as Entercom could finally be happening.

Also up: iHeartMedia, now at $24.76 with a 3.9% climb from Thursday.

Townsquare Media shares were also on the rise, increasing in value by 4.7% to finish at $13.06.

On the TV industry side, The E.W. Scripps Co. saw a 3.4% gain, to $18.69, and Nexstar Media Group was up 1.8% to $148.64.

Not every media company finished Friday’s trading in positive territory. Sinclair Broadcast Group was down 1.1% to $29.97 and Saga Communications declined by 2.2% to $23.45.

Organizations often launch diversity and inclusion initiatives as strategic imperatives to create more equitable and inclusive work environments. While it’s the right thing to do, it’s often assumed that there’s immediate buy-in across the board.

That’s not always the case, however, culturally integrated market research agency ThinkNow says.

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MIAMI — Since November 1978, his voice has been heard on radio stations in both San Antonio and Miami, making his name well-known among a generation of Latinos who were raised on the Bee Gees and today perhaps appreciate Gilberto Santa Rosa as much as the late Selena.

Now, the Hispanic radio industry is paying tribute to Leo Vela, who died Wednesday (8/25) at the age of 69.

Learn about the opportunities that exist by targeting Hispanics, whether in English or in Spanish, by registering today for the 2021 Hispanic Radio Conference. It’s September 22-23, and there’s a hybrid option now available!

 

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Nearly two months ago, it became known that a special group of low-power television station permits — with expiry dates in 2023 — were available. They were placed on the market by a licensee that didn’t wish to build them, and among the buyers who have stepped forward are The E.W. Scripps Co. and Windsong Communications.

Now, a third buyer has emerged, and its an individual who has become an active acquisition actor in the last year.

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Broadcasters have succeeded at avoiding or limiting increases in their FCC regulatory fees this year.

The final commission order setting fees for FY 2021 has been issued, and rates for radio stations are pretty much what they were last year, instead of being increased as the commission had planned. Many rates will actually tick down.

The National Association of Broadcasters and state broadcast associations had pushed back on the planned hikes, citing the pandemic but also arguing that the way the commission allocates such fees is unfair, putting too much onus on radio and TV stations and none on “Big Tech” companies that directly benefit from commission services.

[“NAB Continues Its Fight Against Higher Station Fees”]

The original proposal called for increases of 5% to 15%, while NAB noted that the FCC’s general salary and expenses budget increased by only 0.5%.

Here are three sample outcomes:

An FM Class B1 station in a very large market paid $18,375 in the past year, and the FCC planned to increase that to $19,650, but its final number was $18,285.

An AM Class A station in a medium-sized market paid $3,300 this year and was slated for $3,550, but ended up at $3,295.

And an FM Class B in a good-sized city paid $9,300 last year, and the FCC planned to increase that to $10,075. Instead its new rate is $9,270.

[Download a comparison of last year’s fees, the proposed fees and the final amounts.]

“NAB greatly appreciates the FCC’s efforts to revise its original regulatory fee proposal that would have required local radio and television broadcasters to subsidize unrelated work at the commission,” said NAB Senior Vice President of Communications Ann Marie Cumming in a written statement. “The change is not only the right outcome, but critical to the many broadcasters’ ongoing service to their local communities.”

The FCC also has a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding several fee issues, and invited comment on further fee reform.

Cumming said broadcasters want to work with the FCC in the coming year “to take a deeper look at the regulatory fee process to ensure all stakeholders that benefit from the commission’s work are paying their fair share and that those currently subsidizing the commission are no longer paying for work unrelated to their industries.”

NAB said the proposed increase had been based on an FCC decision “to make broadcasters pay for a significant portion of the $33 million in additional funding that was specifically appropriated by Congress to implement the Broadband DATA Act and other inequities in the FCC’s approach.”

The post Broadcasters Get a Win on Regulatory Fees appeared first on Radio World.

Ken Kuenzie and Dennis Klautzer have made headlines in recent years for their radio broadcasting investments. They include five audio brands serving the Lake of the Ozarks resort region of Missouri, and their December 2017 decision to join Larry Fuss as an investor in a Kaua’i FM serving the Hawaiian island.

Now, their company is set to bring the first over-the-air TV station to a community that’s perhaps best-known for the not-so-flattering drama Ozark on Netflix.

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Sample screen of the Radio FM website.

The author is marketing manager for Radio FM.

Internet radio today gives the listener access to thousands or even hundreds of thousands of radio stations within a few clicks.

They can travel to another country and hear their favorite radio station, staying updated with trends and news. If they’re in Brazil, they can access stations throughout Europe, and vice versa. If they live in a less-developed part of the world where visual media are lacking, the listener can still stay connected. Market leaders like NPR, Spotify and iHeartRadio know the power of online radio.

Data from Statista tells us the following about internet radio:

Local radio digital ad revenue in the United States at last count was $1.32 billion. Podcast revenue was $842 million and growing rapidly. Weekly time spent with online radio and other online audio sources had increased to 16 hours 14 minutes. The monthly reach of online radio among U.S. adults ages 35–54 was 72%.

When COVID-19 spread like wildfire and confined people to their homes around the world, internet radio further proved its worth. Listeners could find endless genres of music and types of information from traditional radio channels, online-only stations and the latest podcasts.

For existing broadcasters, internet radio has been a boon, spreading their impact and making their stations accessible around the world. New entrants benefit from internet radio’s low startup costs, low operating costs and valuable audience insights.

Directories like ours at Radio FM provide exposure and the necessary flexibility to manage your stream. Radio broadcasters should consider listing their stations on Radio FM because:

• Every directory has its own user base, so by listing in them you get a chance to reach your potential listeners or acquire new ones;
• Since there are already thousands of stations listed in every directory there are chances that your station might not show up in the top positions in a list. With Radio FM you get a chance to promote it for free for seven days and then purchase paid packs to list your station on the top five positions and gain visibility and therefore acquire some new listeners.
• Besides the broadcaster web portal, you can download the Partners app to manage your stations and track your performance on the go.

It is vital that online stations make sure they are available and can be found online.

Radio FM is an internet radio platform. Learn more at http://appradiofm.com/.

 

The post Make Sure Your Station Is Visible Online appeared first on Radio World.

With the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to set aside regulatory fee increases for Fiscal Year 2021, the NAB, which had fought against the FCC’s proposal, is pleased.

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With the release of the 150+-page “Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2021” by the FCC late Thursday, the Commission moved forward with its proposal to adopt the use of the population-based methodology for full-service television
broadcasters for fiscal 2021.

Here’s what that means for over-the-air broadcast TV station owners.

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CBS News and Stations President and Co-Head Wendy McMahon has solidified the company’s local television leadership in the Mile High City. In doing so, she’s appointed a VP/GM who has been News Director of the CBS O&O in the market since 2004.

He’s succeeding Walt DeHaven, who retired in July after nearly 20 years as the station’s GM and some 40 years in the local TV industry.

Rising to the top role for KCNC-4 is Tim Wieland.

He’s been at KCNC since 1994 and has held the News Director title for the last 17 years.

“I can’t think of a better example of someone receiving a well-deserved promotion than Tim Wieland,” McMahon said. “Tim understands the need to modernize and transform our brands and products for the future, and I am confident he will take our great team in Denver to new heights, focused on solid journalism, an unparalleled workplace culture and a community service commitment that is second to none.”

Wieland added, “I feel fortunate to have been able to spend almost my entire career at CBS 4, working alongside such an exceptional group of colleagues in our news department. Now, I am excited to take on this broader role and provide leadership and support to our entire CBS Denver family. As part of the newly united CBS News and Stations organization, we have a tremendous opportunity to deliver wins on a daily basis for the mutual benefit of our company, the diverse communities we serve, and our valued business partners.”

In 1999, Wieland briefly left Denver and spent two years in Atlanta, where he worked for CNN as a newscast producer and field producer.

Wieland gained his first professional experience as a reporter, anchor, producer, photographer and video editor at KREX-TV in Grand Junction, Colo.

The FCC late Thursday released its Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the “Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2021,” and there’s cause for cheer among radio broadcasters.

Why? The initial proposal to make broadcasters pay for a significant portion of the $33 million in additional funding that was appropriated by Congress to implement the Broadband DATA Act has been scrapped by the Commission.

The NAB assailed the plan. And, it appears Rick Kaplan and the legal team at the association have scored an important victory for broadcasters.

Here’s what this means for Radio in fiscal 2021, which begins October 1:

 

When breaking out the radio station regulatory fees, there is a reduction from FY 2020.

The $975 minimum regulatory fee for Class A AMs remains the same as it did in fiscal 2020. The biggest FM stations would see a regulatory fee decrease from $20,925 in fiscal 2020. This is significant, as the FCC originally proposed this group of stations to see a regulatory fee increase to $22,650.

 

When the newest FCC Commissioner, Nathan Simington, who will appear September 23 at the Hispanic Radio Conference, first took a gander at the initial draft of the Commission’s “MD Docket No. 21-190,” he had concerns.

The first version of the “Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2021” also raised the ire of many broadcast media companies, which argued that any increase in fees paid was unacceptable given the fiscal challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought.

The Commission has listened, and responded accordingly.

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Getty Images/Thomas Barwick

It was the combination of pandemic isolation and the sound of cicadas that made me do it. I called a globe-trotting friend to whom I had not spoken since he and I dodged cicadas together in 2004.

I began with a question: “Quick! Where were you living 17 years ago?” He replied, “Can you give me a Zip code?”

It sure was fun catching up — and the success of that call led me to another, and another and another.

While it hasn’t been 17 years since I’d spoken to many friends, I must admit I wasn’t the best during the pandemic at calling people.

Fifteen months is a long time to be silent. Coming out of home isolation can be especially challenging for the introverts among us who gain energy from solitude and may have anxiety just thinking about returning to offices and in-person meetings.

Most of my calls have been returned by now, and it’s been highly rewarding. That’s why I’m telling you. Life is all about relationships; and while you may see what somebody is up to on social media or can find out some facts with an email, it’s not the same as a real conversation via phone or a face-to face get-together.

What has this got to do with radio?

People to lean on

We are all so busy at our stations that too many of us neglect personal and professional development and growth.

From a personal perspective, our friends ground us, they help us navigate the long winding road of life. If you’ve got pals who will tell you the truth — especially about yourself — admit your good fortune and take advantage of this resource that’s worth more than money. Living in your own echo chamber can lead to self-deception, loneliness and depression.

From a career perspective, it’s your network of former workmates, acquaintances, advisors and true radio friends who will be there — when you need professional guidance and assistance, when you are ready to grow your career in your next job.

Choosing the next career move in radio has always been challenging. Worse, terminations can be unexpected, swift and merciless. Gone are the days of long severance payouts. Even what we believe are solid contracts can be challenged, sometimes ending in reduced settlement payments.

Keep up your business relationships — not just with your peers at your station or office, but with consultants, vendors, concert/music promoters, and the people in other departments of your company. If you don’t, you can’t expect much when you’re in need. Relationships require active participation.

Career counselors will unanimously inform you that your network is the most important aspect of a successful job search.

As it happens, I’ve lost a number of friends in the last two years. There’s nothing like a few funerals to remind a person of their own mortality. It also dawned on me that I had not recently thanked people who have meant so much to me in my own career. Without being hired, mentored and remembered, I would not have gone far.

Over the years I’ve found that the folks who’ve had a positive impact on my life and career appreciate hearing from me. And there’s nothing like a personal phone call or an in-person visit to renew that connection.

Read more Promo Power columns.

The post Take Time to Renew Relationships appeared first on Radio World.

Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $3,000 to Nexstar Media Inc. for failing to timely file the Station's quarterly TV issues/programs lists for WSPA-TV.

Report and Order adopting a schedule of regulatory fees for Fiscal Year 2021

Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $7,000 to PEG Broadcasting LLC for failure to timely file covering license applications for FM Translators W221ED and W249D McMinnville, TN, and unauthorized operation of the stations

The Bureau enters into a Consent Decree with South Dakota State University

U.S. financial markets finished the day on a downbeat note, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipping 64.03 to 35,341.47 and Nasdaq declining by 53.78, to 14,988.08.

For broadcast media companies, trading was mixed, with iHeartMedia among the climbers. The nation’s top audio media company saw its shares jump by 18 cents to $24.46.

Also up: Salem Media Group, with its shares rising 10 cents to $3.01.

For Audacy, it was another downbeat trading session despite a glowing report from Wells Fargo Securities that includes a $7 target price for AUD.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Nexstar Media Group CBS affiliate faces a small financial penalty for its apparent failure to submit its quarterly TV issues/programs lists to the FCC in a timely manner.

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It’s been an active August for Al Shuldiner, the FCC’s Audio Division Chief.

Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture are piling up, and they largely involve tardy licensees who didn’t submit their license renewal applications by the due date.

The latest NAL involves a pair of FM translators in Tennessee.

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