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Media Bureau issues Public Notice reminding broadcasters to submit biennial ownership reports as required

Issued a Forfeiture Order in the amount of $1,500 to Iglesia Sinai Pentecostes, Inc., for failure to timely file a license renewal application for WLDC-LP, Goshen, Indiana

Cumulus Media named James Robinson as its vice president and market manager for Birmingham, Ala., where the company has five stations. Robinson steps into the role previously held by Bill Gentry, who is no longer with the company.

Robinson is former VP and director of sales, radio, television and digital for Univision Communications in San Antonio.

He has also held sales leadership roles for Radio One in Houston and for iHeartMedia in Washington, St. Louis and Memphis.

[Read: Boden Will Run Cumulus D.C. Cluster]

Robinson said the Cumulus stations in Birmingham “are iconic brands that have a history of deep commitment to the community and partner success.”

The cluster comprises urban AC station Hot 107.7/WUHT(FM) and several sports outlets. They are JOX 94.5 WJOX(FM), JOX 2 100.5 ESPN WJQX(FM), JOX 3 690 WJOX(AM) and Talk 99.5 WAPI(AM)/WZRR(FM).

The announcement was made by Mark Sullivan, senior vice president, operations at Cumulus.

 

The post Cumulus Tabs Robinson in Birmingham appeared first on Radio World.

The DRM Consortium says one of the benefits of its digital radio technology is the potential savings on power bills. Now it is promoting a calculator tool that it says can determine how much energy would be saved by a user that switches from analog to Digital Radio Mondiale.

The calculator was created by Simon Keens, sales and business development manager of Ampegon Power Electronics AG, which is a member of the consortium.

“The DRM Energy Efficiency Calculator (https://energyefficiency.drm.org) has been created using typical performance data from transmitter manufacturers,” the organization stated.

“It then calculates total expected energy usage for up to 10 transmitters by considering operational mode, time on-air and broadcasting technique assessing the energy consumption and electricity costs, based upon local market information.”

It said in the announcement that by comparing data sets for analog and DRM digital operations, it can estimate the potential “and often huge” savings broadcasters might expect from switching over to DRM.

DRM says the tool can be programmed into an Excel spreadsheet and distributed in PDF reports summarizing the findings.

The consortium will demonstrate it in an upcoming webinar on June 30.

 

The post DRM Calculator Highlights Power Savings appeared first on Radio World.

A look at the latest Spot Ten TV report shows a pharmaceutical brand is now the leader at the stations monitored by iHeartMedia-owned Media Monitors.

That hardly takes away the continued fight for consumers being waged by auto insurers through the use of spot TV.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report is littered with in-house promotional announcements from Media Monitors owner iHeartMedia.

Is that a sign of a spot slowdown for national radio advertisers?

Answering that question may not be an easy one, as play counts may not equate to dollars spent by CMOs and brand managers at the radio stations tracked by Media Monitors.

Still, six of the top 10 spots represent fully paid brands, and Progressive was beaten by iHeartRadio Music Festival promo spots that likely aired only on the company’s own radio stations.

As such, the lone campaign of note for the week ending June 20 is for Liberty Mutual Insurance.  From nowhere, LiMu has grown in name recognition and brand value through quirky TV spots. Now, it is attracting potential customers via spot radio.

As RBR+TVBR has reported, HC2 Broadcasting has been selling various non-essential properties as part of an effort to raise capital — a major campaign being waged by chief executive Wayne Barr Jr. following the exit one year ago of Philip Falcone.

Within HC2 is DTV America Corp., and that licensee is selling properties, namely unbuilt construction permits. In the latest deal to involve yet-to-be-constructed LPTVs facing a July 13 sign-on deadline, DTV via HC2 is parting ways with three mini-stations in Wisconsin and a fourth in Texas.

The buyer is a family-owned entity based in Central California.

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The FCC’s Media Bureau is reminding U.S. broadcasters that this is an odd-numbered year, so they’ll have to file their biennial ownership reports this fall.

It issued a public notice reminding them that the window for filing Form 323 or 323-E will open in October.

This applies to licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM and FM radio stations, full-power television, Class A TV and low-power TV stations.

“Reporting such information has long been a fundamental obligation of broadcast licensees,” the Media Bureau said in a public notice.

“The accurate, and timely, filing of ownership information is critical to ensuring that the public knows who owns, operates, and controls broadcast stations. Additionally, accurate and timely ownership information is crucial to an understanding of the broadcast industry as a whole, including an understanding of the diversity and multiplicity of owners.”

Radio and TV stations are in the midst of the license renewal process. The license renewal application, Form 2100, Schedule 303-S, requires broadcast licensees to certify compliance with the biennial ownership reporting requirement.

“We remind licensees that, as part of its review of license renewal applications, Bureau staff will be reviewing whether licensees have filed their 2019 and 2021 biennial ownership information and whether they have certified truthfully concerning compliance with the filing requirement.”

Stations also must maintain a current ownership report in their Online Public Inspection Files.

The bureau encouraged licensees to prepare in advance for the window that opens Oct. 1 “and to review carefully their compliance with the filing requirement as they prepare and file their license renewal applications.”

 

The post FCC Ownership Report Season Is Ahead appeared first on Radio World.

In Grand Junction, Colo., Gray Television enjoys a formidable presence, with ownership of NBC/Telemundo/MeTV affiliate KKCO-11 and a low-power TV station that serves as the western Colorado market’s home for ABC, Ion Network and The CW Network.

Gray is adding another LPTV property to the mix.

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There will be a new Vice President of News, who will also serve as Managing Editor, of NewsNation, come July 19.

She will oversee the Nexstar Media Group-owned network’s day-to day news gathering and production process and supervise a staff of more than 100 reporters, producers, writers, and photojournalists.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In reply comments filed with the FCC regarding its plans for FY 2021 regulatory fees, the NAB says the Commission has the authority to ensure that all industries pay for their “fair share” of the agency’s indirect costs.

As such, “Big Tech” companies and other unlicensed spectrum users should pay regulatory fees “to more accurately reflect” the FCC’s work.

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Exactly one year ago, the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led Saga Communications to join the list of audio media companies to put its quarterly cash dividend for shareholders in a cryogenic state.

The Saga board has just brought out the EKG machine, breathing new life into a historically robust dividend that will reward SGA shareholders in mid-July.

Saga’s Board of Directors on Monday (6/210 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share.

The dividend will be paid on July 16 to shareholders of record on June 30.

The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with the quarterly dividend will be approximately $960,000, and Saga says the quarterly cash dividend will be funded by cash on the company’s balance sheet.

Including this dividend, Saga will have paid over $72 million in dividends to shareholders since the first special dividend was paid in 2012.

Saga adds that it currently intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends in the future as declared by the Board of Directors. “Consistent with returning value to our shareholders, the Board of Directors may also consider declaring special cash dividends, stock dividends, and stock buybacks in the future,” the company adds.

Saga owns or operates 79 FM and 35 AM radio stations in small and mid-sized U.S. markets.

As of 12:10pm Eastern, Saga shares were priced at $20.97.

Saga in 2020 suspended its dividend to conserve the company’s cash position. This included reducing planned capital spending and seeking discounts from vendors.

 

There’s a new President and GM for the FM radio stations serving the Denver market owned by Max Media.

It’s an individual who started off his career in radio as an Account Executive at iHeartMedia’s properties due south on I-25, in Colorado Springs.

Taking the role, which will see him lead KJHM-FM and KFCO-FM, is Sean Rhoads.

He jumps up from VP of Sales, a role Rhoads earned in 2016. Rhoads joined Max Media in 2010 as a Sr. AE, and rose to the posts of Digital Sales Director and General Sales Manager across the next six years.

“We have an incredible team here in Denver and we’re ambitious to take Denver to new heights,” Rhoads said. “Our company has always placed the highest value on results for advertisers, enjoyment for listeners and happiness of employees. I’m excited and honored to carry on with this mission.”

Concurrent with Rhoads’ rises, Max Media/Denver GSM Jeff Silver has been promoted to a VP.

Silver is a veteran sales leader with over 20 years of experience leading sales teams for Entercom (now Audacy) in Denver and the stations under prior owner Lincoln Financial Media.

An image from the Xperi Mexico website.

Xperi said that as of this month, HD Radio has been in use in Mexico for 10 years. The technology company took the occasion to report that 41% of the country’s broadcast audience now can hear a digital signal, covering a potential listening population of 50 million.

It said there are about 200 digital channels available and that 25 car brands have integrated HD Radio technology in 128 car models.

[Read: Xperi Has Big Ambitions for DTS AutoStage]

Xperi quoted José Luis Rodríguez Aguirre, the president of the board of the commercial broadcast association CIRT, saying, “We will continue supporting the implementation of HD Radio technology to further expand digital radio coverage in Mexico.”

The anniversary was noted by Xperi Mexico’s Fabián Zamarrón, who was quoted, “Radio continues to be the anchor for consumers’ media diet, with nine out of 10 vehicle owners surveyed saying it is important to have radio in their dashboard.”

Globally, Xperi said HD Radio technology is available in 75 million automobiles and is integrated by over 40 auto manufacturers. Its estimate is that including HD subchannels, there are about 4,700 channels of programming in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

 

The post Xperi Notes 10 Years of HD Radio in Mexico appeared first on Radio World.

Univision Communications has unveiled its plans for what it calls “a comprehensive global streaming service” that includes both free ad-supported and premium subscription-based options.

This service would launch in the U.S. and Latin America in 2022.

The two-tier streaming service will offer “a differentiated product proposition, vast content scope, expansive library and more Spanish-language originals than any other streaming service,’ Miami-based Univision boasts.

And, what is poised to become Univision-Televisa, following the completion of Univision’s blockbuster merger with the iconic Mexican media operation, will be fueled by full access to the Televisa content library.

It will incorporate content found on its PrendeTV platform, and on its VIX and Univision NOW services, with each of those unique entities “transitioned and unified into one global service and brand.”

But, brand and pricing information are forthcoming. Furthermore, a specific launch date for the service will be announced following the close of the Televisa-Univision merger later this year.

The ad-supported tier (AVOD) will be anchored by PrendeTV, the free Spanish-language streaming service that’s gained considerable attention since Univision snagged it in early 2021. “This free tier will feature an upgraded, broadcast quality content proposition, including select originals, major studio films, premium Spanish-language titles, an expanded live sports offering and a unique 24/7 news service,” Univision said.

The 24/7 news service could see a particularly fervent battle for viewers, as Estrella Media — the former LBI Media now led by CEO Peter Markham — has invested heavily in a 24/7 news operation for Spanish-speaking U.S.-based audiences.

For the Univision AVOD service, the no-cost tier will feature more than 100 linear channels and wholly owned and acquired content that will also be offered in VOD form.

The new premium subscription tier (SVOD) will feature more than 6,000 hours of Spanish-language content and more than 30 original productions exclusively on the service within its first year, Univision says.

“The original productions for the service are being developed by some of the most notable established and up-and-coming creators in Spanish-language content today,” Univision notes.

With that, Univision is announcing projects with Maria Dueñas, Santiago Limon and Mario Vargas Llosa, “with many more to be announced in the coming weeks.”

Univision adds that the vision for the premium SVOD offering “is to bring audiences more originally produced Spanish-language content than any other streaming service globally.”

To execute on this vision, Rodrigo Mazon has joined as EVP & GM of SVOD, reporting directly to Pierluigi Gazzolo, President and Chief Transformation Officer at Univision.

With more than 10 years experience in streaming, Mazon joins Univision from Netflix, where he most recently served as VP of Content. Mazon will be responsible for all elements of the SVOD service, including content and programming strategy, original content production, talent relations, content acquisitions from third-party producers and subscriber growth and retention.

Mazon’s appointment follows the recent addition of Michael Cerdá as Univision’s EVP of  Product and Engineering/Streaming.

Rafael Urbina, Univision’s EVP & GM, AVOD Streaming, continues to lead PrendeTV, and will lead the future free ad-supported tier both in the U.S. and internationally.

The SVOD tier will launch with more than 30 original productions throughout 2022, Univision says.

BEHIND THE PRODUCTIONS

Dueñas is the author of “El tiempo entre costuras” (The Time in Between) and “La templanza” (The Vineyard). She signed a first-look deal with Univision for her future content and novels and will develop her first-ever series exclusively for Univision’s SVOD streaming service.

Peruvian author and Nobel Prize winner Vargas Llosa will have his 2006 novel “Travesuras de la niña mala” adapted into a television series, which will be executive produced by Patricio Wills from Televisa’s W Studios. The novel is a love story set in the 1960s across various cities in Europe.

Limon is the creator and co-writer of the film “Hasta que la boda nos separe” and director and executive producer of the reboot of teen band-focused telenovela “Rebelde.”

Univision CEO Wade Davis, in prepared comments, said, “With today’s announcement we are giving an early view into the scale and scope of our streaming ambitions. My partners and I closed on our acquisition of Univision less than six months ago, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made to date … Pierlugi has brought together some of the best streaming executives in the industry. Michael has built, scaled and globalized one of the most successful streaming products in the world. Rafael has extensive experience scaling large, ad-supported video audiences, and Rodrigo is a pioneer in premium Spanish-language streaming and content. With this team and the resources we are allocating, we will launch a service that is differentiated, high quality and best in class.”

Two years ago, he was appointed Director of Sales for Univision Communications’ radio and television properties in San Antonio. Now, with rumors swirling that Univision wishes to sell some of its radio stations, this media ad sales veteran with experience at Urban One and iHeartMedia is joining Cumulus Media.

He’ll be leading up the company’s audio properties in Birmingham, Ala.

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Of the media companies that have seen the most excitement on Wall Street across 2020, Urban One is perhaps tops when it comes to radio and television industry assets combined with a growing casino gaming operation.

It’s stock burst upward one year ago, fueled by new commitments from advertisers to Black-owned media. Earlier this month a second burst in share value came. Both times, shares receded following those big gains.

Now, SEC disclosures show that a former Urban One board member and two current members have obtained a chunk of Class D shares in the African American-focused company.

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