Industry News

Some companies do it to award shareholders. Others to it to attract them.

For Nielsen, the latter appears to be the incorrect response from Wall Street of the decision by its Board of Directors to declare a quarterly cash dividend.

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As RBR+TVBR was first to report on Thursday (2/10), Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has successfully negotiated a purchase of Rhythmic Top 40 “Power 95.3” in the Orlando market and Alternative “97X” in Tampa-St. Petersburg — stations that an Elliot Evers-administered trust needed to spin by Tuesday.

With the former Cox Media Group FMs now set to become Spanish-language properties in two hot growth markets, the only remaining question until now involved the value of the deal.

We now have an answer.

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Infographic Courtesy Pure Digital. Click to embiggen.

A new study from digital radio manufacturer Pure Radio finds that for many Brits, radio now provides the soundtrack for their lives.

This is especially true 18- to 34-year-olds. The survey found that more than 62% of the younger audience segment is tuning to radio compared to pre-pandemic. Despite older listeners not changing their listening habits as dramatically, on average, more than a third of U.K. listeners find themselves listening to the radio more now.

In part, Pure Radio stated in a release announcing the survey findings, the increase is connected to working from home. A fifth of respondents noted they listen to the radio while eating breakfast or during the workday with 11 a.m. being the most popular time to listen to the radio. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they put on the radio to help combat feelings of loneliness.

[Related: “World Radio Day Focuses on Trust for 2022”]

The biggest difference in listening habits between younger and older listeners comes in an unexpected place — the shower. The survey found that the 18–24 segment was four times as likely to listen to the radio while washing themselves than those aged 45+ (20% of 18–24 respondents versus just 5% of those 45+). Younger listeners were three times as likely to listen to the radio during dinner than older listeners (18% vs. 6%).

When it comes to their preferred listening method, 27% of 18–34s said they found listening via a traditional radio receiver most convenient.

Pure Radio surveyed 2,000 Brits for the study to understand the trust people have in radio as part of a campaign connected to World Radio Day 2022.

The post Radio Listening Up Among Younger Brits appeared first on Radio World.

I think Fred Baumgartner’s article about OTA Next Gen ATSC 3.0 and the entire push to put it on the air misses a very important point: Why bother?

While he argues that ancient modulation on the MW band and even FM on the VHF band cannot compete with ATSC 3.0 on the UHF band for OTA distribution for most of the global audience, he forgets that wireless transmission in general is passe except for time spent in motion, commuting, etc. Fiber to the home is rapidly replacing copper circuits of all types and is far more reliable than any OTA signal.

[Read More Guest Commentaries Here]

Do we need ATSC 3.0 to reach commuters? Nope. Sure, we could use its data formats with 5G OTA, but that’s really optional. Once you have an IP connection, any data format will work. ATSC 3.0 TV transmission, even synchronous repeaters, pales in comparison with cellular carriers, who will be providing thousands of cell sites in any one community.

If you look at rural areas, especially those with very hilly or mountainous terrain, OTA remains highly challenged. And that includes 5G cellular service. But many of these same areas are being rewired with fiber.

So, for that magnificent 8K TV screen, fiber will likely rule. For the kids in the back seats of the family van, do they really need 8K for the 24-inch screen built into the back rests of the seats in front of them?

In the world of Internet of things, will traditional TV license holders matter? Nope. These devices require two-way connectivity. Only the wireless carriers are in a position to expand and prosper. And at home, the bits can be uplinked more efficiently with wireless modems connected to the world via fiber than 5G.

The author is chief engineer of Monadnock Broadcasting Group and Saga Communications. Opinions are his own.

Comment on this or any story. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Why Bother With NextGen TV? appeared first on Radio World.

Spanish Broadcasting System has asked the Federal Communications Commission to allow foreign investors to indirectly own up to 49.99% of its equity in aggregate.

SBS filed a petition for declaratory ruling as a consequence of a litigation settlement under which certain investors would receive a combination of cash and new shares of SBS’s common stock.

SBS has radio holdings in multiple major markets including flagship WSKQ(FM) in New York.

“The issuance of the total number of shares required to implement the settlement could cause the aggregate equity foreign ownership of SBS to exceed … [the] 25% benchmark because some of these parties are foreign entities and/or individuals,” the commission wrote in a summary.

[Recently in RW: “FCC Grants iHeart Petition on GMEI Foreign Investment”]

The commission noted that SBS only seeks approval for foreign investors to hold up to 49.99% of the company’s total equity interests; it does not seek special approval with respect to its voting interests.

Raúl Alarcón is the only person or entity that would hold a 5% or greater voting interest, with an approximately 80% voting interest and 34% equity interest in SBS. “The remainder of SBS’s stock would be held by various domestic and foreign investors,” the FCC wrote.

The petition doesn’t seek advance approval for any individual or entity. SBS told the FCC that the request raises no national security, trade policy or law enforcement concerns “and will further the commission’s goal of encouraging foreign investment in the broadcast industry.”

The commission accepted its petition for review and will take public comment. Per its past practice it also will check with relevant executive branch agencies for any concerns related to foreign ownership of SBS.

Comments can be filed on the FCC website and are due March 14, 2022. They should reference MB Docket No. 22-61.

The post SBS Seeks OK for More Foreign Investment appeared first on Radio World.

The voice of broadcast media Inside the Beltway has released an overview of what it considers to be the most important policy issues facing local television and radio stations during the 117th Congress.

What’s the No. 1 policy priority for the NAB?

The advocacy group on Friday released its 2022 Broadcasters’ Policy Agenda, and the top agenda item is “Preserving Local Journalism in the Age of Big Tech.”

“As Congress considers the competitive challenges and antitrust concerns raised by digital platforms and their impact on local news and information, it should support laws and policies that recognize and uphold broadcasters’ unique and essential role in democracy and a free press,” the NAB says.

The No. 2 item: the Local Radio Freedom Act, the concurrent resolution of House and Senate members to oppose any proposed legislation — including the musicFIRST-supported “American Music Freedom Act” — which would impose a new royalty fee scheme on broadcast radio. In the House, the LRFA has 211 co-sponsors; in the Senate, the LRFA enjoys support from 23 co-sponsors.

The NAB comments, “Strong congressional support for local radio was also made clear in the 2018 enactment of the Music Modernization Act, legislation that did not contain a performance tax and benefited songwriters, legacy recording artists, producers, digital streaming services and music listeners. Broadcasters stand ready to work with Congress and the music industry on a balanced music licensing proposal that promotes innovation and recognizes the benefit to artists and listeners of radio’s free, locally focused platform. Congress should stand up for local radio station listeners by opposing a performance tax.”

Also on the priority list: increasing diversity in broadcasting, and “preventing harmful changes to advertising tax treatment.” On the latter topic, the FCC says, “Under the U.S. tax code, advertising is treated as an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible in the year it is incurred. In the last few years, some in Congress and in state legislatures have proposed changes to the tax treatment of businesses’ advertising as a means of raising revenue. These modifications would have a devastating impact on radio and television stations, as well as local newspapers, by discouraging businesses from advertising. Local media rely on ad revenue to serve their communities with essential news, emergency information, sports and entertainment programming. The proposed changes also raise significant First Amendment concerns and ignore the important consumer benefits that advertising provides.”

Thus, the NAB believes Congress should oppose legislation that modifies the tax laws to make advertising more expensive for businesses.

Lastly, the NAB wants congress to dedicate itself to “ensuring broadcast ownership rules reflect the competitive marketplace.”

“Broadcasters urge policymakers to support the FCC’s modernization of radio and TV ownership rules to reflect the current marketplace and account for the rise and increasing influence of digital media,” the NAB says.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — On February 10, 1986, she began her career at The E.W. Scripps Co.-owned NBC affiliate that’s long dominated the ratings across the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches.

Now, 36 years later, she’s preparing to relocate to North Carolina and enjoy retirement, concluding a career that has involved just one television station.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. —  America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and PBS have filed comments with the FCC in support of proposed rules that would assist in advancing NEXTGEN TV market transitions and, in turn, encourage public television stations participating in those transitions.

The FCC’s proposed rules would explicitly permit ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 stations licensing flexibility for multicast streams.

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How many radio industry executives consider Sirius XM to be not only a competitor for ears and ad dollars, but a peer, doing the same thing that their AM and FM stations do?

Few, if any, in the radio business would lump Sirius XM alongside the likes of iHeartMedia, Audacy Inc., and Cumulus Media. Yet, a newly released market research report that looks at “radio” on a global scale has.

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A new study has found that those who commute to an office outside the home use radio more than two times as much as those who work from home.

The media research and content intelligence provider NuVoodoo Media Services recently completed its 19th Rating Prospects Study, which suggests that the industry has reason to be optimistic about increased radio listening in the months ahead.

“Through the earlier stages of the pandemic and in our January study, the data has clearly shown more upside for radio when the focus is on the out of home audience,” said Carolyn Gilbert, president of NuVoodoo Media Services. “As Omicron cases peak and recede, the portion of the radio audience that offers more impact to stations’ monthly report cards is best found and influenced outside the home, in cars and at work, especially during critical weekday prime listening periods.”

Where survey respondents are typically working. (Courtesy NuVoodoo Media Services)

The report found that among those working in any capacity, just 12% report using radio most in a home office setting. Those numbers almost triple to 32% when working outside the home. Differences were also seen among all respondents, those who were likely to participate in ratings surveys (RPS Yes), and those who use radio for an hour or more each day (RPS 60). Less extreme differences were seen between at-home and out-of-home listening to digital streaming platforms (DSP) and other audio sources, although out-of-home workers were greater audio consumers regardless of the chosen medium.

The survey found a clear difference in listening habits between at-home workers and those commuting to work outside the home. (Courtesy NuVoodoo Media Services)

On Feb. 16, 2022, the study and findings will be presented in a 40-minute webinar that will explore how often listeners use streaming apps like Spotify and Apple when compared with how often they use and listen to local AM/FM radio streaming apps. The webinar will look at radio station marketing strategies, including social media, connected TV, direct mail, direct outdoor and telemarketing, and will take a deep dive into the use of smart speakers, car audio systems and podcast listening trends.

The survey was fielded nationwide at the start of January 2022 to 3,298 listeners across all PPM markets. The webinar on the report’s findings will be begin at 1 pm Eastern on Feb. 16.

The post Study: Those Working Outside the Home Listen to More Radio appeared first on Radio World.