Industry News

In June 2016, well before anyone in Washington, D.C., expected Donald Trump to become the 45th U.S. President, concerns over the re-nomination of a Democratic FCC Commissioner surfaced.

Then came the November election, and the transition of Commission leadership from Tom Wheeler to Ajit Pai. With Republicans in control, Jessica Rosenworcel became a political pawn. She left on Inauguration Day 2017, only to return six months later with her re-nomination from President Trump confirmed.

Now, he’s actually to thank for making Rosenworcel the interim FCC Chairman.

Well … sort of.

President Biden on Thursday (1/21) designated Rosenworcel as Acting FCC Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission.

“I am honored to be designated as the Acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Biden,” she said, thanking Biden for the opportunity to lead an agency “with such a vital mission and talented staff.”

Rosenworcel called it ” a privilege to serve the American people and work on their behalf to expand the reach of communications opportunity in the digital age.”

In her stints at the Commission, Rosenworcel has worked to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in the nation’s communications services and has been a consistent champion for connecting all.

Prior to joining the agency, she served as Senior Communications Counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, under the leadership of Sens. John D. Rockefeller IV and Daniel Inouye. Before entering public service, Rosenworcel practiced communications law for Drinker Biddle Reath in Washington, D.C.

Her brother, Brian, is the drummer in the alternative rock band Guster.

Republican colleague Brendan Carr extended his congratulations to Rosenworcel, calling her “a talented and dedicated public servant, as evidenced by her eight years of distinguished service on the FCC.”

NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith also applauded Rosenworcel on becoming acting FCC chair. “She is a dedicated and experienced public servant who has demonstrated great aptitude in leading communications policy during her tenure at the Commission,” he said. “We look forward to working with her and her fellow Commissioners on regulatory policies that help local radio and TV stations serve the public interest.”

What are the most important policy issues facing local television and radio stations during the 117th congress that the NAB will be advocating to policymakers and Members of Congress?

That was distributed on Thursday, one day after Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

President Joe Biden named Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Rosenworcel, a Democrat, joined the commission in 2012. Before that she served as senior communications counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and practiced communications law.

With the departure of former Chairman Ajit Pai and the inauguration of the new president, the FCC has an open Democratic seat and a 2-2 division by party.

The FCC has never had a female permanent chair; Mignon Clyburn held the acting chair for six months in 2013.

“I thank the president for the opportunity to lead an agency with such a vital mission and talented staff,” Rosenworcel said. “It is a privilege to serve the American people and work on their behalf to expand the reach of communications opportunity in the digital age.”

In a statement, Rosenworcel’s office said she has “worked to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in our communications services in order to ensure that all Americans get a fair shot at 21st century success. From fighting to protect net neutrality to ensuring access to the internet for students caught in the Homework Gap, she has been a consistent champion for connecting all. She is a leader in spectrum policy, developing new ways to support wireless services from Wi-Fi to video and the internet of things.”

The National Association of Broadcasters issued a statement applauding the announcement: “She is a dedicated and experienced public servant who has demonstrated great aptitude in leading communications policy during her tenure at the commission.”

The post Rosenworcel Is Named Acting FCC Chair appeared first on Radio World.

One week ago, the nation’s chief lobbying group representing small, and small market, MVPDs held court with the office of the newest FCC Commissioner.

What did ACA Connects discuss with representatives from Nathan Simington‘s office?

Consolidation in the broadcast television industry and retransmission consent matters.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

On Tuesday, all eyes were on the U.S. Supreme Court as oral arguments were heard in FCC v. Prometheus, the case that sees the Commission and the NAB teaming to get its cross-ownership rules approved with a reversal of a lower court’s remand.

While that’s certainly a huge matter, other legal issues impacting radio and TV in 2021 deserve attention.

What’s the first one that comes to mind to Gregg Skall, the noted Washington, D.C. communications attorney with boutique firm Telecommunication Law Professionals?

Find out in the latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Gregg Skall” on Spreaker.

Cumulus Media on Thursday revealed what it calls “important changes” to its top-level sales leadership, impacting both its broadcast radio stations and its Westwood One national radio arm.

At Westwood One, Sales President Bryan Forbes is out. He’s leaving the company “to pursue another opportunity.”

As such, Ron Russo is taking the role, gaining oversight of network sales and sales planning. Russo, a 17-year sales leader, was previously EVP/Sales, Northeast at Westwood One. His resume includes roles at iHeartMedia and CBS Radio.

Meanwhile, at the Cumulus stations, Rafe D’Amico succeeds Forbes’ role that saw him oversee the AM and FM properties’ national spot team and manage their relationship with Katz Radio Group.

D’Amico will serve as SVP of National Sales. His resume includes roles as VP of Strategic Partnerships and National Sales at Beasley Media Group.

D’Amico reports to Cumulus EVP/Operations Dave Milner, while Russo reports to WWO head Suzanne Grimes.

In addition to those moves, Westwood One EVP/Sales and Sports Partnerships Brandon Berman, who has focused on sports and overall Midwest region efforts, adds the Northeast region for WWO.

Berman started his career at Westwood One some 15 years ago, as an account executive.

Taking on Southeast region duties at Westwood One is Kim Bryant, adding them to her role as EVP/Sales for the West and Southwest.

Bryant has been associated with Cumulus since the early 2010s. Before that, she held management roles at iHeart predecessor Clear Channel and Entravision.

Finally, seven-year WWO veteran Adam Shifrin rises from a Midwest and West sports sales role to become VP/Sports Sales and Marketing at Westwood One. He now manages all Westwood One Sports Play by Play, CBS Sports Radio, and associated shoulder inventory as well as the dedicated sports sales and operations teams.

“Westwood One is extremely fortunate to have a group of sales executives poised to lead the team forward seamlessly,” Grimes said. “I’m thrilled to announce these well-deserved promotions that will enable us to manage through this challenging pandemic with confidence, commitment, resilience and results.”

In August 2017, RBR+TVBR shared the news that a St. Louis-based provider of private-label online audience engagement and interactive content platforms had agreed to purchase a data-driven email marketing software and consulting business focused on the collection and use of first party data for the media industry founded by Ruth Presslaff.

Now the company that acquired Presslaff Interactive Revenue (PIR) is itself being purchased.

Second Street, which has carved a niche as a provider of private-label online audience engagement and interactive content platforms for broadcast media companies including contesting, quizzes, ballots, polls, surveys, e-mail, and data profiling, is being purchased by Upland Software, which offers products that give its clients opportunities for digital consumer engagement.

The all-cash deal is valued at $25.4 million, paid at closing.

Terms include a $5 million cash holdback payable in 12 months (subject to indemnification claims).

Upland expects the acquisition to generate annual revenue of approximately $9.4 million, of which all is recurring, and will not be subject to reductions for deferred revenue discount as a result of GAAP purchase accounting.

“The price paid for the acquisition is within Upland’s target range of 5-8x pro forma Adjusted EBITDA and it is expected that Second Street will generate at least $4.2 million in Adjusted EBITDA annually once fully integrated,” Upland says.

Additionally, the company notes that the acquisition will be immediately accretive to Upland’s Adjusted EBITDA per share.

“Adding Second Street to Upland’s product portfolio will provide Upland’s customers the power to build promotions and email campaigns that grow revenue, customer databases, and consumer engagement,” the Austin-based company says.

The Cosine Group acted as exclusive financial advisor to Second Street.

DHD Audio has announced that Norwegian radio broadcaster NRJ Norway now has new digital audio mixing and routing system based on the German company’s equipment.

Soundware Norge was the contractor. The installation consisted of an RX2 mixer surface and an XC2 core router/processor with an AES67 audio-over-IP interface.

[See Our Who’s Buying What Page]

Soundware Norge Sales Manager Ketil Morstøl explained that the new equipment can handle both audio and video and is a dry run for audio and video configurations that will be installed at new studios for NRJ Norway parent P4.

“The goal of this pilot is to evaluate a complete upgraded technical infrastructure for both audio and video production, forming the ideal studio for the P4-Group which is moving to new facilities later this year,” he said. He added, “The P4 group recognized the ergonomic and technical advantages of DHD mixers some years ago and now uses them across its various studios in Norway and Sweden.”

According to DHD Audio, the 1 RU rackmounted XC2 core can handle DHD control consoles of up to 44 faders and link various DHD I/O modules. The RX2 control surface is based on control surface modules which can be combined and configured to match a wide range of radio and TV production environments. The design also scales easily from small production units with 6 or 12 faders to large consoles with up to 60 faders.

Users and suppliers are both invited to send news about recent installations and product applications to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post NRJ Norway Chooses DHD Audio appeared first on Radio World.

He became a renowned radio industry figure for serving as Station Manager at one of America’s most-listened-to Top 40 stations of the 1970s, with his 50kw Class A AM outdueling its rival, “The Voice of Labor in Chicago,” by March 1976.

In May 1979, he was named President of ABC-owned FMs following the resignation of Allan Shaw.

Now, media executives across the U.S. are paying tribute to Marty Greenberg, who has died of pancreatic cancer.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

SAVANNAH, GA. — Travel 40 miles south of the University of Georgia’s main campus in Athens, and you’ll find Greensboro, Ga., and the small town of Siloam, situated on Carl Sanders Highway.

Here, a Class A devoted to praising Jesus is trading hands. The buyer is based on Florida’s Panhandle.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)