Streamline Acquires RBR-TVBR

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Increases Platform and Reach

(2/11/13) B. Eric Rhoads, Chairman of Streamline Publishing, Inc. (pictured on the right) has announced that the company has closed on the purchase of Radio Business Report/Television Business Report (RBR TVBR), a broadcast industry trade publication with a strong focus on the financial sector. Streamline is the owner of Radio Ink magazine, Radio Ink Daily and RadioInk.com.


The acquisition is designed to expand Streamline’s platform and commitment to the broadcasting industry. According to Rhoads, “RBR is a thirty year old established brand in radio and has gained respect for its financial and business reporting in the industry.” Rhoads says the business will be operated as a separate entity with the existing RBR-TVBR team and will not be melded into Radio Ink, which just celebrated twenty years. “We are highly impressed with the quality of the reporting and operational organization at RBR-TVBR, and are excited about working with them. Most of the staff have been on the team for over 20 years and bring tremendous skill to our business.”

RBR-TVBR was founded in 1983 by Jim (pictured on the left) and Cathy Carnegie, and for the last 30 years they have built RBR-TVBR into one of the strongest broadcasting brands in the industry.  Cathy passed-away suddenly and unexpectedly in January of 2012 and for the last year Jim has been exploring what the best future for RBR-TVBR should be.

“While this transaction might seem sudden it was actually in the works for some time prior to Cathy’s passing. Over the last year as my personal priorities have changed and it became clear it was time to find a new caretaker for RBR-TVBR,” said Carnegie. “We spoke with dozens of interested parties in a very thorough process to identify the right fit RBR-TVBR going forward. Streamline was one of the early parties we considered and as we went down this road, it became increasingly clear through dozens of conversations that Streamline was the right place for RBR-TVBR.”

“The passion and commitment to broadcasters that Streamline and Radio Ink has demonstrated over the years made this transaction such a natural fit for the future of RBR-TVBR. The combined brands offer a very powerful proposition for broadcasters and our advertising partners, said Carnegie.”

Rhoads and Carnegie have discussed this acquisition for several years and finally found the right time to execute an agreement.

According to Rhoads, “Broadcasting is faced with vast opportunities and I believe RBR is poised to help address those opportunities, not only with its daily email information and education, but with its private-access paid subscription content, reports, white papers and data on industry trends and solutions. This area of the business is booming and has become a valuable intelligence tool to industry leaders, financial people and radio managers.”

According to Carnegie, Streamline and RBR remain one of the few independently owned and operated radio information companies. “Independence has allowed us to tell the unvarnished truth and not be a corporate mouthpiece,” said Carnegie. “Eric and I see eye to eye on this and I know he refuses to buckle to corporate pressure to varnish the truth, which is why we selected Streamline to take this publication forward. I believe it is in responsible hands and I can move on to the next chapter of my life knowing RBR-TVBR will remain independent.”

Carnegie will assist Streamline in the short-term during this transition, and has launched an advisory firm that will be the focus of his attention.

“Over the years broadcasters have sought advice and input that I frankly have never had the time to give,” said Carnegie. “With RBR-TVBR now in great hands; I can devote more time to answering those calls and helping broadcasters in a more one-to-one way.”

The acquisition was orchestrated by Streamline CEO Jim Robinson, who said “We’re very happy with the product RBR-TVBR produces. It’s credible and held in high regard in the industry because the accuracy of its content and quality of its reporting. It is our intent to keep the existing content in tact and seek growth opportunity for the brands.”

 

About Streamline Publishing, Inc.
Streamline Publishing, Inc. was founded by Rhoads in 1986 when it purchased The Pulse of Radio Magazine from Robert FX Sillerman. The magazine was later renamed RADIO INK and today remains the only print publication in the sector. It also produces a daily news report and a website, both focused on operational management of radio stations. Streamline also produces four radio conferences: Radio Ink Convergence, Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference, Radio Ink SportsRadio Conference, and its financial conference Radio Ink Forecast, held annually at the Harvard Club. Aside from its radio division, Streamline’s art division publishes two consumer art magazines, Plein Air and Fine Art Connoisseur, and an art conference, The Plein Air Convention, in addition to Streamline Premium Art Video, a video production company, which produces “How to” educational Videos for Artists. The company headquarters are in Palm Beach County, Florida.