Michael Nathanson

Is Broadcast TV Losing the Content War to ‘SVOD’?

As summer turned to autumn and fall turned to winter, Americans once again found themselves in front of their screens with few linear options — aside from live news and sports. In contrast, Nathanson says, consumers had access to "an unlimited bouquet of increasingly excellent streaming content choices." Is broadcast TV losing the content war to "SVOD"?

COVID-19 and Civil Unrest: Fuel For Local TV News In 2021?

"Linear TV viewing is at a crossroads, given the shift away from scheduled, appointment viewing on TV, but consumers are voracious when it comes to wanting to stay informed," Nielsen says in a new report released for the virtual NATPE Miami conference. "That elevates the opportunity for news programming across local, national and cable."

AEI: ‘How Pai Restored The FCC’s Independence’

Four years ago, the AEI played a key role in establishing a policy and regulatory path for an FCC under Republican Party control, led by Chairman Ajit Pai. As AEI visiting scholar Mark Jamison looks back on the Commission's Trump-era actions, he believes Pai will be remembered "as one of the most consequential Federal Communications Commission chairmen in history."
headphones

The ‘Battle of the Ear’ in 2021

Although headphones were already trending upwards, COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home rules has accelerated the adoption. The rise of remote working, remote schooling and the growth of gaming have all made their positive contributions, too. What’s more, there’s further potential from health and hearing augmentation use cases, this Futuresource analyst says.
Facebook

Facebook: ‘A Regular Source of News’ For A Third Of U.S.

Even as social media companies struggle to combat misleading information on their platforms, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that 53% of adult American respondents receive their news on social media sites “often,” or “sometimes.” And, of the 11 social media sites asked about as regular sources of news in the study, Facebook sits on top.

Fresh Tech Desired Now, But Tech Privacy A Big Issue

New research from groupM finds that more than half of its respondents believe it is important to be equipped with the latest technology. An even greater percentage of respondents think that either they or a family member should be the only ones with access to health and fitness tracker data -- an interesting privacy concern that media companies may wish to take note of, for slightly different reasons.

‘Traditional Broadcasters’ Poised To Fuel OTT TV, Video Sub Growth

There will be nearly 2 billion active subscriptions to on-demand video services in 2025. That's the key finding of a new report by U.K.-based research and analytical services firm Juniper Research -- and good news for broadcast TV station owners.
Chuck Francis

A New Year Brings New Opportunities For Radio

In November 2009, Chuck Francis, as the owner of Remerge Media, penned a Media Information Bureau column on how radio can capitalize as "an effective and affordable marketing vehicle." Eleven years later, Francis is the founder and owner of Take & Bake Marketing — and his words still matter to an industry seeking to rebound from COVID-19.

Another New National Radio Brand Arrives. Is the U.S. Immune?

Bell Media has adopted its third national radio brand, ditching local branding known for years in such markets as Vancouver for a name that's clearly designed to attract advertisers across the nation of Canada. It's something seen in Australia and Great Britain, to some extent, too. Our editor wonders when U.S. radio groups will follow suit in this commentary.

Should Radio Be The Home For ‘Timeless Hits’?

There may be more timeless music than ever, and not playing it could be costing your radio stations revenue, Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson notes in this Classic Media Information Bureau column worth a fresh read.

Culture Is King For SVOD and Social Media

Subscription video on demand (SVOD) consumers between the ages 13 and 49 have become more culturally literate, primarily due to Netflix, YouTube creators and social media featuring increasingly diverse and global content. In fact, more than half of Gen Zers and parents have watched a show in a language they do not speak, with Hispanics over indexing on this trend.

TV Growth in 2020: Fueled by Lockdown

The global TV market is on track to achieve 1.2% growth in 2020 and is set to end the year on more than 233 million shipments. The COVID-19 pandemic is to "thank," if you will, for the forward momentum, a new market report from Futuresource Consulting finds. Trade value has also fared relatively well.

A Message To Marketers: Radio Yields Individuals

Our editor-in-chief's wife over the last several months has made product purchases and tried out paid services simply for learning about them from celebrities and "influencers" she follows on her Instagram feed. "Welcome to the new paradigm of advertising for the 2020s," Adam R Jacobson writes in this column. Is this bad news for radio? Not at all, and here's why.
Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom lit up at night

Disney’s ‘Magical’ 2020 on Wall Street: ‘Where to From Here?’

In the Hollywood trade publications, it's taking its lumps, as Disney engages in a reduction in force that includes not only television production but also the closure in early 2021 of its Radio Disney operation. On Wall Street, it's a bit of a different story, and none other than noted analyst Michael Nathanson is gushing over the Mouse House.

‘We Need To Take Another Step Forward in the World of Measurement.’

In this exclusive column, LeadsRx CEO and Co-Founder AJ Brown says the radio industry "was on the bleeding edge" and broadcasters were the first pervasive users of marketing attribution to measure campaign effectiveness. Thus, they have led in the creation of an industry around ad measurement and tracking customer journeys valued by marketers.