the HOT List

Consumers experienced greater employment and steady, or slightly increased, income in 2017. However, they're less optimistic about the economy in 2018. That's the big takeaway from the fifth annual ThinkNow Pulse Total Market Consumer Sentiment Report, just released from ThinkNow Research. There's more: ThinkNow found striking contrasts on consumer expectations across a representative sample of multicultural consumers and non-Hispanic whites in the U.S.

How to reach Hispanic consumers with the right marketing content, through the right channels -- including radio and TV -- continues to capture the attention of those in charge of where to invest their ad dollars. What are they being told with respect to how to target Latino consumers in the digital realm? A "Hispanic411" webinar from Univision and Magna Global conducted Jan. 18 could give you some important facts on what your digital dollar competitors are doing to steal money from you.

The head of the NAB Radio Department will soon conclude his day-to-day role, but will not be saying goodbye to the broadcast media industry's chief lobbying organization. John David, who holds the title of EVP of NAB Radio, will become a Senior Advisor to the NAB, effective Feb. 1.

Yes, the U.S. government shut down on Saturday at midnight. However, a midday Monday vote put the wheels in motion to temporarily reopen the Federal government through Feb. 8. Regardless, the FCC was not immediately impacted thanks to funding assuring it would have stayed open through Friday.

... and How Do Radio and TV React? A murder-hostage situation that led to a death that wasn't true. A missile warning in Hawaii. Is "fake news" to blame? Or, is this the result of something else? Bret Swanson, president of Entropy Economics LLC and a scholar at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, does his best to answer these questions -- and how radio and TV might help in preventing errors that lead to death and/or panic in this Media Information Bureau column.

The Federal Communications Commission is announcing on its website the appointment of Albert Shuldiner as Chief of the Media Bureau’s Audio Division. The Audio Division of the Media Bureau licenses commercial and noncommercial educational AM, FM, FM Translator, and FM Booster radio services, and the noncommercial educational Low Power FM radio service.

The nation's No. 2 radio broadcasting company by number of stations has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York reviewing its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan to reject what it calls "a handful of extremely unprofitable contracts." They all involve Chicago  — including the White Sox Major League Baseball club and the National Basketball Association's Bulls. Cumulus is also seeking to scrap its agreement with Merlin Media to acquire WKQX-FM "Q101" and WLUP-FM 97.9 in Chicago for the price it agreed to per its original asset purchase option.

With TV station group consolidation on the minds of brokers, marketers and industry leaders, Tribune Broadcasting President Larry Wert fired off a warning shot to all who see mega-mergers as a perfect solution to continued growth. "There's a lesson for deregulation," he said. "Look at radio in the 1990s." Meanwhile, a top Scripps exec says too much local news could be a bad thing for a TV station.

Insights into OTT behavior, and how broadcast TV can benefit, was a highlight of the many sessions at NATPE Miami on its first day of panels and presentations. But, there's also a measurement component that's vital to both broadcast TV and radio at stake, with the ever-encroaching OTT universe a possible friend—rather than a dollar-draining foe. Two top Nielsen executives spoke exclusively with RBR+TVBR on the important topic.

Tuesday at NATPE Miami, Facebook Head of Global Creative Strategy Ricky Van Heen unveiled a trio of new shows coming to Facebook Watch, including a program featuring noted outdoors adventurist Bear Grylls. The announcement provided the perfect context for a "View from the Street" discussion on what "FANG" (or "GAFAN," to use current Silicon Valley parlance) is most dangerous to traditional media. The answer from financial analysts who cover media stocks may surprise you.

In a lively standing-room only NATPE Miami session held early Tuesday, four top Wall Street analysts gave various warnings to broadcast and cable TV regarding audience trends and the spectre of global digital players entering the U.S. market. Among the discussion points: What's accelerating the changes in how Americans consume video content, and why "internally created problems" aren't the drivers of change.

Today’s consumers have instant access to an unprecedented range of screen-based entertainment options – from live and on-demand TV, to videos on YouTube, to gaming, to social media. One thing that has not expanded, however, is consumers’ disposable time. How can your media property cut through the clutter? A new study from Hub Entertainment Research may have the answer for making your content a consumer priority.

For 38 minutes on early Saturday morning across the Hawaiian islands, a full-on nuclear scare sent families into a panic. A message alert went out from the State Emergency Management Agency on Oʻahu, stating a "ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii." It was a false alarm. What did one radio group on the island of Maui do? We have the exclusive report.

Tuesday morning will see the start of a flurry of sessions that kicks off NATPE Miami, one of the world's largest TV marketplaces and executive gatherings. Come Thursday, Futuri Media CEO and co-founder Dan Anstandig will get the spotlight shone on him, and a tool he thinks will help guide broadcast TV to more relevant news coverage -- and, in turn, better ratings and revenue. Its a tool that has been used successfully at Radio: TopicPulse. 

An individual who has been called "a practical visionary" and "unbelievably brilliant" by former U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller is now confirmed as the opening keynote speaker at the ninth annual Hispanic Radio Conference, set for March 13-14 in Miami.