Softer Ad Growth On Tap For 2017
Wall Street's most prolific analytic wordsmith of how things are has just refined his firm's expectations for total U.S. advertising growth for 2017, and beyond. His new estimates are within the range anticipated for much of the year. But, they are slightly below pre-Q3 2017 forecasts.
WW1’s ‘Important Strategic’ Sales Leadership Changes
Cumulus Media's Westwood One national radio arm has just completed a series of organization changes in its sales team that it says are designed to capitalize on its "strong sales momentum, as well as to propel the organization to new heights in 2018 and beyond." These "important strategic changes to the leadership and structure of the national sales team" see a new President of Sales, as its current leader is retiring "to pursue his life passions in Vermont."
Black Friday Surprise: DISH and CBS Reach Carriage Deal
What looked to be a bitter battle between DBS provider DISH Network and CBS Corp. over a new retransmission agreement has been resolved as of Midnight Eastern Time Friday. DISH Network has reached a multi-year carriage agreement with CBS Corp. for all of its owned and operated local stations, including several affiliates of The CW and two MyNetworkTV stations.
Rosenworcel’s Ruckus-Raising Extends To TV Owner Cap
To say Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel is less than pleased with her Republican colleagues' push to review the current U.S. national media ownership cap is a bit of an understatement. She's just as frustrated about the planned Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that could eliminate or greatly change the ownership cap as she is about the pending end of Title II classification for broadband, ending "Net Neutrality" rules she helped put in place.
Cox’s Magnificent Seven: New Leaders Locked In
Cox Media Group (CMG) has named seven veteran broadcast leaders to take on senior leadership roles in seven of its markets. Most of the promotions involve TV properties, while Cox's Director of Sales for its four radio stations in South Florida has risen to the role of GM.
National Cap NPRM Up For December FCC Vote
Democrats across Washington are crowing about another turkey gobbing around the Portals. Republicans are eyeing the next step that would bring further relief to broadcast media companies that are evermore challenged in their quest to compete against digital and social media. No matter how you view it, the FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at its December 14 Open Meeting that seeks comment on the FCC’s national television multiple ownership rule, also known as the national cap, including the "UHF discount."
As Expected, ‘Net Neutrality’ Neutering On Its Way
Following details leaked by a source to The Wall Street Journal, the FCC on Tuesday morning made Washington's worst-kept secret official: What some call "net neutrality" and others bemoan as a hindrance to internet freedom will be up for vote at the Commission's Dec. 14 Open Meeting. The results won't be a surprise, with the GOP majority clearly in support of the "Restoring Internet Freedom Order." Why is this important for broadcasters? We have an RBR+TVBR Observation on that.
DISH, By Law, Cuts CBS Amid Retrans Row
The spin cycle is set to high, but no matter how you look at it, DISH subscribers are in the dark if they want to tune to CBS O&Os, several affiliates of The CW, and three specialty networks.
Univision/Verizon Dispute Comes To An End
After more than a month of negotiations that left Hispanic Verizon Fios customers in the dark, the MVPD has agreed to a new retransmission fee agreement with Univision Communications. As a result, all Univision-owned stations have been restored to Fios lineups in all impacted markets.
Top TV Broadcasters Unite For ‘TIP’ Ad Initiative
A consortium of local television broadcasters led by Nexstar Media Group, TEGNA, Sinclair Broadcast Group and desired merger partner Tribune Media have rolled back the curtain on an industry work group dedicated "to developing standard-based interfaces to accelerate electronic advertising transactions for local TV broadcasters and their media agency partners."
Is Entercom OK To Use ‘ALT’ Brand?
Just hours after Entercom officially assumed control of CBS Radio's stations, it scuttled CHR/Pop formats at stations in Dallas and New York, respectively. Now, they are Alternative stations, using the "ALT" brand. Is that a legal problem, given iHeartMedia's use of the brand across the U.S.? We asked three attorneys for their take on the matter.
Entercom Shares Up As CBS Radio Merger Is Now Complete
Legendary air personality Scott Shannon did his first "weekend blast-off" just after 8am Eastern on WCBS-FM 101.1 in New York by identifying the venerable Classic Hits' station's new owner. Investors on Wall Street geared up for a strong opening for the company's shares on Wall Street. And, just before the Opening Bell for the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, the long-anticipated official word came from Bala Cynwyd, Pa. CBS Radio, formally created 20 years ago with Westinghouse's acquisition of Infinity Broadcasting, is no more. It's now a part of the Entercom family.
‘Voluntary, Market-Driven’ Next-Gen TV Standard Deployment OK’D
After nearly four hours in Room TW-C305 of the FCC's headquarters at The Portals, broadcast TV companies received an expected and anticipated thumbs up to take a leap into the future. In a 3-2 party-line vote, TV broadcasters may now move forward with their use of the Next Generation television transmission standard known as ATSC 3.0 "on a voluntary, market-driven basis." Dissenting Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel was particularly vocal in her opposition, saying it will harm consumers' wallets.
As Expected, FCC ‘Modernizes’ Broadcast Ownership Rules
The Weed Whacker was put to action by a whipper snapper and two of his GOP colleagues at the Commission on Thursday, as the FCC voted 3-2 to eliminate its cross-ownership rules for newspaper and broadcast media and for radio and TV, respectively. The "Eight-Voices Test" is also gone. Democrats were vociferous in their opposition, but further action to stop the changes is now up to Congress -- or, more likely, the courts.
Enabling Voice In The Smart Home For Radio
In the smart home, voice will serve as a prime differentiator in the user experience. A new Parks Associates white paper presents market strategies for long term success in the voice technology market. Among the key topics: New opportunities for voice in connected products. This is information all radio industry C-Suiters need now.