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.
Charter, Viacom Team For Content, Ads In New Accord
Spectrum and Spongebob are getting a little closer: Viacom and Charter Communications have inked a multi-year renewal and expansion of their distribution relationship. The new deal also calls for the co-production of original content, and collaboration around advanced advertising.
Cumulus Stock Dips Nearly 10% Amid Restructuring Talk
Cumulus Media made an SEC filing Monday that outlined its long-term financial forecast and business plan -- a filing precipitated by separate discussions Cumulus says it has had with "certain noteholders under the indenture governing the 7.75% Senior Notes due 2019." The key words here are "restructuring" — and that has Cumulus stock holders very nervous.
OTA Sheds TV Properties That Didn’t Move In Incentive Auction
OTA Broadcasting was one of the big winners in the FCC's Incentive Auction, pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars for giving up the spectrum for eight Class A TV stations and two full-power facilities. But, OTA didn't get bids on all of its properties in Auction 1000, and it has now agreed to three separate deals involving a total of 7 Class A TV stations—and one hedge fund that's swooped in to claim them all.
A Senior Notes Offering Moves Ahead At CBS
With CBS Radio expected to shift from CBS Corp. to Entercom on Friday, the top brass at Black Rock have unveiled plans to offer senior notes in a private debt offering. Meanwhile, Moody's Investors Service has assigned a rating to CBS Radio's proposed $250 million revolving credit facility, while CBS Radio has also entered the "Strata"-sphere.
‘Investigate This Man!’, House Dems Ask Of Pai
Has FCC Chairman Ajit Pai taken improper actions to benefit Sinclair Broadcast Group in its bid to merge with Tribune Media -- namely, bringing back the Commission's "UHF Discount" so such a Goliath transaction can take place? Two leading Democrats in the House of Representatives say so, and they want the FCC's Inspector General to investigate the matter.
Cox Media Group Consolidates Atlanta Leadership
Cox Media Group (CMG) has appointed four leaders who will work together to fully integrate the privately held company’s portfolio of traditional and digital media platforms in the Atlanta area, beginning in 2018.