Legacy

Inspired by feedback from both affiliates of the production tool and its partners, United Stations Radio Networks has announced the official launch of a new Phantom Producer website that features a "re-imagined user interface" (UI) known as the Sequencer.

Triveni Digital has partnered with Verance Corporation to integrate Verance Aspect, a key component of the ATSC 3.0 television standard that broadcasters are able to use in today's ATSC 1.0 environment, into Triveni's StreamScope MT-50 video, audio, and metadata monitoring and analysis system.

NAB Show New York takes place October 18-19 at the Javits Convention Center in NYC, and for the first time will feature the “TV on Wall Street” program, a one-day conference offering a business perspective on the economic influences driving the evolution of media.

CBS Corp. started the day mired in a potentially ugly battle with DISH Network, which this morning pulled the plug on CBS O&Os, several affiliates of The CW and three MVPD-distributed networks due to a bitter retransmission dispute. But, that's not the only new news involving CBS. Its Board of Directors just declared a healthy quarterly dividend, as the final numbers for the CBS Radio share exchange were released. That went well: the share exchange offer was oversubscribed.

In 1987, a production company devoted to Talk radio was established by a radio industry veteran with nearly 30 years of sales experience — including an eight-year tenure ending in 1972 as GSM for then-ABC's News/Talk KGO-AM 810 in San Francisco. This individual, Edward F. McLaughlin, in 1988 became the producer of The Rush Limbaugh Show. Today, he's credited with making Limbaugh a household name. Now, he's being honored for this and other career achievements by the Broadcasters Foundation of America. 

The wheels of the Federal government are moving the re-authorization of the Federal Communications Commission closer to approval. Top Democratic and Republican leaders in both the House and Senate have reached "a bipartisan, bicameral agreement" that also spurs the deployment of next-generation wireless services. The next step is a House vote on Tuesday for "RAY BAUM's Act."

The presence of "pre-roll" on an audio stream is kids' stuff in the grand scheme of online radio's ad enrichment activities. But, what if a consumer's audio command could instantly provide more information on an offer, or a brand? That's exactly what is now available to broadcast media that wish to monetize their digital platform in a bold new way, thanks to one company that believes it has a big new ROI tool. We take a peek for you.

It's been a busy week for Nielsen. On Monday, it revealed that it will “transform” the measurement of markets that are measured with the audio diary from a quarterly or two times a year view to year-round measurement with monthly reporting. Now, Nielsen has confirmed it is expanding its total audience measurement for local markets—a boost for TV.

The ongoing transition of local TV channels thanks to the post-FCC Incentive Auction repacking process, coupled with the rise of "cord cutting" and over-the-air broadcast TV consumption, has led the FCC to open a dedicated consumer help center expressly created to assist them with any queries and associated needs.

If it were up to the NAB, one company could theoretically own every AM station in a market of any size. It's also the chief architect behind a plan to allow one entity to own every FM in a market ranked No. 75 and under. The NAB is doubling down on this argument.

This column, says Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner, is respectfully dedicated to the memory of the thousands of innocent worldwide terrorism victims and to those who will continue to suffer the same fate as these horrific practices continue to escalate.

STELAR: To Re-authorize or To Let Expire? That is the question that panelists participating in Phoenix Center's 19th annual U.S. Telecoms Symposium on December 3 will be answering.

Is it Perry Sook? What about Pat LaPlatney, or Brian Lawlor? Is Emily Barr at the top? It's still up to you, but your selection of RBR+TVBR's now-ranked 2020 Broadcast Television’s Best Leaders list must be done by 5pm Pacific today (2/28). Nominations will be tabulated next week, with the results appearing in our 2020 NAB Show Special Edition!

New York City has emerged as a global epicenter for the continued spread of the novel coronavirus. As such, life as normal has largely grounded to a halt. Now, iHeartRadio is literally beaming a ray of light to the Big Apple in a partnership with the Empire State Building. It involves a live light show, and Facebook Live streaming for those practicing social distancing.

Entercom's high profile New York stations are based just 30 minutes north, by foot, of the NYSE. As such, the company likely has an outsized role in determining the importance of audio advertising to media buyers and planners. The company's Q1 2020 earnings call proved that Entercom's online assets are winners. The AMs and FMs? A challenge persists, and analysts are concerned.