Legacy

With a diverse revenue portfolio, Graham Holdings Co. in normal times can benefit from both advertising and tuition. But, times are far from normal. And, Graham has already been impacted. The good news: Its TV stations, which comprise Graham Media Group, held up strong through March 31. That's according to its parent company's just-released Q1 2020 earnings results.

To the west of Fresno is the small town of Firebaugh, Calif., home to a silent FM. Travel 67 miles south to Avenal, Calif., and you'll find the tower for another silent FM, a 920-watt facility. Both FM stations have now been ordered by Media Bureau Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner to cease broadcast operations immediately. Here's why.

There's an organization change in order at the FCC's Media Bureau. In a move made because the Commissioners believe it will serve the public interest, improve operations and streamline the Media Bureau's organization, a division within the Bureau is no more.

At 8am today, the TEGNA annual shareholders' meeting got underway. The main event: A vote for the "GOLD" proxy card, or going with the "WHITE" proxy card — selecting a group of Board of Directors nominees hand-picked by dissident shareholder Standard General. By 8:30am, it was determined that Soo Kim's quest for a greater role has ended — at least for now.

As businesses start to reopen following weeks of restrictions designed to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the need to share with consumers that they're open again has led many to Radio. But, are stations ready to write and produce ad copy? If not, Write Label may have a good solution, as we learn in this latest RBR+TVBR Coronavirus INFOCUS podcast from CEO Gideon Stein. LISTEN HERE

Since lockdown, some music streaming services have been reporting a drop in consumption on their platform. Huh? Indeed, that seems to be the case, and Futuresource Consulting says it is the result of "new confinement rules to fight COVID-19." Could increased consumption to radio stations, via AM or FM or via a smart speaker, app or laptop, play a role in this decline?

Many of the positions at a radio station have now proven to be able to work successfully on a remote basis—definitely those in sales, if the right tools, processes, and procedures are in place. How realistic is it that more people will work from home once the pandemic concludes? Laurie Kahn of Media Staffing Network shares her thoughts in this Media Information Bureau article.

The tit-for-tat between TEGNA and Standard General has reached a fever pitch, with each group attempting to use the trade press to curry favor among shareholders ahead of Thursday's pivotal annual shareholders meeting. Now, Standard General's head is being accused of improper trading of TEGNA stock. It's a new wrinkle in an escalating battle for the TV station owner.

Gray Television, through the use of technology, has allowed its operations to continue through remote operation. To fill us all in on the subject, we welcome the company’s VP of Broadcast Operations, Mike Fass, to the newest episode of the Coronavirus INFOCUS podcast. LISTEN HERE

Here's a newly upgraded product that's designed to help broadcasters understand and correlate factors that contribute to higher audience engagement. It's from Qligent, which is enhancing its second-generation cloud-based service using AI, machine learning and "big data" to mitigate content distribution matters.

Imagine covering the COVID-19 pandemic in a territory where stay-at-home rules were based on the decisions of leaders overseeing 30 different counties -- all within the viewing area of one TV station. That's how TEGNA's WFAA-8 in Dallas has been serving its viewers, as we learn in the latest episode of the RBR+TVBR Coronavirus INFOCUS Podcast. LISTEN HERE

The dividend is payable on June 18 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 4. The announcement comes as Nielsen's shares struggle to overcome a COVID-19 pandemic-fueled dip in value — the latest for a company that is down $39 a share from April 2016.

U.S. financial markets were closed Friday in observance of Good Friday. RBR+TVBR wishes you a happy Easter, and a "Chag Sameach" to our readers observing the Jewish holiday of Passover. For live stock prices during each trading day and what's seen at the Closing Bell, be sure to visit the Wall Street Report on the homepage of RBR.com.

Its transmitter facilities are in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. But, it is not a TV station in the most traditional sense, thanks to a channel-sharing agreement with another television station, a VHF facility. Now, the operator of these stations is formally grabbing its channel-sharing partner, officially creating a duopoly in the nation's biggest DMA.

With many stations short-staffed or unable to physically get into the studio, and for radio stations experiencing difficulties updating their imaging and commercial production, Sun Broadcast Group is touting its slate of services and its ability to offer help through immediate access to any station in need.