Legacy

When leadership comes together at one time and on one stage, whether you are in Hispanic radio or compete with Hispanic radio in your market, you’ll want to be there to hear what they have to say and to ask your questions. This was the inspiration for the first Hispanic Radio Conference and the 2018 Hispanic Radio Executive Leadership Roundtable promises to be one of the most powerful presentations being prepared for attendees.

Nearly one month ago, Emmis Communications revealed that it is exiting one of its most profitable markets. On Thursday, RBR+TVBR independently confirmed that Becky Domyan will succeed John Sheehan at the helm of Entercom’s St. Louis stations. It is now known how much Emmis will be pocketing from its departure from the Gateway City.

Here comes another paper conservation effort from the FCC. The Commission has moved forward with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate a broadcast filing requirement and instead rely on publicly available information in its periodic reviews of broadcaster employment practices.

From baseball to football, and from basketball to motor sports, Hispanic consumers are "major league" fans. They represent a huge opportunity for sports teams, their merchandise, their venues — and their broadcast media sponsors. Still, many radio stations are unsure as to how to connect with, or fully tap into, the growing Hispanic sports market and its vast potential. A Hispanic Radio Conference session will go a long way toward providing big answers on "deportes" delivery.

Don't think Super Bowl LII is a big trigger for automotive dealers' Q1 sales efforts? Think again. The latest Spot Ten TV report from Media Monitors shows that Chevrolet — and three other auto dealer associations — greatly accelerated their TV spots following the "big game" won by the Philadelphia Eagles. Interestingly, one auto dealer association decreased its spots for the week ending Feb. 18.

"Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment," notes Zacks Equity Research. "One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process." With that, Viacom's Class B shares were put to the test. Is it a good choice for value-oriented investors right now?

From podcast and pureplay to broadcast streams and innovations still incubating, what’s the digital audio forecast? What’s hot today, and what’s on the horizon tomorrow? How are these digital options being consumed, measured, and monetized successfully? One Hispanic Radio Conference panel has plenty of answers — and some provocative commentary that might have you wondering if your stations are ready for the future.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a markup for Wednesday afternoon (2/14) that will include a reauthorization of the FCC — and an amendment that would establish an all-important repack fund "to address the apparent shortfall in funding available."

If you seek any of the FCC's Commissioners on Friday, you no longer need to wait until they return from the Presidents' Day Federal holiday on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Each of the Commissioners had been called to testify this week before the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology to discuss the FCC's budget. But, the Subcommittee just cancelled the gathering.

There's a 250-watt FM translator on the Florida Panhandle that is authorized to rebroadcast a Class C religious AM station licensed to Pensacola. Unfortunately, it may not be broadcasting from the location it is authorized to use. Even worse, the Enforcement Bureau has a complaint indicating that the translator was originating programming content, rather than retransmitting its associated full-power station.

Cumulus Media CEO Mary Berner this week assailed the radio industry for doing a poor job of touting its benefits to advertisers, declaring that Radio "needs to grow a pair" and should get aggressive in its fight for ad dollars. Two days later, Cumulus is faced with the surrender of thousands of dollars in precious revenue to the FCC. The reason? Five of the company's stations have repeatedly failed to abide by the Commission's rules on public inspection files.

There's a "Shooter" in Texas that's been successfully wrangled. Armor of God played a big role in the apprehension of this "shooter" -- a Class A FM radio station serving a medium-sized market in the Lone Star State. It's the top item of business in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY for Feb. 8, 2018. Also today: A 'Guel'-done deal for a new FM, and the sale of an AM daytimer in the Volunteer State.

With a trio of high-powered FM signals from Baja California, Mexico, an entity dedicated to the local community competes against two of the nation's biggest radio operators. In a candid conversation with RBR+TVBR, the company's VP/GM shares his thoughts on how these three stations can outperform and deliver results for its clients and owners.

In this concluding Media Information Bureau column, featured columnist Ken Benner offers more insight and advice for individuals — and media companies — who wish to call on his 55 years of experience providing service to the broadcast industry by recruiting more Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) certification inspectors.

A television broadcasting company all-too familiar with waging war against cable companies over retransmission fees has raised its battle flag in a challenge that has led Charter Communications to yank 11 stations from Syracuse to Spokane. In multiple markets, viewers were left scrambling to determine how to watch Super Bowl LII.