Media Info Bureau

RBR+TVBR featured columnist Barrett Riddleberger too often hears stories about good companies who lose their top sales reps. "In most cases, this can be avoided," he says. Here are some helpful tips on how to accomplish this task.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously passed H.R. 3388, the "SELF DRIVE Act of 2017," by voice vote. This is good news to columnist and blogger James Pethokoukis, who shares his thoughts on why the act is beneficial to all Americans. Could it be great news for broadcast media companies, or a harbinger to AM and FM station owners that increased competition for attention is on the way?

Here's something that's cool, and definitely establishes Radio as the one media that can truly connect with local listeners in ways Spotify, Pandora, and even TV stations and newspapers can't do. It's all about going live -- and that includes all on-air elements, including commercials. Entercom is the company behind this "more than just a stunt" opportunity — and it's something that could get your stations get noticed, and more listener love, too.

As RBR+TVBR continues its look back at 2017 and peek into what will make headlines in the next 12 months, we reviewed the total number of broadcast radio and TV transactions seen since January. Given all of the talk about what the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai would do for the deal-making market, was 2017 a disappointment for brokers? Here's what Robert Heymann, Chicago-based Director for Media Services Group has to say about that.

No matter how you've achieved career success, you’ve made strides to grow into your current position. But, the radio business has evolved, and new challenges spring up every day. Are you seeking continual growth? Or, have you allowed yourself to become complacent and stopped making the effort that got you where you are? For columnist Kelly Orchard, all media industry C-Suiters need to be in a perpetual growth mindset. It is "very personal," she notes in this RBR+TVBR exclusive.

Before hiring a sales rep, conduct an apples-to-apples job comparison, suggests pro sales coach Barrett Riddleberger. Line up the structure and activities of your sales job and your candidate's current or previous sales job. "Good interview questions enable you to do this," he says. Why? "It’s easy to assume your sales candidate facilitated the same sales process and had a similar sales culture if they come from within the same industry or sold a similar product."

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday attended a hearing on the FY2019 funding request and budget justification for the FCC convened by the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Committee on Appropriations. As a benefit to all interested parties, RBR+TVBR is pleased to provide Pai's statement delivered to the subcommittee, in full.

On Thursday RBR+TVBR offered commentary from Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson on how the biggest problem with TV and radio spots may be content-related. Today, Jeffrey Hedquist offers his thoughts on how to make an audio commercial bring greater ROI for the advertiser. "If your commercials sound like commercials," he says, "listeners will probably ignore them."

Sometimes, paving the road to future success requires a look back at what made a product desirable for years, or decades. Veteran radio programming consultant Clark Smidt believes much of what worked for radio station owners in the 1960s and 1970s still applies today. In his view, many of the owners of radio stations today are prime candidates for a trip back to the past to ensure a formidable future.

The use of digital technology has had a long stretch of rapid growth in the United States. But, a new analysis of data from the Pew Research Center shows that the share of Americans who go online, use social media or own key devices has remained stable over the past two years. What does this mean for marketers -- and, perhaps, for radio and TV sales execs?

Something doesn't add up for one longtime radio industry observer and former big-market OM: If one growing operator of AM and FM stations is making "big money" running less spots, then why is it cutting 11 jobs? It's a good question to ask as Hiring and Firing Season is upon us.

Radio and TV C-Suiters are obsessed with millennials. They've been credited with upending entire industries, says an eMarketer analyst, and retail is hardly an exception. He's penned a piece on what retailers need to know about attracting and retaining consumers from this consumer group. It could help you, too.

The case for diversity is solid and has long been established, says Rainmakers CEO Michael Ferguson. "Diverse teams outperform their peers when it comes to revenue generation, workplace efficiency, innovation, market share, and employee wellness." Yet, he argues, many still struggle with unconscious bias.

"This is an exciting and transformative time for broadcasters," said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. One of the biggest reasons for this, he noted at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, is the technology getting much discussion on Monday afternoon: ATSC 3.0.

A ransomware attack impacted Urban One's Q1 earnings. In early April, a ransomware attack crippled Townsquare Media's Shreveport, La., cluster. Think that's a problem? What would happen if your entire C-Suite computer network was held captive by a cybercrime syndicate?