Media Info Bureau

On Tuesday, RBR+TVBR offered commentary from Futuresource Consulting's Luke Pearce on how esports is "edging its way into mainstream consciousness." Today, Pearce offers his analysis on the demand for consumer music hardware -- and the rise of smart speakers.

Long before Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner got involved with the ABIP programs, he used his time off from his full-time job to visit radio stations in the Upper Midwest to conduct the then-FCC required annual proof of performance measurements. It was during these tours that Benner first learned of how some FCC regulations, in his view, were distorted for "extortion." Yikes!

What can domestic broadcast TV stations learn from worldwide viewer trends since shelter-in-place rules were put in effect across Earth?  A detailed webinar conducted by Kantar's London-based leadership team sheds some light on ways U.S. over-the-air television could further fuel viewer growth and, in turn, get ad dollars revving up once again.

A highly regarded Wall Street financial analyst has initiated coverage on Roku, following a deep dive into a hot arena: the connected TV/advertising video-on-demand (AVOD) opportunity. While he's "very optimistic about future industry growth," this analyst warns of "too many long-term risks" to enthusiastically recommend a buy at this time.

The White House and strict constitutionalist Mike O'Rielly, the FCC Commissioner, don't see eye to eye on Section 230 reform. Hence, O'Rielly is exiting at the end of his term on January 23, 2021. But, what does the AEI -- selected by the Trump administration to transition the FCC from the Obama administration -- have to say about the internet free speech statute?

GroupM Global President of Business Intelligence Brian Wieser is one of a host of top-flight media and advertising industry experts and thought leaders on the agenda for Radio's Financial Summit, the virtual Forecast 2021 LIVE, scheduled for December 8-9. In a taste of what attendees will hear, Wieser has offered his U.S. end-of-year forecast for 2020. He's optimistic.

The cord-cutting movement is no longer just about saving money on cable versus streaming. Subscription fees for streaming services continue to rise. At the same time, choices are multiplying. Are cord cutters still saving money?

U.S. broadband providers are carrying considerable momentum out of the pandemic despite increased competition and impending service maturity with penetrations nearing 90% of occupied households. That's according to the updated forecast from Kagan.

In this RBR+TVBR Observation, our Editor-in-Chief takes the DeLorean to a time before he was born to listen to the biggest pop music station in the nation. His assessment? What a horrible specimen on something deemed so great by radio historians. The problem? Commercials. Lots of them.

Video communication engages two senses of our five: sight and sound.  But how can we stimulate the other three with the existing digital technology?  Longtime public relations pro Rosemary Ravinal says it can be done through the memory of how things taste, feel and smell. "Video calls favor what we see over what we hear by a ratio of 90 to 10%," she says. 

WMC’s “The Status of Women in the U.S. Media 2021” report draws data from 110 studies that together show the standing of women across all media, including legacy and digital news platforms, film, television, radio, technology, literature, and more.

If you thought the COVID-19 pandemic would halt, or reverse, cord-cutting trends for MVPDs, think again. While 40% of Americans still pay for cable services, a shift in viewing habits and streaming services is leading more consumers to say no to cable TV.

"Hand and finger gestures amplify the impact of your spoken words by as much as five times," notes public relations veteran and "Zoom expert" Rosemary Ravinal. "In fact, people will remember more of what you said if you gesture while you speak." Learn more in this freshly penned column.

Newly released data from London-based WARC finds that media inflation is driving up the cost of advertising across channels — with Television most affected by the rise.

There are many techniques to counter stage fright. "If you think of your talk as a service or gift you are giving to the audience, you will shift the attention away from you and toward the people in front of you or on a screen," PR veteran Rosemary Ravinal shares in this latest column.