Media Info Bureau

An increasingly competitive commercial environment, with intense competition for audiences and advertising revenue from other media companies, has led to the end of broadcasting license fees and datacasting charges. Furthermore, there's been a repeal of the "two out of three" and 75% audience reach media ownership rules. G'day, readers: This is what's happening in Australia.

In this latest Media Information Bureau column from expert sales coach Barrett Riddleberger, the concept of "qualifying" is discussed in detail. "Without question, qualifying is one of the most critical steps of the sales process," Riddleberger says. Here are eight reasons why this is so crucial to your sales team's ultimate success.

Thanks to steady population growth, increased educational attainment and "a strong inclination toward entrepreneurialism," what's been labeled by many as the "New American Mainstream" is greatly impacting not only broadcast media, but key advertisers. It's one reason why one of the biggest challengers to AM and FM radio, Pandora Media, drafted a 22-page White Paper that provides a primer on why reaching the multicultural consumer is so vital for marketers.

As the world learned of the most horrific mass shooting in U.S. history on Monday, radio stations across North America excelled in providing a venue for comfort, healing, and discussion. Among these stations is Beasley Broadcast Group's Country KCYE-FM "102.7 The Coyote" in Las Vegas, which saw one of its own talent describing his experience fleeing the scene late Sunday while also taking calls from emotional listeners on-air.

The Washington, D.C. conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute has played the role of chief influencer at the FCC since the transition in power from President Obama to President Trump. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Mark Jamison -- an individual who questioned the very existence of the Commission in late October 2016 -- is in favor of the abandonment of Title II classification for broadband. It's an important topic for broadcast media groups, and here's why Jamison is pushing for the end of "net neutrality."

Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner is very nervous about his latest column's content. He notes, "If I were to write what should be written about this subject, I would be jailed for inciting a riot." What is it that has Benner in freak-out mode? Something that, once again, touches on what he considers governmental abuse. It's also something that impacts every radio and TV station, making this a must-read for all media executives.

In 2018, Kelly Orchard proposed a diagnosis about radio people suffering from “adjustment disorder,” a treatable condition that in most cases is a short-term concern. Now, Orchard writes that in order to grow successfully, one must introduce methods in company culture and properly adjust or adopt them to engage and encourage teams.

"Many agree that Facebook needs to make some changes," Bloomberg View columnist Michael Strain wrote in an April 20 column. Four days later, the digital and social media giant started to make some changes, at least on Capitol Hill. It put a former FCC head in a lead D.C. role. Will this make "fixing Facebook" any easier? What does that mean for radio and TV?

As a broadcasting consultant with more than 30 years in the industry, RBR+TVBR featured columnist Kelly Orchard stays fully connected to what's impacting radio -- and those employed in broadcast media. Orchard is also a licensed psychotherapist, and she's penned another great read on how C-Suiters and staffers can both improve their mental health in an ever-challenging business environment.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is now but a memory. By the way, France was the victor. When all was said and done, MediaRadar took a deep dive into the TV ad trends during the entire month-long tournament. The takeaway: Advertisers were highly active with Telemundo, a big winner in the global soccer tournament.

So, that great new app that your station now has in the Apple App Store or Google Play download hub ... are your listeners downloading it? If they are, are they keeping it? A just-released report from mobile measurement company Adjust offers three data points to consider when "unmasking uninstalls." They could help your station in getting its app used, and not deleted.

More than ever, connecting with multicultural consumers through "inclusive marketing" is a must among CMOs seeking to build brand longevity while reflecting the reality of America today. For P&G Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard, this means starting from within, and ensuring that the internal composition of a company matches the audience it seeks. Is radio and TV far behind on this effort?

The "Breeze" is swaying Radio. Soft AC is exploding. But, is it a smart move, or just another reactionary wave from companies looking for a quick fix to long-term problems? RBR+TVBR reached out to a veteran consultant known for bringing "Softrock" to Boston more than 40 years ago for his view on this newly hot FM programming choice.

Here's something many RBR+TVBR readers won't like to read. The VAB’s latest Left To Your Own Devices quarterly report is out, and it includes new information showing how TV drives greater engagement and consumer action than radio by comparing “time spent” and second-screen behaviors between the two media.

Globally, the number of subscriptions to online video services reached 613 million, an increase of 27 percent in just one year. Subscriptions to online video services surpassed cable subscriptions for the first time in 2018.