Intelligence Briefs

"Is the glass half-empty, or half-full?" That's a question MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson asks in an investor note that examines the pay-TV industry's health through the third quarter of 2020. The glass half-empty argument is one he focuses on first. What's his ultimate conclusion?

Group M Global President of Business Intelligence Brian Wieser is considered by some to be “Madison Avenue’s de facto chief economist.” Wieser is one of many standout speakers participating Dec. 8 in the second of the two-day Forecast 2021 LIVE virtual conference. Here, he offers a prognostication for "predictable change" for the U.S. once Joe Biden is President.

With the start of the virtual 2020 ANA Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference, which began Tuesday with strong sessions from Procter & Gamble Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard and Nestlé U.S. CMO Alicia Enciso, the ANA released a new diversity report that paints a sober picture of just how lacking diversity remains in the U.S. marketing industry.

With content consumption and distribution trends shifting rapidly, there’s no guarantee of survival—one major reason why storied media brands are looking to combine assets to strengthen their position and prepare for a new era, whatever it might look like. A Deloitte Center for Technology, Media & Entertainment leader shares insight on the subject.

A consumer lifestyle survey conducted by Nielsen Audio found that 53% of Americans believe life is starting to normalize, they are more likely to resume typical activities and are starting to shop more as restrictions permit. That doesn’t mean, however, that these consumers are disregarding health and safety. Here's the latest on what heavy radio listeners are buying.

The benefits a restoration by Congress of the minority tax certificate would bring to increasing the percentage of broadcast TV and/or radio station owners who are either women or people of color is a top topic in 2020. A FCC Symposium session held Friday shared its potential strengths by putting a spotlight on one who benefited from it the first time around.

Sinclair Broadcast Group's RSNs may be the subject of much concern from Wall Street analysts and shareholders this week. But, broadcasters are poised to take the monetization of sports content to a new level. That's according to Oliver Botti at Fincons Group, who offers this exclusive Media Information Bureau report.

The "nation's first commercial radio broadcast," while disputed by many, is largely associated with KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh. The launch of that station under Westinghouse 100 years ago is the focus of a column from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Find out what he said by clicking here.

Kelly Orchard returns with a tale that involves the leaders of tomorrow. The final weekend of October 2018 was spent in Seattle, at the College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) conference. "I discovered that these young college students are excited about the prospect of getting a radio job," she writes. The column is worth a second look two years later.

New findings from Pew Research Center debunk as myth the fiscal troubles at over-the-air TV station groups throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, ad revenue was down in Q2 for five broadcast TV companies Pew examined. But, this was cushioned by a most controversial revenue generator, one that the ATVA and ACA Connects despises.

Much has been said about Section 230, with Democrats and Republicans taking differing positions on a topic that's about as divisive as reproductive rights for women. Now, non-partisan technology think tank Tech Freedom has chimed in on what it believes the role of Section 230 should be.

Deloitte’s holiday survey turns 35 this year. To honor the long tradition, it's added new elements to the annual report, including supplemental data from Deloitte’s Insight IQ. There's also an economic forecast discussing the emergence of what it describes as a "K-shaped recovery."

While the time consumers spend watching TV news has been rising since the fall of last year, it peaked at just under nine-and-a-half hours each week in April of this year—the height of the stay-at-home period in the U.S. Fast forward to September, American adults are still engaged with news, new Nielsen data show.

What's the outlook for technology and media in 2021? Activate has reviewed the "major forces" reshaping the tech, entertainment, AR/VR, gaming, video, advertising, ecommerce and media industries, and it has just published a host of newsworthy findings. What do the conclusions mean for broadcast media and its consumers and advertisers?

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced that the agency will pursue a White House proposal to adopt rules clarifying Section 230, the backbone of American internet law. While it does have legal authority to interpret Section 230, the FCC should be wary of the scaffolding it is erecting for greater regulation of the internet ecosystem, the AEI believes.