Intelligence Briefs

As part of its efforts to strategize revenue growth prospects for local TV, BIA Advisory Services has examined the Total Addressable Markets (TAM) for broadcast television, versus digital platforms. "It's a tale of two cities," BIA notes in a newly released report that outlines the level of broadcast revenue growth expected by 2022 -- and the total gain in digital revenue expected for local TV.

On September 6, Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner offered readers details of his conversation with a regional Commission engineer who agreed to provide an outline of what, in his view, are the most significant items he looks for when visiting a station during a random inspection. It turns out the FCC engineer had more to share. Here's more from Benner that could help your stations avoid costly forfeitures or U.S Treasury consent decree payments.

Here's something that will likely cause some buzz in the C-Suites of both radio and television broadcasting companies. Westwood One Director of Content Marketing Lauren Vetrano shares the results from "a major cable network’s" advertising campaign that used AM/FM radio to help launch the returning season of a scripted drama series. The media plan included paid TV and promos running on their network and co-owned networks.

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.

OTT video "has reshaped a successful industry," North Texas-based research firm Parks Associates notes. With that mindset, Parks released a White Paper that analyzes a key focal point for the pay-TV industry: What should it do to regain their title as the No. 1 provider of video services -- including broadcast TV channels -- to U.S. viewers?

The insertion of promos for its shows and movies between episodes of current programs is something Netflix is testing -- resulting in some criticism from its subscribers. But, what if Netflix were to show advertisements, rather than promos? And, what if Netflix bumped its subscription rates by at least $5 per month? Broadcast TV execs may be interested in the answer.

With Hurricane Florence about to hit the East Coast, broadcasters are well reminded of their obligations with respect to the airing of emergency information. As noted attorney David Oxenford points out, broadcasters may also want to consider the benefits that the FCC can offer in an emergency. While the FCC on Monday announced the postponement of its test of DIRS, the Disaster Information Reporting System, broadcasters may want to consider quickly getting familiar with this system.

Curious as to the power and influence of digital streaming shows in the U.S. and on a global level? The newly released Global SVOD TV Demand Report from Parrot Analytics is chock full of competitive data and intelligence that could help shape the content on your over-the-air broadcast outlets as well as your social media and OTT streams.

For the first five years conducting “Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspections,” 90% of the questions asked to featured columnist Ken Benner pertained to FCC required Public Files. The same percentage of individuals, he adds, "had virtually no idea of what was required or where to turn for information to be compliant." Here's what you need to avoid a potential fine.

On the final Thursday in August, thousands of households sharpened their pencils and got out their diaries. Just as they have since 1954, a representative sample of American viewers began meticulously documenting their television habits. It signals just one thing: sweeps. But, do sweeps still matter? This guest columnist seeks to answer the question.

While prepping the program and agenda for a seminar on FCC compliance, featured columnist Ken Benner contacted a regional Commission engineer to see if he would provide an outline of what, in his view, are the most significant items he looks for when visiting a station during a random inspection. The FCC engineer replied, and here's what he has to say.

The FM translator has provided a big boost to more than one AM radio station. At the same time, the FM translator has given operators an added boost through the rebroadcast of their HD multicast stations. But, are there limitations to the placement of an FM translator? That's what our Editor-in-Chief asks.

Perhaps the No. 1 question facing broadcast media C-Suiters is how to combat the magnetic ad-dollar behemoth that is digital social media, led by Facebook. Maybe, with time, radio and TV's budget battles will become a bit easier. How so? New intelligence from eMarketer shows Facebook ranking as the No. 1 social media hub across every age group except one. That would be teens -- and that's not good news.

The recent announcement from the FCC advising the proposed expansion of the Equal Employment Opportunity FCC office with additional staff and lawyers has many licensees on edge. Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner has some things to say about it.

The industry has a limited amount of tower crews, consulting engineers and other expertise. The time crunch tied to the post-Spectrum Auction repack process means they, and the stations that hire them, will spend the next few years scrambling to manage their repacked schedules, notes one active member in the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society in this exclusive column to RBR+TVBR.