Intelligence Briefs

Over recent years, smartphone innovation has slowed. Developments from major vendors have trickled in, with refinement of functionality being brought to handsets, rather than leaps of innovation. Smartphones have no sign of disappearing; they remain one of the most widely used devices. However, there is certainly a lull in terms of market growth and buzz surrounding the products. What does this mean for broadcast media, given the voluntary rollout of the Next Gen broadcast TV standard and the push for FM chips in all smartphones, including those running on iOS systems? 

Throughout 2017, popular brands witnessed the power of "Black Twitter" and the brand impact of socially conscious Black consumers. Through social media, Black consumers have brokered a seat at the table and are demanding that brands and marketers speak to them in ways that resonate culturally and experientially—if these brands want their business. With African Americans spending $1.2 trillion annually, brands have a lot to lose, a new study from Nielsen illustrates for broadcast media professionals seeking increased ROI through a highly important consumer group.

For those of you who truly enjoy researching, learning, writing and exposing serious questionable conduct by parties in power, the most difficult thing we face is deciding, from among hundreds of topics, the subject for a column. For Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner, there's a specific criteria that is followed. This includes responding to requests from readers in a potential bind with the FCC. That's exactly what Benner has done in his latest exclusive offering to RBR+TVBR Members.

Among the many e-mails that arrived this week at RBR+TVBR was an item about a digital media Leviathan that immediately struck a chord. It involved teens, and their ever-shifting social media habits. The takeaway: Teens and Tweens are fleeing Facebook. Sound familiar, radio?

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.

Regular Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner is full of glee today, thanks to the establishment — or substantial enhancement — of the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee. Among the issues the committee may consider is the "implementation of Commission rules and consumer participation in the FCC rulemaking process." What does this mean for you? Benner explains it all. 

Progress in "Advanced TV" and the industry's commitment to new methods that will improve interactivity and the viewer experience will help with the ascent of local video advertising in 2018. That's the key bullet point offered in a new BIA/Kelsey report on the progress and trajectory of linear TV platforms including automated TV, programmatic TV, addressable TV, OTT, Smart TV, Connected TV, and — with the recent FCC approval — of Next-Gen local TV standards, ATSC 3.0.

In this concluding Media Information Bureau column, featured columnist Ken Benner offers more insight and advice for individuals — and media companies — who wish to call on his 55 years of experience providing service to the broadcast industry by recruiting more Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) certification inspectors.

Facebook is fighting "Fake News" in a big way. In addition to the prioritization of posts from friends, Facebook is giving added attention to "high-quality" news sources. Mark Zuckerberg himself explained what these sources are in a Jan. 19 Facebook post. How can your radio or TV station known in your community as "the news source" benefit from this change? Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson seeks the answer for you.

Once in a while, the RBR+TVBR Editorial Tiki Hut receives a PR pitch for a story that truly results in a "laugh out loud" moment. That happened today, thanks to new "research" from Instart Logic that uncovered this very revealing finding: Republicans are more likely to care about Super Bowl LII ads. As the laughter ended, our Editor-in-Chief attempted to put some seriousness into this simply silly statistic. His conclusion: Maybe it's not so silly after all.

Here's something every FCC Commissioner can agree on: The Federal government has no business in leading the construction and operation of a nationwide 5G network for cellular communications. A visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who focuses on the impact of technology on the U.S. economy, telecommunications, and internet regulation agrees. Here's exactly how Bret Swanson feels about the government's role -- or wholesale lack of involvement -- in something that could greatly impact your business.

In addition to serving as a featured columnist, Ken Benner is an independent Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspector. He has more than 55 years of experience providing service to the broadcast industry. Who will follow in this octogenarian’s footsteps? It could be you.

The just-released Connected Audience Report, from SalesForce, takes an up-close look at how audio and video are being consumed. How are these preferences impacting your business? What does it mean for your future growth? Talking points for your company's evolution may lie within, and we've reviewed the key highlights for you.

Disruption, conflict, crisis, loss of revenue, combatting or conforming to digital media, bad attitudes, apathy and Band-Aid solutions. These are some of the most significant concerns for broadcast operations to date, notes Media Information Bureau columnist Kelly Orchard. In this column, Orchard helps busy executives answer one question they probably haven't had time to even think about.

Here's a column on a topic that could rattle some bones, warns Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner. He's been an independent Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspector for more than five decades. Who will follow in this octogenarian's footsteps? It could be you, or someone you think is perfect for a role that could save your broadcast media company thousands of dollars in preventable forfeitures sent to the FCC.