Intelligence Briefs

"There is only one problem with radio today. One. So, let’s solve it." What exactly is that problem? Media Information Bureau contributor Kelly Orchard, M.A. LMFT thinks she has the answer. It's all about people, as she writes in this exclusive column, "Trouble, Turmoil and Transition: Radio Needs An Attitude Adjustment NOW!" It's written by a second-generation broadcaster who nearly died of heart failure. It's a tale of how you, and others, can be prevented from succumbing to fear.

Facebook is at it again, and The Wall Street Journal says there's "reckoning for media organizations" ahead. Why? The curtain is about to be raised on audiences, versus traffic. That's awesome news for radio broadcasters, argues RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson. Why? Radio should be the king of meaningful content, and interactivity.

A man who has emerged as the media industry's wordsmith of Wall Street has just completed an analysis of six major television industry companies, ahead of their Q4 2017 earnings releases. What did Brian Wieser, Senior Research Analyst for Advertising at Pivotal Research Group, conclude? Two companies making big headlines this week are being downgraded, as recent gains have resulted in "relatively fully-valued stocks."

As first reported by RBR+TVBR on Dec. 20, a major provider​ ​of​ ​FM​ ​and​ ​AM​ ​transmitters​ ​in business since 1959 — and a 40-year player in the transmitter sales arena — has been acquired by a global manufacturer of FM transmitters based in Ferrara, Italy. ​​Elenos is now the owner of Broadcast​ ​Electronics​ ​(BE)​. In an attempt to try to answer some of the many questions about the deal, BE Director of U.S. Sales and Marketing Jeff Wilson spoke with Elenos Group President Leonardo Busi and BE President/CEO Tom Beck.

Don't think for a minute that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai won't respond to your letters or comments, no matter the venue in which they are delivered. He's liked many of our Tweets in which he's been tagged. Now, Pai has responded to Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner, who recently wrote a letter to Pai seeking his input on some of the top issues facing your broadcast TV or radio stations. How so? The IAC is about to grow.

Among the many e-mails forwarded to the RBR+TVBR Editorial Tiki Hut over the Christmas and New Year's holidays was an easy-to-digest 49-slide presentation from Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget. The topic of this popular PowerPoint? "14 Things You'll Want to Know About the Future of Media." Radio and TV C-Suiters who haven't seen the details should take five minutes to read our report, and then take an aspirin, advises RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.

Here's something we really hope your radio and TV stations can use in 2018. It's one of the more popular handout sheets Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner uses while conducting ABIP inspections. "Most stations are not even aware such an item is required to be completed quarterly and filed with the Engineers other non-public required filings, such as 854-R tower registration forms, EAS tests, proof of performances, etc.," Benner says. That's why we're pleased to open your eyes to this most-important document. Merry Christmas! Ken & Karen

Greater knowledge of linear TV data. Personalization. These are just two of the things Walt Horstman, ‎SVP/GM of Advanced Media & Advertising at TiVo, believes will be big on the minds of everyone in broadcast TV's C-Suites throughout 2018. Horstman shares with RBR+TVBR readers why he's big on these two topics, along with four other key things TV executives will be talking about across the next 12 months.

In the last few months, allegations of sexual misconduct have spread rapidly from industry to industry, with fresh stories surfacing on almost a daily basis. We haven’t yet seen the magnitude to which these stories will impact the standards to which our society will hold brands. Could the radio industry be impacted in the coming weeks? Is there more fallout in local TV? It is likely that those standards are only going to get higher, says Media Information Bureau guest columnist Deb Gabor.

As RBR+TVBR continues its look back at 2017 and peek into what will make headlines in the next 12 months, we reviewed the total number of broadcast radio and TV transactions seen since January. Given all of the talk about what the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai would do for the deal-making market, was 2017 a disappointment for brokers? Here's what Robert Heymann, Chicago-based Director for Media Services Group has to say about that.

Aside from the NPRM approved last week that could loosen the national broadcast TV ownership cap, what else is the FCC likely focused on for 2018? Gus Hurwitz, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute specializing in telecommunications and technology law, high-tech industry regulation, and cybersecurity, has provided a look at the top 5 issues the FCC will now focus its attention toward.

Despite all of the political theater, a "brief recess due to security concerns" as Chairman Ajit Pai delivered his statement, and dramatic dissents from Democratic FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, the Commission today in a 3-2 vote approved an Order that in the GOP majority's view "restores Internet Freedom" by removing Title II classification of broadband internet access service after two years. What's next, assuming there is no roadblock for the removal of Title II classification? Here's what Boston College Law School professor Daniel Lyons has to say on the subject.

“What am I required to keep for records to be legal?” is the most frequent question Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner receives. Thus, he's penned a column that answers this question as best as possible. Here's what he has to say.

The 2017 edition of the PwC Sports Outlook, which updates PwC’s perspective on the sports industry, including recent results and potential opportunities and challenges to future industry growth, has been released and is now available for public consumption. This year’s edition refreshes PwC's five-year revenue forecasts through 2021 within four key segments of the North American sports market: media rights, gate revenues, sponsorship, and merchandising. Here are all of the details, as your media properties may include broadcast stations that offer sports talk or sports play-by-play -- and may account for a significant portion of your company's quarterly revenue.