Intelligence Briefs

What is the Dear Ol' Dad of the ABIP Universe chatting about now? Featured Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner wants to discuss radio and TV engineer licensing. Why? He remembers a time when there was "cataclysmic woe and cry" over what he calls the "massive over-regulations pertaining to everyone in every profession." Broadcast licensee membership organizations were among the loudest "cry babies." The "D.C. Kleptocracy" heard their cries. Fasten your seat belts for what promises to be another interesting read. 

From job growth picking up and income lagging behind to weak housing investments and the current political climate, consumers are being bombarded with a slew of mixed indicators that are making them less willing to open their wallets and spend. That's the important takeaway for broadcast media sales executives and the C-Suite from a newly released study from IRI.

Walk into nearly any bar, gym, airport or office these days and you’re likely not only to find a TV, but also viewers of all sorts with their eyes glued to the glass. These consumers, out of the confines of their homes, are no less important to networks and advertisers when they’re out and about. This latest insight piece from Nielsen sheds new light on what's being watched away from the home.

With all of the excitement over radio's renewed place in the home thanks to Smart Speaker devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, it still loses — badly — in the one place you're most likely going to sleep and shower that you don't live in: The hotel. Here's what RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief has to say on the subject, and why you should rally around him now.

What the heck is 'CTCSRPAB'?? For one, it has nothing to do with the CRTC, Canada's equivalent of the FCC. However, it has everything to with the FCC and how to avoid a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture. Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner explains what that acronym stands for in this column, which results from a request from an RBR+TVBR Member.

"Premium, personality-based podcasts" and other on-demand audio content is growing in popularity among advertisers and consumers, in particular digitally savvy audio listeners who don't consider themselves "radio listeners." Perhaps that's one reason why Entercom Communications has just acquired a 45% stake in a big podcast creator.

Need more fuel for the fire against the big digital media players eating away at your local ad revenue? Check this out: A GfK study done together with TVB finds that from consumer awareness through the purchasing stage, TV remains the most important influencer in all stages of the purchase funnel — and for all age demographics.

"Stop whatcha doin', cause I'm about to ruin, the image and the style that ya used to ..." OK, maybe it's not time for The Humpty Dance. But, RBR+TVBR Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner insists you should read his latest column, and pronto. Why? "To save substantial funds in fines, fees, forfeitures and, most significantly, legal expenses, I can recommend no better source of information."

The term “self promotion” often carries a negative connotation – and with good reason, argues WPHT-AM in Philadelphia talk show host Rich Zeoli. No one likes a braggart. So, how does one successfully promote themselves? Zeoli offers some great ideas that could extend to successful promotion of your radio or TV stations.

The following column, in the opinion of Radio+Television Business Report featured columnist Ken Benner, is "absolute must reading for every broadcast licensee from which you can learn all you don't want to know about in a 10-minute perusal." He adds that his "FCC FY 2018 Budget In Brief" report "clearly documents" what he's been ranting about over the past 10 years, much to the chagrin of his adversaries.

RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief is back from his travels in Toronto and Upstate N.Y. and boy is he steamed. It has nothing to do with the weather. It's all thanks to an e-mail from the CMO Council that claims Chief Marketing Officers "are struggling to meet the needs of local audiences." If that's the case, do radio and TV get a big fat 'F'?

This latest report takes a broader look at four generations—Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers. Nielsen looked at their profiles, what they own, and their behaviors across platforms. We've got the details for all RBR+TVBR Members.

There is no single sure-fire method executives can get the most out of their team. But there are a lot of methods that feed into it. According to Mike Rudd, two keys are knowing precisely what is being asked of the team, and being willing to do it right alongside them.

Adjusting to change is essential when facing relentless competition compounded by ongoing disruption and slow growth. Citing data and analysis, PwC's 2017 Global Entertainment and Media Outlook offers compelling insights into how media and consumer-focused entertainment companies are adapting, investing, experimenting and innovating amid six areas of change. We've got details for all RBR+TVBR members.

Here's a memo to all radio and television station managers from Ken Benner, a veteran independent Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspector: As your state broadcast association solicits your part in its “Alternative Inspection Program,” you may wish to consider this condensation of a recently published column.