Media Info Bureau

No matter how some Americans choose to remember the events that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, in the last days of the Trump Adminstration, Curtis LeGeyt says that, among the many lessons learned that day, "the public was undoubtedly reminded of broadcasters’ critical role in bringing information to the public, especially during times of crisis."

RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson paused from CES 2022 coverage on Thursday to speak with JW Player CEO Dave Otten for the latest InFOCUS Podcast. The topic: Nielsen's just announced Streaming Signals product, and why targeted advertisements are increasingly important for linear media. LISTEN HERE

As we slowly return to work in physical spaces, you may be thinking: “good riddance to Zoom in 2022.” Not so fast, public relations veteran and video conferencing expert Rosemary Ravinal says in this new column.

Despite the negative press, lines of CES 2022 registered attendees were seen at McCarran International Airport awaiting their official credentials on Wednesday. At the same time, the NEXTGEN TV team was busily sharing three big stories involving the rollout of the ATSC 3.0-powered broadcast television technology — making Day 1 of the three-day affair a significant one for next-generation television.

Who knew that Bauer's Absolute Radio would turn the clock back by more than 45 years to do something today that U.S. operators should mimic? They're holding a contest that's all about "You." It's been more than 45 years since U.S. radio put a focus on "You," and a rekindling of that effort is sorely needed.

With the shift of TV audiences to advertising-free video platforms, local advertisers are turning to audio — not simply radio — to build their brands and drive sales. How can a CMO and brand manager help build a successful local audio plan? Pierre Bouvard, the Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media and its Westwood One arm, offers up five strategies he believes will yield success.

While some may shed a tear over the final broadcasts of a handful of AM radio stations that are seeing their licenses surrendered to the FCC, our editor-in-chief believes there is a bigger, more fundamental question that needs to be asked. Did the Radio industry fail in not embracing DAB? Yes, and no, he argues, as such a move would have damaged the brokerage community and iHeartRadio.

The increased focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Corporate America is not going unnoticed among Black, Hispanic and other diverse audiences, a new Horowitz Research study shows. As such, to resonate with the multicultural, "brands need to step up," Horowitz advises. Does the concept of "brand" extend beyond the advertiser to the media outlets themselves?

Once again, our editor-in-chief found himself a passenger in a shared ride vehicle where the audio selection of choice didn't involve Spotify or Pandora, or SiriusXM. It once again sends the message that Radio needs a unified pitch to marketers to reinforce its importance — especially today, given the millions raised for charity by AM and FM listeners.

When historians look back at advertising trends and the COVID-19 era, one thing will likely stand out: digital media's advertiser attraction barely cooled off during the pandemic's most crushing blows to ad dollar activity. Now, data from Standard Media Index only cement the oft-repeated stories that converged TV and digital video are must-buys for CMOs and aren't slowing down for the foreseeable future.

Recently, NBCU ad sales leader Laura Molen noticed a recurring theme – advertisers are working to adapt to new audience behaviors and questioning whether they should place the same premium on digital, social, and streaming video as they do on linear. "To answer this question, she writes, "we need to remember our most important partners—our viewers."

Real-time engagement is of increasing desire among U.S. consumers. People increasingly want RTE video or audio features in the apps they use. For example, buyers in a shopping app want to talk to sellers. Can broadcast radio or TV benefit from this growing desire for "RTE'? An Agora survey may have some very interesting takeaways.

Public speaking is a vital skill to have if you want to make a difference in the world, says "Zoom" expert and veteran public relations executive Rosemary Ravinal But what about private speaking? "This is the kind of speaking you need to be a better parent, to have great relationships, to be a real friend or simply be someone who makes people stop and listen," she says.

A "deluge' of ads from expanded legalized sports betting and the return of midterm political ad spending in 2022 are expected to aid U.S. broadcasters’ rebound from the pandemic. That's the key conclusion from S&P Global Market Intelligence Senior Research Analyst Justin Nielson, who works in the Kagan arm. 

"As we reach the end of 2021, advertising growth is showing much faster expansion than previously anticipated, driven primarily by growth in the U.S., U.K. and China." That's the highly optimistic conclusion of groupM's Brian Wieser. But, where do television and audio advertising measure up? He's crunched the numbers and for audio industry players, the future isn't so bright.