Radio News

Yesterday we reported on the effect that the TV repack will have on potentially hundreds of radio stations. Now, it seems, Microsoft has stuck its foot in the repack door, not endearing itself to the folks at the NAB in the process. Microsoft wants the FCC to reserve a vacant UHF white space channel in every market nationwide.

As it works with creditors to manage its burdensome debt, iHeartMedia has extended its deadline for holders of five sets of notes due in 2021 so they may consider its offer to exchange the existing notes for new securities. This is the eighth such extension and so far the strategy is not going well.

Townsquare Media, Inc. has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire six radio stations and two FM translators, in and around the Pittsfield, MA market, from Gamma Broadcasting LLC and Berkshire Broadcasting Co., Inc. Pro forma for the acquisition, Townsquare will own 318 radio stations in 67 markets. The company expects to close in the third quarter of this year.

Things continue to darken for music and podcast streaming outfit SoundCloud. The company has just cut 173 jobs – 40 percent of the company’s total personnel. And many executive leaders are also jumping ship. Speculation has been stirred up that the company may be sold. Any takers?

As the president and chief executive officer at Entercom, few would argue that David Field has carried himself well. So it’s no surprise that he will be honored with the National Radio Award at the 2017 Radio Show. The award will be presented on Wednesday, September 6, at the Radio Luncheon.

A NAB-commissioned study conducted by V-Soft Communications has found that more than 600 FM stations could be affected by a TV repack, which involves over 1,100 TV stations changing channels or going off the air. Many of the TV stations will require antenna replacements or other tower work that could take days, or weeks. Some 452 TV stations planning to change channels could affect the operation of 629 nearby FMs.

Connoisseur Media chief Jeff Warshaw wants changes to the embedded market rule that affects New York and Washington, DC. He’s addressing the issue to the FCC, including a July 5 letter to the Commission. The NAB is backing the move. Warshaw has been championing the cause for several years, seeing it as being against the public interest and competition, and another example of the radio industry laboring under outdated, pre-Internet regulations.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has already kicked up quite a bit of dust in the short time since he was handed the job by President Trump. Now Pai is slated to appear at the 2017 Radio Show on Wednesday, September 6, and give a keynote address at the Radio Luncheon. It’s a time of significant change for the FCC, with commissioners coming and going, and a raft issues currently being looked at. Pai is generally considered a “friend” of radio, one of his hallmarks being his championing of revitalization of the AM band. He has also come down hard on radio pirates and revisited several regulations.

Over the holiday weekend, Bloomberg Radio was broadcasting from Boston Beasley stations 106.1FM, WRCA 1330 AM, and 92.9/WBOS-FM HD2. The company plans to continue to broadcast on WXKS 1200AM/94.5FM-HD2 for the next few months. Beasley Media Boston Vice President and Market Manager Mary Menna said, “We’re excited to partner with a global news and business leader of Bloomberg’s magnitude. This unique programming underscores the company’s commitment to providing our listeners with the very best content and complements our five existing music brands in Boston.”

The financial services firm resumed Pandora coverage, Wednesday, with an Overweight rating and a price target of $12.00. Things remain bleak for the music-streaming company and the infusion of cash from Sirius XM will not likely be a game changer, but will slow the bleeding and bolster the balance sheet.

Now that the second half of 2017 is here, one network radio operation has set its sights on advertiser growth. As Skyview Networks EVP/GM Jeanne-Marie Condo sees it, Q3 and Q4 are looking strong. That's all thanks to a new client perspective on the power of network radio and national ad sales, she tells RBR+TVBR in an exclusive interview.

In last week’s Media Monitors Radio Spot Ten report, The Home Depot was in first place again airing 86,238 spots and iHeartRadio held on to second place. Burger King came out of nowhere to also make the top ten.

Former Cumulus Media co-founder and CEO Lew Dickey is looking at media investments according to his filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission for his company Modern Media Acquisition. In May, the company raised $207 million the company pulled in from an IPO in May.

According to an ad-blocking study conducted by Kantar Media TGI, heavy radio listeners (over 15 hours per week) are 24% more likely to use ad blockers that create digital barriers for marketers. Static ads that pop up on websites and other digital display ads are less effective for this group. But broadcast radio and online streaming are more effective ways for marketers to reach consumers who are using ad blockers.

Scott Herman, Chief Operating Officer of CBS RADIO, and Jordan Wertlieb, President of Hearst Television, were voted to the office of VP during the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s Board of Directors meeting in New York City, recently.