Radio+Television Business Report

JW Player, the leading video software and data insights platform, today announced it has appointed a Chief Technology Officer. The strategic hire, the company says, ‘will accelerate JW Player’s product innovation to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Digital Video Economy.”

Gaining the role is David LaPalomento.

“David has proven himself to be a visionary leader in both developing and scaling innovative video delivery products,” said Dave Otten, CEO and co-founder of JW Player. “I have no doubt that his expertise will strengthen our position as a leading force for innovation in the digital video industry. With his leadership, we will scale our engineering teams and bring new products to market that further empower customers with independence and control in the Digital Video Economy. We could not be more excited to have him on our team.”

LaPalomento enjoyed a decade-long tenure at Brightcove, where he led the overhaul of the company’s legacy data center-based architecture, replacing it with a scalable, cloud-native architecture. “His experience will be invaluable as JW Player rises to meet the explosive growth in demand for digital video since the pandemic began,” his new employer says.

JW Player’s data from over 12,000 publishers and broadcasters shows that video consumption has risen by nearly 50% since 2020 and by 28.6% since January 2021. “The growing demand has made it an imperative for organizations of all stripes, including fitness, e-commerce, sports and e-learning businesses, to develop a robust video strategy to engage their audience on the screen of their choice: web, mobile or connected TV,” JW Player says.

JW Player uses an API-driven video platform.

Two AV companies have done something that may be of interest to the broadcast industry. Last week, they agreed to a strategic partnership to offer “the most complete and most collaborative versions” of the Crestron XiO Cloud product. This adds new levels of control, management and rapid installation features to Philips displays.

PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips pro TV products, is now among the world’s first manufacturers to gain Crestron XiO Cloud certification.

The company says this “unique and highly collaborative partnership opens up incredible opportunities for a multitude of industries.”

With Crestron technology now embedded and compatible across almost all Philips professional displays (including pro TV, digital signage and interactive), PPDS has become one of the world’s few display manufacturers to support all four of Crestron’s key technology integrations, including its Control, Remote Management, Video Distribution and Unified Communications solutions, the company says.

Built on the Microsoft Azure platform, Crestron XiO Cloud integrates seamlessly with a
wide range of Philips Windows and Android digital displays and pro TVs.

In 2020, PPDS became a Crestron Connected Gen 2 certified and trusted partner. The first examples of the relationship included the launch and availability of a range of new products, including Philips B-Line and C-Line interactive displays.

 

Customers can purchase the Crestron XiO Cloud service on a monthly basis, with pricing based on the number of rooms and service options required.

There’s a new VP/GM for the Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned FOX affiliate serving the Omaha-Council Bluffs market.

He will also oversee the market’s The CW Network affiliate, which Sinclair operates via a provision of services agreement.

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From big brick and mortar retailers to auto insurance specialist and a big Procter & Gamble Co. brand, there’s lots of strong activity at spot television for the week ending August 22.

The variety in advertiser categories is a welcome sign, even as Auto was absent ahead of the next end-of-month sales push.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report shows that there’s little movement from last week, with respect to fully paying advertisers and the amount of commercials aired for each of them for the week ending August 22.

As shown below, Progressive, Indeed, Babbel, GEICO and Bank of America — along with Grainger — are committing to their radio budgets.

For Progressive, that translates to nearly 54,000 spot plays for the week ending August 22.

For No. 10 Grainger, roughly 30,700 spots were detected for the week.

NBCUniversal is urging all measurement companies to offer alternative means of tracking viewing across multiple platforms.

The request is in an open letter signed by Kelly Abcarian, the former Nielsen veteran who recently became EVP of Measurement and Impact for NBCUniversal.

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Add Beasley Media Group to the list of major radio companies to require employees to get vaccinated. Employees have until November first to get fully vaccinated.

“As a company, we have a responsibility to ensure a safe working environment on behalf of our employees and their families,” said Caroline Beasley, Beasley’s CEO. “Accordingly, we will be requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated by November 1 — excepting those with religious or medical accommodations. This policy will apply to new and existing employees alike.”

Beasley follows Cumulus Media, Gray Television and Urban One as publicly traded broadcast media companies requiring “the jab” for employees.

BIN: The Black Information Network, launched by iHeartMedia in 2020, is planning to expand local new coverage in January 2022.

Right now the iHeartMedia national audio news network, presenting news with a Black voice and perspective is heard in 32 affiliate markets.

The expansion plans have resulted in the promotion of three staff members.

Tanita Myers, previously Director of News Operations, is now Vice President of News Operations; Chris Thompson, previously Director of Network Operations, is now Vice President of Network Operations; and Lauren Crawford, previously Associate Editor, is now Senior Director of Digital and Social Strategy.

“We are incredibly proud of the growth and success of BIN during our first year,” said Tony Coles, President of BIN. “We are thrilled to continue our leadership in providing the most trusted news source for the Black community, offering even more local news coverage to the communities we serve. BIN’s success has been, in no small part, due to our dedicated and talented team. I look forward to seeing how Tanita, Chris and Lauren continue to grow within BIN, and I am excited to add even more experienced talent to our team.”

iHeartMedia indicates that the expansion of local news coverage will create new employment opportunities including multiple news anchor and reporter positions, a Managing Editor, and a Podcast Managing Editor.

— Rob Dumke

There is a new Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports West, Bally Sports SoCal and Bally Sports San Diego.

She returns to Southern California after more than a decade in Washington D.C., where she served as President/GM NBC Sports Washington.

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For nearly three-decades the best sellers and managers in the business have been honored with Radio Wayne Awards.

Here are the Radio Ink 2021 Radio Wayne Award finalists:

DIGITAL OR INTERACTIVE SELLER
Tiffany Cobb
Tidewater Communications
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA

Michael Walden
Audacy
Chattanooga, TN

Cathleen Mingarino
Longport Media
Atlantic City- Cape May, NJ

Deana Poole
Beasley Media Group
Philadelphia, PA

Yoni Schwartz
Audacy
Philadelphia, PA

Ryan Dietrich
Beasley Media Group
Philadelphia, PA

STREETFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Tich McWilliams
Tuned In Broadcasting
Nashville, TN

Rita Munoz-Dalati
Cumulus Media
Houston-Galveston, TX

Mandy Jo Choat
Williams Media Group
Enid, OK

Roger Nelson
Morgan Murphy Media
Spokane, WA

Kelly Greeley
Capitol Radio Group
Springfield, IL

Melanie Martin
Cox Media Group
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

Paula J. Ingram
Forever Media
Altoona, PA

Steve Simons
Beasley Media Group
Philadelphia, PA

SALES MANAGER 1-2 STATIONS
Tom Hansen
Tuned In Broadcasting
Nashville, TN

Marta DeLisi
Beasley Media Group
Wilmington, DE

Shawneen Thompson
Howard University Radio
Washington, DC

Tim Gratzer
Cumulus Media
Houston-Galveston, TX

Stephen Tarpley
Nexstar
Chicago, IL

Jaime Frankel
Beasley Media Group
Philadelphia, PA

STU OLDS NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Susan Isreal
Hubbard Radio
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL

Phillip Whisnant
Univision
San Diego, San Francisco & Fresno, CA

Pam Foley Crouch
Press Communications
Monmouth-Ocean, NJ

Amanda Health
Lotus Communications

April Brinks-Bailey
Beasley Media Group
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

DOS OR GENERAL SALES MANAGER
Emily Ward
Audacy
Atlanta, GA

Vince Gambino
Longport Media, LLC
Atlantic City- Cape May, NJ

Paul Blake
Beasley Media Group
Philadelphia, PA

Dawn Girocco
Cumulus Media
Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX

Jason (JC) Campese
Cox Media Group
Orlando, FL

Nicki DellaPosta
Audacy
Chicago, IL

MARKET OR GENERAL MANAGER
Mac Edwards
Beasley Media Group
Detroit, MI

Trey Stafford
Saga Communications
Jonesboro, AR

Sabina Widmann
Univision
San Diego, CA, Las Vegas, NV & McAllen-Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Jason Meder
Cox Media Group
Orlando, FL

Keith Lawless
Cox Media Group
Houston-Galveston, TX & Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

Mary Menna
Beasley Media Group
Boston, MA

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In early July, it became known that a special group of low-power television station permits were available, placed on the market by a licensee that didn’t wish to build them by their rather unique deadline.

What makes these LPTVs so special is that they don’t need to be built until 2023. And, that’s proven to be of interest to The E.W. Scripps Co., which is agreeing to purchase a LPTV construction permit in the Southernmost City in the U.S. and another in California’s Coachella Valley.

It is now known that two more of these LPTVs have been sold.

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ACA Connects Chairman Patricia Jo Boyers and ACA Connects Vice Chairman Mike Bowker on Friday announced the results of recent ACAC Board of Directors elections, in addition to Board replacements and appointments to the six-person ACAC Executive Committee.

The six people elected to the ACAC Board of Directors won their seats based on balloting by the ACAC Membership. The ACAC Board replacements occurred pursuant to existing ACAC bylaws, and the ACAC Executive Committee selections to serve one-year terms were based on a vote by the ACAC Board.

“To associate with all the many talented people who serve on the ACA Connects Board of Directors means a lot to me personally because I know our members are in good hands and can trust ACAC’s leadership to act with utmost integrity, intelligence and diligence,”  Boyers said.

Boyers, who is President of BOYCOM Vision in Poplar Bluff, Mo., was elected ACAC’s Chairman in 2019, following a five-year stint as ACAC Vice Chairman. ACAC Vice Chairman Bowker, who is Chief Operating Officer of Cable One in Phoenix, joined the ACAC Board in January 2018.

Bowker said, “Patty and I greatly appreciate the hard work and effort that ACAC Board members bring to the task. Their passion for ACAC as an organization and for the success of independent broadband, phone and video providers is inspiring because it never flags. I see a very bright future for our industry.”

The following individuals were elected to three-year terms (2021-24) on the ACAC Board of Directors:

• Marie Censoplano: Gen.Counsel & SVP, Content Acquisition, Vyve Broadband
• Matt Dosch: EVP & Chief Operating Officer, Comporium
• John Gdovin: EVP & Chief Administrative Officer, RCN/Grande/Wave
• Jim Gleason: President & CEO, Vexus Fiber
• Dave Hymas: Deputy General Counsel, GCI
• Kristin Johnson: Co-Founder & CEO, Hotwire Communications

ACAC Board Replacements for 2021: Leaving is Diana Block, Executive Vice President, Block Communications. She will be replaced by Geoff Shook, President & General Manager, Buckeye Broadband (effective at ACAC’s third quarter 2021 Board of Directors meeting). Leaving is former Shentel Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Heimbach (who became President and Chief Operating Officer of MetroNet on July 5, 2021.) He will be replaced by Shentel Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Edward H. McKay (effective at ACAC’s fourth quarter 2021 Board of Directors meeting). ACAC Executive Committee Election for 2021:

• Tom Larsen: Senior Vice President, Government & Public Relations, Mediacom
• Drew Petersen: Senior Vice President-Corporate Affairs, TDS

Larsen and Petersen were elected to serve one-year terms with ACAC Chairman Boyers and ACAC Vice Chairman Bowker. The Executive Committee also includes ACAC Treasurer Robert Wieand (Controller, Service Electric Cablevision) and Immediate Past Chairman Robert Gessner (President, Retired, MCTV).

Phil Valentine, the conservative Talk radio host who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and became seriously ill, has died.

Valentine, who initially spoke out against the use of vaccines to combat the coronavirus, was a key air personality at Cumulus Media-owned WWTN-FM 99.7 in Nashville. He hosted the 3pm-7pm CT program.

WWTN confirmed Valentine’s passing in the 6pm Central hour on Saturday (8/21). He was 61 years old.

“We are saddened to report that our host and friend Phil Valentine has passed away,” the station posted on Twitter. “Please keep the Valentine family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Valentine had been hospitalized for more than a month while battling COVID-19. His family in late July revealed that he was in “very serious” condition and suffering from “COVID pneumonia” along with other side effects. His condition had worsened and was “grave” as of last week.

Valentine’s brother, Mark, spoke with several WWTN hosts on Saturday, confirming Phil’s passing in the early afternoon hours.

Initially, Valentine believed that he had recovered from the virus. “I think I’m on the other side of it,” Valentine said of the virus, as he described coughing, congestion, and fatigue that “hurts like crap. I’m certainly moving forward, it appears, but not in a straight line… It’s just one of those things. I don’t want it to linger on.”

Prior to falling in, Valentine took to his show to not only express his concerns over the safety of the approved COVID-19 vaccines, but also with mask mandates.

Among those expressing their condolences is former House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman and current Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn). In a statement, she said, “Phil Valentine was a visionary for the conservative movement. He made an enormous impact on the lives of many Tennesseans as an esteemed radio host, actor, and author. It was a privilege to know Phil, and I know his legacy will endure. My deepest condolences and prayers are with Phil’s wife, Susan, and his family. May they be comforted and surrounded by love during this difficult time.”

If there was ever a statement that solidified Nexstar Media Group’s commitment to covering Capitol Hill, this is it.

The media company known for its ownership of broadcast TV stations and the struggling NewsNation has agreed to acquire one of the leading political news brands covering Congress and the Federal government in Washington.

For $130 million, Nexstar is buying The Hill.

“With more than 100 journalists who cover political news and events and provide a wide variety of engaging content to its users, The Hill’s business model is primarily advertising supported by direct, programmatic, and licensing revenue,” Nexstar said, noting that its “omni-channel approach to content distribution” will allow it to expand The Hill’s reach and revenue channels while creating synergistic opportunities with Nexstar’s NewsNation.

Commenting on the transaction, Nexstar President/COO Tom Carter said, “The accretive acquisition of The Hill’s independent, political digital media platform marks continued progress with Nexstar’s ‘content-first strategy’ and reflects our organization-wide commitment to deliver trusted, unbiased, fact-based journalism that engages and informs our audiences across all screens and devices. The Hill has a nationally recognized brand known for delivering balanced political reporting, as well as authentic opinions and perspectives, and is highly complementary to NewsNation.”

The Hill marks the second digital transaction under Nexstar’s “content first” strategy, following the December 2020 acquisition of BestReviews.

Bret Pearlman of HRS Management, the largest investor in The Hill, commented, “We are pleased to have been investors in The Hill and partners with [Chairman Bill] Finkelstein for the past five years as he and the company’s management team transformed the business into a digital media powerhouse. With a strong foundation in place and unique offering in the market, we are confident that the future of the company is extremely bright.”

It’s been a challenging six months on the NYSE for Audacy shares. At 2:15pm Eastern Thursday, the company’s stock dipped as low as $2.93, continuing a fresh downturn that began August 5 but, on a grander scale, dates to mid-March.

Friday’s trading was a bright one, however, with heavier than average volume fueling a 9.8% rise.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. — With the NAB Show adopting a vaccination mandate for all attendees of its October conference and expo in Las Vegas and RBR+TVBR learning Friday that some sort of virtual option is in the works for fully registered participants, an event “where the world’s leading digital creators, platform innovators, and their fans converge in one place” won’t be happening less than two weeks later in Southern California.

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Until now, the National Association of Broadcasters has remained quiet with respect to whether or not individuals who do not travel to the 2021 NAB Show in Las Vegas will have an option to participate via the comfort of their home or office, digitally.

On Friday (8/20), welcome news for those who have opted not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, or are simply not comfortable with travel to a large indoor gathering due to the Delta variant of the virus arrived.

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A low-power FM radio station serving the Florida city of Palatka has avoided a FCC financial penalty for filing its license renewal application after the due date.

As such, this mini-radio facility is getting an admonishment, with its forfeiture cancelled by the Commission.

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It’s a broadcast television station owner with eight properties in 7 markets.

Now, it is adding a property in Virginia’s quintessential college town, Charlottesville.

The seller: Jeff Winemiller.

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