Radio+Television Business Report

TORONTO — Drawing on a heritage of more than 20 years in newsroom production, Imagine Communications is introducing a new approach to content access, management and multiplatform delivery.

Introducing Nexio NewsCraft, marketed as a all-in-one news production tool that enables organizations to work smarter and more efficiently ― ensuring every news story gets to air quickly no matter where operators are located.

Nexio NewsCraft provides a feature-rich and intuitive toolkit in a single, highly automated environment that streamlines news production from ingest and preparation to playout and delivery over multiple platforms. Based on proven open standards throughout, Nexio NewsCraft operates seamlessly in hybrid SDI/IP architectures, interfaces tightly with newsroom computer systems (NRCS) via a fully implemented MOS interface, and allows access to systems on-prem, in the field or from home.

“In talking to news broadcasters around the world, the message was absolutely clear,” explains Steve Reynolds, president at Imagine Communications. “The overwhelming desire is to be first with an accurate telling of the story ― and our new solution will meet that mission-critical requirement hands down.

“Whether for commercial news channels, for government broadcasters, or for public service, the ability to quickly get news to their viewers is of paramount importance and adds real value to their operations. We designed Nexio NewsCraft as a seamlessly integrated, software-defined ecosystem that makes implementation simple and the production process more efficient. Journalists can tell the best story, and producers can get it on air and online quickly. Equally important, we’re able to deliver a full-featured, elegant workflow solution at a competitive price point.”

Nexio NewsCraft incorporates best-of-breed components in highly integrated, virtualized software for implementation on premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid architecture. The solution combines the field-proven performance and reliability of MOS-enabled Nexio® production servers and IOX shared storage with the modern, easy-to-use GUI and best-in-class media management capabilities of the EditShare FLOW family.

Multiple software tools can be layered on the server architecture, giving wide and fast access to content and empowering journalists by removing technical and operational constraints wherever they access the functionality. As needed, artificial intelligence tools like automated metadata extraction can be added to facilitate increased productivity and monetization of assets.

As a system purpose-built for speed, Nexio NewsCraft enables crash recording to be started with a single button on the control screen; scheduling a recording is as simple as dropping an event in a calendar. No matter how the content is ingested, material can be played out or edited within seconds of recording starting. Smart, flexible UIs simplify operators’ tasks in-facility or in remote collaborations.

Simple browse controls in the journalist’s workstation allow basic newsroom tasks like topping and tailing and shotlisting and logging, all through intuitive web user interfaces. Where more sophisticated editing is required, Nexio NewsCraft is fully integrated with popular third-party tools like Adobe® Premiere® Pro and DaVinci Resolve, ensuring fast access and seamless content flow from ingest to delivery and transparent sharing of projects between editors.

For broadcasters already using Imagine’s widely deployed Nexio servers, the newsroom functionality can be simply layered on top. For media production companies looking to a new approach to news content management, Nexio NewsCraft can be cost-effectively implemented with resources scaled directly to their operational needs. For any news operation, the Nexio NewsCraft solution’s COTS-hosted, software architecture makes it easy and affordable to scale channels and storage with no system downtime and provides a future-proof migration path to IP, UHD and the cloud.

— Carina Newton, in North York, Ontario

It greatly impacted the operations and streaming capabilities of Cox Media Group stations. Radio station owners Urban One, Audacy (as Entercom), Max Media and Townsquare Media have also been impacted by them.

Ransomware attacks have become the latest criminal scourge to impact not just individuals, but broadcast media companies too. Now, Congress has taken the first steps toward stopping “digital thieves.”

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A virtual studio interview between a top European soccer manager based in a London studio and an interviewer based in a Dublin studio recently came together with relative ease.

It’s thanks to technology put in play by Quicklink Studio (ST55).

For the production, Quicklink Studio (ST55) was used to provide a conversation between London, Dublin and the South Yorkshire-based Master Control Room (MCR), located in the English city of Sheffield.

Using Scarlett audio interfaces into laptops based in London and Dublin, Quicklink Studio (ST55) facilitated a bi-directional Conference call between both parties as well as the MCR.

To achieve a successful REMI virtual studio production, both the interview and interviewee were carefully positioned in a green screened environment to allow for a virtual backdrop to be applied.

To allow for natural conversation, monitors were strategically placed at the other’s eye-line, to make it appear as though they were making eye contact throughout the interview.

“Quicklink was a vital part of the virtual production workflow,” said Jay Rozanski, Creative Director at oXyFire Media.

Hannah Chitty, Producer at Chrome Productions, added, “This project encountered a few
challenges of which we managed to overcome, however the results provided by oXyFire and
the Quicklink solutions were fantastic.”

Quicklink Studio (ST55) enables the gathering of high-quality video and audio contributions from a laptop or mobile device with no apps or software installations required. Contributors can be invited by an operator to contribute via SMS, WhatsApp, email or by generating a shareable URL link. From the Quicklink Manager, the operator is then able to remotely control and configure the contributor’s device camera, microphone, speaker settings, resolution, data bandwidth and latency if required.

Eight weeks ago, Transactions Today from RBR+TVBR reported on the sale of an AM/FM combo that includes an FM translator and no less than four boosters designed to give that FM station coverage of Eastern Washington’s largest metropolis, Spokane.

The transaction has now closed.

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When it comes to Ed Stolz, one thing’s for certain: nothing’s simple.

And, with respect to the ultimate transfer of control of three of his former FM radio stations, there’s a new rub in a saga that has entangled the court-appointed receiver of Stolz’s ex-properties and the non-profit broadcast ministry poised to assume ownership of the trio.

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The unique capabilities of its management team to build and scale its digital business.

A “Digital First” strategy and plans to grow digital revenue to $250 million within three years.

Why its interactive arm was able to accelerate subscriber growth during a pandemic.

Those are just some of the topics Noble Capital Markets Senior Research Analyst Michael Kupinski addresses in an exclusive interview with Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson.

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Borrell’s 2021 Local Advertiser survey has just wrapped up.

And, as has traditionally been seen by the research shop, each week across the summer will see the release of a particular finding of note.

With some 3,657 local ad buyers and agencies polled in 2021, Borrell’s first takeaway is yet another wakeup call for broadcast TV: “video” is no longer TV’s exclusive domain.

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With the discussion heavy on closing the digital divide and general thoughts on an incubator program to encourage women and minorities to become a radio or TV station owner, no less than six former FCC Commissioners participated Monday in a live Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) symposium.

Their appearance came as the MMTC is welcoming a new Policy Counsel to its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

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It went on the air on October 30, 1938. In April 1994, it was spun to the Indianapolis-based company founded by Jeff Smulyan.

Now, in a sign of the times, Emmis Communications is preparing to transition the remaining listeners of a Class B AM with 50kw during daylight hours and 10kw after dark to a pair of 250-watt FM translators fed from the HD2 signal of a13,500-watt FM sibling.

Thus marks the impending end of the former WIBC-AM 1070 as a Sports Talker under different call letters. What does the future hold for this facility?

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MIAMI —  The executives selected to drive Univision Holdings Inc.’s next phase of transformation and “execute the vision for the future combined company of Televisa-Univision” once the multinational mega-merger closes have been revealed by Univision CEO Wade Davis.

It paints the picture of Televisa-Univision’s C-Suite following the close of the transaction, expected to close later this year.

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C-Suite executives selected to drive Univision Holdings Inc.’s next phase of transformation and “execute the vision for the future combined company of Televisa-Univision” aren’t the only changes in the works once the multinational mega-merger closes later this autumn.

Univision Television Networks Group President Luis Silberwasser has finalized the new structure of its Entertainment, Sports and News divisions.

The big takeaway: the News President is stepping down.

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The network is not even 11 months old, and it now boasts triple the amount of programming it had at launch.

Now, as autumn readies its arrival, the winds are blowing in two more high-profile telejournalists at NewsNation — the Nexstar Media Group-owned cable TV operation overseen by President of Networks Sean Compton and, since mid-May, President of News Michael Corn.

One of the new faces at the network formerly known as WGN America will take a time slot given two weeks ago to another program, which will shift to a different time slot come late September.

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DISH has selected its primary network services partner for its mobile virtual network operator, or “MVNO,” customers, inking an agreement with billions of dollars in value.

It’s with AT&T, and it is a 10-year agreement, according to a SEC filing made by DISH. “DISH has agreed to pay AT&T at least $5 billion over the course of the ten-year term of the NSA, subject to certain terms and conditions,” the filing states. Neither the length of the agreement nor its value were offered by DISH in an announcement distributed early Monday (7/19).

The deal will allow DISH to provide current and future customers of its retail wireless brands, including Boost Mobile, Ting Mobile and Republic Wireless, access to coverage and connectivity on AT&T’s wireless network, in addition to the new DISH 5G network.

The agreement, DISH says, accelerates its expansion of retail wireless distribution to rural markets where DISH provides satellite TV services.

AT&T is also providing transport and roaming services as part of the agreement, to support DISH’s 5G network.

DISH makes it clear that it is committed to providing competition in the wireless market as the nation’s fourth facilities-based carrier. As such, DISH reiterated that it will continue to build out what it calls “the nation’s first cloud-native, OpenRAN-based 5G network reaching over 70% of the population” by 2023.

“Teaming with AT&T on this long-term partnership will allow us to better compete in the retail wireless market and quickly respond to changes in our customers’ evolving connectivity needs as we build our own first-of-its kind 5G network,” said John Swieringa, DISH COO and Group President of Retail Wireless. “The agreement provides enhanced coverage and service for our Boost, Ting and Republic customers, giving them access to the best connectivity on the market today via voice, messaging, data and nationwide roaming on AT&T’s vast network, as well as DISH’s 5G network.”

DIRECTV BONDS OFFERED TO AID AT&T SEPARATION

The partnership between AT&T and DISH comes as AT&T takes another step toward the spin-off of Dish Network’s lone competitor, DirecTV. 

DIRECTV Entertainment Holdings LLC, a wholly owned AT&T subsidiary, on Monday revealed a proposed offering of $3.1 billion aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes due 2027 by DIRECTV Financing and DIRECTV Financing co-Obligator.

The timing of pricing of the Notes is subject to market conditions.

Net proceeds will go toward the completion of DIRECTV’s separation from AT&T, and will trim debt owed to AT&T by the DBS provider.

TPG Capital is taking a 30% stake in DIRECTV, which AT&T acquired in 2015. Since then, it has largely phased out its own U-Verse video services.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Indianapolis-based WFYI Public Media, the entity that runs the market’s NPR and PBS member stations, respectively, has been given the green light to lead a public media initiative “designed to instill journalism practices that meaningfully address local information needs through active listening and engagement.”

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On Monday (7/12), Cumulus Media surrendered the license for a Class D AM serving the Oregon city of Eugene. The official silencing of this station came just one month after its 59th birthday, and it also sees the extinguishment of its FM translator.

While “The Valley” could be floored with the decision, the company’s News/Talker serving the market is poised to benefit.

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On January 1, 2015, Nexstar Media Group agreed to an amended “put and call option agreement” with White Knight Holdings. 

On July 6, 2021, Nexstar exercised its option, putting the wheels in motion on its acquisition of a MyNetwork TV-affiliated UHF serving northwest Louisiana, and the MyNetwork affiliate serving Tyler-Longview, Tex.

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Broadcast television programming is structured, like time itself, in a linear fashion. That, of course, is by design.

Dayparts and programming were developed to mirror the patterns of daily American life.  Of course, those conceptual schedules – even before COVID-19 rampaged the world – were more of a relic of the way America used to be than a reflection of where work, culture and society is headed today, notes Raghu Kodige, the co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Alphonso who was named CEO of LG Ads on July 14.

But, on the whole, “this structure still mirrored lifestyle patterns for a good portion of America and facilitated attraction of, and advertising to, audience segments desired by marketers.”

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As its shares continue to rebound from a COVID-19 pandemic exacerbation of a five-year downtrend, the Board of Directors of Nielsen Holdings plc has declared a quarterly cash dividend of Nielsen’s common stock.

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A dividend of $0.06 per share will be payable on September 2 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 19, 2021.

It’s an incentive, perhaps, for current and new shareholders, as NLSN remains closer to the bottom of a five-year trend than at the top of it. As of 2:51pm Eastern, Nielsen shares were priced at $23.80, down 10 cents from July 15. By comparison, NLSN was priced at $28.10 on May 17, capping a steady growth trend that began Jan. 25, 2021, when the company’s shares ended the day at $21.50.

With a 1-year target price of $29.17, Nielsen has the ability to meet or succeed this price with relative ease, given its current trading level. But, some may question if momentum seen across the first half of 2021 is slowing.

Still, NLSN is more than $10 a share ahead of where it was on October 26, 2020, and is at a level last seen on a steady basis in April 2019.

Now, the bad news: On August 1, 2016, a $53.28 closing price for Nielsen shares was seen.

That said, Nielsen is a different company today than it was five years ago. And, it could be very well primed for less losses, fueling stock growth in the latter half of 2021.

When the FCC’s Media Bureau on June 4 released a Public Notice seeking to update the record in the 2018 Quadrennial Review proceeding, the volume of responses was bound to be large. Changes resulting from the Supreme Court’s unanimous 9-0 decision in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project to allow the Commission to “modernize” its cross-ownership rules had just taken effect.

On July 1, Comment and Reply Comment deadlines were set. No less than five groups  expressed their concern to the Media Bureau that more time was needed to vocalize on paper what needed to be said as to whether the FCC’s media ownership rules remain “necessary in the public interest as the result of competition.”

The Bureau has obliged.

The original comment filing deadline of August 2 and reply comment filing deadline of August 30 has been extended by one month.

The new Comment Deadline in MB Docket No. 18-349 is Sept. 2.
The new Extended Reply Comment Deadline is Oct. 1.

It is a win for Common Cause; Free Press; the Multicultural Media, Telecom and
Internet Council (MMTC); the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB); and the NAB.

The groups argued that, as more than two years have passed since the original comment cycle in the proceeding was completed, many economic and legal developments in the media industry have transpired since then. As such, additional time is needed to address
“the many complex economic and legal issues through research, updates to previously filed material, and new information.”

Extensions of time aren’t routinely granted. But, in this case, the Media Bureau found “sufficient justification” to warrant grant of the extension request.

In late December 2020, The E.W. Scripps Company appointed a television industry veteran with a surname matching its multicast unit to head them on a day-to-day basis.

Taking the role of COO and Head of Entertainment for Scripps’ national TV networks business, newly expanded following Scripps’ purchase of ION Media: Jonathan Katz.

Nearly eight months later, Katz — founder and President/CEO of what was known as Katz Networks, which Scripps acquired in 2017 — is departing.

In an internal e-mail sent to Scripps employees, Scripps Networks President Lisa Knutson, whom Katz reported to, said, “It is with regret that I share that Jonathan Katz has decided to leave us.” She added that Katz has been “a tremendous partner in getting the Scripps Networks business launched as well as hiring and promoting terrific people.”

Knutson assured Scripps employees that the national TV networks business “is in great shape financially and organizationally, and we have built a strong foundation for our ongoing growth and success.”

Knutson will assume Katz’s duties. According to media reports, Katz plans to launch a new company in the visual media space.

Katz had responsibility for the networks’ entertainment brands including Bounce, Laff, Grit, Court TV Mystery and the ION networks as well as Black consumer-focused streaming service Brown Sugar and syndicated pop culture talk program “The List.” Katz also had oversight of revenue, research, marketing and programming for the entire portfolio of Scripps’ national networks.

Katz is known for launching the Bounce network in 2011 as a broadcast television network dedicated to serving African-American audiences. Three years later, he founded the Katz networks as digital multicast programming needs widened.

More notably, Katz resurrected the Court TV brand network in 2019, directed its expansion into the United Kingdom in 2020, and led the development of true crime-focused channel Court TV Mystery.

Before founding the Katz networks, he was SVP/GM of program planning and acquisitions for all of the Turner Entertainment Networks including TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and TCM, including acquisitions work for the original Court TV and The WB broadcast network.

Additionally, Katz oversaw the re-branding and relaunch of WTBS in Atlanta as WPCH-17 under the “Peachtree TV” brand and led all aspects of the station’s operations as general manager.

Before joining Turner’s Entertainment Group in 2000, he was vice president of marketing for CNN Newsource.

Katz launched his career in local TV with roles in programming, advertising, publicity, promotion, production and news at WTOG-44, a one-time “Superstation” in Tampa-St. Petersburg. He’s also worked at WJZY-TV in Charlotte, WDBB-TV in Birmingham and at WCFT-TV in Tuscaloosa, Ala.