Radio+Television Business Report

Circle City Broadcasting’s racial discrimination lawsuit against Dish Network will proceed, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

That elicited cheers from licensee owner DuJuan McCoy, as he seeks to return his stations offering The CW Network and MyNetwork TV programming to Dish in the Indianapolis DMA.

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LOS ANGELES — The Member of Congress who represents the historically African American parts of Los Angeles County has been selected to serve as the inaugural guest in a new NAB “Spotlight Series,” which features D.C. politicians discussing key initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion and their perspectives on broadcast media.

This first live discussion, scheduled for Noon Pacific on April 8, will see a heralded KNBC-4 in L.A. reporter conduct the live discussion on behalf of the NAB.

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A collective of TV measurement leaders has joined forces to quantify the effectiveness of the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative’s “It’s Up to You” COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative.

It happens to be the largest PSA campaign in U.S. history.

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On the final day of the first quarter of 2021, Univision Communications offered an up-close look at the company’s fourth quarter and full-year 2020 results.

It officially concludes the Vince Sadusky era of leadership at Univision, and a period in which Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, TPG, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Saban Capital Group lost a significant amount of money with their pricy investment in the media company just before the great economic downturn of the late 2000s.

The timing couldn’t be better for Univision. While Q4 revenue improved year-over-year, Univision swung to a net loss.

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Mark Tuesday, May 4 on your calendars.

That’s when the biggest broadcast TV station owner in the U.S. releases its first-quarter 2021 results.

Nexstar Media Group confirmed that date on Wednesday, setting 9am as the time when company leaders including founder Perry Sook will review the results.

The timing couldn’t be better for the company, as its stock began 2021 with a full recovery from the COVID-19 fueled dip it saw to end Q1 2020. In fact, Nexstar celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with NXST finishing at $160.37.

Nexstar shares have cooled off slightly since then and as of 11:30am Eastern on March 31 were at $139.60. Still, that’s within the record high range NXST soared to across Q1 ’21.

What’s in store for Nexstar?

“While we continue to operate in a dynamic environment, full year 2020 free cash flow was in line with our pre-pandemic expectations and 2021 is off to a solid start,” Sook said during Nexstar’s Q4 and full-year 2020 earnings call for Wall Street analysts and investors. “As a result, we are reinstating guidance and expect to generate pro-forma average annual free cash flow of approximately $1.27 billion over the 2021/2022 cycle which supports our view that Nexstar’s path to growth, expanded returns of capital and enhanced shareholder returns remains on plan.”

 

It signed on the air April 20, 1945. Most recently, it has served as the originating signal for an Alternative format using a presently silent FM translator at 100.5 MHz to serve Macon, Ga.

Now, this AM is being sold by Creek Media. And, that’s good news for fans of this format.

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Its licensee name is Prairie Winds Broadcasting, but in its home market of Aberdeen, S.D., the state’s third-largest city, it operates as Hub City Radio.

Here, it owns six full-power radio stations and two FM translators. Now, a third FM translator is being added to the mix.

The seller? An entity that’s poised to assume ownership of Ed Stolz‘s former FM properties.

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LOS ANGELES — In July 2019, RBR+TVBR first shared the news that the cornerstone of 95-year-old broadcast ministry Moody Bible Institute was for sale.

Now, this daytime-only AM that shares a signal with a 50kw Class A News/Talker in Cleveland has been sold. The buyer will retain, albeit adjust, the Spanish-language evangelical programming presently on the air.

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The CEO of Urban One and the EVP/Chief Diversity Officer of NBCUniversal have been appointed to the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Board of Directors.

Both of their terms will begin April 1.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Alfred Liggins and Craig Robinson to the BMI Board of Directors,” said Caroline Beasley, Chairman of the BMI Board of Directors and CEO of Beasley Media Group. “Both Alfred and Craig have achieved incredible success at their respective companies, and they each bring innovative leadership, unique perspectives, and key expertise that will make them invaluable additions to the Board. The entire Board looks forward to working together with Alfred and Craig as we continue our mission to protect and grow the value of our songwriters’, composers’ and music publishers’ creative work.”

Liggins’ leadership at Urban One led to the company’s diversification beyond radio into the cable television and digital media spaces, as well as casino gaming resorts. He is the son and business partner of Cathy Hughes, the Urban One founder and chairperson who today remains a BMI Board Director. In October, however, her role will change to Honorary Director.

At NBCUniversal, Robinson works to define and build a culture that embraces and values diversity in its workforce, culture, content and perspectives.

Robinson earned the role in August 2011, and was formerly President/GM of KNBC-4 in Los Angeles. He joined NBC in 1996.

 

No, it’s not a wind-down of its TV operations. But, HC2 Holdings is paring down its assets as part of a capital-raising initiative. This explains why the company has been dominating the deal-making universe of late.

As part of that divestment of non-essential assets, it is agreeing to spin a pair of LPTV construction permits to Larry Morton, the prominent Little Rock broadcast media veteran.

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SAVANNAH, GA. — Travel west of Columbus, Miss., and you’ll reach the city of Starkville. Here, a low-power TV station’s construction permit is being spun.

The buyer? The Columbus-based owner of the market’s CBS affiliate.

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Cumulus Media on Monday made a “DEF 14A” proxy filing with the SEC that revealed the date the audio content and distribution company will hold its annual shareholders’ meeting, in virtual form.

At the meeting, the election of seven board members will be held, along with the ratification to appoint PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP as Cumulus’ independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.

There’s also a non-binding vote on executive compensation. Just how much are Cumulus’ top executives poised to earn?

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A decade ago, the first U.S. video marketplace report from Comcast-owned FreeWheel was released. Now, its 10th anniversary edition has been released, with a detailed look at viewership trends for an industry in transition.

FreeWheel’s key takeaway from its latest report? “As people’s consumption of media has fragmented across devices over the past 10 years, many have returned to the living room …”

But, are they watching your TV station?

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Telecom Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) and the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) have signed an agreement to enable adoption of ATSC standards for broadcast services on mobile devices in India.

It’s an important-enough pact for Sinclair Broadcast Group’s President/CEO to have issued a congratulatory comment.

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On Oct. 27, 2020, T-Mobile President/CEO Mike Sievert delivered a bold prediction in a video presentation recorded at the company’s Bellevue, Wash., headquarters. It was the latest “Un-carrier” move for the company, one that sought MVPD cord-cutters. “Just like we changed wireless for good, now we’re going to change TV … for good,” he proclaimed.

Just five months later, Sievert and T-Mobile have abruptly abandoned the heavily promoted T-Vision VMVPD service. As of today, it’s yielding that segment of the wireless carrier’s business to Alphabet Inc.

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A multi-platform broadcast and content company delivering sports betting news, analysis and data to consumers from the Las Vegas Strip since 2017 — known for its ties to the Musberger family — has been plucked by a Boston-based digital sports entertainment and gaming giant widely known for its daily fantasy, regulated gaming and digital media offerings.

Vegas Sports Information Network, Inc. (VSiN) is being acquired by DraftKings Inc.

It’s a major acquisition, and one that will enable DraftKings, which is live with mobile and/or retail sports betting in 14 states, to further build out its content capabilities. As DraftKings sees it, the deal “will augment VSiN’s ability to broaden their audience alongside the expansion of legal sports betting in the U.S.”

Commenting on the deal, DraftKings co-founder, CEO and board chairman Jason Robins said, “VSiN creates authentic and credible content that resonates with sports bettors at every level, whether they’re experienced or new to sports betting. In addition to its brand equity among sports bettors and engaging talent roster, VSiN also has an established infrastructure that DraftKings can immediately help expand, in the hopes of adding value to consumers who are looking to become more knowledgeable about sports betting.”

VSiN develops, produces, and distributes up to 18+ hours of live linear sports betting content each day. In addition to its 24/7 stream, VSiN’s original content is accessible through multiple video and audio channels including Comcast Xfinity, Sling TV, fuboTV, Rogers’ Sportsnet, MSG Networks, NESN, AT&T Pittsburgh, Marquee Sports Network, a dedicated channel on iHeartRadio and TuneIn, as well as terrestrial radio stations throughout the country, and its growing slate of podcasts and betcasts.

VSiN’s current talent roster includes veteran sportscaster Brent Musburger; Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive; Gill Alexander, host of the “Beating the Book” podcast; and Pauly Howard and Mitch Moss, co-hosts of VSiN’s popular morning show “Follow The Money.”

“We created VSiN as a destination for sports bettors to find the most credible content to help inform their wagering decisions,” VSiN CEO Brian Musburger said. “Harnessing the power and network of the DraftKings brand will allow us to reach an even wider audience with our unique content.”

DraftKings’ vision is for Brian Musburger and his leadership team to continue to manage day-to-day operations while maintaining editorial independence.

Meanwhile, DraftKings says it “intends to fully integrate VSiN’s current employee base located in Las Vegas, including its on-air talent, into its 2,600 person global workforce.”

Since opening a Las Vegas office in January 2020, DraftKings has grown its local employee base by 132%.

More from the RBR+TVBR Archives:

RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast: Bill Adee, VSiN Adam Jacobson Bill Adee is the Principal and COO of VSiN. It’s grown quickly since the spring of 2017, when Adee joined the Musbergers to launch VSiN. He shares the latest on how things continue to roll — even through the COVID-19 pandemic — in this freshly produced InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM. LISTEN HERE VSiN Bets On iHeartMedia By Spurning SiriusXM Adam Jacobson Subscription-free sports betting audio content is poised to reach more listeners on more devices. That’s the promise VSiN and iHeartMedia are sharing, as the nation’s No. 1 audio media company has expanded its partnership with the Las Vegas-based sports information network dedicated to bettors and wagering statistics. The result is a loss for SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Skyview Networks Bets On A Big Sports Gaming Pact RBR-TVBR One of the nation’s foremost sports betting information networks has partnered up with a key sports audio company “to further gain market share and sponsorship opportunities.” The partnership comes despite the lack of wagering on live sporting events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shut down all Las Vegas casinos.

Although podcasting has surged in popularity in recent years and is a major growth segment for the radio industry, television companies are just now tipping their toes into the audio arena.

With the dynamic insertion of ads along with podcast measurement and the podcast industry’s continuing consolidation all impacting radio and TV in some way, how added ears can translate to dollars for legacy linear media is at the heart of this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM.

To learn more on the subject, RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson chats with Sean King, an executive vice president with Veritone One. 

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Sean King, Veritone One” on Spreaker.

In a major rebranding move that leaked out via social media late Monday, Entercom Communications has changed its name to Audacy.

The shift from Entercom, a name that dates to October 1968, is effective immediately.

Much has changed for the company founded by Joseph Field. Today, it is led by his son, Chairman and President/CEO David Field. And, under the younger Field, Entercom grew.

On November 17, 2017, that growth reached its apex, as Entercom completed its tax-free merger with CBS Radio. Then, a new logo was introduced.

Now, nearly 3 1/2 years after a transformative transaction that saw slow growth at legacy CBS Radio stations due to what Field believed was neglect under its previous owner, a whole new identity has been revealed.

Audacy addressed the company’s evolution since the Reverse Morris Trust-fueled merger with CBS Radio, which saved the former Entercom from a big tax bill from Uncle Sam. Among the big moves: growth in podcasting with the August 2019 acquisition of Cadence13 and Pineapple Street, and a wholesale relaunch of the Radio.com app that came with the CBS Radio merger. There’s also the acquisition of QL Gaming Group and a partnership with FanDuel, fueling its position in Sports Talk audio content delivered via key radio stations like WFAN in New York and via the Radio.com platform.

Speaking of Radio.com, that name will be “sunset,” with a rebrand to Audacy on the way.

Cadence13, Pineapple Street Studios, BetQL and recently acquired podcast influencer marketplace Podcorn remain market-facing brands.

With some self-promotion, Audacy said in a statement released Tuesday (3/30) at 9am Eastern, “Over the past three years, the company has purposefully evolved into a scaled, multi-platform audio content and entertainment organization with the country’s best radio broadcasting group and a leadership position in virtually every segment of the dynamic and growing audio market—including broadcasting, podcasting, digital, network, live experiences, music, sports and news. Audacy is also the No. 1 creator of original, premium audio content.”

In a prepared statement, David Field said, “We have transformed into a fundamentally different and dramatically enhanced organization and so it is time to embrace a new name and brand identity which better reflects who we have become and our vision for the future. ‘Audacy’ captures our dynamic creativity, outstanding content and innovative spirit as we aspire to build the country’s best audio content and entertainment platform.”

Audacy Chief Marketing Officer Paul Suchman added, “This moment is not just a change of sign, but a sign of change. Our new brand encapsulates who we’ve become in audio and will guide our forward aspirations. We are bringing it to life across all touchpoints inside and outside the organization and look forward to delivering on its promise every day.”

A BET ON DIGITAL

With the Entercom Twitter handle changed early Tuesday, ahead of the official announcement, to @audacycorp, a new chapter begins for a company with roots in radio that today made several announcements that signals its intention as of today to be an audio media company.

First, Audacy says it has signed Demi Lovato to an exclusive podcast partnership with Cadence13. It will be produced by OBB Sound, the audio division of OBB Media, and SB Projects. Further details are set to arrive in May. A revamped “Loveline,” pioneered by Audacy’s KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, will debut this summer, in addition to new podcasts and digitally delivered projects from Boomer Esiason and The Rich Eisen Show.

Audacy also has a partnership with BetMGM in place, and this follows a similar partnership announcement revealed last week that ties Audacy with Rush Street Interactive.

Lastly, Entercom has a royalties agreement in place with Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights (GMR).

A NEW WALL STREET IDENTITY

What happens to ETM?

It’s going away.

The company’s ticker symbol will change from “ETM” to “AUD,” and this is expected to occur on or about Friday, April 9.

— Additional reporting by Ed Ryan

With the spectrum repack fully in the rearview mirror, Dielectric has promoted its TV Antenna Manufacturing Manager to Director of RF Systems and Components.

The new role is part of the company’s shift in strategy to better serve broadcasters in the post-repack world.

Earning the promotion is Mike Spugnardi, who applied his extensive Dielectric experience
to lead all strategic repack initiatives around inventory control, production planning and
maximizing capacity.

“His successful strategy ensured that more than 1,000 repack customers were transitioned to new channel assignments within very tight timelines,” Dielectric says.

Now, Spugnardi is poised to bring that same strategic focus to the company’s RF Systems
and Components division. This includes new product designs that reflect changing
customer needs in today’s reduced UHF spectrum in the United States, as well as making
products more efficient for international TV and radio customers.

“Mike’s emphasis on the finer details was a primary reason we were so well-prepared for
repack, which was arguably the busiest period of Dielectric’s nearly 80 years of existence,”
said Cory Edwards, Director of OEM, Distributor and Southeast Asia Sales at Dielectric. “He is now leading the charge with an emphasis on new products and existing product redesigns, particularly around our UHF TV filters.”

Edwards says many of these changes optimize Dielectric’s bandpass filters for Channels 14 to 36, which represent the post-repack UHF band in the United States and much of the global broadcast market. In addition to redesigning existing filters, the company is adding models to serve increasingly common power levels. This includes 5kw and 22kw models that will allow Dielectric to provide more efficient single-filter designs for these power level requirements, while providing additional headroom to accommodate the higher peak powers of ATSC 3.0.

Spugnardi will lead a newly expanded team of senior RF engineers and mechanical
designers, which Edwards says will “strengthen our bench for a new RF era.” He is also
leading the charge on developing new internal technical resources.

As expected, Univision Communications on Tuesday formally launched its streaming channels-based and VOD service created specifically for U.S. Hispanic audiences.

The launch follows the recent acquisition of VIX, the largest Spanish-language ad-supported VOD streaming service for Latin American audiences and U.S. Hispanics.

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