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He’s been at Comscore for four years, and in that time saw a lot of changes in the C-Suite.

Now, he’s opting to “pursue new interests” in five weeks’ time.

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On July 14, RBR+TVBR reported on the sale of WROZ-FM “Fun 101.3” by Hall Communications.

It turns out Hall wasn’t done with divestments in central Pennsylvania.

Hall on Friday submitted to the FCC an asset sale agreement that confirms it is exiting the Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York, Pa., region.

The seller’s broker: Kalil & Co.

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Saga Communications is adding to its stable by making a deal that will give it a Class D 10kw daytimer and its FM translator.

The facilities serve an area north of Springfield, Mass., where the radio industry pure-play already enjoys a formidable presence.

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One month ago, a major PR splash was initiated in support of H.R. 4130, legislation introduced by a South Florida Democratic House member that would “provide fair treatment of radio stations and artists for the use of sound recordings, and for other purposes.”

To date, the bill dubbed the “American Music Fairness Act” has the support of six co-sponsors. They all gave their yea nod to the bill on the day it was introduced.

No other House members have joined them. Instead, a resolution in both chambers of Congress has only been fortified.

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Three Democratic Senators on Thursday (7/22) teamed together to introduce legislation that, if passed, would help financially support local news organizations through tax credits to incentivize hiring more journalists, subscriptions, and advertising from local small businesses.

The NAB’s soon-to-retire President/CEO, once a Republican U.S. Senator, applauded the arrival of companion legislation to a bipartisan House bill that first surfaced on June 16.

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If you are interested in the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation 2022 Broadcast Leadership Training Program, you better get moving.

The NABLF has announced that it is accepting applications until Aug. 2.

The NABLF says the “BLT program is designed to prepare senior-level broadcasters to advance into ownership or executive positions.”

It adds, “Broadcast professionals from all areas of the industry, including general managers, experienced sales managers and seasoned department heads, as well as regional and corporate executives, are encouraged to apply. Fellowship opportunities are available for women and people of color.”

The program will see its first weekend session Sept. 17–19. Sessions will be held in Washington on a once-in-a-month basis until June 2022.

 

The post NABLF Broadcast Leadership Program Deadline Approaches appeared first on Radio World.

Last week, it was announced that the FCC would be considering some changes to its political broadcasting rules at its monthly open meeting in August. This had some voicing concerns over major changes ahead of mid-term elections.

But, as respected D.C. communications law attorney David Oxenford notes, the proposed changes are “almost ministerial.”

The Wilkinson Barker Knauer legal eagle took a look at the proposed changes, and he concludes, “it turned out that the changes were instead very minor.”

How so? “The proposed rule changes revise the Commission’s rules on two matters that are already part of the practices of stations and the lawyers who advise them on political broadcasting matters.”

Two changes are being proposed.

The first, as RBR+TVBR previously reported, pertains to a write-in candidate showing they are legally qualified and therefore able to take advantage of the FCC’s political broadcasting regulations. This includes ad rates for political candidates deemed qualified.

The second is, in Oxenford’s words, “just a rule change to conform FCC rules to statutory requirements that broadcasters include, in their online public files, information about the sale of advertising time to non-candidate buyers who convey a message on a matter of national importance, i.e., a federal issue ad.”

Thus, there are no significant changes ahead of the 2022 Congressional elections to worry about.

The rule changes are up for consideration at the Commission’s August 5 monthly Open Meeting. If the Commissioners agree, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on adoption of the rules will move ahead. That’s expected to occur.

With the Q4 and 2020 financial results for iHeartMedia released following the Closing Bell on February 25, the nation’s largest audio media content creator and distributor revealed that it was implementing a new operational structure.

This saw its financials reported in two separate segments – digital audio and multiplatform, which includes all radio stations. It also saw a veteran iHeart radio programming talent shift away from the company’s broadcast side and take on a COO role for the unit comprised of iHeart’s podcasting and digital properties.

At year’s end, a new COO will be needed for The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group — Darren Davis is stepping down, concluding nearly 30 years at iHeart and its predecessors.

In an internal note shared with iHeartMedia staff and provided to the trade publication it owns, Inside Radio, before other radio industry news organizations, the company noted that Davis, “a longtime and valued member of iHeart senior management,” has decided to step down from his role, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

“Anyone who knows Darren knows he has a deep love for iHeart and a true passion for our business and our success,” iHeartMedia says.

Davis will be continuing with iHeart as an outside advisor following his formal departure as a full-time employee in January.

Officially, Davis, according to iHeart, “is looking forward to spending more time on a variety of other projects he’s passionate about.” They include real estate development, local community projects, and traveling with his family.

“Although his day-to-day operating expertise will be missed, we appreciate all he’s done for our company and are very pleased that he will continue his association with us, albeit on a more limited basis.”

Davis was named COO concurrent to the naming of Conal Byrne as CEO of The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. In addition to the podcasting and digital properties, the group includes digital advertising technology companies Jelli, RadioJar, Unified, Voxnest, and Triton Digital, recently acquired from The E.W. Scripps Co.

Carter Brokaw serves as the President of Digital Revenue for the division; Jessica Jerrick holds the role of EVP/Digital Distribution and Platform Partnerships.

The iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group, which includes the company’s AMs and FMs, is led by CEO Greg Ashlock, Chief Revenue Officer Tim Castelli and Hartley Adkins, President of the Markets Group.

FROM ‘WASH’ TO SHINE

Davis first broke into the radio industry in Washington, D.C., some 29 years ago, at Adult Contemporary WASH-FM 97.1 under then-owner Outlet Communications. It was a volatile time for Radio in the Nation’s Capital. Emmis had sold Top 40 WAVA-FM to Salem, leaving a format void. Alternative WHFS-FM and Hot AC WRQX-FM “Mix 107.3,” both defunct, were leaders. For WASH, thanks in part to Davis’s early efforts as a programming intern, longevity and listener loyalty would provide dividends that make the station a survivor, still attracting large audiences today.

Davis rose to PD at age 23, staying at WASH through its acquisition by AMFM Inc. in 1997 and, in 1999, its transfer of control to iHeart predecessor Clear Channel.  He later served as a Regional VP/Programming for iHeartMedia Detroit and Chicago; and as SVP/Programming and EVP/GM of National Programming.

In July 2014, Davis was appointed President of iHeartRadio, then a part of Clear Channel Networks Group. Among his accomplishments in that role: building and managing the Premium Choice national network for iHeartRadio and developing iHeartMedia’s strategic national programming capabilities.

Three years later, iHeart announced that Davis would sign a four-year contract extension. That agreement saw Davis continue to oversee the iHeartRadio Network, Premiere Networks, Total Traffic + Weather Network, and the NBC News Radio Network, as well as iHeartMedia’s in-house audio and visual creative agency.

The extension came following the January 2017 launch, which Davis led, of the subscription-based on demand ‘iHeartRadio Plus’ and ‘iHeartRadio All Access’ services powered by Napster.

As such, Davis’ contract is expiring. Rather than ink a new deal, he’s moving on while assisting in various ways as an outside consultant with deep inside knowledge of the nation’s biggest audio media company.

For the NAB and the Big Four broadcast TV networks, it’s Stop! Stand there where you are,
before you go too far.

Tell that to David Goodfriend, Founder and Chairman of Locast. If there’s any tune he’s humming along to, it has the lyrics, And we can build this dream together, standing strong forever … Nothing’s gonna stop us now.

Despite efforts in court to squelch the donation-based, IP-distributed “free” TV service, Locast has just entered its 35th market.

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Here they come. And, many are happening on the very same day, making life a potential juggling act for media industry analysts and investors.

Second quarter 2021 financial results for nearly every publicly traded radio and TV company are on the way, starting the first week of August.

Here’s what to expect with respect to when each earnings call and Q2 2021 report release occurs — along with a time change for Gray Television‘s earnings call.

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On April 14, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Eugene Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KVAL-TV, channel 13 (CBS), Eugene, Oregon, requesting the substitution of channel 28 for channel 13 at Eugene in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 28 for channel 13 at Eugene.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KECI-TV, channel 13 (NBC), Missoula, Montana, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula.

On May 17, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by WGEM License, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WGEM-TV, channel 10 (NBC), Quincy, Illinois, requesting the substitution of channel 19 for channel 10 at Quincy in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 19 for channel 10 at Quincy.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KRCR-TV, channel 7 (ABC), Redding, California, requesting the substitution of channel 15 for channel 7 at Redding in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 15 for channel 7 at Redding.