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Issued a Forfeiture Order in the amount of $1,500 to Iglesia Sinai Pentecostes, Inc., for failure to timely file a license renewal application for WLDC-LP, Goshen, Indiana

Cumulus Media named James Robinson as its vice president and market manager for Birmingham, Ala., where the company has five stations. Robinson steps into the role previously held by Bill Gentry, who is no longer with the company.

Robinson is former VP and director of sales, radio, television and digital for Univision Communications in San Antonio.

He has also held sales leadership roles for Radio One in Houston and for iHeartMedia in Washington, St. Louis and Memphis.

[Read: Boden Will Run Cumulus D.C. Cluster]

Robinson said the Cumulus stations in Birmingham “are iconic brands that have a history of deep commitment to the community and partner success.”

The cluster comprises urban AC station Hot 107.7/WUHT(FM) and several sports outlets. They are JOX 94.5 WJOX(FM), JOX 2 100.5 ESPN WJQX(FM), JOX 3 690 WJOX(AM) and Talk 99.5 WAPI(AM)/WZRR(FM).

The announcement was made by Mark Sullivan, senior vice president, operations at Cumulus.

 

The post Cumulus Tabs Robinson in Birmingham appeared first on Radio World.

The DRM Consortium says one of the benefits of its digital radio technology is the potential savings on power bills. Now it is promoting a calculator tool that it says can determine how much energy would be saved by a user that switches from analog to Digital Radio Mondiale.

The calculator was created by Simon Keens, sales and business development manager of Ampegon Power Electronics AG, which is a member of the consortium.

“The DRM Energy Efficiency Calculator (https://energyefficiency.drm.org) has been created using typical performance data from transmitter manufacturers,” the organization stated.

“It then calculates total expected energy usage for up to 10 transmitters by considering operational mode, time on-air and broadcasting technique assessing the energy consumption and electricity costs, based upon local market information.”

It said in the announcement that by comparing data sets for analog and DRM digital operations, it can estimate the potential “and often huge” savings broadcasters might expect from switching over to DRM.

DRM says the tool can be programmed into an Excel spreadsheet and distributed in PDF reports summarizing the findings.

The consortium will demonstrate it in an upcoming webinar on June 30.

 

The post DRM Calculator Highlights Power Savings appeared first on Radio World.

A look at the latest Spot Ten TV report shows a pharmaceutical brand is now the leader at the stations monitored by iHeartMedia-owned Media Monitors.

That hardly takes away the continued fight for consumers being waged by auto insurers through the use of spot TV.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report is littered with in-house promotional announcements from Media Monitors owner iHeartMedia.

Is that a sign of a spot slowdown for national radio advertisers?

Answering that question may not be an easy one, as play counts may not equate to dollars spent by CMOs and brand managers at the radio stations tracked by Media Monitors.

Still, six of the top 10 spots represent fully paid brands, and Progressive was beaten by iHeartRadio Music Festival promo spots that likely aired only on the company’s own radio stations.

As such, the lone campaign of note for the week ending June 20 is for Liberty Mutual Insurance.  From nowhere, LiMu has grown in name recognition and brand value through quirky TV spots. Now, it is attracting potential customers via spot radio.

As RBR+TVBR has reported, HC2 Broadcasting has been selling various non-essential properties as part of an effort to raise capital — a major campaign being waged by chief executive Wayne Barr Jr. following the exit one year ago of Philip Falcone.

Within HC2 is DTV America Corp., and that licensee is selling properties, namely unbuilt construction permits. In the latest deal to involve yet-to-be-constructed LPTVs facing a July 13 sign-on deadline, DTV via HC2 is parting ways with three mini-stations in Wisconsin and a fourth in Texas.

The buyer is a family-owned entity based in Central California.

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The FCC’s Media Bureau is reminding U.S. broadcasters that this is an odd-numbered year, so they’ll have to file their biennial ownership reports this fall.

It issued a public notice reminding them that the window for filing Form 323 or 323-E will open in October.

This applies to licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM and FM radio stations, full-power television, Class A TV and low-power TV stations.

“Reporting such information has long been a fundamental obligation of broadcast licensees,” the Media Bureau said in a public notice.

“The accurate, and timely, filing of ownership information is critical to ensuring that the public knows who owns, operates, and controls broadcast stations. Additionally, accurate and timely ownership information is crucial to an understanding of the broadcast industry as a whole, including an understanding of the diversity and multiplicity of owners.”

Radio and TV stations are in the midst of the license renewal process. The license renewal application, Form 2100, Schedule 303-S, requires broadcast licensees to certify compliance with the biennial ownership reporting requirement.

“We remind licensees that, as part of its review of license renewal applications, Bureau staff will be reviewing whether licensees have filed their 2019 and 2021 biennial ownership information and whether they have certified truthfully concerning compliance with the filing requirement.”

Stations also must maintain a current ownership report in their Online Public Inspection Files.

The bureau encouraged licensees to prepare in advance for the window that opens Oct. 1 “and to review carefully their compliance with the filing requirement as they prepare and file their license renewal applications.”

 

The post FCC Ownership Report Season Is Ahead appeared first on Radio World.

In Grand Junction, Colo., Gray Television enjoys a formidable presence, with ownership of NBC/Telemundo/MeTV affiliate KKCO-11 and a low-power TV station that serves as the western Colorado market’s home for ABC, Ion Network and The CW Network.

Gray is adding another LPTV property to the mix.

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There will be a new Vice President of News, who will also serve as Managing Editor, of NewsNation, come July 19.

She will oversee the Nexstar Media Group-owned network’s day-to day news gathering and production process and supervise a staff of more than 100 reporters, producers, writers, and photojournalists.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In reply comments filed with the FCC regarding its plans for FY 2021 regulatory fees, the NAB says the Commission has the authority to ensure that all industries pay for their “fair share” of the agency’s indirect costs.

As such, “Big Tech” companies and other unlicensed spectrum users should pay regulatory fees “to more accurately reflect” the FCC’s work.

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Exactly one year ago, the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led Saga Communications to join the list of audio media companies to put its quarterly cash dividend for shareholders in a cryogenic state.

The Saga board has just brought out the EKG machine, breathing new life into a historically robust dividend that will reward SGA shareholders in mid-July.

Saga’s Board of Directors on Monday (6/210 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share.

The dividend will be paid on July 16 to shareholders of record on June 30.

The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with the quarterly dividend will be approximately $960,000, and Saga says the quarterly cash dividend will be funded by cash on the company’s balance sheet.

Including this dividend, Saga will have paid over $72 million in dividends to shareholders since the first special dividend was paid in 2012.

Saga adds that it currently intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends in the future as declared by the Board of Directors. “Consistent with returning value to our shareholders, the Board of Directors may also consider declaring special cash dividends, stock dividends, and stock buybacks in the future,” the company adds.

Saga owns or operates 79 FM and 35 AM radio stations in small and mid-sized U.S. markets.

As of 12:10pm Eastern, Saga shares were priced at $20.97.

Saga in 2020 suspended its dividend to conserve the company’s cash position. This included reducing planned capital spending and seeking discounts from vendors.

 

There’s a new President and GM for the FM radio stations serving the Denver market owned by Max Media.

It’s an individual who started off his career in radio as an Account Executive at iHeartMedia’s properties due south on I-25, in Colorado Springs.

Taking the role, which will see him lead KJHM-FM and KFCO-FM, is Sean Rhoads.

He jumps up from VP of Sales, a role Rhoads earned in 2016. Rhoads joined Max Media in 2010 as a Sr. AE, and rose to the posts of Digital Sales Director and General Sales Manager across the next six years.

“We have an incredible team here in Denver and we’re ambitious to take Denver to new heights,” Rhoads said. “Our company has always placed the highest value on results for advertisers, enjoyment for listeners and happiness of employees. I’m excited and honored to carry on with this mission.”

Concurrent with Rhoads’ rises, Max Media/Denver GSM Jeff Silver has been promoted to a VP.

Silver is a veteran sales leader with over 20 years of experience leading sales teams for Entercom (now Audacy) in Denver and the stations under prior owner Lincoln Financial Media.

An image from the Xperi Mexico website.

Xperi said that as of this month, HD Radio has been in use in Mexico for 10 years. The technology company took the occasion to report that 41% of the country’s broadcast audience now can hear a digital signal, covering a potential listening population of 50 million.

It said there are about 200 digital channels available and that 25 car brands have integrated HD Radio technology in 128 car models.

[Read: Xperi Has Big Ambitions for DTS AutoStage]

Xperi quoted José Luis Rodríguez Aguirre, the president of the board of the commercial broadcast association CIRT, saying, “We will continue supporting the implementation of HD Radio technology to further expand digital radio coverage in Mexico.”

The anniversary was noted by Xperi Mexico’s Fabián Zamarrón, who was quoted, “Radio continues to be the anchor for consumers’ media diet, with nine out of 10 vehicle owners surveyed saying it is important to have radio in their dashboard.”

Globally, Xperi said HD Radio technology is available in 75 million automobiles and is integrated by over 40 auto manufacturers. Its estimate is that including HD subchannels, there are about 4,700 channels of programming in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

 

The post Xperi Notes 10 Years of HD Radio in Mexico appeared first on Radio World.

Univision Communications has unveiled its plans for what it calls “a comprehensive global streaming service” that includes both free ad-supported and premium subscription-based options.

This service would launch in the U.S. and Latin America in 2022.

The two-tier streaming service will offer “a differentiated product proposition, vast content scope, expansive library and more Spanish-language originals than any other streaming service,’ Miami-based Univision boasts.

And, what is poised to become Univision-Televisa, following the completion of Univision’s blockbuster merger with the iconic Mexican media operation, will be fueled by full access to the Televisa content library.

It will incorporate content found on its PrendeTV platform, and on its VIX and Univision NOW services, with each of those unique entities “transitioned and unified into one global service and brand.”

But, brand and pricing information are forthcoming. Furthermore, a specific launch date for the service will be announced following the close of the Televisa-Univision merger later this year.

The ad-supported tier (AVOD) will be anchored by PrendeTV, the free Spanish-language streaming service that’s gained considerable attention since Univision snagged it in early 2021. “This free tier will feature an upgraded, broadcast quality content proposition, including select originals, major studio films, premium Spanish-language titles, an expanded live sports offering and a unique 24/7 news service,” Univision said.

The 24/7 news service could see a particularly fervent battle for viewers, as Estrella Media — the former LBI Media now led by CEO Peter Markham — has invested heavily in a 24/7 news operation for Spanish-speaking U.S.-based audiences.

For the Univision AVOD service, the no-cost tier will feature more than 100 linear channels and wholly owned and acquired content that will also be offered in VOD form.

The new premium subscription tier (SVOD) will feature more than 6,000 hours of Spanish-language content and more than 30 original productions exclusively on the service within its first year, Univision says.

“The original productions for the service are being developed by some of the most notable established and up-and-coming creators in Spanish-language content today,” Univision notes.

With that, Univision is announcing projects with Maria Dueñas, Santiago Limon and Mario Vargas Llosa, “with many more to be announced in the coming weeks.”

Univision adds that the vision for the premium SVOD offering “is to bring audiences more originally produced Spanish-language content than any other streaming service globally.”

To execute on this vision, Rodrigo Mazon has joined as EVP & GM of SVOD, reporting directly to Pierluigi Gazzolo, President and Chief Transformation Officer at Univision.

With more than 10 years experience in streaming, Mazon joins Univision from Netflix, where he most recently served as VP of Content. Mazon will be responsible for all elements of the SVOD service, including content and programming strategy, original content production, talent relations, content acquisitions from third-party producers and subscriber growth and retention.

Mazon’s appointment follows the recent addition of Michael Cerdá as Univision’s EVP of  Product and Engineering/Streaming.

Rafael Urbina, Univision’s EVP & GM, AVOD Streaming, continues to lead PrendeTV, and will lead the future free ad-supported tier both in the U.S. and internationally.

The SVOD tier will launch with more than 30 original productions throughout 2022, Univision says.

BEHIND THE PRODUCTIONS

Dueñas is the author of “El tiempo entre costuras” (The Time in Between) and “La templanza” (The Vineyard). She signed a first-look deal with Univision for her future content and novels and will develop her first-ever series exclusively for Univision’s SVOD streaming service.

Peruvian author and Nobel Prize winner Vargas Llosa will have his 2006 novel “Travesuras de la niña mala” adapted into a television series, which will be executive produced by Patricio Wills from Televisa’s W Studios. The novel is a love story set in the 1960s across various cities in Europe.

Limon is the creator and co-writer of the film “Hasta que la boda nos separe” and director and executive producer of the reboot of teen band-focused telenovela “Rebelde.”

Univision CEO Wade Davis, in prepared comments, said, “With today’s announcement we are giving an early view into the scale and scope of our streaming ambitions. My partners and I closed on our acquisition of Univision less than six months ago, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made to date … Pierlugi has brought together some of the best streaming executives in the industry. Michael has built, scaled and globalized one of the most successful streaming products in the world. Rafael has extensive experience scaling large, ad-supported video audiences, and Rodrigo is a pioneer in premium Spanish-language streaming and content. With this team and the resources we are allocating, we will launch a service that is differentiated, high quality and best in class.”

Two years ago, he was appointed Director of Sales for Univision Communications’ radio and television properties in San Antonio. Now, with rumors swirling that Univision wishes to sell some of its radio stations, this media ad sales veteran with experience at Urban One and iHeartMedia is joining Cumulus Media.

He’ll be leading up the company’s audio properties in Birmingham, Ala.

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Of the media companies that have seen the most excitement on Wall Street across 2020, Urban One is perhaps tops when it comes to radio and television industry assets combined with a growing casino gaming operation.

It’s stock burst upward one year ago, fueled by new commitments from advertisers to Black-owned media. Earlier this month a second burst in share value came. Both times, shares receded following those big gains.

Now, SEC disclosures show that a former Urban One board member and two current members have obtained a chunk of Class D shares in the African American-focused company.

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Audacy is making a bigger bet on sports gambling.

Continuing its rampup, it has announced format changes for seven broadcast stations that now become part of the BetQL Network.

All are on the AM dial, and there is one associated FM signal.

The company says its gambling-oriented programming can now be heard in 12 U.S. markets.

Here are the stations flipping to “The Bet”:

• Baltimore – The Bet 1300AM (WJZ-AM)
• Detroit – The Bet 1270AM (WXYT-AM)
• Houston – The Bet 650AM (KIKK-AM)
• Kansas City – The Bet 1660AM (KWOD-AM)
• Las Vegas – The Bet 1140AM (KXST-AM)
• New Orleans – The Bet 1350AM and 92.9FM (WWWL-AM) (launching June 28)
• Washington D.C. – The Bet 1580AM (WJFK-AM)

Audacy previously launched “The Bet” on an AM station in Denver and on two HD Radio multicast channels, one in Chicago, the other in L.A.

It says “BetQL Network” programming also can be heard on 560 The Joe WQAM (WQAM-AM) in Miami, The New Sportsradio 910 AM / 105.1 FM The Fan (WRNL-AM/FM) in Richmond and 980 The Team (WTEM-AM) in Washington D.C.

“Future stations will be announced in the coming months as markets legalize sports betting,” it stated. Also the company plans to distribute the network “via affiliate opportunities with additional network providers,” details yet to be announced.

The announcement was made by Jeff Sottolano, executive vice president of programming. Audacy also introduced an updated daily programming lineup for the network.

Sports is huge for Audacy, which describes itself as “the unrivaled leader in sports radio, reaching three times more people than the leading competitor.” It bases that on owning 39 all-sports stations and a portfolio that it says reaches 30 million sports fans monthly and is home to 41 professional teams and 50 Division I college programs. Its investment in radio programming centered around sports betting will be closely watched.

The post Audacy Expands BetQL Sports Betting Network appeared first on Radio World.

On November 9, sports data and iGaming affiliate platform QL Gaming Group (QLGG) officially became an Entercom Communications entity, as the company now known as Audacy closed on its all-cash purchase of QLGG.

In late January 2021, that deal gave birth to the BetQL Audio Network, with programming created expressly for the sports gaming community. Now, Audacy has rebranded four CBS Sports Radio stations, eliminated “The Score” in one market, and dropped Spanish-language sports programming from a heritage Washington, D.C., AM to help spread the “BetQL” brand.

Starting today, the following stations will take on new branding as “The Bet”:

• Baltimore – WJZ-AM 1300
• Detroit – WXYT-AM 1270
• Houston – KIKK-AM 650
• Kansas City – KWOD-AM 1660
• Las Vegas – KXST-AM 1140
• Washington, D.C. – WJFK-AM 1580

On June 28, an additional station — WWWL-AM 1350 and its FM translator at 92.9 MHz — will switch from “New Orleans Classic R&B” to “The Bet.”

The rebranded stations follow the launch earlier this year of “The Bet” on KEZW-AM 1430 in Denver, and on FM HD multicast signals in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, WQAM-AM 560 in Miami will air select BetQL Network programming, as will WRNL-AM 910 and FM translator 105.1 MHz in Richmond and WTEM-AM 980 in Washington, D.C.

Future stations will be announced in the coming months as markets legalize sports betting, Audacy says.

Furthermore, Audacy plans to distribute the network via affiliate opportunities with additional network providers. Details to be announced in the coming weeks.

However, an Audacy spokesperson tells RBR+TVBR that the company is not rebranding CBS Sports Radio, and that the stations the company owns that aren’t making the change to BetQL Network programming will keep things as is.

“When we launched the ‘BetQL Network’ in January, we committed to giving our national audience a home for compelling sports betting content as this new landscape was rapidly growing,” said Audacy EVP/Programming Jeff Sottolano. “This expansion is the next step in that goal and we’re pleased to bring new and dynamic ‘BetQL Network’ programming to nine additional markets and new digital platforms. We are proud to build on our local and national sports audio leadership position with this expanded commitment to production and distribution of entertaining sports betting content to audiences across the country.”

As of 11:42am Eastern, Audacy shares were trading at $4.15.

Bob Moore, more recently, and Bob Moore on the cover of Broadcast Engineering in August, 1978.

Bob Moore, a retired radio engineer also known in the industry for refurbishing PR&E consoles later in his life, has died at age 72 at his home in Fremont, Mich.

According to his obituary he died following a lingering illness after a 2017 motorcycle accident.

He was former chief engineer at WJNL in Michigan, WBAP and KSCS in Fort Worth/Dallas, KTNQ in Los Angeles and WCBS in New York. His friend and colleague Tom Atkins, vice president/director of engineering of Saga Communications, recalls first meeting Moore in 1978 at WKBW in Buffalo, where Moore was an assistant to Peter Burk for several years.

From 1985 to 1991, according to his LinkedIn page, Moore was “customer service guru” for Pacific Recorders. Later, after retiring in 2000, he returned to Michigan and started Mooretronix, which specialized in the sale and service of Pacific Recorders & Engineering consoles, modules and accessories for the broadcast community.

In 2017 Moore was involved in a motorcycle crash in Anchorage, Alaska. According to a Radio World news article, Moore and friends were returning from a motorcycle vacation to the Yukon Territory in Canada when the accident occurred.

 

The post Bob Moore Dies, Was Engineer and Business Owner appeared first on Radio World.

Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink and Radio + Television Business Report are pleased to announce that Forecast 2022 will be back in New York on November 16 — with RBR+TVBR a co-presenter for the first time.

The one-day conference, which attracts C-Suite media executives and Wall Street observers each year to the Harvard Club, grows in its 19th year with the addition of  broadcast television industry topics of conversation, insight and growth.

With this expanded focus, Forecast will be co-chaired by Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution Media Networks President Debra OConnell and Bill Wilson, CEO of local media and radio broadcasting company Townsquare Media.

“We are especially excited about this year, not only for the chance to re-convene in person, but to have two such outstanding media executives chair this year’s Forecast,” said Deborah Parenti, publisher of RBR+TVBR and Radio Ink. “The fresh focus, energy, and direction they will bring to the agenda will add greatly to the event.”

“After the last year, it’s more important than ever to come together across our industries and share key learnings and best practices,” OConnell said. “I’m thrilled to be co-chairing with Bill and working with the Forecast 2022 team on an event that enables us to share all the valuable learnings of the last year, and more importantly, help us identify and drive long-term growth strategies for the radio and television businesses moving forward.”

OConnell oversees operational leadership including P&L oversight of all of Disney’s linear television channels, as well as business planning, network/channel commercial marketing, and audience strategy for the ABC broadcast network and eight ABC Owned stations, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, ESPN Networks, FX Networks, Freeform, and National Geographic Networks.

OConnell has been associated with ABC’s owned stations for more than two decades and previously served as President/GM of WABC-7 in New York. In this role, she had overall management responsibility for the station and all of its ancillary businesses, as well as Live with Kelly and Ryan. In 2020, she was recognized by Radio + Television Business Report as a Top Local TV Leader.

Wilson, who has been associated with Townsquare Media since September 2010, said, “Forecast 2022 will be an important opportunity for broadcasters to fully examine and understand the consumer and advertiser trends in local media post the pandemic, including which trends were permanent and were accelerated as a result of the pandemic. Many challenges, yet many more opportunities. I am very pleased to be co-chairing this year’s event with Debra OConnell.”

Register for Forecast 2022 today.

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