Industry News

Yes, it’s a Direct Broadcast Satellite TV service provider — one that’s involved in many retransmission fee impasses with broadcast TV companies.

But, it could also be TV’s ally in the widening of 5G, bringing more access to AVOD and streamed content created by broadcast TV. That’s why Dish‘s 5G expansion should be of note.

Dish is building what it calls the nation’s “first cloud-native, Open RAN-based 5G wireless network.”

As such, the company on Tuesday (2/16) said it has signed seven new tower agreements.

The agreements are with Harmoni Towers, Mobilite, Parallel Infrastructure, Phoenix Tower International (PTI), Tillman Infrastructure, Tower Ventures and Vogue Towers.

With these pacts, Dish has won access to more than 4,000 towers and wireless infrastructure assets.

Dish says the vendors will also provide a variety of services to help accelerate the installation of 5G radios on the newly acquired infrastructure.

“Securing strong tower partners is a key component of any network expansion, and is tremendously important for DISH’s rapid roll-out of a new, nationwide 5G network,” said Dave Mayo, Dish’s EVP of Network Development. “Each of these new tower partners will play an important role in bringing our network to life, connecting next-generation wireless service to American consumers and enterprises.” 

Many know him for his long tenure at KITS-FM in San Francisco, the Alternative station formerly known as “Live 105” and today called “ALT 105.3.”

But, few may have realized that he is also the co-founder of one of the nation’s most influential indie music club nights.

Now, Aaron Axelsen is leveraging his role in the creation of Popscene by landing a job as the head of a soon-to-launch audio division of FLOOD Media.

Axelsen will serve as the head of programming of the soon-to-launch audio division, a FLOOD entity under parent Anthemic Agency.

FLOOD Media founder and CEO Alan Sartirana said, “I’ve known and worked with Aaron for over 25 years and have always had a great deal of admiration for the work he did with Alt 105.3/Live 105 and Popscene. FLOOD Media’s mission is to tell the stories often overlooked by other traditional publishers and media outlets. We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past five years and the audio division was the next logical step.  I know Aaron will be on the forefront of the audio medium and continue to champion the best artists for discerning music fans all around the world.”

In his new role, Axelsen will oversee the programming and development of FLOOD FM, described as “a 24/7 digital indie, alternative and electronic radio station.” There’s also branded podcasting.

Axelsen will work alongside FLOOD Magazine co-publisher Randy Bookasta as part of the music and culture team.

“With FLOOD Media, Alan and team have built something truly special and I’m thrilled to be joining an ever-evolving team filled with top creatives and music industry leaders,” Axelsen said.  “I look forward to bringing my passion for new music discovery and experience of cultivating communities to such a reputable and trustworthy brand.”

Expanding into the audio universe, Anthemic Agency says FLOOD Frequency Modulations and FLOOD FM will offer a brand-new take on indie “radio” and podcasts, providing content that traditional radio outlets don’t.

It’s an indirect shot at Entercom Communications and its KITS-FM, a former CBS Radio property. Axelsen was Program Director for two HD multicast stations tied to KITS, and was one of its most visible personalities from July 1995 through his April 2020 departure. At KITS, he hosted two weekend new music shows, indie and emerging artists-focused Soundcheck and EDM-driven Subsonic in addition to his weekday afternoon on-air shift.

Axelsen joined then-Live 105 after record industry stints, including a role from February 1993-November 1994 as an EMI Music Promotions and Marketing representative for the San Francisco Bay Area.

ORLANDO — Attention, media companies with apps and other digital consumer tracking software designed to build databases filled with viewer and listener data optimized for marketing and advertising solutions.

The Sunshine State is about to send a big Central Florida-sized thunderstorm in your direction.

Proposed statewide legislation just introduced and supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis would increase data privacy and security “and uphold the rights of Floridians over major technology companies.”

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There’s a part of the U.S. where New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas meet.

Here, an AM/FM combo licensed to a husband and wife has been adjusted due to a death. The result: the wife will be the sole owner of the stations.

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On November 4, Salem Media Group stock sat at 84 cents per share. As 2020 ended, the company’s shares finished December 2020 at $1.04.

Since then, SALM has been on the rise. Then came February 8. In the last seven days, Salem shares are up by 70% in value.

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On Feb. 17, 2020, iHeartMedia shares were priced at $17.82. Then came COVID-19.

By the end of March, IHRT had shriveled to $4.87 per share. Questions about iHeart’s ability to see profits amid a flurry of advertising cancellations and “hold for now” calls arose. An early June rally fizzled just one month later.

Then came Election Day 2020. Since then, iHeart shares haven’t stopped growing.

The question is now is … now what?

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It seemed inevitable.

Nexstar Media Group shares have over the last five years enjoyed progressive growth, with intermittent dips that have only served to fuel further increases in the broadcast media company’s stock price.

Even as shares dipped to nearly $50 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic’s stay-at-home restriction period, there was an underlying belief that NXST would rebound at some point.

That point is now. Nexstar shares begin Tuesday’s trading on the Nasdaq GlobalSelect market at a record high.

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TORONTO — It’s over … at least for now.

Bell Media last week received much press attention across Québec and Ontario for a substantial reduction in force at its heritage Anglophone News/Talk AM in Montréal following major shifts at its Windsor operations that reach Detroit listeners.

Now, a staff memo from the company’s president has emerged, indicating that a significant cull of Bell’s employee roll has ceased. And, it impacts its TV network, too.

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In 1997, he launched what is one of the first software systems designed specifically for online music research. How, he’s ready to call it quits.

What does that mean for Madison, Wisc.-based TroyResearch?

Its longtime VP of Sales is poised to launch a new service that picks up where Troy will conclude its operations.

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The coronavirus pandemic-led macroeconomic downturn, to little surprise, impacted the Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television industry portfolio in a negative way.

Furthermore, the increased rate of cord-cutting and significant delays in production of movies and shows have cast a shadow on the industry’s prospects, the respected financial analyst house notes.

Nevertheless, one broadcast TV company stands out as one with a stock to buy.

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