Industry News

The final three months of 2020 were robust for many publicly traded media companies. Political advertising, along with digital revenue growth, were key catalysts at the broadcast station owners experiencing growth in Q4.

Unfortunately, Saga Communications, the owner of radio stations in mid-sized and small markets across the U.S., can’t be included in the list of fourth-quarter media industry fiscal success stories.

With the COVID-19 pandemic’s wrath continuing to strangle Saga across its markets, net operating revenue was down to $28.75 million in Q4 2020, from $31.98 million a year ago.

The good news: Sequential quarterly revenue improvement is being seen, as the $28 million bests the Q3 2020 total by 19.1%, Saga says.

Saga didn’t mention that Q3 net revenue fell 22.8% year-over-year.

While operating revenue was down in Q4, so was the company’s station operating expenses, as belt-tightening reduced them to $21.12 million from $23.05 million.

Nevertheless, net income fell to $2.27 million ($0.38 per share), from $3.84 million ($0.64).

Yes, income tax expense impacts this, but even before that expense, net income was off, dipping to $4.95 million from $5.4 million.

Free Cash Flow declined to $5.13 million from $5.43 million in Q4.

Radio Television Malaysia has installed six Calrec Type R radio broadcast consoles in its PerlisFM regional studio facility as part of a substantial upgrade project, including AoIP networking.

A release adds, “The facility is now the reference for all future upgrades to RTM’s other regional stations.”

The release says that the Type R in some studios integrates with RCS Zetta automation and Visual Radio’s MultiCAM visual radio system.

[See Our Who’s Buying What Page]

RTM points to motorized faders, customization options, touchscreen operation and native IP networking as highlights.

The project was completed and overseen by Calrec’s Malaysia distributor, JAA Systems, with VME Broadcast acting as the main contractor and Medialab Alliance as the system integrator.

JAA Systems’ David Chan said, “We are very honored to be part of this transformation of RTM’s radio infrastructure, which places it at the cutting edge of modern radio. Calrec’s Type R for Radio is perfect for this installation. … We believe that this IP installation points to the future of radio across Malaysia and beyond.”

Send news for Who’s Buying What to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post RTM Selects Calrec Consoles appeared first on Radio World.

Add Entravision Communications to the roster of media companies lighting it up in the final three months of 2020.

The owner of Hispanic-targeted radio and TV properties, which has a heavy digital presence, saw its revenue and net income surge on a year-over-year basis.

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On Jan. 25, 2021, Portland, Ore.-based Alpha Media took an important step toward reducing its $267 million debt burden by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Now, it is getting all of its ducks in a row, if you will, for an emergence from debtor-in-possession status, one the company tells RBR+TVBR is still on track for completion by the end of June.

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A bill to repeal outdated regulations of the 1992 Cable Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by two influential leaders in a bipartisan move that could potentially erase current retransmission consent legislation.

The bill would also rewrite the rules on the compulsory copyright license.

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RBR+TVBR EXCLUSIVE

On February 26, infamous Royce International Broadcasting owner Ed Stolz filed an appeal of his ongoing litigation over unpaid music royalty fees, which led a Federal District Court judge in California to place Stolz’s three FM stations in the hands of a receiver — respected veteran broker Larry Patrick.

It appeared the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit would be hearing Stolz’s plea, with Dariush G. Adli’s role as Stolz’s attorney still in question.

RBR+TVBR has now learned that the higher court has dismissed Stolz’s appeal; the District Court Judge, Jesus Bernal, is beyond furious with Stolz; and new revelations that suggest Stolz committed perjury could very well put Stolz behind bars once again.

This time it could be longer for 24 hours.

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These days, the allure of a Class D daytime-only AM radio station is about as enticing as a pickle Popsicle. However, the interest level for one facilities that fits this description attracted one buyer with money to spend.

In Houston, an AM that must protect a Class A facility in Oklahoma City is just the right acquisition target for El Sembrador Ministries. 

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In the waning days of 2018, a newly formed entity whose principals include the man who served as SVP of Emmis Communications’ former St. Louis radio stations had just closed on its purchase of four stations serving Northern Arizona.

While Joe Schwartz, the chief executive of Cherry Creek until February 2016, was originally an investor in the operation, Stone Canyon Radio and Marketing, its been a two-person partnership with majority interest held by that St. Louis market veteran.

This will soon change. He’s shedding his interest in the stations — now that he’s settling in as the head of iHeartMedia‘s St. Louis stations.

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Targetspot announced an agreement with Bauer Media Audio that it says will allow it to market inventory in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Targetspot is part of ad technology company AudioValley, and offers audio streaming, ad serving and programmatic advertising. The company has ambitions to expand further in northern Europe.

In the announcement, Eric van der Haegen, its strategic partner development director, was quoted saying, “The digital audio culture is already well established in all Nordic countries. This arrival in the countries of Northern Europe is naturally part of our strategy of promoting local partnerships.”

Bauer Media Audio is “Europe’s leading digital commercial broadcaster and audio operator.” Targetspot says the agreement allows advertisers to access its inventory including brands like Sonos, AudioBoom, and Radio France and Shoutcast radios, “more than 2 million allocations each month in the Scandinavian countries and Finland.”

AudioValley CEO Alexandre Saboundjian cited data saying 91% of the Nordic population streams music. “Nordics listen to digital music on average 3.2 hours a day. The source of musical discoveries is revealed as 36% for radio and playlists of streaming services account for 13%.”

The post Targetspot Works With Bauer Media in Nordics appeared first on Radio World.

Here’s a list you don’t want to be on:

“On Dec. 1, 2020, radio stations located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota were required to file applications for license renewal for terms expiring on April 1, 2021,” the Federal Communications Commission announced this week.

“The following stations failed to file license renewal applications and their licenses will expire as of April 1, 2021, provided no renewal application is received by midnight on the date of expiration.”

The list includes eight low-power FMs and some translators, as well as full-power stations.

Call sign, Community of License, Facility ID, Licensee

KCMJ-LP, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 194782, COLORADO MEDIA JUSTICE FOUNDATION

KMZG-LP, DURANGO, CO, 132236, CALVARY CHAPEL OF DURANGO, INC.

K272AI, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO, 40807, COLORADO RADIO MARKETING, LLC

K292AK, LAKE CITY, CO, 27258, HINSDALE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

KMKZ, RED FEATHER LAKES, CO, 176133, 3G LEARNING SOLUTIONS

K236BA, RIFLE, CO, 139109, PROFESSIONAL ANTENNA, TOWER AND TRANSLATOR SERVICE (PATTS)

K280AT, ELY, MN, 63345, RANGE PAGING, INC

KQEP-LP, ST. PAUL, MN, 196883, NEW CULTURE

KPNP, WATERTOWN, MN, 49642, SELF RETIRE, INC.

KDWG, DILLON, MT, 93389, THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA – WESTERN

KNMC, HAVRE, MT, 49580, NORTHERN MONTANA COLLEGE

KRUL-LP, HELENA, MT, 193567, HELENA ADVENTIST EDUCATIONAL MEDIA, INC

KWHP-LP, PLAINS, MT, 134935, PLAINS-PARADISE EMERGENCY SERVICES

KPLR-LP, POPLAR, MT, 134953, POPLAR SCHOOL SYSTEM

KTBP-LP, POPLAR, MT, 193519, FORT PECK ASSINIBOINE & SIOUX TRIBES

KLND, LITTLE EAGLE, SD, 59762, SEVENTH GENERATION MEDIA SVCS, INC.

KSTJ-LP, SIOUX FALLS, SD, 196898, JUAN DIEGO RADIO OF SIOUX FALLS, INC.

The post These Stations Need to Turn in License Renewals ASAP appeared first on Radio World.