Thursday Morning February 2nd, 2012, Volume 29, Issue 23
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 Ivie discusses why PPM accreditation is so complex
Given the news that the Media Rating Council (MRC) that it has withdrawn accreditation of the monthly AQH radio ratings data produced by the PPM service in five markets, we revisited an interview with MRC Executive Director and CEO George Ivie as to issues surrounding accreditation.
RBR-TVBR observation: As radio becomes less relevant to the general public, the ability to get people to participate and follow the PPM rules, so to speak, becomes more difficult. And that can vary by market, as Ivie noted. More...
NAB Radio Board hears options on AM
NAB EVP/Chief Technology Officer Kevin Gage presented to the board this week an engineering study about the options available to AM broadcasters for dealing with issues such as increasing interference from everything from wireless routers to power lines, computers and the new institutional-looking forced fluorescent light bulbs.
RBR-TVBR observation: AM is indeed in a bit of a pickle. AM HD Radio is all but dead, as the range is very limited, vs. analog coverage. Many AM stations have added FM signals to overcome these new interference issues. But for indoor reception, it seems for sure that these new coiled up fluorescent light bulbs (and the new LED bulbs, too) forced on consumers to "save energy" create the worst interference for AM. More...
FCC drains the wallets of two Florida pirates
The standard FCC fine for commandeering an FM frequency without a license is $10K, but the two latest FCC busts for the offense have resulted in one fine that is double that amount, and another that is even higher. Suggestions: Don't mess with an airport control tower, and don't be a repeat offender. More...
Rick Santorum using radio to capture conservative nod
The race for the Republican presidential nomination has pretty much always been Mitt Romney v. everybody else, with numerous candidates taking a turn as the #1 alternative. Rick Santorum briefly held that position after the Iowa caucuses, and now he's spending money on satellite radio to wrest the title back from Newt Gingrich.
RBR-TVBR observation: The footprint of a satellite radio buy may be national, but it doesn't sink very deep. If we were in Santorum's shoes, we'd be looking at big terrestrial syndicated conservative talkers if we really wanted to get the word out to our base. More...
Merlin WINS NYC slogan slug-out
The battle of slogans and cease-and-desist letters between CBS Radio all-News WINS-AM and Merlin Media's all-News WEMP-AM NYC appears to have come to a conclusion with Merlin winning the battle. WINS has switched its former "New York's One and Only All-News Station" slogan with "More people get their news from 1010 WINS than any other radio station in the nation." Merlin Media CEO Randy Michaels sent RBR-TVBR this email from one of their attorneys: More...
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Gray, LIN, Nexstar, Sinclair poised for election success
A study of prospects for the television industry from Moody's Investor Service Inc. says that a bumper crop of political advertising could produce advertising income gains in the 12%-16% range for broadcast television, with groups Gray Television, LIN Television, Nexstar Broadcasting, and Sinclair Broadcast particularly well-represented in battleground states. However, core advertising business will remain below peak levels. More...
Senators pushed for end to sports blackouts
There are a few things politicians can be counted on to do, regardless of party, in the defense of their constituents (and more importantly, generate positive press). One of them is to protect our children. Another is to protect the right to watch sports on television. Two senators fired off letters to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski late last year supporting a look into the sports blackout rules, citing political reasons for bringing them to an end.
RBR-TVBR observation: You'd think that ending blackouts would be good for all parties. However, if blackouts come to an end, it should be for all distribution platforms - with local broadcast TV at the front of the line. More...
Apple contacting parts suppliers for Apple TV
More evidence Apple is gearing up to launch its new Apple TV smart TV. It has contacted at least one major Asian supplier about purchasing television display components, according to Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster. He told investors 1/31 that he had recently spoken to a "major TV component supplier" about Apple's rumored plans to release a connected HDTV.
RBR-TVBR observation: If it can incorporate voice commands for content and shows, it would represent a big leg up. However, licensing issues and interfacing with cable networks and online content partners to populate Apple TV may be the biggest hurdle. Solving those issues was one place where Steve Jobs really shined. More...
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Ideas Working Now ™
Today's Broadcast General Manager
By Mike DeLier, President, The DeLier Group
In most respects, it has always been a tough, demanding and often criticized job: that of a broadcast General Manager. The broadcast General Manager has all of the responsibilities senior management positions have in other industries; tasked with financial concerns, lender concerns, upper management concerns, concerns of employees and customers. But unlike most of those, he/she must concern themselves with a federal regulatory body, and an outside rating service on an every day basis, or at least, several times each year. The findings of either could very well determine their future. Because of these demands, you have the dynamics of a very unique, challenging, highly visible and volatile job. More...
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Stocks rally, breaking four-session loss - 2/1/12
U.S. stocks rallied yesterday to start the month, breaking a string of recent session losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 83.55 points, or 0.7%, to 12,716.46, its first gain in five sessions. Broadcasting stocks were up substantially as well. Arbitron took a hit over the loss of PPM accreditation in five markets. The RBR Radio Index was up 4.217, or 1.16%, to 366.280. The TVBR Television Index was up 4.786, or 1.84%, to 264.531. More...
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Winners |
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Losers |
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| Saga |
+9.3% |
Emmis |
-6.5% |
| Dial Global |
+5.5% |
Arbitron |
-4.0% |
Sinclair |
+4.5% |
Beasley |
-2.1% |
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For additional reports, ideas, analysis, interviews, and
RBR/TVBR Observations...visit and bookmark www.RBR.com
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Today's Broadcast
General Manager
A tough job getting tougher
Ad Business Report
2012 upfront previewed:
8% CPM increases
Price trending is positive
Washington
Business Report
NAB remains vigilant in the halls of Washington
Association on patrol |
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Dial Global going Super / TV to run with the bulls
02/1/12 RBR-TVBR #22
U2 loves radio / Gannett missed political in Q4
01/31/12 RBR-TVBR #21
No love for iHeart /
Retrans to get brutal
01/30/12 RBR-TVBR #20
Radio is deal of the year / Save Vermont TV
01/29/12 Sunday edition
Football Up and Baseball Down / Americans Feel More Secure
01/28/12 Saturday edition
Media General pruning? / Slow radio growth seen in 2012
01/27/12 RBR-TVBR #19
Clear Channel, Bain
Capital, Lee invest
big in Ryan Seacrest
Clear Channel and Ryan Seacrest Media (RSM), together with Clear Channel's majority investors Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital, announced two new investment deals designed to drive business growth across multiple media platforms.
RBR-TVBR observation: Indeed, this is in-step with Clear Channel's recent re-branding as Clear Channel Media + Entertainment. Seacrest will help take them into new frontiers with online and television productions.
02/1/12 RBR-TVBR #22
Analyst sees big entertainment running
with the bulls
Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker noted that many think traditional media is in trouble, but she didn't simply say that Wells Fargo is not in this camp. She practically pulled out a bullhorn, climbed a tower and shouted "WE ARE NOT IN THIS CAMP." Her lead sentence in a recent release is, "We are bullish on media and rate the diversified entertainment sector Outperform."
02/1/12 RBR-TVBR #22
Who picks up the bill for higher sports rights?
Barclays Capital analyst Anthony DiClemente has taken note of the recent announcements of new sports rights deals, with broadcasters and cable networks paying mega-bucks for the Olympics, NFL, World Cup and other major sports. But somebody has to ultimately pay the bill - and the analyst has some thoughts on just who will really be picking up the tab.
RBR-TVBR observation: If DiClemente is right, the MSOs may be reaching the point where consumers stop complaining about rising prices and actually refuse to pay them - and in significant numbers.
02/1/12 RBR-TVBR #22
Randall Terry Abuse of Candidate Access Vol 2
In my last article, I addressed the issues presented by Randall Terry's claim to be a legally qualified candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States for purposes of several state primary elections. Many consider the letter of Patrick Gaspard, Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee, combined with the ruling in the 1996 FCC case of LaRouche Exploratory Committee to establish at face value.
02/1/12 RBR-TVBR #22
Randall Terry:
Run my ads or else
Right to life advocate Randall Terry, who is running for President, responded to two stories RBR-TVBR ran this week (Allred and Skall), with a copy of a letter sent to TV station he bought ad time on that are airing the Super Bowl. Here's the letter, which threatens TV stations that choose to not air the ad, with petitioning the FCC to revoke their licenses:
02/1/12 RBR-TVBR #22
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