FCC Commissioner Michael Copps announces exit
It is widely known that the service of Michael Copps as a Democratic member of the FCC is in its waning days. Now Copps has made it official, saying he has offered President Barack Obama his resignation effective 1/1/12, and promising to leave sooner if his replacement is confirmed prior to that date.

RBR-TVBR observation: Many broadcasters found Copps to be an antagonist, but you have to say one thing in his favor: He has never for a second wavered in his belief that the local broadcast medium remains one of critical importance to the nation. More...

Merlin Media waves its wand over Philadelphia
WKDN-FM Camden NJ is headed for the portfolio of Merlin Media, where it will represent the company's third market and fourth station. It is for all intents and purposes a stick deal - the seller is noncommercial Family Stations. And this just in -- we're told cheesesteaks may have a role in the station's format.

RBR-TVBR observation: It would be a remarkable contrast if a station went from say, an Acid Rock to a Classical format. But a station going from Harold Camping to Randy Michaels must set some kind of all-time record. We're not quite sure what that record might be, but it's along the lines of suddenly going from Mt. Everest to the Grand Canyon. More...

Entercom's David Field sees problem ahead for Pandora
There was a lot of talk about new competition for radio as Entercom CEO David Field appeared at the UBS 39th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference in New York. But Field insisted that radio's listenership remains strong and said the new kid on the block, Pandora, faces a problem as it tries to become profitable.

RBR-TVBR observation: It seemed strange to us that the set-up for the question seemed to assume that the Pandora IPO was a rousing success. More...

Townsquare will add stations to RadioPup, but no announcements
As the dust continues to settle on the major announcement of Clear Channel welcoming Cumulus' 570 stations to its iHeartRadio streaming platform, the latest news is about Townsquare Media's radioPup app-it will be adding stations from other groups as well, but there will be no announcements when they're added. RBR-TVBR spoke with Alex Berkett, Townsquare EVP/Business Development and Mergers and Acquisitions.

RBR-TVBR observation: It looks like the focus will stay with smaller market stations looking to find a larger audience from an aggregator. More...

New horizons in late filing fines
Maintaining a valid operating license is an existential matter for a broadcast station, yet numerous broadcasters fail to get the application in on time, and often are so late getting the application in that they wind up with an unauthorized operation fine on top of the failure to submit required paperwork fine. But we can't recall ever seeing a licensee blaming the station's engineer. More...

Crestview just keeps buying Cumulus Media shares
Crestview Partners has seen the value of its investment in Cumulus Media go down since it agreed to jump into the radio industry as a major investor for Lew Dickey's effort to greatly expand the company by buying a larger rival, Citadel Broadcasting. But with the Cumulus stock price down, Crestview has been an active buyer of the shares. More...

Honors for Bob Pittman
City of Hope's Music and Entertainment Industry group announced that it will honor Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman with its 2012 Spirit of Life Award. City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. More...

Radio pirates walk the FCC plank
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Business remains strong for CBS Network
Advertisers may be waiting for consumer demand to really get in gear, but they haven't quit advertising. CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves told the UBS media conference in New York that business remains strong. More...

CBS boss Les Moonves confirms rising NFL prices
He didn't get into specifics, such as the 60% average hike cited by Sports Business Daily, but CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves told the UBS 39th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference in New York that NFL football is an "unbelievable property." So, he acknowledged, "the price of poker is going up."

RBR-TVBR observation: When CBS lost its NFL contract to upstart Fox in 1993 it sent shockwaves through the TV industry, with numerous stations even switching affiliations. Moonves doesn't want to see that happen again, and for good reason. More...

LPTV advocacy praises House spectrum bill
The NAB was happy with the end result produced by the House Communications Subcommittee regarding repurposing television spectrum for wireless broadband - thanks to elements offering protection to broadcast incumbents - and the NAB's opinion has been seconded and then some by LPTV advocacy SpectrumEvolution.org.

RBR-TVBR observation: There were disagreements between the two parties that may gum up the works when there is an attempt to merge this bill with whatever comes out of the Democrat-controlled Senate. However, differences regarding broadcast safeguards were not prominent among them. More...

KTRV-TV Boise closes news department
After losing its Fox affiliation to Journal Broadcast Group's KNIN-TV as of September 1st, Block Communications' KTRV-TV Boise had embarked on a new life as an independent with local news as a key element. But now the economic reality of operating without a network affiliation has led to KTRV shutting down its news operation.

RBR-TVBR observation: As broadcasters know, local news is expensive. That fact seems to be beyond the grasp of regulators inside the Beltway and media critics who oppose TV duopolies and shared services agreements. More...

LIN getting more credit from its bankers
LIN Media is working on a refinancing with its senior lenders. The company will be getting more money from its bankers as it cashes out some of its public bonds. More...

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Entravision surprises investors with a cash dividend
Entravision Communications does not pay a regular dividend on its common stock, but the board of the Spanish radio and TV specialist has now declared a one-time special cash dividend of six cents per share. The company has also been buying back some of its public bonds.

RBR-TVBR observation: Entravision's stock jumped on the news. Taken together, the announcements show the strength of the company's free cash flow and management's determination to use it wisely to return value to shareholders. More...

Comcast, Time Warner Cable offering home-security
Why not? -- the broadband connection is already there. Comcast and Time Warner Cable are looking use their broadband service to protect subscribers with home-security system offerings.

RBR-TVBR observation: There are two very lucrative opportunities for MSOs to capitalize on the home security market: More...

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Intelligence Brief
Traffic and Rev Mgmt Systems: Part 2: Political capabilities
The Traffic Directors' Guild of America (TDGA) has asked radio and television traffic personnel nationwide to submit questions and issues for providers in the space to respond on behalf of RBR-TVBR. This series includes a question from TDGA CEO Larry Keene, along with a couple sent anonymously from his annual survey. This time, we looked at demands of traffic personnel vs. management; the systems' political capabilities and contextual advertising placement. Today, it's political capabilities. We've also got a sidebar from Jinny Laderer, President of vCreative: Filling in the 'Gap' between Traffic and Automation. More...

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Radio One gets its apps on with Toura (audio)
Radio One's alliance with Toura will allow local businesses to create apps with Radio One, utilizing its technology platform: The broadcaster's 54 stations will be working with Toura's framework for content rich smartphone and tablet-based apps. Radio One's stations will be offering local advertisers the additional benefits of digital app media through an integrated program with traditional broadcast offerings. RBR-TVBR spoke with Toura's CEO, Aaron Radin. More...

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Zenith: US ad growth to be 2.2%
ZenithOptimedia is expecting increases in ad spend of 3.5% in 2012 and 2013, according its latest forecast. The increases come on top of a year of recovery in 2011 that should see advertising grow 2.2%, according to Zenith. The outlook is in part the result of strong U.S. retail sales, which grew 7% in October and got a boost from record Black Friday sales of $11.4 billion, ZO said. Zenith also had some good things to say about radio. More...

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Contract Close-up
Making Sure the Buyer has the Money to Close
In a broadcast transaction, it is pretty much a given that the seller will have the goods ready to go on closing day. However, the buyer's ability to pay is not such a sure thing. The seller has a great deal of vulnerability if a deal fails to close, and often takes the step of spelling out just what the buyer must do to uphold its end of the bargain. Communications law expert John M. Pelkey of Garvey Schubert Barer looks at some of the financial elements that were included in one recent high-priced transaction. More...

West Virginia AM donated to Sadd noncom
A radio station owned by the Baker family, operators of Positive Alternative Radio and numerous other license companies, is being donated to St. Paul Radio Company, headed by Mark A. Sadd. However, despite the cash-free nature of the deal, a value has been assigned to it for tax purposes. More...

Radio Transactions
Deals: ME CP sale, WY AM swap for real estate

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FCC calls broadcast indecency court case audacious
The FCC's indecency enforcement has been called into question and largely thrown out, as it currently exists, at the appellate court level. Now the FCC is telling the Supreme Court that the broadcast argument that the rules are vague is "an audacious attempt to overturn Congress's longstanding judgment..." on the matter.

RBR-TVBR observation: Regardless of what the FCC says, the indecency rules are indeed vague and inconsistently enforced, and the FCC's treatment of fleeting expletives was changed on the fly. It will be very interesting to see how this case turns out - we expect that the lower court findings against the FCC will be upheld. More...

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Radio
Simone Bienne joins Loveline as co-host (audio)
Dial Global's Loveline with Dr. Drew has added the well-known British television and radio personality, Simone Bienne, to its cast. She joins Dr. Drew Pinsky and Mike Catherwood Sunday-Thursday, 10:00PM to midnight on the show. Loveline is produced by Norm Pattiz's Courtside Entertainment Group. Courtside managing partner Pattiz tells RBR-TVBR about the choice to add Simone to the show. More...

Sports Radio 930 debuts in Jacksonville
CC Radio/Jacksonville has re-branded AM 930 the Fox (WFXJ-AM ) as "SportsRadio 930- It Plays Here." SportsRadio 930 focuses on Jacksonville sports fans and the bowl-bound Gators. Broadcasts will also include Bolles Bulldogs coverage, as they play for another state title this weekend. More...

GLR to air grand finale of the Mexican Soccer League tournament
GLR Networks has detailed coverage of Mexican 1st Division Soccer league 2011 Finals, starting 12/8. These broadcasts are part of GLR's coverage of Mexican Soccer League that includes Cruz Azul, Pachuca, Santos, Tecos, Puebla, Pumas, Atlas, Monterrey, Toluca, Tigres, Atlante, as well as the only exclusive radio rights for Chivas de Guadalajara's home games. More...

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Television
Univision and Target in a holiday mood
For the sixth consecutive year, Univision, Target Corporation and Emilio Estefan Productions will usher in the holiday season with "Nuestra Navidad Presentado por Target" (Our Christmas Presented by Target). The annual holiday music special features performances and appearances by some of Hispanic America's most beloved artists and underscores the importance of helping others. More...

Live Well adds more Belo stations
The Live Well Network announced affiliation agreements with two more Belo Corporation television stations. KING-TV (NBC) Seattle and KSKN-TV (CW) Spokane will launch the lifestyle programming service on digital channels January 1st. More...

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ENCO Systems launches dedicated television division
ENCO Systems, provider of digital audio delivery systems, is creating a new division to focus on audio for television products. Leading the new division is current VP of Sales and Marketing Don Backus in a new role as VP/Television. He spoke to us on the progress so far in the way of clients and implementation --and the technology: More...

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Another week of Fox and CBS ratings wins
Football dominated the Nielsen ratings for the week after Thanksgiving, although good old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show held their own. It was another week with CBS as the winner in Households and Fox in the big bucks 18-49 demo. More...

New study finds Americans skeptical of quick recovery
According to a new study released by Leo Burnett, part of the Publicis ad agency group, seven out of 10 Americans believe that economic recovery is still more than two years away. Furthermore, 50 percent of Americans believe that once the recession ends; our economy will not come booming back. More...

CBS owned Monday primetime
CBS takes Monday with comedy; 'How I Met Your Mother'
Viewers love ABC's animated 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
'American Country Awards' delivers second-place for Fox
'The Sing Off' at NBC finished fourth-place Monday
Monday late-night clear winner 'Nightline'
ABC World News cuts gap and demos w/ NBC Nightly News

Week 11: November 28-December 4, 2011
Week 11: CBS wins week w/ post-Thanksgiving programming
Week 11: NBC and 'Sunday Night Football' is solid again
Week 11: ABC has top showing w/ animated holiday specials
Week 11: Univision No. 3 network among adults 18-34
Week 11: TeleFutura delivers highest weekly performance
Week 11: FOX has ratings gains across the board
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Wall Street shrugs off Europe worries - 12/6/11
Standard & Poor's threatened credit downgrades for several European nations, but Wall Street traders managed to see brighter days ahead and pushed stock prices mostly higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 52 points, or 0.4%, to 12,150. The S&P 500 also rose, but the Nasdaq Composite was off for the day. Broadcasting stocks had a good day. The RBR Radio Index was up 4.645, or 1.5%, to 313.344. The TVBR Television Index was up 4.383, or 1.9%, to 235.920. More...

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Winners   Losers   Radio & Television Indexes CC Media +15.1% Radio One -5.3% Entravision +10.2% Dial Global -5.2% SBS +2.9% Beasley -2.5%