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PHILADELPHIA — For many Delaware Valley radio listeners, Carol MacKenzie’s voice is the first they hear on weekday mornings.

That’s a sentence that can be found verbatim on the website for Audacy Inc.’s flagship all-News radio station in its home market, the one-time Westinghouse (and, later, CBS Radio) station long known as KYW Newsradio. 

Today, however, Carol MacKenzie‘s fate as a morning anchor at the AM/FM combo, a role she’s had for 20 years, could be in doubt. Why? She’s filed a gender discrimination suit against the company, adding to its many corporate-level challenges as it steers itself into a fiscally fueled reorganization effort.

MacKenzie, a Lancaster native, has sued Audacy on the grounds that it engaged in both age and gender discrimination.

News of MacKenzie’s legal fight against KYW’s owner spread quickly across local media, with Philadelphia magazine among the outlets covering the high-profile radio journalist’s suit, in which she claims, “For 20 years, KYW has systematically paid MacKenzie less than her male and/or younger co-workers.”

As such, MacKenzie, who is 58 years of age, seeks back pay, liquidated damages, interest, costs, negative tax consequence damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and attorneys’ fees from KYW.

The host is represented by Scott Pollins of Pollins Law in Wayne, Pa., and sees a jury trial in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. MacKenzie’s lawsuit is an action under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, explaining the federal lawsuit against Audacy.

In the claim filed by Pollins on Tuesday, it is stated that MacKenzie “in the first several years” of her employment, was paid “about $20,000-$30,000 per year less than her similarly situated male co-workers.”

In about 2010, MacKenzie asked for a raise; she believed she was being paid less due to be being a female. Her boss at the time, Steve Butler, told her he could not pay her more than her male co-worker, Ed Abrams. Butler, MacKenzie claims, implied that KYW could not have a woman making more than a man.

Audacy did not own KYW at the time.

The lawsuit then notes that by 2011, at least two male reporters, John McDevitt and Ian Bush, the latter of who “was about 15 years younger than MacKenzie,” were making about $10,000 per year more than her. Furthermore, employment agreements were given to the men at the time but not to MacKenzie.

Again, Audacy did not own KYW in 2011, nor did it own the station in fall 2014, when Brandon Brooks was promoted to be a morning anchor “at a significantly higher yearly salary than MacKenzie was making as a morning anchor,” MacKenzie claims. In about 2018, MacKenzie found out that Brooks was making about $30,000 per year
more than her.

This claim directly involves Audacy, then-known as Entercom, which completed its tax-free Reverse Morris Trust-fueled merger with CBS Radio in November 2017.

The same can be said with what transpired starting in early 2019, as MacKenzie sees it. At that time, MacKenzie complained to KYW management about the gender-based salary inequity. KYW responded by lowering Mr. Brooks’ salary and modestly increasing her
salary, she claims in the lawsuit. Then came COVID-19, and Audacy asked KYW’s top paid anchors and reporters to take a significant voluntary pay cut due to the impact on KYW of the pandemic. MacKenzie agreed to the voluntary pay cut, which was a reduction of $20,000 per year.

With a hiring freeze in effect and reduced salaries in place, Audacy then, according to MacKenzie, hired Denise Nakano, who is about 15 years younger than MacKenzie. In about November 2020, Nakano was promoted to midday anchor, making about $20,000 per year more than MacKenzie.

There’s more: In about November 2020, Jay Scott Smith was a male full-time anchor making at least about $20,000 per year more than MacKenzie. “Upon information and belief, KYW continued to pay Mr. Scott Smith more than MacKenzie through March 2023 when KYW terminated him,” the lawsuit states.

Then came a SAG-AFRTRA investigation and audit of KYW’s compensation practices, in late 2021 and early 2022. MacKenzie believes the union’s investigation confirmed the systemic gender-based pay violations that KYW had engaged in for MacKenzie’s entire employment tenure. While this was transpiring, KYW in late 2021 offered MacKenzie a contract renewal that locked in a salary of $137,000 for 2022, $140,000 for 2023 and $143,000 for 2024.

MacKenzie refused the offer, on the grounds that the offer was “far less” than what her  male co-workers, including Mr. Scott Smith, and her younger female colleague, Ms. Nakano.

“Several months later” and in early 2022, KYW increased their offers to $150,000/year
for 2022, $152,500/year for 2023, and $155,000/year for 2024. MacKenzie subsequently signed a document indicating her agreement to those salaries.

Yet, even though she didn’t decline that offer, MacKenzie contends Audacy and KYW engaged in discriminatory salary determination, resulting in “significant harms and losses” for the woman who has enjoyed a long career as a reporter and anchor in both radio and television.

MacKenzie began her journalism career as a reporter at WLAN Radio in Lancaster. She’s also anchored and reported for WETM-TV in Elmira, N.Y.; WBRE-TV in Scranton-Wilkes Barre; WMUR-TV in Manchester, N.H.; and at New England Cable News in Boston. Her documentary, “Honduras: Mission of Hope” — about a local group of volunteers who set up free medical and dental clinics — won awards from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, the RTNDA, and Women in Communication.

“Although she has enjoyed getting to know the people in different towns and cities, Carol is glad to be back home in Pennsylvania,” her KYW biography reads.

Today, however, she’s not particularly glad to be at the station she has called home for two decades. And, with a jury’s approval, she wants Audacy to report to a court-appointed external monitor, quarterly for 36 months, on KYW’s compensation rates for anchors and reporters.

A summons was issued to Audacy on Wednesday; the company had not offered comment on the matter, while COO Susan Larkin was attending the Forecast conference in New York.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with the Commission's rules in a Report and Order on authorizing permissive use of the ``Next Generation'' Broadcast Television Standard. This document is consistent with the Commission's Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

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GatesAir, a Thomson Broadcast subsidiary, has appointed Carlos Lira Valdez to its international sales team. Lira, an experienced RF sales and engineering professional, will cover the CALA broadcast market, which stretches across the Caribbean and Latin America. He will report to David Hopson, senior regional director for GatesAir’s CALA sales.

According to a company press release, Lira has spent nearly 25 years in the media and entertainment industry, with several positions in the RF space. “His experience is well-rounded, having worked on the manufacturing side and with broadcasters over the years, including at TV Azteca where he launched his broadcast industry career,” said GatesAir.

Lira first worked as a support engineer before accepting a position with Harris Corporation in 2011 as a regional pre-sales engineer, working with CALA regional customers to prepare sales proposals and provide technical support for Harris transmitters.

Harris Corporation divested its broadcast division that year, and the Harris transmission business was reborn as GatesAir.

“While Lira left upon GatesAir’s formation, he is now reunited with the business he grew to love over his four years of hands-on work with the technology,” said GatesAir in the release. “In between, he worked his way through the RF chain, spending several years with Rymsa RF and Jampro Antennas while gaining valuable sales management and business development experience. ”

Upon his return to GatesAir, Lira said: “There is strong opportunity in CALA to help TV and FM broadcasters refresh existing transmission infrastructure, and transition analog broadcasters to digital television systems. CALA is an interesting region given the mix of digital standards being adopted.”

Looking ahead, GatesAir said Lira sees an opportunity to make in-roads for GatesAir’s Intraplex business unit, noting that Audio over IP adoption in CALA remains in the early stages.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Circle City Broadcasting Owner, President and CEO DuJuan McCoy has been elected chair of the NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) Board of Directors.

McCoy assumes the seat previously occupied by Darrell Brown, former President of Bonneville International Corporation, who has served as NABLF Board chair since 2019.

An alumnus of the NABLF’s Broadcast Leadership Training program, McCoy purchased his first broadcast TV stations in West Texas in 2007 and earned the distinction of being the first African American to own Fox affiliates in the United States. McCoy has owned and operated over 20 broadcast TV stations and currently owns WISH-8 and WNDY-TV in Indianapolis, Circulus Digital Media, Circle City Broadcasting Entertainment Production Company and the All-Indiana Podcast Network.

McCoy currently serves on the NAB Television Board of Directors and is also the NABLF Board’s Fundraising Chair. He is a member of several local and national boards of directors, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the United States Black Chamber of Commerce.

“For me to have hatched my station ownership career via the Foundation’s BLT Program in 2007, and now have an opportunity to come full circle as the Board Chair is truly a heartfelt honor,” McCoy said. “I’m excited about leading the Foundation into the next chapter of developing our future broadcast leaders. I’m a very proud product of the Foundation’s impactful programs.”

NABLF President Michelle Duke commented, “DuJuan’s career embodies the mission of the NAB Leadership Foundation to open new doorways for the next generation of broadcasters” said. His firsthand experience and knowledge of our programs will be invaluable in helping our Board of Directors guide NABLF to meet the needs of our industry, develop opportunities for our workforce and equip future leaders and innovators with the tools for success. I congratulate DuJuan on his well-deserved election to NABLF Board chair.”

Westwood One, the national audio arm of Cumulus Media, has extended its contract with jingle and audio branding company TM Studios. 

“Westwood One originally purchased TM Studios in 2009 and subsequently sold the company to former TM executives Greg Clancy, Dave Bethell and Chris ‘UK’ Stevens in November 2020,” it said in its announcement.

“Under the new agreement, Westwood One continues as TM’s exclusive domestic barter representation agent, and TM continues to supply Westwood One’s syndication partners, including many Cumulus radio stations, with station jingles, commercial jingles and production music.

“TM also acquires the additional assets of the Drake Chenault catalog and all intellectual property associated with TM’s former product lines HitDisc and GoldDisc.”

TM Studios has facilities in Dallas, Los Angeles, Manchester and other locations.

The announcement was made by Westwood One President Suzanne Grimes and TM Studios CEO Greg Clancy (the latter said in the release that “Westwood One has been like family to TM for over a decade.”)

[Related: “TM Studios Delivers Sound Package to KNX News in L.A.”]

The post Westwood One Renews Deal With TM Studios appeared first on Radio World.

With the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE) Act, signed into law in 2020, a new era dawned for the FCC and its ability to issue larger fines against the operators of pirate radio stations in order to deter illegal operations. In continuing that mission, the FCC has issued $6.4 million in proposed fines against several pirate radio operators located in the Bronx and Brooklyn in New York City, and in the neighboring city of Mount Vernon.

In today’s actions, the FCC proposed the maximum penalty allowable under the PIRATE Act — upwards of $2.3 million — against Johnny Peralta for allegedly operating an unlicensed radio station known as La Mia Radio in the Bronx since 2018. A 2022-2023 New York pirate radio sweep by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau confirmed that La Mia Radio continues to operate.  

In addition, the commission has proposed the maximum fine against Dexter Blake for his suspected operation of a pirate station known as Linkage Radio in Mount Vernon, just north of the Bronx.

The FCC also proposed a forfeiture of $1.8 million against Matthew Bowen for 89 alleged violations of FCC rules due to continued operation of a station known as Triple9HD in Brooklyn.

The proposed actions in the form of notices of apparent liability, or NALs, require the operators to pay their fine or file a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. The parties are given 30 days to respond. 

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement: “In the PIRATE Act, Congress upped the ante. It increased the penalties for those who transmit unauthorized signals over the FM and AM radio bands because they can compromise public trust in this service and jeopardize the broadcasting of emergency alerts. This means higher fines and more regular enforcement seeps in our largest radio markets.”

Rosenworcel in the statement also credited FCC field agents for their work tracking the three alleged pirate radio operators. “(The proposed fines) also demonstrate that the agency’s field agents are taking their broadcast enforcement duties under the PIRATE Act, and that we are taking our responsibility as stewards of the public airwaves, seriously.”   

The FCC continues its campaign against pirate operators with these actions. The FCC recently confirmed a record fine of $2.3 million against operators of another unlicensed station in New York City.

While the Enforcement Bureau tally of fines against pirate operators has grown steadily this year, it is hard to determine how successful the FCC is in those collecting fines. History shows it’s not easy to collect money from “fly-by-night,” unlicensed broadcasters. The FCC says unpaid fines are referred to the Department of Justice for collection.

The PIRATE ACT also gives the FCC the authority to go after landlords that house the operations of suspected illegal radio stations. In March it issued letters to 16 landlords in the New York City area demanding proof that the illegal broadcasts on their properties have ceased and requesting identification of the individuals involved.

[Related: “FCC Pirate Radio Sweeps Turn to Miami“]

The post FCC Writes Up 3 More NYC Pirates, This Time With $6M in Proposed Fines appeared first on Radio World.

Macro strength, Micro stress. That’s the top-line assessment from MAGNA EVP/Managing Partner for Global Market Intelligence Vincent LeTang with respect to the economic data he’s looked at for Q3 and for what lies ahead in 2024.

LeTang presented the latest MAGNA data at the start of Forecast 2024 at the Harvard Club in the City of New York, and while the third quarter was strong and the lack of a recession in the U.S. puts the nation’s economy ahead of Europe, consumer confidence has eroded.

So has the strength of “traditional media,” with the decline of linear advertising sales — even with strong political dollars — predicted for next year.

 

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NEW YORK — Yes, some of the biggest radio broadcasting companies in the U.S. have struggled of late with their finances. Yes, television broadcasting companies stand at a crossroads as NEXTGEN TV seeks to attract consumers as OTT and FAST channels swiftly grow their audience and share of ad dollars.

Yet, investing in broadcast media remains an opportunity for strong cash flow and profitability, a Forecast panel featuring a billionaire known for supermarket ownership in New York, a veteran media broker and the SVP of Government Relations and Distribution at Gray Television shared on Wednesday.

 

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NEW YORK — Getting financial investors to sign up to restructuring and the idea of broadcasters “renting” licenses is overly complex.

That’s a key insight into what it is like to operate a radio and television station ownership group today offered during a Forecast panel devoted to regulatory and capital issues moderated by a veteran Washington communications attorney.

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I visited an engineering workshop at a broadcast facility recently and noticed something strange. It looked as though the tools had not been touched in a while. All the test equipment was turned off and kept under dust covers. 

I looked around and checked my watch to see if it was still the middle of the day during a work week.

I went to the engineer, who had worked there for a few months, and asked him where they fix and maintain their equipment. I was stunned by the answer. He said they don’t fix equipment anymore, just replace or send it to the manufacturer. Nor is there routine maintenance — because management apparently feels that this is when stuff breaks. 

Instead the engineer acts as a fireman. He resets power and swaps equipment out when there is a failure, but nobody vacuums the racks (which was visibly apparent). And he told me that there’s no one on staff anymore who has the skills or training to troubleshoot equipment.

I realize that my colleague’s situation is not unique. I am aware that today’s broadcast companies are very thin on engineering labor … that trained help is very hard to find … and that more and more of our facilities run on software, rather than products that can be cleaned or soldered. 

But to many of us in radio, this situation is nevertheless shocking. 

Engineers should be able to conduct a basic inspection of electronic devices to make sure they are clean and in working order. They should also be able to conduct simple repairs. 

Please, if this describes you, start by creating a schedule to conduct recurring inspections of your broadcast hardware. Then do the following with each critical device, even those that seem to be working properly:

• First, see if the device powers up. Yes, check if the plug has AC with correct volage. Check if the power supply busses have the correct voltages.
• Look to see whether anything seems burnt up; you may see burn marks or smell something.
• Look to see if any of the electrolytic capacitors have popped. This is usually noticeable.
• Look if any of the resistors are burnt.
• Make sure the inside is not covered in dust. Remember that dust is conductive. A conductive substance easily can short circuit leads of components. Make sure to vacuum the boards. (I do not like using compressed air to blow the dust, the simple reason is that the dust has to eventually land and could create another issue, vacuuming removes it.)
• Always make sure the fans are functioning properly. Proper air flow is essential to most equipment.
• Make sure that all connectors on the back (and sometimes the front) are tight and restrained properly. Gravity can loosen connections!

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An engineer does not need to know everything but needs to know how to get the answer. So get help from a colleague. Or put today’s powerful search engines to use. 

Remember also that some equipment goes through many versions of design based on factors like component design, component supply, equipment revision, etc. 

After you’ve created the inspection schedule, next make sure that you have a record of the serial numbers of key devices. You could keep a notebook. And/or, buy a simple labeler and display the serial number, IP address and the date of installation of key components right on their front panels. In an emergency situation you’ll be grateful that this information is right there in front of you.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but such simple actions can help keep a facility functional. 

Yes, there are more skills needed. Many people working in technical roles today may not know how to work their test equipment or all the functions. 

There are some non-traditional tools and techniques that are very important as well.

• Know how to use a network analyzer.
• Trace packets with Wireshark or Charles.
• Know how to do a Trace Route.
• Be familiar with reading automated equipment logs.
• Be familiar with local safety and building codes.
• Learn your facility’s equipment history.

This subject could fill a textbook. We can’t write that book here, but if you work in broadcast technology and don’t feel confident with good basic practices for inspecting and repairing electronics, make it your mission to learn. And don’t forget to take advantage of the good industry resources that are all around you, including reading Radio World’s Workbench column as well as Tech Tips from other Radio World contributors.

But I will offer one more favorite bit of advice: Tighten screws by hand, not with an electric driver. This avoids stripping; and when you tighten by hand, you can loosen by hand later.

What other essential tips should we mention? What’s your favorite tip to share? Write me and I’ll list them in a future column. Email me at Radio World.

[Check Out More of Radio World’s Tech Tips]

The post Don’t Let Your Test Gear Go to Waste appeared first on Radio World.

NEW YORK — The President/COO of Entravision Communications, attending the Forecast conference on Wednesday at the Harvard Club, has confirmed his appointment to the National Association of Broadcasters Television Board of Directors.

Jeffery Liberman was appointed to the board by NAB Television Board Chair Pat LaPlatney, the co-CEO of Gray Television also in attendance at Forecast.

Liberman has been in his current role at Entravision since 2017, and is a 23-year company veteran. From 2012-2017, he served as Chief Operations Officer. Liberman was previously Station Manager of the former Latin Communications Group, which in 2000 was acquired by Entravision. He has been involved in Hispanic broadcast media for nearly 50 years.

Liberman assumes the board seat of Entravision President of Local Media Eddie Melendez.

NEW YORK — For years, unlicensed FM radio broadcasters have served who they believe are underserved audiences across parts of The Bronx, lower Westchester County, Brooklyn and Queens.

Now, thanks in part to the recent passage of the “PIRATE Act” by Congress, the FCC has proposed the maximum penalty under law against a trio of broadcasting buccaneers found to have run “pirate radio” facilities across the New York Tri-State Area.

As such, “La Mia Radio” operator Johnny Peralta faces a $2,316,034 penalty for the operation at 105.7 MHz of the unregulated radio operation, which dates to 2018. A 2022-2023 New York Pirate Radio Sweep by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau confirmed that “La Mia Radio” continues to operate.

Secondly, a $1.78 million proposed fine has been issued to Dexter Blake, in response to his suspected operation of a pirate radio station known as “Linkage Radio,” which can be heard in the Westchester County city of Mount Vernon, adjacent to The Bronx, at 101.7 MHz. It has served the Black Caribbean community.

Lastly, the Commission handed a second $1,780,000 fine to an alleged pirate radio operator named Matthew Bowen. He is being charged with a total of 89 alleged violations of FCC rules for continued operation of “Triple9HD” in the borough of Brooklyn; it has used 99.9 MHz to serve local audiences.

Each individual has 30 days to pay up or seek a reduction or cancellation of the proposed fines, per FCC rules.

 

NEW YORK — How Americans get their news is a subject many broadcasting industry leaders likely have their pulse on. But, where does TikTok, the social media platform leading Republicans want shut down in the U.S. due to its alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, fare?

The three-year surge for TikTok as a legitimate news source is real, and potentially alarming.

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NEW YORK — In an email sent Wednesday morning to Nielsen Audio Advisory Council members, EVP/Managing Director for Local Television and Audio Catherine Herkovic revealed that she will be retiring at the end of 2023.

What does this mean for the leadership of the Nielsen Audio Client Services arm of the audience measurement and consumer data company? It is being placed “in the very capable hands” of a New Jersey-based company veteran.

Rich Tunkel will be taking on the expanded role for Nielsen Audio. In confirming Tunkel will take on the duties, rising from SVP/Director of Sales. Herkovic called the longtime radio audience measurement professional “a great champion for our clients, and the Audio business at large.”

A 28-year Nielsen veteran who came over from Arbitron and has experience at Scarborough, Tunkel tells RBR+TVBR, “My entire career has been in audio and this is a great honor and a great responsibility that I really feel comfortable taking on because of the strong team we have at Nielsen Audio, including John Snyder, Laura Kutscher and Brendan Kane.”

Meanwhile, the Television Client Services duties will be assumed by Paul LeFort.

LeFort is also a former Arbitron executive who joined Nielsen in September 2003 as a Senior Account Executive. In September 2008 he rose to Manager of Strategy and Corporate Development and, in November 2011, to his current role of Director of Sales Development.

From 1992-2000, he was a Client Services AE at Arbitron.

Como Audio equipment owners can now rejoice — somewhat. Former Como Audio General Manager and V.P. of Product Development Peter Skiera is now offering limited support for the company’s high-end audio equipment, whose users were left stranded after Como Audio closed down unexpectedly in February, 2023.

Access to these services can be found through Skiera’s Patreon webpage, which does require users to pay a $3/month Elite level subscription fee following a seven-day free trial. He also runs Recommended Stations, which directs internet radio listeners to the best stations on the web, plus Wind Chime Radio, which is Skiera’s own internet radio station.

“I provide technical support as far as answering questions, troubleshooting and providing advice and guidance,” Skiera told Radio World. “In addition, I post monthly ‘Como Tips’ that highlight features users may not have realized existed or didn’t know how to use. These include things like how to improve FM reception, change the time display, how to adjust the clock for Daylight Saving Time and how to access HD Radio stations.”

Skiera also posts “Como Updates” on an as-needed basis. “These deal with news all Como Audio customers should be aware of, like the status of the Como Control apps and the popular ‘My Favorites’ feature,” he said. “One thing I don’t do is exchange or repair products or sell parts.”

Skiera said he decided to offer limited Como Audio support because “I felt so bad for our loyal customers when the company closed, many of whom were more than just customers to me,” he said. “No one knew more about our products than I did, and I provided tech support as part of my duties with Como Audio including my ‘How To’ videos on YouTube and helpful articles on Como’s blog. A lot of our customers already knew me. I considered myself to be in a unique position to offer this kind of service.”

Although he is unable to provide a full range of support to Como Audio users, Skiera said those who have used his services are apparently happy with what he is able to offer. He adds: “The challenge is trying to reach our worldwide customer base since I cannot afford advertising. I rely entirely on word of mouth.”

[Related: “Como Audio Closes, Citing Supply Chain Issues“]

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NEW YORK — Using technology and digital solutions to grow is one way locally focused broadcasters can achieve riches without high expenses. That was one key takeaway offered during a Forecast session featuring independent ownership groups of radio and TV stations across the U.S.

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NEW YORK — As 2021 came to a close, a much-discussed effort by the Michael Tabor-controlled Global Media & Entertainment to gain a significant non-voting interest in iHeartMedia concluded. Rather than getting FCC pre-approval to hold up to 49.99% interest in iHeart, GMEI withdrew the request, and instead agreed to FCC advance approval of up to 15% equity interest.

While some remain convinced that iHeartMedia, which has seen its stock price wither across 2023, could see more investment from Global, the UK-based owner of such prized audio brands as Capitol, Heart and LBC, one thing is certain — the two companies are joining together to grow their respective podcast businesses.

Global, the UK’s largest radio and outdoor media company, now has in place an exclusive platform distribution and ad sales deal with iHeartMedia. This means Global and iHeartMedia will license, distribute and represent each other’s chart-topping Podcast portfolios.

In the UK, iHeartPodcasts will be available on Global Player and via DAX, Global’s digital advertising exchange. In the U.S., Global’s podcasts will be available on the iHeartRadio App and will be sold by iHeartMedia’s audio sales team.

Global’s owned and original podcasts includes daily news podcast “The News Agents” and “The News Agents USA;” and “My Therapist Ghosted Me” with Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally.

Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group, said, “Podcasting has exploded as the newest mass-reach medium in the US, with more than 120 million Americans a month now listening – and now the opportunity for global growth is huge. As more international listeners engage with hit iHeartPodcasts every month, this is a great opportunity to work with the best-in-class Global and using DAX monetization teams, to find new audiences and advertisers for the best and largest podcast portfolio in the world.”

Mike Gordon, Global’s Chief Commercial Officer, added, “I’m delighted that iHeartMedia is partnering with Global to bring each other’s incredible slate of award-winning podcasts to advertisers in the UK & Ireland, and the US. Combining the reach of each other’s platforms and network s, and featuring talent like Jay Shetty and Brett Goldstein, and The News Agents’ Emily, Jon and Lewis, at a time when podcasts are experiencing rapid growth, will see us reaching more audiences than ever before.”