Radio+Television Business Report

Bill Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Townsquare Media (pictured), and Stuart Rosenstein, the locally focused media company’s Chief Financial Officer, are presently preparing to participate in three upcoming investor events.

This includes the Noble Capital Markets virtual roadshow.

Management will participate in Tuesday’s Noble Capital Markets’ Virtual Road Show Series, presented by Channelchek.

The event will feature a corporate presentation, followed by a Q&A session proctored by Noble Senior Research Analyst Michael Kupinski, featuring questions submitted by the audience.

The live broadcast of the virtual road show is scheduled for tomorrow (9/14) at Noon, Eastern Time.

Later this month, management will participate in the Sidoti Virtual Investor Conference on  September 22 and September 23, 2021.  Management’s presentation is scheduled to begin at approximately 2:30pm Eastern on Wednesday, Sept. 22. Management will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors on both days.

To register for the presentation or one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events. Registration is free; one does not need to be a Sidoti client to participate.

Lastly, Townsquare management will participate in the Guggenheim Virtual Broadcast Conference on Wednesday, September 29. Management will be available for one-on-one and small group meetings.

He previously served as Market Manager of the company’s Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss., radio stations.

Now, he’s moving on up to Jackson, the state capital, to lead Alpha Media‘s properties there.

Ricky Mitchell has been named Market Manager of Alpha Media’s Jackson, Miss., station group.

Mitchell returns to Alpha after a stint at El Dorado Broadcasters in Yuma, Ariz.

As Alpha Media Regional President and Chief Compliance Officer Bill McElveen explains, Kevin Webb recently retired after 32 years of running the Alpha/Jackson, Miss., station group. This led to a nationwide search for his successor.

“We began a nationwide search for our next Market Manager, and after interviewing dozens of candidates, we were thrilled to be able to bring back to the Alpha Media family a true son of Mississippi in Ricky Mitchell,” he said.

Mitchell added, “I am thrilled to come home to Mississippi. It’s a tremendous honor to be able to live, work and serve the local Jackson community with such a talented and dedicated team and I can’t wait to get started!”

Mitchell’s first day back with Alpha Media is Thursday, Sept. 16.

The NAB; Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC); and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) late Friday filed a petition with the FCC demanding a stay of the Commission’s order mandating disclosures for foreign government-sponsored programming.

The groups also want the FCC to delay implementation of its order until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rules on a petition for review they’ve just filed, which challenges the order.

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Salem Media Group has successfully completed a refinancing effort that effectively sees old debt replaced by new debt.

The move, the company notes, shrinks its debt by more than $9 million.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has selected the Poynter Institute to develop and deliver a new “Digital Transformation Program” designed to educate, assist, and coach up to 80 public media senior leaders on the best strategies and tactics to transform their organization’s digital operations and culture.

The virtual training will be funded by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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A professional with over 28 years of experience in accounting, finance, human resources and business administration has been named GM of nonprofit Adult Alternative “88Nine Radio Milwaukee.”

It’s a woman who was previously the HR manager and accountant.

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With Ron Walter’s retirement at the end of August, Nexstar Media Group had a choice to make on his successor as the head of two Volunteer State markets.

That decision has just been made by the nation’s No. 1 licensee of commercially licensed broadcast TV stations.

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It’s the parent company of MeTV and several other digital multicast networks that also owns the CW affiliate serving the nation’s third-largest market, as well as the CBS affiliate serving Milwaukee.

Now, Weigel Broadcasting is expanding into the National Capital Region by acquiring a low-power TV facility based in the county seat of Shenandoah County, Va., nearly 100 miles from the White House.

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Norman Shapiro‘s Weigel Broadcasting has just signed off on the purchase of two over-the-air broadcast television facilities serving the nation’s second-largest television market.

The seller: An entity that among its properties were low-powered TV stations using VHF Channel 6 to serve radio listeners with audio at 87.7 MHz.

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The leadership for the guys across the street would prefer you don’t show up. They don’t want you to soak up the information and engage in the conversations about the future of Hispanic Radio.

Your colleagues will be sorry they missed you. They were looking forward to sharing the experience and the entertainment at the 12th Hispanic Radio Conference with you!

Your wallet will be thinner. If you don’t register before 5 pm on Tuesday, September 14, you’ll pay $300 more when the price increases!

This is the agenda, and these are the speakers, you can’t afford to miss!

We all have regrets – don’t let this be one of them.

The clock is ticking – don’t procrastinate.
Register NOW while you can still save $300.

And don’t forget to book your hotel room before they SELL OUT!

BOCA RATON, FLA. — Streamline Publishing, founded in 1986 with the creation of radio industry sales and management trade publication Radio Ink and today a diversified publisher of print and digital titles focused on the art and media industries, has
elevated Deborah Parenti to the role of President of the Radio, TV & Podcasting Division.

In this role, Parenti will extend her leadership responsibilities across the three brands that have helped make Streamline Publishing a trusted source for news, information, and insight in the radio, television, and on-demand audio industries: Radio Ink, Radio + Television Business Report, and Podcast Business Journal. The Radio, TV & Podcasting Division also presents the annual Hispanic Radio Conference and Radio and Television’s Financial Summit: Forecast in New York.

Parenti has served as EVP/Publisher of what was formerly known as Streamline Publishing’s
audio division since joining the company founded by Chairman/CEO B. Eric Rhoads in January 2007. She assumed leadership of Radio + Television Business Report with its acquisition by Streamline Publishing in February 2013. The company launched Podcast Business Journal in the late 2010s.

“Deborah has been a tremendous asset to Radio Ink for nearly 15 years and, more recently, has shown exemplary leadership in growing both RBR+TVBR and Podcast Business Journal into premier destinations for their readers,” Rhoads said. “With solid experience as a leader of radio stations in her home of Dayton, Ohio, and in Philadelphia, Deborah has proven that her expertise as a top-notch marketer and broadcast media sales and management professional can drive the growth of three distinct publications for the audio and visual media industries. We congratulate Deborah on this well-deserved promotion.”

Parenti’s career in the radio broadcasting industry started at “high-flyin'” WING-AM in Dayton, where she rose to VP and Assistant General Manager following roles in promotion, marketing, and research. She later joined Stoner Broadcasting, serving as General Sales Manager at Stoner’s WDJX-FM 99.7 in Louisville before returning to Dayton in 1990 as VP/General Manager of WWSN, as the first woman to manage a radio station in that market. Under her leadership, the station would become WMMX “Mix 107.7,” a station that today remains one of Dayton’s most listened to FM radio choices.

Later, Parenti would become VP/GM of American Radio Systems’ Dayton group, earning a
major profile in the February 1997 issue of Working Woman magazine for her role in
developing one of the first consolidated radio sales platforms, “Radio First!” In September
1997, Parenti would leave her hometown of Dayton for a position as VP/GM of Beasley
Broadcast Group’s country-formatted WXTU-FM in Philadelphia. From 1999-2010, Parenti was a board member of Vox Radio.

Today, Parenti is again based in the Dayton area.

She said, “I am extremely honored and grateful to have the good fortune of working with Eric and our incredible team of professionals. The opportunity to engage with and learn from people across so many levels of a business I love, as well as the chance to make what I hope is a positive impact on it, is something I never take for granted.”

Parenti is a Board Member of the Alliance for Women in Media. She completed NABEF’s
Broadcast Leadership Training Program in 2001. She also sits on the College Broadcasters Inc. advisory committee.

Ed Ryan retains the role of Editor-in-Chief for Radio Ink and Podcast Business Journal. Adam R Jacobson retains the role of Editor-in-Chief for Radio + Television Business Report.

Streamline Publishing and its products play a substantial role within two industries:
radio/television/on-demand audio and the world of art and art collecting. It prides itself on
seeking innovative solutions that break traditional molds. In addition to its radio, TV, and
podcasting titles, it is the publisher of Fine Art Connoisseur and PleinAir. The art division is also the organizer of various events closely aligned with its art brands.

There’s strong stability across the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten TV report, with many of the advertisers seen active in the last several weeks staying within the Top 10 for the week ending September 12.

There is one big new entrant, however. And, it involves a dental care brand that’s seeking to take share from the likes of Colgate and Crest.

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TEGNA’s two television stations serving the Constitution State have a new morning news content director, as of Monday.

He’ll be responsible for overseeing The FOX61 Morning News, which airs weekdays from 4am to 11am on one of those two UHF properties serving most of Connecticut.

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The prevalence of cord cutting and the decline in cable network viewership complicate carriage agreements between cable network companies and traditional multichannel operators.

According to Kagan estimates, top cable networks lost about $179.5 million in affiliate fees since 2013 from cable carriage disputes that resulted in blackouts that were eventually resolved.

Cable network owners risk affiliate revenue loss in hopes of producing a more favorable deal with traditional multichannel operators.

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The Bank of America Securities 2021 Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference will be held on Monday (9/13).

Among those participating at the event: the CEO and the COO/CFO of the nation’s largest audio content creation and distribution company.

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By Rob Dumke

AKRON, OHIO — Travel 20 minutes to the northeast of this Ohio city, and you’ll reach Kent State University.

It’s the home of a Class B FM that offers “Public Radio News for Northeast Ohio,” primarily to Akron and Canton and also to the Cleveland market due north of campus.

That programming isn’t likely to change anytime soon. But, the ownership could be, following the initiation of a “public service operating agreement” at the end of the month.

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Neal Scarbrough is joining American Public Media business news franchise, Marketplace. He comes over from FOX Sports where he was VP and Executive Editor.

“We are excited for Neal to come on board as Marketplace’s new Vice President and General Manager. He has an extensive background in media, broadcast journalism and a strong track record when it comes to innovation, program development and building audiences,” said Dave Kansas, President of American Public Media. “In addition, Neal is a proven culture leader, with a deep devotion to diversity and inclusion. We are excited to have him joining the APM leadership team and look forward to adding his gifts and talents to all that we do at Marketplace and APM.”

“What we thought we knew about our economy changes every day, and Marketplace has established a gold standard using interviews and storytelling to make real sense of it to real people,” said Scarbrough. “It’s a big win for me to be able to work with such a dynamic collection of talent, producers and editors.”

Scarbrough will oversee a team of broadcast and digital journalists, editors and producers across radio and on demand in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, London and Shanghai.

Hearst Television has promoted Eric Meyrowitz (left), SVP Sales, and Ashley Gold (right), VP Sales, to Executive Vice Presidents and group heads of the company. In their new roles, Gold and Meyrowitz will share oversight of Hearst Television’s 33 television stations and two radio stations along with Michael J. Hayes, EVP.

“For the last five years, Ashley and Eric have been a fantastic team leading our sales organization to new heights,” said Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb. “I am truly excited that both will join Mike Hayes in providing outstanding leadership and assistance to our local operators. Our ability to have such accomplished executives, who have successfully served in both station sales management and general management, seamlessly step into these important roles speaks to the outstanding depth of talent in our company.”

The promotions come on the heels of Frank Biancuzzo, a longtime Hearst Televison EVP, being

This week marks the 20th Anniversary of ‘The Sean Hannity Show’ in syndication. The Premiere Networks syndicated talker is heard on more than 650 stations.

“But for this audience, I would not be where I am today,” shared Hannity. “I am humbled and grateful for the men and women who give me this microphone every day, and to the greatest country in the world, that allowed me the opportunity to pursue this dream. Thank you.”

“Sean is one of the most talented personalities in all of talk radio, and we couldn’t be happier to mark this special milestone with him,” said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “His passion for talk radio and dedication to his audience continue to drive growth and success for our station and advertising partners.”

Along with being a member of the Radio Hall of Fame, Hannity has been honored with two Marconi awards.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is offering comment on the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), on a number of broadcast radio technical rules under consideration for elimination or adjustment.

“NAB appreciates the Commission’s goal of eliminating or updating unnecessary or outmoded regulations and supports many of the changes proposed in the NPRM. However, given the thousands of radio stations currently operating in the U.S. under challenging economic conditions, it is critical that none of the changes cause any unanticipated consequences.”

Several of the proposed changes noted in the NAB comments:

The Commission Should Eliminate the Maximum Rated Power Limit for AM Transmitters-
“The rated power of a transmitter has nothing to do with compliance with the station’s license terms, and elimination of this rule is not likely to result in increased noncompliance. Further, elimination of this rule should broaden the market of transmitters available to stations and enhance the secondary market for AM transmitters by allowing stations of any class to use transmitters of any rated power. Elimination of this rule may also improve the economics of running an AM station and may reduce the number of transmitters scrapped.”

The Commission Should Harmonize the Second-Adjacent Channel Protection Requirement for Class D (FM) Stations-
“NAB submits that the interference potential for Class D stations is no greater than for other classes and there is no reason to have a different second-adjacent channel protection requirement, particularly given the demonstrated success of the less restrictive requirements for other stations. NAB also observes that few, if any, new Class D licenses have been granted in the past decade and therefore the impact of this rule change will be minimal.”

The Commission Should Not Eliminate the Regulatory Requirement to Consider Proximate Transmitting Facilities-
“The Commission proposes to eliminate a section of the rules, which provides that applications proposing the use of FM transmitting antennas in the immediate vicinity of other FM or TV broadcast antennas must include a showing as to the expected effect, if any, of such approximate operation. The Commission concludes that the rule is unnecessary because broadcast radio antennas within this physical proximity are unlikely to create interference problems. NAB respectfully disagrees. We submit that this requirement provides an important legal tool for defining interference protection rights. NAB believes that eliminating the rule is tantamount to instructing applicants not to worry about the potential effects of their operation on existing stations.”

Other proposed changes addressed in the NAB comments included concerns that broadcasters in the Canadian and Mexican border areas should not be adversely harmed by “Spacing” changes in the regulations.

You can view the full comments from the NAB HERE.