Radio+Television Business Report

The Pearl TV broadcaster business group is applauding the decision by the FCC to give broadcasters more flexibility when using a Distributed Television System (DTS) for NEXTGEN TV broadcasts using ATSC 3.0.

Public and commercial broadcasters had sought the refinement of Commission rules, in order to ensure that a local broadcaster could better serve its market of viewers.

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CHICAGO — WGN America, the cable network that’s getting a major news-focused overhaul under new owner Nexstar Media Group, has selected a VP of Creative Marketing and Brand Communications to help growth the operation’s presence even further in 2021.

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The E.W. Scripps Company has appointed a veteran television sales executive to serve as its new Chief Revenue Officer.

Today marks his first day in his new role.

Landing the position is Michael Teicher.

He’ll be responsible for developing the company’s ad sales strategy for all the Scripps networks across all platforms, including general market, direct response, programmatic/digital, long-form and sponsorship advertising.

He reports to Jonathan Katz, chief operating officer and head of entertainment for Scripps networks.

Teicher joins Scripps from 20th Television, where he served as EVP of Media Sales, overseeing the syndication for all Fox and Debmar Studios Syndicated television shows, including Modern Family, Family Guy, Family Feud, and The Wendy Williams Show.

Teicher was previously EVP/Media Sales for Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution, leading the sales efforts for all of the company’s syndicated television shows.

He also spent more than a decade in ascending roles with Turner Broadcasting Sales,  where he developed new, incremental revenue streams around the Turner and Time Warner portfolio while also helping to create and run the company’s marketing solutions group.

Teicher also had successful sales stints with Major League Baseball Productions, Replay TV and Harmonic Communications.

“Michael is one of the industry’s most widely-respected and seasoned sales executives, having successfully brought to market some of the most popular shows on television,” Katz said. “As we bring ION into the fold and combine our networks, his experience positioning top brands and creating unique and powerful marketing solutions for advertising partners across multiple platforms will be a tremendous asset.”

The modern era’s biggest competitor to broadcast media content consumption, Netflix, on Tuesday afternoon released its Q4 2020 results.

How did it do? Perhaps the Q1 2021 forecast is a better topic of discussion. While 21.5% year-over-year revenue growth was seen for Netflix, net income was down.

Why? Global Streaming Paid Net Additions were down year-over-year in Q4.

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For exactly 82 minutes until what seemed to be, at least to laymen, an abrupt end, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard oral arguments in the FCC and NAB’s case seeking the high court’s reversal of the Third Circuit Federal Appeals Court remand of its cross-ownership media rule rewrite.

What’s the key takeaway from the session? Several justices seem confused by what they are being asked to judge, and the Justice Department’s Deputy Solicitor General serving as the FCC’s counsel was definitely on the hot seat.

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When Marci Ryvicker was Managing Director of Wells Fargo Securities, a role she had for 16 years before exiting in August 2018, she was a champion of Entercom Communications.

Some 2 1/2 years later, her successor at Wells Fargo is equally enamored with the audio media company, as he’s just given its stock an important vote of confidence.

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The U.S. Supreme Court for exactly 82 minutes on Tuesday morning (1/19) heard a consolidated oral argument in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project. That’s the case that sees the Commission seeking the reversal of the Third Circuit Federal Appeals Court’s remand of its cross-ownership rule rewrite.

The questions from the justices and, in particular, how the FCC’s legal counsel addressed some of them, was just one of the topics Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth co-Managing Member Davina Sashkin discussed in an exclusive conversation with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.

What was on the mind of the justices? What happens now? When can the broadcast media industry expect a ruling? Sashkin shares all in this podcast, presented by DOT.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Davina Sashkin” on Spreaker.

NAPLES, FLA. —Beasley Broadcast Group wholly owned subsidiary Beasley Mezzanine Holdings has announced that it intends to offer $280 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes, subject to market and other conditions.

It can do so to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Beasley says the notes are expected to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the company and each of Beasley’s existing domestic majority owned subsidiaries and certain future material domestic majority owned subsidiaries on a senior secured first-priority basis, subject to certain exceptions, limitations and permitted liens.

It’s a new debt for old debt swap.

Beasley Mezzanine Holdings expects to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay in full existing indebtedness under the company’s senior secured credit facilities and certain other indebtedness, with remaining proceeds to be added to BMH’s balance sheet and used for general corporate purposes.

The Notes and related guarantees will not be registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

— GlobeNewswire

Over the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, word surfaced that The E.W. Scripps Co. was enjoying strong after-hours trading for its stock because of a report offered by a Smarter Analyst Wall Street observer that took note of a Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure from noted investor Warren Buffett.

While Smart Analyst’s Ben Mahaney said Buffett’s “Berkshire Hathaway” has snagged “a 24.9% passive stake” in Scripps, that’s not what’s happening.

According to Scripps, Buffett is helping Scripps out with its ION Media purchase.

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Four years ago, the American Enterprise Institute played a key role in establishing a policy and regulatory path for an FCC under Republican Party control, led by Chairman Ajit Pai.

As AEI visiting scholar Mark Jamison looks back on the Commission’s Trump-era actions, as it concludes January 20, he believes Pai will be remembered “as one of the most consequential Federal Communications Commission chairmen in history.”

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MIAMI BEACH — Normally, a collection of some of the broadcast TV industry’s most influential figures, from Nexstar Media Group founder Perry Sook to Byron Allen, can be found walking the halls of the Fontainebleau while attending a major global conference that also regularly attracts key representatives from top media brokerage Kalil & Co.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NATPE Miami conference is a virtual affair. And, it kicks off Tuesday (1/19) with four days of sessions that very much includes production — in addition to content, research and investment.

Indeed, the key themes for each day include Revenue (Investment, Advertising, & Subscription), Audience (Research, Marketing & Promotion), Content (Acquisition & Distribution Sales), and Production (new content).

Additional topics include Station Groups, and Web Series.

The January 19 sessions are focused on Revenue topics. For January 20, Audience is the track of choice. Then, on Thursday and Friday, respectively, are Content and Production sessions.

“The BIG Opening,” scheduled for 9am Pacific/Noon Eastern/6pm CET, is focused on the vision of television in 2021 and features a “fireside” conversation with an industry leader. 

As RBR+TVBR previously reported, it’s a two-part affair that begins with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Chairman Mark Lazarus participating in an interview with NBC News’ TODAY co-host Hoda Kotb.

That’s followed by an interview with Univision Communications Chief Digital Officer Sameer Deen, conducted by familiar NATPE Miami presenter Sara Fischer, the Axios journalist.

The two-part opener lasts an hour, and that’s followed by a 45-minute session those in the tech world that serve the broadcast TV industry may want to sit in on.

Court Stroud

“A New Day for TV Stations” starts with a presentation from Nielsen VP of Audience Insights Justin LaPorte precede a panel discussion moderated by veteran Hispanic media executive Court Stroud. He’ll chat it up with Catherine Herkovic, EVP and Managing Director of Local Television for Nielsen, and the SVP for NBC’s COZI TV multicast network and newly launched millennial-focused NBCLX offering, Meredith McGinn.

And, there’s a digital session that is likely of interest to many.

For those focused on Production, a full day of sessions on Friday is likely of keen interest.

The day kicks off with a discussion on MVPDs and the “programming, packaging, and promotion of content.” Then, there is a discussion on international co-productions, followed by what could be a very lively chat on whether or not  networks and local stations creating opportunities for affordable content in 2021.

In this two-part session, a leading distributor, Ira Bernstein, discusses the push and pull of the deal. The second part sees no-longer-retired comedian and Tonight Show host Jay Leno discuss his return to broadcast TV with the remake of the classic game show “You Bet Your Life.” He’s joined by Co-Host Kevin Eubanks and Producers Tom Werner and David Hurwitz.

Other highlights include a 1pm Wednesday conversation with FOX Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy on the best strategic practices for retaining and growing audiences. That’s followed by a discussion between Meredith Vieira, Sherri Shepherd, and FOX EVP/Programming and Development Stephen Brown on the creative side of content as an uplifting force, especially in difficult times.

— With reporting from Adam R Jacobson

To download the full agenda, please click here.

Swagger Institute, P1 Learning and the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations (NASBA) have teamed up to again provide a virtual sales and management training summit.

The two-day event, branded “Rising Above,” is scheduled for January 27-28.

Featured participants include Arland Communications President and founder Dave Arland, Media Staffing Network CEO Laurie Kahn, and Bonnie Hagemann, who serves as CEO of Executive Development Associates, a boutique consulting firm specializing in top-of-the-range executive development.

Rising Above will also feature live entertainment from BMI recording act LOCASH and singer/songwriter Patrick Woolam.

Registration for Rising Above is free for those with membership to some 29 participating state broadcasters associations.

“Speed and I are so excited about our January event”, said Swagger Institute founder Derron Steenbergen, whose business is expressly designed to reinvigorate a sales organization. “Rising Above says what our industry and our broadcasters must be and do. Do we have challenges? Yes. But in these stressful times comes opportunity and embracing the blessings in this storm is crucial to not only surviving this, but actually thriving in it. Our industry is strong, and our people are resilient. Simply, Rising Above is about reminding us why we have been successful and outlining a path so we continue to rise.”

For more information about Rising Above: A Virtual Sales & Management Summit, visit risingabovesummit.com

Digital audio and podcast player Triton Digital has been selected to aid a podcast producer and distribution in the delivery, monetization and measurement of its content.

The partnership allows Kast Media to use Triton’s podcast technologies, which include the Omny Studio publishing platform and Podcast Metrics audience measurement service.

“Triton’s suite of podcast technology delivers a mix of power, sophistication, and feature-rich capabilities that are best-in-class,” said Kast Media CEO Colin Thomson. “We share a vision to drive the podcast space forward in both listener experience and revenue optimization. We are thrilled to be working with Triton and look forward to leveraging their tools and knowledgeable team to scale our podcast content, reach more people, and further increase revenue.”

Sharon Taylor, Managing Director at Triton Digital, added, “We are pleased to be providing Kast Media with all that they need to seamlessly grow, promote, measure and monetize their podcasts. We are confident that our comprehensive podcast platform coupled with our transparent advertising technology and validated measurement service will provide Kast Media with the tools, automation, and insight needed to grow and scale faster than ever before.”

Get all of the latest news from the fast-growing podcast world delivered to your inbox every business day. Visit www.podcastbusinessjournal.com today!

For a generation of Puerto Ricans, “Alfa Rock 106” was the home for rock and roll music not found anywhere else on the FM dial. Times change, and just after midnight on March 3, 2018, WCAD-FM concluded its broadcast era.

Just before Christmas 2018, the station was reborn, later taking new call letters that better reflect its current programming.

Now, it’s installed a listener-funded Dielectric DCR-M.

It was installed by Dielectric’s CALA region for the No. 2 licensee of radio stations in the U.S.: Educational Media Foundation (EMF).

The Dielectric DCR-M is being used for what is now WJKL-FM 105.7, licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its Class B 50kw signal comes from a broadcast tower in a rural area of Aguas Buenas, south of San Juan. It’s on a peak in a mountainous, rural area not easily accessible.

EMF worked closely with Dielectric — and, RBR+TVBR has learned, Univision — on a broadband antenna design. It will support both WJKL on 105.7 MHz and a second station in the future.

This station is WKAQ-FM 104.7, the longtime Latin Top 40 station serving Puerto Rico and much of St. Thomas and St. Croix, USVI, as “KQ105.”

Don’t fret: Univision is not involved in any transaction with EMF as it pertains to KQ105.

Rather, the WKAQ-FM tower, adjacent to that used by WJKL, is being decommissioned after years of use and abuse from hurricanes and other weather-related battering. As such, WKAQ-FM and WJKL will be on the same tower.

The center-fed DCR-M from Dielectric accommodates both frequencies (with 1 MHz separation) through a special reduced bay-spacing design that eliminates the need for future field tuning.

Furthermore, EMF added a new, specially designed two-station branch combiner to serve both transmission frequencies, and prevent intermodulation issues from signal mixing inside the transmitters.

Side-mounted to a mountaintop tower with a center of radiation at 118 feet above ground level (1,787 feet above sea level), the DCR-M was specified to withstand the stormy weather elements of Puerto Rico, amplified during hurricane season.

In fact, the project delayed due to several harsh storms including Hurricane Maria in 2017, which caused widespread devastation to the island. The project was revived once power was returned to the remote site and general infrastructure was restored. Then came COVID-19, putting a further wrinkle on the plans for KLOVE Puerto Rico.

Director of Site Development Kim Allison said the antenna design meets the weight and wind-load specifications of the tower. “This was of high importance considering the remote tower location,” she said.

Dielectric worked closely with Sabre to develop a custom mounting system that could support the unique bay-spacing design. This included a standoff pole for the tapered tower architecture, and a bracket design that eliminated complex anti-rotation elements for the antenna bays.

Dielectric also added its “funky elbow” design to reduce ground radiation from the DCR-M, through a inter-bay feed system that optimizes signal coverage without directing radiation downward from the tower.

Dielectric VP/GM Keith Pelletier notes that everything was shipped in a single container to reduce costs, with Sabre designing the stand-off pole in short, modular sections to fit cleanly alongside Dielectric’s antenna.

“This project was a labor of love for Dielectric considering the unforeseen delays and challenges that EMF faced on the road to installation,” Pelletier said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support EMF and its mission to bring Christian radio programming to the audiences throughout Puerto Rico.”

Additional reporting by Brian Galante.

Pioneer Electronics USA has used the all-virtual CES 2021 conference to debut its newest modular solutions in-dash receiver.

It’s hardware that is designed to provide vehicles with limited or restricted dash space an in-dash upgrade solution.

The DMH-WC5700NEX includes Alexa Built-in, Android Auto (wired/wireless), Apple CarPlay (wired/wireless) and other multimedia entertainment capabilities.

Its 6.8-inch touchscreen is similar in design and features to the 9-inch DMH-WC6600NEX, introduced last year.

One key difference: this model has ability to fit a wider variety of vehicles including traditional 2DIN applications.

Since the introduction of the first Pioneer modular solutions in-dash receivers in 2019, Metra Electronics has introduced several dash kits and fully integrated dash kit packages designed to integrate the modular solutions products, including the DMH-WC5700NEX, into specific vehicles.

Due to the modular form factor and availability of two different optional extension cables, the DMH-WC5700NEX is also suitable for fully custom installation by an installation specialist, further expanding its application to an even wider range of vehicles when compared to traditional in-dash receivers.

“With the DMH-WC5700NEX, Pioneer provides an automotive upgrade solution for many different vehicles that typically have been extremely restrictive or even impossible with regard to the installation of an aftermarket in-dash receiver, including several popular late model Chevrolet vehicles such as the Silverado and Camaro,” said Pioneer Electronics USA VP/Marketing Ted Cardenas. “With this solution, owners of these vehicles now have an option for adding Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and more to enhance and upgrade their driving experience.”

The DMH-WC5700NEX also features Hi-Res Audio playback capability, FLAC file playback, 13-band graphic equalizer, time alignment, 4V RCA preamplifier outputs (front/rear/subwoofer), Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming and hands-free communication, built-in HD Radio capability, SiriusXM Ready (requires SiriusXM tuner and subscription, sold separately), RGB illumination, rear camera input, and HDMI video input for rear seat entertainment.

The Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX is planned for Summer 2021 availability.

Solid State Logic has secured its latest guest for its “Meet the Producer” Facebook Live series — an in-depth Q&A series featuring a diverse range of highly accomplished producers and engineers.

This event is set for Thursday at 1pm Eastern.

SSL will be hosting Marc Daniel Nelson, who will be interviewed by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winning engineer, writer and producer J.C. Losada, a.k.a. “Mr Sonic.”

The session is accessible via SSL’s Facebook page; interested participants can set a reminder via the links provided.

Nelson gained an early mastery of mixing and production, working across a range of genres from Americana, to orchestration, to Hip Hop, to Rock ‘n’ Roll. Since his days at Chicago Recording Company, he has built a list of credits mixing music for Fleetwood Mac, Jason Mraz, and Colbie Caillat; and mixing music for film and trailers including Bladerunner 2049, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Point Break.

“Participants can expect in-depth insight into structuring a session with plug-in templates / presets, achieving appropriate width and depth in a mix, and employing unique processing tricks,” SSL says.

Over the course of his career, Nelson has worked on several SSL consoles including the SL4000, SL6000, SL8000 Series, as well as the AWS 900 and most recently Sigma ‘console in a box’.

Losada will ask Nelson about his approach to working across a variety of genres, as well as his mixing approach for trailers, films and records. The information could be of interest and of benefit to audio media companies developing podcasts, radio programming, and video content tied to broadcast offerings.

Participants will have the opportunity to download a full Pro Tools session of “Wonder” and watch Marc tackle the mix step by step.

The Pro Tools session of ‘Wonder’ is available for free download. It includes all routing, automation, audio and processing: http://bit.ly/WonderPTSession

Film trailer ‘Wonder’ Pro Tools session download: http://bit.ly/WonderPTSession

SSL Facebook PREMERE link: http://bit.ly/MTPMDNReminder

TORONTO — An Ontario-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of video and audio infrastructure products for the TV industry has agreed to acquire the Studer brand, technology and all related assets in a transaction expected to close by March 30.

Selling the brand to Evertz Technologies Ltd. is HARMAN International.

“We’re pleased to welcome this iconic audio brand to our Evertz family of products and solutions that has been serving the broadcast market for more than 50 years,” said Brian Campbell, EVP Business Development at Burlington-based Evertz. “We also welcome the many valued Studer customers who depend on Studer technology and reliability to deliver the best audio to their audience.”

Campbell says Evertz will be investing in Studer for developing next-generation products to meet broadcast customers’ future needs while creating synergies between its current product suite and the Studer product environment.

“We saw an exciting opportunity to evolve these premium products with new products and feature development while having Studer continue to redefine how broadcast audio is produced,” Campbell said.

From The Beatles recording Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at EMI/Abbey Road Studios on a Studer tape deck, to Studer digital mixing consoles in the control rooms at the world’s most prestigious and modern broadcast facilities, Studer has been an iconic audio brand for more than 70 years.

HARMAN acquired Studer in 1994.

“We are very pleased that the stewardship of the iconic Studer brand will continue on under Evertz’s leadership,” said Brian Divine, President of HARMAN Professional Solutions. “The HARMAN team will be working very closely with Evertz over the coming weeks to assure a seamless transition for the customers.”

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLA. — It remains in a battle with Gray Television over the carriage on one of its legacy TV services of a ABC affiliate within the vast Tampa-St. Petersburg DMA specifically focused on Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties.

Now, that fight could be taking perhaps a positive spin — if good vibes from the C-Suite find their way into retrans negotiation.

Frontier has emerged from federal bankruptcy protection.

The MVPD and telecom company on Friday (1/15) secured approval from the Commission for its Chapter 11 restructuring. This also saw Frontier get regulatory approval or favorable determinations in 13 states.

Commenting on the “major milestone” of the restructuring OK, President/CEO Bernie Han said,  “We continue to make important progress in our constructive engagement with regulators across our service territories, and we continue to await approval in just four states and are working to expedite those approvals to enable the Company to emerge from Chapter 11. Our team remains focused on our transformative strategy to strengthen our financial foundation, improve our operations and enhance our customer experience throughout the U.S.”

Frontier expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in early 2021 under its previously confirmed Plan of Reorganization. Upon emergence, Frontier will have reduced its total outstanding indebtedness by more than $10 billion.

— Rob Dumke

He joined MultiDyne as COO in September 2019 following the company’s purchase of Census Digital.

Now, he is retiring, but will join MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Solutions ’ newly formed Board of Directors and remain as an active consultant.

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The first radio app to be compatible with one of the world’s more popular brands of smart watches has been released for international consumption.

But, radio broadcasters in the U.S. shouldn’t get too excited about it. The smart watch manufacturer has been branded by Washington Republicans as an agent of the People’s Republic of China’s government in Beijing.

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