The filing window for applications for new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM new station construction permits has closed.
As such, the Media Bureau has placed a temporary freeze on the filing of any amendments to NCE FM new station applications submitted in the November 2021 filing window.
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It’s a bit of a blemish for the Mouse House, and investors aren’t pleased.
Linear Networks revenues at The Walt Disney Co. decreased 4% in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021, moving to $6.698 billion from $7.012 billion.
At the same time, operating income decreased 11% to $1.6 billion.
That’s just part of the woes at Disney in its final three months of its 2021 fiscal year, as Disney+ subscription slowdowns were the focal point of investor concerns and those of analysts that had forecast bigger revenue for the company overall.
While international channels improved year-over-year, the domestic story is one that will be questioned.
Domestic Channels revenues for the quarter decreased 5% to $5.4 billion as operating income decreased 14% to $1.4 billion.
The decrease in operating income was due to decreases at Broadcasting and, in particular, to lower results at ABC and the owned television stations.
The decrease at ABC was due to an increase in marketing costs and higher programming and production costs, partially offset by higher affiliate revenue.
And, Disney explains that the increase in programming and production costs was driven by higher average cost of acquired programming in the current quarter, partially offset by the comparison to the additional week of operations in the prior-year quarter.
Affiliate revenue growth was due to an increase in contractual rates, partially offset by the comparison to the additional week of operations in the prior-year quarter.
ABC advertising revenue was comparable to the prior-year quarter as the comparison to the additional week of operations and the broadcast of the Emmy Awards show in the prior-year quarter was offset by higher impressions in the current quarter, reflecting more units delivered, and increased rates.
The decrease at the owned television stations was due to lower political advertising in the current quarter and the comparison to the additional week of operations in the prior-year quarter.
Overall, Disney missed the consensus estimates as compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue came in at $18.53 billion, up from $14.71 billion but shy of the $18.78 billion expected by analysts. Adjusted EPS of $0.37 was seen, rising from -$0.20. However, analysts forecasts put Disney’s fiscal Q4 EPS at $0.49.
Disney+ subscriber forecasts were also off. Disney reported 118.1 million. Analysts expected 119.6 million.
This triggered an after-hours decline for Disney shares. As of 4:54pm Eastern, DIS was off 3.33% to $168.57, following a 66-cent dip in regular trading to $174.45.
Don’t miss Debra OConnell, president of Networks for Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, on Tuesday as she co-chairs Forecast 2022.Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson and CFO Stu Rosenstein are confirmed as attendees of the upcoming “Q4 Virtual Investor Summit.”
For Wilson, the event comes just 24 hours after the conclusion of Forecast 2022, for which he is a co-chair.
Wilson and Rosenstein will highlight the company’s transformation into what Townsquare calls a “Digital First” enterprise. While radio stations are a key part of Townsquare Media, the company generates nearly 50% of its total revenue from its Digital Platform and Solutions.
They include Townsquare Ignite, and Townsquare Interactive.
The company’s presentation is scheduled for 10:15am Eastern on Wednesday, November 17.
A live webcast and replay of the presentation will be available on the investor relations page of Townsquare’s website at www.townsquaremedia.com.
On June 1, RBR+TVBR first reported on the proposed sale of WTMD-FM 89.7 in Towson, Md., an eclectic Adult Alternative noncommercial operation within the Baltimore market, to Your Public Radio Corporation.
On November 10, “Public Radio Music Day” across the U.S., the transaction closed.
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On December 1, leadership changes at stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Washington, D.C., Univision Communications is gaining control of from Entravision will transpire.
At the same time, Univision is giving a promotion to local leader Roberto Yañez.
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Should Cox Media Group be granted additional time to fully divest itself of two FM radio stations in the state of Florida, needed transactions contingent on the FCC’s approval of the company’s transition to majority ownership by Apollo Global Management?
The Commission wants your input on the matter, so it can make its best informed decision on a request with a short expiration date.
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On Tuesday, November 16, attendees of Forecast 2022 will likely enjoy the last-ever public appearance as NAB President/CEO of former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith.
At the event, presented by RBR+TVBR and Radio Ink, Smith will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in a luncheon presentation from Beasley Media Group CEO Caroline Beasley and Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb.
Later in the day, Smith will engage in a roundtable conversation about the NAB’s leadership transition with his successor, Curtis LeGeyt, moderated by former NAB EVP for Industry Affairs and Strategic Planning Steve Newberry, today CEO of Quu.
Ahead of that discussion, Smith on Wednesday delivered his final State of the Industry Address.
We are pleased to offer Smith’s entire address here:
GORDON SMITH STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ADDRESS
2021 MARCONI AWARD WINNERS REVEALED
ROCK STATION OF THE YEAR: KLOS-FM/Los Angeles
SPANISH STATION OF THE YEAR: KLLI-FM “Cali 93.9″/Los Angeles
NEWS/TALK STATION OF THE YEAR: WTOP-FM/Washington, D.C.
MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: Dan Potter — The KRMG Morning News with Dan Potter, KRMG-FM/Tulsa
COUNTRY STATION OF THE YEAR: WYCD-FM/Detroit
SPORTS STATION OF THE YEAR: KTCK-AM/Dallas
SMALL MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: Frito & Katy, KNDE “Kandy 95” in Bryan-College Station, Tex.
CHR STATION OF THE YEAR: KNDE “Kandy 95” in Bryan-College Station, Tex.
SMALL MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR: WTAW-AM/College Station, Tex.
MAJOR MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR: KYW-AM/Philadelphia
CLASSIC HITS STATION OF THE YEAR: WCBS-FM/New York
LARGE MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR: KTMY-FM/Minneapolis
AC STATION OF THE YEAR: WTMX-FM/Chicago
URBAN STATION OF THE YEAR: WEDR-FM “99 JAMZ”/Miami
COLLEGE STATION OF THE YEAR: WPSC-FM, William Patterson University, Wayne, N.J.
RELIGIOUS STATION OF THE YEAR: WGTS-FM/Washington, D.C.
MEDIUM MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR: KRMG-FM/Tulsa
MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: The Musers, (George Dunham, Craig Miller, and Gordon Keith), KTCK-AM/Dallas
LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: Ann Kelly, WDUV-FM “105.5 The Dove” in Tampa
NETWORK SYNDICATED PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: Rickey Smiley, Reach Media, Urban One
LEGENDARY MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Ben Downs, Bryan Broadcasting
LEGENDARY STATION OF THE YEAR: WSB-AM/Atlanta
Register for this event, on Tuesday in New York, today!
Take it from Gordon Borrell … You’ve Got To Be There! Gordon Borrell, CEO, Borrell Associates Register today!
On November 5, it became known that audience measurement services in Orlando and Tampa, Fla., and in Washington, D.C., will be delivered to Univision Communications exclusively by a company that continues to fuel its desire to compete head-on with Nielsen in the U.S. broadcast TV marketplace.
With its stock stuck in the mid-$3 range across 2021, the thirst for providing an alternative to Nielsen is apparent for Comscore. And, it is slowly succeeding, as it has a new expanded agreement with the owner of television stations in eight small to mid-sized U.S. markets.
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KINGSTON, N.Y. — For 18 years, he was President/CEO of Buntin Out-of-Home Media. Since 2018, he has led his own consultancy, focused on business innovation.
As of December 31, this 1989 SUNY Albany graduate who has never worked inside a radio station will replace Area President Kristen Delaney at the nation’s largest audio content and distribution company — an appointment that speaks volumes of the type of leadership iHeartMedia seeks in 2021.
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He’s largely known across the radio industry as the former President/COO and equity investor and partner in the Dick Clark-founded United Stations Radio Networks (USRN). Most recently, he was President/CEO at national radio entity Key Networks.
Now he’s teaming up with the Managing Partner of Gen Media Partners for the launch of a new radio content and service provider and producer.
Introducing G Accelerate. It will see Friedland and Higgins each hold a stake in the operation, while Higgins will lead it as President/CEO.
“G Accelerate Networks will be laser-focused on bringing in new business from both existing and new radio content and service providers, producers, and programs that are looking to accelerate their revenue potential, as well as increase their affiliated stations and national footprint,” GMP says.
Explaining the creation of G Accelerate, Higgins said, “Too many radio content producers are getting lost and not getting the attention and dedicated sales and affiliate services required to keep them top-of-mind with stations and thriving financially. Warren and I are committed to changing that result for those clients that join us at G Accelerate. We welcome the opportunity to provide them with the effort, resources, and passion required to deliver growth and success.”
G Accelerate Networks will tap into and work with Gen Media Partners’ G Networks, Hispanic Radio Networks (HRN), Gen Media Partners Radio Reps, and other GMP offerings “to assist in growing their revenues and affiliations.”
With an eye towards its expansion, Friedland stated, “G Accelerate will also be looking for select equity investments and acquisitions in content and service provider companies whose vision and mission lines up with or complements Gen Media Partners. We’ve known Jim for many years, and he was always the shining star of the companies lucky enough to have worked with him. His vast executive experience and client relationships with both creatives, producers, agencies, and advertisers is unmatched in the network business. We are thrilled to be a part of his new venture.”
To learn more about G Accelerate Networks, content creators and radio stations may contact Jim Higgins at Jim.higgins@genmediapartners.com.
Following Tuesday’s closing bell on Wall Street, Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation shared that its Board of Directors has approved the distribution of one share of Meredith Holdings Corporation (“New Meredith”) common stock for each share of common stock of the company as it exists today, and one share of “New Meredith” Class B common stock for each share of soon-to-be “Old Meredith” class B stock held as of November 19.
This effectively put the Meredith/Gray Merger Marathon at Mile 26, with the finish line clearly in sight. In fact, Meredith has a date within the next month when it expects the closing to occur.
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Nexstar Media Group has appointed a 25-year broadcast management and sales veteran to the role of VP/GM of its operations in DMA No. 90 — Champaign-Urbana-Springfield, Ill.
He’s already on-site at the stations, reporting to Nexstar Broadcasting SVP/Regional Manager Traci Wilkinson.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Sinclair Digital arm of Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Baltimore-based media company’s marketing technology and managed services operation Compulse have selected a measurement and marketing analytics platform to measure media performance across its 300+ digital properties.
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The Gracie Awards, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF), has opened its call for entries for the 47th Annual Gracie Awards.
“The Gracie Awards celebrate and honor truly exceptional content by, for and about women,” AWMF President Becky Brooks said. “We know the circumstances of this year made production much more difficult, which is why we are more committed that ever
to honor the remarkable work by so many in our creative community.”
The Gracies is considered the AWMF’s chief fundraiser of the year, as it enables the alliance “to deliver on its promise of further the connection, education and recognition of women in media, even during difficult times,” said AWMF Board Chair Heather Cohen.
Cohen is again serving as a chair, alongside Crown Media Family Networks Chief Communications Officer Annie Howell, and veteran radio programming consultant Mike McVay.
The 2022 Gracie Awards entry eligibility air dates are from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
Early Bird rates for entries end on December 16, 2021, at 11:59 PM Eastern. The deadline for all entries is January 20, 2022, at 11:59 PM Eastern. Entry details including pricing, updated categories can be viewed at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/call-for-entries/.
The application to judge the Gracies will be available soon.
Crown Media is a Diamond Sponsor of the 2022 Gracies.
NEW YORK — The Broadcasters Foundation of America has kicked off its annual year-end giving campaign with an appeal for tax-deductible donations that will allow the Foundation to continue providing financial assistance to those in broadcasting who need it most.
A 501(c)3 charity, the Broadcasters Foundation is the only organization dedicated exclusively to delivering financial aid to broadcasters and their families whose lives have been upended by tragic illness, accident, or catastrophe.
Personal donations to the Guardian Fund and corporate contributions to the Angel Initiative can be made at www.broadcastersfoundation.org/donate.
This year’s plea for donations follows a year-and-a-half of several cancelled fundraising events due to the COVID 19 pandemic, even as more broadcasters than ever are reaching out for monthly or emergency relief.
The Broadcasters Foundation will award more than $1.8 million in monthly and one-time emergency grants in 2021. Monthly grants have increased 75% and more than 500 emergency grants have been awarded since 2017. Over the past 20 years, the Broadcasters Foundation has distributed more than $15 million to broadcasters in need.
“Our grant recipients are hard-working broadcasters from across the country and from all size markets, who have been hit by challenging, often life-altering circumstances,” stated Scott Herman, Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation of America. “With the support and generosity of the people in our industry, we can help your colleagues and their families get through their toughest times.”
“Requests for assistance have escalated at a significant rate over the past several years,” said Jim Thompson, Co-President of the Broadcasters Foundation. “Combined with the cancellation of several fundraising events due to the pandemic, personal and corporate donations are vital to continuing our charitable mission of disbursing financial aid to those in your industry who need it most.”
Co-President of the Broadcasters Foundation, Tim McCarthy, added, “As I become more involved with the day-to-day operations of the Broadcasters Foundation, I am in awe of the generosity of those in our business who give back by supporting our mission. I would ask everyone who has not contributed in the past to please join our cause and help your colleagues in need.”
Since its inception, the Broadcasters Foundation has distributed millions of dollars to thousands of needy broadcasters and their families. Individual donations can be made to the Guardian Fund, corporate contributions are accepted through the Angel Initiative, and bequests can be arranged through the Legacy Society.
To learn more or to donate, please contact the Broadcasters Foundation at 212-373-8250 or info@thebfoa.org or visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org.
When it comes to investing, financial blog Simply Wall St. notes that there are some useful financial metrics that can warn an investor when a business is potentially in trouble.
“When we see a declining return on capital employed (ROCE) in conjunction with a declining base of capital employed, that’s often how a mature business shows signs of aging,” the financial blog notes. “This reveals that the company isn’t compounding shareholder wealth because returns are falling and its net asset base is shrinking.”
On that note, Simply Wall St. took a magnifying glass to Saga Communications. What did the blog have to report? “We weren’t too upbeat about how things were going.”
Economic Forecasting: Broadcast Revenue Trends and Expectations for 2022 What do the experts have to say about the opportunities for broadcast advertising in the year ahead, along with the myriad challenges to growing its share? A Forecast 2022 panel of experts led by Jack Myers of MediaVillage are preparing now for what will certainly be a provocative discussion about who is going to “show us the money” in the year to come. Don’t miss out … join us at Forecast 2022 on November 16 in New York City. Click here for all of the details!
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One of the nation’s biggest media companies superserving U.S. Hispanic audiences has entered into a consent decree with the Media Bureau of the FCC that effectively resolves two online political file violations.
One incident occurred in Dallas. The other incident occurred in Houston.
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ATLANTA — The broadcast television station licensee that is on target to complete its merger with Meredith Local Media within the next eight weeks has completed its offering of $1.3 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior notes due 2031.
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TORONTO — It’s been likened to the plotline of HBO comedy-drama Succession, focused on a highly dysfunctional dynasty at one of the world’s largest media and entertainment conglomerate.
The family drama behind the future of Rogers Communications, one of North America’s biggest media entities, has dominated the headlines of the Sun tabloid and Financial Post. Now, it appears that the son of the company’s late founder, Ted Rogers, has been empowered to constitute a new board — something his siblings fought to stop.
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