Radio+Television Business Report

Until today, Townsquare Media had separate digital content and radio content teams. Now, it is combining both units.

As a result, a new Chief Content Officer has been named. At the same time, additional responsibilities beyond his current programming duties are being given to Kurt Johnson, making him the company’s chief music industry liaison.

Jared Willig will hold the Chief Content Officer role. He’s a 10-year Townsquare Media veteran, and he’ll lead content strategy and execution across all platforms for 322 local radio stations, over 350 local websites and mobile apps, and Music & Entertainment brands XXL Magazine, Taste Of Country, Loudwire, Ultimate Classic Rock, ScreenCrush and PopCrush.

He will also continue to oversee AMPED, the monetization of the Townsquare brands’ digital platforms.

With Willig’s appointment comes the creation of the “Townsquare Content Team,” which Johnson will help lead under the new title of SVP/Content and Programming.

And, as aforementioned, he will continue to lead Townsquare’s music industry relations.

Jackie Corley, who had been overseeing Townsquare’s Digital Content team, widens her responsibilities to become the VP of Local Content and Programming.

Townsquare COO of Local Media Erik Hellum commented, “Given Townsquare’s multi-platform approach to entertaining and informing our audiences and our communities, we will no longer have separate central teams for broadcast and digital content, but rather one incredibly talented content team led by Jared, Kurt and Jackie.”

Prior to joining Townsquare in 2010, Willig spent almost 10 years at AOL as the GM overseeing entertainment brands such as AOL Music and AOL Radio, Moviefone, and AOL Television. Before joining AOL in 2001, he worked in online marketing at BMG Entertainment. Willig is also a former club and radio DJ in New York, Philadelphia and Central New Jersey.

Johnson is well known for his role from 2001-2011 as VP/Programming for CBS Radio in Dallas. He also served as OM of AMFM Inc.’s Philadelphia stations. Johnson is also the former Program Director of Adult Contemporary WLTW “106.7 Lite FM” in New York, and was PD of Active Rock WAXQ “Q104.3” in New York under Viacom ownership.

Corley has been with Townsquare since 2014, serving as Digital Managing Editor of Townsquare’s Mid-Hudson Valley properties in Poughkeepsie and Middletown.

David Santrella, president of Broadcast Media for Salem Media Group, was elected chairman of the NAB Joint Board of Directors, NAB announced today. Santrella takes over from Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television, Inc., whose term expired.

Bill Wilson, chief executive officer of Townsquare Media Group, was elected Radio Board chair by the NAB Radio Board. John Zimmer, president and owner of Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Inc., was elected Radio Board first vice chair, while Kevin Perry, vice president and chief operating officer of @Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company, was elected Radio Board second vice chair.

Collin Jones, senior vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy for CUMULUS MEDIA, Inc., was elected to the Radio Board’s major group representative seat on the NAB Board’s Executive Committee.

Perry Sook, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Media Group, was elected as NAB Television Board chair. Lynn Beall, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Media Operations for TEGNA, was elected as TV Board first vice chair, Pat L., president and co-chief executive officer of Gray Television, Inc., was elected TV Board second vice chair and Emily Barr, president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, was elected TV Board third vice chair.

Christopher Wood, senior vice president and associate general counsel for Government and Regulatory Affairs at Univision Communications, Inc., was appointed to the designated TV network seat on the NAB Board’s Executive Committee.

The Board elections took place at the NAB Board of Directors meeting, held June 28-29.

BizVibe has identified the expansion of OTT delivery systems as a major trend for the radio and television broadcasting industry.

Why? OTT services are rapidly becoming a primary source of news and public information. Several TV stations are expanding news coverage on OTT delivery systems such as Apple TV and Roku.

These platforms are trying to supplement traditional broadcasting services and open up new monetization opportunities. As BizVibe sees it, this trend is expected to have a strong influence on radio and television broadcasting companies around the world.

The end of the 2021 fiscal year is ending tomorrow for many companies. For others, it marks the first half of a year in which broadcast media transactions have yielded A Tale of Two Signals.

For over-the-air broadcast TV, huge deals have come to fruition since the start of the year. For AM and FM radio, nary a deal that doesn’t involve a religious institution has been had. What’s to come? Veteran media broker Dick Foreman shares his analysis of the media transactions marketplace in this exclusive podcast, presented by dot.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Dick Foreman” on Spreaker.

In November 2019, Jeff Andrulonis-led Colonial Media + Entertainment agreed to the $90,000 sale of a Class A FM with a booster allowing it to better serve the small city of Bradford, Pa., within the Buffalo DMA.

Now, the company that bought this station is selling it. And, it is making a small profit.

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It markets itself as “an invaluable free tool for residents to stay informed about major storms, health updates, local news, weather, and sports on local broadcast TV.”

As the NAB and the nation’s Big Four networks see it, it is illegally distributing local television channels to its users without a retransmission consent agreement.

Despite court efforts by the TV industry to shut it down, donation-based Locast continues to grow. It just added its 34th DMA — and it is in the Buckeye State.

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Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, the charitable organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting, has revealed the recipient of the 2021 MIW Airblazer Award.

It’s being handed to DeDe McGuire, host of the nationally syndicated “DeDe in the Morning” program.

The MIW Airblazer Award stems from an alliance formed in 2015 between MIW (formerly known as the MIW Group) and Morning Show Bootcamp (MSBC).

“The recipient is carefully selected, as is tradition, by the prior year’s winner and is recognized for her dedication and contributions to the broadcast industry and to the communities she serves,” MIW notes.

The 2021 Airblazer Award will be presented to McGuire on August 12, during MSBC Chicago.

“It’s an honor and I’m completely blown away,” says DeDe McGuire, one of only a few women nationwide to have her own nationally syndicated morning show.

After ten successful years co-hosting the nationally syndicated program “The Doug Banks Show,” McGuire went on to host her own show, syndicated through Compass Media Networks via Service Broadcasting. It can be heard in over 55 markets.

MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff commented, “What a joy to celebrate DeDe and her many accomplishments. Her non-stop work in radio is impressive enough, but it’s her support of so many organizations, and her commitment to mentoring that makes her so special, and so deserving of this award.”

Previous MIW Airblazers include Kellie Rasberry (2019), Mercedes Martinez (2018), Roula Christie (2017), Angie Martinez (2016), and Ellen K (2015).

To register for 2021 MSBC Chicago visit: http://www.morningshowbootcamp.com.

Cordless television consumers are on track to become the predominant TV consumer in the next year.

That’s the primary finding from the fourth Future of TV survey from The Trade Desk.

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FORT PIERCE, FLA. — The future of a noncommercial voice of the African American community across a three-county region of Florida that enjoys a simulcast partner in the important agricultural communities of Belle Glade and Clewiston is now in question, thanks to an agreement  reached last week that sees the FMs heading to a new owner.

Upon closing, ownership will be handed to the local institution of higher learning that owns and operates the NPR Member station serving Florida’s Treasure Coast.

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If you’ve ever been to North Florida Christian School, you can’t miss the large broadcast tower that sits between the school’s athletic field and North Florida Baptist Church in the Macon Community that sits between Interstate 10 and the state capital of the Sunshine State.

Until now, it has relayed a low-power FM’s Spanish-language religious programming. That could change very soon, as the FM translator is being sold.

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Digital Alert Systems, the New York-based emergency communications product developer for broadcast media, has released its guidance ahead of the next National Periodic Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

That’s scheduled for August 11 at 2:20pm Eastern, and all broadcast and cable operators must participate in the test.

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It’s a family owned company operating 12 radio stations and digital agency Federated Digital Solutions in the Indiana cities of South Bend and Fort Wayne. Among the stations it owns is famed WOWO-AM 1190, once heard across the Eastern Seaboard after dark.

Now, Federated Media has put a stamp on its future by finalizing its digital audio delivery strategy.

How so? It has powered Triton Digital to “power” the company’s podcast and streaming audio platform.

Specifically, Federated Media will utilize Triton’s audio streaming network for the delivery of its radio stations online.  In addition, Federated Media will use Triton’s podcast platform, Omny Studio, to support the creation, distribution, and promotion of its podcast content across devices including smart speakers and mobile phones.

Triton Digital is owned by iHeartMedia and was recently purchased from The E.W. Scripps Co.

The latest version of Telestream’s video editing and screen recording software for the Mac has been brought to market.

Now available: ScreenFlow 10, giving users the ability to record multiple cameras, microphones, and screens, including iPhone and iPad screens simultaneously.

Built for anyone needing a screen recording and video editing application, ScreenFlow starts at $149 and comes with a new integrated Title Library, enhanced Color Effect Presets, an automatic Background Remover, support for Apple Silicon hardware, multiple performance enhancements and an Archive Storage feature that stores only what was used in the final finished program.

ScreenFlow’s intuitive interface was developed specifically for Mac users. Highly optimized to streamline content creation, ScreenFlow 10 features up to 250% smaller camera recordings at the same quality as ScreenFlow 9 and up to 75% less CPU usage during camera recording. Timeline thumbnail creation is 300% faster and exports are up to 66% faster on the latest Apple Silicon hardware.

Download the trial or purchase ScreenFlow 10 at: https://www.telestream.net/screenflow/overview.htm

The NAB Show is now accepting nominations for the third annual Product of the Year awards.

Companies scheduled to exhibit in either the 2020 or 2021 NAB Show are eligible. The awards recognize the most significant and promising new products and technologies developed by NAB Show exhibitors.

Nominations are being accepted through September 17.

The Product of the Year award recipients will be selected by a panel of industry experts in 16 categories and announced during the official awards ceremony and reception at the Westgate Hotel on Tuesday, October 12. Nominated products and technologies must be available for delivery in calendar year 2021.

“NAB Show is the premier venue to launch and demonstrate new products that sit at the intersection of media, entertainment and technology,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Global Connections and Events Chris Brown. “We look forward to exploring innovations from the past two years and celebrating their impact on our industry.”

Product categories for the 2021 NAB Show Product of the Year awards are as follows:

• AI/Machine Learning
• Asset Management, Automation, Playout
• Audio Production, Processing and Networking
• Camera Support, Control and Accessories
• Cameras
• Cloud Computing and Storage
• Digital Signage & Display Systems
• Graphics, Editing, VXF, Switchers
• Grip Equipment
• Hardware Infrastructure
• IT Networking/Infrastructure & Security
• Location/Studio Lighting
• Monitoring and Measuring Tools
• Radio
• Remote Production
• Streaming

Companies should submit product nominations here. The official rules are available here. 

USSI Global has strengthened its executive team by appointing a Vice President of Programs and Innovation Lab.

Reporting to COO Anthony Morelli, he will focus on technology development and systems integration strategies that bring the company’s core broadcast, digital signage, and electronic business and consumer operations closer together.

Taking the position is Ted Korte, who will also be charged with driving technology and service innovations that “enhance USSI Global’s value as a turnkey project management company.”

Korte comes to USSI Global with 25 years of broadcast industry experience, including 20 years at Harris Corporation. He served as Director of Engineering across key business units (automation and asset management, video servers and editing, and TV and radio transmission), and in later years worked closely with the company’s digital signage and managed services teams. That led to stronger technical synergies across Harris’s broadcast and digital signage businesses.

Korte joined then-upstart Qligent in 2014, now a global leader in monitoring and analytics for broadcasters and OTT services. As COO/CTO, he established a brand reputation for Qligent as an innovator in transitioning QoS, QoE, and compliance monitoring operations to the cloud. After bringing the company’s pioneering Vision monitoring platform to market, Korte helped Qligent launch the industry’s first “monitoring as a service” platform, and expanded Qligent’s horizons into the now-ubiquitous big data space to generate detailed audience and business analytics.

He returned to Harris Corporation, now L3Harris, in 2019 where he focused on internal research and development projects for the space industry. He gained experience in program management and satellite technologies, including LEO groundstations and global networking systems that represent important emerging markets for USSI Global.

“Ted brings enormous value to USSI Global that will help us establish growth strategies for our core markets and new business opportunities, while broadening our horizons as a service-oriented organization,” said Morelli. “With several exciting new initiatives in motion, the time is right to bring on someone who has the right expertise and vision to propel our business forward, and deliver innovative programs and services for our customers. We are confident that Ted is the right person for this job, and we are proud to welcome him to the USSI Global team.”

TORONTO — At first glance, one may simply believe Educational Media Foundation seeks to fill a gap in its nearly national footprint for its KLOVE and Air 1 Christian music networks by grabbing a pair of commercially licensed FMs in an economic struggling portion of far Upstate New York.

Yes, EMF will be gaining a presence in such small cities as Malone, Massena and Chateaugay. But, more significantly, EMF has gained two facilities that will allow it to reach English-speaking audiences from Cornwall to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and the western suburbs of Montréal.

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A maker of signal transmission and content monitoring solutions for the broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV markets has released a new product that adds to its portfolio of ATSC 3.0 broadcast items.

The new Sencore TXS 3800 transcoder appliance converts multiple ATSC 3.0 services into
ATSC 1.0-like formats, for reuse and retransmission in existing cable, translator and MVPD systems.

The TXS 3800 is a dense terrestrial transcoder, capable of transcoding up to 4 ATSC 3.0 services in a single chassis. Video features include MPEG-2 and H.264 compression, along with down-scaling, transrating and caption conversion. Audio is transcoded to either AC-3 or AAC and service names are mapped into standard TVCT format. Once transcoded, all elements are packaged into an MPEG transport stream and output as traditional MPEG/IP for downstream use.

As ATSC 3.0 deployments continue to expand, broadcast, cable and MVPD providers are constantly looking for innovative new products to help them manage these new workflows. “The TXS 3800 is the perfect companion to seamlessly integrate ATSC 3.0 signals into existing signal paths with minimal impact to architecture and processes,” Sencore says.

To download the full datasheet, view features and product specifications or request a demo, visit www.sencore.com

A chip shortage has been wreaking havoc on the automobile industry, hampering efforts to get new vehicles into showrooms and out the door with consumers who desire to replace their current ride.

Now, Chevrolet has alerted consumers that certain model year 2021 and 2022 pickup trucks will not come with Xperi’s HD Radio. And, the automotive company says, it is due to a chip shortage.

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Of all of the advertisers using Spot Cable to reach consumers, there’s one that stands out.

And, it is perhaps the most recognizable coffee retailer in the world.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten TV report is noteworthy for its lack of movement among the brands actively using national television to reach consumers.

And, as shown below, auto insurance specialists remain the most active of categories at Spot TV.

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