Radio+Television Business Report

It’s described as “a unique identifier that enables the resolution of both linear viewership and digital audiences into a common identity framework.”

Introducing OpenID from Comcast-owned NBCUniversal’s advanced advertising company OpenAP.

As OpenAP sees it, OpenID has the power to “unlock” cross-platform capabilities for advanced TV advertising.

The news follows the recent launch of OpenAP’s SSP, which offers advertisers transparency and visibility of available premium video inventory at scale.

OpenID enables efficient matching with viewership currencies for distribution to multiple television publishers, NBCU notes, “evolving advanced TV from age and gender demographics to ID-based targeting.”

The ID is built on a graph of offline and online data and is able to connect directly with buy-side data partners and sell-side platforms.

“With this launch, advertisers will start every campaign by identifying an audience that will be resolved to a set of OpenIDs, which can be broad or narrow based on campaign objectives,” OpenAP notes. Audiences are defined at the ID level then matched to viewership data and platform IDs for linear, digital and addressable activation to create a unified, cross-platform OpenID audience. OpenIDs are shared with TV publishers for use in linear and digital campaigns, with publishers using their internal tools to build targeted media plans.

The OpenID is designed to allow TV publishers to maintain control of data and protect data leakage through the central identity framework, reducing onboarding costs, while creating standards that can unlock cross-publisher measurement and attribution.

“For advertisers, the OpenID increases speed of audience activation, reduces the reporting lag for OpenID audiences, and enables cross-platform use cases to drive investment,” OpenAP says. “Advertisers benefit from more effective campaigns and now have the ability to see who they are reaching across each environment.”

Participating publishers able to accept OpenIDs include AMC Networks, A+E Networks, Crown Media, Discovery, Disney, Fox Corporation, NBCUniversal, Univision, ViacomCBS, WarnerMedia and The Weather Channel.

“The acceptance of OpenIDs will facilitate cross-platform convergence when used to seamlessly onboard and activate data across publishers and platforms, powering cross-platform use cases requested by the buy-side with new capabilities planned for launch in Broadcast Year 2022,” OpenAP says.

The first agencies to integrate with and activate all audiences for advanced cross-platform TV campaigns as OpenIDs are dentsu Media, GroupM, Haworth Marketing + Media, Horizon Media and Omnicom Media Group.

Meanwhile, OpenAP has partnered with TransUnion as its identity backbone.

In an effort to provide increased value for advertisers, OpenAP is collaborating with The Trade Desk on behalf of the TV ecosystem to drive interoperability between the OpenID and Unified ID 2.0, the industry-wide initiative to create an upgraded alternative to third party cookies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On February 1, television stations located in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi were required to file applications for license renewal for terms expiring on June 1, 2021.

Eight stations failed to file license renewal applications. A goodbye to said facilities is in the works, but can be prevented.

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On the eve of RBR+TVBR’s arrival as Editor-in-Chief, Adam R Jacobson met with Pacific Media Group CEO Chuck Bergson at the company’s headquarters in Kahului, on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

In this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, Jacobson catches up with Bergson, gaining insight into whether or not COVID-19 curbed rapid growth for the company, which today is the only radio station owner with properties across all of the Hawaiian Islands.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Chuck Bergson” on Spreaker.

Along the Wasatch Front, viewers seeking FOX programming can tune to KSTU-13. It’s a sibling to KUPX-16, the ION O&O serving Salt Lake City.

The stations are owned by The E.W. Scripps Co., and it could explain Scripps’ interest in a pair of low-power television stations serving Utah’s closest cities to Las Vegas, Nev.

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Allen Media Group isn’t just a growing broadcast TV station owner.

Its digital platform Local Now is gaining notice as a free streaming service for local news and entertainment, with localized content including local news programming meshed with movies and TV shows available for viewing.

Local Now is available on nearly all platforms across OTT on connected TV, Mobile and Web. Now, Local Now is accessible via the newest set-top boxes associated with one MVPD.

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Comscore has landed an expanded deal with ViacomCBS, which has renewed its National TV measurement contracts with the consumer data and analytics firm seeking to compete against Nielsen.

Comscore has been providing ViacomCBS linear TV measurement since 2014.

Since then, their relationship broadened to help build out Viacom’s Vantage Platform. Now, ViacomCBS will be calling on Comscore to boost its traditional linear advertising campaigns on Comscore’s National TV currency, “a key element as the media and entertainment company looks to diversify its partnerships around measurement across both its linear and digital assets.”

Comscore Chief Revenue Officer Carol Hinnant noted, “We highly value our innovative partnership with ViacomCBS and are now pleased to expand the relationship to include traditional linear currency solutions. Once again we are proud to partner with ViacomCBS to change the currency landscape.”

ViacomCBS Chief Operating Officer of Advertising Revenue John Halley added, “Under its new ownership structure, Comscore is making meaningful strides in investment, engineering, and product innovation to support the industry’s evolving needs as a cornerstone measurement provider. We believe Comscore can drive significant value for ViacomCBS, helping us achieve our goals around cross-screen measurement, while supporting our efforts toward a diversified currency strategy.”

International marketing intelligence service WARC‘s latest Global Advertising Trends report has been released. In it, WARC outlines “the new, long-term shifts in e-commerce, social media, online video and gaming for brands and consumers.”

What’s the key takeaway for broadcast media executives? Linear television advertising plummeted, making retransmission consent revenue more essential than ever in the U.S.

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The Media Sales Institute (MSI) has entered into a strategic alliance with Media Staffing Network (MSN). The arrangement brings MSN’s media recruiter’s expertise to the MSI curriculum at the 2021 NABOB MSI.

The event is scheduled for October 25-November 24, at the Atlanta University Center (AUC) and hosted by Morehouse College.

“This new partnership will allow our candidates to gain a better insight into how to research prospective employers and create an effective personal marketing presentation,” said MSI Developer Jeffrey P. Myers. “Additionally, our alliance includes incorporating MSN’s expertise in the first Media Sales & Operations Department (MSD) collegiate curriculum in the country, which is being developed at the AUC and housed at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), starting in 2022.”

MSN CEO and founder Laurie Kahn (pictured) added, “With our tutelage, we can better prepare the MSI graduates to address the position for which they are applying. Sadly, many colleges and universities are not as up to date on what a recent graduate should include on their resumes. Nor do they teach their students how to best stand out and showcase their value when they have little to no work experience.”

The MSI curriculum was developed in 1999 by Personal Selling Principles (PSP), a media management and sales marketing company, and is designed to properly expose and prepare talented individuals for a career in media sales. Since 2006, PSP has partnered with the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) to host the MSI Program at various colleges and universities.

The 10-day “intense” curriculum addresses the ever-evolving media sales process and concludes with sponsoring companies interviewing the candidates for open sales and operations positions.

MIAMI — Nearly one month into the second quarter of 2021, Spanish Broadcasting System late Monday (4/26) officially revealed its financial results for the final three months of 2020.

While its television arm enjoyed double-digit year-over-year revenue improvement, its core radio station group suffered from a double-digit year-over-year revenue decline.

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Live event production tech services company CP Communications is now providing wireless RF technology and a camera package to a specialty camera system company based in Tulsa for live coverage of professional and collegiate basketball.

Supracam has incorporated the technology in its coverage, and was used earlier this year for telecasts of the women’s college basketball Final Four at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

It is also in place at the Barclays Center for all remaining Brooklyn Nets home games for the 2020-2021 season.

Supracam is using CP’s standard Sony HDC-P1R camera package, which includes the compact HD camera, wide angle zoom lens, CP Custom Paint Control to adjust and optimize individual colors, and a Wave Central Pico+ wireless RF video transmitter. Supracam’s RF transmission strategy, which includes frequency selection prior to each game, ensures the best reliability and coverage for live, wireless content acquisition inside arenas where WiFi signals are prevalent.

Established in 2014, Supracam provides unique aerial shots for sports and other events with its computer-controlled system, which smoothly moves a camera across cables vertically and horizontally.

“As the excitement of live sports as we know it returns, specialized camera systems like the Supracam aerial system help capture that excitement for viewers,” said Aaron Segarra, Vice President of Sales at CP Communications. “We are proud to partner with them and bring these unique visuals to Brooklyn Nets fans through the rest of the season.”

MIAMI — In 2015, after working in Washington, D.C., for several years, she joined iHeartMedia. Most recently, this radio industry pro served as Region SVP of Sales for the company once known as Clear Channel Communications in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood market.

Now, she’s been promoted to Market President.

Taking the top slot for the cluster is Shari Gonzalez.

She’ll now oversee over a group of radio brands comprised of WHYI-FM “Y-100,” WBGG-FM “Big 105.9,” WZTU-FM “Tú 94.9,” WIOD-AM 610, WMIA-FM “Totally 93.9,” WMIB-FM 103.5 “The Beat, FM translators “The Bull” and “Throwback Miami,” Black Information Network (BIN)-affiliated WXBN-AM 880, and Sports WINZ-AM.

Gonzalez will report to Linda Byrd, Division President for iHeartMedia.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to promote Shari into her first Market President role,” Byrd said. “In the short time that we have worked together, I have seen her competitiveness, work ethic and ability to move her team in the direction we need to go. Shari has the experience and smarts to make a great Market President of iHeartMedia Miami/Fort Lauderdale. She will be a great leader in one of our most important markets.”

Gonzalez first rose to prominence in the radio industry as a General Sales Manager and Director of Sales for CBS Radio’s former Washington, D.C., radio stations, now a part of Audacy (formerly Entercom).

Previously, she spent 15 years in sales and leadership at WMAL-AM 630 in Washington, D.C., today a Cumulus Media station that was once a ABC Radio O&O. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Gonzalez was an account executive for WJZE-FM “Jazzy 100,” which morphed from WDJY-FM “DJ 100,” an early prototype of the rhythmic Top 40 format. She began her career at DJ 100; WJZE was sold by Colfax to an iHeart predecessor, becoming Oldies WBIG-FM.

“I am honored and thrilled for this opportunity,” Gonzalez said. “To continue to work with and now lead this incredible portfolio of brands and this ‘best-in-class’ team of talented, passionate colleagues is a dream come true. Miami/Fort Lauderdale is experiencing a boom like no other market in the country and the South Florida market is filled with a culture and uniqueness that is second to none. As our market continues to grow as a multi-cultural, global economic and entertainment destination, we at iHeartMedia Miami/Fort Lauderdale remain committed to being the largest and most meaningful connection to millions in South Florida.”

If the name Searchlight Capital Partners sounds familiar to you, it is because the private investment firm founded by Wade Davis in January 2021 — through its Searchlight III UTD and ForgeLight units — grabbed a majority stake of Univision Holdings.

The purchase placed Davis in the CEO slot, some seven months after Searchlight completed its acquisition of Frontier Communications‘ operations and assets in the Pacific Northwest, creating Ziply Fiber.

Now, Searchlight, led by Davis associate Eric Zinterhofer, has selected a new Partner who also become a prospective board member of “a number of Searchlight’s existing investments in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors.”

It puts a former FCC Chairman in the slot.

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KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY — A Munich-based digital technology firm with a regional office in the U.S. that works with such companies as ViacomCBS and Discovery has forged a collaboration agreement with a company controlled by one of the busiest buyers in broadcast TV today: Byron Allen.

Allen-controlled Weather Group Television LLC, parent of The Weather Channel and OTT subscription service Local now, will now see tech support in digital product development from intive.

Specifically, intive will support the media group with digital services including consulting, design, product strategy, development, and quality assurance. “The collaboration will help bring the Weather Group in a position to advance their digital portfolio, tap into their OTT potential and drive further digital growth,” intive says.

Local Now SVP/GM Michael Senzon comments, “Going forward, it was crucial for us to find a trustworthy technology partner who would help us make the most of our digital portfolio. In intive we’ve found the perfect mix of domain-specific expertise and design and engineering excellence.”

— Additional reporting from the RBR+TVBR European News Desk

Shulins Solutions, known for its monitor, control and protection products for use at transmission sites and its broadcast consulting services, has completed the installation of its Stellar Eclipse broadcast site monitor and protection system.

It includes VSWR Sentinel to protect four FM radio stations and their shared antenna and combining systems.

Shared common antenna sites often with complex combining networks demand monitoring and protection beyond a simple remote control. To protect these significant investments, broadcasters need a proactive solution to not only provide next level of monitoring, logging and control, but a comprehensive VSWR system for maximum protection.

According to Shulins, Stellar Eclipse with VSWR Sentinel technology was installed to protect and monitor transmission system operations by constantly monitoring the VSWR on all inputs and outputs to the combiner system and refreshing these values many times every second. Anytime a VSWR is detected that exceeds a preset threshold, hard relay interlock
relays are controlled that can open interlocks on connected transmitters. RF power is then removed from the system when an unsafe condition exists, thereby saving the systems from costly damage.

Stellar Ellipse also provides unique cloud-based monitoring of many shared systems often overlooked in an individual stations remote control, Shulins adds.

Visit www.shulinssolutions.com for more information.

LOS ANGELES — A company known for its broadcast and video production audio monitoring productions has brought to market a second-generation headphone designed for monitoring dialogue on production sets.

As broadcast TV increases its own self-produced offerings, it’s a piece of technology perhaps worthy of an acquisition.

Introducing the Scene Monitor headphone from Halter Technical LLC.

The newly released Scene Monitor (HTSM2) boasts a single-sided cable, speakers that, and compatibility with all radios and listening devices with a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack.

Other new features include a headband that is now reinforced throughout to provide long-lasting durability. The cable is dual-shielded to prevent breakage. The upgraded earpads provide everybody on set with a luxury feel. And, the Stereo drivers are improved to equip all listeners with the fidelity and clarity that production demands.

For additional information, visit the company online at www.haltertechnical.com.

The NAB Leadership Foundation announced the 2021 Technology Ambassador Program (TAP) cohort’s graduation from the six-month education and training series. TAP provides training and education on the technological advancements that are growing the broadcast media industry. The list of graduates is available on NABFoundation.org.

During the program, Ambassadors earned Amazon AWS and SBE certifications and learned directly from experts on topics such as NextGen TV, voice demand and radio programming, cloud computing in broadcast and IP networking fundamentals. They also provided insight and participated in focus groups to help develop the next engineering and technology education programs.

“We are excited to present this year’s diverse class to the broadcasting industry,” says NAB Leadership Foundation president Michelle Duke. “We are confident that their great talents will continue to bring innovation and new ideas to our industry.”

Sponsors of this year’s program include Amazon AWS, Sinclair, TVNewsCheck and others.

The 2021 Technology Ambassador Program graduates are:

• Rucha Athavale, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Asheeta Bothra, University of Virginia
• Chase Browning, University of Virginia
• Allison Burns, Appalachian State University
• Mario Chapa, University of Texas – San Antonio
• Maria Depasquale, George Washington University
• Alma Duderija, Loyola University Chicago
• Rebecca Hamilton, Bates Technical College
• Roniecia Harris, Arizona State University
• Krystal Holland, New York University
• Selah Konur, Omega Studios School of Applied Recording Arts and Sciences
• Joshua Li, University of California, Los Angeles
• Maria Marmora, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Zachary Neace, Western Kentucky University
• Wynter Pero, Omega Studios School of Applied Recording Arts and Sciences
• Angelina Plaza, New Mexico State University
• Jon Sanelli, Hofstra University
• Andrew Saturnino, Union County College
• James Shonubi, Morgan State University
• Rachel Stapholz, Arizona State University

The next class of the Technology Ambassador Program will launch in October 2021, at NAB Show in Las Vegas. Those pursuing a degree or attending technical school focused on a related subject are encouraged to apply.

Instreamatic, known for its voice AI platform designed to manage, measure and monetize the “conversations between brand and consumer,” has successfully concluded a Series A funding fundraising effort.

Progress Ventures led the round, joined by Accomplice and Google Assistant Investments.

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The owner of a Class A FM radio station serving a rural portion of the Rocky Mountains has agreed to assign this property, along with its four FM translators, to one of Colorado’s largest non-commercial licensees.

To make it happen, this non-comm operator is trading an AM serving the city of Pueblo, along with its FM translator.

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In 1959, a 23-year-old up-and-coming disc jockey from Haverhill, Mass., took on the role of morning co-host for a legendary Top 40 radio station owned by Gordon McLendon serving North Texas. He’d go by the name “Irv Harrigan” — a name used by other air personalities over the next 25 years as part of other incarnations of the Charlie & Harrigan program.

This voice, however, would go on to a notable career at KVIL and, later, at KLUV before retiring in June 2005.

Now, the Radio industry has lost one of its most beloved air personalities for all time, as Ron Chapman has died. He was 85, the Dallas Morning News reports.

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On April 13, Univision Communications revealed that, after years of rumors, it had reached an agreement with Mexico media pioneer Televisa that will result in the combination of the two multimedia conglomerates.

To create the binational radio, TV and digital giant, investors were brought to the table. They include the SoftBank Latin America Fund, The Raine Group and Google, with a combined $1 billion infusion from these entities agreed to.

It appears Google’s involvement with what will become Televisa-Univision goes beyond a simple investment.

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