4-28-15
Diann Hodges, news anchor with KLBJ-AM/Austin, was recognized by the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters for "Best Newscast Division A" at an event held this past weekend. Hodge's award-winning newscast, which occurred on September 12, 2014, beat all other entries from major radio markets including Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
More information and a recording of the winning newscast can be found here.
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4-10-15
That's is the subject of FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly's blog this week. O'Reilly says the truth about pirates are they are not cute; they are not filling a niche; they are not innovation test beds; and they are not training grounds for future broadcasters. "If broadcasting were a garden, pirate radio would be poisonous crabgrass. Put another way, pirate radio participants are similar to outlaws who rob a retail store and then sell the stolen inventory online. Everyone should agree that pirate radio stations ? by any definition ? are completely illegal."
(4/10/2015 10:45:38 AM)
Don't you mean "Really incoherent?" Mr. O'Reilly's comments are right on the money. I'll draw another parallel. Pirates are like tax cheats. Oh, wait. That's another thing they already are.
(4/10/2015 9:50:06 AM)
So your solution is to encourage more litigation? Wow... there's a REAL TRAILBLAZER?! Not really. When will this clown offer something, unique and bold, instead of trying to make headlines for tired,old tactics.
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2-12-2015
The FCC released a public notice on Wednesday announcing the first set of EEO audits for the year. Letters to over 250 radio and TV stations were sent by the agency requesting evidence of compliance with the FCC's EEO rules. The Broadcast Law Blog notes that 5 percent of all broadcasters and cable systems will be sent an audit every year.
The audit letter being sent by the FCC requires all stations with five or more full-time employees to provide information about their EEO programs and recruiting efforts. One good resource if you have questions regarding compliance with the EEO rules, The Broadcast Law Blog has an excellent post on meeting EEO compliance here.
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6-12-14
As the performance fee battle forges forward to June 25, "Charles Warfield Day" on the Hill, the NAB has announced that two more members of the House of Representatives have signed on to The Local Radio Freedom Act. Illinois' Cheri Bustos, and Peter DeFazio from Oregon, are now onboard opposing any new performance charge aimed at radio stations. 224 House members and 15 Senators now support the Act.
5-28-14
Traditionally, the New York State Broadcasters Association Conference and awards dinner has been held at the Sagamore Hotel on Lake George in upstate New York. This year the event will be held June 12 and 13 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. It's the 52nd year for the conference and the 2014 theme is "Generation Competition." Kacey Musgraves will perform at the Hall of Fame awards dinner which will be hosted by Faith Jenkins. WFAN's Mike Francessa will be one of six broadcasters inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Here is the complete list of the 2014 inductees to be honored at a luncheon on June 13th.
John Cooper ? Legendary radio broadcaster in the Capital Region and Syracuse
Nancy Duffy ? Pioneering TV reporter and journalist in Syracuse
Mike Francesa ? Legendary radio sports show host at WFAN in New York City and around the nation.
Marty Glickman ? Pioneer sportscaster in New York City
Chris Musial - Long time TV station manager at WIVB-TV in Buffalo
Marvin Scott ? The dean of TV journalists at WPIX in New York City
For a biography of each inductees visit our website at http://www.nysbroadcasters.org/
3-18-14
Community Broadcasters, which owns 15 stations in upstate New York, is owned by Jim Leven and Bruce Mittman. The company has made several staff changes including the hiring of Bob Walton (pictured). Walton is the new Operations Manager for the company in Elmira where and will oversee the five stations in that market.
Leven said there were additional changes. ?We?re happy to announce the elevation of Bruice Sermonis from Senior Account Manager to Local Sales Manager at our 5 radio stations in Elmira-Corning (WNKI-FM,106.1; WNGZ-FM,104.9; WPGI-FM, 100.9; WWLZ-AM,820; and WRCE-AM,1490). Bruice has done a superb job for us here at Community Broadcasters and we want to see him excel even further in his radio career. This promotion will provide him with that opportunity. We?re also delighted to announce the promotion of Chase Daniels to the position of new Assistant Program Director at WNKI-FM, 106.1 which is our #1 Hit Music Station. Chase will continue as the on-air afternoon host on the station; but our confidence in him is so extraordinary, we elevated him into this management position.? Roger McNall has also joined Community Broadcasters as the Digital Product Manager.
3-13-14
That was one of the big questions put to several Hispanic Radio CEOs at the Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference in San Diego this week. It's no secret the Hispanic population is one of the most digital-savvy segments in America, and with Nielsen gearing up to start offering online ratings, it's crucial Hispanic broadcasters are ready to deliver their product in every way possible. What plans do the CEOs of radio's major Hispanic companies have to pull more listeners in?
The "Group Heads" session was moderated by Hispanic broadcast pioneer Eduardo Caballero and included Jeffery Liberman, COO of Entravision, Christine McMurray, President of the Davidson Media Group, Jay Meyers, CEO of Adelante Media Group, and Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of R Communications.
Entravision's Liberman said that there are several things that can be done. First, HD Radio. ?You can add additional channels that can target and serve different parts of the population.? Liberman says succeeding at digital also means bringing the advertiser along. ?Entravision is now providing clients different ways to advertise to the Latino population, such as search engine optimization, audio content streaming, texting campaigns, and display advertising using big data.
R Communications' Rodriguez said Hispanic operators need to develop new methods of distribution to pull in more listeners. ?Radio reaches consumers all times of the day, and they are avid users of social media. Big companies have developed new channels of media distribution; smaller operators have to also offer this to be cost-effective. Hispanics are finding ways to connect with each other, and new media is extremely important to reach this group.?
Davidson's McMurray said it's important to be knee-deep in social media as well. ?We?ve got to stay on top of the trends because this is where our Hispanic audiences live. So if Hispanic broadcasters are going to be successful, we?ve got to be involved with social media because 90 percent of our audiences live there.? McMurray said her company is developing a Spanish version of Groupon for listeners. She emphasized that what Hispanic operators have that the general market does not, is a far better connection with listeners through social media platforms. ?We have a better opportunity than anybody to reach our listeners.?
Adelante's Meyers said digital is only going to help grow new revenue. ?Hispanic operators will have an edge because new media is a platform Hispanics embrace as a part of their lifestyle.?
Rosemary Scott, EVP Rsearch for R Communications contributed to this story
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11-5-13
Delaware Radio Technologies and Wyncomm have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against most of the large broadcasters that are now using HD radio. While any lawsuit has to be taken seriously, many affected by this suit say this is S.O.P. for entities, also known as patent trolls, to file a lawsuit and hope for a settlement, rather than an injunction to stop the technology. Broadcast attorney John Garziglia tells Radio Ink the patents appear to relate more to using copper wire for telephone modems than they do to HD Radio.
The suit claims, "defendant, including its affiliates, has directly infringed and continues to directly infringe, both literally and under the doctrine of equivalents one or more claims of the '866 Patent through its transmission of radio broadcasts using HD radio transmission techniques further described in the IBOC Digital Radio Broadcasting Standard." iBiquiity CEO Bob Struble tells Radio Ink, We are aware of the lawsuit and are in close communication with the effected broadcasters on the issue."
We reached out to attorney Bill Ragland, from the law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice in Atlanta for comment. Ragland specializes in patent litigation and we asked him what broadcasters should do if they are broadcasting on HD channels.
Ragland (pictured left) says it's too soon to tell whether DRT and Wyncomm will sue or demand license fees from small broadcasters. "If a broadcaster does receive notice of a lawsuit or even a demand letter, they should consider contacting an attorney with patent litigation experience. Like the patents involved in the MAD lawsuit, the three patents asserted by DRT and Wyncomm are quite old. Two of the DRT/Wyncomm patents expire on November 15, 2013 and the other one expires in June 2014. It is not unusual for so-called ?patent trolls? to file suit when the term of the patent is nearly over. In such cases, the patent holder seeks royalties from the alleged infringement rather a court order stopping the alleged infringement. DRT and Wyncomm have not sought an injunction prohibiting the broadcasters it sued from using the equipment at issue."
Radio companies named in the suit include Cumulus, Townsquare, Univision, Beasley, CBS Radio, Clear Channel, Cox, Entercom, Entravision, Greater Media, Hubbard, Radio Disney, Radio One and Saga.
(11/6/2013 7:31:17 AM)
Sounds like Wyncomm has a very strong case. If they win, I wonder if the settlement would extend to any new HD Radio stations in the future. Let's say that Brazil converts to HD, could Wyncomm sue them too? This is very bad news for iBiquity and any future for HD.
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9-18-13
NAB CEO Gordon Smith told Radio Show attendees Wednesday that investing in innovation is crucial to the long-term growth of the industry -- and one of those innovations is the FM chip for cell phones. Just watching people walk the hallways or sit in sessions, it's clear the cell phone has become an extension of the human body. Most agree that if radio had a perrmanent position on the face of every cell phone, that would be very beneficial to the industry as a whole.
Of course, Smith mentioned the importance of local radio being on and available to communities in times of tragedy and disaster, which unfortunately, we hear about every year in this country. An FM chip delivers radio without the need of a stream, so your local station will always be there, over the air, when listeners need it most. Smith said the FM chip technology, now also being referred to as "hybrid FM radio," benefits consumers and provides many opportunities for broadcasters and manufacturers. NAB Labs has been instrumental in helping produce the product that Sprint would eventually buy into and put in its phones.
Smith also gave credit to Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan, who, he said, pioneered the FM chip effort; he added, "and, like many unsung pioneer heroes, he has taken his share of arrows in the back to bring this initiative to the forefront of the radio business." Smulyan, according to Smith, had additional help on the FM chip initiative from Hubbard Radio's Bruce Reese and Ginny Morris and Cromwell CEO Bud Walters. Smith believes that getting the chips in all phones is yet another way to increase the influence of the radio industry.
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It was standing room only at the Connected Car Super Session in Orlando Thursday as broadcasters try to understand where auto manufacturers are headed with the dash and what consumers want when they sit behind the wheel. Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs and Strategy Analytics Associate Director Robert Lanctot (pictured) gave an extremely detailed presentation on the topic of the connected car. The question broadcasters want to know the answer to: What should and can they do to make sure they maintain the stranglehold on the dashboard they've had for so long? We spoke to Lanctot after the presentation and asked him to help you better understand where things are headed. LISTEN HERE.
What was particularly interesting in the presentation Jacobs and Lanctot made was how difficult it is becoming for consumers -- your listeners -- to find their local radio station on all the new infotainment systems being installed by auto manufacturers. There are fewer and fewer knobs, and much more sophisticated screens already rolling out today, with many more expected in the future. Cars are truly becoming smartphones on wheels.
Where radio can make an impact is with local dealerships. That's really the mesh point or interface between the manufacturer and the consumer. And, it's where radio already has strong relationships. Some dealers are holding monthly clinics to explain to new car buyers how to use these new systems. As Fred Jacobs said, "Dealers are dancing with consumers no more than ever."
JOIN JACOBS MEDIA AND RADIO INK AT THE DASH CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 23-24 AT THE WESTIN DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT.
Jacobs and Lanctot had several recommendations for radio as everyone heads into this unknown territory:
- Drive a connected car. Get the experience of a connected car and understand what your listeners are dealing with.
- Partner with local dealerships. Understand their needs and what they are dealing with. Not only are they training consumers, they're training their people how to train consumers. And with turnover in the car business, it's a never-ending project. What if you were that expert?
- Attend a connected car conference. Let auto manufacturers know you are excited about this space by going to the conferences they attend.
- Rethink HD Radio. OEMs believe in HD Radio. It almost appears as though they believe in it more than some in the radio industry believe in it. HD rRdio helps bring the dash to life for your station. Album art, weather, traffic, and other features are a plus if you want your spot on the future dash.
If you were to rank the three topics creating the most buzz at this year's radio show in Orlando, the connected car would certainly be one of them. Perhaps the top one. The days of an AM/FM radio with a CD player and a few knobs are long gone. The question that remains is how serious broadcasters are about making their place on the dash as compelling as those fighting for a new spot.
DASH Conference
October 23-24
Detroit, MI
Information and to register: www.dashconference.com.
9-4-13
The Nevada Broadcasters Foundation raised $40,000 for the Tony and Linda Bonnici Broadcasters Scholarship Program during its auctions, which took place in conjunction with the Nevada Broadcasters Association's Hall of Fame Gala in August. More than 600 people attended the event held at the Red Rock Casino. Fundraising chairman Eric Bonnici credits "the generosity of Nevada's television and radio stations together with so many businesses throughout the state who donated items for this year's successful auctions." Pictured here are two of the attendees admiring the most popular ?item? in the live auction, a terrier mix donated by the Animal Foundation.
8-28-13
It hasn't even happened yet and there's already concern across the country about the rumored deal between Cumulus and Dial Global. Small-market broadcasters across the U.S. are starting to grumble that their programming choices are about to be limited. If Cumulus purchases Dial Global, expect small-market broadcasters to organize and oppose this deal. Specifically, there's a concern about the 24/7 music formats. Both Dial Global and Cumulus Media Networks offer 24/7 music programming, which gives smaller-market stations a choice, and other options if a competitor in the market offers similar programming.
Many well-known small market broadcasters, that will be seen walking the hallways at the Radio Show next month in Orlando, are not happy with the deal about to come down. One said, "this just blows me away. Yes, there are conflicts of interest. Politically, we can make this an issue." They worry about the quality of the product if everything were to be moved under the Cumulus umbrella. And several other issues were expressed by these operators.
Another concern would be the lack of competition on price or service fees, and choice would be limited, with duplicate formats possibly being eliminated to save money. "Collapsing formats could cause us some problems," one small-market operator told us. Another said, "It certainly gives me pause as to how involved I want to be going forward." There is a possibility some operators will take their concerns to the DOJ if this deal does go through.
(8/30/2013 12:31:19 AM)
Where is it written that bigger companies running everything in America are good for America? Radio doesn't need another Wal-Mart! Still possible thanks to Presidents Reagan & Clinton, the NAB & FCC... partners who brought you deregulation, consolidation, and Wall Street control. Maybe the Biggies will all go "bust", once again creating opportunities to get our industry back, e.g., what CC paid for & then had to sell its Yakima, WA,radio stations for. Look it up! Change changes everything! --Gif
(8/30/2013 12:24:20 AM)
Where is it written that bigger companies running everything in America are good for America? Radio doesn't need another Wal-Mart...still possible thanks to Presidents Reagan & Clinton, the NAB; the FCC,...partners who brought you deregulation, consolidation, and Wall Street. Maybe the Biggies will all go "bust", once again creating opportunities to get our industry back, e.g., what CC paid for & then had to sell their Yakima, WA radio radio stations for. Change changes everything! --Giff
(8/29/2013 3:22:18 PM)
Hedge Funds are driving all of this stuff. Do you really know who owns the local TV stations you watch at night? Everybody with a 'fund' is participating, even in the money losing schemes, hoping for that White Knight. I'm just a lowly station owner, but if I were Cumulus, I'd put everyone at the same satellite uplink I could, declare I'm a Common Carrier, taking all customers...then split off the satellite business with an IPO, make a Billion or Two, and pay down debt. Same Hedge Fund, too!
(8/29/2013 12:39:03 PM)
Both companies have already proved they can't run
a businesses profitably. Fight it, small markets!
--Giff
(8/29/2013 11:38:34 AM)
A great time to go "Live and Local" for real. Hire some local people to host music/local banter shows. Forget the polished announcers who have nothing to say but "Now 99".
But you'll need greatly increased revenues, of course. Quit playing with web sites and such. Sell radio ads, as many as you can. Raise rates. No limits on "inventory". Hire 10 salespeople.
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8-16-13
Beasley Las Vegas VP/GM Tom Humm will be honored by the Nevada Broadcasters Association with its Lifetime Achievement award at the NBA?s18th annual gala tomorrow night. NBA CEO Bob Fischer said, ?Tom?s career is one that anyone would be proud to call their own. During his 35 years of dedication to broadcasting in our community, he has epitomized honesty, integrity and going the extra mile. That is, no doubt, exemplified by his extensive client list, many of whom have been with him during much of his career.?
During his 35 years in the broadcasting industry, Tom Humm has been a part of numerous teams of broadcasters who have provided more than $50 million in public service announcements and appearances for charitable and youth organizations. Humm also played a pivotal role in the formation and professionalization of the Nevada Broadcasters Association. He turned 60 on Friday.
Humm worked his way up from being an account executive at 98.5 KLUC in 1978 to becoming general manager of KXTZ 94.1 FM in 1984, a position he held until 1991, at which time he departed to become the general manager of KEYV/KFMS. He returned to KLUC as general manager in 1993 under Nationwide Communications, which sold its radio properties to American Radio Systems; as a result, Humm inherited the general manager duties of KLUC, KVEG (now KXNT), and KXNO (now KXST).
On June 4, 1998, CBS acquired American Radio System?s six Las Vegas radio properties, transferring Humm to KMZQ/KMXB as GM and market manager of the six CBS Las Vegas stations. He then left CBS in 2008 to assume the duties of market manager for Beasley Broadcasting, which owns and operates KKLZ-FM, KCYE-FM, and KDWN-AM.
In September of 2010, Beasley Broadcasting assumed the management oversight of GGB stations, KOAS-FM and KVGS-FM, and Humm was assigned GM responsibilities of those stations as well as given a long-term contract.
Established in 1961, the Nevada Broadcasters Association is dedicated to protecting, promoting, enhancing and strengthening Nevada?s broadcast industry to more effectively serve the public.
7-16-13
The CBS Radio President and CEO and three others are added to The Broadcasters Foundation of America Board of Directors. Mason is joined by Cox Media President Bill Hoffman, CobbCorp President Brian Cobb, and E.W. Scripps Senior VP Brian Lawlor. The foundation also added one new officer, Katz Television Group President and CEO Leo MacCourtney.
7-2-13
The NAB's Vice President of Communications Ann Marie Cumming has written another blog addressing the power of local broadcasting, highlighting the extraordinary efforts broadcasters made to help friends and neighbors following the devastation of the tornado in Moore, OK. Her blog includes a 6-minute mini-documentary with never-before-seen footage and testimonials from KJ103-FM, KATT-FM and KMGL-FM. Read the blog HERE
6-3-2013
I learned about the Testicle Festival. More on that later?
Don Hicks, the outgoing MBA Executive Director of 29 years, told me Friday night, ?We wanted to have an NAB/RAB-type show on an MBA budget.? Just so you know?the MBA pays full freight and it shows. Eighty-two categories of awards as well as Hall of Fame inductees. Their goal is to give TV and radio stations recognition and rewards for giving airtime to MBA sponsors such as the National Guard. Their convention, in my opinion, is one of the best in the country. They had 320 people at their awards show on Saturday night and sessions packed on Friday and Saturday.
This was the sales 4 X 100 relay going into the MBA convention:
-- 1st leg: Brian Dodge. Amazing speaker out of Dallas. He?s hard to catch coming out of the blocks.
-- 2nd leg: Chris Lytle. The ?god? of broadcast sales training. Twenty-two hundred seminars in 30 years.
-- 3rd leg: Michael Lee. Social media sales, marketing, and trends.
-- Anchor: Sean Luce. Try bringing home that baton on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and you?re the only thing going -- at a resort at Ozark Lake, Missouri, no less -- when you've had those three legs of the relay running in front of you! Remember, you?re only as good as your last sale.
Here are some of the things I learned from attending the convention and during my seminar. Even though you are speaking, you can polish up on the things you know and need to be reminded of; and also you?re never too old to learn some new things, even if they do have to do with testicles.
Brian Dodge: We forget that money doesn?t buy loyalty. We think by paying people so much money they will be loyal to us. I forget this sometimes also. Money doesn?t buy loyalty. Also, the 21-day re-programming came from World War 1 where it took 21 days to recondition the soldier?s minds after they had body parts amputated. They had to get used to not having their arms and legs since they didn?t have the modern medicine to help save those parts. So, if you want to re-program anything you do in life, it takes 21 days to create a new neuro-pathway or a good new habit.
Chris Lytle: In 1986, my first year in broadcast sales -- I?m dating myself now -- I was sent to a Chris Lytle seminar in San Antonio, Texas, at the Ramada Inn. I was one of the people who took one thing out of his seminar that day. I took the ?why advertise checklist? and thought??that makes sense.? Get your clients to check off what they want you to do, rather than you sell some ?package? down their throats. A version of that ?marketing checklist? is the staple in our CMPs (customer marketing profiles) that are used by media companies all over the world now. Thank you Chris Lytle!
On Saturday morning:
1) Speechless at your own seminar: I?ve never been speechless at my own seminar?ever. I was speechless on Saturday morning. Typically, in my seminars, after the first break, when people start to filter back, I have a segment where I ask the audience what is the most embarrassing thing that?s ever happened to you on a sales call. I always preempt them by saying that I can beat any of their stories. At my Bakersfield, California, 1998 seminar I had just bought a new wireless wrap-around microphone and when I broke the attendees up into case study groups, I then went to use the restroom. I of course had left the microphone on and everyone could hear me. Try coming back into the auditorium after you did that? Nothing but very loud giggling.
On Saturday morning, one of my attendees, Shantel from Columbia, Missouri, told a story about what made her the most embarrassed on a sales call. Shantel was celebrating her first true customer needs analysis ? she'd just started selling radio. She?d also served in the military after graduating from the University of Missouri. It?s hard to describe this story without a picture of Shantel. Shantel will now be permanently in Sean Luce seminars under the most embarrassing thing ever done. I just need a pic or a video so you?ll understand the story. Shantel can really rip it!
2) The Testicle Festival: We encounter 250 to 5,000 advertising messages each day, according to "Advertising Age" magazine. What ads do you remember from yesterday? Not many! Maybe you can remember one or two? The point being that your advertisers need to be on your media consistently because people forget what they encounter every day.
I asked this question to the audience on Saturday morning. One person fired back, Kelley Foust from a Joplin TV station: ?I remember the signage on the highway driving here for the Testicle Festival. That was it?just one person could remember one ad out of a group of 80 media reps. I laughed. It was also the only ad I remembered from the day before. I thought how strange that festival must be. Though, it was the 20th Testicle Festival.
Make sure your ads rise above the clutter because, as the signage says inside the festival (complete with pictures) coming back Saturday night, ?Size does matter! ? Remember, this is the ?Show-Me State? we?re talking about -- Missouri!
Sean Luce is the Head International Instructor for the Luce Performance Group and can be reached at sean@luceperformancegroup.com or at www.luceperformancegroup.com.
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1-31-2013
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed into law a bill that ensures Illinois? broadcasters and cable operators can earn emergency credentials necessary to gain access to their operations, and recognizes the importance of allowing the delivery of fuel necessary to power their facilities? emergency generators during times of disasters.
Illinois Broadcasters Association CEO Dennis Lyle said, ?Illinois? brave first responders have always known they can depend on their dedicated local broadcasters to assist them in disseminating critical information to the masses, regardless of the disaster or emergency,?
The ?First Informer Broadcasters Act,? sponsored by Illinois State Representative John Bradley and Illinois State Senators Antonio Munoz and Kirk Dillard, passed 114-0 in the House early last Spring, and by a vote of 50-0 this January. With the stroke of the Governor?s pen, the Act becomes effective immediately. The IBA (Illinois Broadcasters Association) now begins the process of working with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in identifying and creating a training curriculum that broadcast and cable operator personnel will have to complete before earning emergency credentials.
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1-23-2013
One of the bigger announcements coming out of CES last week was from the Ford Motor Company saying that they have opened up their dashboard to app developers everywhere who want to enable their apps for in-vehicle use. Not just news for radio broadcasters, the newly announced Ford Developer Program was named CES? ?Best in Automotive? by Engadget. Now, Ford?s Developer Program opens up their dashboard for any broadcaster or app developer to achieve in-vehicle connectivity. Broadcasters can apply at developer.ford.com.
Over 1,000 developers have signed up in the first three days the Ford link was open. In addition to your ability to interface directly with Ford via the link above, the very first authorized development partner on the developer site is JacApps, so Ford is also giving you this resource if you?d rather go that route.
Ford?s Scott Burnell, Global Lead for Business Development & Partner Management had this advice for radio broadcasters: ?Go to the link and create a profile for yourself. You?ll see the program overview, what we?re looking for, what it requires to work with us, and what is appropriate content. In addition to your current radio app, Ford invites innovation. Broadcasters can now create new applications for the vehicle based on these new resources that allow for innovation.?
Burnell also clarifies how your radio app appears on the car dashboard. ?We don?t actually put the apps in the car dashboard. Your station app is still running on the user?s smart phone device. Ford simply locks out the user?s device screen and then we extend command and control from the application running on the mobile device to the vehicle controls such as voice command, steering wheel buttons, and radio buttons. This takes the device out of the hand of the driver in the vehicle, keeping drivers? eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.?
The message from Ford is loud and clear. They hope broadcasters will embrace technology and own their listeners on this new platform. Listeners and car drivers both use technology and radio, so this is a beautiful marriage of radio and vehicle that is very natural. Broadcasters need to first embrace the shift in radio listening via streaming and mobile apps, but then this is a way to keep listeners listening in a responsible way in the vehicle.
Also, through a station?s mobile app, time shifting of content via podcasts or other archived contact becomes a real opportunity. As Burnell said, the driver might say ?mobile apps/WRIF/Drew and Mike? and the next thing you hear are podcasts from Drew and Mike on WRIF. Radio time shifting in the car is here.
One tidbit that was lost in the excitement is that Ford has also opened their dashboard API to all other automobile manufacturers, which has received tremendous early response from other OEMs. Therefore, an industry-wide solution is now possible if Ford?s AppLink is embraced by the other automakers.
Given Ford?s leadership position in telematics, that was only advanced even more by their new AppLink program, broadcasters would be wise to understand Ford?s AppLink and work with the market leader. Ford?s latest slogan, ?Go Further,? couldn?t be better named for broadcasters.
Mike Henry is the CEO of Paragon Media Strategies and can be reached at mhenry@paragonmediastrategies.com
(1/23/2013 4:47:39 AM)
What about Bob Struble's shit technology?
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12-4-2012
One of the most important organizations in broadcasting is reaching out for a few "guardians." The Broadcasters Foundation of America has helped so many of our colleagues during a critical time of their lives, some have fallen on very hard times. The organization couldn't be there for those broadcasters in need without the generous donations of so many of you.
Some broadcasters now being helped by the Broadcasters Foundation have had illustrious and successful careers until they were overtaken in the prime of their lives by sudden catastrophic illness or a debilitating stroke for which their families were ill-prepared. Incredibly and sadly, many were without health insurance or government assistance of any kind. Some almost destitute. Your support also helps assist widows struggling to hold shattered families together following the untimely death of a spouse.
If you can, please support the work of the Broadcasters Foundation so they can keep doing the incredible work they do for our colleagues by making a donation today.
Please send whatever you can to the national office in New York City c/o our President Jim Thompson.
Here is the address:
THE BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION of AMERICA
Guardian Fund
125 W# 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
#Individual and Corporate contributions are fully deductible and may be made to the Guardian Fund of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, the broadcasting industry's officially certified and registered 501#c# 3 national Public Charity.#
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8-24-2012
(by Ed Ryan) A "significant representation" of the radio industry using ad-insertion for their online streams is seriously considering abandoning the technology and replacing it with their over-the-air signals. The announcement that Apple has a patent that may eventually be able to remove ads from a stream may push these groups to decide to make the switch sooner rather than later, but that's not the only reason. Streaming has become a very hot topic among many broadcasters and that is sure to continue at the Radio Show in Dallas next month. Here's what we know about what's being discussed now.
While broadcasters know they need to be everywhere consumers want them to be, losing gobs of money to be there is not something they signed up for. They say when ad-insertion technology is used it degrades the sound of their radio stations, turning off consumers. Streaming has become a very expensive cost of doing business and the reward for doing so has not yet paid off. For most, the fees paid to SoundExchange and the cost of bandwidth alone make streaming a losing proposition. When you tack on the cost of the technology paid out to make ad-insertion a part of a radio station stream, it adds to the financial headache.
All of those expenses add up before local salespeople or a rep firm even pitches a digital package. And, let's face it, in the grand scheme of things, the online listening numbers for an individual station don't even compare to over-the-air broadcasts. Radio's biggest listening numbers still remain in the car, in the home and through a traditional signal. And, as we've written before, until a reliable, easy-to-understand, and easy to pitch ratings system is invented for all of radio, online numbers, for most, are just a guessing game. Radio reps need to be able to easily present a combination of numbers to advertisers and that's what broadcasters are waiting for. "Here's what you get over-the-air. Here's what you get online. Here's the price."
A large number of broadcasters, meeting informally about once every month, has a list of concerns about ad-insertion technology that's pushing them closer and closer to flipping the switch to their over-the-air signal. The transitions are clunky and often the levels do not match when a stopset concludes and the music starts. When stopsets are not filled with paid ads they have to be filled with something. Smokey The Bear has been making a big comeback online. Nothing sounds worse than 7 minutes of Public Service Announcements in a row. And, the revenue is just not there yet. Despite being bullish on digital, and broadcasters touting big revenue percentage increases, that number is still small. At the local level, it's nearly impossible to know for sure if a digital dollar is a real digital dollar or if that dollar would have been spent over-the-air anyway.
Years ago, the issue of running a full stream of programming including commercials had to do with concerns over AFTRA talent fees (Read Broadcast Attorney John Garziglia's Blog on Streaming HERE). That concern seems nearly non-existent today and broadcasters believe they can work that out so their stations sound cleaner online.
(8/24/2012 6:37:41 AM)
Amen! I listen to WABC, New York frequently, and their ad insertion ruins the flow of the format. For a lifelong programmer and engineer, it makes me want to 'tear my ears off'. Its just clunky, and not the quality of one of the biggest stations in the country. And, when they fill with "WABC will be right" with fill-music, thats just awful. Let me hear the local ads. At least it would sound better.
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