Zell Looks To Take Control of WBEB In Philly

5-13-15

In exchange for another board member, Sam Zell is requesting the FCC transfer control of Jerry Lee's WBEB in Philadelphia. Zell is seeking three members of a larger five-member board (he now has one of three). Whether this means the station will be sold anytime soon is an unknown. Jerry Lee is one of the most beloved broadcasters in the radio industry and seen as one of the most successful independent operators. In the mid-2000's Sam Zell was the money that helped Jerry Lee as he bought out former partner Dave Kurtz. Lee paid $85,158,226. As everyone knows things came crashing down in the late 2000's

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Journal: CBS Looks to Buy Univision

6-13-14

The owners of Univision Communications are looking for a buyer and the Wall Street Journal says CBS has had preliminary discussions about a purchase. Univision owns both TV and 68 Radio stations. Univision is controlled by several investors including billionaire Haim Saban and the Journal reports the group wants $20 Billion for the company which it purchased for $13.7 Billion back in 2007. It was expected that Univision would go public in 2015. In 2013, Univision Radio generated nearly $330 million in revenue, and produced $110 million in operating income.

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NPR Looks to Cut 10% of Workforce

9-14-13

In addition to the Haaga announcement, the NPR Board of Directors approved a budget for fiscal year 2014. The organization will try to achieve a balanced budget over the next two years. The budget includes a voluntary organization-wide buyout with a goal of reducing approximately 10% of its employees. NPR said the buyouts were part of a strategy to eliminate the deficit and lower ongoing expenses.

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FCC Looks to Clarify Indecency Rules

4-2-13

Perhaps the FCC's indecency policy will not stay vague forever. The Commission is seeking public comment on whether its indecency rules are consistent with the 1st Amendment. The definition of indecency is defined so many different ways by so many different people, groups and politically motivated organizations. The request for public comment seems to at least indicate that outgoing FCC chairman Julius Genachowski has pushed the commission to consider whether changes should be made to the FCC's current broadcast indecency policies. Since September 2012, the commission has dismissed about one million indecency complaints.

Broadcast attorney John Garziglia tells Radio Ink the broadcasting community had hoped the Supreme Court would answer the question of what constitutes indecency last year. "The Supreme Court decision, however, only held that neither Fox nor ABC had sufficient notice that the fleeting use of profanity during an awards show, or the seven seconds of nude buttocks during a drama, would be deemed indecent under the FCC?s indecency restrictions. That was the easy way out." 

The Supreme Court decision specifically did not find the FCC?s indecency regulations unconstitutional nor unable to be enforced by the FCC. Garziglia says, "The Supreme Court basically punted. "That issue was the constitutionality of the entire scheme of the FCC?s regulation of broadcast indecency.  Now the issue as to what constitutes broadcast indecency is back at the FCC. The essential indecency question which the FCC will now presumably seek to answer is why the repeated broadcast of expletives in the fictional movie Saving Private Ryan is not indecent, while the same word uttered by real-life blues musicians on a public television documentary is. The good news is that the FCC is seeking the opinion of broadcasters and the public as to whether the FCC should make changes to its current broadcast indecency policies, whatever those are.  It may be time that the same content standards that apply to newspapers, cable, and the Internet, apply equally to broadcasting."

Read the FCC's Public Notice HERE

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AM Revitalization Looks to Take Step Forward

1-16-13

(by David Webster) As an advocate for the revitalization and advancement of the interests of AM broadcasters, I recently penned a letter to Matthew Berry, chief of staff for Ajit Pai, supporting WTCJ's request for FCC relaxation of FM translator moves by AM's. I have not heard back from the commission at this point and have asked Radio Ink editor Ed Ryan to share the letter WITH his readers to get additional feedback from broadcasters. Here is the letter I sent to Mr. Berry.

Mr. Berry,

Please let me extend my appreciation and gratitude to Commissioner Pai regarding his emphasis and attention towards revitalization of the AM broadcast band. To many broadcasters this was the "shot of adrenaline" they needed to renew hope and determination for the future of their broadcast livelihoods.

As most are aware, AM radio, especially smaller operators and "AM only" facilities, are more often struggling in today's environment. Levels of interference have increased dramatically, alternative entertainment choices have proliferated and audiences have become much more quality conscious in what is today a 24-hour media marketplace. AM broadcasters, faced with interference challenges, low-quality receivers, a crowded band and relegation to being mostly available during daylight hours has created a negative perception in listeners.

Commissioner Pai has proficiently made the case in investigating various new avenues to technically help those on America's first broadcast band improve their service to the public. AM power increases, going digital, AM on FM translators, creating a new service within the TV Channels 5 & 6 space or using DRM at 26 MHz (my favorite) along with new antenna designs are some of many great ideas that should seriously be considered.

These new ideas and others on the table all have merits to their advantage; however, they must be looked at and implemented from the perspective that they are "medium" to "long-term" solutions for relieving AM broadcasters current challenges.

In this regard, beyond perhaps "power increases" and "negotiated interference," the one idea that will immediately benefit AM broadcasters is their use of FM translators. FM is already compatible with current receivers in the marketplace and its propagation and technical characteristics are well known.

The steps taken by the Commission to allow AMs to broadcast on FM translators was a fantastic move and has allowed some AMs to better serve their market and quite possibly avoid going dark. FM also allows AMs to have full service at night, although many stations can and do run reduced power at night, the power levels are often so low that their signals only cover a fraction of their daytime service area. This reduced service is obviously a detriment to the operator, but I also believe it is a detriment to public service as many local stations are the last resource of information available in emergency situations. Severe storms over the last few years, including the recent SuperStorm Sandy, have revealed once again the critical role that these local broadcasters can play in times of emergency.

While the FCC steps to date in allowing AMs to rebroadcast their signals on FM translators have been a terrific boon to those broadcasters that can acquire them, there are still issues at hand. Many stations that can successfully acquire a translator often times will need to move the translator to within their primary contour, however the limitations on the distance those translators can be moved often render the move impossible. In response to the distance issue, and with the best intentions in the spirit of revitalizing the AM band, a request to the FCC Audio Division for changes has been made. As filed by Attorney John Garziglia and representing WTCJ(AM), FCC File No. BPFT-20121116ALE, provides mechanisms to relax current regulation and make the relocation of FM translators to an AM broadcasters coverage area more often possible. I fully support this filing, believe it to be in the public interest and appreciate in advance its consideration by the Commission.

Recently there has been a groundswell of interest and support in addressing the woes of AM broadcasters. AM radio has served our public well through wars, recessions, elections, tragedy and triumph. The suggestions that have been made recently show that interest in this subject has grown in interest and urgency. As commercial broadcasting is quickly approaching its "Centennial in America," it is clear that AM radio is ready for a reboot.

Again, my appreciation to Commissioner Pai and the Commission for the serious time, commitment and consideration that is being put forth on this issue; I look forward to working with all interested parties to help move this cause forward and thank you for your time.

Dave Webster
CEO
VSI|HD Media Services
Southington, CT

(1/16/2013 9:13:13 PM)
There is a great deal of affection for AM, our original form of broadcasting, but it's over. The technology is obsolete. The only AM stations with listeners are the ones that have remained relevant over the years. Once they bottom out they never come back. The only answer is an FM license be it a translator, an HD channel, or a spot on an expanded FM band. Even web streaming is preferable to AM. It's a dead horse.
(1/16/2013 2:43:15 PM)
Below is a portion of the letter I sent to the Commissioners...

I write to tell you of a minor miracle that WMRC has pulled off here in our small market of Milford, Massachusetts. WMRC is a stand-alone 1KW station under the Boston, Worcester, and Providence umbrella’s. Each day we face more and more competition from Satellite Radio, Internet Radio, and Digital Media throughout the market. If that’s not enough, our signal is increasingly under attack from new technologies which make it ever harder to serve our communities with the local news, weather, sports, and public affairs programming they’ve come to rely on.

In the face of all of these obstacles, WMRC has just been selected as the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association Station of the Year for the fourth time!!! Our dedication to LOCALISM is what makes us great, but it’s getting tougher and tougher to keep up the fight.

I’m aware of the effort at the FCC to “Revitalize the AM Broadcast Stations of the County”, and this is welcome news to broadcasters like myself. I truly love what I do, and I’d like to keep doing it for the next 50 years, but without your help, that may not be the case.

There is presently a waiver request (the Tell City Waiver request) pending at the FCC (File No. BPFT-20121116ALE), which will most likely be acted upon the third week of January. The waiver requests the abolishment of decades old rules that unreasonably prohibit an AM broadcaster from moving an FM Translator significant distances to be located within the AM stations community and rebroadcast the programming of the AM station on the FM Tanslator station, which, when implemented, provides the community with the 24/7 quality programming service it has historically enjoyed.

I hope you will consider supporting the crucial Tell City Waiver Request. I believe it’s the only future for AM stations like WMRC-First Class Radio. Sadly, without this assistance I fear we’ll simply fade away and become a thing of the past.

(1/16/2013 1:02:43 PM)
I am in support of a waiver request filed with the Federal Communications Commission, FCC File No. BPFT-20121116ALE, to move an existing FM translator in order for it to simulcast WTCJ, an AM radio station in Tell City, Indiana.

WTCJ, along with AM radio stations across the country, continue to be challenged with man-made interference that challenges their ability to retain and grow audiences.

The FCC has wisely granted the ability for AM radio stations to simulcast on FM translators when they're available.

This waiver request would allow the FM translator to be moved a distance, in order to help WTCJ provide local radio service to Tell City, Indiana and surrounding area.

As a licensee of 3 AM radio stations, all of which are simulcast on FM translators we've been blessed to acquire and use, I can personally attest to the importance of continuing to provide local radio service that's been heard for decades on my AM stations, by having the same programming simulcast on FM translators that are not as suspectible to man-made interference as the AM signal.

I hope that the Commission grants the waiver request of WTCJ so that it can continue to provide local radio service in Tell City, Indiana, on the FM dial as well as the AM dial, as well as give other AM owners the opportunity to continue to serve their local communities by simulcasting on FM translators.

- Randal J. Miller, President, Miller Media Group(1/16/2013 12:02:39 PM)
Although I own an FM and no AM it's my belief AM's need immediate help to continue serving their communities. I fully support Bud Walter's waiver.

John Kennedy owner
WGEL FM
Greenville, Illinois

(1/16/2013 10:55:59 AM)
AM Radio has long been an important community resource in our small towns. Commissioner Pai's revitalization effort is a great step towards reinforcing broadcasting in the public interest.

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Borrell: 2013 Looks Promising for Radio Online

1-10-13

RAB and Borrell Associates are getting a fascinating peek at how radio?s digital ventures are shaping up. Earlier this month they launched a survey intended to gauge the ?real? amount of online ad revenue stations are generating and what might happen in 2013. Borrell shared some of the preliminary findings with Radio Ink

*  This might be a better year for digital sales. Only one-third of the 400 stations responding thus far said their digital sales didn?t grow last year.  But for 2013, 60% said they expected revenues to grow ? and half of them said the growth would be 20% or more.
* More than two-thirds of respondents say they believe online ventures hold "significant potential" for radio stations.  Yet 54% of respondents rate their sales reps' ability to sell digital products as "poor."
* More than 40% of respondents say their digital strategy is bad, or don't know if they even have one.  Percentage who said their station's strategy was "brilliant":  less than 5%.

Want to participate in the 3-minute survey? The results, which will include an analysis of Borrell?s data from more than 1,300 radio stations reporting digital revenues, will be published next month.  Borrell has promised Radio Ink a sneak preview.

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Q4 Looks Good For Auto Sales

12-21-12

Auto sales are expected to end 2012 strong according to J.D. Power & Associates. They are predicting a 14 percent increase for  December over the same month in 2011.  For December, an increase of 14 percent in sales would translate to nearly 1.36 million vehicles and an annual selling rate in the month of 15.3 million vehicles, which would trail only November's 15.54 million rate as the strongest of the year.

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CBS Radio Sales Boss: "2011 Looks Very Strong"

By Ed Ryan

CBS, nor any radio company for that matter, ever reveals hard sales numbers to a nosy reporter. However if you ask enough times you get glimpses of how the pacing looks, which is better than nothing. Michael Weiss is the President of Radio Sales for CBS. Weiss tells Radio Ink CBS is in good shape. "We had a good first quarter. We are having a good second quarter. Early signs for third quarter are good. I feel pretty good." That's how a lot of radio big wigs felt in January. Some had to pull back their expectations, and eat a little crow, mostly due to a Tsunami in Japan. More proof that radio puts a lot of eggs, perhaps too many eggs, in the auto basket and are unprepared to replace those dollars when they dry up, for whatever reason. But radio has been that way since back in the day when stations used to announce the artist and the song.

Weiss says things in Japan may improve faster than people think. "Listen, everything I am reading about the Japanese auto makers is they will get up to production a lot quicker than they did.  If we have problems with the Japanese auto makers we are replacing it with other advertisers.  We are continuing to grow our digital business.  I feel very positive about the remaining half of this year and I feel very positive about 2012.  I think over the air business is strong.  Digital business is very strong.  We spend a lot of time on NTR, non traditional radio, we feel we are doing very well there.  The company is willing to invest if we can get a good return on our investment.  I look at the Japanese auto makers and there is always some sort of blip every year in any industry, our job is just to work through it.  We have done that and we will continue to do that.  I look at those things as opportunities.  I think it?s an opportunity with the domestic auto makers.  What a great time for them to pick up some additional market share and what a great time for CBS radio to help them."

Michael Weiss will be on the June 20th cover issue of Radio Ink Magazine.
You'll only be able to read this extensive interview if you steal your bosses copy of Radio Ink or you can do it the easy way: SUBSCRIBE HERE

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