Radio+Television Business Report

With The Home Depot in command at spot radio, its biggest national competitor has responded by upping its radio spot load.

Meanwhile, a big retailer is back, thanks to a Memorial Day Weekend ad campaign designed to woo shoppers to its stores.

That’s the gist of the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report.

As shown below, Macy’s and Lowe’s are back on the report, while Indeed and Progressive are bested by Home Depot.

TORONTO — Imagine Communications has expanded its storage portfolio with the release of Versio IOX Express NAS, providing broadcast and production facilities with “a high-availability shared storage solution that enables on-air scalability and pay-as-you-go expansion.”

The ability to manage a system from tens or hundreds of miles away is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

That’s why Imagine believes Versio IOX Express offers all the tools needed for simple and effective storage management, whether onsite or working remotely.

The products are offered in bundles of predefined capacity and bandwidth and are delivered with software and hardware ready for immediate deployment. For 24/7 broadcasters, Versio IOX Express provides a flexible path forward, enabling scaling of capacity or bandwidth ― without having to take the system off air.

“Our goal in developing Versio IOX Express was to hit all the technical requirements we know broadcasters demand, but do it at an unprecedented price point,” said Steve Reynolds, President of Imagine Communications. “With the latest addition to our IOX portfolio, we can now offer our customers affordable, high-availability storage, delivered as defined, packaged solutions with all the software installed. All they need to do on site is connect the network and start delivering content.”

Powered by the EditShare EFS solution, built on Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) enterprise-grade hardware, Versio IOX Express is designed to sustain prolonged operation in the most demanding environments. True shared storage access eliminates the need for resource-intensive asset transfers, making it ideal for fast-turnaround environments such as news and sports. Coupled with the parity stack and RAID protection, Versio IOX Express guarantees the fastest client recovery time of less than 20ms, providing effectively uninterrupted service to on-air playback servers or editing applications.

Versio IOX Express is offered in predefined bundles, allowing users to choose capacity and parity stack topology to suit their needs. This simplifies the order process and makes pricing transparent. Users can choose from a single device, relying on the internal RAID-6 protection; a 1+1 configuration with stack mirroring; or a high-availability N+1 single-stack parity architecture. Available options include configurations that provide as much as tens of gigabits per second of assured bandwidth across the network, even during degraded or rebuilding modes, guaranteeing the performance required in high-pressure applications.

— RBR+TVBR Canadian News Desk, in North York, Ontario

Univision’s Uforia is bringing back its experiential virtual music series Uforia Live.

This year the Uforia Music Series in-person shows will include Livestreams.

“Music’s ability to bring us together has been one of the bright spots of the last year and our new digital reality has allowed us to explore new ways to experience awe-inspiring
performances,” said Jesus Lara, President of Radio at Univision. “As we mark the return of
Uforia Live, we are thrilled to partner with Rocket Mortgage to give Latin music fans more of the exclusive, live virtual concert experiences they have come to love and expect from Uforia,”

Uforia Live is an extension of Univision’s Uforia brand. Uforia also features an audio network of 58 O&O radio stations and 212 affiliates.

— Rob Dumke

A veteran technology executive and the CEO of global athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica Inc. are the newest members of the Walt Disney Company Board of Directors.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON TWITTER!

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

With the Memorial Day holiday weekend coming in hours, Miami-based Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) early Friday released its first quarter 2021 results, ahead of an earnings call for analysts and investors in six days.

How did the multimedia company targeting U.S. Hispanics perform in the first three months of the year?

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

Charter Communications‘ Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund has invested $1 million in the Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF).

The nonprofit certified community development financial institution (CDFI) will provide low-interest loans to small businesses in Charter’s North Carolina service area.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

In much of Connecticut, Rocker “I-95” is perhaps used more than the actual Interstate highway traversing the southern portion of the Constitution State. It’s a heritage station based in Danbury, and has a Country sibling that is today one-third of a Hudson Valley-focused Country station.

Both FMs have a new Market President and Chief Revenue Officer.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Connected TV adoption has exploded. But how are advertisers fairing amid the transition from linear to what in the U.S. is called “CTV”?

That’s a question Innovid and Digiday believe they have the answer to, as it has released the results of a survey of 100+ brand marketers and agency execs’ thoughts on the state of Connected TV advertising.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

“There is no small irony in the observation that the deal to combine WarnerMedia and Discovery will, at least initially, have a far greater impact on linear TV than it will on streaming,” note Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson, the esteemed Wall Street analyst house. “Yes, the deal is ostensibly about assembling the right assets for a DTC future. But perhaps its most significant impact early on will be that it slows rather than hastens the pace of the transition.”

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Newly released research finds that the total market value of digital content will grow by 105% over the next five years.

This value, says Juniper Research, takes into account pay-per-download revenue, in-app content spend, subscription revenue and ad spend over digital content.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

LISTEN. LEARN. PROFIT.

That’s the first thing you see when you visit Hala Taha‘s website.

Hala is the host of the Young and Profiting Podcast and the CEO of YAP Media. She started both brands as a side hustle, scaling to $1M in revenue and 30 employees before quitting her day job.

And, at the How to Make Real Money Podcasting virtual conference in July, Hala’s going to teach you how to turn your side hustle into a profitable business, too.

Hala has never been afraid to smash through the lanes and make her own path. She began her career in radio as an interim producer at WQHT-FM “Hot 97” in New York on The Angie Martinez Show, while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Pouring her heart and soul into the success of the show, Hala decided to drop out of college and work full time for the radio station — for free.

After being rejected from her dream job at Hot 97 and later starring in an MTV reality show only to have the TV network pull the plug right before airing — Hala knew it was time to invest her time and talent in a brand she would own herself. She was tired of the gatekeepers telling her no.

She launched the Young and Profiting Podcast as a side hustle, to teach people how to be financially wise and have a more successful life. She grew to be one of the biggest influencers and podcasters on Linkedin. And then she decided she would scale and offer what she built for herself to others, and the social media and podcast agency YAP Media was born.

Today, Hala has graced the cover of Podcast Magazine and the Young and Profiting Podcast continuously ranks as a #1 Education podcast across all apps. YAP Media has several high-end clients and over 40 employees, around the world and will generate $2M in revenue in its first year.

When Radio Ink Editor Ed Ryan interviews Hala on July 15, she’ll share all of her secrets to success. What drives her? How did she turn her side hustle into a profitable business? She’ll explain how she thrived on rejection and used it as a stepping stone to success. And, she’ll tell you how you can make money podcasting.

LOS ANGELES — He stayed on with the company following its emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and transition from LBI Media.

Now, Estrella Media‘s VP of PR and Corporate Affairs is moving on.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

There’s a new platform available now to athletes and celebrities who wish to build their personal brands on the stage — and on camera, too.

It comes from television production and strategic marketing firm BrandStar.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

With its stock in a comfort zone following a run-up to $100.34 on March 22 from $36.60 to start 2021, ViacomCBS’ Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend for its Class A and Class B Common Stock.

There’s also another dividend for its 5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (Ohio) have just paid a trip to the White House.

Why? To talk about the “American Broadband Act” — a topic broadcasting executives may wish to pay more attention to, given the rapid growth of streaming audio and Connected TV/OTT platforms.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

A Class D AM radio station licensed to serve a city just west of State College, Pa., is being sold.

The seller? A licensee that in January 2020 purchased this property. He’s now selling it for a slight loss.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke and Adam R Jacobson

On February 17, the world lost Rush Limbaugh. It took more than three months for iHeartMedia-owned Premiere Networks to announce the eventual successor offering to The Rush Limbaugh Show, and that won’t arrive for more than three weeks.

For some non-iHeartRadio affiliates, including those owned by Cox Media Group, sticking with programs built around archived audio clips of the late Limbaugh wasn’t something they desired. This led to CMG-owned WOKV-FM in Jacksonville moving market veteran Mark Kaye to Limbaugh’s old slot.

Now, CMG has made a move at its flagship News/Talk property in Atlanta that can be replicated at other stations across the U.S., should it wish to defect from Premiere.

Erick Erickson, the midday host at WSB-FM 95.5 in Atlanta, is heading into national syndication.

And, it will be ready 20 days before the debut of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, the heir to Limbaugh’s talk radio throne.

The Erick Erickson Show will take the Noon-3pm Eastern slot, starting June 1.

Erickson has already been self-syndicating across Georgia.

“We’re excited to announce this partnership,” said CMG SVP of Radio Rob Babin. “Erick has performed successfully for many years on 95.5 WSB Radio, and no doubt, he’ll make an impact as the Erick Erickson show expands.”

Erickson added, “I’ve been working towards this for a very long time, and I appreciate my long relationship with CMG. We look forward to continued success at 95.5 WSB and many new affiliates across the country.”

By Rob Dumke and Adam R Jacobson

It was offered as an exclusive to The Wall Street Journal early Thursday (5/27).

And, iHeartMedia-owned Premiere Networks confirmed all of the information in the story as true — ahead of an official announcement scheduled for release at 3pm Eastern.

That’s now happened, allowing all who cover the media industry to say for themselves that a successor offering to the deceased Rush Limbaugh‘s syndicated Talk radio program has been finalized.

Taking on the noon-3pm time slot that is presently the home of freshly produced episodes of The Rush Limbaugh Show that rely on archived commentary to reflect today’s headlines are Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.

“We couldn’t be happier to have Clay and Buck — two incredibly talented personalities from our Premiere family — at the helm of this new program,” said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “Rush Limbaugh is irreplaceable, but we’re confident they will continue his legacy by delivering their own brand of intelligent, informed and entertaining talk radio, while providing our partners with a powerful platform to connect with their consumers.”

In an interview with WSJ, Talbott insisted that Travis and Sexton are not replacing Limbaugh. Rather, their arrival is “an evolution of the show with fresh voices—those that grew up on Rush an admired him.”

Travis is 42 and is a lawyer, TV analyst and sports journalist. He is the founder of the sports website Outkick.com and has been hosting Outkick the Coverage with Clay Travis and Wins & Losses With Clay Travis on Premiere-distributed Fox Sports Radio.

He will be paired with Sexton, who is 39 years old and a former CIA offer and a New York City Police Department Counter-terrorism expert. More importantly, he is the host of The Buck Sexton Show on Premiere Networks and was a frequent guest host on Limbaugh’s program.

Sexton currently holds the 6pm hour on iHeartMedia’s Talk WOR-AM 710 in New York.

This will change on June 21, when The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show debuts. Interestingly, the Fox Sports host gets top billing over the Talk host.

“I’ve loved spending the past six years building ‘Outkick The Coverage’ into one of the most-listened-to sports talk shows in the country, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to join Buck Sexton as we launch this new program in the most coveted timeslot in the talk format,” Travis said. “While no one will ever replace Rush Limbaugh, Buck and I are excited to continue advancing the causes he held dear, most importantly American exceptionalism, a fervent
embrace of capitalism, and a belief in a robust marketplace of ideas. At a time of rabid cancel culture and toxic identity politics, we will be the voice for many who feel scared to say what they
think for fear of the censorious online mob. We can’t wait to get started.”

Sexton added, “I could not be more thrilled – and am deeply humbled – by the opportunity to host this new program with my co-host. We think it’s important to carry on the
tradition of Rush Limbaugh and bring truth to the masses. One thing I can promise all EIB
listeners out there: we’re with them and we will always fight for them with the show Clay and I do every day.”

By Rob Dumke

Over the Top (OTT) provider Gamut, which is owned by Cox Media Group, has appointed Soo Jin Oh as its President.

For the past eight months, Oh has served as Co-Chief Operating Officer at CMG.

And, she’s been with CMG for four years, during which time Oh has been “a driving force at Gamut,” CMG Executive Chairman Steve Pruett said. “As a passionate and respected visionary, she brings a level of unmatched energy, diligence and entrepreneurial leadership to every role she takes on. She has a proven track record of fortifying organizational capabilities that delivers enhanced revenues and customer value, and I am thrilled that we can, once again, tap internal talent for such a critical leadership position.”

Oh commented, “I am excited to take the helm at Gamut, the leading local OTT company with the best-in-class product and the most talented team in the industry. Since Gamut’s inception, our team has rallied around always doing what’s right by each other and our customers with an unwavering commitment to excellent service and performance.”

On May 17, African American-centric media company and casino owner Urban One entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement with Jefferies LLC.

This opens the door to a Class D share offering, the company tells the SEC.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)