RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast

Beasley Media Group is officially observing its 60th anniversary. In this new RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM, CEO Caroline Beasley shares a little about the company’s legacy — and what will eventually culminate in a special anniversary day in December. Why did company founder George Beasley invest in an AM radio station in Benson, N.C., and why in December 1961 did he desire to own...

Jordan Rich recently concluded a twenty-five year tenure as a late-night talk host at legendary News/Talk radio station WBZ-AM 1030 in Boston.  He’s also worked at WRKO in Boston, and has now added author to his long list of accomplishments.  What prompted Rich to write a book about your time behind the mic? How does he describe the demons and personal tragedies that nearly derailed his career? Ri...

Without agriculture, and agribusiness, much of Wall Street, Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley would be "hungry, homeless, naked and sober." That's why agribusiness is nothing city folk should scoff at, says Steve Alexander, who will succeed the legendary Orion Samuelson as the chief agribusiness reporter for Nexstar Media Group's legendary Chicago talk station, WGN-AM 720, come January 1. Alexande...

The November 2020 Nielsen Audio ratings for Colorado Springs have just been released, and guess what — the top 5 stations, 12+, are all owned by Cumulus Media. Yes, stations owned by Bahakel and a News Press and Gazette-owned Talk station, do not appear publicly in the ratings. Nevertheless, this group of radio stations’ success is very noteworthy. What’s the No. 1 reason for this cluster-wide str...

Starting this week, viewers in the nation’s 14th largest TV market — Detroit — get a taste of the future as five local TV stations have banded together to launch NEXTGEN TV in Detroit. This market is vitally important for ATSC 3.0’s data capabilities, as automotive executives and production facilities can learn first-hand of how the connected car can benefit. Are companies such as Ford and General...

MAGNA has released its Global Ad Forecast for December/Winter 2020. In this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, its EVP/GM for Global Market Intelligence, Vincent Letang chats exclusively with RBR+TVBR on linear media trends versus digital on a global scale, and what may lie ahead in 2021 for U.S. radio and TV companies.

On the evening of December 1, 63 television stations owned by TEGNA were blocked from DirecTV customers, as talks regarding a new retransmission consent agreement between the two companies failed to reach a fresh deal before the prior accord expired. Twenty-four hours later, an even bigger "blackout" transpired, and it involves Dish and Nexstar. The reason? New retransmission consent agreements co...

The Broadcasters Foundation of America has distributed millions of dollars in aid to broadcasters who have lost their livelihood through a catastrophic event, debilitating disease or unforeseen tragedy. These dollars come from both personal and corporate donations, and there probably hasn’t been a more challenging time in recent memory for many members of the broadcasting community. That’s why thi...

With Thanksgiving just days away, and holiday music already found on radio stations from coast to coast, positive vibes and coming yuletides are helping to soothe the COVID-19 impacted realities of our times. The U.S. is entering the eighth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that’s led to a variety of shifts in media management that largely involve remote work needs. What sort of role has Veriton...

Until September, Josh Castro spent 5 ½ years as the GM of KAIL-TV in Fresno. Now, he is working with a famed digital multicast pioneer in the build-out of the new MyNetworkTV affiliate serving the central San Joaquin Valley of California. How has the transition been? What are his thoughts on access to capital, and the potential return of a Minority Tax Certificate? How has launching a brand-new st...

It likely takes a lot of skill and balance to offer sports wagering content without perhaps going over a certain ethical line. And, given Bill Adee's history in sports, this veteran of Chicago sports media appears to have the background to tackle what some may see as a challenge. Adee is the Principal and COO of VSiN, formally known as the Vegas Sports Information Network. It's grown quickly since...

Eddie Esserman, the Managing Director for Media Services Group, last spoke with RBR+TVBR in April. Much has changed since then ... or has it, with respect to radio and TV station transactions? RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson caught up with the St. Simons Island, Ga.-based media broker, and Esserman's thoughts are shared in this fresh InFocus Podcast, presented by DOT.FM.  

Thoroughbred Communicatoins is known across Coastal Georgia as the company behind “Q105.3,” WRHQ. It’s a hard station for non-locals to figure out. It’s one part “Jack FM,” and another part WXRT. The on-air presentation is mellow, but don’t be surprised if Van Halen’s “Panama” or Matthew Wilder’s “Break My Stride” comes up in between a Tame Impala track. There’s also a significant news presence. A...

This week saw the signing of a partnership between TEGNA and GatesAir that will help it bring NEXTGEN TV broadcasts to the Seattle market, starting in December. What role does GatesAir play in this rollout? Are there opportunities for those that are listening who haven’t yet acted on a ATSC 3.0 installation plan? Those questions are answered by GatesAir Television Products Group VP/GM Ray Miklius ...

CBS affiliate WNEM-5 is a storied TV station in a part of Michigan that has received rather negative attention in recent years for its water crisis – Flint. That said, WNEM likely took an outsized role in covering it as a news story, in turn growing its audience and thus attracting advertisers. What has the sales experience been like for the last few years pre-COVID? That's just one question RBR+T...

Sean Compton may be a bit familiar to radio industry veterans from his roles as a VP of Programming for Clear Channel and, before that, at Jacor Broadcasting. Today, he serves as President of Networks for Nexstar Media Group, charged with making WGN America's three-hour prime-time newsblock NewsNation a success. Two months in, what can Compton share about the ambitious launch of NewsNation? What m...

LoopMe, a global digital ad tech platform with a U.S. headquarters in New York, just surveyed nearly 2,400 Americans about what issues matter to them and their political advertising preferences. The results are particularly interesting for radio and TV station owners and managers, and discussing the findings in this freshly produced RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, presented by Dot. FM, is LoopMe Associa...

Some might scoff at the notion of an agricultural network, conjuring up images of WKRP in Cincinnati character Les Nessman doing a hog report, or perhaps the golden age of radio in the 1930s. Yet, in-depth and accurate farm news remains vitally important to a large segment of the nation. Why did Cherry Creek Radio embark on an effort to offer this programming to radio listeners, one that now invol...

Sandwiched between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, Fla., are small but picturesque beach towns including Flagler Beach and world famous tourist destination St. Augustine. It's a media void, given its distance from Jacksonville and Orlando, and a local radio broadcasting company has succeeded -- even through the pandemic -- in turning a profit while providing local listeners with locally relevant p...

If there's anyone who can perhaps provide strong insights and observations about how to navigate a consumer-driven business through a pandemic that shows no signs of abetting in the coming weeks, it is Norberto Sanchez. Sanchez serves as CEO of Norsan Media, an owner of radio stations and print publications that, until COVID-19's arrival, organized and hosted a variety of experiential marketing-dr...

He’s the well-known international programming consultant who has been active with radio stations targeting Hispanic audiences, and is the moderator of the October 8 Hispanic Radio Conference LIVE! roundtable discussion focused on Hispanic radio’s proper pitch in a pandemic world. Bob Perry promises to moderate an entertaining session, and even if you’re listening to this podcast after it is stream...

Ron Stone has gained notice across the radio industry for his efforts in creating the Independent Broadcasters Association (IBA). Just last week, the broadcasting company Stone oversees, Adams Radio Group, moved its national rep partnership to the newly created IBA Radio Sales. Why, and what advantages might other independent broadcast groups have in taking his lead? That's just one of many questi...

Engagement, passion and fun. Those are perhaps the lone things between serving as the Director of Operations for a Harley-Davidson dealership and as the GM or Operations Director for a radio station. And, these traits have helped fuel a successful 22-year career with Harley-Davidson for a former Program Director for radio stations in Jackson, Miss.; Hartford; St. Louis; and Cleveland -- an individ...

Roger Rafson, the Senior VP of Political/Issue Advocacy & Strategic Alliances at Gen Media Partners, is preparing to moderate a panel discussion that marks the first in a series of Hispanic Radio LIVE sessions. It’s set for Thursday, October 1 at 11:35am Eastern and features what’s poised to be a lively chat with four highly regarded research and analytics experts. With roughly five weeks until El...

We’ve heard that there’s been a silver living for HD Radio across the COVID-19 pandemic. That involves using the technology to disseminate important tips and virus protection techniques to audio consumers. We also hear that HD Radio aided not only in the rapid deployment of messages, but additional content through digital multicasts. What that entailed is just one small part of a wide-ranging conv...