RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast

On a normal weekday, syndicated fare including El Bueno, La Mala y El Feo and Alex Sensation's show can be heard on an FM translator and AM radio station serving the Suncoast region of Florida — Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Further inland, where Spanish-dominant Hispanics are vital to the agricultural and farming communities in DeSoto and Hardee Counties, regional Mexican "La Zeta" is t...

When it comes to progressive advertising shops, DiGo, a New York-based creative agency promoting better habits by building businesses using Positive Behavior Change marketing, has gained notice for its work with such clients as Hello Fresh, Weight Watchers and the Bronx Zoo. For its founder and creative chief, Mark DiMassimo, ensuring these brands activate media campaigns across all consumer touch...

"Political advertising has been a real motivating and mainly a good thing for us in 2022." That's how Steven Passwaiter, Vice President of Growth & Strategy in the Media Intelligence division of Kantar and a CMAG Senior Advisor, began a TVB Forward Conference presentation midday Thursday that offered a plethora of fresh data on how political ad dollars are trending across the 2022 election season....

What's the biggest constant and perhaps the biggest change seen in the world of Spanish-language sports media and the fan interest of those who enjoy deportes? That's one of the questions Unanimo Sports Founder Lino Garcia answers as the RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot. FM, celebrates the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Garcia shares with Adam R Jacobson how Unanimo, three years after...

In this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot. FM, RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson chats with veteran media broker Dick Foreman, who handled some deals for Clear Channel under the late Lowry Mays' ownership, about his legacy and his many charitable efforts — including those with the Broadcasters Foundation of America.

The latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot. FM, features Peter Saad, the Executive Director of the LPTV Broadcasters Association. He recently stepped into the role, joining founder “SuperFrank” Copsidas in championing what the group is calling “Local Power TV” on Capitol Hill. To share what the legislative goals of the LPTV Broadcasters Association are going into 2023, when the complexion of Con...

What is IBC2022? It's not like the NAB Show but has a lot of similarities — and many U.S.-based broadcast technology companies are readying their conference expo booths and have much to share with the international radio and television community for the first time in three years. There's a lot of excitement about the Amsterdam-based event, scheduled from September 9-12, and public relations pro Br...

Due to technical difficulties with our third-party e-mail newsletter distribution service, we are unable to send Tuesday's newsletter as normal. As such, a special audio version of today's newsletter has been produced. As a reminder, all stories are available at this time at RBR.com. Set a bookmark now!

From a greater sense of localism across his two stations to adopting "an OTT culture," Erik Schrader has had a busy year since transferring from Cleveland to Atlanta to serve as VP/GM of what are today Gray Television's flagship stations. He shares how things have transpired and what lies ahead for "Peachtree TV" and "CBS46" in this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by Adam R Jacobson.

"I really don't want to chase away happy," says Tony Michaels, Operations Manager at Powell Broadcasting in Sioux City, Iowa. "When I moved up here in 1997, it was Powell Broadcasting and it is the same here today." With President Robert Bond and the owner of parent company The Powell Group Nanette Noland still in the top leadership positions, Powell isn't just Radio in Siouxland. The diversified...

In late July, StreamGuys rolled out its programmatic ad services for broadcasters looking to improve their monetization and fill unsold ad inventory in their digital offerings. We know that other services in the industry offer this opportunity. What led StreamGuys to dive in, and how has the growth been for a company largely recognized for its streaming technology? Tyler Huggins, Director of Adver...

On August 10, the FCC received paperwork seeking its approval of a transaction that will see a FM radio station serving the Southernmost City in the continental United States wind up in the hands of Buddy Shula. With the regulatory OK and subsequent closing, Shula will become the owner of the Key West-based facility, adding it to his successful WECK in Buffalo. Why did Shula buy the Florida FM? Ho...

RBR+TVBR's review of the broadcast media industry's second quarter 2022 earnings reports continues with audio highlights from Cumulus Media's Q2 2022 call, featuing CEO Mary Berner and CFO Frank López-Balboa. On the call, analysts from B Riley and Barrington Research queried Berner and López-Balboa on subjects ranging from Q3 pacings down in the low-single-digit range, the growth potential for Cum...

From a revenue standpoint, it was a record-setting quarter for Townsquare Media, a company "clearly differentiated" outside of the top 50 markets thanks to its digital media, online and internet-focused initiatives. But, that doesn't mean Radio is an afterthought or inconsequential for the company led by CEO Bill Wilson. As such, what's the outlook for the New York-based operation with some 700 di...

At the start of 2022, one may have wondered why growth in the red-hot podcasting space seemingly came without a significant presence in the U.S. Hispanic community. Today, podcasts targeting bilingual, bicultural Latinos abound, with serious attention being given to this consumer group. This week, another new entity seeking this audience emerged, courtesy of the recently rebranded MundoNow. To lea...

Alex Quintero is busy this week leading the launch of the all-new Radio Resources, described by parent company Gen Media Partners as “a tool kit for radio broadcasters that’s tailored for small and medium-market owners and operators." To find out more about this just-launched venture, we welcome Alex, who serves as Radio Resources' Director of Products and Services, to the InFOCUS Podcast, present...

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved an appropriations bill that includes language that would prevent the FCC from taking administrative action against a radio or television licensee that accepts cannabis advertising — consistent with the laws of the state or local jurisdiction in which the station is licensed. What does this mean for broadcast media? RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Ad...

Salem Podcast Network recently signed former NBC Sports Sideline Reporter Michele Tafoya to host a new podcast, appropriately called Sideline Sanity. The podcast airs four times every week and focuses on life, politics, and world news. The award-winning sportscaster and political commentator recently announced her retirement as the longtime sideline reporter for NBC's Sunday Night Football. With h...

In this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot. FM, Will Offeman, the Chief Product Officer at WideOrbit since September 2018 and a twenty-two year veteran of the company known for its advertising-focused online tools used by radio and television stations, gives listeners an update on the technology WideOrbit has developed to help broadcast media do more business by completing more sales.

Meaghan Thomas speaks to some 3 million people every day. As a meteorologist, Thomas can be seen weekdays on Good Morning Nashville and on News 2 at 11 on Nexstar Media Group-owned NBC affiliate WKRN-2. Thomas has attracted attention for a social media post that went viral — a photo of her and her hearing aids, along with her revelation that she's required them from the time she wakes up until she...

On Monday, June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Alabama that would have opened the justices up to revisiting a landmark 1964 decision that established libel law for journalists across the country. That said, Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, saying that the standard for libel needs a judicial revisit by the nation's highest legal body. Justice Neil Gorsuch had previousl...

Curtis LeGeyt, the President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, took the reins of the NAB at the beginning of 2022. Just six months in to the role, he’s already firmly establishing himself as a hands-on, working-for-you leader on behalf of the association’s radio and TV members. In a keynote address to the hundreds of Hispanic Radio Conference attendees, LeGeyt shared how the NAB wil...

He's being inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in September. It's in honor of his achievements as the owner of WECK Radio for the last five years, and for nearly 35 years of service in Western New York that includes overnights at a top Country station to sales for Audacy Corp.'s radio properties in the market. What does Buddy Shula have to say about his little radio operation that...

It's sizzling across much of the U.S., with an excessive heat warning impacting the Phoenix area. The media transactions marketplace is also hot of late, with some notable radio and TV deals gaining attention. Veteran media broker Dick Foreman shares his thoughts on the current atmosphere for media transactions, while also paying tribute to the late Jim Long — co-founder of TM Productions and once...

The subject of ZoneCasting, a hyperlocalization tool from GeoBroadcast Solutions that could gain FCC approval, has proven to be a controversial one. The NAB is fighting its approval by the Commission. On the other side are the MMTC and NABOB. The support by the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, in particular, of ZoneCasting surprises media asset valuation specialist Dave Schutz. He...