Headlines
Research: Smart TVs continue to shape viewing habits
The days of flipping through TV channels are long gone as smart TV owners embrace the app-centric viewing environments that deliver more than just TV entertainment.
‘This Will Save Lives,’ FCC’s Rosenworcel Says Of Proposed EAS Code
The Federal Communications Commission is set to approve a proposal at its August meeting that, if adopted, would use radio and television to alert the public about missing and endangered persons.
Mergers & Acquisitions
FCC Audio Division OKs Canadian Foreign Ownership Ask
In late October 2023, the Audio Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau moved ahead with a pleading cycle that solicited input on a Petition for Declaratory Ruling allowing a Canadian citizen to hold 100% attributable interest in a Seattle AM targeting the market’s South Asian community.
Television
NewsNet Abruptly Ceases Operations
Over the last 18 months, the founder of 5-Hour Energy, Manoj Bhargava, emerged as one of the most significant new buyers of broadcast television stations in the U.S. Through Bridge News LLC, with Vince Bodiford in the role as Chief Executive Officer, what had been a digital multicast all-News offering modeled after the original CNN News Network of 30 years ago was transitioning to an owned-and-operated station group fueled by low-power TV properties.
Radio
The Record: Q2 U.S. Audio Listening Trends
Earlier this year we partnered with Nielsen on a quarterly report called The Record, a look at the ad-supported audio landscape in the U.S. using Edison Research Share of Ear data and Nielsen format data. We are happy to tell you that The Record has just been released for Q2.
How Classical Is Fighting The Demographic Cliff
If you didn’t read today’s blog post headline carefully, it might seem like today’s installment is another repeat of Fred talking about the aging Classic Rock format, and what stations can do to stave it off.
But no, that’s not what today is about.
CTV/OTT
Survey: Roku most popular streaming player in US
Parks Associates has released its Tech Ecosystem Dashboard revealing Roku is the most popular brand of streaming media players in the US, followed by Amazon. Parks Associates’ consumer survey of 8,000 internet households reveals 43 per cent of streaming media player (SMP) owners report using Roku the most often.
Media
More 2Q24 Ad Results: Platforms Still Strong and Traditional Media Owners Weak While Marketers Continue High Levels of Spend
In one of the busiest weeks for 2Q24 earnings, many of the world’s biggest global sellers of advertising outside of China provided new results, including Meta (#2), Amazon (#3), Microsoft (#5), Apple (#12), Snap (#13) and Pinterest (#19).
FCC
FCC Allows 100% Ownership of US Radio Station by Canadian Owner – Once Again Demonstrating Openness to Foreign Investment in the US Broadcast Industry
The FCC last week issued a Declaratory Ruling approving the acquisition by a company owned by a Canadian citizen of 100% of the ownership interest in a company that owns an AM radio stations in Seattle.
Verticals
Political Ad Spending Hits The Accelerator In August
While plenty about the U.S. presidential campaign remains in flux, two things are clear: the amount of money being raised by politicians of both parties is mushrooming, and the pace of ad spending is picking up steam.