Headlines
Local TV News Should Drill Even Deeper
There seems to be a lot of news — both good and bad — about news.
FCC’s Annual Fee Proposal Would Cut Radio Costs, Especially For Small Market Stations.
After four consecutive years of paying more in annual regulatory fees, the radio industry is in line for a rollback this year.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Station Trading Roundup: 1 Deal, $600,000
The purchase of three low-power stations by Gray Television tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.
Congress Asks FCC IG to Investigate Rosenworcel Over Standard General-Tegna Deal
Members from both sides of the aisle suggest delay could be motivated by bias
FCC
FCC Repeals COVID-Era Accommodation that Allowed Broadcasters to Offer Businesses Free Advertising Time Without LUC Implications
Yesterday, the FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice announcing that it was repealing the COVID related guidance released in March 2020 that allowed broadcasters, local cable operators, and other media companies subject to the requirements that political candidates be offered Lowest Unit Rates during pre-election periods, to offer free advertising time to advertisers and other local businesses without those spots being considered in calculating the LUC during the periods that these spots were running.
Roger Wahl Admits He Made ‘Serious Mistake’ But Asks FCC Not To Revoke His FM’s License.
“I admit that I made a serious mistake,” Wahl says. “This single, horrendous event should not be an indication of my overall character, or of my dedication to being a reliable licensee to the FCC in the future,” he says in a sworn statement submitted to the FCC.
Television
NBCU Launches Cross-Platform Outcome Metrics For Local Marketers
NBCUniversal has officially expanded its relationship with Innovid to deliver cross-platform, outcome-based KPIs across connected TV and linear TV for local U.S. marketers.
Radio
Head Vs. Heart: AM Battle Insights With Pierre Bouvard
As AM’s fight becomes public, Radio Ink talks one-on-one with Cumulus Media and Westwood One Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard about the roads not yet taken in preserving radio’s place and where that path goes from here.
Lawmakers Demand Answer From Ford For No AM
Representative Greg Pence (R-IN) and Representative Bob Latta (R-OH), along with 102 bipartisan colleagues, have sent a letter to Ford and nine other automakers requesting an explanation for the removal of AM radio receivers from vehicles.
Pay TV
One More Cable TV Company is Shutting Down Its TV Service & Replacing it With YouTube TV
Today the cable TV company WOW! announced a deal with YouTube TV to replace its cable TV service with YouTube TV. WOW! says it will start moving its remaining TV customers to YouTube TV this summer. It will also start selling YouTube TV to new customers now.
Verticals
Tesla will advertise for the first time
CEO Elon Musk told company shareholders Tuesday that the company will advertise for the first time in its history.