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| November 3, 2009 |
Performance tax proponents seek meeting
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., are looking to broadcasters to try to come to terms with major labels on a music-industry backed performance fee for radio airplay of recorded music. "NAB is of course willing to talk with members of Congress on this issue and any issue that could negatively impact the ability of free and local hometown radio stations to serve our listeners," said NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton. But NAB also said it hopes any discussions also would include some of the "nearly 300 members of Congress who oppose the RIAA-backed bill." Mediaweek (11/2) Radio Ink (11/2)
Ridge: Don't cash out that spectrum
Steve Ridge of Frank N. Magid Associates is advising stations to hold on to broadcast spectrum, rather than considering the spectrum-license buyback schemes currently being floated by the government. Ridge notes, "How realistic is it for the government to, in essence, force consumers to buy expensive new TVs and then turn around and reduce or restrict the programming options." TVNewsCheck (free registration) (11/3)
Entercom chief sees growth-year ahead for broadcasting
The improving economy should lead broadcasting to post sales increases of at least 10% in 2010, according to Entercom CEO David Field. "We have seen business conditions improve over the past several weeks, most notably with national sales, and the tone of advertisers' discussions continues to improve as more local and national customers are indicating an intent to increase their spending next year," Field said in a call with analysts. Inside Radio (free content) (11/2)
Other News
Citadel launches "Listener Driven Radio" tool
Citadel Media's "Listener Driven Radio" is a new service that allows users, via the station Web site, smartphones or social networks, to choose songs from a playlist, make requests and upload music. "With this, programmers can keep their hands on the wheel as much as they want, while endearing their stations to listeners in a whole new way with constant interaction and research to program the station together," said Carl Anderson, senior vice president of programming and distribution for Citadel Media. Inside Radio (free content) (11/2)
What is happening to 10 o'clock?
For the last 30 years or so, networks have filled the 10 p.m. hour of prime time with high-quality, edgy dramas aimed at grown-up audiences, writes Brad Adgate, SVP-research for Horizon Media. However, high production costs, DVR penetration and cable competition have diminished the ability of networks to create top-flight dramas to air in late prime time. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (11/2)
Naming 2010
Advertisers are split on whether to refer to 2010 as "twenty ten" or "two-thousand ten" in their TV and radio advertising. The issue is taking on urgency as automakers advertise cars for the 2010 model year. NYTimes.com (11/2)
Apple aims to extend iTunes success to TV
Apple is trying to round up programming support to offer a $30-a-month subscription-television service. The Wall Street Journal says Apple's "over-the-top" service in theory could rival cable television, given that it can offer programmers a base of 100 million customers through iTunes. The Wall Street Journal/Digits blog (11/2)
Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame to add six members
The 2010 inductees into the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame are DJs Bill Bailey, Laurie DeYoung and Rudy Fernandez, and station executives Cy Blumenthal, Dan Halyburton and Michael Hammond. An induction ceremony has been set for Feb. 23 at the Nashville Convention Center. Radio Business Report (11/2)
Obituary: Harvey Hudson
Virginia radio icon Harvey Hudson, who has been a fixture on the Richmond airwaves for almost 70 years, died Sunday at the age of 88. Radio Ink (11/2)
Now List Your Tower with NAB
Register your vertical assets at nab.towersource.com to add your listing to the NAB portal and the TowerSource.com online exchange -- the largest in North America. NAB members benefits include special access, pricing and promotion, and no up-front fee services, such as lease negotiation, tower analysis, surveys, pre-construction and zoning.
FCC holds first workshop for review of media-ownership rules
Members of academia spoke on the issue of media ownership Monday, at the first in a series of three workshops being held as part of the FCC's once-every-four-years review of ownership regulations. Additional sessions are scheduled for today, when public interest groups will be giving testimony, and Wednesday, which will be for those in the media industry. Multichannel News (11/2)
Longtime San Francisco pirate station goes off the air
Pirate Cat Radio, an unlicensed outlet in San Francisco for the past 13 years, has shuttered operations, following the issuance of a $10,000 notice of apparent liability issued by the FCC. Radio Ink (11/2)
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Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen."