Friday, April 26, 2024

Report: Paramount, Skydance GettingCloser to Deal


Paramount Global and Skydance Media are reportedly making significant strides toward a merger. The two media companies are actively working on a deal that would not only combine their forces but also involve the buyout of controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. 

Here are the key details:

Valuation and Equity: Paramount Global’s special committee, along with David Ellison’s Skydance Media (supported by private equity firms KKR and RedBird Capital Partners), is currently focused on determining the value of Skydance’s assets as part of the merger. Additionally, discussions are underway regarding how much equity to inject into the company through recapitalization.

Agreement on Value: The sides are close to agreeing on a value for Skydance. The entertainment company is expected to be valued at approximately $5 billion and will merge with Paramount Global. To facilitate this, Ellison and the private equity firms plan to raise approximately $4.5 billion to $5 billion in new equity.

YouTube Revenue Drives Alphabet's 1Q Earnings


YouTube, the Google-owned video giant, continues to dominate the advertising landscape. In the first quarter of 2024, YouTube’s ad sales reached an impressive $8.1 billion, marking its highest Q1 total to date. This figure represents a 21% year-over-year increase in ad revenue. Notably, this amount doesn’t even include subscription revenue generated by YouTube.

Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, reported overall revenue of $80.54 billion, a significant 15% growth, and net income of $23.66 billion (up 57%). These robust results exceeded Wall Street expectations, driving Alphabet’s stock up by 12% in after-hours trading.

YouTube creation has also seen a lift. “In 2023, more people created content on YouTube than ever before,” Phillip Schindler, chief business officer for Google, said on Alphabet’s earnings call.

Additionally, its YouTube Partner Program has paid out “more than any other creator monetization platform,” Schindler said. In the past three years, the creator monetization platform has paid over $70 billion to creators, artists and media companies.

Media Mogul Sues FCC Over TV Deal Gone Sour


Media Mogul Soo Kim has filed a lawsuit against the FCC, alleging racial discrimination.

The lawsuit stems from the FCC’s decision to derail an $8.6 billion deal to purchase Tegna Inc. Kim claims that he was not considered the “right type of minority” for the FCC’s diversity goals. 

Soo Kim
Here are the key details: Soo Kim, is a Korean American raised in New York, and his company, Standard General, won a public bidding auction to buy Tegna and its 60-plus television stations in 2022.

Kim intended to install a female chief executive, and the transaction was poised to be a historic leap forward for both minority ownership and female leadership of broadcast stations.

FCC’s Decision: However, the FCC nixed the deal in favor of Black media tycoon Byron Allen. The complaint alleges that the FCC believed Allen’s black-owned company deserved greater solicitude than Kim’s Asian American-owned company.

Byron Allen
Racial Discrimination: Kim’s lawyers argue that the FCC’s diversity policies and practices did not consider being Asian as a factor. They assert that Kim’s race was used against him with pernicious stereotypes.

Equity and Fair Treatment: Kim seeks accountability and equitable treatment, emphasizing that every person appearing before the FCC deserves to be treated fairly. 

Kim accused the FCC of dragging its feet by taking over 300 days to take action on Standard General’s license-transfer applications for the Tegna stations before the deal was "killed" without notice. 

"Standard General was one of the largest shareholders, losing nearly $85 million based on its 10.6 million shares owned when the deal died," the complaint said. "The FCC chairwoman and her personal staffer blocked the deal at the behest of Mr. Allen, who used business allies and six-figure political donations to destroy Mr. Kim’s chances of acquiring TEGNA – to the tune of over $200 million in losses to Standard General and Mr. Kim and nearly $2 billion in losses to TEGNA shareholders."

Nielsen Releases 2024 Annual Marketing Report


Nielsen has released its sixth global Annual Marketing Report, revealing marketers’ priorities and plans to improve ROI in 2024 and beyond.

The report, which surveyed nearly 2,000 global marketers, found that marketers continue to view social media, search, online/mobile video, and online/mobile display as the most effective marketing channels for ROI, but could miss out on key revenue opportunities without a cross-media strategy and approach.

The 2024 Annual Marketing Report surveyed marketers on topics including budget allocations and spending optimism, brand building strategies, media balance, and overall confidence. 

Some of the key findings globally include:

Marketer spending optimism is up in 2024: Despite the presence of inflation, consumer spending, and supply chain uncertainties as key planning considerations, 72% of global marketers expect bigger ad budgets this year, up from 64% on a year-on-year basis.

Marketer tactics may not drive top KPI results: Marketers’ top KPIs are long-term ROI and full-funnel ROI. At the same time, however, 70% of respondents plan to prioritize performance marketing over brand building initiatives. A shift to performance marketing, without supporting brand-building marketing, could limit long-term ROI and may cause brand decay.

FCC Proposes NALs Totaling $857K+ For Pirate Operators

 


The Federal Communications Commission Thursday proposed fines against seven pirate radio operators under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act) for operating six pirate radio stations.  

These pirate radio stations, investigated during the Enforcement Bureau’s sweep in the Boston area under the PIRATE Act, now face proposed fines totaling $857,775.

Pirate radio is an unauthorized transmission of radio signals on the frequencies in or adjacent to the FM and AM radio bands.  Pirate radio operations pose public safety risks, including causing harmful interference to licensed radio stations which transmit public safety emergency alert messages.  Operating a pirate radio station is illegal under the Communications Act of 1934 and subject to the FCC’s enhanced enforcement capabilities enacted by Congress in the PIRATE Act in 2020.  Under the PIRATE Act, the FCC can fine pirate radio operators up to $119,555 per day and a maximum of $2,391,097, as adjusted for inflation.

NYT Slams Biden For 'Systematically Avoiding' Media Interviews


The New York Times has issued a scorching statement, criticizing President Joe Biden for avoiding questions from independent journalists during his term. 

The Times finds it troubling that Biden has actively and effectively sidestepped interviews with major news organizations. 

They argue that this behavior not only undermines an important norm but also sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents to evade scrutiny and accountability. 

The statement came following a report from Politico about escalating tensions between the Times and the White House.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger reportedly confronted Vice President Kamala Harris over Biden's decision to avoid interviews with major newspapers. After Sulzberger questioned Harris on why Biden had not done sit-down interviews with major newspapers, including his own, Harris told him to get in touch with the White House press office. She later "grumbled" to her aides, Politico reported, about the exchange being a waste of time. 

Some on Biden's team believe the Times has not adequately covered the importance of the 2024 election, which they view as "a matter of democracy's survival," according to Politico Magazine's report on the tumultuous relationship between The White House and the paper. 

The people closest to Biden reportedly see the newspaper as "arrogant," and reluctant to give the president "his due."

4/26 WAKE-UP CALL: Economic Growth Is Slowing


Slowing economic growth and firm inflation spells trouble for Wall Street. Gross domestic product expanded at a 1.6% seasonally- and inflation-adjusted annual rate in the first quarter the Commerce Department said. The pullback from last year’s quick pace lagged behind the 2.4% projected by WSJ-polled economists. The data also suggested inflation, using the Fed’s preferred gauge, was likely firmer than expected in March. That gives investors another reason to stop expecting the central bank to cut interest rates in the coming months. 


Individual readings on growth and prices so far this year haven’t been enough to dramatically change the Fed’s outlook, but the cumulative effect has been notable. Investor concerns drove broad-based declines across U.S. stocks and government bonds.

NY Post 4/26/24
➤WEINSTEIN CONVICTION OVERTURNED:  New York’s highest court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for sex crimes. The court, in a divided ruling, said that a trial judge committed fundamental errors, including admitting testimony that shouldn’t have been allowed. In a leading case of the #MeToo movement, jurors found the Hollywood producer guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sex act for incidents with two women. 

Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison, isn’t a free man, though. In a separate case, a California jury convicted him in 2022 of rape and other offenses, earning him a 16-year prison sentence. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it will “do everything in our power to retry this case.” A Weinstein representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

➤SCOTUS SEEMS OPEN TO TRUMP IMMUNITY DEFENSE: The Supreme Court appeared open to some of Donald Trump’s immunity claims. The justices considered whether former presidents should be granted immunity from being prosecuted for alleged crimes committed while in office, and specifically whether Trump could be prosecuted on charges that he conspired to steal the 2020 presidential election. He denies any wrongdoing, but has argued that if he broke the law, the Constitution’s framers preferred to let a president get away with crimes than worry about the potential of future prosecution. 

The Supreme Court, which spent little time discussing the specifics of Trump’s case, signaled an interest in broadly protecting the presidency for the future. Any high court decision embracing that position could further delay or end Trump’s trial.

➤PECKER TALKS:  David Pecker testified about deals to bury stories that could be damaging to Trump. Here's what he said.  Longtime tabloid publisher David Pecker was questioned by the prosecution and cross-examined by Donald Trump's attorney in the former president’s criminal hush-money trial. 

During the prosecution’s questioning on Thursday, the longtime tabloid publisher told jurors about the practice of buying stories that could be damaging to Trump and refusing to publish them. His testimony included references to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Columbus OH: Saga Cuts Longtime Voices From Air


Saga Communications, which owns and operates Qfm96 (96.3), Rewind (103.5/104.3), Sunny 95 (94.7 WSNY), and Mix 107.9, is making some significant changes, and with those changes comes numerous lay-offs.

According to the 614Now.com website, Dino Tripodis and Stacy McKay, the talent behind Sunny 95’s morning show, Sunny This Morning, have both departed the station. Tripodis hosted this morning show from 1994 to 2018, then returned in 2021, totaling almost 27 years of experience at the station. McKay hosted alongside Tripodis for 13 years, then after a brief stint elsewhere, returned again in 2010 to spend almost 14 more years hosting Sunny This Morning.

News Director Clark Donley and producer Greg Hansberry have also been let go of their positions. Donley spent 31 years at this station, and Hansberry served as a producer from 2012-2014, then again starting in 2016.

These cuts also applied to ‘Miss Lisa’ Bryant, who was on-air in the afternoons on Sunny 95, and mornings on Classic Hits Rewind 103.5/104.3. Bryant joined WSNY in 2016, becoming popular 

Last, but certainly not least to be let-go, is Andre Styles Friederich, who was the events director and host at Mix 107.9 WVMX Westerville. He spent 14 years with Saga and Mix 107.9, and he shared with 614Now that he’s absolutely shocked. “The amount of years, days, and hours I put in…It came as a big surprise,” he said.

Andre shared that Saga Communications told them that they were looking to go a “different route” and “do some restructuring within the building.” And unfortunately, that meant his event director position was eliminated, and he was told he would no longer be doing the morning show.

These radio station personalities have been ingrained in our community for decades, and the public seems sad to see them go. People took to social media to share their frustration. One person commented on Sunny 95’s Facebook, “If the rumors about Dino, Stacy, Clark & Greg are true, then I’m out. I didn’t listen for the music. I listened to the morning crew’s banter and Clark’s news…horrible decision…” Another person expressed, “What a slap in the face for loyal listeners. I’m done with everything Sunny 95. Wishing success for those let-go.”

Indy Radio: WFMS Morning Host Speaks Out After Home Is Shot Up

WFMS' Matt Malone

Matt Malone, co-host of "Mornings with Deb, Kevin and Matt" on Country WFMS 95.5, reflects after someone fired shots toward his house this week.

Malone doesn't think he was the intended target. Even so, two days later, the sight of bullet holes in his home are unnerving.

Malone said he moved to a duplex a year and a half ago, because it was an affordable place to live. But he has decided to leave after what happened Tuesday night.

He shared the experience with his co-hosts and listeners Thursday morning.


"It was an experience I've never been through before," Malone said on the radio, playing for them the sound of gunfire captured on his Ring doorbell camera Tuesday.

Malone talked with 13News..



"I stepped out of my room towards the hallway. I started stepping on glass," he recalled. "That's when I found out that the bathroom window had been shot through."

When he went downstairs, Malone found bullet holes through his front door, which is made of steel and the outside glass door was shattered. The couch he sometimes works and falls asleep on was also shot up. The couch cushion where he usually lays his head had a bullet hole right through it.

"If I had worked like I normally do, that would have killed me and that's a hard thing to think about," Malone said.

When Malone looked at his doorbell camera, 20 minutes before the gunfire, video showed two people in ski masks walking around the duplex where Malone lives.

According to Malone, you can hear his neighbor yelling at them before they disappear off camera.

"Let's face it.  We need Indianapolis and central Indiana to be safe and if my circumstances can help in any way to do that, I want to be a part of that solution," Malone said.

Even so, he's not taking any chances and has decided to move somewhere else. But Malone recognizes that not everyone who deals with gunfire where they live can do that.

Despite Media Choices, Radio Shows Continued Strength


During Thursday's webinar, Techsurvey 2023 revealed fascinating insights into the current state of radio, especially in the post-pandemic era. This annual survey, conducted by Jacobs Media, involves 434 radio stations and over 30,000 surveys from core radio listeners. Let’s delve into some key findings:



In-Car Rebound: Despite the rise of streaming services and podcasts, radio remains resilient in the car. The connected car continues to shape the media landscape, and radio holds its ground as a trusted companion during commutes.

AM Radio’s Fate: The future of AM radio has been a topic of discussion. While it faces challenges, it still resonates with certain audiences. Understanding its role and relevance is crucial for broadcasters.

Generational Listening: Younger generations, including Gen Z and Millennials, exhibit varied listening habits. Some embrace radio, while others explore alternative platforms. Radio professionals must adapt to these shifting preferences.



Smart Speakers: After a period of stagnation, smart speakers are making a comeback. Their impact on radio consumption is significant, and broadcasters need to leverage this trend.

Podcast Strategies: Radio stations can optimize their podcast strategies. As podcasting gains popularity, integrating it effectively can enhance overall engagement.

Radio Personalities: Personalities have taken the lead over music as the primary reason for tuning in to the radio. While melodies and beats still resonate with listeners, it’s the charisma, wit, and relatability of radio hosts that keep audiences engaged. These personalities weave stories, share insights, and create a sense of connection, making the radio experience more than just a playlist.

Influential Lawmaker Alarmed Over Soros' Radio Ventures

George Soros

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is accusing liberal billionaire George Soros of trying to fast-track his acquisition of a major radio company through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

"I write today regarding Soros Fund Management’s acquisition of over $400 million in debt held by Audacy — the second-largest broadcast radio station owner in the country. Of particular concern, the Soros groups are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve a change in ownership in Audacy without the FCC running its normal, statutorily required process," Roy said in a letter.

"This transaction, which affects radio stations that reach millions of listeners across the U.S., including in Texas’ 21st congressional district, should — at minimum — be subject to rigorous FCC oversight to ensure U.S. radio stations are not subject to undue influence."

Chip Roy
Soros’ investment firm became the largest shareholder of Audacy last month, which owns local radio stations across the country. Audacy filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. 

Soros Fund Management was involved in a similar corporate restructure last year when it was one of the companies that acquired Vice Media after its bankruptcy filing last year.

Now, however, Roy raised alarm over Audacy also requesting that federal officials grant it a temporary exemption to existing FCC rules that forbid foreign company ownership of U.S. radio stations to exceed a 25% share, which would normally slow down the approval process.

"But instead of going through the usual petition for declaratory ruling process, which would enable the FCC to review and assess those foreign ownership interests as part of its transaction review, the Soros group has asked the FCC to waive that process and put it off until sometime down the road — indicating that those foreign stakeholders will be given ‘special warrants’ in the meantime," Roy wrote.

"The Soros group says that skipping the foreign ownership review at this time will enable the FCC to expedite its approval of the Soros applications and thus allow them to more quickly realize their ownership interests in, and take the reins at, these hundreds of local radio stations across the country."

Roy told Fox News Digital that he heard from constituents who "reached out and raised issues and concerns about the extent to which it's very clear that Soros is, you know, making a move in the radio world.".


Meanwhile, The NY Post is reporting  Soros is paying anti-Israel protestors . . . George Soros and his hard-left acolytes are paying agitators who are fueling the explosion of radical anti-Israel protests at colleges across the country. 

The protests, which began when students took over Columbia University’s Morningside campus lawn last week, have mushroomed nationwide. 

Copycat tent cities have been set up at colleges including Harvard, Yale, Berkeley in California, the Ohio State University and Emory in Georgia — all of them organized by branches of the Soros-funded Students for Justice in Palestine — and at some, students have clashed with police.

Radio History: April 26


➦In 1916...Vic Perrin born (Died of cancer at age 73 – July 4, 1989). He was a  radio, film, and television actor, perhaps best remembered for providing the "Control Voice" in the original version of the television series The Outer Limits.  He was also a radio scriptwriter as well as a narrator in feature films and for special entertainment and educational projects, such as the original Spaceship Earth ride at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Perrin was a regular performer on many commercial radio programs. In 1941 he became a staff announcer for NBC, staying there for several years before moving to ABC and becoming chief announcer at the Blue Network.  His first credited role came in 1943, when he served as the announcer for "The Last Will and Testament Of Tom Smith", a radio episode of Free World Theatre, which was produced and directed by Arch Oboler.  He narrated too "A Star With Two Names", part of the segment "Behind The Scenes Hollywood Story" of The Hollywood Music Hall radio program. At the same time, he joined Charles Laughton's theatrical repertory group.

Perrin was also a regular guest star on the radio version of Gunsmoke, and he wrote or co-wrote five scripts for that popular Western series between 1959 and 1961.  Perrin was a series regular as well on the anthology radio drama Family Theatre, played Ross Farnsworth on One Man's Family, and was featured as cavalry trooper Sergeant Gorse in Fort Laramie in 1956. He performed too as several characters in Escape, Pete Kelly's Blues, Dragnet, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, and Have Gun – Will Travel. In an uncredited role, he also impersonated Clyde Beatty on The Clyde Beatty Show.

He played supporting roles on TV, many of them as a voicist on cartoons, for more than 30 years.

➦In 1921…Radio station WEW was the first to broadcast weather news and forecasts.

Saint Louis University established the station 9YK around 1912, using Morse code to communicate seismological and weather information.

Brother George E. Rueppel, assistant director of the Meteorological Observatory at SLU, worked with 9YK before he founded WEW in 1921.

Audio transmissions began at 10:05 a.m. on April 26, 1921; the first voice heard was SLU president Rev. William Robison. The station received radio license #560 to broadcast on 618.6 kHz (wavelength 485 meters) as WEW on 23 March 1922.

➦In 1924...WHO Des Moines is believed to have signed-on, although the actual on-air start date is in dispute.

A WHO memo from June 14, 1951 states that the first broadcast was on April 10, 1924; this is contradicted by Barry Mishkind Database which states that the First Broadcast License was effective on April 10, 1924 (the FCC's records indicate that the license took effect on April 15, 1924) with the first broadcast on April 26, 1924.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

R.I.P.: Mike Pinder, Last Surviving Original Member of The Moody Blues

Mike Pinder (1942-2024)

Mike Pinder, the last surviving original member of psychedelic rock of 1960s/70s prog rock band the Moody Blues has died at 82. The pioneering keyboardist/singer credited with helping to introduce the mellotron into the rock arena passed away on Wednesday (April 24) at his home in Northern California of undisclosed causes.

Moody bassist John Lodge shared a statement from Pinder’s family on Facebook, in which they wrote, “Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family. Michael’s family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully. His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.”

It continued, “He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, ‘Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come.”


Pinder, a native of Birmingham, England, was a key songwriter and technical innovator for the Moody Blues, as well as an instrumentalist, singer and music arranger. During his tenure with the band, which lasted from 1964 until 1978, Pinder had a crucial influence on groundbreaking albums such as “Days of Future Passed” (1967), “On a Threshold of a Dream” (1969), “A Question of Balance” (1970), “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” (1971) and “Seventh Sojourn” (1972). “Seventh Sojourn” reached No. 1 in the United States and included the hit single “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).”

FCC Votes To Restore Net Neutrality


 The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to restore Obama-era net neutrality guidelines that were axed during the Trump administration.

The FCC decision was a 3-2 vote, with all Democrats on the commission voting in favor of restoring the net neutrality guidelines and the two Republicans voting against the move. The initial and controversial move to end net neutrality during the Trump era was met with fierce backlash online, although many of the fears expressed by opponents never came to fruition.

Net neutrality is the requirement that internet service providers do not discriminate based on the source or destination of data. It classifies providers as common carriers under Title 2 of the Communications Act, meaning they can be regulated more heavily, as if they were telecommunications providers.

The push to restore net neutrality began last year when the commission voted to consider a proposed rule to reverse the 2017 vote ending it, which was spearheaded by then-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. He was pilloried online at the time, with critics incorrectly predicting it would result in dire consequences for internet users.

Critics had contended that certain websites or platforms would end up getting throttled or charged extra, but those fears never materialized.

Earlier this month, Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the move would help the FCC be a “strong consumer advocate of an open internet.”

The move to restore net neutrality has some opponents. David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said that the internet has grown and flourished without heavy regulation from the FCC.

“It’s an attempt to correct a problem that didn’t exist,” Williams told the Washington Examiner ahead of the vote. “And quite frankly, it’s just wanting to grow the size of government, because this gives the FCC more power and more control over the internet.”