Weekly News Recap April 9-13, 2018 With New Tech, Opportunities Alongside radio’s “unfair advantage,” the thing it does in a “uniquely differentiated way” Challenges. that it wants to “build a moat around” A wave of nonstop change continues to the other but incremental listening.” to protect. For Entercom, that’s scaling roll through the radio industry, as new NAB executive VP, Strategic Planning “great local programming,” Murphy technologies bring new opportunities Steve Newberry added that the devices explained, something none of the and big decisions. With a bevy of have become “a new replacement for big platform companies like Google, shiny objects and vendors vying for radio in the home.” Amazon and Facebook have done. “We their attention, industry leaders have have to make sure our programming to place their bets on what will be Entercom senior VP, Corporate Business continues to connect with people and Development we have to control the distribution. We Tim Murphy took can’t hand it over to others.” a broader view, noting that smart For Newberry, who also owns small speakers and other market radio company Commonwealth new technologies Broadcasting, radio’s “unfair are leading to an advantage” is its ability to connect explosion in overall with local communities. Hendrich said audio listening. “If that Cox radio research consistently you’re a company shows that what listeners value most that creates audio, about radio is its ability to connect them technology is with the artists and personalities they enabling a gold rush,” love. While the industry is rife with new Murphy said. opportunities, the panel didn’t shy away from discussing some of the challenges Voice recognition they face as industry leaders tasked and big data were with making important decisions that also on Cox Media can have long-term impact on their Group executive VP business, its employees and the future Bill Hendrich’s top of the industry itself. tomorrow’s game changer – or just a tech list. But tapping the smart speaker flash in the pan. A group of radio execs opportunity requires some heavy lifting, offered their vision for radio’s future – he observed. “We have to educate what thrills them and what frightens listeners on how to get our stations,” them –at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Hendrich said. “That’s the biggest game changer in years.” Moderator Fred Jacobs got the ball rolling by asking the panel what At the same time, big data will help radio excites them among all the new tech. create better programming and grow “The decisions we’re making today will All pointed to voice-activated smart ad sales, the panel agreed. “It’s a new impact what we’re doing 5-10 years speakers, which are now in 20% of Wi- world, we just have to take advantage from now,” Beasley said. In his new post Fi-enabled homes. Big data was next, of it,” Beasley said. at the NAB, Newberry said his biggest as one of the convention’s big buzz challenge is helping the industry find phrases. Since launching its Alexa All of this dizzying change is, in fact, collaborative solutions as opposed to strategy two months ago, Beasley prompting broadcasters to reimagine an “everyman for himself” competitive Media Group CEO Caroline Beasley what business they’re in, Murphy said. approach. He asked, “How do we all told session attendees that her “We have to broaden how we view the come together to think universally about company has seen increased listening, marketplace and who we’re competing what is good for the industry?” “not just moving from one platform to with. That requires deciding what is Page 1 Weekly News Recap April 9-13, 2018 Ajit Pai Proposes Changes to Translator Interference Rules. FCC chairman Ajit Pai made some news at the NAB Show, announcing that he’s circulated a proposal among his fellow commissioners to update the agency’s rules on translator interference. The proposed rulemaking would allow FM translators to resolve interference issues by moving to any available frequency,and require a minimum number of complaints to support any interference claim. “The goal is to simplify and expedite the complaint process,” Pai said. The chairman was greeted with frequent applause during a speech that was peppered with jokes and with stories about his recent visits to radio and TV stations. “It’s always great to be with broadcasters,” Pai said. “Or perhaps I should say, it’s great to always be with broadcasters.” Pai walked the audience through FCC rule changes enacted under his purview, like Digital Experts Share Smart Device Strategies. ending the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership ban and Smart devices, voice-activated speakers and mobile apps scrapping the “main studio” rule. “When you look at all of our are unlocking newfound potential to connect with radio media decisions together, the larger picture becomes clear: audiences. The challenge now for broadcasters is trying to We are simply allowing any and every broadcaster the ability keep up with these rapidly evolving platforms. Steve Meyers, to compete in a free market, unshackled by regulations that Executive VP of Digital for Beasley, explained that his no longer make sense,” he said. company has made the leap to a new mobile app platform for each of the company’s 63 stations, with a focus on Walden Has Praise and Tough Love for Broadcasters. next-generation features. Recognizing that more than 70% In a “Fireside Chat” with NAB president Gordon Smith Rep. of its audience interacts with Beasley stations via mobile Greg Walden (R-OR) acknowledged the crucial public safety devices—and then finding that 25% of its audience sessions role broadcasters play – while also offering some tough were focused on live streaming, with the other 75% on other love for the industry. “You can reach people when there’s digital content—the company refocused on creating targeted no other way to reach them” with essential information that and more personalized content. That includes 93 new pieces “saves lives, the chairman of the powerful House Energy of digital content each day. “With FM, we were pushing one and Commerce Committee said. Walden sees evolving stream of content. Digital opens this whole new ability for us connected car technology to provide different opportunities and different methods of as both a challenge engagement for our brands,” Meyers said at the NAB Show. and an opportunity for Hubbard’s walk on the wild side comprises 25 responsive web broadcasters. “At some players that scale to any screen, desktop, tablet and/or mobile point, in completely device, 28 Alexa skills, three Flash Briefings skills and 24 autonomous vehicles, IOS/24 Android mobile apps. “You cannot behave like a radio the front seat will become company anymore. You have to act like a digital company,” the back seat and you’re said Jeremy Sinon, VP Digital Strategy for Hubbard. going to have to figure out as an industry, and NAB Show Explores Intersection Of Big Data & Radio with new technologies, Measurement. how you remain in the Radio put Nielsen on the hot seat as a NAB Show panel dashboard and maybe in every seat in that vehicle because of research execs grilled the ratings giant about what it’s things are changing,” Walden said. He also urged broadcasters doing to improve audience measurement in a world where to do more to educate lawmakers about their industry. “It’s really big data is increasingly essential. iHeartMedia executive VP important for you to not presume that members of Congress Michele Madansky chastised Nielsen for using a PPM device making decisions about your future understand your business,” that “looks like a 1970s pager,” while the industry anxiously he said. As his committee tackles important issues that affect awaits the rollout of new wearable meters in 2020. And in radio, Walden freely admits that growing and he urged Apple the 200+ diary markets, Madansky questioned why Nielsen to join other handset manufacturers and activate the FM chip wouldn’t deploy “an app, a website, anything to just make it in cell phones. “This is a no brainer. They ought to be doing easy for people” to enter what they’re listening to. Nielsen this,” he said. VP of Product Leadership Rob Kass said representative PPM panels and ratings diaries will remain “core” to its methodology comScore: Smart Speakers Now In 18.7 Million U.S. as a “source of truth” to offset the bias inherent in big data. Homes. “We’re cautiously looking at ways we can bring in new sources The latest data from comScore shows smart speaker of data,” he said. Nielsen may be sitting on a treasure trove penetration has reached 20% of U.S. Wi-Fi enabled homes. of big data, following its acquisition of Gracenote, according This is an increase of 50% in just three months bringing the to Cumulus Media VP Dr. Ed Cohen. “That may be the set- total to 18.7 million U.S. homes that are using a smart speaker. top box for big data in radio,” said Cohen, a former Arbitron Lower price points and a larger variety of smart speakers executive. served as fuel for the increase. Smith: Investing In Innovation Crucial To Long-Term Weekly News Recap Growth. April 9-13, 2018 NAB president Gordon Smith got the NAB Show in Las Vegas underway on an upbeat note with a salute to broadcasting’s In times of crisis, people turn to their local broadcasters for past and a peek into its future. To succeed in the uncharted information. We have the ability to help save lives, and to bring territory of tomorrow requires “investing in the innovation a feeling of normalcy in the face of chaos.” that is crucial to our long-term growth,” he said, while also recognizing – and adapting to – changing media consumption Sales Pros Adapt To Evolution – Shrewdly, Fearlessly.