He was the face behind HC2 Holdings until the middle of 2020. Today, he’s amassing a collection of low-power broadcast TV stations through his recently formed Sovryn Holdings.
Now, Philip Falcone is acquiring another LPTV property. It’s located in the Valley of the Sun.
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For three weeks, Suddenlink customers in the Greenville-New Bern, N.C., area have been unable to tune to the market’s ABC affiliate.
The reason? A retransmission consent agreement expired June 30, and there’s no new deal in place. The station’s owner, Sinclair Broadcast Group, now says there likely won’t be one — period.
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Digital Alert Systems, a provider of emergency communications products for video services providers, has released an important update of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) digital certificates used to authenticate messaging from the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
The company has released updated IPAWS Certificate Authority (CA) credentials for the DASDEC and One-Net series of Emergency Alert System/Common Alerting Protocol (EAS/CAP) encoder/decoders.
They replace a certificate in the current certification chain that will expire on August 21.
All U.S. DASDEC and One-Net users are advised to replace the soon-to-expire certificate to ensure the required message authentication continues to operate properly. Digital Alert Systems reminds all EAS participants the FCC requires them to “configure their systems to reject all CAP-formatted EAS messages that include an invalid digital signature.”
Digital certificates, called CAs, are used by FEMA to create a chain of trust between an EAS device and the IPAWS servers. The DASDEC and One-Net EAS/CAP devices use these special digital certificates to validate the authenticity of IPAWS-sourced CAP alerts. These certificates are designed to expire on a specific date and time, requiring the issuing authority to publish new certificates as replacements.
All DASDEC and One-Net customers using the IPAWS system must have the latest certificates in place so only messages authenticated through IPAWS are processed. IPAWS users who do not update their equipment before Aug. 21 could see this error message: “Event Log: Digital Signature VERIFICATION ERROR: Signer UNTRUSTED! Check for correct CAP decoder CA file.” Alternatively, the device might simply ignore valid IPAWS alerts.
The new field service bulletin and CA file are now available from the Digital Alert Systems website. DASDEC and One-Net customers should go to the website, download the field service bulletin for instructions, and link to the new CA file.
VCY America has been in the news of late because of its pending acquisition of three FMs once controlled, and still licensed to, Royce International Broadcasting.
As VCY waits for a Federal District Judge in California to finally give ownership of the trio formerly operated by Ed Stolz, it is moving forward with the purchase of a Class A FM serving Iowa’s largest market.
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Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN) has forged an expanded newswire content partnership with the owner and operator of 14 religious non-commercial stations across Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
Under the agreement, TTWN will provide news, sports, show-prep and audio content via its 24/7 News Source wire service to The JOY FM’s radio stations.
The 24/7 News Source provides its affiliate partners with market-customized text and audio news, weather, sports, and entertainment updates, including format-specific content and show-prep, plus the ability to instantly click-n-share stories via social media.
TTWN affiliate partners include more than 200 Christian Radio affiliates.
“It’s an exciting time for The JOY FM as we continue to expand our coverage across much of the Southeast, including Georgia, Florida and Alabama,” says Jerry Williams, Operations Director with The JOY FM. “Our partnership with Total Traffic & Weather Network has been an important part of our programming for many years and we wanted to continue to equip our news team with the timely and accurate content that 24/7 News Source Pro provides. We look forward to many more years of partnership with TTWN.”
TTWN is owned by iHeartMedia.
Conventional wisdom, in the words of MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson, calls for “a massive reacceleration in subscriber growth starting in Q4,” flowing into 2022 with some 28 million new Netflix subscribers.
But, what if that conventional wisdom is wrong, Nathanson asks.
He’s not alone. Shares tumbled at the start of Wednesday’s trading session on the Nasdaq, and were off 4% as of 11:15am Eastern. With more OTT competition and a big slowdown in subscriber growth, is churn a concern — making Sirius XM a sounder investment than the “House of Cards” streaming video pioneer?
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NBCUniversal and Sky, Comcast’s twin visual media and entertainment arms, have launched a global consultancy and research arm.
And, in a sign of the times, it is centered around culture.
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It was a busy Tuesday on Capitol Hill for Members of the lower body of Congress, as the House of Representatives passed five communications and technology bills.
Among the legislation approved: the MEDIA Diversity Act of 2021 (H.R. 1754). House Members also passed a non-binding resolution reaffirming Congress’s commitment to media diversity that sees them pledge to work with the private sector on solutions eliminating barriers to media diversity.
It’s now up to the Senate, and its Republican members, to get a Senate version of H.R. 1754 passed and readied for President Biden to sign.
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. — He’s known to some as America’s “truth detector,” and in April celebrated five years as the host of a syndicated Talk radio show distributed by Salem Media Group‘s SRN.
For Angelinos, Larry Elder‘s a well-known conservative voice, having spent two decades at KABC-AM 790.
Last week, Elder revealed that he seeks to become a Republican candidate for California governor. He is not on the preliminary list of 41 candidates, however. Sacramento has a reason. Elder isn’t buying it, and has sued California’s office of the secretary of state.
In Elder’s view, he is the victim of “shenanigans” orchestrated by California Democrats intent on keeping Gavin Newsom as Governor, with a victory against some declared candidates as Caitlyn Jenner in a recall election scheduled for September 14.
In a statement released late Monday, Pacific Time, “the Sage from South Central” said he’d submitted over 300 pages of tax returns required to become a candidate. As the secretary of state sees it, Elder filed incomplete information on those returns connected to redaction issues.
That’s bogus, Elder claims. As such, he wants the courts to force Secretary of State Shirley Weber to list him as a candidate on the final certified list.
“We’ve complied with everything the secretary of state has required of us,” Elder said. “The politicians in Sacramento know I’m the only candidate who can beat Gavin Newsom. They are afraid, and they are using whatever shenanigans they can to try to trip me up. It won’t work. Frankly, this action by the secretary of state is not simply unfair and absurd but a dangerous and unconstitutional precedent.”
Elder is perhaps one of the more prominent Republicans that could challenge Newsom in September.
— RBR+TVBR West Coast Bureau, with editing by Adam R Jacobson
According to a newly made SEC filing, there’s a Michigan-based institutional investor that now holds 5.2% of the publicly traded shares associated with Gray Television.
What do we know about this holder, MBX Capital LLC?
It’s controlled by an Indian-American billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the first time ever, the FCC is entering into partnerships with 11 federal, state, and local agencies to assess the delivery of Wireless Emergency Alerts in areas across the country during a planned nationwide test on August 11.
The FCC also sent letters to nationwide wireless providers asking them to provide information on their performance following the upcoming test.
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It’s been an active few weeks for NEXTGEN TV rollouts, with more markets firing up lighthouses to help usher in the next era of broadcast TV.
In this edition of the InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle shares new details about the pace of the rollouts, and the increase of ATSC 3.0 signals in the Phoenix Model Market.
Schelle also has an update on the Motown 3.0 Open Test Track, NEXTGEN TV promotional efforts, and just how affordable an ATSC 3.0-enabled set is today.
Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Anne Schelle, Pearl TV” on Spreaker.
Have you taken the 2021 Television Sales Compensation Study yet? If not, what is stopping you! It will only take 5 minutes of your time to complete.
Your responses are important to help us track changes in television sales compensation. Here are some reasons why you should participate.
You will be:
Earlier this month, Nexstar Media Group moved forward with exercising an option to acquire two MyNetwork TV affiliates serving the Shreveport, La., and Tyler-Longview, Tex., markets.
Now, Nexstar is agreeing to proceed with an option to purchase another station in Texas. With the FCC’s approval, the nation’s largest broadcast TV company would have a duopoly in the Rio Grande Valley, converting a services agreement to outright ownership.
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The nation’s largest owner of radio stations has successfully completed its previously announced voluntary prepayment of a portion of both its Term Loan and its Incremental Term Loan.
It used cash on hand to do so, while it also repriced its Incremental Term Loan.
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Only seven will carry home the prestigious award. And, the only place winners will be announced is at the live and in-person Hispanic Radio Conference, scheduled for September 22-23 in Miami, Fla.
The 2021 Medallas de Cortez finalists have been revealed.
The awards, sponsored by vCreative, honor the best in Hispanic radio and are named for Raoul Cortez, founder of the first full-time commercially licensed Spanish-language broadcast media property in the U.S.: KCOR-AM in San Antonio.
In addition to honoring the winners in each of these categories, this year’s presentation will be part of a festive ceremony beginning with a musical tribute by BMI songwriter and recording artist Elston Torres to Emilio Estefan, who will receive the Medallas Distinguished Leadership award.
A gala cocktail reception will immediately follow the awards.
Here are this year’s finalists:
Marketer of the Year Elisa Torres AIRE Radio Networks Julie Garza Curtis Media Group, WYMY-FM, Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC Karina Cerda Entravision Communications, KLYY-FM, Los Angeles, CA Stacie de Armas Nielsen Audio Doug Brisotti Curtis Media Group, WYMY-FM, Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC Local Personality of the Year Dani Lomeli AeroStar Media, KNIV-FM, Salt Lake City, UT Patricia De Lima Audacy, WLZL-FM, Washington, DC Ana Maria Caraballo JVC Broadcasting, WBON-FM Nassau/ Suffolk, NY Maria Del Pilar Mega Philadelphia, WEMG-AM/FM, Philadelphia, PA Angelica Vale Meruelo Media. KLLI-FM, Los Angeles, CA William Franco Spanish Broadcasting System, WXDJ-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL Raul Brindis Univision, KLTN-FM, Houston-Galveston, TX Syndicated/National Personality of the Year Alberto Cortez AIRE Radio Networks Enrique Santos iHeartMedia/iHeartLATINO Edgar ‘Shoboy’ Sotelo Shoboy Productions Raul “Rico” Colindres Skyview Networks, Carmen’s Calls Stephanie Himondinis Stephanie Himondinis Media Dana Cortez The Dana Cortez Show, Skyview Networks El Bueno, La Mala, y El Feo Univision Program Director of the Year Candy Cintron Audacy, WLZL-FM, Washington, DC Estee Martin Cox Media Group, WOEX-FM, Orlando, FL Andrea Bederra Entravision Communications, KRCX-FM, Sacramento, CA Jorge Melendez Mega Philadelphia, WEMG-AM/FM, Philadelphia, PA Elena Jovel Spanish Broadcasting System, KRZZ-FM, San Francisco, CA Arturo Sosa Spanish Broadcasting System, WSKQ-FM & WPAT-FM, New York, NY DOS/Sales Manager of the Year Debbie Flores Entravision Communications, KKPS-FM, McAllen-Brownsville, TX Armando Lapido iHeartMedia, WZTU-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL Mari Velazquez Lazer Broadcasting, KMQA-FM, Bakersfield, CA Crystal Gomez Entravision Communications, KLYY-FM, Los Angeles, CA Patty Valdes Spanish Broadcasting System, WXDJ-FM/WRMA-FM/WCMQ-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL Eric Garcia Univision, New York, NY Market/General Manager of the Year Shirley Davenport Curtis Media Group, WYMY-FM, Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC Humberto Hormaza Entravision Communications, WNUE-FM, Orlando, FL Dr. René Heredia Guadalupe Radio, KZNO-FM, Los Angeles, CA Mark Masepohl Univision, KLNO-FM, KFZO-FM, KDXX-FM, KFLC-AM, KESS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX Sabina Widman Univision, KLNV-FM, San Diego, CA Station of the Year KNIV-FM AeroStar Media, Salt Lake City, UT WCMQ-FM Spanish Broadcasting System, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, FL WLZL-FM Audacy, Washington, DC WRUB-FM iHeartMedia, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL WSKQ-FM Spanish Broadcasting System, New York, NY WXNY-FM Univision, New York, NYConference registration includes admission to the awards and reception.
Register now before the price increases to attend the conference and the presentation of these coveted awards.
WideOrbit, which offers products focused on broadcast TV inventory and revenue workflow management, has released a new version of WO Network, the company’s network ad sales and commercial operations platform.
WO Newtwork is used for the business operations of national, cable, and broadcast TV companies.
The 2021 release includes new features and enhancements designed to help its users generate new revenue, reduce costs, and improve efficiency, WideOrbit says.
The newest release of WO Network includes the Electronic Material Instructions module, the first automated product that WideOrbit says “addresses the need to simplify and streamline the traditionally cumbersome material instructions process.”
A licensed module for WO Network, Electronic Material Instructions integrates with several material instructions providers, including ITN Networks, ECN, and PremiumMedia360, with other integrations coming soon, including Warren Lamb. “These integrations help networks save time and money by simplifying the exchange of new and revised material instructions between buyers and sellers,” WideOrbit notes.
The WO Network 2021 release also introduces new functionality for Sales teams, including the Master Deals Wizard, a centralized location to view and manage all deals sold under a single proposal. The ADU Prediction Tool, now widely available with WO Network 2021, is designed to help networks increase revenue and reduce liability by minimizing both over-and under-delivery, using predictive analytics to identify the number of Audience Deficiency Units (ADUs) needed to deliver on a deal.
“With our 2021 release of WO Network, WideOrbit is excited to continue our tradition of ongoing innovation and investment in improving our core products,” says Arden Adair, WideOrbit’s Senior Director of Product Management for WO Network. “Both the Electronic Material Instructions module and the ADU Prediction Tool are game-changers for our broadcast and cable network customers, promising long-term, positive impact on revenue growth, cost savings, and improved efficiency.”
PromoSuite has launched what it believes is “the radio industry’s first product that enables stations to manage their digital creative process with fully customizable workflows.”
PromoSuite Digital allows teams to create, approve and post all digital assets from start to finish, without ever having to leave the platform.
“PromoSuite Digital gives our clients the ability to create custom order forms and workflows for each of their digital channels including websites, social media pages, YouTube channels and more,” PromoSuite CTO Chris Bungo said. “Our design and development team did an amazing job simplifying the process.”
PromoSuite CEO Rocco Macri added, “Rey Mena (PromoSuite’s VP, Product Design & Development) and his team did a great job solving the challenges that our radio partners were experiencing. For instance, we’ve now made it incredibly easy to review creative. Designated approvers will be able to review, approve or reject with comments directly in our system eliminating the need to rely on emails and speeding up the entire process. We’ve given a sneak peek to a handful of our industry friends, and they are raving about it.”
Friend MTS, a provider of content protection services to media companies across the globe, is welcoming a new EVP/Americas and General Counsel to its executive team.
The individual taking the executive VP role will be based in Santa Rosa, Calif.
That would be John Ward.
The legal job goes to Andrew Shindler, who will be based in London.
Friend MTS provides end-to-end technology products to address piracy concerns at media companies
Ward joins Friend MTS with a deep background in broadcast media, and he’ll be responsible for creating and managing both the sales and operations across North and South America. He most recently served as Chief Technology Officer for iNDEMAND, a U.S. cable consortium.
Earlier in his career, Ward held a variety of positions with FOX Sports Productions, where he supervised all studio production for FOX NFL, MLB and NASCAR coverage, and set up the production and broadcast operations for Speed and Fuel TV. Ward also was the executive in charge of broadcast for NFL Europe in London.
Shindler was previously Partner for Locke Lord (UK) LLP, where he represented clients in technology. He was also Partner and Head of IT at the leading European law firm, SJ Berwin LLP, (latterly part of King & Wood Mallesons), for 20 years.
— Nora Ellish
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