Industry News

NEW YORK — FreeWheel has integrated a key set of technologies into its platform to enable its clients to programmatically acquire incremental inventory and extend audience reach in a single workflow.

By integrating Beeswax bidding capabilities into its supply technology, FreeWheel says it is investing in the future of programmatic trading as a cornerstone of the television marketplace.

The new integration, the Comcast-owned entity says, will provide a way for media owners and sellers who use FreeWheel’s publisher technology for management and optimization of their own inventory to access additional premium TV and video inventory directly through FreeWheel.

By automating campaign extension using advanced bidding algorithms, publishers will be able to fulfill advertising campaigns across available pools of inventory throughout the media ecosystem, FreeWheel adds.

“When we acquired Beeswax earlier this year, we recognized that its leading bidding technology could be used to improve the value that our platform provides to our customers,” said FreeWheel GM Dave Clark. “Now, with our recently completed integration, this value proposition is real – a unified inventory view, unified optimization, and unified measurement across inventory sources and screens, within a single system. This advancement will bring immediate, meaningful change to our customers and the industry.”

As such, FreeWheel’s publisher customers are now able to deliver against both their own inventory and third-party inventory with the same creatives, workflow, frequency capping,
budgeting, and pacing.

“With bidding technology built right into the platform, users will have a unified view of all their inventory sources and optimize campaigns for performance and profitability,” FreeWheel says.

FreeWheel is currently piloting the product with select customers with plans for a full rollout in early 2022. The pilot is part of a multi-staged initiative as FreeWheel aims to bring enhanced programmatic technology to premium advertisers and publishers to connect multiple parts of the TV and video advertising ecosystem.

In late July, Bob Philips relinquished his role as Chief Revenue Officer for Audacy Inc., thanks to his appointment by the company as President of Audacy Networks and Multi-Market Sales.

Subsequently, a search for his successor began, with Audacy seeking an individual who could “drive this growth and expansion, especially in the digital arena.”

In the end, Audacy selected the founder and former President of Katz Digital — an individual who also served as President of Christal Radio within the Katz Media Group and General Sales Manager for iHeartMedia‘s East Coast Top 40 flagship, “Z100.”

That would be Brian Benedik, who excelled as the head of sales for WHTZ-FM in New York for iHeartMedia, among other key highlights across a nearly 30-year career in radio. He begins his new role as Audacy’s Chief Revenue Officer on December 1.

“As a key member of the executive team, Benedik will lead all aspects of revenue generation across corporate, national, regional and local levels and develop fully integrated, multiplatform sales solutions and breakthrough strategies to attract new revenue streams,” Audacy says.

He reports to Chief Operating Officer Susan Larkin, who was thrilled to be welcoming Benedik to the C-Suite. “His resume speaks for itself, with key roles at audio publishers like Spotify, iHeart Radio, Audible and Katz Media, where his strategic vision enabled the former to quickly elevate from a newcomer in our industry to a multi-billion dollar leader in the audio streaming space. Brian’s considerable expertise and experience will amplify our revenue generation efforts as Audacy continues its upward trajectory.”

Benedik added, “The audio industry is booming with innovation and consumers are enjoying wonderful content experiences across a number of platforms. The Audacy re-imagination efforts are beyond impressive and the portfolio of assets across radio, streaming, podcast, live events, sports play-by-play and sports betting are best in class. I’m looking forward to working with David Field, Susan Larkin and the Audacy executive team to drive value to marketers and our loyal users.”

Benedik joins Audacy from Niantic, an Augmented Reality (AR) developer platform and real world gaming publisher, where he served as VP/Global Head of Revenue.

Before that, he spent seven years at Spotify. There, he was SVP/Global Head of Sales and Operations, leading a team of over 550 people in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. As the leader of the Spotify Global Advertising Business, Benedik oversaw the direct, programmatic, podcast, re-seller and self serve platform teams as well as ad and sales operations, trading, global agency and accounts and training groups.

Audacy requires all incoming employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. As such, Benedik is required to provide proof of vaccination, which will be kept confidential.

How much will Benedik earn?

When Philips was CRO, his salary was $715,993 — the fourth-highest salary by job title in the telecommunications industry as measured by Salary.com for FY 2020.

Of Philips’ total earnings in 2020, $555,900 was received as a salary, $138,986 was awarded as stock and $21,107 came from other types of compensation, SEC filings confirm.

RELATED NEWS:

A Big EPS Miss For Audacy in Q3 While more categories have invested more in advertising with Audacy’s on-demand audio offerings and its broadcast radio stations, the struggle is real for the radio station owner and parent of podcast entities Cadence13 and Pineapple Street. The company still registered a net loss in Q3, although a smaller one than one year ago. The problem? Analysts expected earnings per share of $0.09.

Viasat Inc. will acquire mobile satellite communications supplier Inmarsat in a transaction valued at $7.3 billion, the companies announced.

The transaction includes $850 million in cash, approximately 46.36 million shares of Viasat common stock valued at $3.1 billion and the assumption of $3.4 billion of debt.

Viasat Executive Chairman Mark Dankberg described the deal as a “transformative combination.”

Inmarsat logo

“The combination will create a leading global communications innovator with enhanced scale and scope to affordably, securely and reliably connect the world,” the companies stated in the announcement.

“The complementary assets and resources of the new organization will enable the availability of advanced new services in mobile and fixed segments, driving greater customer choice in broadband communications and narrowband services (including the Internet of Things or ‘IoT’).”

They said Viasat intends to integrate the spectrum, satellite and terrestrial assets of the two entities into “a global high-capacity hybrid space and terrestrial network, capable of delivering superior services in fast-growing commercial and government sectors.”

“This advanced architecture will create a framework incorporating the most favorable characteristics of multi-band, multi-orbit satellites and terrestrial air-to-ground systems that can deliver higher speeds, more bandwidth, greater density of bandwidth at high demand locations like airport and shipping hubs and lower latency at lower cost than either company could provide alone.”

Assets of the combined companies will include spectrum licenses across the Ka-, L- and S-bands, a fleet of 19 satellites and 10 more planned for launch in the next three years. They cite a global Ka-band footprint including planned polar coverage, “to support bandwidth-intensive applications, augmented by L-band assets that support all-weather resilience and highly reliable, narrowband and IoT connectivity.”

They also expect to get more value out of Inmarsat’s L-band spectrum and space assets by incorporating Viasat’s beamforming, end-user terminal and payload technologies and its hybrid multi-orbit space-terrestrial networking capabilities.

Inmarsat is based in the United Kingdom while Viasat is headquartered in California.

Viasat said it plans to build on Inmarsat’s presence there and “is committed to preserving and growing the investment of the combined company in U.K. space communications, as well as supporting the recently published National Space Strategy.” It plans to keep Inmarsat’s London headquarters “as well as its footprint in Australia and Canada and across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.”

 

The post Viasat Will Acquire Inmarsat appeared first on Radio World.

“While many ad categories remain highly impacted as a result of the pandemic, it is great to see an increasing number of categories back above 2019 spending levels,” said David Field, President/CEO of Audacy Inc., the audio content creation and distribution company founded as Entercom by his father, Joseph Field.

Alas, while more categories have invested more in advertising with Audacy’s on-demand audio offerings and its broadcast radio stations, the struggle is real for the Philadelphia-based company.

The company still registered a net loss in Q3, although a smaller one than one year ago. The problem? Analysts expected earnings per share of $0.09. Audacy missed the mark by 13 cents per share.

Bob Philips’ Successor As Audacy CRO Selected Audacy selected as its new Chief Revenue Officer the founder and former President of Katz Digital — an individual who also served as President of Christal Radio within the Katz Media Group and General Sales Manager for iHeartMedia’s East Coast Top 40 flagship, “Z100.”

 

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The 12-year-old Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) will be getting new leadership within the first three months of 2022.

That’s because the organization’s CEO and Managing Director who has held the dual roles since CIMM’s 1999 creation is retiring.

Jane Clarke will step down from the positions at CIMM, with the reins at the coalition within the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) handed to Jon Watts.

Watts is co-founder and Executive Director of The Project X Institute, a think tank and strategic advisory collective for the media and advertising industries. He also serves as Project Director for The TV Data Initiative, a consortium of data and technology companies that include DISH Media, Blockgraph, TVSquared, MadHive, VideoAmp, TransUnion, Eyeota and Magnite. The TV Data Initiative is focused on supporting the growth and development of the U.S. TV data ecosystem.

“There is perhaps no one individual in the industry today more responsible for advancing cross-platform video measurement than Jane,” ARF President/CEO Scott McDonald said. “Her ability to help buyers, sellers and vendors join together to identify a vision and act upon it, backed by her unique understanding of the technical and business challenges involved, has made it possible for the industry to be near attainment of its ultimate goal. She now leaves that mission in the very experienced and capable hands of Jon.”

CIMM was founded in 2009 by major TV network groups, television content providers, media agencies and advertisers as an industry R&D consortium to promote innovation in audience measurement for television and cross-platform media. It was acquired by the ARF in 2018 and established as a subsidiary.

During Clarke’s tenure, CIMM launched pilot tests of innovative measurement solutions and conducted research to develop best practices and bring transparency and industry confidence to new measurement solutions. Additionally, CIMM established a framework of building blocks for cross-platform video measurement that includes scaled and nationally-representative, second-by-second TV exposure data; digital census data for content and ads; panel data to fill in the gaps; and methods to connect TV and digital data via ID-graphs. CIMM’s research focused on improvements in these areas, including tools for planning, deduplicating reach across platforms and TV attribution.  Additionally, CIMM has long been an advocate for standardizing metadata across TV and digital platforms, including ad and content identifiers such as Ad-ID, to improve cross-platform measurement and bring workflow efficiencies.

“I am so grateful to all in the industry who have been deeply committed to CIMM and its mission,” Clarke said. “It is because of their vision, drive, innovation and willingness to work together that so many significant challenges to cross-platform measurement have been overcome. CIMM is a special organization where all segments of the industry can come together to jointly evaluate and spur the development of new technologies and methodologies to ensure they work for the needs of all. I am honored to have helped guide CIMM and immensely proud of what we have achieved.”

From the RBR+TVBR Archives: In February, the 12-year-old Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) took to Zoom and conducted the first of its two virtual sessions comprising the 10th annual Cross-Platform Video Measurement & Data Summit. Six months later, we spoke with Jane Clarke to get a new look on the state of measurement. Among Clarke’s choice declarations: The panel just doesn’t work anymore. For all of what Clarke had to say in just under 15 minutes, check out this RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM!

With a goal of “powering up the in car audio streaming experience for consumers,” TuneIn has inked an arrangement with a major automotive part manufacturer that could make it as front-and-center as Sirius XM, AM and FM are on the in-dash audio entertainment system.

Thanks to a new partnership, announced today, HARMAN and TuneIn are joining forces to create a pre-integrated implementation of the TuneIn app.

This not only expands the ability for drivers to listen to audio streaming of many of their favorite broadcast radio stations, including those from iHeartMedia, but brings on-demand live sports, news, music, podcasts to the HARMAN Ignite Store. That’s HARMAN’s connected vehicle platform for automakers, which they will use to develop, manage and operate their own in-vehicle app store.

“Automotive manufacturers can leverage the HARMAN Ignite Store digital ecosystem for OEMs to enable drivers to download a TuneIn app tailored to the in-car environment,” the companies say. “Through the app, TuneIn listeners can access audio content while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.”

Through the TuneIn collaboration, drivers will also get to experience what the streaming audio app calls “experience premium connected features.” They include a free trial subscription to TuneIn Premium, giving them exclusive access to commercial-free news from top networks like CNN, Fox News Radio, MSNBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg, as well as live NFL, NHL, MLB, and college sports programming. There are also commercial-free music channels, in addition to personalized content recommendations right from the dashboard app.

With the iHeartMedia app already on Apple Car Play, it’s another way for consumers to access their content — as well as TuneIn’s other global partners.

RBR+TVBR Related Read:

With Funding Injection, TuneIn Welcomes a New CEO Adam Jacobson Despite its spurn from leading radio broadcasting companies, the TuneIn app remains globally ubiquitous, embedded into LifeCycle gym equipment and found on the Roku app. Now, it’s getting a new leader, and is welcoming the former Chief Product Officer at Audible as its new CEO.

Broadcast media industry sales technology provider Marketron has launched a new product suite designed to leverage open APIs, connectors and custom integrations.

This, Marketron says, gives its customers the ability to consolidate disparate data sources — including linear, O&O and third-party digital advertising systems — into a single ecosystem.

Introducing the Marketron Integration Suite, which the company says can help users “reduce bottlenecks, realize greater visibility, and drive increased revenue.”

Jimshade Chaudhari, Marketron’s SVP/Product Development, says, “The Marketron Integration Suite enables our customers to save time by automating daily tasks,
bringing digital and linear orders into one system and accessing better reports all while building a best-in-breed technology stack. The ability for customers to use their data wherever they want, within our ecosystem and beyond, is invaluable in enabling more efficient, agile, and informed operations.”

From the RBR+TVBR Archives:

The InFOCUS Podcast: Jimshade Chaudhari, Marketron Adam Jacobson In this InFOCUS podcast, presented by dot.FM, SVP of Product Jimshade Chaudhari chats with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson on what products Marketron is ready to put the spotlight on — including one new offering of interest to radio and TV. LISTEN HERE

A new multi-year affiliation agreement is in place that will prevent a “great affiliate switch” from taking shape in some 47 local TV markets across the U.S.

It’s thanks to a pact signed by the company that will soon complete its merger with Meredith Local Media.

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The winners of the third annual NAB Show Product of the Year Awards were revealed on November 3 during the virtual Product of the Year Awards celebration, held virtually on the NAB Amplify platform.

The awards recognize “significant and promising new products and technologies” that were set to be displayed for the first time at the previously canceled 2021 NAB Show.

This year’s winners are:

ACQUISITION CATEGORY
Cameras

• Panasonic LUMIX: DC-BGH1
• Bolin Technology: D Series Dante AV PTZ Camera
• Canon: Canon EOS R5
• Canon: Canon EOS R3
• Canon: Canon CR-N500 PTZ
• Canon: Canon CR-N300 PTZ
• AVer Information Inc.: AVer TR313 4K AI Auto Tracking Camera

Camera Support, Control and Accessories

• MRMC: Polymotion Chat
• MRMC: Bolt Jr+
• Canon: Canon Cine-Servo 25-250mm
• Canon: Canon DP-V3120 Reference Display

Hardware Infrastructure

• kvm-tec electronic GmbH: SCALABLE LINE 4K & FULL HD
• Sencore: ATSC 3.0 to TS Multi-Channel Transcoder – TXS 3800
• Cobalt Digital: 9905-MPx 3G/HD/SD Quad-Path Up/Down/Cross Converter/Frame Sync/Embed/De-Embed Audio Processor
• Cobalt Digital: Indigo ST 2110 Series
• Tieline the Codec Company: Gateway 4
• Theatrixx Technologies: xPressPlay
• Artel Video Systems: SMART OpenGear

Monitoring and Measuring Tools

• PHABRIX: QxL
• Telestream: Inspect 2110

DELIVERY CATEGORY
AI/Machine Learning

• Veritone, Inc.: MARVEL.ai
• Digtial Nirvana: MetadataIQ
• BEAM Dynamics: BeamON Product Intelligence Platform
• Prime Focus Technologies: CLEAR Vision Cloud – AI-powered multi-frame rate conformance

Digital Signage and Display Systems

• Sony: Spacial Reality Display

Streaming

• Fincons Group: Univision ATSC3.0 Broadcast Apps
• LiveU: LU800 PRO4 Multicamera, Production-Level Field Unit
• Kaltura: Kaltura Content Aggregation Solutions
• Kaltura and Broadpeak: Hybrid Video Plane
• Shure Incorporated: MV7 Podcast Kit
• SSIMWAVE: SSIMPLUS® Video Quality Dial
• Zype: Playout 2.0

IT Networking/Infrastructure & Security

• Cobalt Digital: RIST (RELIABLE INTERNET STREAM TRANSPORT) Main Profile Security Option for Cobalt Compression Line
• NDI: NDI 5
• Lawo: HOME

PRODUCTION CATEGORY
Asset Management, Automation, Playout

• LiveU: LiveU Matrix Cloud Video Management & Distribution Solution featuring Dynamic Share & Global Directory
• NewTek: 3Play® 3P2
• SDVI: Rally Insight data analytics service

Audio Production, Processing and Networking

• Deity Microphones: Deity BP-TRX
• Wheatstone Corporation: Blade Four
• Patton Electronics Co: DanteAV over IP
• Shure Incorporated: ADX5D Axient® Digital Dual-Channel Portable Wireless Receiver

Cloud Computing and Virtualization

• VAST Data: Gemini, the new model for VAST Data’s Universal Storage
• DataCore Software: DataCore Swarm
• Komprise: Komprise Intelligent Data Management 4.0
• Wasabi Technologies: Wasabi Object Lock
• Frame.io: Frame.io Camera to Cloud (C2C)
• Telestream: Telestream Cloud
• EditShare: Universal Media Projects
• Grass Valley: GV AMPP

Graphics, Editing, VXF, Switchers

• Blackbird: Blackbird
• Opticis USA: HDHF-4K
• Noitom International, Inc.: Perception Neuron 3
• Dalet: Dalet CubeNG
• Adobe: Speech to Text in Adobe Premiere Pro
• Mo-Sys Engineering: Mo-Sys VP Pro XR
• Maxon: Cinema 4D Release 25
• Maxon: Red Giant Complete
• Vizrt: Vizrt XR Set — Viz Engine 4.3 and Unreal Engine
• Flowics: Flowics Graphics

Location Lighting

• StellaPro Lights by Light & Motion: Reflex

Remote Production

• LiveU: LU800 PRO4 Multicamera, Production-Level Field Unit
• LiveU: LiveU Matrix Cloud Video Management & Distribution Solution featuring Dynamic Share & Global Directory
• Noitom International, Inc.: Perception Neuron 3
• Clear-Com: Agent-IC Mobile App
• Vizrt: Vizrt Live Production in the cloud

NAB Show registration is now open at nabshow.com for access to the 2022 Show Floor and select education content. Registration for paid conferences and workshops will be available later this year.

Broadcast audio consortium Telos Alliance has brought to market Podcast Audio Processing Software.

And, the company considers the OmniaTools offering to be an “enterprise-class toolset that gives podcasters everything they need to deliver listenable audio with a consistently prominent sound.”

As more audio is produced remotely and consumed on-demand, the challenge of consistent audio levels is becoming even greater. In fact, it is the number-one complaint of podcast listeners. OmniaTools allows podcasters to automatically manage loudness levels and create a unique signature sound on podcasts and other on-demand content, helping them stand out, brand, and keep audiences engaged. This enterprise-class Windows Service makes it easy to deliver consistent loudness for all audio files, while improving the quality of the audio.

“If you care about your podcast content getting through to the listener, you should care about sound quality,” says Marty Sacks, EVP of Sales, Support, and Marketing at Telos Alliance. “Poor-quality sound is fatiguing and creates the risk of listeners tuning out. Like a dirty windshield, compromised audio quality obscures the sonic landscape. Details get lost, speech can be more difficult to comprehend, and content can suffer as a result. OmniaTools makes podcast and other on-demand audio more listenable, less fatiguing, and more consistent.”

OmniaTools complies with North American and International Loudness control standards. It includes APTO loudness processing, file-based Omnia.9 processing, hot folder or API-driven processing, file-type auto-detect, and clearly labeled, proven presets for out-of-the-box functionality.