Industry News

TORONTO — It’s a nation where political dollars weren’t a factor in quarterly earnings growth. Yet, television segment income was up despite a dip in revenue for Canadian media company Corus.

This helped Corus achieve flat earnings per share in the fiscal first quarter of 2021, as net income only slightly decreased.

The bigger issue for the company is its radio division.

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On Thursday, new House Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers shared the names of the eight GOP Members of Congress who will be seated with her on the committee that maintains oversight of the FCC.

One day later, the Democratic leadership of the House E&C Committee unveiled the Subcommittee Chairs and Democratic Roster for the 117th Congress.

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Speaking at a virtual event hosted by Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, U.S. Asst. Attorney General Makan Delrahim made it known that the Department of Justice does not plan to take action on the consent decrees governing the performance royalty organizations ASCAP and BMI.

Among the first to cheer is NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith.

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It already has an active Twitter feed full of general interest news.

On Monday, it will get its broadcast TV premiere as a new entrant in one of the last ultra-competitive dayparts for television and radio — morning drive.

“The National Desk” is all set and ready for launch from Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Rather than a news magazine, “The National Desk” is described by Sinclair as “an original news program,” and is being cleared for weekday morning timeslots starting January 18 — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — across 68 Sinclair-owned stations.

This include all of the company’s MyNetwork TV and The CW Network affiliates, and Sinclair-owned OTT platform STIRR.

“The National Desk” is being produced by Sinclair’s WJLA-7, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., once owned by the Allbritton family.

The host: Jan Jeffcoat, who has been doing dry runs posted on Twitter ahead of the channel’s launch.

Jeffcoat is nationally recognized for her stints at TEGNA-owned WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C., from 2013-2018; and for her various roles at FOX’s WFLD-TV in Chicago from 2007-2012. Jeffcoat was also anchor at KRIV-TV in Houston from November 2004-June 2007.

And, much like Nexstar’s much-publicized evening news block NewsNation, Sinclair says “The National Desk” will be “commentary-free,” with news from both a local and national perspective.

Still, some may put extra scrutiny on the Sinclair offering, given its decisively conservative tone seen in some markets with its local newscasts.

“This is an opportunity to bring national conversations back to a local level,” Jeffcoat said. “We understand the soul of the stories and communities in which we operate.”

Stories will come from Sinclair’s local news reporters, packaged as a national offering that showcases its stations while, Sinclair says, leveraging its assets.

Set to join Jeffcoat is Cayle Thompson, whose resume includes a stint as a KOMO-4 in Seattle anchor, and at WINK-11 in Fort Myers-Naples, from September 2010-September 2014. He is an Ithaca College journalism school grad who has also worked in Saginaw, Mich., and in Wichita.

Both report to SVP/News Scott Livingston.

“Stories that will be national news tomorrow are emanating from smaller local communities today,” Livingston said. “’The National Desk’ will provide Americans with the news they want to hear in a timely and accurate fashion. Our coverage
highlights stories that represent the heart of America – we’re here to provide context rather than commentary.”

Travel between Rocky Mount and Wilmington, N.C., along U.S. 258, and you’ll come across the picturesque city of Kinston, in Lenoir County.

Here, a low-powered TV station is being sold by Tutt Media Group.

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Regional broadcast systems integrator Broadcast Solutions Finland Oy kicked off the new year with a new name, Broadcast Solutions Nordic Oy.

Initially focused on Finland, the company cited the change to a growth in clients in neighboring Nordic and Baltic countries. The company will remain headquartered in Helsinki.

Broadcast Solutions Nordic Oy Managing Director Antti Laurila said, “The Broadcast Solutions Group is a globally active company … And as an integral part Broadcast Solutions Nordic offers its services to broadcasters and customers in the Nordic countries, the Baltics and beyond.”

The post Broadcast Solutions Finland Changes Name appeared first on Radio World.

For more than two decades, she made her mark as a leader with a deep understanding of the media business, establishing what AMC Networks President/CEO Josh Sapan calls her “impeccable track record driving strong financial and operational results.”

This explains why AMC’s new EVP/CFO is a figure well-remembered for her years at Showtime and ViacomCBS.

Taking the role at the home of such MVPD-distributed channels as WE tv, AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC and SundanceTV is Christina Spade.

Spade will oversee AMC Networks’ financial operations, including treasury, tax, accounting, financial planning & analysis, as well as investor relations and global technology.

She previously held the EVP/CFO role at ViacomCBS, which followed roles as the CFO for CBS Corporation and, before that, Showtime Networks.

Spade succeeds former AMC Networks CFO Sean Sullivan, who stepped down in October 2020.

“AMC Networks has built a strong portfolio of distinct brands that are synonymous with high quality,” Spade said. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with the AMC Networks team to build on the company’s long track record of innovation and success.”

Prior to joining Showtime Networks, Spade was an audit manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Entertainment, Media and Communications practice.

It’s being heralded as “a significant industry breakthrough” by ViacomCBS and DISH Media.

They’ve successfully delivered the first-ever addressable impressions within a live national broadcast via MVPD set-top box.

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What is the relationship between the number of independent local television news operations in a market and the size of the market, as measured by number of television households?

That’s a question two members of the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics have addressed in a 28-page “Working Paper” that concludes further consolidation is likely in markets that cannot sustain a variety of competitors.

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The controversial donation-based local broadcast TV streaming service that bills itself as a “digital translator” has entered yet another market.

This time, Locast is planting stakes in Wisconsin — a timely move for Green Bay Packers fans looking forward to viewing their next National Football League playoff match.

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