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Auto spending turns the corner.
Long radio’s top revenue-generating advertising category, automotive has been stuck in reverse for more than a year. But for the first time since 2008 the segment is up. Katz says auto ad spending is up 36% in the first quarter — with budget increases by General Motors, Honda, Chrysler and Ford.
Undaunted, Toyota stays on radio.
As the mechanical crisis unfolded the last two weeks, Toyota aired more commercials on radio, not less. The carmaker and its dealers aired 8,478 radio spots last week, according to Media Monitors.
In-car media choices keep growing.
Radio remains the king of the dashboard, but for how long? Further evidence that radio faces heightened competition in the digital race for the dashboard will be on display at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show this month.
Lower fees set for HD Radio.
Encouraged by rising receiver sales, automotive adoption, product expansion and what it perceives as “heightened broadcaster enthusiasm,” iBiquity has reduced the one-time license fee it charges stations to broadcast digitally on their main channel. The company is hoping a price reduction will push more broadcasters to make the commitment to HD broadcasts, which are now heard on more than 2,000 stations.
PwC: “Emerging signs” in deal market.
The credit markets remain frozen, but analysts at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) believe signals hint at a recovery in the 2010 deal market. PwC partner Thomas Rooney says, “Continuing signs of gradual economic recovery and an anticipated easing of credit markets point to a potential uptick in entertainment and media deal activity.”
FCC remains closed today.
As Washington, DC braces for what could be another foot or more of snow, the Office of Personnel Management will keep the federal government closed today. That includes the FCC, although its website is still allowing for electronic document filing. MORE
Email sums up radio’s power in an emergency.
Bonneville’s WTOP-FM, Washington (103.5) shares an email from a Germantown, MD woman named Holly. While her note had nice things to say about the station’s winter weather coverage, it’s emblematic of radio’s power during a crisis. MORE
Towers down in California and Oklahoma.
Heavy rains and high winds in Southern California are blamed for bringing down one of the five 199-foot towers used by ethnic-brokered KWRM, Corona (1370). Meanwhile in Oklahoma, Gap Broadcasting is still recovering from an ice storm two weeks ago. MORE
Stern: Open to “American Idol.”
Speculation fueled by Friday’s New York Post story that “American Idol” producers are eager to sign Howard Stern to replace outbound judge Simon Cowell became fodder for Stern’s Monday morning radio show. MORE
BizRadio owner settles SEC suit.
BizRadio Network owner Albert Kaleta has settled a complaint brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission which said he ran a Ponzi-type scheme. It comes as BizRadio returns to Houston’s airwaves.
FCC helps Haitian broadcasters.
As the devastation from the January 12 earthquake fades from the headlines, the FCC says it continues to work with American broadcasters to help Haitian stations get back on their feet. International Bureau chief Mindel DeLaTorre says the damage to radio and TV stations was especially “debilitating” with staff killed and “enormous” damage to buildings and equipment. MORE
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