CBS plans to build deeper local online content by commissioning specific local topics for articles from thousands of writers at Examiner.com. Both parties were mum about whether revenue sharing is involved but did note that writers will receive a payment plan different from the one they get on Examiner.com.
Leonard Brody, president of Clarity Digital, which …

When Bob Pittman launched his career in radio decades ago, he touted the virtues of advertising’s “big three” — radio, TV and newspapers. All these years later, during his keynote address at ILM West 2011, Pittman was still bullish on radio’s position in the hierarchy.
“Radio is your companion,” he noted. TV operates as consumers’ “hobby,” …

A new partnership between Clear Channel and LivingSocial is seeking to leverage the power of on-air personalities on 500 Clear Channel radio stations. The personalities will rap about the deals in unscripted segments. It would be interesting to know what the split is for something like this. The arrangement is described as a “commission.”
We know …

The news came over the wires this weekend  that Bob Pittman has been named as the new CEO for radio and outdoor giant Clear Channel Communications. Pittman, who is the opening keynoter at ILM West Dec. 12 in San Francisco, steps up from Chairman, Entertainment and Media Platforms.  Pittman is the first CEO of Clear …

People tend to want to hear the good news first, but let’s start with the opposite.
As we near the halfway point of the year, reports from the local radio industry reveal that growth has slowed more than expected. BIA/Kelsey now expects over-the-air local radio revenues to grow only 3.4 percent, down from 5.4 percent growth …

After examining the totals for 2010 radio station sales, one could become depressed. Like 2009, the total amount spent on acquisitions hovered around $400 million, even with 2010 considered to be a year of some economic recovery. However, the final tally shows there was no real increase in the value of radio station sales even …

CityGrid, the local content and advertising network announced today its plans to team up with CBS Local Digital Media. The new partnership gives local businesses the opportunity to be featured across CBS’ television and radio websites in major markets, thus gaining exposure to millions of online and mobile consumers.
“A media powerhouse like CBS has deep …

Thus far, 2011 is revealing some notable announced transactions that could be signs of renewed interest in buying radio and television stations. The BIA/Kelsey monthly transactions report, which details the number of stations sold and their value, shows a marked increase in the month of January. Is it a sign that the station trading marketplace …

As Social Local Media — BIA/Kelsey’s newest advisory service — marches toward its Feb. 23 launch and Feb. 24 free webinar, we’re using social media channels to present data to our audience and learn more about your challenges, successes and needs in social strategy.
Now, we thought we’d change it up by breaking out the social …

The interrelationship of daily deals with TV and radio stations and newspapers intrigues us with potential. While not a big factor, traditional media companies can parlay their brand name, promotional power, sales forces and Web sites to reach new merchants that never would have otherwise advertised with them.
Second Street Media, Tippr, TownHog and a host …

At ILM:10, Pandora’s Cheryl Lucanegro (senior VP of ad sales) and Brian Mikalis (VP of performance sales) made it very clear where the popular Internet radio service is headed next — to your car dashboard.
The company is leveraging two fundamental insights in driving (pardon the pun) its migration into the vehicle: More than 50 percent …

BIA/Kelsey’s Digital Strategies for Broadcasting team covered this week’s 2010 NAB/RAB Radio Showin Washington, D.C., hearing presentations from and interacting with industry leaders who are innovating ideas for survival and success during digital disruption. Here is a full catalog of DSB’s coverage. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed here, or the e-mail alert …

At BIA/Kelsey’s DSB ’10 conference, Fisher Communications CEO Colleen Brown emphasized that local broadcasters can utilize the “long tail” of content to create richer offerings and open new advertising channels. The Seattle-based media group already does this through clusters of hyperlocal community Web sites housed by its Seattle and Portland TV properties. 
Now, Fisher is unlocking a new multi-platform opportunity for …

Local radio and television stations are in various stages of extending the broadcasting business model from traditional over-the-air to an array of digital platforms. This allows both new inventory with different attributes to be sold and a critical revenue growth path. How these digital incentives by broadcasting firms get resourced, managed, executed and evaluated …

Earlier this week I went to hear an economist offer his take on the current economy and how soon it would recover. Long story short, I believe the speaker, who had outstanding credentials, was overly optimistic. (I really believe he may have been on vacation on some secluded island for the past year.) In fact, his …

ESPN, which is 80 percent owned by Disney and 20 percent owned by Hearst, has been a leader in verticalizing its brand and content, with dozens of properties covering everything from the core network to ESPN Desportes to the retail stores. Web sites and online radio have played prominently in the vertical mix.
Now The Wall Street …

BIA, which is Kelsey’s parent company, works closely with radio station groups and other traditional media players in finance, operations and strategy. Mark Fratrik has been watching Google’s efforts in radio sales (“Google Audio Ads”) from the inside. In the aftermath of the Big G’s decision to get out of the business, we talked to Fratrik to …

Weeks after its decision to abandon its Print Ads program, Google has done the same with its sister program for radio ads. Both programs offered ad buying capability in their respective media, through Google’s AdWords online ad platform.
The company essentially cited the …

Pegasus News, the Dallas hyperlocal site, was seen as a great model for other markets when Fisher Communications, a leading broadcaster in Seattle and the Northwest, bought the site in July 2007.
But the roiled market in broadcasting apparently stifled Fisher’s ambitions. Ultimately, there were never serious efforts made to install a Pegasus platform on any …

National Public Radio is going to try anew to rev up hyperlocal on the Web sites of its affiliates, according to a paidContent.org interview with incoming CEO Vivian Schiller, who was recruited from a leadership position at NYTimes.com. Schiller is a resident of Washington, D.C., where NPR is located.
The  proposed hyperlocal effort harkens back to …