"Nothing is work unless you'd rather be doing something else."
George Halas
American football player, coach and team owner
George Halas
American football player, coach and team owner
 CBS Radio picks "unique venue" in D.C. for regional office
The CBS Radio regional office in Lanham, Md., is preparing to move to a riverfront location in Washington, D.C. The new studio is set for completion by year's end and will take on a "Today" show atmosphere with street-level studio and performance space. "This new facility will allow an unfettered look into how we operate and provide fans of our stations with the chance to meet some of the top names in the music business and our own beloved personalities," said Steve Swenson, senior vice president at CBS Radio. American City Business Journals/Washington, D.C./Breaking Ground blog (4/22) Share:
The NFL has released its 2014 schedule, which includes a new flex schedule for "Sunday Night Football" that can begin as early as Week 5, up from the previous Week 11. While the flex schedule does mean any day game can be moved to prime time, the flex can be used only twice between Weeks 5 and 10. Deadline.com (4/23) Share: Advertising Analysts predict shrinking ad-rate increases for broadcasters The major TV networks are preparing to argue their respective cases for significant ad-price increases at the upcoming upfront, but industry insiders believe they'll face challenges, with the potential of a third consecutive year of decreased price growth. RBC Capital Markets analyst David J. Bank expects broadcasters to average an increase of 5.5% in cost-per-thousand viewers. Variety (4/23) Share:
Former Federal Communications Commission member and Comcast lobbyist Meredith Attwell Baker has been named president of wireless industry trade group CTIA. Baker will begin her new duties in June. "CTIA should be in the center of discussions about how wireless is reshaping our economy, our society and our culture," said Baker. The Washington Post (tiered subscription model)/The Switch blog (4/23) Share:
The NAB Online Resource Guide is an easy-to-use tool to locate the products and services offered by NAB associate members that electronic media professionals use. Search for law firms, station brokers, equipment manufacturers, specialty services and much more. Visit the NAB Online Resource Guide. Not a member? Visit www.nab.org/WhyNAB.  In the Spotlight today is the 22nd Annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF), a prestigious, Academy-qualifying showcase of the best in independent cinema. With cash prizes valued at more than $45,000 USD, in-kind donations valued at more than $145,000 and some of the most influential audiences in the United States filling its screenings, HIFF continues to attract some the most acclaimed films of each year. It's little wonder that the big-screen stories featured on HIFF's 2013 slate nabbed a total of 32 Oscar nominations, including four for Best Picture.
With an incredible legacy and a host of press opportunities at the ready, HIFF is where big talents flock to be discovered, year after year. Most filmmakers in competition receive complimentary travel and accommodations in East Hampton, one of America's most tony getaways. In just the last few years alone, HIFF has welcomed industry legends Meryl Streep, Joel and Ethan Coen, Mike Nichols, Harvey Weinstein, Jessica Chastain, James Franco, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Spike Jonze, and more. For A-list talent and up-and-comers alike, HIFF offers an unbeatable backdrop for collaboration and conversation. Resolutely committed to encouraging new filmmakers who possess extraordinary vision, HIFF provides financial grants to outstanding student filmmakers at the collegiate and graduate school levels. Previous winners in this esteemed category include James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now), and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire). "Genius could be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way."
Charles Bukowski German-born American writer  Heartland Video Systems, Inc. is a nationwide equipment sales and broadcast TV integrator. Areas of expertise include; ATSC compression, master control, IP/microwave transmission as well as news production systems. With an engineering department that includes former station engineers, choose HVS as the single point of contact for your next project. Business & Industry Report
NAB's Smith gives a post-NAB Show update on broadcast industry Gordon Smith, NAB's president and CEO, discusses the Federal Communications Commission, NAB's response to the FCC's JSA order, the importance of the FM chip in cellphones and more in this post-NAB Show interview. "There's just nothing like having face time with broadcasters, being in their world to hype the understanding and appreciation for what broadcasters do every day to earn their licenses and serve the public," Smith said. RBR.com (4/22) Share: Broadcasters, tower operators raise questions about FCC's repacking plan Broadcasters and tower and antenna operators are expressing concerns about the Federal Communications Commission's proposed 39-month timetable for repacking stations after the incentive spectrum auction and whether the $1.75 billion budget will be sufficient, according to filings. The 39-month deadline "does not appreciate the myriad of items that fully go into an overhaul of a major UHF transmission facility," according to a filing by Cohen, Dippell & Everist, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm. TVNewsCheck (free registration) (4/22)  This year was an amazing Show and thank you to everyone who was able to join and be part of the 98,000+ Attendees exploring the largest Show Floor in 10 years! If you weren't able to make it, we're sorry we missed you and hope to see you next year, April 11 – 16! We appreciate the strong support of the content community that continues to make NAB Show the world's most important media and entertainment event! Continue the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NABShow.
 Don't miss this week's big deadlines, ranging from venerated film powerhouses and favorites along the circuit to newbies and rising stars alike. Submit your film today!
Unmissable Circuit Opps: - Toronto International Film Festival - Make Your Mark Short Film Competition - Raindance Film Festival - Austin Film Festival More Great Stops: - Hollywood Film Festival - St. Louis International Film Festival - Edmonton International Film Festival - Fantasia Film Festival Plus, All Shorts, All the Time: - Seattle Shorts Film Festival - LA Shorts Fest - Dragon*Con Independent Short Film Festival - Shorts Film Festival  In the Spotlight today is the 2nd Annual Filmfestival Kitzbuehel (FFKB), an exciting blend of film retrospectives, competitions, and discussions that taps into the majesty and sophistication of its Austrian surroundings. Steered by a jury of international film professionals from throughout the region, Filmfestival Kitzbuehel is awash in a love for filmmaking and for great conversation about art, culture, and everything in between. Although the festival's competitive categories include Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Director, and an Audience Choice Award, everyone who attends Filmfestival Kitzbuehel can't help but leave feeling like big winners.
An array of exciting prizes is available for visiting filmmakers, including opportunities for training with Canon C-Series cameras. Throughout the entirety of its five-day span, Filmfestival Kitzbuehel does everything possible to put its visitors in full control of their gorgeous Austrian surroundings. In that spirit of extreme hospitality, free accommodations, lodging, and meals are provided for those filmmakers whose works are selected for screening. To support upcoming artists FFKB also gives 50% of all tickets sold for shortfilm screenings to the filmmakers. Filmfestival Kitzbuehel benefits from an astonishing level of industry participation and is fueled by a jury that includes Academy Award nominees and winners, each of whom is eager to champion great new discoveries. Last year's festival unveiled the European premieres of In God We Trust and Bridegroom, two sobering and remarkable documentaries that went on to worldwide acclaim. "Unless a tree has borne blossoms in spring, you will vainly look for fruit on it in autumn."
Walter Scott Scottish historical novelist and poet  FCC chief has a full regulatory plate
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has taken on a major slate of initiatives and wants to see the agency move decisively on them. On his plate are the incentive spectrum auction, Comcast's proposed merger with Time Warner Cable, new Net neutrality regulations and new media ownership rules. "Of course there's risk in taking action. How many football coaches say, 'Oh, I wish we hadn't thrown that pass?'" Wheeler said. "But the fact of the matter is that your goal and your responsibility is to move things forward." Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (4/20) Share: FCC mum on how much spectrum it will set aside for Wi-Fi, unlicensed uses The tech industry is calling on the White House to commit to creating a large swatch of unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi use, but the administration wants to tie the amount of unlicensed spectrum to the success of its incentive auction of broadcast airwaves. The Federal Communications Commission is reserving "guard bands," which shield different uses of licensed spectrum holders for unlicensed purposes, with the final amount to be determined by the outcome of the auction, an FCC official said. The Hill/Hillicon Valley blog (4/21) Share:
Multiplatform engagement boosts ESPN's core TV platform, with research showing that ESPN.com fantasy-football players and users of the Watch ESPN application tally 17 hours of time with the brand each month, compared with five hours for TV viewers. "It's exploded the misconception that digital media would cannibalize television," ESPN's Arthur Bulgrin says. "The overall time spent with ESPN media more than triples and at the same time TV viewing goes up. It's a rising tide that floats all boats." Bloomberg (4/17) Share: Broadcast Programming Simulcast of NBC's "Today" is coming to satellite radio NBC's "Today," starting on June 26, will begin airing a simulcast of its show on Sirius XM satellite radio. "Today," which has slipped to second behind ABC's "Good Morning America," hopes to build its audience via the simulcast and retain current audience members who have to leave for work during the TV broadcast, according to Deborah Turness, president of NBC News. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/21) Share:
David Burke, an ABC News executive who helped develop "World News Tonight," "Nightline" and "20/20" and served as the first chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, has died. He was 78. The Hollywood Reporter (free content) (4/19) Share:
This essential report provides current, detailed compensation data for more than 40 job titles offered by commercial TV broadcasters. More than 33 tables are included and categorized by revenue, region, market and affiliation, and the report includes fringe benefits data such as vacation, maternity/paternity leave and health insurance. To purchase your copy, visit NABStore.com. |
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