NJBA Weekly Newsletter Friday, January 9, 2009

NJ Stations Public File Alert

All NJ Radio and Television stations must prepare and place in their public inspection files a list of important issues facing their communities, and the programs aired in the last quarter of 2008 dealing with those issues by this Saturday!  Failure to comply could lead to substantial fines by the FCC at license renewal time for any station not compiling with this requirement by January 10th. The FCC has been taking DTV consumer education obligations very seriously and has been following up with stations to address any late or missing filings. 

Last DTV Soft Test Set for Monday as Coupons Run Out

As of Sunday, the U.S. government had run out of the $40 coupons that can be used to buy converter boxes for the DTV transition. So far, more than 24 million households have requested more than 46 million coupons and redeemed more than 18 million of them, according to the NTIA. But the Agency is out of money to fund the Government’s coupon program since the NTIA cannot commit more than $1.34 billion at any time to cover the cost of converter box coupons. Consumers are advised not to wait for them to arrive and to instead act quickly to ensure that they have at least one television set ready for Feb. 17 transition. Please Note: The next DTV Soft Test is scheduled for this Monday, January 12th at 7:30 eastern.  All member stations are urged to participate and report results to Mary at the NJBA.  

EEO Obligations to be Subject of FCC Scrutiny for Obama

As reported in last week’s QN, the FCC recently reminded everybody in the business that it can and will issue fines for failure to observe EEO requirements. Thus, it is significant that Commissioners Copps and Adelstein – the two Democrats, whose views (often relegated to dissents over the past several years) now are likely to take on greater influence – issued a Joint Statement in which they decry lax FCC EEO enforcement. They urge more pro-active steps, including re-implementation of annual employment reports.

111^th Congress Sees Shift in NJ’s Congressional Delegation

New Jersey Democrat John Adler and Republican Leonard Lance were sworn in Tuesday as members of 111th Congress. New Jersey's 13-member delegation picked up one Democratic seat in November with Adler's win in the 3rd District. The representation is eight Democrats and five Republicans. Adler and Lance were both state senators before winning the House seats previously held by Republicans. Adler is from Camden County and Lance represented Hunterdon. The NJBA sends our congratulations and best wishes to all of our elected officials.

Radio’s Mark Levin Renews Contract

ABC Radio Networks has re-upped with Mark Levin to a new multi-year syndication agreement. The Mark Levin Show is approaching its three-year anniversary with the network and in that time has grown to more than 175 affiliates. On 2/2, the show will expand from two hours to include an available third hour of content.  

Emergency State Budget Cuts Exceed $800 Million

Gov. Jon Corzine has proposed additional budget cuts totaling $812mm to keep pace with the economic crisis. The emergency cuts stretch across state government departments and programs. Grants were frozen for cancer research and homeland security, and aid to public schools and towns will suffer. The cutbacks, some of which require legislative approval, are part of unprecedented midyear changes to the budget. Hearings will occur in the coming weeks New Jersey faces a $2.1 billion shortfall in the $32.9 billion budget that took effect July 1, and that budget already sliced spending by $600 million. 

Christopherson to Head Rita Allen Foundation

As you know, NJBA Board Member Elizabeth Christopherson stepped down on Nov. 8 as executive director of New Jersey Network (NJN) Public Television and Radio. She begins her new job as president, CEO and director of the Princeton-based Rita Allen Foundation on Jan. 12. The foundation was established in 1953 and sponsors a Scholars Program that has supported more than 80 scholars over the last 30 years, many of whom have made important advances in medical research. Christopherson, who joined NJN in 1994, was credited for raising close to $100 million, turning an underfunded state authority into a strong public-private partnership. 

Radio Presence Increases on iPhone

Already iPhone’s number one application, Jacobs Media has just unveiled an iPhone App that allows radio stations to showcase their brand and their stream(s) right on the iPhone desktop. Many broadcasters already have their stream(s) available on the iPhone through applications that include hundreds of streams. But here's what's cool about this app. It places the station's logo right on the iPhone desktop and provides one touch access.

New Advertising Opportunities for NJ Broadcasters

Dunkin' Donuts unveiled a new $100+ million integrated campaign that offers a new rallying cry for 2009: "You Kin' Do It!". The new marketing campaign offers encouragement and a spirit of fun during these challenging times. Expected to run throughout 2009, the compressive campaign will include radio and television advertising.

New Spanish Outlet In NJ
Quinn Broadcasting's WMVB-AM/Millville, NJ, flipped to Spanish-language programming on New Year's Day, NJ.com reports, splitting from a simulcast of AC WSNJ. "WMBV will serve the large Hispanic population that is growing in Cumberland County," said Quinn Broadcasting owner Jim Quinn -- who is also the Mayor of Millville. The new WMBV is being programmed by Ephraim Muniz under an LMA with Quinn Broadcasting. WMBV has a history as a Spanish station; it was broadcasting in Spanish as WRAY when Quinn bought it in 2003.

PPM Lawsuits Settled
The Attorneys General of New York and New Jersey announced that Arbitron has agreed to take steps to ensure that panels for its Portable People Meter (PPM) radio ratings service are racially diverse and that participants know how to use the devices. The company will also pay $490,000 to settle the lawsuits brought by NY AG Andrew Cuomo and NJ AG Anne Milgram over PPM and now has deadlines to win MRC accreditation for PPM in the New York and Philadelphia markets.

QuickNews is provided for general information purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal or tax advice pertaining to any specific factual situation. Legal and tax related decisions should be made only after proper consultation with a legal professional of your choosing.