NJBA Weekly Newsletter, Friday, June 29, 2007

Research Meeting Scheduled - Register Now

The Board of Directors of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association has scheduled a luncheon meeting for July 31 to enable all station management to receive an analysis of the research conducted among New Jersey listeners by Edison Media Research. This meeting is totally confidential, and unlike the research peek that was unveiled at the conference, will be an in-depth presentation of the research, with major implications for programming, sales and management. This presentation will highlight what broadcasters in New Jersey need to do to stay relevant to their listeners. The research results will also highlight what broadcasters are doing right. The program will be conducted by Tom Webster of Edison Media Research.  Attendees will have the opportunity to ask all the questions they would like to ask. The presentation is limited to 75 attendees and will take place at 10:00AM at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, in the Amphitheatre. Luncheon will be served. The Hotel is located on Route 35 in Eatontown at Exit 105 of the Garden State Parkway. To reserve seats, please call Mary at 1-888-njba-fone (toll-free) and tell her which management people from your stations will be attending. The meeting is first come first served. Register now! 

Internet Day of Silence

New Jersey’s Greater Media Stations joined other internet streamers by participating in the Streamers Day of Silence to protest the fees that the copyright office has imposed on broadcasters that stream their signals. The new rates would probably cause broadcasters to stop streaming. Basically, streaming does not add to the bottom line of broadcasters; and, if they are forced to pay the outrageous rates, they will stop streaming. Independent streamers are under the same fees and have the same problems. A number of Senators are supporting the Internet Radio Equality Act, which would change the way rates are set for internet streaming. 

NJBA Asks FCC Political Ad Rates Question

The question is simple. Does Bid 4 Spots, Google Radio or any similar scheme have any effect of lowest unit rate? The question is problematic as the FCC has never ruled on it. There have been informal opinions, however, an informal opinion is just that and stations cannot afford to get caught up in a change of policy at the FCC or by a court in the middle of an election. The State Associations have petitioned the FCC for a declaratory judgment on whether lowest unit rate applies or does not apply well before the election of 2008. The NJBA has joined with most other state associations in asking the FCC to declare itself on this matter. 

Pols Want Lower Than Lowest Unit Rate

PA Senator Arlen Spector and IL Senator Dick Durbin are sponsoring a bill, S 1285, which would require stations to sell time to political candidates for 20% below lowest unit rate and to make those spots non-preemptable. Further, adding insult to injury, broadcasters would be taxed 2% for a political ad fund.  

Double check your ABIP status.  Don’t let your insurance run out!

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