As with other sports, media rights in Major League Baseball are tightly controlled and splintered among many options, some free and some dependent on subscription. Now MLB is loosening its grip on streaming audio baseball games. But not entirely. Continue Reading
Deezer’s push into high-rez audio streaming takes an additional step now, as the company announces an expansion of the HiFi listening plan to families. Five additional accounts can be added to an existing HiFi subscription for five dollars. Continue Reading
Samsung has launched a podcast listening component to some of its phones, appropriately called Samsung Podcasts. The company says it’s for “users who want easier access to their favorite podcasts.” The feature is limited to certain Galaxy phones. Continue Reading
Jottings of note:
— New exec hire: A Million Ads
— Radio HoF open voting
— Voice AI webinar
— Manoush zigzags Continue Reading
Migrating podcasts to radio is sometimes hindered by radio’s rigid hourly clock. Westwood One has found success crossing over two political talk stars, Dan Bongino and Ben Shapiro, into radio syndication. Click for details and metrics. Continue Reading
Spotify has only 76% the number of monthly paid subscribers as Netflix, but 31% more total users than Netflix subscribers. Further, Spotify is growing monthly subscribers at a quicker rate than Netflix, closing the gap year-over-year since 2015, though at a decelerating pace. Click through for details and graphic. Continue Reading
In its 2020 annual finance report, UK-based podcast network and tech company Audioboom raised its revenue and improved its bottom line, both by double digits. We spoke with CEO Stuart Last via email, and dug into Audioboom’s CPM (cost per thousand) metrics for monetizing podcasts with ads. Continue Reading
A new podcast industry watchdog group has been started by Oxford Road CEO Dan Granger. Called the Media Roundtable, the mission is to mobilize marketers to support truth and civility in journalism. Podcasting is part of that overall directive, and the organization will create a podcast ranker based on most-to-least biased. Al Fontes Media, creator of a well known Media Bias Chart, is involved.
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Jottings of note:
— Boom Radio booms
— Late to arrive; early to leave (Apple HomePod)
— New Audible exec
— Who’s your pick? (Radio Hall of Fame) Continue Reading
In one of the most interesting podcast network ideas we’ve heard of, ART19 has collected restaurant servers, chefs, and bartenders to produce shows about the service industry. It’s called the One Star Network, and the launch marketing promises “hilarity and humanity.” Click for show rundowns. Continue Reading
Townsquare media released its Q4 earnings this morning. In a note detailing results sent to RAIN from CEO (and RAIN Summit keynote speaker) Bill Wilson, he described 2020 this way: “Although we are proud of our roots and DNA in local radio and we continue to love local radio, 2020 was the year Townsquare became a ‘Digital First’ company.” Click through for more detail, plus a table, provided by Wilson, which compares TSQ results with six other radio groups. Continue Reading