Have you ever heard this from a potential client? ”I don’t want to buy radio, people just switch stations as soon as a commercial comes on?” Now there’s a great study you can cite that shows the exact opposite.

The study, performed in 2011 by Arbitron, Media Monitors and Coleman Insights shows that on average, 93% of listeners stick around through a commercial break. 93%! Shorter breaks of two or three minutes bring back 99% to 96%, respectively.

The study used PPM data from all 48 PPM markets over a year.

You can read more about the study from this RAB Radio Sales Today article. Now get selling!

–2.52 million jobs attributable to local TV and radio stations every year–
–Report highlights broadcasters’ economic contributions to all 50 states, D.C.–

WASHINGTON, DC — A new analysis by Woods & Poole Economics, with support from BIA/Kelsey, has found $1.17 trillion of the annual U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) originates in the local commercial broadcast radio and television industry, with 2.52 million jobs attributable to the industry every year. The NAB-commissioned study, which breaks down local broadcasters’ economic impact on all 50 states and the District of Columbia, shows TV and radio broadcasting contributes to seven percent of the nation’s GDP.

“As this study indicates, local broadcasting is a remarkable engine for commerce and economic growth, creating high-paying jobs and helping business drive sales through advertising of goods and services,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Decision-makers now debating spectrum policies need to be cognizant of the millions of people and thousands of businesses reliant on the unparalleled impact of local TV and radio for economic survival.”

The paper calculated the local broadcast industry employs over 300,000 people directly and in support industries, creating $59.32 billion in GDP annually. Television accounts for almost 187,000 of these jobs, as well as over $30 billion in GDP, while radio employs 118,000 people and contributes a little over $18 billion to the GDP. The study also examined the ripple effects direct employment by local broadcasting has on the economy through the consumption of goods and services by industry employees. Looking at these cascading effects, the analysis concluded local commercial broadcasting generates almost $135 billion in additional GDP and more than 833,000 jobs nationwide.

“TV and radio broadcasting not only provides communities with local news, sports, weather and emergency information, but remains a valuable source of employment that fuels local economies,” said Smith. “With the country struggling to recover from the downturn, broadcast innovation that includes mobile DTV and multicasting should be given an opportunity to succeed and put more Americans back to work.”

The economic analysis also studied the additional economic activity generated by local commercial broadcasting through its service as a forum for advertising goods and services. The study estimates advertising on local broadcast television and radio stations stimulates more than $986 billion in economic activity and supports 1.38 million jobs.

“The primary role of broadcast television and radio is reducing the cost of product information through advertising. In this way, broadcast television and radio stations have their most significant impact on economic growth,” says the report. “Reaching all United States households, local broadcast television and radio stations provide consumers with highly valued marketplace information and businesses with immediate economic and competitive intelligence.”

The study focused only on local commercial broadcast radio and television stations including locally owned and operated commercial stations, affiliate stations and independent stations. Noncommercial radio and TV stations and the operations of over-the-air broadcast networks were not part of the analysis, except for networks’ owned-and-operated local television stations.

* The total economic impact from television and radio stations in Massachusetts is $27.75 BILLION dollars.

About Woods & Poole Economics, Inc.
Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. is an independent economic and demographic research firm located in Washington, D.C. Woods & Poole specializes in long-range economic and demographic projections at the county level and has produced long-range county forecasts since 1983. Users of Woods & Poole data include public utilities, state and local government, consultants, retailers, market research firms and planners.

About BIA/Kelsey
BIA/Kelsey advises companies in the local media space through consulting and valuation services, research, Continuous Advisory Services and conferences. Since 1983 BIA/Kelsey has been a resource to the media, mobile advertising, telecommunications, Yellow Pages and electronic directory markets, as well as to government agencies, law firms and investment companies looking to understand trends and revenue drivers. BIA/Kelsey’s annual conferences draw executives from across industries seeking expert guidance on how companies are finding innovative ways to grow. Additional information is available at www.biakelsey.com, on the company’s Local Media Watch blog, Twitter at http://twitter.com/BIAKelsey and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/biakelsey).

About NAB

The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.

In order to comply with the Common Alerting Protocol-enabled Emergency Alert System, which must be implemented by September 30, 2011, the MBA has engaged Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW) in a group purchase of Sage digital ENDECs.  Please read below for further information about this group purchase.  The MBA is also happy to announce that the Association will subsidize a small portion of this already low cost to further help broadcasters in the state.

MBA GROUP PURCHASE PLAN

Sage Digital ENDEC Ordering Information

• The special MBA pricing is available to all broadcast stations in Massachusetts and is for the Sage Digital ENDEC and does not include any accessories or installation.

• Stations will be billed the “net” cost, which must be paid in full prior to shipment by Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW).  MBA subsidy will be paid directly to BSW. List price is $2,695, group price $2,045, station price is $1,545/box. The cost to stations is 43% less than list price.

• MBA subsidy is for equipment sold to stations that are licensed in Massachusetts.  Exceptions may be made for stations located outside of the state that have a majority of listeners in MA.

• Orders should be placed by contacting the MBA by phone at 800-471-1875, fax 800-471-1876 or email – Jordan Walton  jordan@massbroadcasters.org

Please have available your stations primary contact for this purchase, call letters, billing address, shipping address and number of boxes needed.

• Any questions relating to your order can be directed to MBA.

• Stations will be invoiced by BSW after order are placed on June 15th.  Payment is by check – no credit cards will be accepted.

• In order for purchases to qualify under this program, orders must be placed by:

June 15, 2011

The Society of Broadcast Engineers will host a webinar on Creative Strategies for Translators and Boosters on June 16, from 2-3:30 p.m. EDT. The webinar references real life examples of creative translators and boosters now on the air and attendees will hear about how AM day stations can be programmed at night by using fill-in translators, translator location hopping move-ins to larger populations and translators with HD2 or HD3 primary signal inputs.

The basic translator rules for NCE and commercial frequencies will be covered, in addition to how operators can optimize translator coverage. Examples of synchronous boosters that are working well today will also be provided.

The new LPFM rules will also impact translators. The session will discuss how, in the case of mutually exclusive translator applications, the FCC plans to award an LPFM construction permit in place of the translator applications, and how this decision to do so will be based loosely on what the FCC defines as “local needs”.

Doug Vernier, CPBE, President of V-Soft Communications, LLC will instruct the webinar. Vernier is also the CEO of Telecommunications Consultants. He has been a member of SBE since 1990 and has been in broadcasting for over 35 years.

This webinar is $49 for SBE Members and $69 for non-members; and targets Engineering Directors, CEOs, General Managers, Operations Managers, Chief Engineers, RF Engineers and any students of broadcast engineering interested in learning more about the use of translators and boosters. To register on-line, visit the Education/Webinars page at the SBE website, www.sbe.org.

The completion of this webinar from Webinars by SBE qualifies for 1 credit, identified under Category I of the Recertification Schedule for SBE Certifications.

Questions about how to best sell digital advertising? Get them answered by the LocalBroadcastSales panel of experts during their live discussion on Thursday, May 12 at 1PM EST.

Click Here to Register Now!

They’ll also announce the winners of the iPad contest live! Enter the contest now.

The Panelists

Deborah Esayian, Co-President, Emmis Interactive

If you’ve got a category, Deborah has a digital ad idea. Check out these 100 interactive case studies from Emmis Interactive.

Sandy Martin, Local Media Analyst, Borrell Associates

Need digital advertising research? Sandy knows which ad categories are buying more digital advertising this year and which formats are growing the fastest.

Stephanie Miller, Director of Digital Media, CBS Boston

With 10 years in the digital space at Boston’s WBZ-TV, Stephanie has tons of experience to share on executing digital advertising campaigns.

Moderated by Stephen Warley, who will share his insights and examples on how to best sell digital advertising.

LocalBroadcastSales.com is FREE to Association members! Email jordan@massbroadcasters.org to get your access code.

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today a new member benefit program with Agility Recovery Solutions that provides NAB members with the services they need to ensure that radio and television stations continue to broadcast to their communities during life-threatening situations. The latest member benefit offered by NAB, the Agility Recovery partnership will enable broadcasters to recover from virtually any type of disaster or interruption.

“In times of crisis, broadcasters serve as a critical lifeline for the public by keeping communities alert and informed,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton. “Partnering with Agility Recovery Solutions helps to ensure that our member stations have the tools they need to keep their radio and television stations up and running when the public needs them the most.”

“Broadcasters strive to provide quality content to their audiences, but a disaster can leave these radio and television stations powerless to communicate with their communities and promote their advertisers,” said Agility Recovery Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bob Boyd. “Agility Recovery believes all businesses – regardless of size or industry – should have access to cost-efficient and effective recovery solutions. Our partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters ensures its members can be confident in their ability to recover no matter the circumstances happening around them.”

The program provides custom-made assistance for NAB members featuring disaster recovery and business interruption services concentrating on power, technology, space and connectivity that will help broadcasters operate at their fullest capacity. Additional information on Agility Recovery Solutions and other NAB member services will be on display in booth C944 during the 2011 NAB Show, held April 9-14 in Las Vegas. Additional member service information is available here.

Please mark your calendar for a special one-hour webinar on EAS and the transition to the Common Alerting Protocol on Thursday, March 10, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.  This interactive webinar will feature case studies from three states who are at varying milestones along the road to a successful CAP transition.  The webinar is free, but pre-registration is required.  Complete information is in the attached .pdf file below.  This webinar is being produced by the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations with underwriting provided by the National Association of Broadcasters.

EAS/CAP Webinar info – 3/10/11

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today unveiled the National Broadband Map — the first public, searchable nationwide map of broadband Internet availability — and the results of a new nationwide survey on broadband adoption.  The data will support efforts to expand broadband access and adoption in communities at risk of being left behind in the 21st century economy and help businesses and consumers seeking information on their high-speed Internet options. NTIA met the deadline Congress gave the agency to create and launch the National Broadband Map by February 17, 2011.

“A state-of-the-art communications infrastructure is essential to America’s competitiveness in the global digital economy,” said Acting Commerce Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank. “But as Congress recognized, we need better data on America’s broadband Internet capabilities in order to improve them. The National Broadband Map, along with today’s broadband Internet usage study, will inform efforts to enhance broadband Internet access and adoption — spurring greater innovation, economic opportunities, and advancements in health care, education, and public safety.”

“The National Broadband Map shows there are still too many people and community institutions lacking the level of broadband service needed to fully participate in the Internet economy. We are pleased to see the increase in broadband adoption last year, particularly in light of the difficult economic environment, but a digital divide remains,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. “Through NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, digital literacy activities, and other initiatives, including the tools we are releasing today, the Obama Administration is working to address these challenges.”

National Broadband Map

The National Broadband Map, available at www.broadbandmap.gov, is an unprecedented searchable database of information on high-speed Internet access. NTIA created the National Broadband Map in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), using data that each state, territory and the District of Columbia (or their designees) collected from broadband providers or other data sources.

The website resulting from this Federal-state partnership includes more than 25 million searchable records showing where broadband Internet service is available, the technology used to provide the service, the maximum advertised speeds of the service, and the names of the service providers. Users can search by address to find the broadband providers and services available in the corresponding census block or road segment, view the data on a map, or use other interactive tools to compare broadband across various geographies, such as states, counties or congressional districts.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “The release of the National Broadband Map, the first of its kind in the nation, is a significant milestone.  This cutting-edge tool will continue to evolve with the help of new data and user feedback. It will provide consumers, companies and policymakers with a wealth of information about broadband availability, speeds, competition and technology, and help Americans make better informed choices about their broadband services.”

The map shows that between 5 – 10 percent of Americans lack access to broadband at speeds that support a basic set of applications, including downloading Web pages, photos and video, and using simple video conferencing. The FCC last July set a benchmark of 4 Mbps actual speed downstream and 1 Mbps upstream to support these applications. NTIA collected data in ranges between 3 – 6 Mbps and 6 – 10 Mbps maximum advertised download speeds, which are the closest measurements to the speed benchmark for broadband that the FCC set.

Other key findings based on the data include:

Speeds for community anchor institutions: The data show that community anchor institutions are largely underserved. For example, based on studies by state education technology directors, most schools need a connection of 50 to 100 Mbps per 1,000 students. The data show that two-thirds of surveyed schools subscribe to speeds lower than 25 Mbps, however. In addition, only four percent of libraries reported subscribing to speeds greater than 25 Mbps.

Wireless speeds: Approximately 36 percent of Americans have access to wireless (fixed, mobile, licensed, and unlicensed) Internet service at maximum advertised download speeds of 6 Mbps or greater, which some consider the minimum speed associated with “4G” wireless broadband service. Ninety-five percent of Americans have access to wireless Internet service speeds of at least 768 kbps, which corresponds roughly to “3G” wireless service.

The map will serve a variety of uses. For example, Federal, state, and local policymakers can compare broadband availability among geographic areas and across demographic groups, which can inform policies to support private sector investments in deploying broadband. The data can assist broadband providers in assessing new business opportunities and economic developers as they work to attract businesses to, or address barriers to investment in, their communities. The map will also help consumers and small businesses learn about the broadband service options in their neighborhood or where they may relocate.

The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program

NTIA created the map through the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, a matching grant program that implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). NTIA awarded grants to assist states or their designees in gathering and verifying state-specific data on broadband services. In less than one year, grantees performed two rounds of data collection from 3,400 broadband providers operating in their states, representing more than 1,650 unique broadband companies on the national level. Before sending data to NTIA, grantees used a range of analysis and verification methods, from drive-testing wireless broadband service across their highways to meeting with community leaders for input. Many grantees met with broadband providers, large and small, to confirm data or suggest more accurate depictions of their service areas. Some grantees, unsure of service, performed field investigations. Information on their specific processes may be found on the national broadband map website.

The map will be updated every six months based on input from grantees. Using crowdsourcing tools, the public can help improve accuracy by providing feedback on the data. The map is consistent with the Obama Administration’s Open Government Initiative, undertaking to bring transparency, participation, and collaboration to the way the government operates.

NTIA’s grant program also supports a variety of state-driven efforts to integrate broadband into their economies. In addition to managing this grant program, NTIA will expand its information-sharing and coordination activities in order to serve as a broader resource that empowers state and local broadband practitioners as they develop their individualized plans of action.

Broadband Adoption Data

NTIA today also released a new report previewing data collected through the Internet Usage Survey of 54,000 households, commissioned by NTIA and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in October 2010. The Current Population Survey (CPS) datashow that while virtually all demographic groups have experienced rising broadband Internet access adoption at home, historic demographic disparities among groups have persisted over time.

Highlights of the February 2011 Digital Nation report include:

• Broadband Internet access at home continues to grow: 68 percent of households have broadband access, as compared to 63.5 percent last year. (In the survey, broadband was defined as Internet access service that uses DSL, cable modem, fiber optics, mobile broadband, and other high-speed Internet access services.)

• Notable disparities between demographic groups continue: people with low incomes, disabilities, seniors, minorities, the less-educated, non-family households, and the non-employed tend to lag behind other groups in home broadband use.

• While the digital divide between urban and rural areas has lessened since 2007, it remains significant. In 2010, 70 percent of urban households and only 60 percent of rural households accessed broadband Internet service. (Last year, those figures were 66 percent and 54 percent, respectively.)

• Overall, the two most commonly cited main reasons for not having broadband Internet access at home are that it is perceived as not needed (46 percent) or too expensive (25  percent). In rural America, however, lack of broadband availability is a larger reason for non-adoption than in urban areas (9.4 percent vs. 1 percent). Americans also cite the lack of a computer as a factor.

• Despite the growing importance of the Internet in American life, 28.3 percent of all persons do not use the Internet in any location, down from 31.6 percent last year.

This report, accessible on www.ntia.doc.gov, is based on the first data sets released by the Census Bureau. In the coming months, the Census Bureau will provide NTIA with more geographically detailed data. NTIA intends to release that data to the public through www.data.gov as part of the agency’s commitment to open government and transparency.