KBA WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

FCC TO REINSTATE FORM 395-B

WHAT THE ACTION MEANS FOR BROADCASTERS

On February 22, the FCC released an Order reinstating the requirement for radio and television broadcasters, commercial and noncommercial, to annually file an FCC Form 395-B. All station employment groups with 5 or more full-time employees would need to classify all station employees, both full-time and part-time, by race or ethnicity and gender, as well as by the type of job they perform at the station (see the most current version of the form here). The form, which will be amended to allow employees to be classified as “non-binary” as well as male and female, will likely need approval of the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act before broadcasters will be required to comply. The Form would be filed by September 30 of each year after the effective date, reporting on the employment profile of the station in a pay period in July, August, or September (the same pay period to be used each year).

The Form is not new, though its use has been on hold for over 20 years. A version of this form had been used by the FCC in the 1980s and 1990s, but its use was put on hold in 1998 as the result of court decisions finding unconstitutional the FCC’s use of this information to impose additional regulatory burdens on broadcasters whose employment profile did not reflect the demographics of its service area. The court’s concern was that these additional regulatory actions forced broadcasters to make hiring decisions based on race or gender, a form of prohibited discrimination.

LBS WEBINAR

TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH @ 12PM EASTERN

Discover updated information and new strategies to help you capture more than your fair share from your local auto dealers! John Tkac's extensive experience in helping broadcasters understand and gain respect from dealers in their market will provide valuable insight into why dealers do what they do and what they absolutely need in a trusted marketing partner. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to revolutionize your approach to working with local dealers. This session will be informative, engaging, and filled with many practical tips you can immediately implement in your local sales strategy. Be sure to register and mark your calendar!

LBS Webinars are provided as a complimentary member service to active KBA member stations.

SUPPORTING ST. JUDE

RADIOTHON RAISES OVER $15,000

Forcht Broadcasting Radio & Digital’s Somerset station, Somerset 106 WYKY FM, recently hosted their annual St. Jude Children’s Radiothon to raise money for the kids of St. Jude. The station and Somerset community raised over $15,000 over a two day period for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Local community businesses and guests co-hosted each hour of the radiothon with the Somerset 106 team. Local business sponsored the radiothon as Angels of the Hour, and two local restaurants donated food for the radiothon guests. Somerset 106 hosts the St. Jude Radiothon each year, and the community always supports the station in its efforts to raise money for the hospital.

RADIO TALENT INSTITUTE

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS APRIL 15TH

Do you know a college-age student with a passion and determination to jump start their broadcast career? Please tell them about the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Radio Talent Institute™ at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, June 3-8, 2024.

The KBA Radio Talent Institute™ at WKU is the campus-to-career connection most students need to begin their broadcast career, each not only learning from the dozens of pros but are able to network with them individually. This proves invaluable, as most will otherwise never have such an opportunity to meet and speak with these professionals. Likewise, these pros already have an introduction to these students who are available for open positions.

Upon completion of the institute, students will further their networking opportunities with access the National Radio Talent System's Career Center. This is where those in the industry are able to discover and hire NRTS graduates, who very likely, will be tomorrow's industry leaders.

Take a look at the newest promotional video HERE.

THIS WEEKS MEMBER PIC

HERE'S YOUR SIGN

A little Thursday morning humor from our friends at Quicksie 98.3 in Elizabethtown.

We want to promote YOU! Send us your staff additions, promotions and special events. Email Chris at chris@kba.org

DO YOU RIDE ALONG?

Rick McCoy was my first sales manager. Rick made it a habit at least twice a week to “ride along” with sellers to help them, coach them, and stay close to clients. It’s a strategy that many great managers use, and it’s as powerful today as it was back then. Many sellers would get nervous or scared about going out with the boss, but I always saw it as a chance to show off and get another person’s perspective on how and what I was trying to accomplish for my clients.

Susan Coish, who was recently promoted to General Manager of MBS Radio in New Brunswick, Canada, had a suggestion that was so simple it really resonated.

“I do the driving for my sellers when I go out with them. This lets them do most of the talking and planning. They don’t have to pay attention to the road and can freely talk and prepare for the meeting.”

One of those moments I found myself asking: “Why didn’t I think of that?” It is a simple yet brilliant idea to change the dynamics of the “coaching experience” for your team members.

There are four primary benefits to infield coaching:

Real-Time Coaching and Feedback:
Observation Opportunities: Sales managers can observe their sales team members in action, allowing them to assess their strengths and areas for improvement.
Immediate Feedback: Riding along allows sales managers to provide immediate feedback on specific interactions. This timely coaching can be more impactful than delayed feedback.
Relationship Building:
Customer Trust: The presence of a sales manager during customer interactions can enhance the credibility and trust of the sales team.
Team and Customer Connections: Sales managers can use the opportunity to build stronger relationships with their sales team members and clients. This fosters a sense of camaraderie within the team and reinforces the company's commitment to customer satisfaction.
Skill Development:
On-the-Job Training: Riding along allows sales managers to provide on-the-job training tailored to the specific needs of individual sales representatives. This personalized approach helps address skill gaps and ensures the team continuously improves.
Problem Solving and Strategy Adjustment:
Identifying Challenges: Observing sales reps in the field enables sales managers to identify challenges and obstacles that may not be apparent from an office setting. This firsthand experience helps in understanding the unique issues faced by the team.

Thanks, Susan, for the great idea to maximize these four benefits by doing the driving. It reminds me of the old bus commercials, “Leave the driving to us!”

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can also connect with him by email JSchmidt@rab.com or on Twitter and LinkedIn.