The FCC 2022 quadrennial review could be a way to try to tackle broadcast diversity and localism items, and auction 109 could help stem the trend of radio stations closing during the pandemic, Commissioner Geoffrey Starks told the Media Institute Tuesday (prepared remarks here). He said his chief policy focuses include broadband access and media diversity. He said lack of an affordable broadband connection is a sizable problem for communities of color. Starks said FCC data shows declines in numbers of radio stations due to the pandemic, but "perhaps the tide will turn" with the agency's July 27 auction of radio construction permits. He said as the nation heads to a post-pandemic time, the radio industry's business fortunes should rebound somewhat. He called the Supreme Court's Prometheus decision (see 2104010067) a win for agency deference, even though it found the challenged ownership rules weren't necessary, giving the FCC space to revisit its rules in the QE with diversity "front and center as consideration." He said media consolidation might be considered a less significant problem due to growing internet and streaming competition to broadcast TV, but broadcast TV's importance during the pandemic reinforces the inherent value of having multiple voices in a public arena. Post-Prometheus, "we should have all ideas on the table," he said, adding he was pleased with Commissioner Brendan Carr's call to reinstate the broadcast incubator program. Starks said the FCC looking into reinstatement of collection of minority employment data from broadcasters (see 2103260038) "is long overdue." He said not having that equal employment opportunity data hampered the agency from fulfilling its statutory duty to monitor broadcast employer practices and ensuring broadcasters provide opportunity.

The ad sales teams of SiriusXM, Pandora and Stitcher will be “unified” under a single “umbrella” organization, SXM Media, said the company Monday. “Audio is experiencing a renaissance with a boom in premium content, spikes in listening, and innovative ad tech fueling the industry, and our powerful portfolio of brands puts us at the forefront of this moment," said SiriusXM Chief Advertising Revenue Officer John Trimble.

The FCC received no new submissions from U.S.-based foreign media outlets for the Oct.11-April 12 period, said the sixth such report to Congress, released in Monday’s Daily Digest. The only submission remains Anadolu Agency. Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansi owns Anadolu. The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act requires the reports.

Cinemark agreed with Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner to theatrically showcase films across its nearly 5,900 U.S. screens, said the theater operator Friday: “These agreements secure a consistent supply of content and demonstrate a shared commitment to offering consumers the ultimate movie-viewing experience, with compelling content exhibited within the theatrical environment,” it said. Each deal “has unique attributes specific to the individual studio that mutually benefits both parties.” Cinemark also extended its "test" with Netflix to include Army of the Dead as its first "wide-release film," said CEO Mark Zoradi on a Q1 call Friday. "We’re the only nationwide exhibitor showcasing the film." It debuts May 14 in Cinemark theaters, a week later on Netflix. Cinemark closed up 5.3% at $21.57.

Xperi’s Q1 revenue of $221.6 million included $98 million in IP revenue, with 30% from media IP, said CEO Jon Kirchner on a Wednesday call. The increase in media IP revenue reflects a “step-up” in baseline IP receipts from a Comcast license, and “significant momentum” in license renewals with companies including Cox, Sony and TCL, Kirchner said. Xperi renewed a pact with Frontier, he said. Content is key to growing the Imax Enhanced ecosystem, said Kirchner. Subscriber churn in pay TV contributed to a 13% decline in product revenue , said Kirchner. In Consumer Experience, revenue was $51.3 million, down 19% year over year. Pay-TV revenue fell 16% to $52.3 million and declined 6% sequentially due to subscriber churn “consistent with industry trends and a shift in revenue allocated under our customer contract in favor of the IP business,” Kirchner said. Xperi expects subscriber declines in its legacy business to be partially offset by increasing average revenue per users as the business shifts to IPTV. Demand for the TiVo IPTV service grew 100% on a “small, but rapidly growing base.”

AMC postponed its Tuesday annual meeting to July 29 with hours to spare to give participants “more time to cast ballots on important shareholder matters,” said the theater chain. AMC didn’t say if the rescheduled meeting would also be held physically, and the company didn't respond to questions. It’s to report Q1 results Thursday. It could take years for AMC to repay its debt after COVID-19 forced theaters to close or limit use (see 2105030032). The stock was trading 6% lower at $9.12.

Comments are due June 1, replies June 14 on a WarnerMedia petition that its TBS receive a limited waiver of the audio-described programming requirement through June 30, 2024, as long as it meets an alternative minimum of providing described programming, the FCC Media Bureau said in Friday's Daily Digest.

U.S. consumer spending on videogaming reached $14.92 billion in Q1, rising 30% from the 2020 quarter, reported NPD Thursday. It had gains across the board, from digital console and PC content to mobile and subscription services, plus hardware and accessories categories. Content spending jumped 25%, and hardware and accessories gained 81% and 42%, respectively. Videogaming engagement and spending continue to thrive from changes in consumer behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but “we are also seeing cyclical gains from the November launches of both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles,” said analyst Mat Piscatella.

Pointing to confusion in FCC rules, the Media Bureau axed language in retransmission consent rules indicating good-faith negotiating and exclusivity provisions expired Jan. 1, 2020, to make it clearer that those provisions continue indefinitely. An MB order Thursday said the change reflects the removal of that deadline language from the TV Viewer Protection Act.

The nascent overall audio streaming market will grow to $200 billion by 2030, said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Wednesday. On the number of music services competing in live audio, Ek said he expects it to be a feature that most major platforms will have, comparing live audio to stories on platforms such as Instagram and Snap: It’s a "compelling feature set" that he believes artists will tap into. The U.S., meanwhile, joins other markets where Spotify has announced subscription price increases. The family plan is moving to $16 a month from $15 Friday. Spotify shares closed down 12% at $256.84 Wednesday following the company’s Q1 letter showing monthly average user growth “modestly below” internal expectations. Total monthly average users grew 24% year on year in Q1 to 356 million. Average revenue per user for paid subscribers was 7% lower year on year to $4.98.