Local TV stations’ ratings rise, but advertisers flee
The very thing that is driving the increase—the coronavirus outbreak—is also preventing stations from cashing in on those ratings increases.
Communications
Articles
STAR Bank debuts Monument Circle office
The bank is leasing a three-story, 12,500-square-foot space at 46 Monument Circle that formerly housed employees of Indianapolis Monthly.
Sprint, T-Mobile merger gets judge’s OK, ushering in new era of telecom behemoths
A federal judge has ruled in favor of Sprint and T-Mobile’s $26 billion merger, dismissing anti-competitive concerns and clearing the way for a deal that would create the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier.
New public media company draws on savvy of hedge fund manager
Industry veteran Jeff Smulyan is pairing with a low-profile New York hedge fund manager once described as “the most important, least known man in TV.”
Like never before, marketers are using your personal data to tailor their messages
Your smartphone, tablets, speakers and smart TVs are all acting as magnifying glasses for companies that pay billions of dollars to get an up-close and personal view of you.
Trump signs law to reduce robocalls, although they won’t end
The new law gives authorities more enforcement powers and could speed up measures the industry is already taking to identify robocalls. And when phone companies block robocalls, they must do so without charging consumers.
Fiber network firm looks beyond Indiana for growth
Intelligent Fiber Network has spent the last 18 months rebranding—including a name change that telegraphs its growth plans—and ramping up its marketing.
Indianapolis Monthly embracing digital future
Indianapolis Monthly is not abandoning print. But the 42-year-old magazine is making a serious push into digital in an effort to grow its reach—and eventually revenue.
Entrepreneur who purchased Channel 8 plans upgrades, hiring spree
An Indianapolis native, DuJuan McCoy expects to use his status as a local owner and the wisdom he’s acquired as a national turnaround artist to improve the station’s fortunes.
Hendricks County Icon grows in tough newspaper times
In the wake of the May closure of The Hendricks County Flyer, Grow Local Media is expanding its own Hendricks County paper.
Q&A with Rickie Clark, founder of Diversity Focus Today magazine
The magazine—distributed to companies, retailers, schools, colleges, libraries and newsstands throughout the Indianapolis area—casts a wide net in its definition of diversity, covering stories about African, Asian, Hispanic and Native Americans as well as women, veterans, seniors, LGBTQ and disabled Hoosiers.
Bleak newspaper-industry outlook spurs buyout of Star parent
On Aug. 5, GateHouse—a New York-based chain backed by an investment firm—announced a deal to buy Gannett for $1.4 billion.
Q&A with Larry Lannan, founder of LarryInFishers.com news site
Larry Lannan, 67, of Fishers started writing about his hometown’s happenings after retiring from the Internal Revenue Service in 2011. Eight years later, his news blog, LarryInFishers.com, and podcast deliver Fishers residents nearly daily news about their city. For Lannan, a former radio reporter, his news site is his way of giving back to his […]
After years of pruning, Emmis ready for reinvention
CEO Jeff Smulyan says he still loves radio, but the 72-year-old pines to own businesses that have real growth potential, rather than fighting over nickels and dimes in a stagnant industry.
Former rock DJs ‘Hammer and Nigel’ on ratings roll
While “The Hammer and Nigel Show” is flourishing now, WIBC-FM 93.1 took a big risk in 2016 putting the two former rock ’n’ roll disc jockeys at the helm of a news-talk program, the station’s bread and butter.
Debunking medical myths all in a day’s work for IU’s Dr. Aaron Carroll
Carroll uses Twitter, a New York Times column, blog post, podcast, videos and books to publish his findings on just about any health issue he thinks needs explaining or correcting.
Young viewers skip local TV news, consume info online
While TV news has seen audience declines across many age categories, the biggest losses are with younger viewers.
New Indy 500 TV partner NBC lifts marketing to new level
The network’s ad blitz and all-in production effort are part of a strategy to capitalize on the network’s recent lock on all IndyCar broadcasts.
Indianapolis Monthly to vacate longtime offices, make way for STAR Bank on Circle
The bank will use the three-story building that fronts Monument Circle for lending offices and a branch location. The magazine’s staff plans to move into the adjacent headquarters for Emmis Communications.
Fox Sports Indiana to be acquired by Sinclair as part of $10.6B acquisition
The deal involving 21 networks adds to a growing sports portfolio for Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which earlier this year announced a partnership with the Chicago Cubs to form Marquee Sports Network.