IBA Opens Website, Inks Partnership with Adlarge Media

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, September 4, 2020

Independent Broadcasters Association (IBA)

The Independent Broadcasters Association (IBA) has announced that the IBA Membership website is officially "open for business." Also announced is a network radio ad sales partnership with New York City-based AdLarge Media to create two new independent radio station networks.

The IBA Board approved the membership offering on August 17. The membership fee is designed so that every radio station can afford to participate and benefit from all the deliverables underway. The cost of membership is $100 per station annually plus one 60-second unit of advertising per week, Monday through Friday 6am-7pm. Plans are set for an additional network that will deliver network revenue directly to member stations. Broadcasters can go to www.IBA.media to sign up. Stations that have signed up by September 30 will be included on the upfront national network avails for 2021.

There are currently 2,766 stations that have expressed interest in joining the IBA. IBA President Ron Stone said, "We anticipate many more stations to sign up beyond those that have already expressed interest. With the launch of the AdLarge partnership, any station in need of new revenue should be signing up. If you are not a member, your stations will not be able to participate. I honestly cannot imagine any independent station not wanting to see new revenue flow their way. Independent radio will finally have a seat at the table for network revenue."

AdLarge Co-Founder and Co-CEO Gary Schonfeld commented, "We are thrilled to work with Ron and the independent radio stations across the country that are joining the IBA. This partnership comes at a most opportune time, giving independent radio groups and stations more power and prominence in network radio advertising. Ron's industry leadership in creating the IBA will help thousands of radio stations nationwide generate additional revenue, and we are honored to be a part of it."

"Radio is a powerful reach medium that can influence consumers because it touches their lives in their local communities," observed AdLarge Co-Founder and Co-CEO Cathy Csukas. "We look forward to bringing these new opportunities to our network radio advertisers and their agencies, who are looking to connect with consumers on Main Street."

Stone also made note of several additional deliverables that will be announced soon. He said, "We have been working very hard to deliver on many opportunities. One of the big ones that will be rolled out by December 31 is a multi-layered traffic product, currently being tested in multiple markets. This system combines traffic, CRM, yield management and analytic tools to eliminate the redundancy and cost of multiple systems. What will be delivered is a system that will not only handle the back of the house duties, it will help sellers create new revenue and reduce attrition. This system will be available in 2021 at a significant savings to what independent broadcasters now pay for similar services."

The website will also be evolving quickly, adding elements that will create more opportunities and savings for members including: Shared Services, Shared Production, Promotions Idea Bank, Sales Idea Bank, Job Bank News Service, Engineering Question & Answer Board, Networking ans Educational Services. Plus a Help Line for accounting, traffic, programming, sales and human resources.

Stone added, "The heavy lifting will begin soon on the new digital platform that will bring all the independents an opportunity to participate in true digital revenue, previously off limits to us. No more moving money from one pocket to the other. I want to thank Chris Peaslee and the entire Vipology team for all their efforts in getting the IBA website built and launched, and for the vision that they are providing for the new digital platform."