BIA’s “Winning Media Strategies” Conference to Focus on Transformative Business Models for Traditional Media, Washington, D.C., May 20-22

Keynotes by Adam Clayton Powell III, Marci Ryvicker, Jeff Smulyan, Mark Walsh and Dick Wiley

CHANTILLY, Va.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Traditional media’s financial struggles, accentuated by the current economic crisis, are directly tied to the changing media ecosystem in which they compete and the resulting shift of advertising dollars. New technology, shifting consumer demographics and media usage trends, new competition, and different business models are driving this changing media ecosystem. BIA Advisory Services, a subsidiary of BIA Financial Network focused on local media, has created “Winning Media Strategies,” a conference that is assembling a team of leading experts to discuss these critical issues for broadcasters, newspaper companies and cable operators, as well as for all those involved in the long-term viability of these sectors. The three-day program will be held May 20-22, 2009, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Registration is currently available at http://www.bia.com/WMS.

“In this economy, expense cutting is necessary, but if traditional media companies are to mitigate their revenue decline and position themselves for growth upon the economic recovery, they must accelerate their transformative process”

“In this economy, expense cutting is necessary, but if traditional media companies are to mitigate their revenue decline and position themselves for growth upon the economic recovery, they must accelerate their transformative process,” said Tom Buono, chief executive officer and president of BIAfn, which has advised media companies on their values, advertising potential and strategies for the past 25 years. “To do this, they must understand the changes under way, the impacts on advertisers, the innovative strategies that are working for media companies, and the partners that can help them achieve their goals. We have designed topical panels with this in mind and will be bringing in the best speakers to address these issues.”

The conference program features more than 50 speakers representing key market segments, including broadcast and Internet media, mobile platforms, print media, government, academia, finance, lobbying companies, law firms, and trade associations. Attendees will learn from industry leaders and innovators, including keynote speakers Adam Clayton Powell III, vice provost, University of Southern California; Marci Ryvicker, vice president, Wachovia; Jeff Smulyan, CEO, Emmis; Mark Walsh, CEO, GeniusRocket; and Dick Wiley, partner, Wiley Rein.

Under the program direction of BIA Chief Strategy Officer Rick Ducey, a known expert and frequent speaker on the transforming media ecosystem, “Winning Media Strategies” is being produced with BIA’s The Kelsey Group, organizer of more than 70 executive conferences covering the local media industry. During several sessions, analysts from The Kelsey Group, which offers expertise in traditional and online local media and advertising, will present their forecasts of advertising across all local media platforms and offer insights on multiple platform sales, and integrating Internet in a broadcast business model.

“Winning Media Strategies” program highlights include:

• “Understanding the Changing Media Ecosystem,” a contemplative analysis of where traditional media and new media exist in the information atmosphere
• “Winning Consumers’ Hearts and Minds,” an in-depth discussion of audience needs, motives and drives
• “Redefining Local Broadcasters and the Web”
• “Local Media Outlook — Advertising Trends and Forecasts,” with BIA and The Kelsey Group
• Transformative Business Model Sessions on the Internet, mobile and broadcast
• “Winning Back Wall Street (and Main Street),” with a banker’s view on the media industry’s economic opportunities

BIA has partnered with TVNewsday LLC, publisher of a continuously updated news Web site covering the broadcast television industry, which will assist in planning and promoting the conference. Additional information on “Winning Media Strategies,” including a preliminary list of sessions and speakers, is available at http://www.bia.com/WMS.

About BIA Advisory Services, LLC

BIA Advisory Services, LLC, a subsidiary of BIA Financial Network, provides research, data, analysis, and financial and strategic consulting to media, telecommunications, technology, directory publishing, and local search companies. BIA Advisory Services includes The Kelsey Group, experts in traditional and online local media and advertising; BIA Research, providers of competitive and comparative market information and analysis through data services, specialized reporting, engineering studies and mapping; and, BIA Consulting, specialists in business intelligence and corporate growth strategy, and the nation’s leading communications appraisal and valuation firm. Additional information is available at www.bia.com. BIA’s blog is located http://blog.bia.com/bia and the company can be found on Twitter http://twitter.com/BIAfn.

A full version of this press release is available at http://www.bia.com/pr090303-wms.asp.

Keyword Tags: radio, television, local media, media ecosystem, BIA Advisory Services, Winning Media Strategies, broadcast, Internet newspapers, traditional media, The Kelsey Group