Status quo not an option for radio, Deloitte tells OAB

By Connie Thiessen TORONTO – Broadcasters were told to prepare for potential negative growth as economic uncertainty starts to impact discretionary spending, Deloitte’s Josef Hrebick (pictured below) told last week’s Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) conference. In an outlook entitled “The Future of Broadcasting,” Hrebick, who leads technology, media & entertainment and telecommunications (TMT) and business growth strategy at Deloitte, discussed the uncertainty about what the “new normal” looks like amid slow to rebound post-pandemic ad revenues, downward radio listening trends, and pending changes to the regulatory landscape. Hrebick said the industry’s key drivers – listenership, advertising and operations – continue to be pressured. “Listenership is key to the business....