News & Opinion

Bob Gold & Associates has been named public relations agency of record for predictive software company Immersion Neuroscience. The agency will help Immersion launch its new cloud-based audience prediction platform, which is intended to help identify, quantify and predict what live or taped events, training and entertainment motivate audiences to action, allowing companies to improve their ability to connect with consumers and increase ROI.   Find the full article written by Steve Barnes on O'Dwyer's.

Award Winning Agency Will Help Democratize Neuroscience for Companies Worldwide     Immersion Neuroscience, the world’s most advanced predictive software company unlocking neuroscience to measure what people love, has selected Bob Gold & Associates, a nationally recognized boutique public relations and marketing agency, as its public relations agency of record to help launch its new cloud-based audience prediction platform. The Immersion platform helps companies identify, quantify and predict what live or taped events, training, and entertainment motivate audiences to action so that companies can significantly improve their ability to connect with consumers and increase ROI.   "With more than two decades of research, we’ve developed an entirely new way to understand how the brain values content, and how to predict what content will drive actions with high accuracy," said Paul J. Zak, Ph.D., Founder of Immersion. “We coined the term ‘immersion’ to denote a measurable neurologic state, and today, Immersion offers an easy to use and powerful tool that allows any company to analyze content and predict how audiences will respond. And it doesn't take a neuroscientist to know that Bob Gold & Associates, with their unparalleled expertise and a proven track record, is the right company to help get our story told.”   Immersion’s proprietary solution and software is the world's most accurate way to measure the brain's unconscious emotional responses to virtually any type of content – whether it’s video, music, live events, training, educational resources and more. Developed by distinguished research scientists, Immersion’s simple to use and scalable predictive SaaS platform democratizes neuroscience so that anyone can measure what people love at scale.   “Life doesn’t happen inside a lab,” Zak added. “Until now, companies could only measure what people in the real world said they liked – not how their brains were truly valuing an experience.  Immersion is able to measure what folks truly, viscerally love, anywhere, anytime and in real time.”   The Immersion platform infers when the brain values an experience in real-time with a small wearable sensor that can be used anywhere. Unlike traditional neuroscience technologies that use expensive, immobile and delicate lab equipment and require highly trained professionals to collect and analyze the data, Immersion takes multiple measures of brain activity and puts them into an easy to understand 0-10 measure collected every second. Immersion’s clients use the platform anywhere, anytime and at scale, empowering companies to predict future behavior and market outcomes with 90% or better accuracy.   "Immersion is a revolutionary company. With their unique cloud-based solution, measuring brain activity is no longer confined to a laboratory with expensive instruments," said Bob Gold, CEO of Bob Gold & Associates. "There are billions of dollars being spent in original programming, half of which never connects with audiences. Today for every network and streaming service, hits are everything. Immersion has proven, with peer-reviewed publications and blinded studies, its ability to identify hit shows, movies, songs and so much more.”   Because it’s built in the cloud, and not in a lab, Immersion’s software is portable and effortlessly scalable, enabling clients to leverage the power of neuroscience on the fly, anywhere in the world. And while other companies can take months to compile results, Immersion’s software provides an immediate assessment, unlocking the power of neuroscience for anyone without the need for extensive training.   In one study, for example, two measures from the platform – peak immersion, and frustration were enough to predict the top-rated unscripted TV shows with 84% accuracy.   Many leading global brands are already utilizing Immersion in countless ways. This includes shaping content and business decisions by predicting hit TV shows and movies, chart-topping songs, sales bumps, TV ratings, viral content, what has the highest impact at live events, and even HR and corporate training, all by accurately identifying what is truly valued by audience members brains.   To learn more about Immersion, visit www.getimmersion.com.  

Some practitioners are taking opposition research tactics perfected in the political arena into the marketplace. Despite the ethical and legal perils, some are taking a calculated risk   Not long ago, journalists, PR practitioners and their clients jousted with each other along an assumed set of guidelines. Let’s call it “White PR.”   Journalists reported objectively what they learned through their own enterprise. PR people developed positive stories and support materials about their clients and sought to gain journalists’ attention through relationships and by packaging the stories in ways that served journalists’ interests, made their jobs easier and made them look good in the eyes of their editors. Clients hired agencies to promote their agenda with the belief it would be done in respectable ways.   They called us flacks, we called them ink-stained wretches, and everyone met in the bar after work.   Today, a negative counterpoint to that largely positive process is getting louder every day in the form of “Dark PR.” Research and placement of negative news stories. Anonymously drafted attack pieces from third parties. Creation of negative or misleading content on small but influential web sites known to spark coverage in higher profile media. Influence payments to unscrupulous “journalists.” Generation of large volumes of negative social media. Flooding search results with negative content to drive down positive results.   These are just examples of a growing and risky new category for an industry that evolved by putting a positive angle on everything. Was it Dark PR?   Today, if a business suddenly finds itself the subject of intertwined bad news events and amplified media coverage damaging to its reputation, it could well be the target of “Dark PR” engineered by a rival firm and its agency.   Dark PR is migrating from its traditional hovels of politics and espionage to the arenas of corporate, business and marketing communications, where positive messages have traditionally prevailed. Today, a client may ask a practice to define, damage and destroy a business rival through overt or covert activities. A new burden falls on PR practitioners who now must determine their ethical and business limits when Dark PR enters the stage.   In this hyped-up world where norms of institutional and personal behavior are decimated every day, it should be no surprise that the dark arts once confined to “opposition research” by political campaigns are now being weaponized in the PR world. The reason is simple. They work. How Dark PR works   Opposition research is the feedstock for the negative political ads in mainstream and on social media that everyone loves to hate. Any experienced political operative will attest that when a tough negative ad goes on the air the poll numbers move—overnight.   What’s more, the fruits of opposition research are served on silver platters to reporters desirous of breaking news or third-party interests seeking to cultivate havoc against an opponent.   Dark PR has wormed its way into the highest levels of corporate communications. As The New York Times reported in November 2018, facing scathing criticism over its failure to protect users’ personal data, Facebook hired a PR firm run by a former political operative to discredit anti-Facebook protesters as anti-sematic, publish derogatory stories about rivals Google and Apple and encourage reporters to investigate alleged links between the anti-Facebook movement and activist philanthropist George Soros.   Once exposed, Facebook severed its relationship with the firm, which now operates under a different name. How far will you go?   For communications practitioners the question is how far they will go, personally and professionally. There is the hard stop, of course, at legal risk and commercial versus protected speech. But assuming no prudent communicator would purposefully violate those standards, it comes down to matter of personal choice and business risk.   Can a reputable public relations firm creating positive message campaigns for its clients yield to the dark side? What happens to that firm’s business, reputation and client list when it’s publicly ridiculed for catalyzing destructive, demeaning articles, social media posts and conspiracy theories targeting the competition?   Perhaps the practical answer for communicators wanting a piece of the Dark PR action is a separate business, separate office, separate staff, same owner. But for the individual it comes down to a matter of conscience. How do they want to be known by their peers, by the community and by their family? How well can they sleep at night?   Each person will have their own answer to this professional ethics quandary. For some it will be a complicated, nuanced and perhaps rationalized answer.   For others it’ll be quite simple: Ethically, if it doesn’t feel like the right thing to do, it probably isn’t. Author: Bob Gold - President & CEO, Bob Gold & Associates.   Read the original post on PR Daily.

If you missed the 55th Annual Los Angeles PRism Awards hosted by PRSA-LA, you can still check out Bob's acceptance speech here! https://youtu.be/UeNgIjReJiU Mic drop! Bob Gold, President & CEO of Bob Gold & Associates has always known how to keep a crowd entertained. It's no surprise that guests at the 55th Annual Los Angeles PRism Awards rose from their seats in a standing ovation to celebrate Bob being honored by PRSA-LA as the 2019 Communications Professional of the Year!

ITVT is pleased to present an audio recording of the TVOT SF 2019 session, “How Pay-TV Operators Are Revamping Their Platforms, Services and Business Models to Respond to the New Migrant Video Subscriber.” The Migrant Video Subscriber is rapidly changing our industry. We haven’t experienced anything like this before. The entire video ecosystem is being redefined across every fabric of our business. Relationships are fragile. New technologies are needed to manage content, digital and linear channels, distribution platforms. Confusion and overload color every decision. And the costs of innovation require financing. How do you get it? This panel will explore how to successfully navigate the turbulence ahead.Listen here.

PRSA Los Angeles’ Board Selects Bob Gold to be Honored at the 2019 PRism Awards in Los Angeles Bob Gold, President and CEO of Bob Gold & Associates, a Southern California boutique public relations and marketing agency, has been voted by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Los Angeles Board of Directors to be honored as the 2019 Communications Professional of the Year to be presented at the Los Angeles PRism Awards celebration on October 15 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.   Bob Gold was selected for the program’s most distinguished individual accolade, Communications Professional of the Year, for his outstanding leadership and management skills, innovation and creativity, and unparalleled impact and outcomes for clients, as well as his commitment to important causes, charities and mentorship of young professionals. His award will be presented by longtime friend, KTLA-TV News anchor, Glen Walker. “To be recognized by peers is the ultimate compliment for every professional,” said Gold. “This honor is entirely unexpected, and deeply appreciated.” With over 30 years of experience in public relations and marketing, Gold’s impact on the industry and results for his clients are internationally recognized. The firm has recently been on a tear, adding new clients, staff and partners around the world. In the past year, the company has been recognized as the #2 Boutique PR Firm by Clutch, #13 PR firm in Los Angeles by O'Dwyer's, #2 B2B Advertising and Marketing Firm in Los Angeles by Clutch, and one of the Most Innovative and Attractive Work Environments by Cablefax. Bob Gold founded and manages Bob Gold & Associates, one of the premier independent integrated communications public relations agencies in the country.  The agency’s specialty is being experts at the nexus where video content meets technology and distribution. He has also helped raise millions of dollars for charities, taught hundreds of students and helped further strategic business plans for numerous businesses and associations. Throughout his career, Gold has helped launch dozens of companies, re-branded many others and created countless successful campaigns for companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Gold is also the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Hemisphere Technologies Inc., a Nevada corporation, which is dedicated to investing in publicly traded and privately held technology companies. Gold has extensive experience in small and large-scale transactions and works as a key member engaged in all aspects including sourcing, evaluating, structuring, monitoring, and, where applicable, harvesting investments. Gold is also a published author of a popular children’s picture book, The Shiny Penny. Gold holds many honors including being inducted into the Cable TV Pioneers along with Comcast’s Brian Roberts, CNN’s Ted Turner and other notables. He holds a Master’s degree in Communications Management from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California, where he also sits on the Alumni Board of Directors. When he’s not helping others, Gold can usually be found more than 60 feet underwater on a scuba diving “mancation” with his three sons. PRSA is the world’s largest and most reputable association for public relations professionals. For 55 years, PRSA-LA has been hosting the PRism Awards — the Los Angeles region’s premier awards program recognizing excellence in public relations strategic campaigns and tactical programs. The Los Angeles Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is comprised of nearly 600 agency, in-house and independent public relations professionals representing LA-area corporations, academic institutions, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

  Randy Brown and Peter Cohen named Senior Vice Presidents Anthem Sports & Entertainment is powering its newly combined executive team by appointing its former strategic advisors, Randy Brown and Peter Cohen, as its new Senior Vice Presidents for its portfolio of premium global sports, entertainment and lifestyle networks including AXS, HDNet Movies, Game+, Fight Network and the Impact! Wrestling.Randy Brown, whose career spans leadership roles at ESPN, Tennis Channel, Outdoor Channel and others, now serves as Senior Vice President of Distribution. He oversees distribution and revenue growth for the company's growing portfolio of sports, entertainment and lifestyle networks. In this role, Brown is responsible for driving and supporting the achievement of Anthem's strategic plan by leading all distributor relationships across all video platforms including linear, on demand, digital and mobile.Peter Cohen, who has held senior management roles at major media and entertainment companies including HBO, MTV, Billboardlive, The Box Music Network, MuchMusic and CNN International, becomes Senior Vice President, Programming Strategy & Content Development. He brings extensive US and international music/film/TV and tech experience to the company and will develop key strategic programming initiatives and digital opportunities for Anthem's diverse content portfolio, production and live events across multiple platforms focusing on making AXS TV a leading global music content company.“Randy and Peter have each achieved a high degree of professional success throughout their respective careers, and I am delighted to announce they are joining the Anthem team and will continue expanding Anthem’s rapidly growing revenue base and content portfolio,” said Leonard Asper, Anthem Sports & Entertainment CEO. “They are key members of what is evolving as an extraordinary management team that will help accelerate our growth and expansion into the future.”   Brown served in his most recent role as an acquisition and distribution advisor to the company since early 2018. Before joining Anthem, he was Executive Vice President of Distribution for ONE World Sports, where he grew subscribers from 200,000 to 6.1 million on U.S. cable, telco, satellite and digital providers. Before that, he was Executive Vice President of Affiliate Sales & Marketing for Outdoor Channel, leading domestic subscription growth to the highest level in company history while extending the network’s reach to Europe and Asia. Previously, Brown was part of the founding management team at Tennis Channel where he secured cable clearance in 47 of the top 50 U.S. markets. Brown began his career at ESPN, rising to Vice President, Central Division Affiliate Sales and Marketing, overseeing domestic distribution of ESPN’s networks in 17 states and developing distribution strategies contributing to the successful launches of ESPN2 and ESPNEWS. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Western Michigan University and a master's in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago, graduating with honors.   Cohen joined Anthem’s team in 2018 as strategic advisor focused on content licensing, production and programming from Linius Technologies, a leading video virtualization technology company where he was Executive Vice President overseeing strategy and business development with production studios, digital platforms and content libraries. His career encompasses leading US and international music and entertainment programming and digital technology companies where he oversaw content development, programming, production and multiplatform distribution operations. While serving as head of Programming and Production at The Box/MTV2, Cohen increased cumulative network ratings by 30%; as Vice President at MuchMusic, he helped launch the channel in the US (which became Fuse) and established key strategic label and artist relationships; as COO of PMG, a Barcelona-based global content producer/distributor, he boosted digital revenue more than 70%. Cohen holds a bachelor's degree in human ecology from the College of the Atlantic, studied behavioral psychology at University of Colorado Boulder and did post grad work at Boston University.For more information, visit www.anthemse.com. 

AEG REMAINS ACTIVE PARTNER STEVE HARVEY GLOBAL JOINS ANTHEM AS INVESTOR AND STRATEGIC PARTNER Anthem Sports & Entertainment , a global multiplatform media company, today announced it  has acquired a majority interest in HDNet LLC, parent of the widely distributed U.S. television networks AXS TV and HDNet Movies, and will assume operating management of the two popular channels that cater to music, sports, entertainment and lifestyle audiences. The deal also includes AXS TV’s extensive library of owned programming, including wrestling, MMA and entertainment content.   The two networks add significantly to Anthem’s rapidly growing portfolio of content, which is currently available in 120 countries and includes diverse and popular sports and entertainment programming targeted to passionate communities with a focus on millennial viewers.   “We are very excited to add these two successful channels to our portfolio,” said Leonard Asper, CEO, Anthem Sports & Entertainment. “Anthem was founded with a mission to deliver compelling, targeted content and experiences to passionate fans globally on the platform of their choice. The music, sports and entertainment communities served by these channels are a natural extension and perfect complement to our existing properties.  The addition of AXS TV and HDNet Movies will allow for increased content ownership, digital expansion and even more compelling programming for consumers and our distribution partners.”   Mark Cuban and AEG will continue to participate as equity partners, and AEG Global Partnerships, AEG’s advertising and sponsorship sales unit, will continue to support the channels in conjunction with Anthem’s sales team.   Joining as an investor is entertainer, producer and businessman Steve Harvey, who will also enter into a strategic agreement for content development and promotion of Anthem’s portfolio of channels. Steve Harvey Global will have a seat on the board of directors of Anthem.   Anthem’s board of directors will also include Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit, a lead financier on the acquisition;  Rick Ehrman, a former senior executive at Univision and NBC Universal; Robert Foster, founder and CEO of Capital Canada; Scott Honour, founding principal of Northern Pacific Group; and Loudon Owen, chairman and CEO of DLT Labs.   “Anthem’s combination of targeted brands, enthusiastic audiences, operational expertise, international footprint and vision makes them an ideal partner to take AXS TV and HDNet Movies to their next levels,” Mark Cuban said.  “Given Anthem’s portfolio of premium content and complementary programming networks, we could not ask for a better home, and we are looking forward to the results we will collectively generate for this new partnership.”     “My team and I see great opportunity in Anthem,” Steve Harvey said.  “They have incredible shows, experiential entertainment, and a huge reach. We look forward to collaborating with Anthem on content development that will surprise and delight this newly expanded audience.”     AXS TV and HDNet Movies will continue operating from their existing facilities in Denver and Los Angeles, and the combined company will include Anthem’s playout and production center in Toronto and production facilities in Nashville and Europe.   “Anthem Sports & Entertainment brings a legacy of delivering boundary-breaking programming that perfectly aligns with our programming strategy and global concert venue and music festival assets,” said Charles Hirschhorn, President, AEG TV. “The combination of these television networks with Anthem creates global video destinations for ‘must see’ event programming.”   With this transaction, Anthem channels are now estimated to reach nearly 150 million global TV homes, including more than 110 million MVPD-served TV households in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Anthem’s proprietary content is distributed to more than 160 million global TV homes through licensing agreements with some of the world’s premier networks. Anthem’s networks and content also are available on nearly every major streaming service and digital platforms. Anthem has offices and studios in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles and Nashville, and in Europe. Its portfolio includes:   IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 300 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in premium content, pay-per-view events, products and merchandise, as well as the management, promotion and training of professional wrestlers;   IMPACT Plus, a multi-platform mobile app and digital subscription video-on-demand platform and one of the newest additions to the Anthem family of services, featuring live monthly premium network specials, instant access to the 3,000-plus hour IMPACT Wrestling library, groundbreaking original series, reality shows, documentaries, and exclusive events from international partners;   Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel, dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports including fights, fight news and the fight lifestyle as well as mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts and more. Fight Network produces and owns its own library of fight themed documentaries and interview programs and is delivered to more than 43 million TV homes in the U.S., Canada and more than 15 other countries;   GameTV, featuring game show formats and programming, both current and past; reality, drama and documentary series; feature films; sports-based games including esports, poker, and card-based games; and live sporting events – all delivered to more than 8 million television homes throughout Canada. GameTV also features online cash and social gaming through igametv.com;   Game+, a cutting edge, millennial-targeted sports and entertainment channel, featuring sports-wagering programs, esports events, news and information, fantasy sports programming, high stakes poker, and other action-driven shows and lifestyle programming. Game+ is distributed in more than 1 million MVPD TV homes in Canada and the US; and   Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S, offering outdoor enthusiasts diverse programming from calm freshwater fishing to fast-paced deer and waterfowl hunting. Pursuit Channel is available to more than 35 million TV homes in the US served by cable, satellite and IPTV. Through its app PursuitUP the channel is also available on OTT streaming services.   AXS TV is a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle channel, including live concerts and sports events, originally founded as HDNET by Mark Cuban in 2001. The channel was rebranded in 2012 after partnering with AEG, leading to additional music content development. The network’s current programming lineup features live concerts and events, music-themed information and reality programming, live wrestling and MMA, and off-network runs of popular music-themed programming. The network is distributed to more than 50 million homes.   AEG includes AXS TV as part of its own sponsorship portfolio, bringing many AEG partners to the network.   HDNet Movies, available in approximately 12 million U.S. homes, features theatrically released films and documentaries presented in high definition, including a variety of iconic classics and award winners spanning the 1950s to 2000s.     For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

By Roxanne Leone, Director, Marketing & Communications Did you know that the B2B trade show market in the United States was valued at $13.7 billion back in 2016, and is forecasted to grow to 16.8 billion by the end of 2021? If you’re competing for butts in seats at your next curated conversation event, you might want to consider your audience first. Remember, success is not based on what you want to tell them, but what they want to hear!   Year after year, people attend our very own events at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) and SCTE·ISBE’s Cable-Tec Expo to listen to the most diverse thinking on the technology they care about. As I see it, event curation is about creating an open dialogue with highly prepared speakers to discuss timely topics from the industry. For Bob Gold & Associates, the key is selecting the right speakers and preparing topics ahead of time, so it supports an overarching story.   After years of using sticky notes as wallpaper in our office, we’ve learned a thing or two about planning a worthwhile event for our guests. And our strategy can be adapted for almost any event.   We first determine the overarching story, or theme, 6 months in advance and ask ourselves these five key questions:             1. Why are we hosting this event?          2. What do we want the audience to take away from this event?          3. Do we want the audience to learn something, be inspired, or take some action?          4. Who are my ideal speakers to share relevant content to help tell the story?          5. What content flow will tell the most compelling story?   We tend to spend the majority of our time on selecting speakers and hosting prep calls to ensure participants are on topic and that everyone has the opportunity to weave in their own relevant key messages.   Questions 4 and 5 can make or break an event. For our upcoming curated conversation this fall, we are evaluating potential speakers in cable and telecommunications that have a compelling story to tell and have an engaging personality and presentation style. Plus, it’s equally important to consider gender, age, and academic background to showcase diversity. To brainstorm content, we discuss the current situation in the industry. We share personal stories and case studies to showcase various successes and challenges. Then we open the conversation to predictions for the future, recap key points and solicit questions from the audience. Once our brainstorm session is complete, we draft questions for the moderator, share with the panel and fine tune 2 weeks before the event.   The only way to keep an overarching story intact to meet the needs of your audience is to prepare your speakers to think BIG PICTURE while strategically incorporating messages they wish to get across.