Respected economist and media expert, Fratrik is frequently quoted on the state of the local media industry, including online, digital and mobile trends
CHANTILLY, Va. (Feb. 19, 2014) – BIA/Kelsey, advisor to companies in the local media industry, today announced the promotion of Mark Fratrik, Ph.D., to senior vice president.
Since joining the company in 2001, as a widely recognized media economist, Fratrik has been a leader in the firm’s research and forecasting initiatives on the local media market, including the recent growth of online, digital and mobile. Fratrik manages the company’s premier product, MEDIA Access Pro™ (MAPro), a database and analytical application that provides hundreds of information fields for the radio, television and newspaper industries.
Fratrik developed BIA/Kelsey’s Media Ad View™ forecasts that track local advertising by media and business category. This analysis has expanded the firm’s coverage of ad spending within local markets and the shift to online. Fratrik is the author of BIA/Kelsey’s acclaimed Investing In publication series, which includes quarterly market reports on radio and television, as well as the company’s State-of-the-Industry Radio and State-of-the-Industry Television reports.
Fratrik is a frequent keynoter and speaker at major media conferences and is frequently quoted in the general and trade press. Fratrik’s next speaking engagement is at Radio Ink’s Hispanic Radio Conference, where he will participate on a panel titled, Investment Strategy: The View From Wall Street and Main Street.
“Mark has played an integral role in the growth and expansion of our company, adding to the trust we have forged as advisors to media companies large and small,” said Tom Buono, founder and CEO of BIA/Kelsey. “He has a tremendous understanding of the media industry and how technologies and trends affect revenue. His insights and understanding bring our data and analytics to life so people can act on the information we provide. That skill is highly valued by our clients.”
Fratrik oversees a staff of 15, consisting of analysts, client support services and a call out staff supporting MAPro. In addition to his established work, he is currently leading BIA/Kelsey’s practice on the valuation of spectrum, as broadcasters continue to consider whether to sell their spectrum to the FCC.
Prior to joining BIA/Kelsey, Fratrik served as a Vice President/Economist at the National Association of Broadcasters. While there, he conducted primary research about the broadcasting industry and wrote several research studies on the radio and television industries. Before joining the NAB, he worked for the Federal Trade Commission in the Bureau of Economics where he spent nearly five years conducting analyses of industry practices to evaluate overall economic impact.
Fratrik received his B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from State University of New York at Binghamton and his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Economics from Texas A&M in College Station, TX. He had also served as an Adjunct Professor of Economics at John Hopkins University.
About BIA/Kelsey
BIA/Kelsey advises companies in the local media space through consulting and valuation services, research and forecasts, Custom Advisory Services and conferences. Since 1983 BIA/Kelsey has been a resource to the media, mobile advertising, telecommunications, Yellow Pages and electronic directory markets, as well as to government agencies, law firms and investment companies looking to understand trends and revenue drivers. BIA/Kelsey’s annual conferences draw executives from across industries seeking expert guidance on how companies are finding innovative ways to grow. Additional information is available at https://www.bia.com, on the company’s Local Media Watch blog, Twitter (http://twitter.com/BIAKelsey) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/biakelsey). Stay connected by subscribing to the firm’s bi-monthly newsletter.
For more information contact:
Eileen Pacheco
For BIA/Kelsey
(508) 888-7478
eileen@tango-group.com
Robert Udowitz
For BIA/Kelsey
(703) 621-8060
rudowitz@biakelsey.com
