Industry News

A pair of noncoms licensed to the University of Arkansas will pay a $76,000 civil penalty after admitting to violating the FCC’s underwriting laws.

KBPU(FM) of De Queen, Ark., and KTYC(FM) of Nashville, Ark., will also implement a five-year compliance plan coordinated with the Enforcement Bureau.

Both noncommercial education stations are managed by Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas.

In September 2016, KBPU(FM) and KTYC(FM) ran multiple announcements that “promoted their for-profit underwriters’ products or services and contained qualitative descriptions and comparative language, pricing information, and/or calls to action” over the course of three days. A complaint with a transcript was filed (EB-IHD-17-00024914) against the university. As part of the consent decree, the university admitted that the transcript is accurate, despite retraining staff on underwriting rules.

The University of Arkansas will now be required to make four payments of $19,000 to the U.S. Treasury and will also file regular compliance reports to prove they are taking steps to ensure these violations do not occur again.

The order was adopted and released Jan. 7. Read the order and consent decree (DA 20-12) here.

The post U of Arkansas NCEs Admit to Underwriting Oops appeared first on Radio World.

Bob Dillon

The author is senior vice president, Connected Radio for Xperi.

Not long ago, Gene “Bean” Baxter said goodbye to KROQ(FM)’s “The Kevin & Bean Show” after 30 years on the station’s signature morning drive-time show. He left behind a legacy that stretched across generations of listeners and traveled far beyond the Los Angeles basin. It’s fair to claim, in fact, that the “World Famous KROQ” lived up to its tagline in part due to the magic of shows like this one. 

It also raises two very good observations about the power of radio: that there’s something tangibly personal and rich about the broadcasting, and that as the world grows smaller —  radio becomes more inclusive and empowering. 

After all, one doesn’t have to be from Los Angeles to appreciate Kevin & Bean. The value and the significance of the content produced travels far beyond one spot on the map. In fact, it’s possible that the power of radio —  personal and real entertainment – has never been greater. That’s good news for everyone who values access to rich content — and the ability to choose what they’d like to consume.  

ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS

Creating choices for entertainment is perhaps greatest inside your vehicle. Inside the cabin of today’s newer cars is a plethora of options, all of them good. You can connect your personal device via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto; there are satellite networks that deliver programming in hundreds of different ways and categories. On-board apps abound, full of playlists that continuously pump the music at you 24/7. 

The DTS Connected Radio Live Guide shows Now Playing information for each tunable station, enabling station choice based on what’s playing.

Then there’s radio. And it’s a stronger option today than ever before, thanks to the widespread adoption of HD Radio and the emergence of hybrid radio.

Our version of hybrid radio is DTS Connected Radio, which combines over-the-air broadcasting (analog, HD Radio and DAB+) and corresponding metadata (via IP) on a global scale. This convergence creates three very important benefits: 

Deeper and more fulfilling content for users: The combination of data with broadcast enhances the discovery of quality programming. In fact, one of the challenges around broadcast radio going digital is choice — especially in North America with HD Radio, where multi-casting has expanded the number of sources by over 2,000 stations. In addition, today’s modern digital platforms give users the ability to search via many different ways, including voice activation. Hybrid radio also provides that level of enhanced discoverability. There’s a rich visual interface so you can search for content, and the availability of information for all radio stations in a market in under one second. It combines the search-and-sort value of online experiences with higher quality radio programming available in the user’s market.

Affordable change at a global scale for automakers: There’s no mistake that the car dash is changing, getting more complex and more expensive. There’s increased connectivity and hardware, along with new regulations in Europe — and probably soon in North America — that require a module that’s basically a cellular modem in the car for emergency response. Hybrid radio leverages what automakers already are legally required to have as a part of their vehicle technology offerings. The only service that that can deliver that level of affordable infotainment inside a vehicle is radio. Automakers have already made an investment in the digital tuner; they’re now also required, in certain markets, to add a connectivity module for regulatory purposes, and emergency response. Hybrid radio brings these two components together, leverages the investment and creates enhanced radio — the only truly free medium. Automakers can now deploy an enhanced content platform through investments that they’ve already made — with broadcasters who are already on board. It’s affordable, rich content on a global scale, a single radio platform that delivers a consistent and enhanced user experience across analog, HD Radio, or DAB+ radio.

[DTS Promotes “Connected Radio” Project]

Sharper listener insights for broadcasters: The value of metadata doesn’t stop at the album name. Indeed, the real value is in user listening habits. For DTS Connected Radio, once the car is turned on the radio immediately connects to our service. Let’s say a session starts with a vehicle in Los Angeles. We know the radio station, and how long they listen before jumping to another station or service. All the while, we’re sending data to the user, creating a two-way feedback flow that we measure and send back to the station. The radio station can learn why they tuned in, and what made them leave. Did they tune to another radio station? Shut off the car, or did they drive out of coverage? How long did they listen? Ultimately, that’s all available audience flow data over time. Hybrid radio — at least DTS Connected Radio — is able to provide a measurement of their total audience and how that audience flows in and out of their station throughout the day. 

A DTS Connected Radio Now Playing screen shows image and text for currently playing content along with station metadata.

Overall, DTS Connected Radio enables automakers to create a common experience across analog and digital broadcasting. It pairs broadcast programming with IP-delivered content, all from the vehicle’s IP connection. The combination of analog programming and its corresponding metadata creates a richer, more valuable content experience — and one that’s affordable at a global scale for automakers. 

There’s a very real quality to the content that radio brings to listeners. Globally and regionally, it’s a vital part of how we enjoy life and expand our own personal horizons. Radio is unique in that way. As it moves forward toward a hybrid system of digital information and broadcast programming, it is evolving into a scalable format that brings the best of those real moments to an on-demand and two-way system of information sharing — done across a digital, affordable and global platform. 

Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com with “Letter to the Editor” in the subject field.

The post Hybrid Radio Breaks Out  appeared first on Radio World.

A change in FCC technical rules sought by the NAB, NPR and Xperi could lead to a digital power boost for many FM radio stations. Read about that in this issue. Also explore best practices for AM directional systems; learn more ways to outsmart mice at your transmitter site; and ponder how radio programmers can help fight racism.

Read the digital edition online here. CONNECTED CARS
Hybrid Radio Breaks Out

Xperi believes that its DTS Connected Radio platform offers a win-win-win outcome for listeners, automakers and radio broadcasters. Bob Dillon explains why.

COMPETITION
Audio Explosion Reverberates in Radio

Several industry thought leaders recently gathered at the FCC to talk about the state of the radio business. Find out what they said.

 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

• Radio Presses FCC to Allow Asymmetric Sidebands
• Jeff Welton on Tubes vs. Solid-State
• Best Practices for AM Directional Systems

The post Inside the Jan. 8 Issue of Radio World appeared first on Radio World.

John Poray

After nearly three decades of service, Society of Broadcast Engineers Executive Director John L. Poray has announced his pending retirement.

According to an SBE press release, Poray will step down at the end of this year. SBE President Wayne Pecena will work with the board of directors to find a new leader for the organization. However, Pecena said in the announcement that “John has been a fixture of the SBE since 1992 who cannot be replaced. We can only seek to find a successor!”

The SBE was founded 56 years ago, and Poray has been with the society for more than 27 years. Under his leadership, the society increased its membership to more than 5,000 members and 115 chapters spread across the U.S. and Hong Kong, as well as SBE members located in 25 other countries. During Poray’s long tenure, SBE also added to its certification, education and frequency coordination programs.

[Background on SBE EAS Advisory Program]

Poray said he looks “forward to a busy 2020” and says he will assist the board during the transition.

“I have been blessed to have had a long and productive relationship with the SBE, working with many great members, chapter and national leaders and staff,” Poray said in the release. “Together, we have worked to grow the SBE in size and stature and I believe the SBE is positioned well to continue to serve the broadcast and media engineers into the future.”

Prior to taking the helm as the SBE’s first full-time executive director, Poray spent more than a decade in other nonprofit organization management roles. He is a certified association executive. Poray began his career in with the Boy Scouts of America’s Central Ohio Council and went on to work for Kiwanis International, The Apartment Association of Indiana and The Columbus Apartment Association.

The post SBE’s Poray to Retire in 2020 appeared first on Radio World.

WorldCast Group will open a new office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The group, which comprises WorldCast Systems and CONNECT, explains that it chose Kuala Lumpur for its new office because of the city’s strategic and central location.

Kuala Lumpur, it says, is ideal for providing customers and partners in the Asian market with the “best” local service.

The new WorldCast Group office will officially open mid-January. Victor Bidot, regional sales manager and Bastien Bahuet, pre-sales engineer will use the new location as their base.

Christophe Poulain

The expansion, says WorldCast, consolidates its global presence, which now generates 85% of its turnover from exports.

“For several years now, we’ve had a sales representative in India and with an increasing number of opportunities presented to us in Asia, especially China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia,” said Christophe Poulain, co-President of WorldCast Group. “We are enthusiastic about establishing this new office in the region.”

The post WorldCast Sets Up New Office in Malaysia appeared first on Radio World.

Speaking in front of the Consumer Technology Association’s Government Affairs Council, FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks took the time to recognize many of the biggest tech advancements being made today, but rather than just marvel at them, took a critical look at where they are coming from and how we may need to protect ourselves against them.

Giving his speech on Jan. 6 before the official start of the CES 2020 conference, Starks laid out what his primary goals will be for 2020: “… ensuring that our communications networks and technologies support security, privacy and our democratic values.”

[Read: Starks Criticizes FCC Record on Media Diversity]

Starks brought up many different forms of technologies that on the surface prove beneficial to our everyday lives — entities accessing our data for more personalization; algorithms that can help classify and research topics based on data and past trends; and facial recognition technology for increased security. But he also offered instances where all of these technologies can prove dangerous, abused or misleading.

“We must undertake, right now and continuously, the thorough examination of all these new capabilities to decide now how we will ensure that they are all poised to serve a future that creates opportunities instead of reinforcing existing inequalities,” he said.

He also brought up the potential danger he sees in China. He notes that he has been working to remove equipment provided by Huawei and ZTE from communications networks because he says there have been instances when such equipment transferred secure data to the Chinese government. He also says that technology developed in China is often not taking into consideration the civil liberties that are required for nonauthoritarian regimes.

Potentially helping alleviate much of this, according to Starks, will be 5G.

“I am optimistic that technology developments, especially 5G standards, will support our efforts to improve network and data security,” he said. But still, it will fall on people to make sure that the new technology meets the appropriate standards.

He added, “If we work together, I am confident we can build a future that is more advanced, more secure and more prosperous, and more equitable for all.”

 

The post Starks: Tech Advancing People’s Lives, But Caution Still Needed appeared first on Radio World.

For those who want to sound off to the FCC about using all-digital on the AM band — either “fer it” or “agin it” —- the comment deadlines now are set.

Comments are due March 9, reply comments are due April 6.

As RW has reported, the FCC recently released a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish rules governing all-digital broadcasting by AM radio stations in the United States.

Read the NPRM here. The NPRM number is 19-123.

 

The post Dates Set for Comments on Digital AM Proposal appeared first on Radio World.

The nomination period for the 2020 NAB Crystal Radio Awards is open now through the end of January, the National Association of Broadcasters says.

In order to be considered, radio stations must submit an entry describing their community service in 2019. NAB Television/Radio Awards Manager Tobi Hall can provide additional information about the process.

[Learn about the 2019 Crystal Radio Award winners]

In February, a panel will choose 50 finalists from these entries. Then, 10 Crystal Radio Award winners will be announced and recognized during the April 21 We Are Broadcasters Celebration in Las Vegas. The 2020 NAB Show is scheduled for April 18–22.

The post 2020 NAB Crystal Radio Award Nominations Open appeared first on Radio World.

Gary Shapiro

The Consumer Electronics Show kicks off today in Las Vegas and runs through Jan. 10. As usual, the massive event is expected to highlight the technology trends that will have the biggest impact on the consumer market, as well as the broadcast industry.

And who better to guide CES 2020 attendees than Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro? No one, except perhaps Shapiro, Fred Jacobs and Buzz Knight. The trio break down what you should expect and need to know in a Jacobs Media post entitled, “We’re Off to CES 2020 and Gary Shapiro Is Our Guide.”

According to Jacobs, “The connected car, AI, 5G, autonomous driving, smart speakers/voice, wearables/hearables — all are major innovations impacting our industry that we’ll gain a better understanding of this week.”

Learn more and read the full Shapiro Q&A at jacocbsmedia.com.

 

The post Shapiro Highlights Trends in CES 2020 Look appeared first on Radio World.

Many years ago as a DJ at a rock station, I became friends with a bartender who was a regular listener of my show. He seemed like a solid guy, and I admired that while he poured drinks for a living, he did not drink. 

One morning perusing the newspaper, I saw a headline about a KKK rally that had occurred that weekend, with a photo of a bunch of guys in white robes carrying crosses through the center of town. The leader had taken off his hood.

Much to my shock, I recognized my “pal,” the bartender. An ugly snarl on his face, he was screaming something at the crowd. 

I felt sick as the realization hit me for the first time that it’s impossible to know what hatred lies in a person’s heart.  

WORK TO DO

For a long time, I thought racism in America was decreasing; but social media, videos on YouTube and continuous targeted racist violence clearly indicate that our country has a long way to go. 

Historically, the radio industry has contributed both to perpetuating racism and educating listeners to fight against it. While the scales have certainty tipped toward education, tolerance and awareness, we have much work to do. Perhaps the few examples that follow can kickstart a New Year’s plan at your station.

• The website of WOUB in Athens, Ohio, provides searchable tags for racism and hate crimes.

  Let’s begin by recognizing public radio for the range and timeliness of stories that NPR and affiliates are running on the air and featuring prominently on station websites. Search the term “racism” plus a set of public radio call letters, and you will often encounter a page focused purely on stories pertinent to the issue. 

• CBS local websites also cover the topic, as do many other commercial broadcasters. 
• It’s best when the stories are aggregated under one tag for archive viewing and for search purposes. I’m hopeful that most of these stories make it on the air as well as the websites. When time doesn’t permit, it does make sense to do shorter on-air stories with a reference to details on the website.  
• Promotionally, there’s much all radio formats can do to help organizations that fight racism and other forms of hatred. As you’re looking at your 2020 event calendar, could you schedule a month during which you work with a local non-profit to raise awareness, volunteerism and money? Make sure to utilize on-air PSAs running with good frequency. This is also a rare opportunity for you to involve local religious institutions in all aspects of your plan. Churches, synagogues and mosques have people whom they can activate through social media, mailing lists and pulpits.
• For talk/news formats, there’s no question that it takes an ever-vigilant program director to work with hosts on understanding what constitutes racism and how to deal with live callers who are on a mission to spread hatred. Racism and hate speech, from the right or the left, is wrong and has no place on American radio. Industry veterans know that it’s a small but vocal part of the audience, often trolls, who call in a lot. If you have hosts who can handle the rants, that’s terrific, and the calls can be transformed into a learning moment; but when it becomes repetitive and tedious to deal with the same callers, a number block may be in order.   

“Yo, Is This Racist?” is a podcast co-hosted by Andrew Ti, creator of the popular blog of the same name.

• There are already many podcasts focused on racism and cultural intolerance. Does your parent company have one you can help promote, or is the topic of enough interest in your market to support your own effort? Either way, be sure to promote on-air and through all of your platforms.
• When is the last time you had a staff discussion concerning racism and cultural intolerance? If the answer is a long time ago, or never, this is the time of year to get it done. Many experts are available to help you tackle this tough topic on two levels: how you approach issues on-air and at remotes and, perhaps even more sensitive, in your station’s own environment. 

Whatever one’s background, each of us benefits from enriching our self-awareness as regards social diversity and learning more about how others can do so as well. As we enter a new decade, let’s take the opportunity to help keep life peaceful for everyone.

The post Reflections on Racism and Radio  appeared first on Radio World.