With a big splash and public relations blitz, H.R. 4130 was introduced June 24 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Six House Members signed on to the bill.
Since then, the “American Music Fairness Act” has completed stalled out. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it awaits further support or its eventual death, handing another defeat to House Members Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
At the same time, the non-binding resolution opposing “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations has gained even more support. As of August 30, 12 Members have added their support.
Among those supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA): the Ranking Republican on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — She has worked in private practice representing entertainment, banking and technology clients on copyright, trademark and patent matters. Most recently, she served as Associate General counsel of the U.S. Copyright Office.
Now, this American University Washington College of Jaw graduate is the VP of Public Policy at the NAB.
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Taking the role is Anna Chauvet. She reports to EVP/Government Relations Shawn Donilon.
“Anna enjoys sterling credentials as an expert in copyright law, including deep knowledge of the music licensing regime,” said soon-to-retire NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith. “Broadcasters will benefit from her experience as the industry navigates a range of critical policy issues affecting radio and television. We are excited to welcome her to the NAB team.”
During her time with the Copyright Office, Chauvet worked on a wide range of legal and policy matters, including spearheading four rulemakings to implement provisions of the Orrin G. Hatch–Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA). She also helped formulate litigation strategy and inform the U.S. government’s views in copyright litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court and district courts.
From our People News page: The National Association of Broadcasters hired Anna Chauvet as vice president of public policy.
She most recently was associate general counsel for the U.S. Copyright Office, where she worked on various legal and policy matters, NAB said, “including spearheading four rulemakings to implement provisions of the Orrin G. Hatch–Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA).” It said she also helped develop litigation strategy and inform the federal government’s views in copyright litigation before the Supreme Court and district courts.
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Before the Copyright Office she worked in private practice representing entertainment, banking and technology clients on copyright, trademark and patent matters.
NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith praised her “sterling credentials as an expert in copyright law, including deep knowledge of the music licensing regime.” She will report to Shawn Donilon, executive vice president of government relations.
Send your people news to radioworld@futurenet.com.
The post Chauvet Joins NAB in Policy Position appeared first on Radio World.
Grace Broadcast Sales has released a series of 30-second vignettes commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The company created its first 9/11 remembrance series in 2002 and has continued to produce new vignettes marking the 9/11 anniversary each year.
The vignettes are formatted :20/:10, providing time for a station or sponsor tagline. A companion music bed is also provided for stations wanting longer timing. They are offered on a first-come, first-served, market-exclusive basis.
Rod Schwartz, co-owner and creative director art GBS, said “We responded so magnificently in the weeks and months following 9/11 because we responded as Americans — united and determined to help in any way we could.”
He continued, “Sadly, today, we seem to experience increasing conflicts and divisiveness in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, and now the withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is our hope that the features we’re offering to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks will serve to remind listeners of the true and historic greatness of our nation …”
More information and a demo can be found at Patriot Day (9/11) Remembrance — 20th Anniversary.
The post GBS Releases 9/11 Anniversary Vignettes appeared first on Radio World.
Gainesville – We are thrilled that you are interested in The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) as your next potential employer! Below we have detailed information about the position that you are applying for, as well as information about the CJC, UF and Gainesville.
The Opportunity
WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM, the PBS and NPR affiliates for the Gainesville-Ocala, Florida market and region, are recruiting an experienced programming and production professional to work alongside our team in the production of television and radio programming that truly makes a difference in the communities we serve. The programming and production coordinator will play a key role in the day to day operations of both the 24-hour public television service but also the NPR news/talk radio station and associated online and mobile platforms at WUFT.org and in the WUFT mobile app. Experience working with television and/or radio automation systems and on air hosting is a real plus in addition to having experience producing high quality audio production. Come join an exciting and engaging team at the University of Florida’s media properties!
Specific Duties Include:
• Daily log coordination and maintenance for radio station platforms.
• Coordination with the underwriting department in executing daily log maintenance including setting underwriters and daily promos for the public radio stations.
• Locating and validating radio programming in coordination with the radio program director and operations director to assist in making programming scheduling decisions.
• Ensures programming airs correctly and sequentially using Wide Orbit Playlist Editor, Adobe Audition and Wide Orbit Automation for Radio.
• Quality check locally produced programming and maintain the digital library of locally produced programming.
• Locate and assign special coverage programming to cover holidays and other special periods when alternate programming is suitable.
• Build and implement automation formats as necessary.
• Serve as an on-air host of WUFT-FM between 12 noon-3 pm Monday through Friday.
• Maintain flexibility to host WUFT-FM programming shifts as needed including Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Special Coverage (nights, weekends and holidays).
• Diagnosis and troubleshooting of any issues related to the ongoing operation of all of the radio stations.
• Oversee the coordination of public television promos/ID’s, etc.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
• A High School diploma and five years of appropriate experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• College degree in a related field
• A minimum of three years of experience in the areas of broadcast programming, production and/or operations
• On air hosting and production experience makes you an even more qualified candidate.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
• In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.
• This position is eligible for veteran’s preference. If you are claiming veteran’s preference, please upload a copy of your DD 214 Member Copy 4 with your application for consideration. See our Veteran’s Preference Page for more specific information.
EXPECTED SALARY:
• $16.76 – $20.35; commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date, September 10, 2021.
For details and to apply, visit https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/517877/tvradio-programming-and-production-coordinator
The College of Journalism and Communications (www.jou.ufl.edu) offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and certificates, both online and on campus. CJC students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Innovation News Center, which generates content across multiple platforms, and The Agency, an integrated strategic communication and consumer research agency focused on marketing to young adults. The College includes seven broadcast and digital media properties, the Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and the nation’s only STEM Translational Communication Center and Center for Public Interest Communications.
The City of Gainesville
Gainesville (http://cityofgainesville.org) is home to Florida’s largest and oldest university, and so is one of the state’s centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida and UF Health Shands Hospital are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Gainesville is also the largest city in Alachua County and is the county seat, with approximately 269,000 residents county-wide. It serves as the cultural, educational and commercial center for the north central Florida region. The city provides a full range of municipal services, including cultural and nature services and necessary administrative services to support these activities. Additionally, the city owns a regional transit system, a regional airport, and a 72-par championship golf course. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural surroundings, Gainesville’s numerous parks, museums and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors. Because of its beautiful landscape and urban “forest,” Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida. The city is in a central location to both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, providing easy access within a day’s drive to beaches, nature preserves, and water-based activities. Explore Gainesville in 60 Seconds.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The College of Journalism and Communications and WUFT/WRUF embraces diversity as a shared responsibility among faculty, staff and students and strives for tangible expressions of this responsibility. We are committed to fostering a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals of all races, genders, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, identities and abilities to express their culture and perspectives through the art and science of journalism and communication.
The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.
Mark your calendars: Nexstar Media Group‘s third quarter earnings release and its quarterly earnings call for analysts and investors has been set.
The owner of NewsNation and the largest collection of over-the-air broadcast TV stations will report its third-quarter 2021 results on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
The results will be released prior to the Opening Bell on Wall Street.
A conference call for analysts and investors is scheduled for 9am Eastern.
NXST was trading at $149.18 as of 12:27pm Eastern on Monday.
To access the conference call, interested parties may dial 334-777-6978, conference ID 8107569.
She has more than 20 years of experience working in public media as a journalist, educator and station leader.
As of today, she’ll put her expertise to work in shaping the future of St. Louis Public Radio as its new CEO.
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Badger State radio personalities dominated the recognition portion of last week’s Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Summer Conference in Sheboygan, Wis.
Selected for the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame were Jack Mitchell and Wayne Larrivee. Mitchell can lay claim to fame by being the first employee of National Public Radio. He became the original producer and newscaster of “All Things Considered” before moving to a lengthy career at Wisconsin Public Radio.
Wayne Larrivee has an extensive background in sports radio, mostly as a play-by-play man. He has been doing Green Bay Packers football games since 1999.
On the Local Broadcast Legends ledger, Karen Dalessandro, Peter Murphy, Bill McCollum and John Moser were cited.
Peter MurphyKaren Dalessandro was a familiar voice in Milwaukee radio at WMIL, WKTI and WKLH along leading on a number of high-profile charitable drives. She was also a two-time winner of the Country Music Association’s Broadcasting Personality of the Year award, 2001 and 2015.
The late Peter Murphy is credited with “hosting the first live radio talk show by telephone in the nation.” He also did a live segment from a Blue Angels jet in 1976. He spent decades at WEAQ in Eau Claire in management and as host of the long-running “The Party Line” talk show.
Bill McCollum and John Moser have dominated Beaver Dam, Wis., radio for almost 100 years, most of it together as a team for “The Morning Show” on WBEV and WXRO. In addition, McCollum was usually the stations’ top-biller in sales while Moser had stints as news director, program director, sales manager and general manager at one time or another. Not surprisingly, both were well-known for their charitable involvement in local and regional causes.
Bill McCollum (right) and John Moser
The post Radio Personalities Shine at WBA Summer Conference appeared first on Radio World.
There’s new activity from a big furniture retailer, and one of the “GAFAN” members is present.
At the same time, the top three Spot Ten TV slots for the week ending August 29 are in the auto insurance category.
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The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report has been released by iHeartMedia, and it shows a lot of returning and continuing brands committing to AM and FM radio spots for the week ending August 29.
The big returnee this week? The Home Depot.
The DIY home improvement retailer is back in the Spot Ten, ranking No. 6.
At No. 7, climbing into the Spot Ten, is Mattress Firm.
Otherwise, Progressive, Indeed, Babbel and GEICO are still active users of spot radio as the month of August comes to a close.
Dear RW:
This is in response to Michelle Bradley’s earlier commentary about digital on the AM band.
Ms. Bradley’s observations were right on the money. The problem is not knowing the end game for the AM revitalization initiative. If Chairman Pai inferred that FM translators are part of a transition or “bridge” rather than permanent, as he told a Kansas Association of Broadcasters gathering in 2016, when do AM broadcasters flash cut to digital and turn their translator licenses in? What is the sunset date for analog AM?
Michi made the point that, “The automotive and radio receiver industries need to make HD Radio standard equipment, not a ‘luxury option,’ like with some manufacturers.” So when is the FCC going to step in and mandate HD Radio in all cars? It’s the only way this will happen.
She indicated that moving a translator 250 miles is only going to harm the opportunity for more, new LPFM stations, and I agree.
Repurposing Lo-VHF for other uses is an idea whose time has come. The majority of TV broadcasters don’t want the band. Existing Channel 6 TV stations can keep their channel or change it, but the FCC should not license any more TV stations on Channel 6, particularly to LDTV, nor give it away free as white space to parasites like Microsoft.
Let AM broadcasters migrate to an expanded FM band, formerly Channel 6, if they don’t want to stay on AM, and forgo their translators and open the channels up to LPFM.
The truth is that the AM revitalization initiative was an Ajit Pai pet project. I don’t think the Democrats are on board with giving more translators to AM broadcasters or in letting these broadcasters keep their translators indefinitely. In fact, the AM revitalization Initiative might look entirely different once Jessica Rosenworcel is made permanent chairwoman and another Democratic commissioner is installed.
That may be a good thing for the future of FM broadcasting.
The author is a retired TV station owner.
Send Letters to the Editor to radioworld@futurenet.com
The post Letter: Translators are a bridge to … what? appeared first on Radio World.
At 1180 kHz, an AM radio station licensed to Humble, Tex., serves the Houston market with a booming Class B signal. During daylight hours, it has 50kw from 2 towers. After dark, it has 3kw from four towers, situated off the Grand Pkwy toll road in the far northern portion of the Houston metropolitan area.
Until recently, it has been a Spanish Adult Hits station under the branding “La Suavecita” and an affiliate of ESPN Deportes Radio. That’s about to change, with a different multicultural group the new target audience.
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Among the many properties owned by Gray Television is WWBT, the NBC affiliate serving Richmond, a former Raycom Media station that was previously owned by Jefferson-Pilot Corp. Today, it uses VHF digital channel 10 for its PSIP of channel 12.
It is a sister station to WUPV-65 in Richmond, an affiliate of The CW Network. It has been in the family since 2006, and is a former Raycom property, too.
Soon, WUPV and WWBT will have an in-market sibling, thanks to Gray’s purchase of a low-power television station serving the Virginia capital city.
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DAYTON, OHIO — For the first time in two years, the Streamline Publishing Radio & TV team is congregating in-person to review what’s on the horizon for our industry brands, including RBR+TVBR, in 2022.
One of our participants brought along a most interesting accessory — a Sangean portable HD Radio that even has the ability to pick up an AM broadcasting in HD Radio. Who knew?
The better question may be “Who cares?”
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Until Friday, the possibility of fighting a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in Florida’s highest court was a very big one for Berkshire Hathaway’s television station offering ABC programming and a heavy dose of local news to South Florida.
Today, not only is the management at WPLG-10 in Miami breathing a sigh of relief, but its hefty legal fees are now poised to be paid for by the Miami Gardens, Fla., pastor that sued the station for $50 million.
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Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has submitted its second quarter 2021 financial results to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
What does the company majority-controlled by Raúl Alarcón Jr. have to report for the three-month period ending June 30?
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The shutdown of FM broadcasting in Switzerland will take place on its original schedule by the end of 2024, not on an accelerated schedule that had been set out more recently.
That’s according to a digital working group run by the country’s radio industry and government regulator.
DigiMig (for “Digital Migration”) announced Thursday that VHF radio licenses will expire Dec. 31, 2024, the originally planned switch-off date that was set in 2014.
DigiMig has estimated that almost three quarters of radio use was digital as of the end of last year, a level of penetration that prompted a plan to advance the shutdown of FM to August of 2022 for the Swiss Broadcasting Corp. (SRG) and to January 2023 for private radio.
But now the group says that, although broadcasters in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland were mostly ready for the earlier schedule, not enough radio broadcasters in French-speaking Switzerland would be prepared.
A later date also gives consumers more time for the changeover, it said. While almost all new cars sold in the country are now DAB+ compatible, it said, there is still a need for retrofitting many older cars to receive digital.
Further, broadcasters will save money with the postponement because stations won’t have to broadcast in both formats for an extended period of time.
The group indicated that by the end of 2024, DAB+ will have a stronger foothold in the market and that digitization of stations will have progressed further.
[Related: “Switzerland Inches Closer to FM Switch-off”]
The website Radio Central reports that in recent months, the FM shutdown has become more of a political issue, and that more voices had called the FM sunset into question.
“In July, media pioneer Roger Schawinski submitted a petition to the federal government with over 60,000 signatures against the shutdown of the VHF transmitters,” Radio Central reported. “After a meeting with Schawinski, the National Council’s Transport and Telecommunications Commission (KVF-N) also called for an in-depth examination of the consequences of not switching off VHF radio stations.”
It quoted Schawinski saying more than a million Swiss cars are unlikely to have DAB reception.
In 2017, Norway became the first country to migrate from FM to digital.
Read Radio World’s free new ebook “Trends in Digital Radio.”
The post Swiss FM Shutdown Reverts to Original 2024 Date appeared first on Radio World.
As Lou Grant, he was one of the more beloved television characters ever seen in prime-time. As a real-life leader, he served as President of the Screen Actors Guild, prior to its merger with AFTRA.
Now, Hollywood and the world are pausing to remember the life and achievements of Ed Asner.
Asner was 91 years old.
“There have been few actors of Ed Asner’s prominence who risked their status to fight for social causes the way Ed did,” said current SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, best known for her role on the original Beverly Hills 90210. “He fought passionately for his fellow actors, both before, during and after his SAG presidency. But his concern did not stop with performers. He fought for victims of poverty, violence, war, and legal and social injustice, both in the United States and around the globe.”
Asner created one of the most memorable roles in television history — the gruff but loveable newsman Lou Grant on two hit television series for CBS: the comedy Mary Tyler Moore from 1970–1977, and the drama Lou Grant from 1977–1982. His five Emmy Awards for that role, plus two additional Emmys, set a record for the most Emmys ever awarded to a male TV actor. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2001, Asner received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Asner was born on Nov. 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Mo., as the son of Orthodox Jews who had emigrated from Russia. He moved to New York in 1955, where he appeared in numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. In 1961, he packed his bags and went to Hollywood, where he worked on the films El Dorado (starring John Wayne) and They Call Me Mister Tibbs (starring Sidney Poitier).
Early TV credits include appearances on “The Fugitive,” “The Mod Squad,” and “Ironside.”
Despite a resume heavy with dramatic roles, in 1970 Asner was cast as Lou Grant. His fierce but funny persona was summed up in the pilot episode, with his perfect comedic reading of the line in which Grant informs Mary, “You got spunk … I hate spunk!”
The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran for seven seasons to high ratings and critical acclaim. When it went off the air, CBS took the unprecedented step of spinning off a drama from a comedy. Lou Grant premiered in 1977, and took the character from a Minneapolis TV station to a Los Angeles newspaper room. Despite the change in tone, Asner made the new format work. The show tackled social issues and earned Asner an additional Emmy for his portrayal, making him the first actor to win an Emmy for a comedy and a drama for the same role.
Asner was elected Screen Actors Guild president in 1981, and was a frequent presence on the picket lines during the joint Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA 1980 TV/Theatrical strike, which affected a multitude of productions, including his own Lou Grant. In September 1981, Asner addressed a crowd of 8,000 trade union members at Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park at a Solidarity Day event, and was elected Screen Actors Guild president six weeks later, winning 52% of the vote.
When CBS canceled Lou Grant, Asner claimed it was in retaliation for his political views.
Just weeks later, the Actors’ Equity Association honored Asner with its Paul Robeson Award, given in recognition of an individual or organization demonstrating “concern for and service to fellow humans, respect for the dignity of the individual, freedom of expression, universal brotherhood and the artist’s responsibility to the profession and greater society.”
In 1983, Screen Actors Guild members showed their approval of Asner by electing him to a second term as president, where he garnered 73% of the national vote.
Asner declined to seek a third term as Guild president, passing the gavel to his successor, Patty Duke, in 1985.
He continued to keep busy as both a performer and a political activist. In fact, he won over a whole new generation of fans by voicing “Carl Fredricksen” in the 2009 Pixar feature “Up.” In 2013, at age 83, he was touring his one-man stage show, “FDR,” portraying President Franklin Roosevelt.
Asner was married twice, to Nancy Sykes and Cindy Gilmore, and had four children: Matthew, Liza, Kate and Charles.
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