Radio World

The author is director of digital for Pattison Media.

At Pattison Media, we operate 48 radio stations across western Canada. Streaming is important to our group

Our programming team actively listens to our streams and promotes the use of smart speakers and mobile apps to our listeners. Our technical teams treat streaming with the same degree of importance as we do with our broadcast signals — if there is a problem, it requires urgent attention. This attention to detail has led to significant growth in our streaming cume and average time spent listening.

For the last 12 months, our radio stations have been using the Modulation Index StreamS encoder to encode our online streams.

We selected the StreamS encoder because of its support for modern audio codecs (HE-AACv2 and xHEAAC), native HTTP Live Streaming support, and metadata injection directly into ID3 tags.

The combination of these features makes it possible to address timing imprecisions that can often plague digital ad insertion. Encoding directly into HLS rather than converting to the format at the server-side has helped us align timing markers by being able to listen to HLS segments as they come out of the encoder and measure metadata offsets to the millisecond level.

[Read More Buyers Guide Reviews Here]

The injection of metadata into ID3 tags allows a consistent granularity of 42 milliseconds, which is a big improvement over traditional ICY metadata that can have significant variations in timing.

We have used the StreamS encoder in markets of all sizes, with some running just a single stream and others running up to six separate streams simultaneously. The configuration within StreamS allows for different settings on different streams and gives technicians the ability to customize encoding values for each stream.

We have also been happy to see the product continue to evolve with support for new codecs such as FLAC and new formats such as fragmented MP4. This evolution is important, as we continue to strive to deliver the best listening experience possible.

We’re happy with the StreamS product. Modulation Index helped support a fast rollout across our group and has been responsive to all of our questions. The encoder has been running reliably and continues to deliver quality audio to our listeners each and every day.

Info: Contact John Schaab at StreamIndex at 1-940-206-7702 or www.streamingindex.com.

Radio World User Reports are testimonial articles intended to help readers understand why a colleague chose a particular product to solve a technical situation.

The post User Report: Modulation Index StreamS Works Pattison Media appeared first on Radio World.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Mix, but we’re sharing it because of the interest among radio people in the topic.

(Photo credit Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com)

A new survey commissioned by Dolby Labs finds that music listening behavior in the U.S. is changing among adults, particularly Gen Z. The study looked at how important audio quality is for the general public, the effect of the pandemic on listening habits, and the impact of Hollywood and social media on music discovery.

The U.S.-based survey, conducted by OnePoll in November 2021, polled 2,000 general population adults who regularly listen to music for at least one hour per day. The survey examined their listening behavior, purchase decisions, and habits formed from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of respondents noted that their music tastes weren’t necessarily typical for their age group. Six in 10 listeners feel like they were born in the wrong era because of their taste in music; this was highest among Gen Z (nearly 80 percent). For most, the era that most closely matches their taste in music was the 2000s.

[See Our Who’s Buying What Page]

Almost half of those polled have recently discovered a song released over a decade ago, which was highest among Gen Z respondents (nearly 70 percent). Similarly, almost half stated they had rediscovered an iconic song or album within the past two years, particularly Gen Z (over two-thirds).

Most respondents — close to 70 percent — are embarrassed to share their music playlists with others, particularly their boss.

Unsurprisingly, social media and Hollywood entertainment heavily influence the discovery of new music; social media is the most significant influence shaping how people discover new music, while movies and TV shows play an equally important role.

A full 57 percent said social media is the top way they discover music; while YouTube is the most popular platform for discovering music, according to 79 percent surveyed, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok significantly influence how people find new songs. Almost a fourth of people who recently discovered a song released over a decade ago attributed this discovery to a viral video on social media. As for Hollywood’s impact, six in 10 have also discovered a new artist or song after watching a TV show or movie.

With the pandemic continuing to alter how people interact and entertain themselves, people in the U.S. are spending more time and money on music. In full, over two-thirds spend more time listening to music each day than before the start of 2020, with over half listening to music four hours per day or more. Meanwhile, 55 percent indicated that they spend more money on music purchases each month, such as streaming subscriptions, than at the start of 2020.

Many are prioritizing audio quality when enjoying music. When choosing a music streaming plan, music fans prioritize quality above all – especially Gen Z. This insight coincides with broader industry trends around the uptick among streaming services that offer subscribers enhanced audio through spatial audio experiences like Dolby Atmos or high resolution (HD) audio.

Among those who pay for a music streaming plan, nearly 90 percent agreed that enhanced audio quality is a “must-have” feature of their subscription, of which more than half strongly agreed. Of this group, 82 percent have upgraded, changed subscriptions, or explicitly paid for a service because it offered better audio quality. Nearly two-thirds who pay for a music streaming subscription indicated that better sound quality was more important than other features such as ad-free listening, exclusive content, or the ability to add multiple users to their account.

More than 70 percent of those surveyed were likely or very likely to purchase a new audio device within the next six months specifically to enhance their experience when listening to music; this stat was 86 percent among Gen Z.

What artists are in high rotation for you these days? Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Music Listening Behavior is Changing appeared first on Radio World.

Nautel announced topics for its next round of webinars.

These are part of the company’s “Transmission Talk Tuesday” series that is live on Tuesdays at noon Eastern time. Jeff Welton hosts.

Putting 1+1 Together airs on Dec. 7 and features Kurt Gorman of Phasetek to discuss multiplexing and some of the challenges and benefits of combining multiple AM signals.

Doing More with Less (Dec. 14)  sees Jeff digging into  Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) implementations and how the different aspects of installation can affect both quality and savings.

 

The post Nautel Webinars Explore Multiplexing, MDCL appeared first on Radio World.

Xperi believes that the radio industry is at an inflection point in how its product is delivered to consumers in the vehicle — or to put it more bluntly, that radio is being outgunned, outmanned and out-financed by Big Tech and other competitors when compared to what broadcast radio offers in the dashboard.

In this special webcast on Dec. 15, co-produced by Radio World and Xperi, we talk with experts about how the connectivity environment is changing and why Xperi believes its DTS AutoStage offering is the most powerful global radio solution to ensure radio’s continued prominence.

Xperi’s Joe D’Angelo, Radio World’s Paul McLane and guest panelists will discuss broad trends in connectivity in vehicles, and the implications of these trends for the media landscape; how forward-looking radio organizations are preparing for the digital future; what’s being done to assure radio’s integration with Android Automotive; the role of services like Quu that improve the listener’s user experience; and the value proposition for DTS AutoStage, which Xperi believes brings powerful benefits to broadcasters and radio listeners to address this pressing question.

Viewers of the webcast will also have access to the new companion e-book that explores these topics in more detail

​Register ​​here.​

The post A Call to Action: Radio’s Existential Battle for the Dash appeared first on Radio World.

Acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel at her Nov. 17 confirmation hearing. (C-SPAN)

Acting Federal Communications Commission chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday (Dec. 1) on a voice vote for a new, five-year term, meaning only a likely swift full-Senate confirmation remains before she becomes the regulator‘s first non-acting woman chair.

The vote was not quite unanimous, with Sen. Ron Johnson (R–Wis.) voting no, as he did on several other nominations being voted as a package. Also considered at the business session was Alvaro Bedoya to be the fifth member of the Federal Trade Commission. The panel split 14–14 on Bedova, but he is still allowed to advance to the full Senate for consideration.

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Committee chair Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.) introduced the vote as on Rosenworcel as commissioner, leading Sen. Jon Tester (D–Mont.) to ask whether that should not have been as chair. Cantwell pointed out that the chair post was a presidential designation, and that she had been so designated — meaning confirmation as “commissioner” was correct.

“We congratulate Chairwoman Rosenworcel on her approval by the Senate Commerce Committee for another term at the FCC,” NCTA—The Internet & Television Association President and CEO Michael Powell said in a statement. “During her time at the commission, Jessica has been a champion for connecting every American to broadband and she has only heightened this focus during her time as acting chair. We encourage the full Senate to swiftly move ahead with her nomination.”

“Charter applauds the Senate Commerce Committee on today’s vote approving the nomination of Chairwoman Rosenworcel for another term at the FCC,” said the cable broadband operator in a statement. “Throughout her tenure at the FCC, Chairwoman Rosenworcel has proven herself a tireless advocate for consumers and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

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As the media and entertainment tech industry reels from the cancellation of another important trade show, a new report from the Bubble Agency concludes that in-person industry events are still a main source of business networking and transactions.

The report, Marketing Media Technology: Revealing what broadcast and media technology buyers want from their suppliers, was researched by Caretta Research in partnership with U.K.-based Bubble Agency — a PR company with a number of video technology vendors as its clients — and is based on the analysis of detailed focus group interviews and survey data gathered from a broad range of industry leaders in the third quarter of 2021.

The report concluded that, despite the cancellation of industry trade shows, in-person events remain the most popular channel for buyers to keep up with industry trends and vendor news, chosen by 83 percent of respondents. But it also noted that as the options of connecting buyers and vendors have increased through social media and email marketing campaigns, the role of trade shows evolved, even prior to the pandemic.

“Trade shows increasingly play a more important role in closing sales than in generating pipeline, with content-based marketing raising awareness long before the convention begins,” the report noted.

The increasing focus on software has driven the shift to SaaS and cloud services, smaller projects, faster buying cycles, and increasingly-informed buyers cherry picking the vendors they want to work with.

The report also found that media still plays a critical role, with trade press magazines and websites serving as important channels of information for 71 percent of sellers and 69 percent of buyers. LinkedIn is the most popular social media platform for the industry, with 98 percent of technology providers and 88 percent of buyers using it for industry research “often” or “sometimes.”

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YouTube is another popular platform for providing information but is underutilized, according to buyers.

“In general, we think YouTube is an underused resource by many marketing teams. Bite-size videos are an effective way to communicate product capabilities, customer case studies and industry know-how,” the report said. “Yet very few industry suppliers have an actively-updated YouTube channel, and almost none have equipped their spokespeople with even the most basic video and audio kit for recording and streaming.”

The report also noted, however, that there appears to be a disconnect between how information is communicated to customers, with 81 percent of sellers thinking their company is good at understanding potential customers’ needs, and only 61 percent of buyers agreeing.

Buyers are also not big on high-level “thought leadership” pieces on general industry problems, which can appear vague, the report noted. “The problem with lots of content is it turns out to be deceptive,” said one buyer. “Very generic words about an industry topic like ST 2110, but not about what that particular supplier can actually do.”

The report confirms what many in the media and entertainment industry have known for years — that even before the pandemic, trade shows were becoming less focused on the all-important once or twice a year product launches and were becoming more important for networking and maintaining personal business relationships.

“This research reveals the fundamental shifts in the broadcast and media technology buying process that we’re tracking,” said Rob Ambrose, co-founder of Caretta Research and the report’s author. “Buyers want honest, transparent marketing communications from potential suppliers so they can clearly understand what vendors can do, and gauge their ability to deliver. In an increasingly-virtual world building trust has never been more important.”

Sadie Groom, Bubble Agency CEO added, “the industry is changing rapidly, and as a result the successful sales and marketing strategies that the leading companies are deploying are changing too,” comments “Modern marketing communications needs to be a two-way process with a clear strategy developed for engaging with customers and prospects and hearing what they want, and it is fascinating to see both the similarities and the differences in emphasis between the two sides of the conversation.”

“This is great insight and aligns with data we have gathered over the last year around how much media technology buyers value trade shows like NAB Show,” said Chris Brown, executive vice president and managing director, Global Connections and Events for NAB Show. “People in our industry have missed the opportunity that shows provide to efficiently get a comprehensive view on major trends — it is tough to get that complete view otherwise. And, as this study also highlights, trade shows provide a unique opportunity for sellers to gather critical insight from their customers in real-time, as well as build trust through direct face-to-face interaction.”

The free report is available here.

A version of this story appeared previously in our sister publication TV Tech. Send your show news and updates to radioworld@futurenet.com

The post Survey: Trade Shows Remain Vital to Broadcast Tech Market appeared first on Radio World.

RF Venue has introduced a free online Performance Calculator for predicting wireless mic system reliability.

The tool simplifies calculating system performance by incorporating needed specifications within the software. Users of the calculator select system components via a handful of drop-down menus — microphone make and series, distance from mic to antenna, cabling type and length, antenna/DISTRO distribution system models and, if known, the RF noise floor of the performance space. The site then tabulates results, which ultimately boil down to a simple traffic light indication of go (green), caution (yellow), or no-go (red).

“Typical RF link budget calculator tools are so comprehensive and detailed that they become nearly impossible to use for the average wireless system operator,” said RF Venue President Chris Regan. “Now, with our new wireless Performance Calculator, there’s a much simpler option. Our customers are thrilled with the calculator’s performance and ease of use.”

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

A visual walk-through of the process is available on the company’s blog, as is the “Create a Link Budget” video for users who want to learn more about the parameters that affect the prediction model.

The Performance Calculator is available for use at rfvenue.com/rfvenue-calculator.

Program producers and studio engineers are both invited to send news about equipment used or recent installations at a radio studio to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post RF Venue Wireless Performance Calculator Debuts Online appeared first on Radio World.

WorldCast Systems announced Version 2.3.0 of its Ecreso 5/10 kW FM transmitter. It said the added features will provide easier maintenance, more control and cost savings.

The transmitter now uses Version 2 of SmartFM, an algorithm that WorldCast says enables broadcasters to reduce their energy consumption by up to 40 percent.

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

“After many tests and deployments worldwide, WorldCast has updated the five saving strategies to adapt to on-field conditions,” the company said. “In particular, SmartFM V2 brings a new ‘Extreme Savings’ strategy for when broadcasters need it most.”

The transmitter also can automate a configuration change or send GPIO commands in case of specific alarms, which the company said is a unique feature. “Complementary to the scheduler features, the automation is part of the Communication Pack license,” it said.

The transmitter also has RDS improvements. “Management of the UTF8 is now available, as are Danish-language characters.” In addition, there is reinforced security from remote FTP via new access restrictions.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Ecreso Offers New Version of Two FM Transmitter Models appeared first on Radio World.

Audio listening habits have shifted over the past five years — sometimes dramatically — according to Edison Research’s most recent “Share of Ear” study, covering the third quarter of 2021.

One interesting finding in the report runs counter to popular perceptions: listening via Pandora and Spotify has stagnated while AM/FM listening and podcast consumption both continue to see steady gains.

The Edison report also revealed that podcast audience listenership has continued to rise. Over past two years, the daily reach of podcast listening among those aged 13 to 34 rose 43 percent with daily reach up 51 percent among those aged 25 to 54.

[Previously in Radio World “Podcast Listeners By the Numbers”]

The other audio platform seeing consistent growth: AM/FM radio streaming. In the most recent “Share of Ear” study, Edison found that AM/FM radio dominates advertiser-/supported audio with a 75 percent share of listening. Podcasts are capturing 11 percent of ad-supported audio time among those aged 18+ while the ad-supported streaming platforms of Pandora and Spotify are at 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

AM/FM radio dominates ad-supported TSL.

The latest “Share of Ear” study found that AM/FM radio leads ad-supported audio across major demographics, regardless of age. AM/FM radio is most popular with those in the 35 to 64 age range with an 80 percent share of ad-supported audio time spent listening to the AM/FM dial, followed by ages 25 to 54 (71 percent), ages 18 to 49 (64 percent) and ages 18 to 34 (55 percent).

Perhaps not surprisingly, most AM/FM radio listening occurs away from home with in-car listening hitting an 88 percent share of listening time. The research also found that Pandora and Spotify listeners primarily use those platforms while at home.

Since Q3 2016, digital streaming of AM/FM stations has nearly doubled.

When it comes to growing audio platforms, both podcasts and AM/FM radio streaming take the lead. The research found that AM/FM streaming is now 15 percent of total AM/FM listening. One of the growth drivers of that boost are smart speakers, with audiences listening to AM/FM radio on smart speakers more than any other ad-supported platform, the report found.

One unique finding, reported by Cumulus Media|Westwood One Audio Active Group President Pierre Bouvard in a recent blog post, is that there is be a significant perception vs. reality problem when it comes to estimating the audience shares of AM/FM radio vs. platforms like Pandora and Spotify.

Perception of TSL to ad-supported streaming services vs. AM/FM radio doesn’t match the reality.

The Audio Active Group quoted a finding from the firm Advertiser Perceptions that asked brand and media agencies in August 2021 to estimate the audience shares of Pandora, Spotify and AM/FM radio. The marketers and media agencies assumed that the share of listeners for Pandora and Spotify were significantly higher than actual levels.

Over the past five years, Pandora and Spotify have seen their ad-supported audience levels erode. In 2016, Pandora was seeing strong listening shares among those aged 13 to 44. Some of that support eroded when Spotify introduced an ad-free subscription service — so much so that Pandora suffered share losses in the 48 percent to 70 percent range among that age group. Meanwhile, Spotify not only saw its reach surpass Pandora but also watched its ad-free subscription service rise 309 percent from the third quarter of 2016 to the same time period in 2021.

[Our Previous “Share of Ear” Report Coverage]

The groups estimated Pandora had a 20 percent share of listening and that Spotify had a 25 percent share of audience. In reality, the audience share of ad-supported Pandora and Spotify is seven times and 12.5 times smaller, respectively.

Media agencies also surmised that the perceived share of AM/FM radio is 28 percent, when in reality AM/FM radio’s actual share is 40 percent, a finding Bouvard called a “massive disconnect” in terms of the perception and reality of audio shares.

Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Latest ‘Share of Ear’ Provides New Audio Listening Insights appeared first on Radio World.

The Radio World Best of 2021 Award has had a final extension until Tuesday Dec. 7.

The awards provide an opportunity for manufacturers to receive exposure for their outstanding products and solutions from the last 15 months.

This final extension is to allow those who were entering the Best of Show at IBC, which has now been cancelled, proper consideration for their entries.

The program website has information about the awards, categories and how to register.

 

The post Best of 2021 Award Deadline Extended to Dec. 7 appeared first on Radio World.

WFWL’s Original Studios in the Former Lockhart Motel Village (left); The Current WRJB–WFWL Facility

After 65 years on air serving Benton County from Camden, Tenn., WFWL(AM) is signing off the air for good on Dec. 1.

Community Broadcasting Services Inc., owner of the station, plans to focus its energies on WFWL sister station, WRJB(FM). “It’s purely a business decision. … It just makes sense for us,” said Dylan Powley, program/music director for the organization and host of the WRJB morning show.

“The studio will be converted into a multimedia space. We plan on being able to offer more in the way of interviews and digital content, as well as hosting musicians for live performances. This ties back into us putting our efforts into 95.9 WRJB,” Powley said.

Station Manager Ron Lane (left) conducts an interview during the station’s annual broadcast from the Benton County Fair, a tradition that started in the 1960s.

He also noted that plans for the station’s towers and transmission equipment, had yet to be finalized. Community Broadcasting is looking to repurpose W259BN, WFWL’s FM translator on 99.7 MHz.

WFWL has been a fixture in Camden since it went on air on September 18, 1956. “It was the only radio station in Camden for 20 years,” said Powley. “It was instrumental in covering news and offering entertainment to every corner of the county.”

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Originally owned by Camden Broadcasting Co., the station was sold to WRJB in the mid-1980s. John Latham, one of the original partners in Camden Broadcasting, had launched the FM station in 1976. With the ownership change, the two stations’ studios were consolidated on Vicksburg Avenue in Camden.

Over the years, the station operations changed, but Powley said WFWL remained a presence on 1200 kHz. “WFWL has maintained a presence, albeit much smaller, in the more recent history, playing modern country and gospel on Saturday mornings,” he said.

“While it’s always sad to see a station like WFWL go off-air, this doesn’t mean that local radio is going anywhere in Camden,” said Powley. “We have made a commitment to get off satellite programming, which is rare in rural radio, at least here. We’ve already been able to build an improved listener base with a new, unique format, and the exit of WFWL will allow for the entrance of a more modern operation that can better service our listening area.”

WRJB WFWL Staff at Their 2019 Holiday Party

Powley noted that WFWL going dark will not affect any of CBS’s four full-time employees and the “handful of part-timers that help out.”

To mark the end of the WFWL era, the station will spend its last day on air celebrating the station’s history. Station Manager Ron Lane, who has worked at the station since he was a high school senior in 1959, told The Camden Chronicle that the station’s last day of programming would include comments from current and former WFWL personalities.

“We have such tremendous memories surrounding this station. It has been a pleasure to be part of it,” Lane told The Chronicle.

Send your station news and updates to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post WFWL Readies for Its Last Day on Air appeared first on Radio World.

Due dates have now been published to comment on the FCC’s proposed rule change regarding directional FM antenna patterns.

We reported earlier that the commission has opened a notice of proposed rulemaking to update its rules for applicants proposing directional antenna facilities for FM and low-power FM stations. The commission wants input on rule revisions allowing an applicant to verify a directional antenna pattern through the use of computer modeling.

The proposal was made in a joint petition by Dielectric, Jampro, Radio Frequency Systems, Shively Labs and Educational Media Foundation.

The NPRM asks specifically for help from “engineers, broadcasters, antenna manufacturers, and other interested parties” to help clarify some issues raised by the proposed rule.

[Read the full NPRM text.]

Now that the NPRM has appeared in the Federal Register, the FCC can set the comment deadlines. So comments are due by Dec. 30, and reply comments by Jan. 14.

Use the FCC online comment system, and type 21-422 in the “Specify Proceeding” field.

Comment on this or any article. Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Comment Deadlines Set for FM Antenna Computer Modeling appeared first on Radio World.

International Sales Team named Anil Bhardwaj as its specialist in transmission, antennas and associated RF components.

IST Sales Force Manager Roland Schaller said Bhardwaj has experience in engineering, sales and law, including a law degree.

Bhardwaj has worked as a sales manager and sales director, with global relationships particularly in South Asia and the Middle East. His background includes stints at Jampro and GatesAir.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

“Anil is particularly known for his work in the RF field working with high-power broadcast transmission systems including the antenna arrays, however he has also successfully delivered numerous turnkey studio, CTI, server, storage, and broadcast automation platforms and systems,” according to the announcement.

International Sales Team is a network of broadcast and media industry sales professionals for hire and deployment.

Send announcements for People News coverage to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Bhardwaj Joins International Sales Team appeared first on Radio World.

The author is founder and CEO of Radio Free Entertainment Network Ltd.

Christavus Dominic at work with StreamGuys’ SaaS tools. (Photo by Thomas Mendenhall)

Radio Free Entertainment Network Ltd. is a broadcast and internet streaming radio network playing the music of renowned and independent artists as well as local talk shows. We are dedicated to empowering our communities to promote educational, civic and cultural development by amplifying the voices of the traditionally underrepresented.

Its origins date to my tenure as general manager of grassroots radio station WMVU(FM), Radio Free Akron. When we decided to start broadcasting WMVU online in 2019, we chose StreamGuys as our streaming service provider at the recommendation of our engineer Blake Thompson.

With our success in streaming WMVU and my desire to bring more community to the world through music, I wanted to expand our efforts into a full-service radio network to help more people get their content out. I approached the principals at WMVU with my idea, and launched RFEN in March 2021 with co-founders Warner Mendenhall and Shuaib Meacham.

RFEN now hosts and aggregates live content from a growing roster of stations beyond the Akron area including Youth Artist Network Radio from Waterloo, Iowa; hip-hop station WJJN(FM) in Dothan, Ala.; and urban gospel station WINW(AM) in Canton, Ohio.

We use a broad range of StreamGuys solutions. In addition to delivering streams over its CDN, we use the SGplayer HTML5-based multimedia player and rely on analytics tools such as SGreports and SGmon to monitor and measure our operations and audience traffic. StreamGuys created an Alexa skill for WMVU to allow the station to be accessed easily on smart speakers.

[Read More Buyers Guide Reviews Here]

We also used StreamGuys partner SoCast to create our website and mobile app, and products such as encoders from StreamGuys partners including Videon and Telos.

While at first we focused on live streaming, we added podcast hosting and distribution at the request of our clients, starting with a podcast series for Ted “The Man with the Golden Voice” Williams. StreamGuys once again made it easy for us to expand our offerings, and we use SGrecast for podcast management and publishing.

In addition to audio, we are starting to use StreamGuys services for video. We are using SGrecast to manage video podcasts and delivering them over StreamGuys’ CDN, and we plan to add live video streaming from our recently renovated studio soon.

I love the reliability, great sound and functionality that we get from StreamGuys’ streaming tools and SGrecast, but the number one thing I like about StreamGuys is its customer service. I can call them at any time, and they treat me like I’m a multimillion-dollar client.

I am not an engineer, so having StreamGuys provide managed services is worth every penny in taking the technical load off me and my team. They’re also proactive in sending out information about industry and technology updates. StreamGuys gives us a platform we can grow on, and is a great partner in helping us achieve our goals.

Info: Contact Jason Osburn at StreamGuys at 1-707-667-9479 or visit www.streamguys.com.

Radio World User Reports are testimonial articles intended to help readers understand why a colleague chose a particular product to solve a technical situation.

The post User Report: StreamGuys Provides Growth Platform for RFEN appeared first on Radio World.

(Photo courtesy Public Knowledge)

In advance of the Senate hearing scheduled for Dec. 1 on the nomination of Gigi Sohn to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) president and CEO Gordon Smith has expressed “serious concerns” about her previous involvement as a director in the streaming service Locast.

After lengthy litigation, the Locast service, which streamed local broadcast signals in more than 30 markets, was forced to shut down in September when a judge in the Southern District of New York ruled it was illegally streaming the signals.

“NAB strongly supports Congress’s desire to have a fully seated Federal Communications Commission as soon as possible,” Gordon said in a statement. “Although NAB does not currently oppose the nomination of Gigi Sohn, we have serious concerns about her involvement as one of three directors of the illegal streaming service Locast.”

[See Our Business and Law Page]

“NAB is confident that these concerns can be resolved,” stated Gordon. “However, the ethics agreement that Ms. Sohn submitted to the Senate currently does not adequately address the inherent conflict presented by her recent leadership position at Locast and her potential role as an FCC commissioner. NAB is actively working with members of the Senate Commerce Committee and the White House to address this conflict and requests that Ms. Sohn submit an amended ethics agreement that meaningfully and effectively addresses this clear and troubling conflict.”

Sohn is one of three leaders at the company, along with one other director and former Dish executive and Locast founder David Goodfriend. Two days after her nomination as commissioner, Sohn entered into a settlement with the plaintiffs in the case that enjoined her from operating Locast in the future or any other service seeking to exploit Congress’s nonprofit exemption to the copyright laws. The company also agreed to pay the broadcaster plaintiffs $32 million as a result of its ongoing illegal activity.

Comment on this or any article. Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post NAB Expresses ‘Serious Concerns’ About Sohn FCC Nomination appeared first on Radio World.

Don’t tell this crowd that there aren’t young people out there who are interested in broadcast technology.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers announced that the Ennes Educational Foundation Trust has awarded five scholarships for 2021.

They are given to individuals interested in continuing or beginning an education in broadcast engineering and technology. Each recipient this year receives $2,500. The choices were announced by SBE President Andrea Cummis.

From left: Ismail Otu, Michael Cassara, Zachary Cameron, Christopher Gamelin and Meredith Frank

The Harold E. Ennes Scholarship recipient is Ismail Otu, CRO, CTO, a graduate of the Broadcasting Production Technology Program at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. SBE said he plans to attend the Cleveland Institute of Electronics and major in broadcast engineering/wireless communication electronics.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

The Robert D. Greenberg Scholarship recipient is Michael Cassara, who is in his sophomore year of studying computer engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.

The John H. Battison SBE Founder’s Scholarship is awarded to Zachary Cameron, who is attending Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., studying telecommunications.

The Gino Ricciardelli Scholarship goes to Christopher Gamelin, who has worked at iHeartMedia and Entercom Communications and now is a maintenance technician with WFSB(TV), where he has worked on remote broadcasts and continues to expand his electronics knowledge.

And the Youth Scholarship goes to Meredith Frank, who will pursue her interest in live TV production at Hofstra University, working on a degree in television production and studies.

The Harold Ennes Scholarship Fund Trust was started by Indianapolis Chapter 25 in 1980 in memory of Harold E. Ennes. Administration was taken over by the national SBE in 1981, and the name of the trust was changed in 1995 to the Harold Ennes Educational Foundation Trust.

Send your people news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post SBE Announces Ennes Scholarship Recipients appeared first on Radio World.

We love great photos of broadcast facilities!

Photo courtesy Jake Wang/Fullwave Tower & Broadcast

Here’s one from the San Francisco market, posted on LinkedIn by Jake Wang. He’s vice president of construction for Fullwave Tower & Broadcast.

“A beautiful day on San Bruno Mountain yesterday!” he wrote. “We installed a new replacement ERI SHP-6 for our friends at KQED(FM). A great antenna that will surely last many years for them.”

Send us your photos of new or interesting facilities, whether it be of an antenna, transmitter, studio or NOC. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post A New Antenna for KQED appeared first on Radio World.

The FCC’s Media Bureau has published the list of mutually exclusive applications submitted in the recent window for new noncom educational FM stations.

The commission received almost 1,300 applications. Out of those, there are 231 MX groups with a total of 883 applications. They are listed here.

Now comes the 60-day period in which MX applicants can reach settlement agreements and file them with the FCC, and/or submit technical amendments to resolve conflicts.

The bureau also dismissed 13 MX applications that had “numerous significant and egregious technical defects.” Each applicant has an opportunity to ask for reconsideration.

It said it will expedite the processing of all complete and rule-compliant settlement agreements and technical amendments that are filed by Jan. 28, 2022. Applicants in MX groups that have not submitted settlements or technical amendments during this period will then proceed to a comparative analysis.

All the procedures are

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From our Who’s Buying What page: North American Tower Company has made a multi-site purchase of the Stellar Eclipse broadcast site monitoring system.

Stellar Eclipse is made by Shulins’ Solutions, which announced the sale.

“With this purchase [North American Tower] will increase their deployment of Stellar Eclipse to over 70 sites across the top 50 markets protecting over 350 of radio and TV stations,” Shulins stated in the press release.

[Related: “Shulins Opens Up His Own Shop”]

“Shared common antenna sites often with complex combining networks demand monitoring and protection beyond a simple remote control. To protect these significant investments, broadcasters need a proactive solution to not only provide next level of monitoring, logging and control, but a comprehensive VSWR system for maximum protection.”

It said North American is deploying a platform and architecture to protect the RF systems for FM and all formats of analog digital TV on VHF and UHF including ATSC 3.0. It also is using cloud-based monitoring of shared systems that Shulins says are often overlooked in an individual station’s remote control.

Shulins’ Solutions also offers drone-based tower inspections and broadcast consulting services.

Users and suppliers are both invited to send news about recent installations and product applications to radioworld@futurenet.com.

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New LABF Board Members Deborah Parenti (left) and Dan Spears

The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) elected two new board members at its recent board meeting: Streamline Publishing President Deborah Parenti and BMI Vice President of Licensing and Industry Relations Dan Spears.

The announcement came from long-time D.C.-based communications attorney and former NAB General Counsel Jack Goodman and Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer Heidi Raphael. Goodman replaced Hubbard Radio CEO Ginny Morris as co-chair of the LABF in mid-2021. Morris had served as chair of the LABF Board of Directors since 2013; she remains on the foundation’s board.

At the meeting, 11 board members were reelected to new three-year terms: Chandra Clark, Ginny Morris, Harry Jessell, Heather Birks, John Taylor, Joyce Tudryn, Larry Patrick, Richard Liebner, Michael Carter, Wally Podrazik and Dennis Wharton. Executive Committee members elected to additional two-year terms were co-chair Heidi Raphael, Jim Morley, Joyce Tudryn, Marci Burdick, Harry Jessell and David Kennedy.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

Other current LABF board members include Mike Conway, Dave “Chachi” Denes, April Carty-Sipp, Gary Chapman, John Dille, Harry Jessell, Erwin Krasnow, Brian Philips, Patricia Smullin, Jeff Smulyan, Julie Talbott, Erica Farber, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Mary Collins and Pierre Bouvard. Kathleen Kirby, a partner at Wiley Rein LLP, serves as LABF’s counsel.

“The LABF Board, and the broadcast industry as a whole, is indebted to Ginny Morris for her service to the Library and its mission of preserving the legacy of broadcasting and archiving its history,” said Raphael and Goodman in a joint statement. “We are delighted Ginny is remaining with LABF as a Board member.”

The foundation also extended its gratitude to Ramsey Woodworth, who transitioned off the board following more than 20 years of service.

The LABF is the philanthropic arm of the Library of American Broadcasting, the largest U.S. collection of broadcast history, policy and tradition, including historical documents, professional papers, oral and video histories, books, scripts and photographs. It is based at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Send your people news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

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