Radio+Television Business Report

With the virulent Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus increasing the concerns of many that major conferences and expos of interest to the broadcast media industry won’t be staged, the Consumer Technology Association has made it clear that CES 2022 is moving forward — with the commitment of more than 1,000 companies to a live and in-person affair right after New Year’s Day 2022.

Among the on-site Keynote Speakers already being touted: The head of General Motors. 

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NASHVILLE — A Programming Operations leader has been chosen to oversee the Tennessee Titans radio coverage, which originates from Cumulus Media‘s hub in Music City USA.

It’s the man who will continue to serve as Program Director for “104.5 The Zone,” the company’s Sports Talk radio station serving Nashville.

That’s Paul Mason, who gets the additional duties at Cumulus/Nashville as the Titans NFL franchise inks a multi-year partnership extension with the company.

With WGFX-FM designated as the official radio home of the Titans, whose stadium faces downtown and Lower Broad, longtime Executive Producer Rhett Bryan remains in his
role with Titans Radio.

Cumulus/Nashville’s on-air content is under the direction of VP/Programming Operations Charlie Cook, the veteran radio industry figure.

Mason joined WGFX in April 2020.

The CBS affiliate serving the Hampton Roads region of Virginia has a new VP/GM.

It reflects a promotion for an individual who, since January 2019, has served as VP/GM of the ABC station serving Waco, Texas, and its E.W. Scripps Co. unaffiliated sibling in Bryan-College Station, Tex.

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TEGNA on Monday presented its second quarter 2021 earnings in a conference call for analysts and investors, during which President/CEO Dave Lougee and CFO Victoria Harker offered commentary on two subjects getting close scrutiny from many industry observers: retransmission consent revenue, and the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, which just concluded.

Retrans and subscription revenue matters for TEGNA. With advertising trends downbeat for broadcast TV over the next five years, did NBC’s Olympic Games fall short not only on audience but also on ad dollars?

This InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, puts a spotlight on those key questions.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Dave Lougee and TEGNA’s Q2 Call” on Spreaker.

Entravision Communications Corporation, now an entity fueled by digital dollars, followed by broadcast television and broadcast radio revenue, respectively, is gearing up for its participation in an investor event set for August 19.

That follows an event held this afternoon with a Boca Raton, Fla.-based financial house.

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One of the nation’s largest broadcast TV station ownership groups has asked the FCC to cancel in its entirety a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture handed to the company for its “apparent violation” of the Commission’s Top Four rule.

BE SURE TO ‘FOLLOW’ RBR+TVBR ON LINKEDIN!

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NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises has moved forward with giving a Latin boost to its Peacock OTT offering and the individual streaming platforms tied to its broadcast and cable TV networks by creating a Hispanic Streaming division.

Who’s leading it? A woman who entered the U.S. market as an Executive Producer for Us Weekly‘s digital offerings in 2009 who joined NBCU in 2012 through its E! operations.

The opportunities. The ROI. What’s stopping your company from connecting with Spanish-speaking consumers through audio channels like yours? Learn more about the Hispanic growth story by attending the 2021 Hispanic Radio Conference, Sept. 22-23 in Miami. Attendance is limited – REGISTER NOW!

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Its merger with Gray Television is on track to close within a matter of weeks. But, that hasn’t stopped Meredith Corporation from signing a new deal for local TV ratings from the nation’s dominant source of audience measurement and consumption data.

A multi-year deal is in place that will keep Nielsen Local TV ratings in place at all Meredith Local Media stations.

The agreement includes a range of audience measurement and analytical services across all of Meredith’s broadcast TV stations, including Nielsen Scarborough. The contracts will be passed on to Gray following the closing of the Meredith Local Media spin-off from the media company dedicated to reaching women through lifestyle brands including People.

“We are pleased to continue our relationship with Nielsen as a trusted business collaborator,” said Doug Lowe, EVP of Meredith Corp.’s Broadcast Group.

Radio imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasting and jingles company Benztown has entered into an agreement with Tracy Johnson Media Group to market and distribute a new streamlined and intuitive audiologging app to U.S. radio stations.

Introducing AudioLogger, which Benztown says speeds the process for stations to repurpose audio for other uses.

AudioLogger was developed by Belgian radio broadcaster Alain Claise and is currently used on over 250 stations worldwide. The app is now available to stations from Benztown.

“With AudioLogger, all station staff can instantly access, manage, and share audio for
any station in the world,” Benztown notes. “Broadcasters can access audio for airchecks. The sales team can send proof of performance audio and live reads to advertisers without filling out a production request. And stations can even convert any audio segment into attention-getting videos to post online with just a couple of clicks.”

Benztown President Dave “Chachi” Denes comments, “AudioLogger transforms station
operations by empowering every member of the staff to do more with their audio content
– whether they’re in production, sales, marketing or digital. The system is fast and easy
to use, and audio is available to edit, export and manage within a couple of seconds of
being broadcast. Plus, it works on any platform and device, including tablets and cell
phones. AudioLogger is a game-changer for stations and Benztown is proud and
excited to partner with Tracy Johnson Media Group to bring this smart and affordable
technology to U.S. radio.”

GatesAir, known for its wireless, over-the-air content delivery products used by radio and TV stations across the U.S., has joined forces with Pearl TV and Howard University to bring NEXTGEN TV service to Washington, D.C.

GatesAir will ship a Maxiva ULXTE-50 UHF transmitter to Howard University’s WHUT-TV in preparation for an October launch, forming the nucleus of the public broadcaster’s new ATSC 3.0 transmission facility. WHUT, the market’s secondary PBS member station, will serve as the host station for the collaborative effort — using the liquid-cooled GatesAir transmitter to carry NEXTGEN TV signals from WHUT and four local commercial broadcast network affiliates.

WHUT brings several compelling advantages as a lighthouse station, including a prime location in the city that will maximize market reach. Howard University’s academic resources and educational initiatives will add value to the cooperative effort taking shape in DC. These include a Media Technology Innovation Learning Lab that, in cooperation with NAB, was formed to drive industry collaboration and develop new NEXTGEN TV services. Working closely with NAB, Howard University is also the only learning institution in the United States to offer a dedicated NEXTGEN TV seminar series, which is an educational platform for next-gen eration engineering talent. This important initiative gives students a chance to be on the ground level of NEXTGEN TV development for the Washington DC service.

Local commercial stations WJLA (ABC), WUSA (CBS), WTTG (FOX) and WRC (NBC) will join WHUT in the delivery of HD programming and standard-definition sub-channels (including the PBS Kids service) from the GatesAir transmitter. The transmitter will also carry new digital and multimedia services supported through the ATSC 3.0 standard.

“WHUT is testing many of the datacasting concepts that come with NEXTGEN TV, and all four commercial stations are sharing innovative ideas,” said Sean Plater, Acting General Manager of WHUT. “WHUT will look to provide internet access to those without broadband internet service, particularly in the Ward 7 and 8 neighborhoods of Washington DC. All five stations are looking at emergency alerts and interactive services that weren’t before possible with local television. A Howard University student is interning with Pearl TV this summer to help develop a new application, and we hope to involve more students in these development processes over time.”

Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle added that the Washington DC model exemplifies the spirit of public and commercial broadcasters working together to advance the future of local television. “The commercial stations recognized the challenges that Howard University would have as a lighthouse station and, along with GatesAir and other partnering technology suppliers, played important roles in funding this project,” she said.

GatesAir is one of many suppliers supporting the initiative. The Maxiva ULXTE-50 transmitter, built at GatesAir’s Quincy, Ill., manufacturing center, will provide interoperability with the encoders, schedulers, and other key technologies within WHUT’s transmission headend. GatesAir will provide installation and commissioning services for its transmitter, which integrates an ATSC 3.0-ready GatesAir Maxiva XTE exciter.

— Brian Galante

CP Communications-owned Red House Streaming has completed upgrades to one of the two studios at its St. Petersburg, Fla.-based professional and network operations center (NOC).

The result is the creation of an enhanced chromakey space.

Known as Studio B, the new area can accommodate a four-person interview set and produce a full 16:9 chromakey shot.

Red House Steaming completed the renovations to Studio B in about three weeks and began using the chromakey set in mid-July.

Originally, Red House Streaming had a small chromakey area in Studio B to accommodate single-person standups. “When we were approached by a client that wanted to produce a pilot for a TV series, we decided we needed something larger,” said Red House Streaming GM Lowell Beckner.

That pilot, for a young adult news series, was the first project produced in the new space. The studio continues to be used for regular programming for other clients. Studio B now features a cyc wall that measures 17 feet across and 12 feet high, as well as soundproofing to accommodate musical acts. Three new Neewer globe lantern softbox diffusers help create even lighting across the set for clean chromakey effects, and additional fixtures are used for lighting talent. Studio B features all LED lighting that is controlled via DMX.

The new chromakey area features four of Red House Streaming’s RHS CamSTREAM PTZ camera units, three on tripods and one mounted high on a vertical truss for wide shots. All four cameras are controlled using a Panasonic AW-RP150 touchscreen remote camera controller in the control room, so there are no camera operators in the studio. The Red House Streaming control room, which is shared by both studios, also features a Yamaha TF1 digital audio mixer, CasparCG graphics, and a vMix production switcher.

The chromakey studio is the first major upgrade for Red House Streaming studios, which launched its first production in January 2021. The facility already has several regular clients using its production studios as well as its NOC for content management and delivery. Red House Streaming also offers mobile production and streaming packages.

— Brian Galante

WideOrbit, known for its widely used broadcast TV and radio inventory and revenue workflow management products, has brought to market the latest release of its flagship ad sales and commercial operations platform.

Providing a foundation from which 90+% of US local TV and 50+% of US radio broadcasters manage, execute, and scale ad sales, the WO Traffic v21.0 release includes new features and enhancements to help stations and station groups generate new revenue, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

WideOrbit says the newest release of WO Traffic “marks a significant milestone in the industry” with the introduction of the Electronic Material Instructions module, an automated tool designed to address the need to simplify and streamline the material instructions process.

The Electronic Material Instructions licensed module integrates with several leading material instructions providers, including ECN, PremiumMedia360, ITN Networks, and SpotGenie. More integrations are coming soon, including Warren Lamb and vCreative. These integrations simplify the exchange of new and revised material instructions, helping broadcasters reduce errors (and costly makegoods) while increasing staff productivity.

WO Traffic v21.0 also introduces additional enhancements to improve efficiency, including easier, more intuitive log editing functionality; a new, customizable Inventory Analysis Report; improved New Orders navigation with easier property location and selection, and more.

“WideOrbit has always been committed to continuous innovation and investment in our core products and we’re proud to continue that tradition,” says Will Offeman, WideOrbit Chief Product Officer. “Our 21.0 release of WO Traffic includes the Electronic Material Instructions module, a significant step forward in automation for what was previously a highly manual process, and just one of several new features designed to help our broadcast TV and radio customers maximize revenue, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.”

Software-defined network and cloud platform Masergy’s private network and cloud platform is now playing a key role in enabling Azzurro HD’s AzzurroCam to deliver high-quality broadcast signals required for live, on-air interviews created outside of a professional studio.

Thanks to Masergy, AzzurroCam systems in the field can transmit high-definition signals backed by industry-leading service level agreements, including 100% in-sequence packet delivery and less than 1 millisecond of jitter.

“Masergy gives us the lowest possible latency you can get on the market today, and that’s one of the biggest reasons clients rely on us,” said Azzurro HD CEO Francis Luperella, explaining the criticality of service uptime. “There is very minimal delay, so you can have a long, live TV conversation in high definition. Our business is not about streaming TV shows and it’s not about video conferencing at its best. This is live, real-time TV broadcasting for big-name networks.”

In 2020, TV viewers everywhere got a glimpse into the challenges of remote broadcasting as TV networks were forced to produce shows directly from their homes. Pictures were fuzzy, and split-screen conversations were not always in sync—an experience all too familiar for those using video conferencing tools with home internet services. When it comes to high-profile, national broadcast, dips in service quality are not tolerated. AzzurroCam, released by Azzurro HD more than 10 years ago, is a self-contained camera system providing TV networks with studio-quality broadcast capabilities from anywhere.

Azzurro can monitor and manage the network service via Masergy’s online management portal. AI-powered applications in the portal provide recommendations and predictions to thwart any performance degradations. The portal also allows Azzurro to control bandwidth in an instant. Meanwhile, Masergy provides overall management of Azzurro’s solution from the network to security, including threat monitoring and response services.

“Masergy has been a part of our company since inception, and we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with all-in-one turnkey service,” said John Bonaccorso, Vice President of Operations at Azzurro HD. Now that Azzurro is forging the future using ultra-high-definition broadcast, also known as 4K, Masergy can deliver the additional required bandwidth.

Bonaccorso commented, “We’re building camera systems that can deliver broadcast-quality 4K video directly from a home studio, so the ability to segregate network traffic on a different tier is key. When we need more throughput and bandwidth, we simply turn it up. The Masergy network is highly responsive.”

When Azzurro is supporting high-profile events, Masergy flags corresponding circuits, delaying any scheduled routine maintenance and automatically escalating issues if they arise.  Luperella said, “That’s the kind of attention you can’t find with big carriers and the reason our events air flawlessly. We will always aim to deliver the most pristine broadcasting service possible, and Masergy is our partner in making that a reality.”

State broadcast associations representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have formally written to leadership in the U.S. Senate urging passage of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

Will they be ignored, given the lack of support for the bill?

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Add yet another twist to the ongoing saga involving FM radio stations formerly owned by Ed Stolz and his Royce International Broadcasting.

The FCC has issued a pair of Notice of Violation warnings to Stolz’s Palm Springs, Calif., operation for problems tied to two FM translators in the market he owns.

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How have investors reacted to Audacy‘s EPS miss in the second quarter of 2021?

They weren’t kind. In heavy trading on Monday, the company formerly known as Entercom saw its stock value plummet by 11% from Friday’s closing price.

Yet, the drop in price only continues a trend that began in mid-March. Since then, Audacy shares have shed 51.4% of their value.

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A veteran journalist who joined CBS News in 2019 as Managing Editor of its weekday offering CBS This Morning has been selected to serve as the Sr. VP of Standards and Practices for ViacomCBS’s CBS News and Stations Group.

It’s a new role, in which she will help determine CBS News’ editorial standards “and ensure they are being maintained” across the news department, the over-the-air TV stations, and digital platforms.

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Since Friday’s Opening Bell on Wall Street, iHeartMedia shares are down nearly 20% in value.

Why? A diverse array of analysts’ estimates and stock target prices could be a reason for the volatility.

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Five years ago, ad buyers weren’t too impressed with radio’s digital prowess. Today, Gordon Borrell of Borrell Associates has a wholly different story to share.

“Today, radio sales reps are as apt to be considered as digitally savvy as any other.”

In fact, Borrell declares, Radio has gotten its “Digital Mojo.”

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It may have a fresh retransmission consent battle on its hands with Sinclair Broadcast Group. But, that’s nary a worry for DISH investors.

The direct broadcast satellite company making significant inroads in the cellular services and 5G world beat Q2 2021 earnings per share estimates by some 17 cents. DISH also beat Wall Street predictions on Q2 revenue.

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