Industry News

On December 13, Sirius XM Holdings successfully launched its SXM-7 satellite. In-orbit testing of the satellite began on January 4, 2021.

Something went wrong. Now, Sirius XM is assuring consumers and investors that it “does not expect” its satellite radio service to be impacted by “adverse SXM-7 events.”

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

From Podcast Business Journal

The media company that owns such stations as WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C., and WTSP-10 in Tampa has acquired a podcast network focused on sports.

TEGNA has acquired Locked On Podcast Network, which produces daily shows for every team across the four major professional sports leagues, as well as more than 30 college sports programs.

TEGNA, formerly known as Gannett, already owns VAULT Studios, which produces podcasts.

“Local communities are at the heart of what we do, and nothing brings communities together like local sports,” said TEGNA President/CEO Dave Lougee. “That’s why we’re very pleased to welcome Locked On to TEGNA. We look forward to growing the Locked On network through collaboration with our local stations, including the potential for video simulcasts of shows, and further increasing distribution, engagement and monetization of these fan favorite podcasts.”

Locked On CEO David Locke added, “With local stations in many of America’s largest professional and college sports markets, joining the TEGNA family was a natural fit as we seek to grow our audience and expand our offerings. We’re excited to begin our next phase as we work with TEGNA on new innovations that will enhance our value with our loyal listeners and help us reach new sports fans across the country.”

Founded in 2016, Locked On produces 160 podcasts, providing in-depth coverage of every NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL team plus major college sports teams. Locked On publishes more than 600 podcast episodes each week, generating eight million listens a month. Its podcasts were downloaded more than 80 million times in 2020.

Locked On also produces industry-leading, league-wide daily podcasts for fantasy sports, sports betting, the NFL Draft and national shows featuring industry-renowned writers, reporters and insiders. Big 5 college conference experts deliver daily podcasts for college basketball and football fans for each major conference.

Locked On will continue to operate as a standalone business within TEGNA. Locke, who is also the radio voice of the Utah Jazz, COO Carl Weinstein and Locked On’s staff will join TEGNA as part of the transaction. It is expected that current contributors will continue to provide content to Locked On.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. TEGNA will finance the acquisition through available cash on hand, and the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on TEGNA’s 2021 financials or leverage.

Fig. 1: WJMC Studio with temporary antenna

Mike Murrey hired on as engineer at WJMC(AM/FM) and WAQE(AM/FM) in Rice Lake, Wis., back in 1998. He took one look at the 459-foot tower serving WJMC on 1240 kHz and knew it would need to be replaced someday.

Well, that someday came in late 2019 when a crew refused to climb the 63-year-old structure. That started a chain of events to replace the tower.

Heavy and consistent rains made site preparation exceedingly difficult. Temporary roads were built with rock and gravel so concrete could be poured at the new tower base and guy anchor points. The original concrete could not be used because towers are now “engineered” so they can be insured by insurance companies.

It was beginning to look like the project would extend into 2020 when the tower crew announced they were starting “right NOW” to take the old tower down. Rather than disassemble the old tower a section at a time, they elected to cut a guy anchor and let ’er fall. (Watch the video.) People were evacuated from the studio/transmitter building and a nearby business for the tower to come down. Besides, who would want to be inside working while a spectacle was going on outside?

Hurry

It had been assumed that there would be more than enough time to put up a temporary AM transmit antenna, but now there was a scramble to make it happen.

Mike’s original plan was to have two utility poles put up to support a long-wire antenna. My experience with horizontal wire antennas is that they make good “cloud burners,” as we say in the amateur radio hobby — RF radiation tends to go up rather than out to the horizon. I found that to be the case when helping another station. The coverage with a quarter-wavelength wire, from the tower base to a tree, went only a few miles. Ouch!

Details

A better choice was to erect the tallest possible temporary vertical antenna.

The local power company installed a used 40-foot utility pole with 35 feet sticking out of the ground as shown in the image at the beginning of this article.

Topping that was 40 feet of pipe bolted to the pole. A wooden dowel was inserted inside the bottom pipe section to keep it from crushing when mounting bolts were tightened down. There was a fair amount of pole to pipe overlap. The top turned out to be only 68.5 feet above the ground.

The pole consisted of four 10-foot sections of iron plumbing pipe, reducing from the bottom 1-1/4 inch to 1/2 inch at the top. To help with antenna efficiency, Mike constructed a “top hat” of three 10-foot wires, at the top, attached to nylon guy lines. These wires were bare #10 soft-drawn copper. It was the same wire that is normally used in AM ground systems. They helped make the electrical height of the antenna a bit taller. A #6 stranded copper wire ran down the wooden pole from the metal pipe at the top. The wire was connected to a used/temporary antenna coupling network at the bottom. Four 200-foot copper radials were run out from the base on top of the ground. Some half-length radials were also run bercause there was extra wire available on the supply reel. Might as well use it.

Things didn’t go exactly as hoped (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: Raising the temporary antenna

Mike attached the pipe to the top hat while the utility pole was being put into the ground. Then the pipe bent over at almost 90 degrees while being raised into position. That required two boom trucks to help straighten the pole so it could be guyed. You will see it was still a bit bent in the photo.

After Dark

Contract engineer Del Dayton out of Eau Claire, Wis., was called in to measure the antenna impedance at night (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: Del Dayton tuning the temporary antenna coupling network

He came up with 38 –J180, then calculated a design. Components were then installed and adjusted in a temporary antenna coupling network. It was convenient that the original 50-ohm transmission line could be pulled over and connected to the coupling network.

The downside is that the temporary antenna could not be constructed 100 feet away from the studio and original tower as originally planned. Instead it was located just off the parking lot some 10 feet or so from the studio. This is because trucks could not drive over the water-saturated ground.

The location presented its own challenges. Even though employees were kept RF-safe from the tower, RF got into unshielded cables leading to the fax and credit card processing machines. Mike relocated those to another part of the building.

Mike is a U.S. Air Force veteran and was laughed at by his U.S. Navy veteran brother. It seems Air Force guys don’t know how to tie knots in rope on guy lines. It takes a sailor to do it right!

He asked for and received special temporary authority from the FCC to cover the situation. He chose to run 250 watts, instead of the licensed 1000 watts, to keep RF at bay.

A Delay

Construction of the new 459-foot tower began, but soon the tower crew pulled off the job for three days to work at a TV station that was off the air. The foreman felt justified in doing that because WJMC was indeed “on the air.” The station manager and employees were happy because they still had listeners instead of being off for weeks.

How well did it work?

The station had usable coverage. This intrepid reporter measured field intensity at 14 random points in the listening area using a GPS to document each location (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4: The author taking field intensity measurements

That allowed me to figure distance to measurement locations and plot them on a curve. This was a “Mark’s Two-Hour AM Micro-Proof,” as described in an article I wrote for Radio World in 2003 (read it at www.mwpersons.com/articles/6-4-03-RW-article.html).

The data revealed that the field intensity was 33 mV/m at a kilometer with only 250 watts of transmitter power. It was certainly better than nothing! There was about 10 mV/m in downtown Rice Lake and about 12 mV/m in residential areas. The population of this small Wisconsin town is 8,338 people. The half mV/m contour went out about 10 miles in their low ground conductivity of only 4.

The meter I used was a Potomac Instruments FIM-41. The FIM-21 and the PI 4100 are similar instruments that are commonly used for measuring monitor points on AM directional antenna systems. They are good tools for determining antenna efficiency, as you see in this article.

Before and After

I did the previous antenna resistance measurements back in 1993. It was 108 ohms with –247 ohms reactance for an antenna current of 3.04 amperes with 1000 watts input. Del Dayton measured the new tower as 43 ohms, –125 ohms reactance, for 4.83 amperes at 1000 watts. The details are in Fig. 5 below, which you can click to see enlarged. Yes, the two towers were the same height.

Fig. 5: Schematic diagram of the WJMC antenna system. Click to enlarge.

A lot of factors can change the characteristic impedance including tower width, antennas on the tower, isocouplers, lighting chokes, capacitance to the tower from the guy lines and lead-in to the antenna coupling network.

I now believe the old tower had a bad electrical connection between tower sections near the top. Yes, this can happen as towers rust. Sections can become electrically disconnected, even with tons of downward pressure. Hard to believe, but it is true. That is why at least one leg needs to be welded at joints. Learn more on an article I wrote in Radio World in 2012, “Better Living Through Tower Welding” (www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/better-living-through-tower-welding). Mike had the crew weld two tower legs because it was convenient for the welder when doing the work.

In Fig. 6, Mike Murrey shows off the completed project with new isocouplers and a rebuilt AM antenna coupling unit. The new tower has FM translators for their two AM stations and a backup antenna for their three full-power FMs.

Fig. 6: Mike Murrey and the completed project

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

Mark Persons, WØMH, is a Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer and recent recipient of the SBE John H. Battison Award for Lifetime Achievement. His website is www.mwpersons.com.

The post Quick, We Need a Temporary AM Antenna appeared first on Radio World.

If you weren’t yet convinced that the confluence of pro sports and gambling wasn’t just more than a fad, Sinclair Broadcast Group has perhaps just made a move that will change that for good.

The company led by CEO Chris Ripley has shed all vestiges of FOX Sports branding from its recently acquired regional sports networks (RSNs) by moving forward with the release of logos reflecting their previously announced rebranding.

Bally Sports regional logos will replace the existing FOX Sports regional logos when the networks officially rebrand in the coming months.

For Sinclair President of Local Sports Steve Rosenberg, the formal unveiling of the Bally Sports logo — along with its regional variants — “signifies a new, transformative chapter in the regional sports business and is representative of our cohesive partnership with Bally’s. The upcoming rebrand across our RSN footprint is incredibly exciting, not only for our entire portfolio, but for loyal sports fans across the country.”

Created in concert with Interbrand, Bally’s marketing consultancy group, the logo features the iconic red Bally script atop a red “sports” typography.

As part of the rebrand, two RSNs will transition to new geographic monikers when
Prime Ticket becomes Bally Sports SoCal. At the same time, Sports Time Ohio (STO) becomes Bally Sports Great Lakes.

The moves, says Sinclair, come in an effort “to further align the regions with their true
geographical roots and the new Bally’s partnership.”

The Prime Ticket name has disappeared once before, only to come back by popular demand from local sports fans. STO has a long heritage in the Buckeye State.

Meanwhile, two limited part-time channels – FOX Sports Carolinas and FOX Sports Tennessee – will be “sunset.” All live games and original programming – namely Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes content – will shift to FOX Sports South under the new name Bally Sports South and FOX Sports Southeast, which becomes Bally Sports Southeast, respectively.

Upon rebranding, the Sinclair-owned and operated RSN portfolio will include the following 19 network brands: Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally
Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports
Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports
Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports
Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West, and Bally
Sports Wisconsin.

Bally’s and Sinclair in November struck a long-term strategic partnership that would
combine Bally’s sports betting technology with Sinclair’s market footprint, which includes not only 188 local broadcast stations but also the Tennis Channel.

The Bally’s brand is known primarily for its casinos, online sports betting and iGaming solutions.

The partnership also marked “a major milestone” for Sinclair, it says, “setting the stage for further gamification of live sports that will provide audiences a first-of-its-kind interactive viewing experience.”

A Class A FM serving Cape Cod and the famed town of Provincetown, Mass., is changing hands.

It marks a new era for a station offering rock ‘n’ roll favorites along the Dunes.

And, there’s a restaurant getting some ad time as part of the deal’s terms.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

She was what Nexstar Media Group founder and Chairman/CEO Perry Sook calls “an integral member of HBO’s executive team,” with leadership expertise in marketing strategy, audience development and multi-platform content distribution that helped HBO scale its business into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

Now she’s set to join Nexstar’s Board of Directors.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

iHeartMedia has created the position of senior vice president of diversity and inclusion and named Yesenia Bello to the post.

Her job is to help the company “to drive comprehensive long-term and measurable diversity and inclusion strategies” and develop and meet specific diversity and inclusion goals. She’ll report to Michele Laven, chief human resources officer and chief diversity officer.

The job touches on both internal and external relationships. For instance among her tasks is to help identify existing “high-potential talent” and promote internal mobility; but also to work on diversity initiatives with business partners.

She joined the company in 2019 as senior vice president of multicultural sales. She also has worked at Telemundo Network, Hulu’s Latino division and Google. Bello came to the United States from the Dominican Republic at age of 11.

 

The post iHeart Creates New D&I Post appeared first on Radio World.

Four stations operated by Gray Television via a shared services agreement with their licensee now have new measurement services pacts with Nielsen.

But, Gray had nothing to do with the contracts, as the stations’ owner is responsible for inking such deals.

The agreement was signed between Nielsen and American Spirit. It includes a new contract for Local TV measurement and Nielsen Ad Intel for FOX affiliate WDBD-40 in Jackson, Miss., and a renewal for Local TV measurement and Nielsen Ad Intel for FOX affiliate WSFX-26 in Wilmington, N.C.

In addition, dual FOX/ABC affiliate KVHP-29 in Lake Charles, La., recovering from strong 2020 hurricane damage to the city; and FOX affiliate WXTX-54 Columbus Ga., have signed new agreements for Nielsen Ad Intel.

Nielsen Ad Intel is a provider of competitive advertising intelligence information, tracking ad activity and spending across all local markets.

American Spirit Media, based in Charlotte, was founded in 2003 by Thomas B. Henson as Ottumwa Media Holdings.

 

She joined iHeartMedia in October 2019 as SVP of Multicultural Sales, responsible for developing sales opportunities with key advertisers and their agencies across the company’s broadcast stations, digital, podcast, events and its Premiere Networks arm.

Now, this former Google U.S. Multicultural Sales Lead, with experience at Hulu following a nearly eight-year run in sales at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, is iHeart’s D&I leader.

Yesenia Bello has been selected to serve as iHeartMedia’s first SVP of Diversity and Inclusion. She reports to Chief HR Offier and Chief Diversity Officer Michele Laven, who Bello will work closely with “to drive comprehensive long-term and measurable diversity and inclusion strategies across iHeartMedia.”

Bello will also be charged with the development and implementation of specific Diversity and Inclusion goals and solutions for employee, community, client and agency engagement that drive inclusive behaviors and business practices.

Further, iHeart says Bello will spearhead the development and implementation of inclusion strategies for iHeart that focus on employee retention and development, including identifying and showcasing existing high potential talent across iHeartMedia and promoting internal mobility; collaborating on ongoing Diversity and Inclusion training and education for employees and leadership; and attracting dynamic, diverse and multi-generational talent across the company’s spectrum of audio brands and platforms.

There’s more: Bello will be tasked with creating opportunities to engage and collaborate with iHeartMedia’s advertising and business partners on Diversity and Inclusion initiatives; supporting the advertising sales and marketing teams on Diversity and Inclusion client and agency conversations; working closely with iHeartMedia’s sales and marketing teams on sales and marketing materials; and partnering on Diversity and Inclusion events and projects supporting various iHeartMedia businesses across the country.

“At iHeart, we know that supporting our company’s diverse voices while continuing to bring in new ones is essential to our company’s success,” Laven said. “Throughout her career, Yesenia has made it a priority to understand the needs and goals of multicultural communities. This, combined with her deep knowledge of our company, makes her the right person to take on this newly created role.”

Bello added that she was excited to move into “this critical new role” at iHeart. “I’ve seen iHeart’s commitment to diversity and inclusion up close since joining the company in 2019, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our entire company on new, exciting initiatives to continue to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion at iHeart.”

Bello immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 11. Upon graduating from CUNY-Staten Island in 2003, she traveled to Rome for a study abroad program. When she returned, she joined Telemundo as a sales assistant working on the network level and for Mun2, now Universo. She’d rise to a sales planner and eventually to a sales associate.

In December 2011, Bello departed to become Hulu’s Multicultural NSM, a role she’d hold for nearly five years.

In August 2016, Bello joined Google to lead multicultural sales, exiting in October 2019 for her most recent role at iHeart, in New York.

The Center for Sales Strategy (CSS), a sales performance company, has released its 2020 Media Sales Report, an annual review of data from two surveys conducted in the final three months of last year.

The report studies the media landscape over the past year, including the expectations for sales managers and the strategies employed by media sales professionals to assess their impact across five key topics: Sales Department Structure, Training and Development, Setting Appointments and Sales Process, Sales Enablement, Culture and Industry Outlook, and the effects of COVID-19 on the Media Sales landscape.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)