Industry News

The Digital Radio Tick Mark scheme has its first formal participant.

The DAB+ products provider Frontier Smart Technologies has become the first company to pass Digital Radio UK’s recently upgraded provider technology testing program known as the Digital Radio Tick Mark scheme.

The tick mark scheme, overseen by DTG Testing, lets consumers know which devices have been tested and approved to meet the U.K. government agreed-upon specification for digital radios. These devices are able to receive FM, DAB and DAB+ stations and are supported by many digital radio manufacturers and retailers.

[Read: SmartRadio Logo Aims to Help Europeans Make Sense of New Platforms]

The scheme was first introduced in 2014 and was designed to give technology providers the ability to self-certify that their technology met Digital Radio Tick Mark standards. The new updated testing regime requires that DAB+ receiver core technology be certified by an independent third-party testing house using a single set of independently created test files. This is designed to bring a new level of robustness to the Tick Mark approval process.

This new testing program was launched in July 2020 and is being coordinated by the third-party testing lab DTG Testing. Frontier Smart Technologies passed the updated tests with its Siena DAB+ module, which the company said powers more than 3.5 million radios in the market.

“The new Digital Tick technology testing regime is good news for digital radio manufacturers and listeners who can select their technology and radios with confidence when they see the Digital Tick Mark,” said Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK.

DTG Testing has licensed and made Fraunhofer DAB ETI files available for brands and manufacturers developing radios. These are a complete set of files with an accompanying test procedure that enables DAB radios to be tested against ETSI TS 103 461, which is the technical spec necessary to obtain the Digital Radio Tick Mark.

More information on the program can be found can be found here.

The post Consumer Audio Firm Gets Digital Radio Accreditation Green Light appeared first on Radio World.

The IEEE Broadcast Technology Society is taking its 2020 symposium in a new direction with a new moniker.

Instead of hosting its traditional annual in-person IEEE Broadcast Symposium, the new BTS Pulse event will be a three-day virtual event held from Oct. 6–8 that will focus on the timely issue of broadcast disaster preparedness as well as 5G broadcasting and ATSC 3.0.

Radio is a very relevant instrument for disaster preparedness, said Samina Husain, BTS secretary and Pulse event co-chair, and so a session on the final day will explore the ins and out of broadcast disaster preparedness. The session will be chaired by Guy Bouchard, director of transmission systems at Télé-Québec, and will touch on lessons that have been learned during the current pandemic and explore how to design disaster-resilient infrastructure.

“Our priority is to ensure we have an established platform, enabling continuity to fulfill our integral role in industry of information sharing,” Husain said of the Pulse event. Since IEEE BTS was unable to host its annual Broadcast Symposium in-person due to the current pandemic environment, an event such as Pulse serves as an essential means of answering vital questions and discussing issues relevant to a global industry audience, she said.

The first session of the three-day event will be chaired by broadcast industry advisor Peter Siebert who will look at the role that 5G will play in the future of DTT broadcast. The second session, which will be chaired by ATSC President Madeleine Noland, will review the status of next-generation ATSC 3.0 rollout.

Similar to the IEEE Broadcast Symposium, this virtual event will provide attendees the opportunity to earn multiple continuing education credits or professional development hours.

“The sessions will include essential topics and innovation discussions as well as best practices and insights for both leaders and practitioners,” Husain said.

Registration details are available can be found on the BTS Pulse event website.

IEEE BTS Pulse Virtual Event Information

When: October 6–8

Time: 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. ET each day

Schedule:

Day 1 — 5G & Broadcasting: Session Chair Peter Siebert, broadcast industry advisor

Day 2 — ATSC 3.0 Implementation & Roll Out: Session Chair Madeleine Noland, ATSC president

Day 3 — Broadcast Disaster Preparedness: Session Chair Guy Bouchard, director of transmission systems at Tele-Quebec

The post New IEEE Event to Take Pulse of Industry appeared first on Radio World.

The Best of Show Awards digital supplement is now available to read and download. The ebook showcases all of the entries from this year’s awards program that took place around the virtual IBC Showcase.

The awards recognize products and technologies that broadcast providers launched and demonstrated around the show. They are supported by four of Future’s leading media technology brands: TVBEurope, Pro Sound News, Radio World and TV Technology.

[Related: Radio World Announces Fall Best of Show Recipients]

“We’ve had a terrific turnout considering the virtual nature of the current trade show environment, which is fantastic because it’s important that product development and innovation continues to receive the visibility it deserves despite the lack of physical events,” said Future B2B Group Content Director James McKeown.

“Every year the level of entries goes up a gear and 2020 is no exception. The quality and agility of the tech and solutions on show this year is testament to the work being done by product and R&D teams throughout this community, and our sincere congratulations go to the winners and all of those nominated for an award.”

The post Best of Show Awards Program Guide Now Available appeared first on Radio World.

What, exactly, was “first” about KDKA’s broadcast on Nov. 2, 1920?

As history articles in Radio World demonstrate, there really was no single “first day” of “radio.” Various dates and organizations could lay claim to some or all of the honor depending on how one defines it. 

[Related: “They Set the Stage for the Birth of Radio”]

Radio history fans are well aware of this, but many others are not.

In celebrating the upcoming KDKA anniversary, most people are likely to say something like “Radio started in November 1920.” I wasn’t happy with this simplification, so I turned to two of RW’s favorite radio history writers, John Schneider and James O’Neal.

John is a lifelong radio history researcher and a longtime Radio World contributor. He held technology positions with Broadcast Electronics and iBiquity Digital.

James is former technology editor of TV Technology and a frequent Radio World contributor. He worked for more than 30 years on the television side of the Voice of America.

I asked John and James how they would complete the following statement: “The radio industry celebrates Nov. 2, 1920, as its birth date, because until then no one had … what?”

Below is their exchange, which I share for your enjoyment as well as my own edification.

John Schneider writes:

In my mind, Nov. 2 doesn’t clearly signify a “first” of anything. There are a number of milestone events that marked the beginnings of broadcasting, but they each can be credited to different stations. No one pioneer can clearly claim the right to being first on all counts:

-Who made the first broadcast? Reginald Fessenden or Lee de Forest

-Who first broadcast on a regular schedule? Charles “Doc” Herrold

-Who received the first broadcasting license? WBZ

-Who established the first professional station? WWJ and KDKA

-Who has broadcast continuously for the longest time without interruption? WWJ and KNX

-Who was broadcasting to a consumer audience? Impossible to determine, seeing as the development of the non-amateur audience was a gradual process.

People have been arguing this issue without a resolution for nearly 100 years, so we aren’t going to resolve it with one story or statement.

After struggling with this question for much of my life, I have finally come to the conclusion that they were ALL pioneers, each contributing a piece of the story but with no one clearly standing head and shoulders above the rest. It’s not appropriate to give the recognition to just one while discounting all of the rest.

In my mind, Nov. 2, 1920 is important because it marks the debut of the most important and well-publicized of all of the pioneer stations, and as such it is the date the broadcast industry generally recognizes as its formal beginning.

Going beyond that will just drag you down into the age-old argument, and you will receive dozens of complaint letters, each person arguing for their personal favorite.

On the other hand, if you want to stimulate conversation and generate letters to the editor, why not ask the question of your readers: Who do you think was first?

James O’Neal responded:

I would certainly agree with John on all points.

It’s indeed a fool’s paradise to think that claims to priority in just about every endeavor of any consequence can ever be adjudicated to everyone’s satisfaction. I certainly considered this and have said as much in one of my stories.

I also singled out several other close contenders (including Marconi’s MZX in Chelmsford, U.K., which, while significant, doesn’t get a lot of mention) to try to illustrate the futility of establishing a really clear-cut winner for this position in the history books.

I have pointed out that KDKA seemed to possess a number of qualifications not held by others, including operation on a license/frequency for commercial broadcasting, operating (from Nov. 2) on a regular and continuous basis, emitting programming directed to the general public, and publicly advertising to offering of programming in advance of the Nov. 2 airdate.

While I realize that this does not really answer your question, I think it’s important background to consider in framing some sort of unified phrase to describe what KDKA accomplished on Nov. 2, 1920.

Possibly the best compromise would be something like:

“Nov. 2, 1920 is recognized as a significant date in radio’s history and evolution, as most historians agree that it marks the beginning of regular and continuing entertainment and news broadcasts directed exclusively to the general public. Pittsburgh’s KDKA, which has now been operating continuously for 100 years, is recognized for launching broadcasting as we know today that evening, by airing continuing coverage of presidential election returns.”

John Schneider replies:

I disagree with James on a few points; KDKA was not licensed or assigned to a frequency for “commercial broadcasting.” They were initially given a Commercial Land station license, a classification that had existed for many years and applied to point-to-point communication. There was no frequency designated for broadcasting until 1921, when WBZ was given 360 meters (at the request of Westinghouse). Also, WWJ was broadcasting to the general public, and advertising themselves in the pages of the Detroit News, three months before KDKA.

But I think the statement that James suggests is entirely accurate and appropriate.

And James has the final word:

John is correct in stating that broadcasting (on any frequency) had yet to be authorized. Westinghouse was in possession of a license allowing operations in spectrum reserved for commercial purposes. I stress this as the Detroit News broadcasting that evening was done via an Amateur class station license that restricted it to operation on a frequency allocated strictly for that purpose, and as such, their transmissions were subject to any interference that might be created by other radio amateurs sharing it.

What do you think? Email radioworld@futurenet.com with “Letter to the Editor” in the subject field.

The post What, Exactly, Was First About KDKA? appeared first on Radio World.

From the strains of bluegrass in the 1950s to the live radio calls of Georgia Bulldogs football, the Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GAB) is honoring radio’s 100th anniversary by recognizing the myriad ways radio has served citizens across the Peach State.

The GAB is celebrating radio’s 100-year milestone with a series of radio spots and digital elements that showcase the diverse population, lifestyles and interests across Georgia. From the discovery of new R&B stars to the intricacies of NASCAR culture to explaining mud-bogging races to the uninitiated, Georgia radio and its DJs have long recognized the state’s unique heritage and culture.

[Read other articles in Radio World’s celebration of Radio@100]

DJs like Bill Elder entertained WAYS(FM) listeners for nearly 20 years with his “wacky wake up morning show,” according to the website Gateway Macon, which detailed some of top radio personalities in Macon. Others like Hamp “King Bee” Swain made history as the first African-American DJ at WIBB(FM) and was credited with discovering the soul singer Otis Redding.

To honor Georgia radio as part of the nation’s Radio at 100 celebrations, the GAB created a Radio 100 Committee comprised of broadcasters and individuals from universities and companies across Georgia. New digital spots are being shared with Georgia radio stations to use over the airways and on their digital platforms. Stations and listeners are encouraged to celebrate the past and look to the future by sharing some of their favorite broadcasting memories on social media by using #Radio100 and @GaBroadcasters.

The National Association of Broadcasters is also counting down the top moments in radio, especially those moments that most fully represent radio’s influence as a means of sharing news and building community, from Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1933 fireside chats to radio’s current role as purveyor of news, comfort and connection during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. NAB is encouraging broadcasters across the nation to celebrate the 100th year of radio by using the NAB’s #Radio100 toolkit, which includes #Radio100 audio spots and videos for social media platforms.

Radio World is also recognizing radio’s 100th year with profiles of women who burst through radio’s earliest glass ceilings to those companies who are recognizing the accomplishments of songwriters from all radio genres.

“As we celebrate the past 100 years of radio, we also look forward to the bright and promising future of the industry,” the GAB said in a statement. “Now with more ways than ever to connect with our communities, radio feels confident moving ahead to the next 100 years.”

The post Georgia Radio Is On the Mind as the Peach State Celebrates #Radio100 appeared first on Radio World.

A license transfer violation that occurred more than two years ago was resolved when the Federal Communications Commission agreed to enter into a consent decree with the parties in question.

In October 2017, the sole shareholders of Big Horn Media (BHM) — John and Mercedes Burkavage — acquired the stations KUEZ(FM) in Fallon, Nev., and KUEZ(FM1) in Reno, Nev. At that time, BHM was authorized to issue 100 shares of stock, yet decided to issue only 27 of those shares as community property to the Burkavages. Then in November of 2017, the Burkavages entered into a buy/sell agreement and stock purchase agreement and issued the remaining 73 stock shares of BHM as community property to Harry and Bonnie Dixon.

[Read: FCC Rejects Appeal From Florida FM Applicant]

This was a problem, the FCC said, since the Burkavages failed to request prior approval of the transaction as required by the Communications Act and FCC Rules.

In 2020, the licensee filed the applications disclosing the unauthorized transfer of control of BHM. Soon after, the licensee amended the applications to clarify the Burkavages’ ownership of the stock shares of BHM prior to the unauthorized transfer of control. According to the commission, the licensee said it filed the applications as soon as it became aware of the filing obligation and at that time, formally requested a waiver to continue operation of the stations and to bring the licensee into compliance with commission’s rules.

During the bureau’s investigation of the unauthorized transfer of control, the licensee also revealed that it had failed to file its Biennial Ownership Report for the year 2019.

The FCC often enters to into consent agreements like this one to resolve clear-cut issues and cut down on the time spent on time-consuming proceedings. As a result, the groups agreed to a civil penalty of $8,000 to be paid within the next six months.

The FCC also anticipated that the applications would be granted successfully in the future, as long as the consent decree is followed to the letter. But the commission declined the request that the decision be ruled as nunc pro tunc, meaning the decision would retroactively correct an earlier error.

That’s because the unauthorized transfer of control occurred on Nov. 30, 2017 — more than two years before BHM alerted the commission to the violation — and because BHM failed to file its 2019 Biennial Ownership Report on time. “Given these facts, we cannot conclude that BHM has adequately discharged its legal obligations and we decline to grant the applications nunc pro tunc,” the chief of the Audio Division at the Media Bureau wrote in its order.

The post Licensee Agrees to $8,000 Consent Agreement on Unauthorized License Transfer appeared first on Radio World.

Three organizations are cooperating to highlight the relationship between songwriters and radio over the past century.

Broadcast Music Inc., Beasley Media Group and Xperi’s HD Radio launched the series “100 Years of Hit Makers.” It will air on Beasley stations and on demand at www.bbgi.com/hitmakers.

“The series is a part of a year-long campaign to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio broadcast in the U.S., and to highlight the continuing importance of radio, especially in our current climate,” they announced.

“The series will take acclaimed songwriters from the country, rock, and R&B/hip-hop genres and give music fans everywhere a behind the scenes glimpse into the writing of their hit songs.”

[Related: Read articles in Radio World’s celebration of Radio@100]

The program is in partnership by Benztown, which provided on-air post-production. The companies listed a sample of writers to be featured: John Oates, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, Jesse Frasure, Daniel Tashian, Derrick Milano and Sonny Digital, and many others.

“Also celebrated are up-and-coming writers from the three genres. These acclaimed music creators will take audiences behind the scenes and into the writing rooms with stories of how their hit songs were created.”

The announcement was made by Xperi Senior Vice President Radio Joe D’Angelo, BMI Nashville’s AVP Creative Mason Hunter and Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase.

Hunter said, “Songwriting and the radio have been deeply intertwined throughout the last century. Songs find new life on the radio and we’re honored to help elevate the significant connection between the art of songwriting and radio in this series.”

The post Radio@100: Beasley Celebrates Songwriters appeared first on Radio World.

The WorldDAB organization is urging European countries to “act immediately” to comply with an upcoming EU digital radio deadline.

The European Electronic Communications Code adopted in late 2018 contains a mandate that all new car radios should be able to receive digital terrestrial radio services.

Countries that are members of the European Union must turn it into national legislation by Dec. 21.

In a press release Monday, Patrick Hannon, president of WorldDAB, is quoted saying that the 2018 EU decision “has transformed the prospects for DAB+ radio in Europe. … We urge countries that have yet to implement the EECC to act imminently and help ensure that motorists in all EU Member States benefit from the advantages of digital radio: greater choice, clearer audio and enhanced data services.”

WorldDAB also provided a snapshot of how various countries are responding:

“In Germany, all radio receivers in new cars will be required to include digital radio capabilities from 21 December 2020. In the UK, all radios fitted in new passenger cars will come with digital radio as standard from 2021 following new regulations passed through Parliament.

“In Italy, all new (consumer and automotive) radio receivers sold from January 2020 onwards are required to include DAB+. In France, a proposal requiring all new car radios to include digital radio capabilities – in line with the EECC deadline – is being reviewed by parliament this month.

“Last week, Spain published a draft of its Telecoms Regulation, which also complies with the EECC. Other countries including The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland and Malta have all initiated procedures to implement the EECC into national legislation.”

Read a factsheet about EEEC from WorldDAB including a longer update for various countries.

The post WorldDAB Urges EU Members to Meet Digital Radio Deadline appeared first on Radio World.

After about four months in all-digital mode, an AM radio station in northeast Indiana has turned off MA3 digital operations for now and returned to analog transmission.

WIOE(AM) in Warsaw, Ind., was the second station in the United States to conduct such an experiment on the AM band. The station serves the Fort Wayne market.

Owner Brian Walsh was enthused about the quality and coverage of the signal. But he told Radio World he ended the experiment on Sept. 11 because of a lack of interest from listeners.

“Fort Wayne just isn’t ready for all-digital AM at this point. It wasn’t so much complaints but just a lack of any feedback whatsoever (on the switch to all-digital),” Walsh says. “We invested heavily in the digital technology but it just wasn’t working out right now.”

WIOE had received experimental approval from the Federal Communications Commission and began digital operations in the MA3 mode of HD Radio in May. Walsh says it was “exciting to have a station to pioneer (all-digital AM) and help develop new technology to assist other broadcasters with similar radio stations.”

[Related: “Xperi Describes More Tests at All-Digital AM”]

WIOE, which also uses AM stereo, is a Class C AM operating at 1450 kHz with 1 kW of power and a non-directional antenna daytime and nighttime. WIOE used a Nautel NX 3 transmitter during all-digital operations, capable of a digital main channel and digital multicast channel, Walsh says, though the station did not utilize HD-2.

“Full MA3 mode didn’t disappoint. MA3 AM HD excels,” Walsh says. He compared the sound of all-digital AM to that of an FM HD-1 channel.

“The AM HD MA3 mode drastically improves your AM coverage in areas that before had interference from electrical or man-made noise. That impresses me most,” he said.

Any AM station using all-digital will, by definition, not be heard on analog receivers. For that reason, having an FM translator that continues to carry the station content is considered important. WIOE’s programming could be heard by analog listeners on FM translator W282CH during the test period, Walsh says.

“We didn’t want anyone deprived of the programming. We purchased a billboard to spread the news of the changes, but people seemed to think the AM station just went off the air, just static, which is not what we intended obviously,” Walsh told Radio World.

Walsh (who is slated to talk about his experience during next month’s virtual Radio Show “Channel B” technical track) says MA3 was “consistent both day and night over 20 miles from the 1450 transmitter site” near downtown Fort Wayne.

“Every market is different. I was ready to provide an improved service to clients and listeners more than they were ready to accept the MA3 AM HD,” he says. “I overestimated a bit. When the time is right and the Fort Wayne market is ready, so is WIOE.”

WWFD(AM) in Frederick, Md., owned by Hubbard Radio was the first U.S. station to turn off analog AM and continues to operate in full-time all-digital under special temporary authority.

[Related: “Broadcasters Get Behind All-Digital AM Option”]

The post Indiana AM Station Suspends All-Digital Transmission appeared first on Radio World.

A Radio World ebook recently explored trends in codecs and STLs. This interview is excerpted from that, which you can read here.

Eric J. Fitch is director of technical operations for Entercom New England. He has been a broadcast engineer for 35 years, working in Syracuse, Albany and Boston. Today he is responsible for 14 stations in five markets.

Radio World: What’s the most important trend in codecs?

Eric Fitch: Redundancy, backup and failover.

With more facilities being managed by fewer people, there is a huge need for systems to be able to recover from outages without human intervention.

Remote access via a web GUI, as well as having logging, SNMP and e-mail capabilities are critical for managing equipment at remote locations.

RW: How are these technologies helping you solve practical problems?

Fitch: We are able to connect our studios in Boston, Providence, Springfield and Worcester to their associated transmitter sites and the Westwood One Satellite NOC in Denver, which uplinks the WEEI Sports Radio Network and the Red Sox Radio Network, via GatesAir IPL-200 Audio over IP systems.

Our GatesAir IPL-200 systems have replaced our Intraplex T-1 STL systems. Each site has three ISPs to provide triple redundant paths for the audio streams.

We have a fiber-based MPLS system as the primary connection to each location. That is backed up by a wireless internet connection at the studio and cable modems at transmitter sites. We have a third connection to each ISP via our business network on a second fiber network from the studio.

The IPL-200 is able to have three separate audio streams that can failover if one or two of the streams drops, keeping the station on the air, while notifying us via e-mail or SNMP that there is a fault. The system has an optional redundant power supply, which is great if and when the UPS fails.

The ability to access all 28 nodes of the IPL-200 on our network from work or home makes configuring and troubleshooting a breeze. We can see when an ISP has a failure at any of our sites because there are multiple ways to log into the codec.

RW: What role are codecs playing in the new normal of at-home broadcasting?

Fitch: We are lucky that high-speed internet is available in most people’s homes. Just 10 years ago we were struggling with DSL and 56 kb dialup modems.

Now with cable modems and fiber service, we sometimes have better internet connectivity at our homes than we have at our studios and transmitter sites. The connections are so good that our listeners don’t notice that the hosts are doing the shows from home.

Consoles that are capable of doing multiple mix-minus feeds have been invaluable. We have been able to keep our staff healthy and sounding great on the air.

RW: What functions and features are being offered that engineers who haven’t bought a codec in awhile should know about?

Fitch: The ability to use multiple internet connections to back up the codec’s connection. The codec can use error correction and buffering to make sure that lost packets are recovered, which is a great asset. A cable modem can be backed up with a wireless hotspot to ensure a stable connection. The ability to remotely control the codec in the field from the studio and have the codec email if there is a problem.

RW: How many ways are there of making connections?

Fitch: We use whatever connection that is available to us: FIOS, cable modems, private MPLS networks, public and private WiFi and Plum cases that bond two cellular carriers.

RW: How have AoIP technology developments been reflected in codecs?

Fitch: Since we have 15 of our show hosts broadcasting from home due to COVID-19, ease of use and control is the most important function that I have seen. We have to make sure that the codecs are as simple as possible to set up and operate.

Three of our morning shows each have three co-hosts connecting to the studio before 6 a.m. That is nine simultaneous remotes using Comrex Access codecs. Having one-button pre-programmed connections is a necessity to make sure everyone can connect themselves.

We use Comrex Fleet Commander and Comrex Switchboard to monitor and connect all of the codecs that our hosts are using from home. We can see the quality of the connection and make changes on one app, so we don’t have to login to multiple codecs to check connectivity issues.

Newer consoles are able to provide multiple mix-minus feeds so multiple hosts and phone callers can all be on the air simultaneously. We used to struggle with one remote and one caller, now we do three remotes and two callers without batting an eye. No echo or “I can’t hear you” complaints any longer.

The board can be set up by anyone, since the mix-minus in done by the consoles automatically.

The post Codecs Offer Redunancy, Backup and Failover appeared first on Radio World.