Industry News

A company known for its media processing and delivery technology is launching operations to support contribution and distribution in the North American market.

It’s an entity spun out of Tandberg Television in 2004 by 11 former employees that has gotten attention in Europe for its low-latency video delivery.

The company is Appear, and it “provides the backbone” powering its clients in the production, telco and broadcaster realms that wish to make immersive live experiences possible for their viewers.

Appear is headquartered in Oslo. The launch of North American operations is being done to support the company’s desire to tap into the Americas, with business expansion on its mind.

Dedicated headquarters are launching later this year; a team is already stateside in Nevada, California and Minnesota.

To scale up the North Amercian business, Appear recently appointed Ed McGivern as its North America General Manager and Mark Andrews as Vice President of Sales for North America.

McGivern has “extensive knowledge” of the live production and contribution markets, with more than 25 years of sales and business experience at companies including Grass Valley, Nevion and Tektronix.

Mark has an extensive technical and sales background, having previously worked at MediaKind, SeaChange, Ateme and Harmonic.

Since 2008, Appear has had a presence in the U.S. market thanks to its partnership with Sencore, in which it delivered distribution and contribution products under the DMG brand. While Appear is launching its own North American operations and will sell directly to customers, Sencore will continue to be “a strategically important and valued partner” in the region.

Appear’s hardware and software products include:

o X Platform: a high-speed video networking, enhanced IP security and advanced compression solution for the remote production, contribution and distribution markets.

o XC Platform: a modular head-end platform for IPTV and broadcast, supporting content acquisition, compression, stream processing including scrambling and multiplexing, with distribution options for cable, satellite and terrestrial networks.

o X10 DSNG: a dedicated solution for digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) that supports encoding, decoding and satellite uplink and downlink in a single chassis.

o NEO10: a software-based compression solution that comes pre-installed on Appear’s hardware that removes the complexity found in traditional server-based solutions.

Appear will be exhibiting its products and make its North American debut at the 2022 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Appear plans to introduce a new product at NAB — stay tuned for more as RBR+TVBR attends the event, with in-person coverage from April 23-27. 

Ottawa-based Novra Technologies Inc. its subsidiary International Datacasting Corporation have been selected by LinkUp Communications Corp. to provide a migration and modernization path for radio networks still using the legacy ABR satellite receivers originally manufactured by Comstream, Radyne, Comtech and IDC.

While these units enjoyed widespread industry acceptance and ran reliably for over 30 years, they reached end-of-support several years ago.

LinkUp is providing an integrated replacement technology package based on the IDC MAP system—as well as installation and configuration services—to help networks easily transition with improved reliability, reduced downtime, and lower operating expenses.
The upgraded distribution package features the MAP family of professional audio products, designed and manufactured by IDC. These range from audio encoders and satellite receiver/decoders to network control and content management systems. Content management capabilities include everything from station ID insertion and regionalized fundraising campaigns to complete program replacement for remote sites.

For networks looking for a turnkey service to streamline and outsource their uplink operations, LinkUp offers a hosted service—based on the IDC MAP system—from their newly acquired teleport in Denver, CO. This includes satellite, internet, and hybrid delivery options using IDC’s MISTiQ cloud platform to ensure highly reliable, low-latency transmission. MISTiQ provides an ideal option for internet distribution and/or satellite backup.

LinkUp Communications designs, installs, supports and operates satellite and MISTiQ IP/Internet distribution systems for radio and television broadcasters supported by its highly experienced team of professionals with offices in Florida and teleports in Alabama and now Colorado.

LinkUp Communications President Mark Johnson commented, “We chose IDC as a partner and MAP as a platform because they provide the reliability, flexibility, and expandability we need to care for customers small, medium and large. We look forward to making a long-term home for this customer community and welcoming new networks to the service.”

Gary Carter, VP Business Development and Products for Novra Group/IDC, said, “LinkUp has been an excellent partner as we roll out new solutions for broadcasters, providing the alternatives they need in today’s rapidly changing media distribution landscape. We are committed to long term sustainable network infrastructure, that’s why we took over and kept manufacturing ABR receivers as long as possible—to help our customers. Now we are excited to be helping the team at LinkUp provide a convenient reliable transition strategy for those networks and many more.”

Digital advertising platform KERV Interactive has unveiled new features for its KERV TV solution with dynamic CTV QR product.

After testing the product with customers over the last year and generating scans, the KERV TV product is rolling out new features including placement options on screen, linking options to products and a simplified process of inserting QR codes. These features were designed to make it easier to implement QR codes in CTV ad campaigns while also driving measurable ROI for brands.

KERV TV now includes the ability to dynamically move QR codes on screen while streaming based on the context of the video. This includes on-screen products and objects, as well as the time of day and product availability.

Brands also have more choices when it comes to links. CTV QR codes generated through the KERV platform can lead directly to product pages, websites, or even add to calendar events. When paired with other KERV products, brands can also direct QR codes to fully interactive versions of the video as a companion shopper, featuring products that are a part of the programming on the user’s CTV.

Brands have access to reporting metrics that are unique to KERV TV, including object-level engagement, intent, and user scan data, which can then be used to sequentially inform activities with other KERV products.

“The recent notable success of QR code campaigns is proof of how strong the potential is to drive consumer intent around these types of experiences,” says Jay Wolff, SVP Partnerships at KERV Interactive. “KERV’s unique Dynamic CTV QR product revolutionizes the way consumers interact with content while providing brands with never before seen metrics.”

KERV began testing CTV QR campaigns with clients over a year ago and has seen consistent success, globally, increasing time spent and value facing brands inclusive of driving measurable ROI.

Local radio and television broadcasters from across the nation gathered on Monday in Washington, D.C. for the NAB’s annual State Leadership Conference.

The convention featured speeches from several members of Congress about issues affecting the broadcasting industry and preparations for attendees’ meetings with legislators and regulators on March 1.

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The College Radio Foundation said more than 50 stations around the world took part in a hastily organized audio event to show support for students and others in Ukraine.

Rob Quicke, founder of the foundation, invited messages of support that were then combined into a produced piece to be sent to the Ukrainians the next day.

“It was a truly international coalition of love and support,” Quicke said in an announcement.

The piece has been posted to SoundCloud.

 

He contacted OstRadio in Ostroh and STUD Radio in Lviv with the material.

OstRadio journalist Diana Khokhonik replied, “The only thing left for us is to remain calm and not to panic, to pray to God, to believe in the army that protects us, to protect our health and life. Ukraine wants a peaceful sky over its head!”

Roman Zajac, head of STUD Radio, said the station shared the audio with other universities.

“Zajac then coordinated a response from his students involved with student radio who live across Ukraine, including Lviv, Chornobyl, Donetsk, and the capital city Kyiv,” Quicke wrote. “The students sent audio recorded on their cell phones as they were sheltering from the war. The result was a piece that Zajac put together and asked Quicke to help finish produce, as Zajac could not access his radio studios.”

That message was also posted to SoundCloud.

“I am very moved by the bravery of the students in Ukraine to keep going and to make the effort to send a message to the world in such difficult circumstances. College radio stands with Ukraine. We must not forget them,” says Quicke.

The post College Stations Send Audio Support to Ukraine appeared first on Radio World.

The next time someone tells you that radio is just background noise for most people, point them to this study.

Cumulus Media is calling attention to a report that explores consumer attentiveness and ad skipping tendencies.

The company says the report demonstrates that AM/FM radio leads all media in advertising attentiveness, with the lowest levels of ad skipping.

It also found that consumers devote very high levels of concentration to podcasts “since listeners actively seek them out to learn something new, which justifies premium CPMs for podcasts.”

The report is from Cumulus Media/Westwood One’s Audio Active Group.

Cumulus summarized key findings:

“Attention grows in importance among marketers and agencies,” it wrote. “Nearly half of advertisers have discussed consumer attentiveness as a metric. Two out of three say it is important for measuring media investments.”

Also, traditional media ads have greater engagement compared to digital ads. “AM/FM radio, print, and podcast ads lead in attentiveness. Consumers skip social and digital ads the most.”

Further, it said, agencies and marketers tend to “overestimate consumer concentration of social media. Two consumer studies reveal social media has the lowest attentiveness of media platforms.”

AM/FM radio CPMs should be a premium to Pandora and Spotify, Cumulus said. “Pandora/Spotify audio impressions are not the same as AM/FM radio impressions. The greater proportion of spoken word content on AM/FM radio generates much higher levels of concentration and attentiveness. The information and personalities of AM/FM radio satisfy consumer need states for information and connection.”

Also, “Audio platforms satisfy unique need states. AM/FM radio is associated with information, connection, and entertainment. Podcasts are a source of information, learning, and entertainment. Music streaming entertains, relaxes, and lifts moods.”

The Media Attentiveness and Ad Skipping Report is aimed at marketers, agency media planners and buyers.

The post Radio Leads in Advertising Attentiveness, Study Finds appeared first on Radio World.

For investors seeking some good news from the nation’s dominant provider of audience measurement and data analytics information, perhaps the just-released Q4 2021 financial results will provide that.

Nielsen’s Q4 2021 Earnings Per Share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 27.8%.

Unfortunately, Nielsen’s revenue in the quarter fell short of Wall Street analysts’ forecasts. And, NLSN slipped in Monday’s trading.

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FMR Associates, an international media research firm that specializes in strategic marketing studies and has extensive experience in radio, has signed exclusively with G Accelerate for radio affiliation and ad sales in the U.S. 

The deal makes FMR’s research services available to radio stations for the first time on a barter basis. The announcement was made by Jim Higgins, President and Chief Executive Officer of G Accelerate Networks, and radio veteran Kent Phillips, Managing Partner of FMR Associates.

“In today’s data-driven marketplace, it’s imperative that radio stations fully understand their audience’s evolving tastes,” Higgins said. “Speculating on what listeners want doesn’t cut it anymore.  Kent is well-known and respected across the radio industry. At FMR, Kent is leading a team of experts in both research and radio to deliver the listener facts and insights that stations need to compete, stay ahead of new trends, and win ratings.”

FMR’s research services include:

• Perceptual Research Services
  • Perceptual/Tracking Studies
  • Vulnerability Analysis
  • Local Radio Analysis (LRA)
  • Format Opportunity Analysis
  • Advertiser Perception Studies
• Music Library Testing
• MusicTrac Call-Out Research

“When Jim launched G Accelerate, I knew he was the right partner to lead FMR into barter deals with radio stations,” Phillips said. “While cash arrangements are always an option for new and existing affiliates, with G Accelerate we are now able to extend our research services to stations that find a barter deal works better for them. There just isn’t anyone else I would trust to do this with.”

Higgins added, “We’re delighted to partner with FMR and offer their exceptional research services on a barter basis to radio stations across the country. The robust data from FMR’s research goes deep to gauge listener satisfaction and identify market opportunities with rigorously tested, comprehensive surveys that are customized to fit a radio station’s specific research objectives.”

FMR’s Perceptual Research Studies assess media usage patterns, preferences, awareness and/or imaging, and include tracking studies to measure over time. All FMR Reports include an analysis of key demographic and ‘behavographic’ variables.

It’s the winning bidder for a FM construction permit in Clayton, Okla., a town of less than 1,000 inhabitants in the heart of Choctaw Nation.

As a winning bidder, the new licensee-to-be was required to file a post-auction FCC Form 2100, Schedule 301 long-form application by September 13, 2021.

Oops. This future Oklahoma operator missed the deadline.

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Cumulus Media is getting a tongue-lashing from the Federal Communications Commission.

The company faces a $32,000 penalty in a case in Georgia that involves EEO rules. But to explain why it chose to raise what might have been a smaller fine, the FCC criticized Cumulus more broadly about its habits in following commission rules.

In the notice of apparent liability, it pointed to past EEO rules cases in 2008 and 2017. But the commission then went on to talk about the company’s “prior history of non-EEO rule violations” and it posted a footnote that listed a string of Cumulus FCC cases over the past 19 years involving political files, public inspection files, broadcasting phone conversations, tower fencing, antenna painting and false certification in a renewal application.

“Indeed, the commission recently sanctioned Cumulus for its repeated violations of the commission’s sponsorship identification rules,” the commission wrote in the notice of apparently liability. “In that forfeiture order, the commission emphasized that repeated violations of the commission’s rules warranted upward adjustment — even if the prior violations do not relate to the type of violations at issue in the current matter.”

The commission didn’t stop there:

“While Cumulus’ history of repeatedly violating the commission’s rules would be problematic under any circumstances, its apparent disregard of the commission’s EEO rules is particularly troubling. Cumulus, in its own words, is ‘an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month…’ Cumulus owns and operates several hundred radio stations in dozens of markets across the nation. In short, it is a highly sophisticated broadcaster with extensive operations that employs thousands of people and routinely fills scores of job openings annually. The commission’s EEO rules ensure that broadcasters take concrete and thoughtful steps to seek and attract diverse employees.  Repeated disregard of these rules by a broadcaster of Cumulus’ size and scope is contrary to the public interest.”

Radio World invited comment from Cumulus and will report any response.

In the case at hand, the FCC found that Cumulus Licensing LLC apparently violated the equal employment opportunity rules in regards to five of its former stations in Georgia: WEGC(FM) Sasser: WJAD(FM) Leesburg; and WKAK(FM), WQVE(FM) and WALG(AM), all in Albany. (The stations subsequently were sold to First Media Services, according to news reports.)

The commission said the company failed to upload its annual EEO public file report in the online public inspection files, failed to upload its annual report to the stations’ websites and failed to analyze its EEO program.

This came to light in the stations’ license renewal applications. According to the FCC, Cumulus indicated that it had not uploaded the EEO files  when required. When the Enforcement Bureau wrote asking why, Cumulus told it that the 2018 annual report had not been added to the public inspection files and websites until more than nine months after the deadline, because its business manager had “simply overlooked this requirement.” It blamed a routine administrative change and the loss of a former employee who had helped with this task in the past.

The commission said those facts don’t mitigate the violation.

The rules set a base forfeiture of $10,000 for each public file violation but the FCC has discretion to change the penalty. Here, the commission cited “Cumulus’ prior history of rule violations, including violations of the EEO rules,” as well as the longer list of past incidents mentioned above.

Cumulus argued that the forfeiture penalty should be decreased because its parent emerged from bankruptcy in 2018 and because the pandemic had hurt its ad revenue; but the commission rejected those arguments, quoting statements on the Cumulus website that the company had reduced its debt and increased its cash since emerging from bankruptcy.

The company has 30 days to pay the fine in the specific case or to reply seeking a different outcome.

The post FCC Has Harsh Words for Cumulus appeared first on Radio World.