Industry News

TASCAM has introduced a new line of analog cassette tape.

You read that right.

It’s been a long time since we got a press release about a new line of cassettes, but TASCAM says “many aspiring and professional audio recording aficionados adamantly maintain that analog recording and the ‘good old days’ of tape will never be replaced by today’s random access digital solutions.”

The TASCAM 424 Studio Master High Bias Type II Cassette tape is being issued in a limited edition. It is meant as a companion to the company’s Portastudio series cassette recorders.

“The 424 Studio Master C-60 was developed for the 50th anniversary of TASCAM as a tribute to their rich heritage,” the company said in the announcement.

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“In 1979, TASCAM/TEAC created the 144 Portastudio, the world’s first portable home studio integrating a mixer and multi-track recorder. The 144 truly revolutionized home recording for the masses, and an infinite number of artists and musicians created their music on a Portastudio. The 144 Portastudio and other follow up Portastudios such as the 244, 246, Porta One, Porta-02, 424 series and more used inexpensive and easily found Type II High Bias cassettes. In the early 1980s TASCAM created the legendary ‘gold reel’ cassettes, which are now collector items. But today, any high bias type II cassettes are very hard to find.”

The 424 cassette was developed with National Audio Company Inc., a manufacturer of cassette tape and duplicator of recorded music cassettes. TASCAM quoted Steve Stepp, president of National Audio Company, saying, “These new cassettes are, without a doubt, the optimal media to use on vintage TASCAM Portastudios.”

The design recalls the original TEAC shell with miniature gold reels.

Submit announcements for Who’s Buying What to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post TASCAM Offers a New Cassette Tape appeared first on Radio World.

It’s a 98,000-watt Class C FM serving North Texas and since April 27, 2001 has offered sports talk programming.

Now, “ESPN Dallas” will soon be saying farewell to this over-the-air home.

VCY America is agreeing to purchase the station.

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No bids, please.

The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) and the FCC’s Media Bureau have confirmed the cancellation of bidding in “Auction 111,” a closed auction of mutually exclusive
applications for low power television and TV translator station construction permits.

Why? It’s quite simple.

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The capital of the Keystone State has its first locally based NEXTGEN TV station. And, for those who have televisions capable of receiving the non-backwards compatible signals powered by the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, turbo-charged ABC programming courtesy of the local affiliate can be seen.

It’s thanks to Nexstar Media Group, which has made Harrisburg the 17th market in 2021 to usher in the NEXTGEN TV era.

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Groups representing Deaf and hard-of-hearing people told the FCC it needs to mandate that emergency alerts appear on wireless devices, and recommends that streaming services like Netflix and Hulu carry them as well.

That came in comments on the FCC’s inquiry into how to improve its EAS emergency alert system.

The FCC is under orders from Congress to report back on the feasibility of extending the EAS mandate to over-the-top video given the rise in popularity of video streaming services.

The groups focused mainly on wireless and the need for those who have cut the TV cord to be able to get alerts via their smartphones, but in a footnote, they also said: “It is also recommended that messages be sent through streaming services so as to be accessible even for consumers who have cut the cord.”

[Previously: FCC Asks: Should Legacy EAS Be Redesigned Altogether?]

They also put in a pitch for government grants to nonprofits (like themselves) “that have direct engagement with the disability community,” so that they can “encourage further training and awareness on how to enhance emergency communications, awareness, preparation, and responses.”

Among the 20 groups joining in the comments were Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, AccesSOS, American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association, and the Clear2Connect Coalition.

Streamers have argued their OTT services should not be required to participate in that system, saying it would not appreciably increase the number of people who get such alerts, but would appreciably increase the burden on streamers if they were required to deliver them. And the obligation would not just be on the major streaming video services, they said, but Peleton, and even online instructional yoga videos.

Broadcasters and cable operators agree that streaming companies should not be required to carry the alerts.

Cable broadband operators have told the FCC that the combination of already-required broadcast, cable and wireless alerts “are more than sufficient to convey timely and relevant emergency and public safety information to the public.”

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

The post Disability Groups: Streamers Should Carry Emergency Alerts appeared first on Radio World.

For whatever reason, Walmart has not been among the biggest brands using spot radio of late.

In contrast, it absolutely dominates Spot Cable, the latest Media Monitors data show.

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For the week ending December 19, spot radio was not a medium of choice for some of the biggest holiday retailers or biggest brands across multiple categories.

In fact, Macy’s is the lone big retailer to appear in the latest Spot Ten report from Media Monitors.

That is thanks to some 35,601 spots tied to the retailer for the week. But, that pales compares to the paid spots placed by Indeed or State Farm.

There’s also stagnant activity at the bottom of the Spot Ten report, absent of Walmart or JCPenney, and with no automotive activity of significance.

MINNEAPOLIS — A veteran local media executive widely known for his time at CBS-owned WCCO-4 has been selected for the role of VP/Brand Strategy and Development at CBS Stations.

Casey Kespohl will work under CBS News and Stations President and Co-Head Wendy McMahon in the newly created role. He’ll partner with the local management teams at the 27 ViacomCBS-owned television stations found across the U.S. and is charged with “helping to evolve and strengthen” CBS Stations’ branded content and marketing across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms.

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In May, RBR+TVBR reported on the $3.8 million sale of a valued commercially zoned chunk of land at 4002 W. Gandy Blvd., midway between downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, by iHeartMedia.

With the land sale, a relocation of the company’s Tampa Bay market operations was put into motion. It is now known where stations including “933 FLZ” and “98Rock” will be headquartered come 2022.

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The “country rock station of North Georgia,” a Class A FM at 104.3 MHz serving the auto racing haven of Dahlonega, has been spun.

Whether or not the format will be heard across 2022 and beyond will soon be up to the Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute. And, there’s a good chance some “Good News” will be coming soon to the station.

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