Industry News

The author of this commentary is chair of the Digital Radio Mondiale consortium.

Right from the beginning of 2021, Prasar Bharati, the public radio and TV broadcaster of India, has put its cards on the table. First it clarified that no AIR station was being closed anywhere in any state, a rumor that had made the media rounds in India.

Prasar Bharati has further announced that it is moving ahead with its plans to strengthen All India Radio, expanding its network with more than 100 new FM radio transmitters across India.

The AIR Network already comprises a few hundred stations and several hundred radio transmitters in one of the world’s largest public service broadcasting networks that operates on multiple terrestrial, satellite and internet platforms.

Prasar Bharati is also moving ahead with its plans to introduce digital terrestrial radio in India. According to the Indian broadcaster, select AIR channels are already available through digital DRM technology to listeners in many cities/regions. They can experience the power of DRM through a choice of multiple radio channels available on a single radio frequency in digital mode. These include AIR News 24×7 dedicated to news and current affairs, AIR Raagam 24×7 dedicated to classical music, apart from local/regional radio services and Live Sports.

According to Prasar Bharati AIR is in an advanced stage of testing digital technology options for FM radio, and a standard will be announced soon to herald the rollout of digital FM radio in India.

Already in 2020 AIR had introduced nonstop pure DRM transmissions with three services or programs on one frequency in four key metros: Mumbai 100 kW (1044 kHz), Kolkata 100 kW (1008 kHz), Chennai 20 kW (783 kHz) and New Delhi 20 kW (1368 kHz).

More varied and exclusive audio programs with Journaline multimedia content were already added and progress was made on the national rollout of DRM’s Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), and a program information guide enabled by Journaline.

All these activities follow from the activities of a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) in AIR set up a year ago. It undertook to identify the technical configuration of the DRM infrastructure for the entire country, the creation of popular, attractive content, the strong promotion of DRM broadcasts and intensified interaction with the industry aimed at manufacturing mass-scale receivers.

AIR has extended its infrastructure, as seen in Figure 1.

As far as the program content is concerned, AIR has already come up with new initiatives, like the 24/7 news exclusively in DRM broadcasts.

The entertainment channel is transmitting live sports events as well, such as cricket, which is the most popular sport in India; AIR is exploring the possibility of providing a Score Card under Journaline advanced text together with live cricket commentary in pure DRM (see Figure 2).

There are already several receiver manufacturers in India and abroad planning and starting production of receivers.

One such manufacturer, Gospell from China, has formed a partnership with Antriksh Digital Solutions to become their representative and distributor in India.

AIR also plans to acquire soon several thousand receivers.

Going forward, a key element of success in India is the further adoption of the standard by the automotive industry. Currently there are more than 2.5 million Indian cars with line-fit DRM receivers at no extra cost to the consumer. More brands are considering the introduction of DRM radios in their vehicles to satisfy consumer demand.

During the second national Car Forum organized at the end of November by NXP, an AIR representative said that it is imperative that the government seriously consider mandating DRM digital radio in all vehicles in the country.

In addition to MW and SW in 2021, efforts are being made to include DRM in FM, as the broadcaster and ministry are coming close to mandating a digital radio standard for the FM band.

The more cars there are in India with DRM radios, the better promotion of their DRM programs AIR can make to the general public. And this cannot just include audio in mediumwave but other bands too. There is demand for all core features of the DRM standard, of which Journaline has already been introduced. This should be followed by the Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), station logos, AFS, announcement, blending to AM/FM and others.

Activities in India have continued in 2020 despite the pandemic. Already in 2021 there are signs of accelerated activities linked to DRM in FM, DRM for education and getting receivers in numbers.

The post Digital Radio Mondiale in Focus in India appeared first on Radio World.

TORONTO — It’s a nation where political dollars weren’t a factor in quarterly earnings growth. Yet, television segment income was up despite a dip in revenue for Canadian media company Corus.

This helped Corus achieve flat earnings per share in the fiscal first quarter of 2021, as net income only slightly decreased.

The bigger issue for the company is its radio division.

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On Thursday, new House Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers shared the names of the eight GOP Members of Congress who will be seated with her on the committee that maintains oversight of the FCC.

One day later, the Democratic leadership of the House E&C Committee unveiled the Subcommittee Chairs and Democratic Roster for the 117th Congress.

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Speaking at a virtual event hosted by Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, U.S. Asst. Attorney General Makan Delrahim made it known that the Department of Justice does not plan to take action on the consent decrees governing the performance royalty organizations ASCAP and BMI.

Among the first to cheer is NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith.

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It already has an active Twitter feed full of general interest news.

On Monday, it will get its broadcast TV premiere as a new entrant in one of the last ultra-competitive dayparts for television and radio — morning drive.

“The National Desk” is all set and ready for launch from Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Rather than a news magazine, “The National Desk” is described by Sinclair as “an original news program,” and is being cleared for weekday morning timeslots starting January 18 — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — across 68 Sinclair-owned stations.

This include all of the company’s MyNetwork TV and The CW Network affiliates, and Sinclair-owned OTT platform STIRR.

“The National Desk” is being produced by Sinclair’s WJLA-7, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., once owned by the Allbritton family.

The host: Jan Jeffcoat, who has been doing dry runs posted on Twitter ahead of the channel’s launch.

Jeffcoat is nationally recognized for her stints at TEGNA-owned WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C., from 2013-2018; and for her various roles at FOX’s WFLD-TV in Chicago from 2007-2012. Jeffcoat was also anchor at KRIV-TV in Houston from November 2004-June 2007.

And, much like Nexstar’s much-publicized evening news block NewsNation, Sinclair says “The National Desk” will be “commentary-free,” with news from both a local and national perspective.

Still, some may put extra scrutiny on the Sinclair offering, given its decisively conservative tone seen in some markets with its local newscasts.

“This is an opportunity to bring national conversations back to a local level,” Jeffcoat said. “We understand the soul of the stories and communities in which we operate.”

Stories will come from Sinclair’s local news reporters, packaged as a national offering that showcases its stations while, Sinclair says, leveraging its assets.

Set to join Jeffcoat is Cayle Thompson, whose resume includes a stint as a KOMO-4 in Seattle anchor, and at WINK-11 in Fort Myers-Naples, from September 2010-September 2014. He is an Ithaca College journalism school grad who has also worked in Saginaw, Mich., and in Wichita.

Both report to SVP/News Scott Livingston.

“Stories that will be national news tomorrow are emanating from smaller local communities today,” Livingston said. “’The National Desk’ will provide Americans with the news they want to hear in a timely and accurate fashion. Our coverage
highlights stories that represent the heart of America – we’re here to provide context rather than commentary.”

Travel between Rocky Mount and Wilmington, N.C., along U.S. 258, and you’ll come across the picturesque city of Kinston, in Lenoir County.

Here, a low-powered TV station is being sold by Tutt Media Group.

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Regional broadcast systems integrator Broadcast Solutions Finland Oy kicked off the new year with a new name, Broadcast Solutions Nordic Oy.

Initially focused on Finland, the company cited the change to a growth in clients in neighboring Nordic and Baltic countries. The company will remain headquartered in Helsinki.

Broadcast Solutions Nordic Oy Managing Director Antti Laurila said, “The Broadcast Solutions Group is a globally active company … And as an integral part Broadcast Solutions Nordic offers its services to broadcasters and customers in the Nordic countries, the Baltics and beyond.”

The post Broadcast Solutions Finland Changes Name appeared first on Radio World.

For more than two decades, she made her mark as a leader with a deep understanding of the media business, establishing what AMC Networks President/CEO Josh Sapan calls her “impeccable track record driving strong financial and operational results.”

This explains why AMC’s new EVP/CFO is a figure well-remembered for her years at Showtime and ViacomCBS.

Taking the role at the home of such MVPD-distributed channels as WE tv, AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC and SundanceTV is Christina Spade.

Spade will oversee AMC Networks’ financial operations, including treasury, tax, accounting, financial planning & analysis, as well as investor relations and global technology.

She previously held the EVP/CFO role at ViacomCBS, which followed roles as the CFO for CBS Corporation and, before that, Showtime Networks.

Spade succeeds former AMC Networks CFO Sean Sullivan, who stepped down in October 2020.

“AMC Networks has built a strong portfolio of distinct brands that are synonymous with high quality,” Spade said. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with the AMC Networks team to build on the company’s long track record of innovation and success.”

Prior to joining Showtime Networks, Spade was an audit manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Entertainment, Media and Communications practice.

It’s being heralded as “a significant industry breakthrough” by ViacomCBS and DISH Media.

They’ve successfully delivered the first-ever addressable impressions within a live national broadcast via MVPD set-top box.

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What is the relationship between the number of independent local television news operations in a market and the size of the market, as measured by number of television households?

That’s a question two members of the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics have addressed in a 28-page “Working Paper” that concludes further consolidation is likely in markets that cannot sustain a variety of competitors.

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