In a August 2017 webinar moderated by Radio INK editor-in-chief Ed Ryan, Veritone Managing Director of Enterprise Radio Solutions Paul Cramer offered participants some eye-opening details on a new, “AI”-powered way to “aircheck” for an advertiser of an AM or FM station.
The webinar came on a day when Google’s Chrome browser was experimenting with a “mute” setting for autoplay video ads that start playing when one scrolls to the ad on a web page.
The timing was perhaps perfect, and still resonates today.
How many people do you know hit a “mute” button when a commercial comes on the radio station they are listening to?
The very idea is absurd, and gives the radio industry yet another weapon in its advertiser ammo box.Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)
Concerns about higher capital gains taxes, courtesy of President Biden, fueled a sharp decrease in general indices on Wall Street.
Did the Thursday dips include media stocks?
Nope.
Audacy reversed a downtrend with a 2.6% improvement, bringing AUD to $4.75.
Also up: Cumulus Media, rising 4 cents to $9.63, and iHeartMedia, rising 17 cents to $19.62.
Among broadcast TV companies, Nexstar Media Group shares finished at $154.32, rising 31 cents. Sinclair Broadcast Group stock improved by 70 cents, to $32.36.
The day’s big gainer: Dish, which gained $1.01 to $41.95 on word that its Sling has an audience measurement accord in place with Comscore.
The FCC is diving into wireless multichannel audio systems (WMAS), an emerging wireless microphone technology designed to enable more microphones per megahertz of spectrum.
The commission has officially adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that is seeking public comment on whether WMAS technology should be granted a licensed basis in frequency bands where wireless mics are already authorized. This includes TV bands, the 600 MHz duplex gap and in portions of the 900 MHz, 1.4 GHz and 7 GHz bands. The NPRM also looks at using WMAS on an unlicensed basis.
WMAS allows microphones to operate using wider bandwidth channels than FCC rules currently allow by digitally combining multiple mic signals. It also uses a more efficient operating protocol, resulting in a larger number of wireless mics being able to operate in the available spectrum.
Europe has already permitted the use of WMAS technology under the European Telecommunications Standards Institute standards.
The proposals are designed to amend the FCC’s Part 74 licensed radio device rules — known as low-power auxiliary station (LPAS) devices — to support efficient use of spectrum and implement interference protection standards. The proposal also seeks comment on whether the commission should permit WMAS to operate on an unlicensed basis under the FCC’s Part 15 rule.
Any changes are not intended to impact incumbent spectrum operations, the FCC claims.
“These [WMAS] systems have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of wireless microphone operations,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “So much so, that under the rules we propose here, three times as many microphones may be able to operate while putting the same amount of power over the air as a single wireless microphone does under our rules today.”
The NPRM was approved unanimously by the FCC during its April Open Commission Meeting.
The post FCC Exploring New Wireless Mic Technology appeared first on Radio World.
When the Federal Communications Commission opens its filing window for new noncom educational stations in the lower part of the FM band later this year, it will limit the number of applications per party to 10.
The commission approved the limit on Thursday, as it was expected to do based on recent statements.
[Read: FM NCE Filing Window Coming in 2021]
It said the general idea of a cap drew support in filed comments, though opinions varied on the number.
National Public Radio endorsed the 10-application cap. REC Networks and Common Frequency pushed for five. Educational Media Foundation thought parties should be able to file more than 10 applications if the additional ones were for areas outside the home counties of Nielsen Audio markets.
“We find a 10-application cap will best deter speculative filings, permit the expeditious processing of the applications filed in the window, and provide interested parties with a meaningful opportunity to file for and obtain new NCE FM station licenses,” the commission stated.
“We agree with NPR that the alternative REC and EMF proposals ‘fail to offer a demonstrably better balancing of the relevant objectives.’”
The commission wanted to cap the number of applications to avoid a repeat of the 2003 translator window in which it was swamped with 13,000 applications, many from speculative filers.
It expects a lot of interest in this window for several reasons: There’s no application filing fee; there are no ownership limits in the reserved band; there has not been a filing window for new NCE FM applications for over a decade; and the FCC recently simplified procedures including how it treats competing applications.
The post In NCE Window, FCC Will Cap Apps at 10 appeared first on Radio World.
PHILADELPHIA — Content protection services provider Friend MTS has agreed to an “expanded partnership” with Akamai, one that allows each company to offer content owners, broadcasters and operators a smart server-side A/B variant watermarking product based on the Friend MTS ASiD OTT Edge-switched technology and Akamai’s Access Revocation solution/technology.
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Canare USA, a supplier of cables and connectors, said it is experiencing “experiencing extremely unprecedented long lead times, due to a shortage of ocean containers globally.”
In an email to customers and business partners, the manufacturer wrote, “We were once able to absorb costs for special air shipments; however, the prices have soared beyond expectations and we are no longer in a position to absorb 100% of the cost.”
By way of explanation it pointed to online news stories about “chaos” in global shipping including a shortage of ocean containers.
“As we navigate through these delays, we ask that you would be both understanding and patient with us, as we use our best strategies to bring you your much needed supply of Canare products.”
It encouraged customers to raise awareness of the state of the shipping industry, ask about emergency air shipments and to consider blanket orders to help assure availability.
Canare Corporation of America is based in New Jersey. Its parent corporation was founded in 1970 in Japan, where it is headquartered. The company name comes from a river near the founder’s office.
The post Canare USA Reports Very Long Lead Times appeared first on Radio World.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC has adopted new sponsorship identification requirements to require broadcasters to disclose when foreign governments or their representatives lease time on their airwaves.
The Order, the Commission says, “increases transparency, ensuring audiences are aware when a foreign government, or its representatives, uses the airwaves to persuade the American public.”
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The Federal Communications Commission has established new sponsorship ID requirements. They require U.S. radio and TV stations to disclose when foreign governments lease air time.
All four commissioners voted to approve.
“The order increases transparency, ensuring audiences are aware when a foreign government, or its representatives, uses the airwaves to persuade the American public,” the commission said in its announcement.
Now, when a broadcaster leases time, they will need to ask the “lessee” if they or their programming are from a foreign governmental entity.
“If the answer is yes, a sponsorship identification will need to be placed on air and documented in the station’s public file,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
“If the answer is no, a broadcaster will need to independently verify the lessee using the Foreign Agent Registration Act website from the Department of Justice and the FCC’s semi-annual foreign media outlet reports.”
NAB oppositionThe National Association of Broadcasters was against the move in this form.
NAB General Counsel Rick Kaplan blogged a few days ago that while the change is well-intended, it is too broad and would put a new substantial burden on broadcasters who enter into lease agreements with all program sources “to determine whether they are dealing with a foreign government in the first place.”
In his comments before the vote, Kaplan said “hundreds if not thousands” of stations would be “mandated to undertake steps to prove in advance they are not dealing with foreign governments, even when they each know with certainty they are not.”
He said there’s no evidence of a “groundswell of foreign propaganda” on the U.S. airwaves or that stations are confused about the origins of what they air. And he added that it’s unfair that broadcasters need to take such steps when foreign entities can communicate freely with Americans via social media.
Rosenworcel: “This is simple”But the FCC believes that foreign governmental entities are increasingly purchasing time on domestic broadcast stations.
Rosenworcel said, “We know that foreign entities are purchasing time on broadcast stations in markets across the country, including Chinese government-sponsored programming and Russian government-sponsored programming right here in our nation’s capital.”
She said this is not only a recent phenomenon.
“During the last several years, press reports about the presence of this programming have multiplied. Moreover, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo wrote this agency eight times to demand that it do something to shed light on the use of our airwaves by foreign government actors. Today’s decision is a testament to her perseverance. It is also a statement about national security and the preservation of our democratic values.”
Specifically, the order requires disclosure for broadcast programming aired through a leased airtime agreement sponsored by any entity or individual that is a foreign government, a foreign political party, an agent acting on behalf of such entities, or a U.S.-based foreign media outlet based on definitions drawn from the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 and the Communications Act of 1934.
The order also adopts a requirement that a station airing foreign government-provided programming pursuant to a lease agreement must include such disclosures in its Online Public Inspection File.
In a statement after the vote, NAB Senior Vice President of Communications Ann Marie Cumming emphasized that NAB “supports the FCC’s goal of ensuring that the public understands when it listens to or views programming supplied by foreign governmental entities” but wanted to avoid creating burdens “for the vast majority of broadcasters that do not air this content.”
“Even though we do not believe the commission ultimately achieved this aim, we greatly appreciate the efforts of Commissioners Carr and Simington to avoid undue regulatory burdens, and the efforts of the Media Bureau to constructively engage with us throughout this proceeding.”
The post FCC Approves Foreign Government ID Change appeared first on Radio World.
NEW YORK — A syndicated service reported via Nielsen’s NPOWER audience insights platform has been launched.
Introducing Streaming Video Ratings from the nation’s dominant audience measurement and data analytics firm.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC has launched a proceeding to consider allowing Wireless Multi-Channel Audio Systems (WMAS) — an emerging wireless microphone technology that would enable more microphones per megahertz of spectrum.
It’s an efficiency the Commission believes “can greatly benefit music venues or convention centers with multiple performers or speakers.”
Television broadcasters should take note of this proposal.
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He was most recently the head of programming for Cumulus Media‘s Country WDRQ-FM and Hot Adult Contemporary WDVD-FM in Detroit, a role recently given to David Corey.
Now, he’s the Program Director for a pair of similarly formatted FM radio stations in the home market for SummitMedia.
Lance Tidwell has been placed in the PD chair for Country WZZK-FM and Hot AC WPYA-FM “Mix 97.3” in Birmingham.
“Lance is one of the best programmers in the nation and I am thrilled to have him join
our fantastic team,” said John Walker, President of Summit’s Birmingham station group. “He brings tremendous insight, skill, knowledge and forward-thinking, which makes him
perfectly suited to lead these amazing brands and digital assets into the future.”
Randy Chase, selected as SummitMedia’s EVP/Programming following the death of Bill Tanner, added, “Lance’s multi-format experience, strategic foundation and ability to drive ratings is exactly what WZZK and WPYA need.”
Tidwell’s experience includes roles as a manager for Cumulus Media’s seven stations in Kansas City. He has also been a SVP/Programming for iHeartMedia.
The move to Birmingham brings Tidwell back to his roots. “I grew up in 90 minutes from Birmingham in Alexander City, Alabama,” he says. “I’m excited how SummitMedia is growing in the market and to join a top-notch team focused on the future.”
Lance Tidwell was recently named 2021 Radio Ink’s Top 35 Country Radio Program Directors of the Year.
Was it a result of a failed geography lesson? Until now, Florida Public Radio has been the licensee of a 500-watt Class A poised to get a huge upgrade to 100kw Class C1 status.
It’s not in the Sunshine State. Rather, it’s in an area of rural Iowa to the southwest of Des Moines. And, it’s now being sold.
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RWEE has a new look but the same great content.
Keeping transmission lines dry, Larry Wilkins has some thoughts. What’s next with the C Band repack?
Burk Technology’s Peter Burk says planning an autonomous site starts with considering the measurable things that might signal a need for action.
And Cris Alexander takes a trip down Remote Control Memory Lane.
Radio World Engineering Extra provides a special deep dive into topics of interest specifically for radio broadcast engineers. It is edited by veteran DOE Cris Alexander.
The post Inside the April 21 Issue of RW Engineering Extra appeared first on Radio World.
This is the story of a station whose transmitter for two decades sat on an island — arguably the most famous such “island station,” WCBS 880.
The non-directional 50,000 watt powerhouse station, now owned by Audacy (the former Entercom), has been doing the demanding 24/7 format of news, sports and information for more than 50 years. At times it has been the nation’s most listened to station.
How did its transmitter end up on an island?
The saga of this flagship of the Columbia Broadcasting System started with the cigar business of Samuel Paley in the early 1920s. He owned a distribution company at a time when one of America’s growing male vices was a good cigar — or multiple cigars — a day. He dealt mainly with imports and focused on building brand recognition and brand loyalty to succeed in this emerging business.
Radio was “trending” at the time, the “new big thing.” Ad placement was the bailiwick of Sam’s son William Paley; they started using radio — ads and mentions — to get cigars into as many mouths as possible.
The power and the cost-effectiveness of radio piqued the younger Paley’s interest. Shortly thereafter the CBS epic began when he took over management of a nascent network of 16 stations, the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System.
In short order the Paley family and partners bought the operation. With 51 percent ownership, he ran and now controlled the network.
The file on WCBS starts with a different set of call letters. In 1924 the Atlantic Broadcasting Company applied for a New York station and got the apropos call of WABC. As with many stations of this period, WABC meandered around the dial until in 1932 it wound up on 860 kHz with 50 kW non-directional and a transmitter in Wayne, N.J.
The population of metropolitan New York was expanding along roads and transportation lanes into Brooklyn, via the famous bridge, and New Jersey, via the Holland Tunnel. Those demographic trends and travel corridors influenced the choice of new transmitter sites. Managers of other early stations serving New York City such as WOR and WEAF did likewise.
Central locationIn 1936, CBS purchased the signal, adding to its station portfolio and distribution network.
In 1940 it sought to move the transmitter from New Jersey to what was then called Little Pea Island, located in lower Long Island Sound and northeast of Manhattan.
CBS bought the island and installed an aux transmitter for testing. The results demonstrated that the seawater conductivity would ensure formidable coverage in New York and New Jersey, and bonus extensive penetration into populous sections of Connecticut.
With the 1941 North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, the station moved from 860 to 880 kHz shortly before the final move.
Little Pea Island — later renamed Columbia Island — is a modest tidal rock of about one acre in size. It became home to an extraordinary engineering installation featuring a 410-foot self-supporting top-loaded tower. In 1941 two underwater cables brought power from New Rochelle to the site, and operations began.
This image of the 410-foot self-supporting top-loaded tower appeared in a 1941 ad in Broadcasting magazine for Federal Telegraph transmission equipment. It was headlined “The New WABC: Key Station of the Columbia Broadcasting System.” The ad stated that the facility would deliver “performance characteristics unsurpassed by any similar installation in the history of broadcasting.” (Collection of John Schneider)News accounts said CBS spent approximately $500,000 (the equivalent of about $9 million now) to construct the tower, transmitter with backup and the building, including emergency housing for 10 workers.
A headline in the New York Times in October 1941 read: “Radio ‘Island’ Comes to Life; WABC’s New Transmitter Is Called an Engineering Dream — Built on a Man-Made Rock in Long Island Sound.”
Daily boat runs brought a change of operating crew, food, potable water and other creature comforts from the “mainland.” Weather and waves were not always cooperative. The bedrooms, kitchen and other quarters were put to use by stranded crews when circumstances isolated the site.
Federal Radio, a division of IT&T, built the transmitter from its own advanced design. Few details for this rig are available but Federal used it as a model for CBS’s later shortwave station further out Long Island.
Evidently this earlier, similar 50 kW unit was plate modulated. The high voltage supply took three-phase power direct from the power company at 4600 volts using banks of mercury vapor rectifier tubes to make DC. Filaments were transformer-powered unlike earlier motor generator schemes.
Jim Weldon of border blaster fame worked on the Columbia Island station as a Federal Radio engineer.
The official starting date was Oct. 18, 1941, with Kate Smith and Orson Welles, personalities well connected with CBS, participating in the inauguration.
Access to the island was by boat. Note the earlier WABC call letters on the prow. (Photo courtesy The John Landers-Beth Klein Collection)In 1946 the company received approval to change the station call letters from WABC to WCBS.
Up until the late 1950s transmitters were operated on site by engineers who were on duty whenever the station was on air.
The station had a tremendous signal penetration and was the very definition of a “clear-channel, Class A station” that reached well into the heartland of America. Further, the saltwater location provided possibly an even bigger reach throughout the Atlantic, making it the voice of New York City to many far away at sea in war and the following peace.
Like other similar important big stations including WTIC and WCCO, WCBS during World War II had a guard detail to protect the facility from sabotage or disruption.
One story, legendary but probably true, is that in thick fog, the crew once found its way to the island by following the induction field created by the currents flowing in the underwater power cable.
Moving onColumbia Island provided a superb signal for CBS, but this rock was an expensive site to operate under any definition.
With the emergence of TV and the dropoff in network radio revenues, CBS explored locations nearby that were easier and more convenient to reach.
Eventually the corporate engineers settled on High Island just off the Bronx shore as a more practical site with a desirable land connection via a sandbar bridge.
After some delay and birthing pains, WCBS moved to that site in early 1962, where it remains today.
The station transmitter site was later moved to nearby High Island, shown. (Collection of John Schneider)WNBC, 660, was diplexed into the tower shortly thereafter when crooner Perry Como decided he wanted the nearby site that NBC was developing for his New York City home! WNBC is now sister station WFAN 660. (It was this site that was knocked off the air by the fatal crash of a private airplane in 1967 on the day before WCBS launched its all-news format.)
Meanwhile, according to news accounts, Columbia Island was purchased by a show-business couple who aired a breakfast conversation show from their home there; then it went through multiple hands including the College of New Rochelle.
Actor Al Sutton eventually acquired it and built a “green” home on the site; you can find online stories about its construction, which is interesting in itself. At this writing, Zillow listed it for sale at $13 million. You can even take a video tour online.
But regrettably the 20-foot-square, 410-foot-high tower is long gone — regrettable, because for any resident the radio reception using that stick would have been extraordinary.
Broadcasting has often found some advantage or necessity to locate transmitter sites on islands. These islands vary from the isolated home of KUHB on frigid St. Paul Island in the Bearing Sea to the defunct directional AM of WRIZ built on an island of pilings in Biscayne Bay in Florida.
If interested, we’ll visit some other islands in the stream in future columns. Please let us know your favorite or most engaging island station. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.
Charles S. Fitch, P.E., is a longtime contributor whose articles about engineering and radio history are a popular recurring feature in Radio World.
The post WCBS: A Radio Island in the Stream appeared first on Radio World.
As people’s habits continue to evolve, with the pandemic accelerating those changes, Broadbeam Media conducted research that reevaluates, in a way, assumptions about the lifestyles and media habits of U.S. consumers.
Among the key finds is that linear TV – a.k.a. broadcast and cable channels – remains the most-often watched media. But, social video is close behind, and just behind that is YouTube and Facebook Watch. What does this mean for the broadcast TV station owner?
Broadbeam Director of Strategy and Research Tess Erickson offers up the answer, and more, in this RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.fm.
Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Tess Erickson, Broadbeam Media” on Spreaker.
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