Industry News

Its licensee name is Prairie Winds Broadcasting, but in its home market of Aberdeen, S.D., the state’s third-largest city, it operates as Hub City Radio.

Here, it owns six full-power radio stations and two FM translators. Now, a third FM translator is being added to the mix.

The seller? An entity that’s poised to assume ownership of Ed Stolz‘s former FM properties.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

LOS ANGELES — In July 2019, RBR+TVBR first shared the news that the cornerstone of 95-year-old broadcast ministry Moody Bible Institute was for sale.

Now, this daytime-only AM that shares a signal with a 50kw Class A News/Talker in Cleveland has been sold. The buyer will retain, albeit adjust, the Spanish-language evangelical programming presently on the air.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

New products from Tieline, Inovonics, Summit Technology Group, Ecreso and WideOrbit are featured in our Marketplace coverage.

Also, a conversation with Arianne Walker, chief evangelist for Alexa Auto.

We learn how the “Tiny Desk” series at NPR is working remotely during the pandemic. Xperi lays out its plans for the DTS AutoStage hybrid radio platform.

And as in every issue, John Bisset and your fellow readers share helpful tech tips from in the trenches.

Read the March 31 issue.

The post Inside the March 31, 2021 Issue of Radio World appeared first on Radio World.

Glensound named Marc Wilson as its new managing director. Gavin Davis, son of founder Len Davis and the former MD, remains as chairman.

“Marc is committed to further expanding Glensound’s diverse range of products, which include commentary units, headphone and microphone amplifiers, intercom and network audio systems, while also raising the company’s profile in its core broadcast market and adjacent sectors,” the company stated in the announcement.

Wilson was Glensound’s marketing manager for eight years, departing in 2016 and returning in 2019 as a director.

“This move was with the view of Marc becoming MD in due course, which he did at the beginning of February this year,” the company said.

Founder Len Davis, a former BBC engineer, started the company in 1966. He passed away late last year. The company recently has expanded its offerings in audio over IP products, and says it also is moving into other markets that use networking such as e-sports, live sound and commercial installation.

Send your people news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Glensound Names New Managing Director appeared first on Radio World.

The DRM Consortium reported the conclusion of its demonstration and trial of the DRM digital radio standard for proposed use on India’s FM band.

“It was highly successful and generated a lot of interest,” the consortium said in an announcement.

Trials in New Delhi and Jaipur were done for Prasar Bharati (All India Radio). Digital radio advocacy organizations are competing to be chosen for the digitization of the FM band in India; DRM argues that it is the best common solution for all radio bands there, in part because DRM is already used in India on the AM band.

“In Delhi, the [FM] trial demonstrated excellent results when transmitting a single DRM signal, multiple pure digital DRM signals side-by-side from the same transmitter (‘Multi-DRM’ configuration), and also using DRM’s simulcast option by putting on air both an analog FM and a digital DRM signal from a single transmitter,” the organization said.

“The Multi-DRM option proves DRM’s highly economic potential when it comes to frequency and equipment upgrades: A single FM-band transmitter with a bandwidth of 600 kHz can transmit six independent DRM signals (blocks) carrying up to 24 DRM services, e.g. 18 audio and six multimedia services. These can represent up to six independent broadcasters who remain in full control over their individual content and signal configuration.”

In Jaipur, the consortium sought to demonstrate that multi-DRM configurations with four or five DRM blocks, each capable of carrying three audio services plus a multimedia service like Journaline, can use white spaces between two existing analog FM services, while not affecting their reception.

It said the demonstration showed that the DRM standard, used in the FM band, is backward compatible and that the receiver ecosystem for both AM and FM band services is ready for India’s mass market, “based on in-country know-how buildup and chipset design and production over the past years, which in turn is enabled by DRM being an open standard with all specifications published. Even DRM receiver models made in China today are based on Indian technology and DRM chipsets.”

It also sought to show DRM’s capability of being received on off-the-shelf Android phones using the Fraunhofer DRM MultimediaPlayer Radio App.

The organization has posted a summary of the project and comments on its outcome.

The post DRM Concludes FM Trial in India appeared first on Radio World.

The CEO of Urban One and the EVP/Chief Diversity Officer of NBCUniversal have been appointed to the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Board of Directors.

Both of their terms will begin April 1.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Alfred Liggins and Craig Robinson to the BMI Board of Directors,” said Caroline Beasley, Chairman of the BMI Board of Directors and CEO of Beasley Media Group. “Both Alfred and Craig have achieved incredible success at their respective companies, and they each bring innovative leadership, unique perspectives, and key expertise that will make them invaluable additions to the Board. The entire Board looks forward to working together with Alfred and Craig as we continue our mission to protect and grow the value of our songwriters’, composers’ and music publishers’ creative work.”

Liggins’ leadership at Urban One led to the company’s diversification beyond radio into the cable television and digital media spaces, as well as casino gaming resorts. He is the son and business partner of Cathy Hughes, the Urban One founder and chairperson who today remains a BMI Board Director. In October, however, her role will change to Honorary Director.

At NBCUniversal, Robinson works to define and build a culture that embraces and values diversity in its workforce, culture, content and perspectives.

Robinson earned the role in August 2011, and was formerly President/GM of KNBC-4 in Los Angeles. He joined NBC in 1996.

Audacy, the company formerly known as Entercom, has made another deal related to its growing investment in sports betting. It signed an agreement with sportsbook BetMGM.

The deal designates BetMGM, a sports betting and gaming platform, as a preferred sports betting partner of Audacy across its sports broadcast stations, apps, digital platforms and the BetQL Audio Network.

“Key partnership details include integrated content across Audacy’s broadcast sports stations, customer acquisition opportunities, and talent endorsements across Audacy’s wide spectrum of local and national sports betting content,” the companies said in an announcement.

[Related: “Entercom Expands Gambling Radio to Chicago”]

The BetMGM mobile app is available in 10 states. BetMGM will provide betting content to fans who tune in to Audacy’s stations, podcasts and shows. BetMGM also will receive preferred access to Audacy talent.

Audacy recently acquired QL Gaming Group and launched the BetQL Audio Network, which it called “fundamental components of this deal.”

Mike Dee is president of sports at Audacy. He made the announcement with Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s chief revenue officer, who described the former Entercom as “a leader in sports radio, digital audio and now the direct-to-consumer betting analytics space.”

The post Audacy/Entercom Signs Deal With Big Sportsbook appeared first on Radio World.

No, it’s not a wind-down of its TV operations. But, HC2 Holdings is paring down its assets as part of a capital-raising initiative. This explains why the company has been dominating the deal-making universe of late.

As part of that divestment of non-essential assets, it is agreeing to spin a pair of LPTV construction permits to Larry Morton, the prominent Little Rock broadcast media veteran.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

SAVANNAH, GA. — Travel west of Columbus, Miss., and you’ll reach the city of Starkville. Here, a low-power TV station’s construction permit is being spun.

The buyer? The Columbus-based owner of the market’s CBS affiliate.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Cumulus Media on Monday made a “DEF 14A” proxy filing with the SEC that revealed the date the audio content and distribution company will hold its annual shareholders’ meeting, in virtual form.

At the meeting, the election of seven board members will be held, along with the ratification to appoint PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP as Cumulus’ independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.

There’s also a non-binding vote on executive compensation. Just how much are Cumulus’ top executives poised to earn?

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)