Aggregator

Air talent Kaytie at Woodward Radio Group’s WZOR in Green Bay, Wis., using AudioVault Air and the voice tracking widget.

The author is director of broadcast engineering for Woodward Radio Group.

Our organization has been using Broadcast Electronics’ AudioVault products since 1995 with great results. In 2009 we installed Version 10.10 of AudioVault FLeX, and it has run reliably and economically for over 11 years.  In 2021 we have started an installation of new computer workstations based on the current AV FLeX version 10.5.

We looked at offerings from many vendors of content delivery systems, but chose to stay with AV FLeX for a number of compelling reasons.

Top of the list is reliability. The software as installed here is fault tolerant and makes it easy to service without spending a lot of “midnight hours.”

Then there is flexibility. One of the strengths of the AudioVault systems has been the ability to customize the applications to handle just about any task you can imagine.

Cost is also important. AudioVault is not the least expensive system you can buy, but to us it appears to be the best value — you get a lot of functionality for the money you spend.

Furthermore, we have received wonderful customer support during installation and during the normal working life of the system.

[Learn about factors to consider when buying an automation system.]

Not to be forgotten is the learning curve — or lack of it. All current new and improved versions are based on earlier AudioVault virtual “machines” and the improvements are usually incremental, not radical. This makes upgrading to a new version more manageable for a large staff.

The AV system is designed with separate audio engines, dedicated machines and user interfaces like most current systems. It is easy to install and configure extra machines as backup engines and backup user interfaces.

One thing that impresses me is that an engine PC can freeze or fail, but usually audio will continue to play out until the fault is bypassed or corrected. This has prevented a lot of dead air emergencies for us.

The FLeX system has virtual machines for satellite automation, music automation, live radio shows, network recording and time shifting, and other necessary applications. The servers have a suite of background applications that keep all the files transferred and synchronized properly. And there is a powerful suite of maintenance tools that the system administrators use to correct problems that occur.

Some of the support people I work with regularly at BE have been in their roles for decades. The service manager Hector and installation tech Owen have worked with us on all of our systems dating back to 1995. Charlie, the “newcomer,” only goes back 20 years or so. All three have seen our system and understand it, so they are very helpful on the rare occasions we need to call for help or support.

The AV FLeX system is a powerful and scalable content delivery product that has really “delivered” for us at the Woodward Radio Group.

For information contact Ben Marth at Broadcast Electronics at 1-217-592-4228 or visit http://www.bdcast.com.

Radio World User Reports are testimonial articles intended to help readers understand why a colleague chose a particular product to solve a technical situation.

 

The post User Report: Woodward Radio Is Locked in With AudioVault appeared first on Radio World.

Conrad Trautmann has been promoted to chief technology officer at Cumulus Media.

“A member of Cumulus’ executive leadership team, Trautmann reports directly to Mary Berner, president and chief executive officer,” the company stated. “He previously served as SVP, technology & operations for the company.”

 Trautmann holds one of the U.S. radio industry’s top engineering jobs, given that the company owns 413 stations in 86 markets, not to mention the Westwood One audio network and Cumulus Podcast Network.

In its announcement, Cumulus noted that Trautmann joined Westwood One in 2000 as EVP, technology, and was promoted in 2016 to SVP, technology & operations, for Cumulus Media.

“Trautmann is responsible for the oversight of companywide broadcast engineering and information technology, as well as purchasing, real estate and facilities management across the company. He also serves on the Radio Technology Committee of the National Association of Broadcasters.”

[Related: “New York Cumulus AM to Go All-Digital”]

Berner commended Trautmann for doing “a particularly commendable job successfully leading the company through the technical challenges presented by COVID-19” as well as recent severe weather events.

“He has also been critical to broadening and advancing the technology that drives our growth platforms in digital and podcasting. This promotion recognizes the vital role that he continues to play in our success.”

Trautmann studied electrical, electronic and communications engineering technology at Farmingdale State University of New York, and was for six years also a machinist’s mate in the U.S. Coast Guard.

He began his work in broadcasting in the early 1980s as chief engineer at WEBE(FM) in Westport, Conn. He later worked as market director of engineering for Cox Radio’s Long Island, N.Y., and Syracuse, N.Y., clusters.

His earlier work at Westwood One included overseeing technical aspects of coverage for the Olympics, Grammy Awards and NCAA basketball.

Trautmann was promoted to senior VP of technology and operations in 2016 when predecessor Gary Kline left the company; read our interview with Trautmann at the time.

 

The post Cumulus Promotes Conrad Trautmann appeared first on Radio World.

The latest NPRM from the FCC could ultimately lead to a new expense for U.S. radio and TV broadcasters that don’t already have backup power at their transmission sites.

The commission has launched a notice of proposed rulemaking to improve the reliability and resiliency of communications networks during disasters. It also wants better situational awareness in their aftermath.

The proposal considers changes to the Disaster Information Reporting System, or DIRS, which is a web-based system used by broadcasters and other communication providers to report service outages to the FCC. Participation currently is voluntary, but the proposal asks if it should be mandatory for participants following a disaster.

The NPRM, which specifically mentions Hurricane Ida and the damage it did to the Gulf Coast region in late August, also seeks ways to mitigate the effects of power outages on communications networks in the aftermath of such events.

The FCC in the proposal asks detailed questions about how backup power can be deployed to reduce the frequency of power-related service disruptions.

The commission raised the possibility of requiring backup power for participants in DIRS and NORS, the Network Outage Reporting System, and that list includes broadcasters.

“To the extent that the commission were to adopt backup power requirements, providers subject to them, potentially including cable providers, Direct Broadcast Satellite providers, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, TV and radio broadcasters, Commercial Mobile Radio Service and other wireless service providers, could potentially be required to take steps to make their networks more resilient to power outages,” according to the notice.

The loss of power during Ida is addressed at length in the NPRM. The FCC says cell tower sites that lacked backup power infrastructure were particularly hard hit.

“Hurricane Ida, as well as recent hurricane and wildfire seasons, earthquakes in Puerto Rico and severe winter storms in Texas demonstrate that America’s communications infrastructure remains susceptible to disruption during disasters,” the FCC wrote.

The commission says it will consider the scope of obligations for broadcasters and that it is mindful that providers subject to any new rules would incur costs if the proposals are adopted.

It’s not the first time the commission has considered backup power requirements for communications providers, according to footnotes in the NPRM.

Following Hurricane Katrina, the FCC in 2007 required Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers and local exchange carriers to maintain emergency backup power — for a minimum of 24 hours for assets inside central offices and for eight hours at cell sites.

The wireless industry appealed the requirements on several grounds and the commission ultimately deleted its backup power requirements four years later.

The FCC also seeks fresh comment on any alternatives to on-site backup power that have proven successful or have the potential to reduce the frequency, duration or severity of disruptions to communications services caused by power outages. The NPRM also includes a call for improved coordination between communications service providers and power companies.

In conclusion, the NPRM asks about the possible benefits of fostering mutual aid during disasters in segments of the communications industry, such as cable, wireline and broadcast, through sharing of physical assets.

The FCC’s Oct. 26 open meeting will feature a virtual field hearing about Hurricane Ida and further discussion of ways to improve the resilience of this country’s communications networks.

A comment period on the NPRM (PS Docket 21-346) will commence following publication in the Federal Register.

Read the NPRM.

The post FCC Disaster NPRM Discusses Backup Power Requirements appeared first on Radio World.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC on Tuesday kicked off a mid-band spectrum auction to support next generation wireless services – including 5G – in the 3.45 GHz band.

Auction 110 will make available 100 megahertz of contiguous mid-band spectrum for commercial use this year.

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

On July 30, RBR+TVBR first reported on agreement signed by the children of the late Ray Moran that involves the sale of a full-power TV station in Albuquerque and its associated full-power and low-power repeater stations in a transaction brokered by Kalil & Co.

The buyer has now closed on the transaction.

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

When it comes to low-power TV facilities, Ravi Kapur has been a buyer of late.

The Bay Area entrepreneur who once appeared on-camera at KGO-7 in San Francisco and today is behind the Diya TV operation targeting South Asian consumers recently grew in Florida, and in late April agreed to buy a construction permit for a LPTV facility in Chico, Calif.

Now, Kapur is expanding his holdings by traveling north to Redding.

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

It sounds hard to fathom just one day after a global outage crippled Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, immediately triggering cybercrime concerns that Cybercrime Magazine Editor-in-Chief Steve Morgan will be addressing at Forecast 2022 on November 16.

Yet, it is indeed true. Some 27.6 million U.S. households lack a home internet connection.

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

Add Beasley Media Group to the list of radio station owners who will be sharing their third quarter 2021 fiscal report prior to the opening bell on Election Day 2021.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST NEWS NOW.

The company, which is also invested in the Overwatch League, an eSports operation, will host a conference call to discuss the results on November 2 at 10am Eastern.

As has been the case in recent quarters, CEO Caroline Beasley and CFO Marie Tedesco will not be conducting a live Q&A with investors and analysts. Rather, it will be taking questions from analysts, institutional investors and debt holders via email until 9am on November 2. They may be e-mailed to ir@bbgi.com.

“Management will answer as many questions as possible during the conference call and webcast, provided the questions are not addressed in their prepared remarks,” Beasley said.

Beasley enters Q4 2021 with a stock price that has been relatively steady since early February. In fact, the last eight months has seen BBGI near $3 and dip below $2.50 just once — in late September.

From September 28 through noon Tuesday (10/5), BBGI is up 30 cents a share, with pricing at $2.70 in light trading on the Nasdaq GlobalMarket.

What can investors and analysts expect to see from Beasley in Q3? Event dollars could be present, with NTR and events shifted to the third quarter owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ll get the revenue upside in third and fourth quarter, assuming no further negative impacts from the Delta variant,” Caroline Beasley said on the company’s Q2 earnings call in August.

Beasley noted at the time that the third quarter was pacing up 30%, with July up 40% and August and September pacing up 29% and 23%, respectively.

How was the third quarter of 2021 pacing against the same period in 2019?

Caroline Beasley noted that the company was “looking at that being about 5% compared to 2019 at this point.”

In terms of second quarter pacing from 2019, spot dollars were down about 16%, offset by increases in digital of about 67%.

The “big if,” however, is NTR and event revenue. In the third quarter of 2019 event revenue accounted for almost $3 million. In Q4 2019, it accounted for almost $4 million.

Media Financial Management Association’s “Media Outlook 2022,” designed to prepare financial professionals in the broadcast radio and television industries for the coming year, is gearing up for a two-day virtual event scheduled to begin in two weeks.

Scheduled for October 19 and 20, 2021 under the banner of “Opportunities Await – Ready…Reinvent Revenue,” this year’s event offers participants “a fresh view of how media financial leaders can continue to navigate the current uncertainties brought about by the pandemic and changes in the industry to help their companies thrive.”

The seminar is comprised of two two-hour sessions on the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, respectively.

Jay Bryson, Managing Director and Chief Economist of Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Bank, will give the seminar keynote on October 19 at 1pm Eastern. Bryson will discuss the current state of the U.S. economy and its outlook over the next two years, including forecasts of GDP growth, inflation and interest rates.

The second October 19 session, starting at 2:05pm Eastern, will feature Andrew Prior, Managing Director of Tax Policy Services at PwC US, who will review potential new tax legislation and implications for media businesses.

Two sessions will take place on October 20. At 1pm Eastern, the “Reinventing Revenue” panel will discuss ways media businesses can re-imagine and reinvent revenue. Panelists include Sinclair Broadcast Group SVP of Digital Sales Ryan Moore; Chase Rankin, SVP of Sales and Marketing at the Las Vegas Review-Journal; and Beasley Media Group e-Sports COO Lori Burgess.

At 2:05pm Eastern, the “Ad Sales and Data Analytics” panel will examine using data analytics to improve results for ad sales clients. Panelists include Audacy VP of Data and Analytics Dan McKinney.

This year’s Media Outlook 2022 co-chairs are Audacy Chief Accounting Officer and Controller Elizabeth “Beth” Bramowski, who on Friday (10/1) was faced with a company-wide direct deposit problem tied to employee payroll; and Cliff Ejikeme, a SVP, Controller and Treasurer at A&E Television Networks.

Dave Bochenek serves as Chair of MFM/BCCA’s Board of Directors.

 

Getty Images – Devgnor

Deutsche Welle recently launched shortwave radio service for Afghanistan.

It broadcasts daily radio programs in the Dari and Pashto languages.

“In Afghanistan, media diversity and free access to independent information are under acute threat,” said Director General of DW Peter Limbourg in an announcement on the DW website.

[Read: Using Media to Make Afghan Children Smile]

“DW has an experienced and skilled editorial team for the region which will contribute to providing better information to the people of Afghanistan with a shortwave radio service in Dari and Pashto, in addition to our online and social media offerings.”

The programs are broadcast daily for 30 minutes on 15230 kHZ and 15390 kHZ frequencies at 14:00 UTC in Dari and at 14:30 UTC in Pashto.

A spokeswoman declined to confirm where the transmissions originate, for security reasons. But the organization quoted Director of Programs for Asia Debarati Guha saying the focus of the programs will be on peace, civil society and gender and human rights issues, and that shortwave will serve the purpose well in case the internet is shut down or restricted in the country.

DW is Germany’s international broadcaster; it provides content in 30 languages and estimates that it reaches 249 million weekly user contacts in total with its services.

 

The post DW Has Shortwave Service to Afghanistan appeared first on Radio World.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS have cemented partnerships with 10 public media stations designed to extend the reach and impact of Ready To Learn-funded PBS KIDS early learning resources to local communities.

Centered in understanding local assets and needs, each station will collaborate with community partners to develop and build a “Learning Neighborhood” that fosters a community-wide culture of learning at home, in the neighborhood, and within local systems and spaces.

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

It’s been in the news across the last year for its stated desire to own up to nearly 50% of iHeartMedia.

Now, the British media and entertainment group that owns such U.K. radio brands as Heart has purchased a next-generation digital audio content and technology start-up that will be added to the digital audio advertising and programmatic OOH advertising platform DAX.

With the acquisition, Remixd technology will be added to Global’s Digital Ad Exchange, or DAX.

Remixd automatically converts text articles into audio files with naturalized language,
allowing publishers to provide “premium short form audio content” to their users, DAX notes.

It’s a technology Tribune Publishing and the USA TODAY Sports department is already using. It could present opportunities for broadcast TV and radio station websites and other online platforms.

Les Hollander, who serves as CEO at DAX North America, elaborated, “This technology means digital publishers can meet the growing consumer demand for audio and publisher need for improved ad monetization. It’s the perfect pathway to reaching consumers with
customized marketing messages in the burgeoning smart speaker space. Adding text to audio conversion is a further enhancement of the tech Global has developed for DAX. Publishers, who have rafts of written content, can now use the power of audio to open up audience opportunities and revenue streams.”

According to Global-owned DAX, Remixd offers “plug and play” direct sales and programmatic ad sales. “Pre-roll bumpers, interstitials and sonic branding can
be easily added to text-to-audio,” the company noted.

DAX has a footprint of publishers in the U.S., Canada and across Great Britain.

Nautel announced its latest schedule of weekly online talks about transmission topics, and noted that the series has hit the 50-episode mark.

Jeff Welton hosts “Transmission Talk Tuesday,” which uses a roundtable format and includes giveaways.

“These interactive discussion sessions cover a broad range of engineering-oriented topics, providing an opportunity for engineers to learn and discuss ideas with their peers,” the company stated.

Topics for October 2021 include a “gizmos and gadgets” chat on Oct. 12, with Welton and Tom Lawler; an Episode 50 special; and a look at power supplies with Welton and John Wilton.

“When we started doing these sessions over a year ago, it gave us a way to keep Jeff amused and not causing trouble at the office, the company wrote in a statement, adding that the series has been popular with its clients.

Sessions are on Tuesdays at noon Eastern time and qualify for SBE recertification credit.

 

The post Transmission Talk Tuesday Airs 50th Episode appeared first on Radio World.

Two weeks ago, the PR team working with Pearl TV distributed literature indicating that consumers are purchasing approximately 10,000 NEXTGEN TV sets per day.

If that’s not breathtaking enough, Pearl TV reports that more than three million total sets are anticipated to be sold by the end of 2021.

Given the average price of a TV equipped with NEXTGEN TV capabilities, we just had to catch up with Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle. Are chip shortages and supply chain issues a factor? Are consumers really coughing up more than $1,000 for a new set?

Schelle shares all, along with what TV viewers in big Canadian markets with access to U.S. TV stations, can expect, in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Anne Schelle” on Spreaker.

The broadcast media inventory and revenue workflow management company known as WideOrbit has just released a “Total Radio Solution” it believes can bring radio station groups improved efficiencies, cost reductions and, ultimately, higher revenue across the entire ecosystem.

Those are the promises of the new product, launched October 5 by the San Francisco-based tech company.

“As listening patterns continue to shift, today’s radio broadcasters require tools to both streamline traditional AM/FM operations as well as generate additional revenue,” WideOrbit says. “Radio station automation, remote access, and digital delivery and monetization are no longer just nice-to-haves; they’re critical for stations to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry.”

So, what exactly does WideOrbit’s Total Radio Solution offer? The company’s marketing literature highlights “streamlining workflows across the radio ecosystem; increased opportunities for revenue generation through digital audio (streaming and podcasting); improved advertising customer satisfaction and retention through simplified cross-channel transactions, from order to invoice to cash; and simplified access to in-depth performance insights to make smarter, data-driven decisions.”

To be more precise, WideOrbit’s Total Radio Solution incorporates digital management and monetization, business intelligence, and A/R automation and payment tools, in addition to  integration with a variety of third-party systems.

“The products that make up our Total Radio Solution were specifically designed to build upon and enhance each other,” said WideOrbit VP of Radio Sales Danny Tankersley. “Radio organizations of all sizes, from independent local stations to mid-sized regional station groups, to national radio brands, will benefit from our end-to-end solution’s ability to help deliver compelling programming to engage listeners, all while improving efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing revenue.”

WideOrbit Founder and CEO Eric R. Mathewson added, “WideOrbit has a longstanding commitment to continuous innovation and investment in improving our core products. We’re proud to continue that tradition with the launch of our Total Radio Solution, bringing radio workflows together in a single, unified platform to help our customers maximize revenue.”

WideOrbit is offering a family of software products under the umbrella of the Total Radio Solution.

“A suite of end-to-end radio solutions that can both stand alone and work together, WideOrbit’s Total Radio Solution helps station groups of all sizes improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenue across the entire radio ecosystem, from the studio to the C-suite,” the company stated.

WideOrbit makes inventory and revenue workflow management products. It said the components of this new suite allow stations to streamline their workflows, increase opportunities for revenue in streaming and podcasting; simplify cross-channel transactions; and make it easier to access performance data.

The company positions the suite as useful to stations and groups of all sizes.

“Starting from the solid foundation of WideOrbit’s core radio solutions, WO Automation for Radio and WO Traffic for Radio, stations can build out a complete solution as their business grows. WideOrbit’s Total Radio Solution incorporates digital management and monetization, business intelligence and A/R automation and payment tools, in addition to seamless integration with a wide variety of third-party systems.”

The company recently held a webinar on this product.

The post WideOrbit Offers “Total Radio Solution” Suite appeared first on Radio World.

The MusicFirst Coalition and the Future of Music Coalition want the Federal Communications Commission to retain its local radio station ownership caps and subcaps, at least for FM stations.

“These rules remain necessary to promote diversity, competition and localism in communities throughout the country,” they told the commission.

They noted that a proposal from the National Association of Broadcasters would allow common ownership of up to eight commercial FM stations in the 75 largest U.S. markets.

Commenting in the FCC’s long-drawn-out 2018 quadrennial review process, the two groups, which advocate for music creators, wrote: “What we have observed at commercial FM radio in recent years confirms our long-held conviction that prior to rulemaking, the FCC should commission its own analysis — beyond just macroeconomics — incorporating cultural, artistic, labor and other public interest concerns. Such analysis must authentically center on core policy principles of diversity, competition and localism.”

The groups say that the proposal from the NAB to ease some local caps and eliminate others “raises the frightening possibility that a single company might be allowed to own every commercial radio station in many geographic markets, accelerating many of the harms already described by civil rights groups, unions and media reformers.

“Having failed to establish consensus for their proposal even among struggling commercial FM station owners,” the coalitions continued, “they now desperately point solely to marketplace challenges facing the radio industry as justification for further drastic ownership deregulation while dodging accountability for their own anti-competitive actions and the impacts of their preferred deregulatory policies.”

Further ownership consolidation, they said, “is not the answer to terrestrial radio’s competition woes.” They dismissed NAB’s argument that caps are limiting ownership unduly. “In fact, the few AM/FM owners who are currently hitting the LRSO Caps appear to be bouncing back nicely. Permanent ownership deregulation is not the right remedy.”

[Related: “NAB Lays Out Precarious Financial Position of Radio”]

They want to FCC to “chart a different course … rather than assenting to calls to further weaken important public interest protections on the flimsiest of justifications.” It wants the commission to define markets differently, study the impact of past policy decisions on racial equity, and collect better data about what is happening in the marketplace “with respect to listeners, broadcast owners and content creators.”

So they asked the FCC to retain current maximums on the number of FM stations that an entity can own in a market, as well as the AM/FM subcap. They didn’t take a position on whether it should ease the number of AM stations that one entity can own in a market.

“We also call upon the commission to conduct its own meaningful studies about the effects of deregulation of commercial FM ownership on diversity, localism and both intramodal and intermodal competition for use in its upcoming 2022 Quadrennial Review. Such studies should include analysis of effects on the public interest of the elimination of the Main Studio Rule, with an eye toward determining whether the Main Studio Rule should be reinstated in the public interest.”

Founding members of MusicFirst include the Recording Industry Association of America and SoundExchange, among other advocacy groups. FMC is a nonprofit that advocates for artist compensation.

Read the filing (PDF).

The post MusicFirst, FMC See “Inequities” in AM/FM Policy appeared first on Radio World.

ST Engineering iDirect’s broadcast technology has been selected by USSI Global, the provider of customized network, broadcast and digital signage systems and services worldwide, to enable the modernization and compression of satellite programmers’ distribution uplinks to comply with the FCC’s C-band spectrum transition.

ST Engineering iDirect is a key technology partner in the upgrade and will be providing broadcast equipment including M1600 modulators, USS02012 redundancy switches and FR0730 up and down converters, enabling USSI Global to ensure a smooth transition and high-efficiency, future-proof infrastructure.

The modernized compression systems will serve extensive sports distribution encompassing MLB, NHL and NBA teams, as well as several major programmer distribution systems in the USA.

The upgrade is expected to be completed by August 2023.

The upgrade work is part of the FCC’s initiative to clear 300MHz of the C-band’s 500MHz bandwidth frequency for 5G mobile services and relocate service providers within that spectrum to the remaining 200MHz. As the C-band spectrum is mostly used for TV and radio operations, many providers will vacate the 300MHz targeted for 5G services. These transitions will require affected providers to navigate complex technical changes including installation of new and existing antennas and the repointing and filtering required for the antenna upgrades.

— Brian Galante

On October 15, three FEMA representatives will be on hand to help commemorate the launch of “an all-hazards upgrade” to what is considered to be a “Primary Entry Point” facility at the heritage home for News and Talk in New England — iHeartMedia-owned WBZ-AM 1030 in Boston.

FEMA and iHeartMedia Boston are teaming for the event, scheduled for 11am on that Friday in mid-October. It will be held at the WBZ transmitter and “PEP” site, in Hull, Mass.

According to iHeartMedia, the modernization to the emergency studio increases WBZ Radio’s resiliency to continue broadcasting under all conditions, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism.

The facility is one of 77 across the country that serve as a National Public Warning System Primary Entry Point (PEP) station, participating with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during and after incidents and disasters.

This makes WBZ Radio the 13th station in the nation to work with FEMA to complete the all-hazards upgrade, which includes increased sheltering capabilities, expanded broadcast capacity, and sustainable power generation for all types of hazardous events.

A ribbon cutting, official remarks, a Q&A session for local media, a tour of the facility, and a live demonstration at the WBZ PEP station emergency studio are scheduled.

Speakers include Antwane Johnson, Director of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System; FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Nick Russo; IPAWS Program Manager Manny Centeno; iHeartMedia EVP of Engineering & Systems Integration Jeff Littlejohn; and iHeartMedia Boston Market President Alan Chartrand.

Politicians set to appear include Sen. Ed Markey, State Senator Patrick O’Connor, State Representative Joan Meschino, and Hull Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Jennifer Constable.

WBZ on-air host Dan Rea will also be in attendance.

This month Andrea Cummis will be sworn in as president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. She will be the first woman to hold that office.

Cummis, CBT, CTO, has been chief technical officer of PBS39 WLVT(TV), in Bethlehem, Pa., since 2017, and she is a member of SBE Chapter 15 in New York City. Her responsibilities include technical oversight at NPR affiliate WLVR(FM).

She was unopposed in the SBE election and will take office on Oct. 18, succeeding Wayne Pecena, who served two terms and remains on the board as immediate past president.

Cummis has a breadth of expertise, holding degrees in electrical engineering and in law and technology, as well as an MBA. She has worked for more than two decades in engineering, operations and new technology in television, radio and new media.

She and her husband Renard Fiscus also own AC Video Solutions, a systems design and integration firm. Its customers include Christian Faith Network, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, All Mobile Video, M&T Bank, and Raritan Valley Community College.

Cummis spoke with Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane.

Radio World: You’ve done quite a bit of systems integration and design, as I understand it.

Andrea Cummis: Lots and lots. Many, many years.

RW: How did you get into broadcast engineering in the first place?

Cummis: Oh, it’s a funny story. I was in my eighth-grade history class and we were doing projects; you got up and showed your project.

Someone dropped off a cart of equipment — a camera and an old black-and-white reel-to-reel deck — but none of it was put together, it was all just on a cart in a box. I thought it was really interesting. I went over and put it together and started recording the projects.

I went over to the librarian and said, “Do you need help with this?” And I became the AV person for the junior high.

I would record all the school plays and do the audio recordings for concerts.

When I was ready to go to high school, the librarian called them and said, “Don’t mess around, just let her do video stuff when she gets there, don’t make her wait.” So I started running a four-camera video studio as soon as I got to high school. I was TD’ing and directing four-camera shoots for the school plays and running monitors backstage. I just figured it all out.

RW: A lot of people in our business would know what that high school AV closet looks like! Yet in 2021 there are still very few women in the field. Why do you think that is?

Cummis: It’s really hard, and pretty physical, and you don’t get paid that much.

If you’re studying engineering in college, why wouldn’t you do chemical engineering or IT, where you don’t have to be on your feet all day and work crazy hours and be on call weekends and nights and probably get paid a lot more?

I think we as engineers are very undervalued in how hard we work and how much knowledge we need, how we have to work under pressure and respond really quickly.

It’s a very unusual job. I wish I knew why more women didn’t do it. I don’t think they have the opportunity. Maybe a lot of people don’t know that this job exists, they were never exposed to it.

RW: As you come in as SBE president, what are your priorities?

Cummis: Well, for me as the first woman president of SBE, I would like to figure out how to diversify and get more women, more minorities, different ages, and people who aren’t necessarily “straight engineering” but have other technical jobs in broadcasting. I think it’s been our goal as a society for a long time, but it feels really important right now.

Andrea Cummis at work for “The Today Show” in China in 1987.

RW: Certainly there’s been no lack of good intentions on the part of the society over the years, but these also are issues in our broader culture. Those are not small obstacles.

Cummis: No, absolutely.

One of our goals is to have a strategic planning process that will open things. In the past, we’ve flown people into one place, trapped them in a room and talked all day. But with all the virtual meetings we have nowadays, it’s a great opportunity to be able to invite more people and do sessions in different jobs and locations — really open it up so that we can get a better understanding of what people need, what they think we could do to be better and attract other kinds of people.

RW: You certainly are coming into this position at an interesting time nationally, given the pandemic and the effect it’s had on events, meetings and working remotely.

Cummis: We’ve done really well at SBE with having virtual meetings, it’s been very successful for us.

For me, the interesting thing being in charge of a facility is having to deal with all the COVID stuff and keeping your facility safe and your people safe. A lot of chief engineers and other members have been thrown into being COVID experts and having to figure this out.

Are your people working remotely successfully? Are you increasing your cleaning?

For example I found these really cool wraps that you put around handles that are supposed to keep everything clean magically. I don’t know how they work but it’s amazing technology. I even had to take COVID certifications including a session with a doctor, a nurse and a lawyer; you had to pass a test.

There’s so much to know and it changes so fast. It really has changed what our job is in ways you never could have predicted.

RW: We often hear of the traditional divide between IT and broadcast engineering. Many of those skillsets and interest areas now overlap. Is the divide getting any closer?

Cummis: In some cases it’s totally merged and there is really no divide; and in other places that are union shops, they can’t get together because they’re not allowed to. That’s where it gets messy, because the broadcast engineers have a specific domain, the IT guys are on the other side, and there are times they have to work together. But then there’s times where you get finger-pointing: Who’s in charge of this or that, and who’s assigning IP addresses or anything else that crosses over.

I think you’re always going to have two paths.

RW: As you look across media technology, are there particular areas where you think SBE members ought to be paying closer attention for their careers?

Cummis: Well, the ATSC 3.0 stuff is coming up really fast. A lot of places are already starting to implement it. There’s so much to know and it’s so complicated, so many ways to use it. Each organization is going to have to figure out why they’re doing it and what they’re hoping to get out of it.

Then having to keep the ATSC 1 going while you’re doing ATSC 3. It’s years and years that you have to overlap, and nobody’s helping you pay for it. How do you do it? How do you “lighthouse”? Are you doing it with somebody else or can you do it with just what you own?

Just taking a webinar is not going to be enough for anyone. There’s an awful lot to know, and it’s going to keep changing. It will be probably be a few years of people watching to see how’s somebody else rolling it out, and was it successful? How long did it take? What did it cost?

We’re looking at it here at WLVT, but we’re part of a big channel share. It’s going to be hard to do that with nine channels on our one piece of bandwidth now; how would you ever lighthouse that?

RW: You mentioned webinars. SBE has done a great job of putting together comprehensive training materials on many radio and TV technical topics. Are there other issues that you want to mention?

Cummis: I think overall we’ve made some really good decisions in the past few years. Our new membership enhancement, SBE MemberPlus, which includes all the webinars, has been really successful. All our education certification, all our big initiatives like the Technical Professional Training Program have been terrific and are continuing — we just started ATSC 3.0 certification, something I should probably take at some point!

There are a lot of things we do really well. I hope to continue those and grow in other places.

[Related: Read our 2014 interview with Wayne Pecena on the occasion of his receiving the Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award.]

SBE Presidents List

Andrea Cummis 2021–

Wayne Pecena 2019–2021

Jim Leifer 2017–2019

Jerry Massey 2015–2017

Joe Snelson 2013–2015

Ralph Hogan 2011–2013

Vincent Lopez 2009–2011

Barry Thomas 2007–2009

Christopher H. Scherer 2005–2007

Raymond C. Benedict 2003–2005

Troy D. Pennington 2001–2003

James “Andy” Butler 1999–2001

Edward J. Miller 1997–1999

Terrence M. Baun 1995–1997

Charles W. Kelly Jr. 1993–1995

Richard Farquhar 1991–1993

Bradley Dick 1989–1991

Jack McKain 1987–1989

Richard Rudman 1985–1987

Roger Johnson 1984–1985

Doyle Thompson, Sr. 1983–1984

Ron Arendall 1981–1983

Robert Jones 1979–1981

James Hurley 1978–1979

Robert Wehrman   1977–1978

Glen Lahman   1975–1977

James Wulliman 1973–1975

Robert Flanders 1971–1973

Lewis Wetzel 1970–1971

Al Chismark   1968–1970

Charles Hallinan 1966–1968

John Battison, P.E. 1965–1966

The post Cummis Set to Take the Lead at SBE appeared first on Radio World.