Radio+Television Business Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The four Commissioners of the FCC will be congregating at an oversight hearing convened by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone Jr., on the final day of March.

Don’t expect to hear much on the subject of broadcast media regulation.

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KETTERING, OHIO — Continue north on I-75 from the Gem City of Dayton, Ohio to Piqua and, then, to Sidney and you’ll find a 6kw Class A FM offering programming that’s “Totally. About. Music.”

It comes courtesy of Dean Miller Broadcasting, but could that change soon? The station has just been sold, and the buyer — a familiar figure in the building — plans on a return to its former branding.

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The only national distributor of Spanish-language news in public radio has signed off on a Consent Decree with the FCC’s Audio Division Chief, Al Shuldiner, that absolves the licensee of non-compliance with the Commission’s Public File Rule.

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An advanced advertising company focused on “audience-based campaigns” in television has promoted three new members to its executive team.

The leadership elevation of the trio of OpenAP leaders comes at a time of “significant growth” for the operation, which recently saw Discovery Inc. become a minority owner.

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On January 5, Westwood One, the national radio arm of Cumulus Media, officially put an end to The Zach Sang Show.

Now, the former Nickelodeon star is set to resurface — not on the radio, per se, but perhaps a “Mr. Microphone” for the YouTube era, courtesy of Amazon.

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ORLANDO — She’s fondly remembered for her 12 years at Interep, her 17 years as Publisher of now-defunct industry trade Radio & Records and as a 25-year-old General Manager of WXLO “99x” in New York for RKO General in the late 1970s.

For the last decade, Erica Farber has served as President/CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB). It’s a role she’ll be keeping for a couple of more years.

Farber and the RAB’s Executive Committee have agreed to a contract extension that will keep her in the association’s top role through April 2024.

Farber joined the RAB in January 2012 as an executive vice president and ascended to her current role a few months later.

The announcement comes following the RAB’s Spring Board of Directors Meeting held last week in Central Florida; WideOrbit sponsored the event.

At the meeting, held March 2-3, the RAB executive committee also reinstated and activated several new committees, including committees focused on bylaws, nominating, finance, strategy, investment, events, network, multicultural, and the “National Radio Talent System.”

The committees are overseen by the RAB board of directors with participation by RAB’s senior staff and are intended to help the organization manage its day-to-day business, while planning ahead for the future and benefit of the radio industry.

The Spring affair also saw StateNets Southeast & Midwest Region Partner Carolyn Fisher succeed Dave Martin on the board of directors.

PINELLAS PARK, FLA. — The Director of Content at the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate located on Gandy Blvd. in St. Petersburg, Fla., will soon be trading in her Bolts and Bucs jerseys for Flyers and Eagles attire.

That’s because she’s just been named President/GM of CBS News and Stations’ local businesses in Philadelphia.

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Of the many licensees of low-power television stations that have been actively trading properties of late, Lowcountry 34 Media has been more of the prominent ones.

The company led by Jeff Winemiller has most recently snapped up unbuilt LPTVs right before a construction deadline, donated a LPTV to an Indiana public television broadcaster, and spun off an Arkansas property to Weigel Broadcasting.

Now, Winemiller is writing a check to the U.S. Treasury. Why? He’s given the approval to a Consent Decree with the FCC to resolve a matter in which Lowcountry 34 was charged with abusing the Commission’s licensing process.

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Sorry, but this isn’t the Aguacate podcast and you won’t be getting any avocado toast tips here.

Rather, media industry executives have the chance to learn more about Advocado, a cross media data platform that connects online and offline audience insights to better inform marketers on the media they consume, and where to invest their ad dollars.

Brian Handrigan, co-founder and CEO of St. Louis-based Advocado, shares in this InFOCUS Podcast how the company’s November 2021 purchase of VEIL watermarking software is moving forward, and what Advocado’s acquisition of Kantar BVS means, too.

Learn more by clicking here and devoting 15 minutes to this audio interview conducted by RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Brian Handrigan” on Spreaker.

By Brian Galante

“High efficiency.” “Low wind load.” “Reliability.”

Those are traits many broadcasters note of Dielectric‘s many products. Now, broadband pylon TV antennas are coming for FM broadcasters to enjoy.

The Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned and independently operated Dielectric’s new FMP antennas represent the broadcast industry’s first slot cavity microstrip FM antenna product family. Among the benefits Dielectric is touting are multicasting, pattern flexibility, increased reliability and small tower footprint.

Attending the 2022 NAB Show? Dielectric will publicly share full details of the FMP family for the first time between April 24-27 at Las Vegas Convention Center, in Booth W7107. RBR+TVBR will be covering the NAB Show and will offer further coverage as it warrants.

“Television broadcasters have long valued pylon antennas for their straightforward designs, versatility and structural benefits such as low wind load,” said Dielectric VP/GM Keith Pelletier. “The cylindrical design attributes of pylon antennas historically translated to narrow bandwidth characteristics that were impractical for FM signals. Dielectric’s engineering breakthroughs introduce techniques to increase that bandwidth, making full-band FM operation in pylon antennas a reality.”

The engineering breakthroughs include reducing the antenna Q factor, which improves the bandwidth from one to 20 percent; and stabilizing the H:V ratio across the band. The 20% bandwidth translates to full FM band operation, a key goal of the FMP antenna’s design. Dielectric has also included its patented parasitic dipole, which adds a vertical component to the existing horizontal signal. This creates more pattern options for FM broadcasters, including elliptical and circular polarization, and contributes to the substantial bandwidth increase.

While Dielectric’s special pylon designs for FM radio differ from TV systems, the FMP family carries over many traditional pylon antenna benefits including optimal downward radiation, smaller size and lower weight. For example, FMP antennas reduce the number of parts used in equivalent ring-style antennas by more than 60%. The streamlined componentry also improves reliability over the long term as there are far fewer parts to repair or replace.

The pylon design also provides broadcasters and tower crews with top-mounting options, in addition to the traditional side-mounted configurations of ring antennas. This is ideal for high-power FM stations that want a true top-mounted omnidirectional antenna. The FMP can handle input powers of 100kW and higher, which also makes the antenna a top choice for combined operation of multiple stations.

Dielectric’s FMP designs use full-wavelength spacing between antenna elements. This reduces the number of antenna elements required compared to ring-style designs, which require half-wavelength spacing, hence more elements, to cover the full FM band. The efficient design is also easy to scale. Antennas are built in four-layer building blocks and can be increased to eight or 12 bays to suit higher power requirements and elevation pattern gains.

Dielectric’s abilities and drive to push innovation is showcased further with the actual FMP antenna design process, which was completed in a virtual environment and then quickly built to validate the designs. This process would traditionally take years and numerous iterations of parts to develop the antenna. Dielectric recently established a team of specialized engineers to create new designs quickly and efficiently using HFSS (High Frequency Simulation Software), which greatly accelerated the development process.

Dielectric, which turns 80 this year, revolutionized FM broadcasting in the 1960s with the first dual-polarized antenna, which introduced the concept of circular polarization from a single FM antenna element. The company again changed the game in the late 1970s with a quadrupole design that unveiled bandwidth improvements that remain present in modern ring-style antennas. Pelletier cites these examples as the roots of the innovations behind the FMP family, while also incorporating Dielectric’s experience in building pylon systems for TV stations.

“We are always looking at ways that we can bring antenna design concepts from one market to another and advance the technology for modern and future broadcast systems,” Pelletier said. “We have now adapted what was long a solution for mostly single-channel TV operations for both broadband TV and FM broadcasting, which very much differentiates our product portfolio from competitors.”

By Brian Galante

ROANOKE, VA. — It has been serving viewers in Southwest Virginia since 1952. In 2019, it moved to a new facility as part of a plan to improve its coverage of the region as its NBC affiliate.

For station owner Graham Media Group, replacement of the aging HDTV cameras was necessary. In the end, WSLS-10 in Roanoke-Lynchburg purchased six new studio cameras. Today, it believes its on-air look is improved, and its production sets are better represented.

The Roanoke-based NBC affiliate purchased six SK-HD1800 studio cameras from Hitachi Kokusai.

WSLS produces 31 hours of live newscasts each week for the market, as well as local lifestyle programming including daytime offering Blue Ridge Spotlight. The broadcaster initially launched its new studio space in 2019 using its existing, decade-old cameras alongside additional units borrowed from a sister station.

That all changed in 2021, when WSLS launched a long-planned camera technology refresh to enhance both its visual quality and creative options.

“Improving our picture quality was the main thing we wanted to do, but our previous cameras had also become unserviceable,” said Ricky Williams, Director of Technology at WSLS. “We also wanted to add new production capabilities such as automated lift.”

Systems integrator Digital Video Group (DVG) had built the technology core of WSLS-10’s new studio. He recommended the SK-HD1800 cameras as ideal fits. “Beyond the quality advantages, the success DVG has had with Hitachi cameras at other broadcasters was a big factor,” Williams said. “We do so much live production every day that taking a camera out of our rotation to resolve any issues would impact our product.”

WSLS went live with the SK-HD1800 cameras in November 2021, with DVG performing the integration and Ross Video handling the setup of camera robotics. With live production happening throughout the day, WSLS deployed the new cameras and robotics two at a time to minimize disruptions.

A phased approach to implementation was used.

“The improvement in picture quality was very noticeable as soon as we went on-air with the first two units,” Williams recalls. “We could immediately see an A/B difference next to the older cameras we were still using. It motivated us to speed up the deployment of the rest of the new cameras, since it would be so obvious to viewers that we were using both generations at the same time.”

Two of the SK-HD1800s are deployed on new Ross BlackBird pan/tilt/lift elevation systems to accommodate varying heights in the studio and sets. The remaining four SK-HD1800s are set up on Miller 3230 Combo Live 55 pedestals with Ross pan/tilt heads. Five of the cameras are used for newscasts, with two – including one shared between both purposes – used on the Daytime Blue Ridge Spotlight set on the other side of the studio. Production is automated through the Grass Valley Ignite platform, with Ross Video routing systems, Xpression graphics, and Dashboard control software rounding out the infrastructure.

Burk Technology has brought to market its Arcadia24 Hosted Subscription Service, and it’s a move the company that’s long worked with radio and TV broadcasters says can provide secure web-based remote control accessible to small groups and individual stations.

Arcadia24 delivers remote facility control to station engineers and managers via their mobile devices. Hosted by Burk Technology on AWS, each customer’s Arcadia24 service is installed, configured, managed and maintained by Burk.

Web links from mobile devices to the Arcadia24 server are locked down and encrypted using the latest generation of Transport Layer Security (TLS). Encrypted VPN tunnels and firewall protection guard communications between Arcadia24 and each remote site.

A Cloud-based product, Arcadia24 communicates with each remote site at its optimum rate, accommodating variations in communications speed and performance. The most current data from all sites is then made available for instant display on authorized mobile devices.

Arcadia24 users are authenticated via Microsoft AD LDS, with each user’s access restricted to specified channels, sites, and station groups. Control of critical site functions can be strictly limited to key personnel while overall site performance may be made visible to a wider group of authorized users.

Burk provides customized graphical control screens for each site connected to Arcadia24, giving station personnel instant access to critical site information. Sites can be grouped based regional hierarchy, engineering responsibility or other criteria, with drill-down to display performance summaries.

“Burk’s original Arcadia remote access system brings flexible, secure mobile site control to large radio and television groups operating tens to hundreds of stations,” said Matt Leland, Burk’s Director of Sales. “The new Arcadia24 is hosted and managed by Burk, making it easy for smaller organizations and even individual stations to realize this same level of secure mobile remote access.”

Arcadia24 manages remote sites equipped with Burk Technology v5 ARC Plus or ARC Solo remote control systems.

Many years ago, directories listing the radio broadcasting companies in the U.S. would always feature the uniquely named Ad Astra per Aspera Broadcasting at the top of the alphabetical list.

Today, the licensee still exists. And, it is signing off on the purchase of an AM/FM combo and an FM translator serving a small Kansas town.

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A thirty-year promotions management software company and a company dedicated to offering integrated digital marketing solutions for media companies are partnering up.

PromoSuite and Aptivada are teaming to create an integration between Aptivada’s contesting platform and PromoSuite Next and PromoSuite Mail products.

The integrations are designed to help shared clients increase efficiency, eliminate duplication, and harness the power of the two platforms working together, the companies say.

Aptivada is co-founded by Brian Green. He commented, “This partnership with PromoSuite emphasizes the importance of offering streamlined tools that give each of our clients the ability to work through one platform to streamline efforts. We’re thrilled to join forces and deploy solutions that are extremely efficient and a win/win for everyone.”

Aptivada’s contest entrant information will now be found within PromoSuite’s winner database. This can enable client stations to use PromoSuite Next to manage the prize fulfillment process, including remotely generating winner release and W9 forms. Additionally, the winner’s data would be available within PromoSuite Mail for inclusion in future email campaigns.

PromoSuite’s CEO Rocco Macri noted, “At PromoSuite we are continually looking for ways to increase productivity by improving workflow and opportunities for collaboration across all departments. Aptivada shares our passion for the radio industry, and we’re excited to work together to bring these solutions to our clients.”

The Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary dedicated to the deployment of advanced broadcast capabilities is readying a three-part webinar series that tackles the intricacies of Advanced Emergency Information powered by the NextGen Broadcast standard — ATSC 3.0.

The webinar series will be held virtually, on consecutive Tuesdays in March starting next week (March 15). The “deep dive” begins at 1pm Eastern on March 15, March 22 and March 29.

The sessions are designed to “warn and inform consumers” of urgent events from weather to police actions to natural disasters and finding lost neighbors.

“As the ability for broadcasters to create interactive services draws closer, Advanced Emergency Information (AEI) services are among the most compelling public service a broadcaster can offer,” ONE Media 3.0 notes. “AEI also represents the best unique feature set broadcasters can field as they vie for users against much larger media platforms that have had interactive capabilities for many years. This series will examine opportunities AEI services can offer broadcasters to improve service to their communities and business health.”

As NextGen Broadcasters offer interactive services, AEI services can offer features not available from large digital platforms.

That’s the focus of the first webinar, on March 15.

Speakers:
Josh Gordon, TV Industry Strategist, Josh Gordon Group, (Moderator)
So Vang, VP of Emerging Technology at ONE Media 3.0
Rob Folliard,  VP, Government Relations & Distribution, Gray Television
Ed Czarnecki, Ph.D., Chairman, NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance (NVISA)
Lynn Claudy, SVP Technology at the National Association of Broadcaster

The subject of the March 22 webinar: How AEI services can strengthen relationships with local emergency managers and public safety professionals.

Lastly, the March 29 webinar’s topic is: AEI services will enable TV newsrooms to better serve communities during threats.

Register for the first or all webinars by clicking here.

It’s a 6kw Class A serving a small Alaskan city accessible to Anchorage only by a 75-minute flight.

Pending FCC approval, it will be soon owned by Strait Media. 

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The owner of the KLOVE and Air1 Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) noncommercial networks wanted a big FM between San Antonio and Victoria, Tex.

The company that owns this FM said OK — so long as it could get an asset in a Top 30 market it’s been leasing in return.

Educational Media Foundation agreed. As such, Alpha Media is gaining another FM signal in its home market.

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Using a “three-pronged valuation approach,” MoffettNathanson sliced the target price of The Walt Disney Co.’s share price by ten percent.

On a tough day for Wall Street, the decision couldn’t have come at a worse time for DIS, which fell by 5.1% in average trading on Monday.

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The owner of the TV One and Cleo cable TV networks, and the Radio One and Reach Media audio content creation and distribution arms, now has the freedom to engage in some significant stock buybacks — should it elect to do so over the next two years.

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Ralph Oakley will be making perhaps one final appearance in his role as head of a broadcast television company now part of the Gray Television family.

The now-retired President/CEO of Quincy Media, Inc., ranked in 2021 as one of Broadcast Television’s Best Leaders by RBR+TVBR readers, will be joined by Byron Allen; the now-retired EVP of Media Relations at the NAB; and two radio industry executives as a Leadership Award honoree at the 2022 Broadcasters Foundation of America breakfast.

The event, which is traditionally held during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, makes it return after a three-year absence on Wednesday, April 27 — bright and early at 7am Pacific.

Among the other honorees — now-retired NAB EVP/Media Relations Dennis Wharton; Katz Radio Group‘s President, Christine Travaglini; and Pierre Bouvard, the Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media and former longtime Arbitron EVP.

The five honorees include those previously announced in 2021, prior to the cancellation of the 2021 NAB Show.

The Broadcasters Foundation is the only charity devoted exclusively to providing financial aid to broadcasters in acute need from critical illness, accident, or serious misfortune, and the breakfast held during the NAB Show is complimentary to all in broadcasting.

During the Breakfast, the Broadcasters Foundation will also present the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award. It is bestowed on an individual whose work in broadcasting exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.

Who’s the recipient? Gordon Smith, the now-former NAB head and ex-U.S. Senator from Oregon, who is now a special advisor to the association.

While the Breakfast is complimentary to all in broadcasting, pre-registration is required.

To register or to reserve a page in the Program Guide, broadcasters can visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org/leadershipbreakfast.

Sponsors for the 2022 event include AccuRadio, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Association of Media Brokers (NAMB), Nielsen, Premiere Networks, Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB), USTrust and vCreative.

The mission of the Broadcasters Foundation of America is to improve the quality of life and maintain the personal dignity of men and women in the radio and television broadcast profession who find themselves in acute need. The Foundation reaches out across the country to identify and provide an anonymous safety net in cases of critical illness, advanced age, death of a spouse, accident, and other serious misfortune. The Broadcasters Foundation of America is a 501(c)3 Public Charity and has been rated 100 from Charity Navigator for solid financial health and received full credit for its program to expense ratio.