Radio+Television Business Report

For those who believed the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold the Pai Commission’s “modernization” of its cross-ownership rules by allowing one entity to own a newspaper and a radio or TV station in the same market for the first time since the mid-1970s was a bad thing, a major deal involving a Windy City institution may come as sour news.

Yet, the FCC under former Chairman Ajit Pai may have helped save a Chicago daily while, at the same time, put the wheels in motion on a unique collaboration between a newspaper and Chicago Public Media — a model that could help save print publications in other markets from extinction.

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

In the face of a pandemic and ensuring the company’s broadcast TV stations covered COVID-19 with all the resources they needed, Emily Barr has delivered for Chicago-based Graham Media Group’s local television stations, found in Houston, Detroit, San Antonio, Orlando, Jacksonville, and in Roanoke, Va.

She’s also become a familiar figure on Capitol Hill, thanks to her role as the NAB’s Television Board Chair. Now, Barr is ready to perhaps relax, as the fourth-ranked executive on Broadcast Television’s Best Leaders rankings for 2021 has announced her retirement.

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

When it comes to local audience measurement, Nielsen isn’t the only source for ratings and consumer data anymore. Entravision Communications recognizes this, as it is signing a new agreement giving it access to Comscore‘s “next-generation linear audience measurement service” as its local audience currency in one of its television markets.

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

A SVP of Performance Sales and a VP of Performance Sales have been added to the C-Suite at the audio content creation and distribution company formerly known as Entercom.

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

He started his career at WBT in Charlotte in 1952. Twenty-six years later he would become President of the Broadcast Division of Allbritton Communications, former owner of such stations as ABC affiliate WJLA-7 in Washington.

Now, many across the Nation’s Capital and around the U.S. are paying tribute to Thomas Cookerly, who has died at the age of 94.

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

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has extended the final deadline to submit entries for the 47th annual Gracie Awards to January 27, 2022.

The Awards celebrate programming and individual achievement by, for and about women in television, radio/audio and digital media.

“We know the circumstances of the past two years led to delivering content to audiences in ways we never expected, which is why we are more committed than ever to honoring the remarkable work that has been created by, for and about women,” said Becky Brooks, President.

Entry information can be found HERE.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Judiciary Committee has set Thursday (1/20) to markup the Open App Markets Act. The bipartisan bill, introduced in August 2021, is focused on promoting competition in the app market currently dominated by Apple and Google.

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

Sinclair Broadcast Group‘s annual Diversity Scholarship program is now accepting applications for the 2022 school year.

The primary goal of the scholarships is to help students from diverse backgrounds, who reflect Sinclair’s audiences nationwide, complete their education and pursue careers in broadcast journalism, digital storytelling, and marketing.

“Through our annual scholarship program, we hope to develop the next generation of journalists, and continue our commitment to increasing diversity in the broadcast industry to better reflect the communities we serve,” said Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s President/CEO.

The program has provided more than $100,000 in tuition assistance during the last six years.

Applicants must be a current college sophomore or junior at a four-year undergraduate college or university. Students from all 50 states can apply at www.sbgi.net/scholarship.

Deadline for submissions is Saturday, April 30.

With an eye toward improving streaming, CBS News has made several leadership appointments.

At the same time, there are new leaders in place at CBS Newspath, the CBS News-affiliated affiliate newsgathering service.

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

As the video streaming market grows more complex and dynamic, the greater the value of audience measurement.

That’s one of the key points of a new thought leadership report from KANTAR. “Media Trends and Predictions 2022” looks at five key themes for the media industry this year.

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

By Rob Dumke

New year, new MVPD impasse.

Last week, Dish subscribers across a slew of Midwestern states lost access to local television stations owned by Block Communications. As is the case with such disagreements, both sides are blaming each other.

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

Until August 2021, he served as the Market President for iHeartMedia in Huntsville, Ala. That’s when he departed to form his own broadcast media company.

Now, the new entity has filed paperwork with the Commission for its first two properties.

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

With the 2022 NAB Show now marking the “big return” for many a broadcast media technology vendor, CP Communications has perhaps emerged as one of the more active players of late. In this RBR+TVBR Winter 2022 Special Report preview, CP CEO Kurt Heitman shares his excitement about what lies ahead for the company in 2022 with Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.

The conversation is the centerpiece of the latest InFOCUS Podcast, where Broadcast Media comes to Talk. It’s less than 15 minutes in length — the perfect size to go with your morning coffee, afternoon walk, or evening wind-down. Listen now!

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Kurt Heitman” on Spreaker.

FELTON, CALIF. — A company founded 49 years ago as a radio broadcast technology services provider that today specializes in RDS encoders, AM/FM modulation monitors and off-air monitoring equipment for AM / FM / HD / DAB+ / RDS / Internet Radio is bringing to market two new HD Radio modulation monitors.

Inovonics says the new 551 and 552 HD Radio Modulation Monitors are to be released in February. And, the company says the monitors incorporate the necessary features for station setup, regulatory compliance and remote monitoring.

The model 551, with its 7-inch TFT Touch Screen, displays all the essential modulation data in a graphic format on the front panel, as well as the remote Web interface. In addition, full-time audio outputs are available for FM and digital channels HD1- HD4. The model 552 is designed for remote installations where information is accessible via the graphic Web interface and is available at a more modest price point.

Inovonics President/CEO Ben Barber commented, “When we look back over the past two years of development, we have made great strides in designing a complete and comprehensive FM/HD Radio Mod Monitor. With the dynamic web interface that can be remotely accessed from any smart phone, tablet, or PC, and its SNMP capabilities, these two products take innovation to a new level.”

For more information about price and availability, please contact Inovonics Sales Department via e-mail at sales@inovonicsbroadcast.com || Tel: (+1) 831-458-0552

Broadcast Pix has rolled out a new feature-rich software release for its entire range of  integrated production systems. V9.0 software is now available on all new Broadcast Pix systems, and as a free download to all users with a current support contract.

Apart from the usual bug fixes and minor enhancements, the V9.0 release includes some “significant new features,” ones the company says will benefit all production environments.

GuestPix
GuestPix integrates remote guests connected via their browser with any other video elements in the switcher, including full automation and timing by including them in Macros.

A user logs in through a link using an authentication code and then shares their webcam or desktop, allowing users to see a preview of what is being shared, along with the return program output, including audio with automatic mix minus for echo cancellation.

Integrated Intercom and Chat
Remote crew members such as a camera or graphic operator can talk to the switcher operator like a traditional intercom system through their browser, using their local mic, speakers or headset. Additionally, they can open a chat window and message the switcher operator or control room using IM, with the ability to leave, but still pick up conversations when they reenter. The chat session can also be saved to a text file for later use.

Enhanced Automation

Macro Timer
Schedule a Macro to trigger at a set time or on a recurring basis
Macros can be enabled and disabled without deleting them
Status bar shows a timer icon at 2 mins and a counter at 30 secs prior
Automatically start a production (i.e., a church service or meeting)

Show-Based Camera Control Setting
Works with all IP cameras using the Sony camera control protocol
The camera control and its settings can now be show-based
Simplifies operation for multiple setups of different room configurations
Reduces errors and increases flexibility
Presets are saved locally with unlimited presets, plus export and back up with the show

Broadcast Pix CEO Graham Sharp said, “We are very excited that this major software release will enable our users to do more – include remote guests, improved team collaboration, and enhanced automation within their live productions – at no additional cost. These rich new features build upon our tradition of offering the most powerful yet easiest-to-use live production solutions available today.”

Version 9.0 software is now available on all new BPswitch, ChurchPix, RadioPix and StreamingPix systems and is also available as a free update for existing Broadcast Pix users under warranty or a support contract. To learn more, visit www.broadcastpix.com.

A Los Angeles-based company known for transcriptions and captioning products is welcoming a sales leader who has held several senior sales, marketing, and business development roles throughout his career.

Joining Digital Nirvana is the former U.S. Director of Business Development for Brand Localization solution provider Blend. That’s Tom Moniak, and he’ll serve as Director of Sales at Digital Nirvana.

Digital Nirvana says it created the position in response to the company’s growth and expansion.

This puts Moniak in charge of sales to media and entertainment clients in the United States.

“Tom has served clients in every aspect of production and delivery in the M&E space and has strong relationships across the localization, media production services, advertising, gaming, and software development communities and with Fortune 500 companies,” Russell Wise, SVP/Sales and Marketing for Digital Nirvana, says. “That mix of experience makes us better able to serve customers and prospects in postproduction environments and lays the groundwork for our continued growth in the U.S.”

Moniak’s resume includes a three-year stint at Deluxe Entertainment Services Group.

MIAMI — It’s known in media and broadcast circles for its products. Now, this French operation is welcoming an Application Engineer and “Solution Architect” to its U.S. headquarters.

Taking the South Florida-based role is Cyrus Uible, who joins from Skyline Communications, where he served as a Principal Solutions Architect.

From June 2008-May 2015, Uible was associated with HA Design Group LLC, as a design engineer.

At WorldCast, his role is to offer pre/post-sales support to Account Managers and customers in their call for tenders and project deployment – for all company brands, including the NMS Kybio, by WorldCast CONNECT, and WorldCast Systems’ Ecreso, APT, and Audemat solutions.

“I could not be more excited to have joined the Worldcast team! My goal is to help grow and strengthen our relationships with partners and customers in the Americas by designing, delivering and supporting innovative solutions,” Uible said.

FORT LAUDERDALE — The company handling the distribution and Support for RME Audio Products in North and South America, in addition to Ferrofish, Digigram, Appsys and myMix products, is moving forward with a series of networking and educational events under the “Connections & Cocktails” banner.

Synthax U.S. plans to host multiple events across the country in 2022. The series kicks off  January 27 from 5pm-8pm at Sinema in Nashville.

Additional no-cost events are planned for locales in Southern California and Miami, with dates to be announced later in 2022.

Geared for audio technology for musicians, producers, live sound engineers, audio integrators and broadcasters, “Connections & Cocktails” will feature live product demos, food, an open bar and live music.

“During a time when we aren’t meeting in large groups, Synthax U.S. saw the opportunity to gather in a more intimate setting while continuing to educate end users on all the potential the Synthax portfolio of brands has to offer,” said Marie Sorenson, Marketing Manager for Synthax U.S. “We look forward to connecting with engineers, musicians and producers and share how they can get the most out of their gear, while also giving them an opportunity to network with their peers.”

To RSVP for the event, click here.

Big, splashy tech developments like autonomous vehicles and virtual reality are powered by the latest developments in communications infrastructure, like 5G. But, high-level technology is necessary in areas you don’t always consider — including sports broadcasts.

With that in mind, the Pac-12 turned to Zayo Group, a global provider of enterprise-grade network infrastructure solutions, as its official sponsor and technology partner.

This led to the December 2021 placement of the Pac-12 Football Championship Game on the Zayo Wavelength Network. The game was the highest viewed program of the day among 18-49-year-olds, with an audience of 4.2 million viewers.

What does this relationship entail?

First, The Pac-12 Network utilizes Zayo’s DIA network as their primary ISP at their corporate headquarters in San Francisco and Zayo’s Dark Fiber Network to broadcast the Men’s and Women’s basketball conference championships in Las Vegas.

Further, the Pac-12 Network utilizes Zayo’s Wavelength Network to broadcast 24-hour coverage of Pac-12 sanctioned sporting events, including Olympic sports and broadcasts of archived sports telecasts via satellite and cable networks.

Additionally, live events from all 12 universities including 30+ football games, 100+ men’s basketball games, Pac-12 Championship events, more than 300 live Olympic sport events as well as original and studio content such as The Pregame, The Drive: Pac-12 Football, Inside Pac-12 Football, Our Stories and Pac-12 All-Access.

In addition to the national channel, the Pac-12 Network also operates a group of six regional sports channels focusing on different schools within the conference under the Pac-12 Networks brand.

Zayo’s partnership with the Pac-12 comes as the company is acquiring QOS Networks from M/C Partners. QOS is a provider of SD-WAN and edge-managed services.

It also follows the recent appointment of Lynn Tinney as SVP of Channels and Partnerships. Tinney joins Zayo from Brightcove, where she served as VP of Global Channels.

An AM and its FM translator licensed to the city of Santa Fe, N. Mex., are seeking the Commission’s approval for a pro forma transfer.

It is being done without consideration, and for estate planning purposes.

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