Radio+Television Business Report

A television station owned by the parent company of the MeTV Network and The CW Network affiliate in the nation’s third-largest market recently signed off on the acquisition of several camcorders to improve the quality — and flexibility — of its broadcast operations.

The equipment is now in place at the Weigel Broadcasting stations serving a market to the north of Chicago, where it owns the CBS affiliate.

As such, several GY-HC900 and GY-HC550 CONNECTED CAM camcorders have been purchased from JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation.

They’ll be put to use at “CBS58” in Milwaukee, WDJT-TV; “The M” WMLW-TV; MeTV Network O&O WBME-CD; and “Telemundo Wisconsin,” WYTU-LD.

“We have been using JVC for over a decade in the field and have been very happy,” says Steve Percefull, Weigel’s chief engineer for its Milwaukee operations. “We have the GY-HM650 ProHD Mobile News Camera and GY-HM790 ProHD Solid State Media Camcorder, as well as GY-HM850 and GY-HM890 ProHD Shoulder Camcorders in our inventory. We have tried other manufacturers’ cameras over the years, but have to use adapters to use SD cards, which became problematic. This time around, when I was buying cameras, I wanted something easy and user-friendly.”

The GY-HC900 has a full-frame and a two-thirds lens.

Aaron Frye, WDJT’s director of photography, was among the first to use the cameras at Weigel Broadcasting.

“I primarily use our new JVCGY-HC900 for field anchoring and to shoot news stories,” he says. “The GY-HC900 has a nice depth of field and the colors really pop; it’s a great upgrade from our previous cameras.”

Additionally, the station purchased the GY-HC550s to replace aging cameras in the Multimedia Journalist (MMJ) kits, which are used by photographers for multi-camera shoots.

Percefull has been impressed with the ruggedness of both the GY-HC900 and GY-HC550.

While Weigel uses the JVC CONNECTED CAM camcorders for traditional live stand-ups, the GY-HC900 and GY-HC550 both offer a wide range of live streaming capabilities. Included among these is direct streaming to Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

While you may be thinking of Carmen, there’s no mistaking the individual who has been appointed International Sales Manager for Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned transmitter manufacturer Dielectric.

The Maine-based Sinclair subsidiary has appointed Daniel Bizet to the role. He succeeds the now-retired John Macdonald and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Bizet reports to Dielectric VP/Sales Jay Martin, and will lead Dielectric’s sales efforts markets with a strong focus in Latin America. He previously spent more than 30 years working with Broadcast Electronics, most recently as its Latin America sales manager. He lived in Venezuela, and served as a dealer for BE for more than 20 years as president and owner of Professional Broadcast Supply, directing sales of broadcast equipment and radio station turnkey solutions across the now-troubled country. Bizet began his career as the technical manager at Circuito Union Radio in Caracas, where he was responsible for installation and maintenance for all network stations.

“I’m thrilled to join the Dielectric team,” Bizet said. “Dielectric is a very strong global brand that builds and delivers antennas and RF systems optimized for every TV and FM radio broadcast. Based on a proven reputation, close customer engagement, and excellent service, they are for me the key to success.”

Dielectric VP/GM Keith Pelletier said of Bizet, “He truly understands the broadcast industry, which means he can help our customers select the right hardware and software for their specific transmission requirements.”

PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional TV and Philips Digital Signage products, has a new VP of Commercial Displays. His chief task: to lead the global company’s North America business forward.

Taking the role is Vince Schuster, an AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist and Digital Signage Display Expert who is certified in Imaging Science Foundation-Commercial.

In Philips’ words, Schuster is a “notorious and highly respected figure” in the AV industry, with a career spanning more than 25 years. “Vince brings invaluable additional industry knowledge and experience to the PPDS team in North America, as well as the wider global company,” the company says.

He will be based in the Washington National Capital Region.

Schuster will report to PPDS General Manager Chris Colpaert, who calls him “a natural leader.”

North American focus areas include Pro TV, Digital Signage and LED products.

It has also formed a series of strategic partnerships with such hardware and software providers as Crestron, Advantech, Bosch, Intel, and i3 Technologies.

RBR+TVBR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Comrex is announcing a new cloud service called Gagl.

Gagl delivers conferenced audio from multiple contributors to Comrex hardware codecs in high quality and allows between one and five users to send and receive audio from computers and smartphones.

Participants can connect and send audio by clicking a link using any common web browser. Their audio is conferenced (if there’s more than one user), and delivered to a Comrex hardware codec such as ACCESS or BRIC-Link II. All participants can hear other
participants, and the codec can send audio back to them.

Gagl could be used as the hub for a round-robin reporting program or for a multi-host radio show to support multiple simultaneous connections at once. Because it offers low latency, it is appropriate for call-in talk radio.

Gagl could also be used to allow a single contributor to connect back to the studio from a computer or smartphone.

Designed with audio quality in mind, Gagl provides stable connections with limited bandwidth.

Gagl uses the Opus audio encoder, with a bit rate that delivers both voice and music in top
quality.

Gagl also delivers audio directly to a Comrex codec with all the stability enhancements,
pro-grade audio connections, and features that hardware codecs provide.

 

A company known for its radio imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasting and jingles business has added to its production leadership team.

Coming from YamanAir is a new West Coast Director of Commercial Production, while the company is also welcoming a Production Manager for Long Form Programming.

The former position is that of Darren Silva, who spent 22 years as a Network Production Manager for Radio Disney in Los Angeles who began his career as an overnight air personality in San Luis Obispo, Calif. In the late 1980s, he was “Dangerous Darren” at Heavy Metal rocker KNAC-FM 105.5 in Long Beach, Calif. Later, he worked at KEGL “97.1 The Eagle” in Dallas.

In addition to his Radio Disney role, Silva for the past 17 years has been an air talent associated with Sirius XM’s Hair Nation, Ozzy’s Boneyard and Classic Rewind channels.

Meanwhile, the Production Manager for Long Form Programming role is now being held by Jake Urbanek. He joins Benztown from Apple Music in Los Angeles, where he was
Assistant Producer of The Zane Lowe Show. Prior to that, he was Audio Engineer for
over 8 years Mr. Smalls Recording Studio in Pittsburgh. He was also Sound
Engineer for the Washington Symphony Orchestra in Washington, Pa.

Global travel restrictions and time restraints in conducting Factory Acceptance Testing for new transmitters have been addressed by Nautel with a new online FAT program.

A FAT is a set of pre-defined tests that many customers must witness being completed in real-time as part of project specifications. “Many of our customers simply haven’t been able to travel to factory locations since late 2019 due to the pandemic,” said Charles Andrews, Nautel Test Supervisor, “and even in the absence of COVID many customers have cost or visa restrictions making it difficult to attend these tests in person.”

Andrews’ team leveraged the increasingly-versatile capabilities of online meeting platforms,
paired with virtual communications interfaces such as Teams or Team Viewer, to allow
customers to witness transmitter testing in real-time as part of their final acceptance process. The Nautel AUI and multiple pieces of measurement equipment are employed along with a suite of cameras, wireless microphones and personnel to conduct the tests. Customers are able to communicate with their transmitter(s) via the AUI and view performance measurements throughout the final testing process.

“We consider comprehensive communication with our customers critical to the manufacturing and testing process,” said Andrews. “Although we enjoy having our customers here in person, this new system brings a more affordable and immediate solution to them.”

A short video explaining the online FAT process is available via Nautel’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7v5MNA2Ncc .

Greg Fink joined Comscore in 2017. He exited as its Chief Financial Officer at the end of August 2021.

Now, the audience and advertising measurement company led by CEO Bill Livek has named Fink’s successor.

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Add another third quarter earnings call for a broadcast media company to an already crowded November 4 slate.

At 10am, company representatives from Urban One will share details of the multimedia operation’s three-month period ending September 30.

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With RAJAR ratings due Wednesday for the first time since the arrival of COVID-19 in Great Britain some 19 months ago, many across the U.K. are biting their nails and praying that listening levels haven’t fallen for the nation’s privately operated radio brands or those under the BBC’s control.

At the same time, they’re perusing new rules “needed to protect British radio output on smart speakers” — regulations that do not put a mandatory switch-off date in place for analog FM transmissions.

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There’s a good chance you are not familiar with the name Cliff Freeman. But, you should be. Why? He was a branding master. “Pizza, Pizza?” He’s responsible for it. “Where’s The Beef?” Yup, that, too.

Freeman passed away of pneumonia at the age of 80, and news of his passing started to trickle out in early October — first on a Sunday TODAY “A Life Well Lived” segment and on October 25 in the Tampa Bay Times, his hometown newspaper.

Broadcast media owes a debt of gratitude to Freeman.

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It’s a city of roughly 26,000 residents that bills itself as a “first choice for families” and a “great choice for opportunity.” This municipality, which is part of a DMA that includes Bismarck and Minot, N.D., is four hours to the west of Fargo and five hours to the south of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Here, a 100kw Hot Adult Contemporary FM is being sold. It’s a “totally amped” transaction, thanks to the station’s seller.

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As the Media Rating Council sees it, its accreditation is “the primary mechanism for transparency and accountability in advertising and media measurement.”

But, what exactly is “accreditation,” and how does the process work? A webinar scheduled for Wednesday aims to explain all.

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Every day we hear of another ransomware attack or data breach, and it seems that the cyber adversaries are taking over companies, catching them off-guard and ill-prepared.

Cyber security expert Steve Morgan, founder of Cybersecurity Ventures and Editor-in-Chief at Cybercrime Magazine, has some great advice on how to prevent a potentially crippling incident from thwarting day-to-day operations at your radio and/or television stations.

He’ll be sharing his thoughts exclusively at Forecast 2022 on November 16 in New York — a “no press” event you need to be at.

 

 

At Forecast 2022, Morgan sits down with WABC Radio’s Juliet Huddy for what is shaping up to be a provocative interview that will cover — in non-technobabble — how the cyber adversaries are doing it, why people and companies are in the dark when it comes to cybercrime, and what they can and should do to protect their organizations.

STEVE MORGAN and JULIET HUDDY ONLY AT FORECAST 2022, presented by RBR+TVBR and Radio Ink

 

“The value of a business depends largely on how well it guards its data, the strength of its cybersecurity, and its level of cyber resilience,” Morgan says.

Seating is limited. Register today for Forecast 2022and take advantage of early bird pricing. Registration include admittance into the Broadcast Leadership Reception honoring the 2021 Top Radio and Television Leaders. Always a great networking event, this may be a one-of-a-kind opportunity this year!

On October 20, RBR+TVBR reported that Gray Television is amending and restating its senior credit facility while concurrently seeking an additional incremental term loan valued at $1.5 billion.

The broadcast TV station owner plans to use the funds to help pay for its merger with Meredith Local Media.  On Monday, Gray had more to say regarding how it will handle the final bill for those Meredith television properties, with its formal announcement of a new senior note offering.

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What are the top advertisers using spot radio to connect with AM and FM radio listeners?

For the week ending October 24, some intriguing brands are on the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Report. One new entrant is a Procter & Gamble Co. brand not necessarily known for its audio creative.

That would be Swiffer, the all-in-one mop and floor cleanser that P&G has made a common kitchen and household tool. In a new campaign, Swiffer spots enjoyed 33,311 spot plays at the radio stations tracked by Media Monitors.

Among paid advertisers using spot radio, Indeed is the big No. 1.

For auto insurers, Jake from State Farm is there — and no other auto insurance brands can be found this week.

Rounding out the Spot Ten is top QSR McDonald’s.

 

If one of your radio or television stations is a member of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), here’s a chance for your sales team to benefit from getting a piece of the action in a multimillion-dollar ad campaign signed off by one of the biggest champions of multicultural marketing today: Marc Pritchard.

How has revenue recovered from the onset of a pandemic that saw generally steep declines and where some categories continue to experience slower than hoped for rebounds? What’s in store for 2022 matters more than ever, especially after Snap Inc.’s dismal Q3 2021 results suggests supply chain problems could lead to lower advertiser activity at radio and TV in Q4. A Forecast 2022 panel of experts is poised to propel a provocative discussion about who is going to “show us the money” in the year to come … or not.

FOR FULL DETAILS AND TO REGISTER FOR FORECAST 2022, NOVEMBER 16 IN NEW YORK, CLICK HERE!

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For those with moderate to severe eczema, there’s a pharmaceutical product that’s gotten a lot of exposure thanks to a spot television campaign.

Total up those spots, and this brand tops them all in the latest Spot Ten TV report from Media Monitors.

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Five years ago, Snapchat was the app that radio industry air personalities sought to master. Today, Instagram and TikTok rule, with Pinterest and Facebook still key as Truth Social makes its debut with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump.

It now appears Apple’s privacy changes have made things worse for Snapchat parent Snap Inc. It missed Wall Street revenue estimates with its Q3 2021 results, resulting in a sharp drop in its share value on Friday.

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It was July 2018 when Salem Media Group shares were priced this high.

And, with Friday’s closing price on the Nasdaq GlobalMarket, the company known for its conservative Talk and Christian-themed radio stations will have concluded one of its biggest-ever trading days, with a massive 32.8 million shares traded.

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The RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, hosted by RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson, this week taped its 161st episode.

What are the five most-listened-to episodes of the InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM,  offered to listeners since July 1?

Anne Schelle, Managing Director of Pearl TV

With nearly 2,200 downloads and even more listens via our embedded podcast player at the top of the RBR.com website, the most-listened to episode of the second half of 2021 is our interview with Anne Schelle, Managing Director of Pearl TV.

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. LISTEN HERE.

The second most-listened to InFOCUS podcast since July 1 features our interview with Marketron SVP of Product Jimshade Chaudhari. It was conducted just hours before the NAB announced it was killing the 2021 NAB Show due to continued COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

Our No. 3 most-listened to podcast features Capital Broadcasting Co. VP of Radio Brian Maloney, who offered an exclusive look inside a company that was first to embrace HD Radio and more recently helped bring NEXTGEN TV to fruition. LISTEN HERE.

Rounding out the top five podcasts: an exclusive conversation with veteran media broker Dick Foreman (LISTEN HERE) and a September 30 podcast with Keith Pelletier, the Dielectric executive who shares details on why a move from physical to AI-driven simulated modeling could matter to all C-Suite executives (LISTEN HERE).