Industry News

NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith delivered remarks today at the association’s State Leadership Conference. The annual gathering of 500 radio and TV station owners and executives from all 50 states is designed to educate the broadcast industry to advocate on relevant legislative and regulatory issues.

This year’s conference is a virtual-only event and saw Smith delivered prepared remarks. They touched on his year-end retirement, and on the year that was for the broadcast media industry.

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Podcast listeners feel that podcasts are “under-commercialized.”

That’s one of the findings of a report from Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights, which since 2017 have periodically issued “podcast download reports” and have just done so for spring 2021.

This one was released to coincide with the IAB Podcast Upfront event, where its finding that listeners would tolerate more ads is likely to be well received. The report also said that “high CPMs” are justified based on the high “ad attentiveness” of podcast listeners.

[Read: Survey Says Podcast Demographics Continue to Diversify]

Results were announced by Suzanne Grimes, EVP marketing for Cumulus Media and president of Westwood One, and Jeff Vidler, president and founder of Signal Hill Insights.

They listed these highlights in a report summary:

• Among weekly podcast listeners, COVID-19 was a catalyst for yet more listening.
• Regular listenership is “growing across most podcast genres, suggesting that weekly podcast listeners are venturing out and listening to new genres.”
• Weekly listeners are enthusiastic about their favorites. Almost half reported listening to their favorite podcast within a day of a new release.
• “Pitching ad-free podcast subscriptions won’t win over listeners,” the study found. “Content is the main attraction for weekly podcast listeners. When choosing podcast subscription features, weekly listeners will pick exclusive content over an ad-free experience.”
• They called Clubhouse “a natural brand extension for podcast shows and hosts.” Awareness and use of Clubhouse was greater among weekly podcast listeners compared to the U.S. general population.
• Weekly listeners are using more platforms now, but Apple, Spotify and YouTube still “have a strong hold on being the most used podcast platforms and continue to grow at the expense of other competitors.”
• Podcasts are “unique, being one of the few mediums where listeners come for entertainment and learning, cultivating an engaged audience.”
• They found that listeners feel that podcasts are “under-commercialized.” Weekly listeners “are comfortable hearing ads and the more time they spend with podcasts, the more ads they will accept.”
• And they said high CPMs are justified based high ad attentiveness in podcasting.

The report is available for download at CumulusPodcastNetwork.com.

The post Are Podcast Listeners Open to More Ads? appeared first on Radio World.

Grace Broadcast Sales is releasing a series of audio vignettes designed to honor our nation’s Medal of Honor veterans as part of the company’s 30th anniversary celebration.

“Above & Beyond” is a collection of 20 one-minute vignettes created originally in 1991 to profile and honor Medal of Honor recipients. The features are formatted :50/:10, providing time at the end of each vignette for sponsor identification or taglines.

According to owner/creative director Rod Schwartz, “It’s the first series we created in 1991 and it remains a personal favorite and a favorite of many of our station clients also,” he said, suggesting that the inspiring stories of ordinary Americans thriving in extraordinary circumstances is a notable way for stations to celebrate this coming Memorial Day on May 31.

“‘Above and Beyond’ honors brave Americans whose gallantry and sacrifice earned our nation’s highest honor,” Schwartz said. The vignettes will be available on a first come, first served, market-exclusive basis.

Information, including a free demo and short promotional video, can be found here.

The post Programming From Grace Broadcast Honor Veterans for Memorial Day appeared first on Radio World.

Veritone says that its “AI-enabled media management platform,” Veritone Digital Media Hub, is getting “significant enhancements.”

According to a release, “these new features will assist current and future customers to rapidly curate and activate assets to increase content discoverability, operational efficiency and revenue opportunities in content creation.”

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

New tools include Annotation Tool for curating, searching, visualizing and validating media files in new ways; Data Export Tool for isolating desired segments and exporting them as JSON or XML; and Content Notifications for informing selected users when certain files have been uploaded to the system.

Veritone President Ryan Steelberg said the enhancements “will give current and future media and entertainment customers a new way to visualize, edit, and engage with their content and its associated data.”

He elaborated, “This will provide them with greater control over their content by increasing the accuracy of how their content is tagged, giving them more ways to export it, and helping them stay on top of what is currently available in their library, which will culminate into more licensing and revenue opportunities.”

Info: www.veritone.com

The post Veritone Adds to Digital Media Hub appeared first on Radio World.

Congratulations to Megan Clappe, who has just been raised to the cherished membership rank of Fellow by the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

As many of the society’s members know well, Clappe is director of SBE certification, which is such a key part of what SBE does for our industry.

“Megan’s daily duties include working with the SBE Certification Committee to operate and grow the SBE Certification Program, which includes implementing and maintaining certifications to match those needs,” the society said in its announcement.

“She coordinates testing with proctors, and all follows up after exams are administered. In all, she is tasked with keeping track of more than 5,000 certifications and recertifications.”

She also provides SBE member and chapter certification support, manages the SBE Awards Program; manages the SBE convention and expo presence; and oversees the SBE Store.

“During her employment as certification director, the SBE Certification Committee has introduced several levels of certification, including CBNE, DRB and ATSC3,” it continued. “The SBE Certification Handbook for Radio Operators has been updated at least twice, and The SBE Television Operator’s Certification Handbook has been updated once. The CertPreview practice test software has been redeveloped once and is slated for a second later this year during her time as director.”

Megan Clappe began her tenure at SBE as certification assistant and receptionist in 2003, working with Linda Baun, who was the certification director at the time. When Baun left in 2006 to work at the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Clapp took the certification reins.

Sample comments about Clappe’s work, released by the society, include “quick to offer alternative ideas and processes … When the pandemic hit in early 2020 Megan was first to offer an alternative to face-to-face testing.” … “The flue that holds the program together.” “Dedication and determination” in helping launch ATSC3 certification. … “Her contribution to the SBE’s Certification program [is] conspicuous.”

Clappe will be recognized during the SBE Membership Meeting and National Awards Program in October in Las Vegas during the society’s national meeting.

We at Radio World salute Clappe too, and we thank the society for its constant efforts to celebrate engineers and advance their education. We are proud that the list includes several engineers whom I consider close friends of Radio World through their writing or other contributions to the RW community.

To date, 82 SBE members have been raised to the level of Fellow; they are listed at the bottom of this story. The honor is given to members who have made significant contributions to broadcast engineering or the society. Candidates are nominated by their peers.

From the SBE website, here is the list of SBE Fellows, living or deceased:

• Jay Adrick
• Cris Alexander, CPBE, AMD, DRB
• Ronald L. Arendall, CPBE
• John H. Battison, P. E., CPBE
• Frederick M. Baumgartner, CPBE, CBNT
• Linda Baun
• Terrence M. Baun, CPBE, CBNE, AMD
• Ralph Beaver, CBT
• Lawrence V. Behr, CSBE
• Edward B. Bench
• Raymond C. Benedict, CPBE
• James T. Bernier Jr., CPBE, CBNE
• Glenn G. Boundy
• Richard W. Burden, CPBE
• James A. Butler, CPBE
• David Carr, CPBE, 8-VSB
• Leonard J. Charles, CPBE
• Al Chismark
• Megan Clappe
• John Collinson, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, CBNE
• Gerry Dalton, CBRE, CBNT
• Sterling E. Davis
• Bradley L. Dick, CPBE
• Dane E. Ericksen, P.E., CSRTE, CBNT, 8-VSB
• Richard A. Farquhar, CPBE
• Ellis Feinstein
• Howard M. Fine
• Robert W. Flanders
• Clay Freinwald, CPBE
• Douglas W. Garlinger, CPBE, CBNT, 8-VSB
• Frank Giardina, CPBE
• Robert I. Goza, CPBE
• Charles Hallinan
• Ted Hand, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB
• Gary S. Hartman, CPBE
• John J. Heimerl, CPBE
• Albin R. Hillstrom
• Robert Hoffman, CPBE
• Ralph Hogan, CPBE, DRB, CBNE
• James E. Hurley, CSBE
• Christopher D. Imlay, CBT
• Roger E. Johnson, CPBE
• Wallace E. Johnson
• Robert A. Jones, CSBE
• Edwin T. Karl, CPBE
• Harold Kassens
• William D. Kelly
• Charles W. Kelly Jr.
• Glenn H. Lahman
• Arthur Lebermann, CPBE
• James Leifer, CPBE
• Paul E. Lentz, CPBE
• Robert W. Locke, CPBE, CBNT
• Vincent A. Lopez, CEV, CBNT
• John M. Lyons, CPBE
• Joseph J. Manning
• Jerry Massey, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNT
• Jack E. McKain, CPBE
• James C. McKinney
• Edward J. Miller, CPBE
• Charles T. Morgan, CPBE
• Peter K. Onnigian, CSBE
• William Orr, CSBE
• Wayne M. Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNE
• Troy D. Pennington, CSRE, CBNT
• John L. Poray, CAE
• Leo W. Reetz
• John W. Reiser, CSRTE
• Frederick M. Remley, CPBE
• Gino Ricciardelli, CPBE
• Joseph A. Risse, PE, CSBE
• Edward J. Roos, CPBE
• Richard A. Rudman, CPBE
• Charles Sakoski, CSBE
• Martin Sandberg, CPBE
• Christopher H. Scherer, CPBE, CBNT
• James B. Schoedler
• Joseph L. Snelson, CPBE, 8-VSB
• John W. Soergel, CPBE
• Donald J. Strauss, CPBE
• Barry D. Thomas, CPBE, DRB, CBNE
• Doyle D. Thompson Sr., CPBE
• Robert A. Van Buhler, CPBE
• Lewis D. Wetzel, CPBE
• Jerry C. Whitaker, CPBE, 8-VSB
• Larry J. Wilkins, CPBE, AMD, CBNT
• Benjamin Wolfe
• James C. Wulliman, CPBE

The post Megan Clappe Is Named an SBE Fellow appeared first on Radio World.

Big retailers aren’t exactly plentiful when it comes to spot TV advertising.

However, one nationally recognized department store chain opted to use broadcast TV to perhaps drum up some Mother’s Day register ring-ups.

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It’s always exciting to see activity from a new advertiser, or an entirely new category, at Spot Radio.

The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio chart delivers, with a new entrant representing the ride-share industry now actively using AM and FM stations to attract customers.

Now at No. 8 is Uber, which is engaged in a larger multiplatform marketing effort to win back riders as the pandemic eases in many parts of the U.S. Uber is present with some 32,479 spot plays.

That tops GEICO, which appears to be in a soft cycle with respect to advertising against Progressive. Of late, the latter auto insurance specialist has been omnipresent across audio, with its humorous voiceover artist intent on saying “bulbous walrus” one of the more entertaining commercial campaigns of late.

Not to be confused with V/O babble, Babbel — the online language-learning tool — remains strong at Radio, with some 46,568 spins detected for the week of May 9.

Here’s this week’s Spot Ten Radio report in full. It includes promotional spots airing on stations owned by Media Monitors parent iHeartMedia, which should be subtracted by readers who seek fully-paid advertiser data for their own sales department needs.

If you think this is just another streaming CTV/OTT puff story, you’re wrong.

Amagi serves broadcasters with advanced cloud-based automation, playout, and delivery. And, Amagi’s products enable the creation, distribution, and monetization of channels such video services as streaming, OTT, and, of course, traditional broadcast.

Mike Woods joined Amagi right before the pandemic in February of 2020 as SVP of Product. In this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, Woods shares how Amagi is working with broadcast media companies and how the broadcast TV station owner can benefit, rather than fret, over lost dollars and audience to fast-growing digital video delivery platforms.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Mike Woods, Amagi” on Spreaker.

Veritone says it has made “enhancements” to its cloud-native, AI-enabled media management platform, the Veritone Digital Media Hub.

Why does this matter?

While COVID-19 has created additional challenges for content creators during the production process, remote collaboration, compatibility with their existing applications and the ability to extract increased value from their existing content will remain even in a post-pandemic world. Veritone Digital Media Hub’s new features – including an annotation tool, data export tool and content notifications – are designed to meet these challenges by prolonging the lifespan of existing content by easily searching and identifying segments in both archived and newly produced content, the company says.

Powered by aiWARE, these new features, Veritone notes, “will assist current and future customers to rapidly curate and activate assets to increase content discoverability, operational efficiency and revenue opportunities in content creation.”

New enhancements to the solution include:

• The Annotation Tool, which offers new ways to curate, search, visualize, and validate cognitive and structured data for a media file by tagging and saving descriptive information against a segment of content. This new feature will support customers with multiple use cases, including licensing and monetization.
• The Data Export Tool, which gives users the flexibility to narrow down a specific moment within a media file, a time range, or an entire data set by seconds, frames, or timecodes, and easily export this data as both JSON and XML output files.
• Content Notifications that deliver a customized email alert for new content ingested into the platform, informing users of the type of content that has been uploaded.

“Our enhancements to Digital Media Hub, coupled with the power of aiWARE, will give current and future media and entertainment customers a new way to visualize, edit, and engage with their content and its associated data,” Veritone President Ryan Steelberg President. “This will provide them with greater control over their content by increasing the accuracy of how their content is tagged, giving them more ways to export it, and helping them stay on top of what is currently available in their library, which will culminate into more licensing and revenue opportunities. Additionally, these new capabilities have piqued the interest of our state and federal government customers too, and we look forward to expanding the value of Digital Media Hub into those markets as well.”

For more information on Veritone’s Digital Media Hub, visit: https://www.veritone.com/applications/digital-media-hub.

A new DAVID IV 719N FM/HD Radio Broadcast Processor with Network Interface has been added to the lineup of tech products available from Inovonics.

The company says it provides eased internet access for set-up, control, and increased networking capabilities to the DAVID IV 719 processor.

There is no price increase for the new 719N processor model.

“Adding the Network Interface to our popular 719 processor really gives it two very important features,” Inovonics President/CEO Ben Barber says. “One, the Web GUI can be controlled from any web enabled device; and two, adding SNMP makes remote management and control a breeze.”

The 719 DAVID IV processor was originally launched in 2011.

The New DAVID IV 719N model adds an intuitive, menu-driven Web interface for remote set-up, monitoring, and control.

UPGRADE PROGRAM: Inovonics will provide Free upgrades to 719 users that purchased their processors from January 1, 2020 to May 2021 (transport not included). For those with 719 processors purchased before 2020, there will be a $500 upgrade fee + transport to convert their 719 units to the new 719N model.

For more information about price and availability, please contact Inovonics Sales Department a 831-458-0552 | Email: sales@inovonicsbroadcast.com