Between Victoria, Tex., and the sprawling Houston metropolitan area is Bay City.
Here, a Class C1 “Hot Country” FM is getting a tweak in its ownership.
It is the result of the death of the station founder’s wife, who held 100% ownership in the station.
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The European Broadcasting Union has announced a pair of engineering awards.
Sweden’s Sveriges Radio’s News Values project was cited for the association’s Technology and Innovation Award.
According to a release, the “technical ingenuity” is what interested the award committee. “Editors rate every news story on three dimensions: magnitude, life span and, crucially, the degree to which it embodies ‘SR values.’ In this way, every item gets a score that is used by the algorithm to automatically generate news playlists for each local SR station. The system is also used internally by the national news team to discover the most interesting stories from around the country.”
Chair of the EBU Technical Committee Judy Parnall said, “This is a perfect example of technical ingenuity being combined with public service values, helping Sveriges Radio to better fulfill its mission.”
Irene Nikkarinen at Finland broadcaster Yle is the recipient of the very first EBU Young Engineers and Researchers Award. The release explained she received the award for “her work on adapting and training an open-source metadata tool” that “is improving the findability of Yle content on its online platforms and apps.”
EBU Technology & Innovation Department Director Antonio Arcidiacono said, “Irene Nikkarinen is a perfect example of the kinds of profile that will ensure public service media remain at the cutting edge when it comes to innovation in media technology.”
The post Sveriges Radio Receives EBU Tech & Innovation Award appeared first on Radio World.
As June 9 began, a five-sentence Facebook post was made by one of its users. It generated 960 comments. Why?
The post was made by Facebook’s VP of its Global Business Group, the social media Goliath’s No. 1 face on Madison Avenue.
After a decade in the role, Carolyn Everson is exiting.
Everson has been in the top advertising-facing post at Facebook since March 2011. She arrived there from Microsoft Corp., where she spent one year as a VP of global advertising sales and strategy. Prior to that, Everson spent 6 1/2 years as a EVP/COO of ad sales for MTV Networks, under the Viacom umbrella.
The 1993 Villanova graduate and 1999 Harvard MBA earner also served as a Primedia VP, and as a business development manager at The Walt Disney Imagineering, from 1996-1997.
“After 10 1/2 years, I have left Facebook,” Everson said in her Facebook post. “I am extremely proud of what we set out to accomplish but way more proud of my team and the support we showed each other, especially in difficult times. I always said no one will ever mention at my funeral the amount of revenue I oversaw. But hopefully one day someone will say my legacy at Facebook was in how I showed up for my team, for our clients and for our industry. I am very much looking forward to starting a new chapter.”
What is that new chapter? Everson isn’t saying just yet.
Facebook’s EMEA Vice President Nicola Mendelsohn will serve as the interim Global Business Group VP in the wake of Everson’s departure.
New York Festivals TV & Film Awards has announced the finalists for the 2021 competition.
The global finalists are being honored for their content in the areas of prime-time entertainment, documentaries, investigative journalism, sports coverage, promos, streaming media, and brand image films.
The 2021 TV & Film Awards Grand Jury members comprised of award-winning international broadcast and film executives selected this year’s finalists from content submitted from 40+ countries.
Rose Anderson, VP/Executive Director for New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, says this year’s finalists “used their imaginations and mastery of their craft to engage their audiences in a year like no other.”
NYF’s newly launched social justice categories celebrate storytellers using creativity to engage viewers in every genre.
Finalists moving on to the next round include First Take: George Floyd and Police Brutality Protest (ESPN), Witness – St. Louis Superman (Al Jazeera English), CBS Sports Presents: 8:46 (CBS Sports), Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning (Kreativ Inc. for Lifetime), A Most Beautiful Thing (50 Eggs Films),Antibullying (The Walt Disney Company, Europe & Africa), In Search of The Frog Boys (Make Waves Pte Ltd CNA, Mediacorp Pte Ltd), The Time is Now (The Edge Picture Company), and The Price of Poverty (DW Deutsche Welle).
“Compelling documentaries created by global storytellers” that advanced include Academy Award-winner My Octopus Teacher (Off the Fence B.V., Netflix), The Last Dance (ESPN), Love on the Spectrum (Northern Pictures Pty Ltd Australian Broadcasting Corporation Shades of America (Banijay Rights/CNN), FEDELINA: A Stolen Life (ABS-CBN Corp.), Abba Forever – The Winner Takes It All (Stanza Media Limited), Dark City Beneath The Beat (Dark City Beneath The Beat), Look Me Over – Liberace (Kinescope Film GmbH ARTE G.E.I.E.), Hot Money (Cinepartners LLC.), Being the Queen (1895 Films/NatGeo), The Real Right Stuff (1895 Films/ Disney +), Pumas – Legends of the Ice Mountains (Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH), Why We Hate (Discovery Channel), Saving Notre-Dame (WINDFALL FILMS/NOVA), A World without Beethoven? (Deutsche Welle), Surviving Jeffrey Epstein (Bungalow Media + Entertainment and Break Thru Films, Inc for Lifetime), Stutter School (Southern Pictures/SBS), Peckinpah Suite (Turner Spain/TCM), The Vote (American Experience/PBS), 24 Hours in Wuhan: Epicenter, Quarantine & Recovery (CGTN America), and Escape from Extinction (MRB Productions).
Entertainment Finalists moving on include One World: Together at Home (Global Citizen Multiple Networks), The 2020 Innovators Awards: Wall Street Journal Magazine, (WSJ. Magazine), All Creatures Great And Small (All3Media International/Masterpiece on PBS), LEGO Masters USA (Banijay Rights/FOX), Dear Santa (UM Studios/United States Postal Service), A Capitol Fourth 2020 (Capital Concerts/PBS), Das Boot, Season 2 (Bavaria Fiction Sky Deutschland, Judy Collins & Jonas Fjeld: Winters Stories Live from the Oslo Opera House (Artist Vision), Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro (Pacific Television), En La Línea: (México Discovery Networks Latin America), Space Launch Live: America Returns to Space (Discovery Channel), MasterChef Australia (Banijay Right/ Network Ten), Staged (GCB Films/Hulu), Freud (Satel Film/Bavaria Fiction ORF / Netflix), Filthy Rich and Homeless (Blackfella Films Pty Ltd Australian Broadcasting Corporation), The Accident (All3Media International Channel 4, UK), Rock Studio (Globo Comunicações e Participações SA ), Unterleuten – A Village Torn Apart (German Television ZDF), The Sounds (South Pacific Pictures), Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show (Stanza Media Limited NRK), and A Quest for Sound (Hakka TV.)
Telenovelas advanced to the medal round including Buscando a Frida, La Suerte de Loli and 100 Días Para Enamorarnos (Telemundo) and Wild Land (SP Televisio, S.A.).
Al Jazeera, 2020’s Broadcaster of the Year, moved ahead with their documentary series focusing on world issues Al Jazeera Investigations, Fault Lines, the network’s current affairs and documentary series, and 101 East, Al Jazeera English’s investigative journalism series. Additional companies advancing include NBC News, Voice of America, MSNBC, DW, Television Broadcasts Limited, Antena3, Artear, Radio Free Asia, CGTN America, CGTN Digital, and CNA, Mediacorp Pte Ltd.
Global Sports content advancing to the medal round companies advancing include ESPN, CBS Sports, MLB Network, beIN SPORTS Asia, WWE, Globo TV, and Rueckenwindfilm GmbH Amazon Prime Video.
All content submitted into the 2021 competition were judged online and screened by NYF’s TV & Film Awards Grand Jury of 200+ producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals from around the globe. Nominated Finalists will be judged by a panel at the United Nations for the UNDGC Awards. Award-winning entries will be showcased on the TV & Film Awards winners gallery.
2021’s NYF TV & Film Award winners will be announced on October 12 at the annual Storytellers gala taking place at NAB in Las Vegas. This year is the eleventh year of NYF’s strategic partnership with NAB Show.
Nearly one year ago, Philip Falcone exited HC2 Holdings Inc. under some not-so-favorable circumstances. There were accusations that he defaulted on loans, resulting in HC2’s next chief executive, Wayne Barr Jr., signing off on non-core asset divestments in order to raise capital.
For Falcone, HC2 is very much in his past. He’s now at the helm of Sovryn Holdings, and its just snagged its latest big-market LPTV property.
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Longtime radio engineering executive Norm Philips is among the industry leaders who will be honored this year by the Texas Association of Broadcasters.
TAB also introduced the inaugural class of its Hightower Award winners, named in honor of the late Jason Hightower, who was a TAB chairman and owner/operator of KMOO(FM) in Mineola, Texas.
Its Annual Awards Gala will be held in August as part of the TABShow in Austin. The recipients were announced by TAB President Oscar Rodriguez.
[Read: TAB Is Ready for an In-Person Show in 12 Weeks]
“Texas broadcasting is nothing without the passionate and dedicated leadership of individual men and women who take to heart the federal license to do good for the communities they serve, and no one embodies that spirit greater than the six radio and TV broadcasters we’re honoring this year,” he said.
Norm Philips will receive the George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence.
“Texas radio engineering and the name Norm Philips go hand in hand,” TAB wrote in its announcement. “He spent the bulk of his career directing engineering operations for Susquehanna, Cumulus, GAP and Townsquare Media stations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Atlanta, Denver and several other markets.”
As one of two engineering VPs for Townsquare, Philips managed nearly 200 stations. TAB said he “has inspired a legion of broadcast engineers who are sustaining radio stations throughout Texas today.” Philips retired in 2016.
Here are the names and bios of the other recipients:
Pioneer Broadcaster of the Year: Mark Grubbs, Ranch Radio Group, Kerrville — “Since 1993, Mark Grubbs has been owner/operator of the Ranch Radio Group stations in the Texas Hill Country,” TAB wrote. “As a ‘consummate radio guy,’ he is always looking for opportunities to serve his community, either with new promotion, programming, and marketing strategies to better serve listeners and local businesses, or a soulful solution to a pressing need. Whether it’s serving as the official radio station for the Gillespie County Fair or raising money for 4-H and FFA scholarships, Grubbs’ passion for serving his community is woven seamlessly into everything he and the Ranch Staff do.”
Broadcaster of the Year: Marty Wind, KLUX(FM), Corpus Christi — “After 38 years, Marty Wind recently retired from managing KLUX, a station he helped start for the Diocesan Telecommunications Corp. He introduced digital radio broadcasting to the Coastal Bend area in 2006 and today, noncommercial station KLUX is a market leader in public service, with a long list of achievements highlighted by courageous endeavors to stay on-air even in the worst of hurricanes. Wind’s heartfelt commitment to his fellow broadcasters and listeners is unmatched. Whether it be technical advice, emergency news and information, education or inspiration and relaxation, Wind is there to serve and protect the people of the Coastal Bend.”
Jason Hightower Awards for Broadcast Excellence — This award recognizes those with at least 10 years in the broadcast industry who have demonstrated a proficiency for enterprise and innovation in servicing their stations’ audience, advertisers and communities. The recipients are Melissa Rivera, digital sales manager for Townsquare Media Victoria; Joe Ellis, executive investigative reporter at KVUE(TV) in Austin; and Josh Gorbutt, news director for KBTX(TV) in Bryan-College Station.
The post TAB Will Honor Norm Philips appeared first on Radio World.
What’s your favorite mic and why? Which models do you use for remote work, news or live sound?
We’ve been asking radio professionals to share their preferences. Here are four more as we celebrate Microphone Month at Radio World.
Tony AbfalterDirector of engineering/IT, Leighton Broadcasting
Abfalter goes with the proven quality of the Electro-Voice models RE20, RE27 and RE320. Same with specialty applications.
As far as he’s concerned, “No sense in trading quality outside the studio.”
He’s a believer in doing your research and talking to the air staff, and then ultimately making your own call. “There’s no right answer.”
Andrew Gladding
Chief engineer, Salem Media New York, and chief engineer, WRHU Radio Hofstra University
“The Shure SM7B packs a great punch at a reasonable cost,” Gladding says when asked for his choice in a radio studio.
“I really like how the pattern and dynamic response lends itself to both experienced and novice users.”
For remote podcasting, he recommends the EV RE20. “It seems to handle room noise fairly well and is fairly easy to use. Plus it can sound really fabulous when paired with a decent mic processor or preamp.”
When working with student engineers, he encourages them to start with the basics.
“Higher cost doesn’t always equal better quality. Knowledge of good mic placement and usage is more important than specs.”
Jose da Fonseca BolachaBroadcast Engineer, Radio Mozambique
For on-air work, count him as a fan of the Electro-Voice RE20 and its effective management of proximity effect.
“Normally the dynamic mics are susceptible to external inductions, a problem that I faced for a long time with the AKG D3800 and only was overcome with the RE20,” he said.
Out in the field, he turns to the Sennheiser MD46, a dynamic cardioid with clear voice pickup.
“The metallic envelope provides good robustness, especially for a reporter in the field; it can fall and resist the impact without damage. Excellent response for reporting on the go.”
Josh Rath
94.7 and The Mighty 790 KGHL
Josh Rath is the programming manager and afternoon drive host on “94.7 and The Mighty 790 KGHL,” which is KGHL(AM) and its FM translator. He also oversees IT operations for Northern Broadcasting System with its 70 or so radio affiliates across four states. Both are based in Billings, Mont.
He too is a fan of the Shure SM7B for studio work. “I’m sure more than half the industry would say the same; but you simply cannot beat a legendary microphone with a build quality tougher than the Terminator.”
He adds that the company is beginning the process of a complete AOIP transition.
“If you have the ability, start with all-digital end to end. Provides you total control, all from a nice digital dashboard, of your mic EQ, gate and more.”
Thor Waage
Chief Engineer-Portland for Alpha Media
The Sennheiser MD421-II and the Electro-Voice RE20 are his picks for on-air work. “Both are excellent for just about any type of voice, but the MD421 with the roll-off switch in the flat position, marked M for Music, is hard to beat.”
For specialty environments, it depends on the application, but the one he has found the most forgiving is the Shure SM7B. “In an ideal acoustical situation, add a Cloudlifter and it really comes to life.”
Waage puts the emphasis on proper mic technique. “If you’re making an investment to improve your sound quality, learn how to use that tool.”
Read more of our coverage:
Today’s Microphones Offer a Buffet of Choice
The post Pros Tell Us About Their Favorite Mics appeared first on Radio World.
He’s in charge of sales for a standalone station in Market No. 108, a city that is dominated by iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media and Southern Stone Communications.
How is Adult Contemporary “Mix 96.9” in Huntsville, Ala., able to survive and thrive, in particular today?
That’s just one question GM and GSM Nate Adams tackles in this new InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM — hosted by RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.
Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Nate Adams, WRSA/Huntsville” on Spreaker.
TEGNA has made a decision on what company to use to power its needs for “cross-platform, closed-loop measurement and attribution.”
That company is TVSquared, from which the broadcast TV station owner aims to achieve incremental reach and web, location and app outcomes for local data-driven linear television and CTV and OTT campaigns.
“TEGNA’s footprint of 64 stations in 51 markets, which serve 48 million TV households monthly, and Premion’s directly-sourced inventory from 125+ branded networks delivering premium CTV and OTT impressions, combined with TVSquared’s ability to process hundreds of millions of impressions monthly, make this one of the largest TV measurement and attribution initiatives for converged TV,” TVSquared claims.
“The TV ecosystem is in the midst of an evolution that demands cross-platform analytics,” said Jessica Daigle, vice president of sales intelligence at TEGNA. “TVSquared is the right partner to prove the value of our media and grow our advertiser’s local businesses.”
TVSquared President Jo Kinsella added, “TEGNA has always been a trailblazer in bringing transparent data and analytics to the TV marketplace. The scale of this cross-platform initiative is a huge signal to the market about the advancements happening to make TV more accountable. We are thrilled to partner with TEGNA and Premion on this game-changing solution and arm its diverse client base with the transparency and intel needed to leverage the power of cross-platform TV advertising.”
Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on local television revenues in 2020. But the 2020 elections ultimately kept the industry in a good position by year’s end.
That’s the conclusion from new data released today by BIA Advisory Services.
According to its 2021 Investing In Television Market Report, over-the-air (OTA) revenue reached $18.3 billion last year.
Add in $1.4 billion from digital revenue, and the grand total for 2020 is $19.7 billion. This reflects a rise from $18.3 billion in 2019.
Political advertising accounted for $4.4 billion in 2020 to deliver what BIA calls “a softer landing to an otherwise negatively impacted industry.”
What was the year-over-year dip for core advertising? It was bad. But, it could’ve been worse. OTA revenue minus political advertising drove industry revenues down negative 23.1%, similar to the COVID-19 impact on broadcast radio.
But, BIA predicts the rebound will “slightly begin” this year, with OTA advertising expected to rise 5.4% on revenue of $14.9 billion for 2021. In 2022 total local over the air station revenues are forecasted at $17.8 billion.
“This past year demonstrated that local television stations are doing the right thing by continuing to strengthen their digital and multi-media sales efforts,” said Dr. Mark Fratrik, SVP and chief economist at BIA Advisory Services. “They also need to continue to develop strategies that incorporate over-the-top (OTT) sales to reach specific audiences, while simultaneously reaching the broader local viewers. OTT increasingly is becoming a competitive and complementary advertising platform for local television station operators.”
While auto and general services dollars are expected to bounce back for TV, growth in core advertising this year will come from business verticals that are hyper-focused on market needs — such as consumer lending, clothiers, health insurance and auto insurers — and new entrants like Online Gambling, Fratrik added.
Here are the revenue numbers, in brief:
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