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The woman who presently serves as Market President for iHeartMedia‘s Indianapolis station group has been given a promotion.

This will put her in a regional role for a newly formed territory that includes three Kentucky markets and four in South Carolina.

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She currently serves as President of Latin World Entertainment Licensing, previously managed her own retail/licensing consulting business leading product and retail development for a variety of children’s entertainment properties, and before that worked at Twentieth Century Fox.

Meet the new Chief of Marketing at Hope Media Group, the recently formed religious broadcasting organization comprised of the Way Media and KSBJ Christian-themed radio operations.

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Starting January 1, 2023, Skyview Networks will serve as the ad sales partner for the longtime Adult Contemporary and Hot AC-focused syndicated radio program hosted by Charlotte-based Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch.

Network Audio Sales for “Bob & Sheri” will be fully handled by Skyview, with access to digital and podcast opportunities included in the ad sales partnership.

“The team at Skyview Networks truly shares our passion for creativity and innovation,” Lynch said. “They are absolutely all in. It’s an exciting partnership and I’m thrilled at this opportunity to learn and grow while serving our audience, affiliates, and advertisers in new, dynamic ways.”

Jeanne-Marie Condo, President of Network Partnerships and Chief Revenue Officer for Skyview Networks, added, “Known and respected in the audio space for their proven success and genuine connections with listeners, the program and podcasts continue to grow and deliver on all levels for audiences and advertisers,” commented  “We are thrilled to work withBob & Sheri and are proud to showcase the program as part of our influencers and integrations platforms in our upcoming 2023 Upfront show.”

“Bob & Sheri” can be heard on “flagship” Hot AC WLNK-FM “107.9 The Link” in Charlotte, owned by Urban One. It is independently syndicated.

For details on affiliation, please contact Tony Garcia at tony@bobandsheri.com.

NORTHVILLE, MICH. — They rule the roost in wake-ups at Beasley Media Group‘s Active Rocker WRIF-FM in Detroit. They’re also heard at the company’s WRXK “96 KRock” in Fort Myers-Naples; WPBB “98.7 The Shark” in Tampa-St. Petersburg; and at WBOS-FM in Boston.

Now, non-Beasley stations have access to Dave & Chuck the Freak, thanks to a syndication agreement that has just been finalized.

Handling the syndication is Key Networks, which will put the program featuring co-hosts Dave Hunter and “Chuck the Freak” and an ensemble cast including Lisa Way, Andy Green, James Campbell, Jason Watson, and Al Beck in other markets.

Beasley Chief Content Officer Justin Chase explains, “We have been self-syndicating Dave & Chuck the Freak for the past few years,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase. “The show characters have made a deep connection with audiences in our markets. Now that we have a proven model for success, we’re excited to share it with other broadcasters who want a winning show on their stations”

Dennis Green, Chief Operating Officer for Key Networks, added, “Key Networks continues to bring the best talent to the syndicated marketplace … We already have stations ready to come on board and shake up mornings around the country.”

Media Bureau Releases Agenda for Diversity Council September 22, 2022 Digital Skills Gap Symposium and Town Hall -- Former Acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn to Deliver Keynote

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Letter decision dismissing Sound of Hope's Application for Review/Motion for Stay of the Media Bureau's decision granting the modification application of Edgewater Broadcasting, Inc. seeking to relocate the transmitter site of FM translator station W256CL

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Due to damage associated with Hurricane Fiona, the Media Bureau has extended the deadlines for impacted stations to place material covering the previous calendar quarter and EEO public file in their public inspection file to November 14, 2022

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Some radio broadcasting companies suspended their quarterly cash dividend 2 1/2 years ago, with no indication from the executive leadership team as to when they’ll resume.

At Saga Communications, which recently saw the untimely passing of its CEO, Ed Christian, not only is a quarterly cash dividend still in place, but it’s being hiked — again.

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The town of Branson, Mo., has been welcoming visitors and country music buffs for years, and there’s been a low-power TV station dedicated to this audience operated by longtime local broadcaster Earls Family Broadcasting available for viewing.

Could this soon change, as Earls has decided to sell the LPTV property?

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A California U.S. District Court Judge has denied a second Motion to Dismiss filed by one of the world’s biggest quick-service restaurants, a move designed to kill a racial discrimination case against the chain submitted by Byron Allen-led Allen Media Group in May 2021.

As such, the case, which appeared to be on shaky ground at the end of 2021, will now proceed to a jury trail. But, that won’t be happening for several months.

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The FCC has added two more companies to its list of communications providers it considers a threat to national security.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau said equipment and services from Pacific Network Corp., from PacNet subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC, and from China Unicom (Americas) Operations Ltd. are now on the list.

Congress requires the commission to publish such a list, which was begun in March 2021. You can read the full list here: https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist.

“Earlier this year the FCC revoked China Unicom America’s and PacNet/ComNet’s authorities to provide service in the United States because of the national security risks they posed to communications in the United States,” Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.

“Now, working with our national security partners, we are taking additional action to close the door to these companies by adding them to the FCC’s Covered List.  This action demonstrates our whole-of-government effort to protect network security and privacy.”

The FCC said national security agencies determined that PacNet/ComNet and China Unicom are “subject to the exploitation, influence and control of the Chinese government.”

The post FCC Lists PacNet and China Unicom as Security Risks appeared first on Radio World.

A recent Radio World ebook discussed trends in transmitters and best practices when shopping for one.

Mike Cooney is executive vice president of engineering and chief technology officer of Beasley Broadcast Group.

Radio World: When you are shopping for a transmitter or asked for advice, how do you approach it?

Mike Cooney

Mike Cooney: Today there are at least three good transmitter manufacturers that make reliable products, so we now base our decision on how good their sales support is, what replacement parts costs, and how responsive their customer service is after the sale.

If we already have a manufacturer’s product in a given market, we tend to go with that manufacturer again so there is a familiarity and the opportunity for less spare parts.

RW: If someone hasn’t purchased a broadcast transmitter in some time, what should they know?

Cooney: If you are buying an HD Radio transmitter, you need to consider if a single-box importer/exporter will work in your application or if you need separate hardware for the studio and transmitter site. Not every manufacturer still makes a cost-effective two-box solution, so this should be considered in your decision. 

Ninety percent or more of our sites still work better with the importer at the studio and the exporter at the transmitter. While the single-box solutions can be configured as either an importer or an exporter, they have a higher cost.

RW: What would you like transmitter manufacturers to add or make more widely available? 

Cooney: I believe the biggest need we have is a more inexpensive option for adding HD in the smaller markets for the broadcaster who can’t currently justify the cost of a new HD system. Embedded exciter/exporters in the transmitters should help lower the cost of HD in the future.

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RW: We hear a lot about virtualizing the air chain. What are the implications of this evolution on how transmitters are designed, and how users will choose and configure them? 

Cooney: Virtualization could greatly affect our ability to be good broadcasters, who are supposed to serve the public interest of their local markets. 

The day is coming very soon where you will not need a studio in the local market, and I don’t see how this can be good for the radio industry or the public interest. That being said, it will obviously save the broadcaster a lot of money if they don’t need a studio. 

As far as the technology, we need to make transmitters and especially HD technology more plug-and-play so the local engineer / IT person can safely configure and maintain the site. It is still not as easy as it should be to configure a transmitter site for HD, RDS, Artist Experience and PAD, but it is getting easier each year.

RW: Hybrid radio platforms that combine over-the-air broadcast reception with online connectivity are becoming part of the landscape thanks to the work of organizations like RadioDNS, NAB PILOT and Xperi, as well as competition from the likes of SiriusXM 360L. What are the implications for the world of transmitters? 

Cooney: I believe all the big transmitter manufacturers support Xperi’s DTS AutoStage and the other car manufacturers’ hybrid radio solutions, but you also need to use a service such as QUU or Artic Palm to get the full experience in the car.

The radio industry has done a poor job of giving the listener a consistent visual experience, and we still have stations without even RDS, let alone HD and PAD data. Satellite radio and the streaming services have a better visual experience than over-the-air radio, and as an industry we need to support these services to compete.

The post Let’s Make Transmitters More Plug-and-Play appeared first on Radio World.

When it comes to NPR affiliates, WPLN-FM in Nashville is one of the better known Member stations, thanks to its strong news reporting. What is lesser known across the nation is its AM sibling, a Class B with an “international” flair.

Soon, however, that offering, featuring BBC World Service programming 24/7, will be a thing of the past.

The Hippie’s parent is taking over.

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FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has laid out three ways in which the federal government can reset U.S. spectrum policy for a future that is even more connected.

Speaking to the NTIC Spectrum Policy Symposium in Washington Tuesday, she said: “First, we need to extend the FCC’s auction authority — and get creative when we do.” She said the FCC has had the authority to hold spectrum auctions for nearly three decades and that this has been good for wireless innovation and economic growth., but that the authority will expire at the end of this month if Congress doesn’t extend it.

She said that with the reauthorization, “we have a golden opportunity to use the billions of dollars that FCC spectrum auctions raise to build the public infrastructure this country needs. And Congress could start with using future auction revenues to fund the nation’s transition to next-generation 911.”

Second, Rosenworcel said the country needs more mid-band spectrum in the pipeline. “We need to keep up our efforts to find more airwaves to fuel the mid-band spectrum pipeline, following our successful auctions of the 3.45 and 2.5 GHz bands … these are the airwaves that are essential for 5G services to reach everyone, everywhere.” She also mentioned the need to look ahead for mid-band spectrum to support 6G service such as the 7-16 GHz range. She said she has shared a draft Notice of Inquiry with NTIA that would explore repurposing spectrum in the 12.7 -13.25 GHz band for next-generation wireless technologies.

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“Third, we need to consider receiver performance — to have more spectrum security in the future.” She highlighted the commission’s current NOI on receiver performance. “It asks about incentives, guidelines, regulatory requirements and procurement practices that could help create a more transparent and predictable radiofrequency environment for all users.  It’s time to consider these concepts because, if we get them right, we will have more airwaves available for new services.”

Rosenworcel told the symposium attendees that the evolution of wireless communications demands that regulators think differently.

“The focus on phones will give way to connectivity that touches everything in the economy. In fact, if we do this right, our phones will be the least interesting part of our wireless future. Because we are on the cusp of new forms of connectivity that will boost productivity and make industrial processes safer in factories, shipyards and warehouses. We will see fresh competition in the delivery of household broadband, increasing the number of ways families get online. Plus, using next generation wireless technology in the power, transportation, and manufacturing sectors could lead to emissions savings that could help put us on course to reach future climate targets.”

Rosenworcel noted that the FCC and NTIA recently reinstated high-level meetings and updated its memorandum of understanding in hopes of working together more efficiently on national spectrum strategy.

The post Rosenworcel Lists Wireless Policy Objectives appeared first on Radio World.

Digital Alert Systems is making some notable changes in its emergency alerting product line.

It has introduced the third generation of its DASDEC platform. It has converted it to StudioHub inputs and outputs. And it has unified two product families, DASDEC and One-Net, into one line. 

The newly introduced box is DASDEC-III, which comes with Version 5 software. The company said it combines features of earlier DASDECs with capabilities formerly provided by One-Net products, which were marketed to cable and IPTV operators.

The new product supports broadcast radio and TV applications, NextGen TV, CATV, IPTV, campus, industrial and emergency operation centers. The announcement was made by Bill Robertson, vice president of business development.

The company said the platform has a more modular design, allowing more hardware and software customization.

“With Digital Alert Systems’ EAS-Net communications bundle, the DASDEC-III can eliminate all the complex wiring and logic associated with serial ports, audio wiring and contact closures to multiple media keyers and switches,” it said in its announcement.

“Linking a DASDEC-III to EAS-Net-compatible devices eliminates all those connections and devices and moves critical communications to a simple IP-based network. Using these more modern devices, facilities can eliminate a host of equipment and connections, thereby saving space, power and, most of all, the headache of supporting multiple devices.”

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Digital Alert Systems changed the wiring options, adopting StudioHub wiring for audio inputs and outputs, which it said is unique among EAS/CAP devices. “Using this method of wiring creates a quick and easy connection to many other audio devices with simple Cat 5/6 wires with RJ-45 terminations. This creates a mechanically solid and dense wiring method without resorting to old, bulky XLR connections.”

It also provides an HDMI output with scalable resolutions and embeds the emergency audio in the same output.

DAS also highlights an improved user interface, faster quad-core processor and 64-bit operating system. 

“Since the product is highly tailored to customer requirements, Digital Alert Systems encourages customers to contact the factory or a dealer to determine the best configuration.”

The post Digital Alert Systems Introduces DASDEC-III appeared first on Radio World.