Radio+Television Business Report

FORT PIERCE, FLA. — The future of a noncommercial voice of the African American community across a three-county region of Florida that enjoys a simulcast partner in the important agricultural communities of Belle Glade and Clewiston is now in question, thanks to an agreement  reached last week that sees the FMs heading to a new owner.

Upon closing, ownership will be handed to the local institution of higher learning that owns and operates the NPR Member station serving Florida’s Treasure Coast.

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If you’ve ever been to North Florida Christian School, you can’t miss the large broadcast tower that sits between the school’s athletic field and North Florida Baptist Church in the Macon Community that sits between Interstate 10 and the state capital of the Sunshine State.

Until now, it has relayed a low-power FM’s Spanish-language religious programming. That could change very soon, as the FM translator is being sold.

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Digital Alert Systems, the New York-based emergency communications product developer for broadcast media, has released its guidance ahead of the next National Periodic Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

That’s scheduled for August 11 at 2:20pm Eastern, and all broadcast and cable operators must participate in the test.

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It’s a family owned company operating 12 radio stations and digital agency Federated Digital Solutions in the Indiana cities of South Bend and Fort Wayne. Among the stations it owns is famed WOWO-AM 1190, once heard across the Eastern Seaboard after dark.

Now, Federated Media has put a stamp on its future by finalizing its digital audio delivery strategy.

How so? It has powered Triton Digital to “power” the company’s podcast and streaming audio platform.

Specifically, Federated Media will utilize Triton’s audio streaming network for the delivery of its radio stations online.  In addition, Federated Media will use Triton’s podcast platform, Omny Studio, to support the creation, distribution, and promotion of its podcast content across devices including smart speakers and mobile phones.

Triton Digital is owned by iHeartMedia and was recently purchased from The E.W. Scripps Co.

The latest version of Telestream’s video editing and screen recording software for the Mac has been brought to market.

Now available: ScreenFlow 10, giving users the ability to record multiple cameras, microphones, and screens, including iPhone and iPad screens simultaneously.

Built for anyone needing a screen recording and video editing application, ScreenFlow starts at $149 and comes with a new integrated Title Library, enhanced Color Effect Presets, an automatic Background Remover, support for Apple Silicon hardware, multiple performance enhancements and an Archive Storage feature that stores only what was used in the final finished program.

ScreenFlow’s intuitive interface was developed specifically for Mac users. Highly optimized to streamline content creation, ScreenFlow 10 features up to 250% smaller camera recordings at the same quality as ScreenFlow 9 and up to 75% less CPU usage during camera recording. Timeline thumbnail creation is 300% faster and exports are up to 66% faster on the latest Apple Silicon hardware.

Download the trial or purchase ScreenFlow 10 at: https://www.telestream.net/screenflow/overview.htm

The NAB Show is now accepting nominations for the third annual Product of the Year awards.

Companies scheduled to exhibit in either the 2020 or 2021 NAB Show are eligible. The awards recognize the most significant and promising new products and technologies developed by NAB Show exhibitors.

Nominations are being accepted through September 17.

The Product of the Year award recipients will be selected by a panel of industry experts in 16 categories and announced during the official awards ceremony and reception at the Westgate Hotel on Tuesday, October 12. Nominated products and technologies must be available for delivery in calendar year 2021.

“NAB Show is the premier venue to launch and demonstrate new products that sit at the intersection of media, entertainment and technology,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Global Connections and Events Chris Brown. “We look forward to exploring innovations from the past two years and celebrating their impact on our industry.”

Product categories for the 2021 NAB Show Product of the Year awards are as follows:

• AI/Machine Learning
• Asset Management, Automation, Playout
• Audio Production, Processing and Networking
• Camera Support, Control and Accessories
• Cameras
• Cloud Computing and Storage
• Digital Signage & Display Systems
• Graphics, Editing, VXF, Switchers
• Grip Equipment
• Hardware Infrastructure
• IT Networking/Infrastructure & Security
• Location/Studio Lighting
• Monitoring and Measuring Tools
• Radio
• Remote Production
• Streaming

Companies should submit product nominations here. The official rules are available here. 

USSI Global has strengthened its executive team by appointing a Vice President of Programs and Innovation Lab.

Reporting to COO Anthony Morelli, he will focus on technology development and systems integration strategies that bring the company’s core broadcast, digital signage, and electronic business and consumer operations closer together.

Taking the position is Ted Korte, who will also be charged with driving technology and service innovations that “enhance USSI Global’s value as a turnkey project management company.”

Korte comes to USSI Global with 25 years of broadcast industry experience, including 20 years at Harris Corporation. He served as Director of Engineering across key business units (automation and asset management, video servers and editing, and TV and radio transmission), and in later years worked closely with the company’s digital signage and managed services teams. That led to stronger technical synergies across Harris’s broadcast and digital signage businesses.

Korte joined then-upstart Qligent in 2014, now a global leader in monitoring and analytics for broadcasters and OTT services. As COO/CTO, he established a brand reputation for Qligent as an innovator in transitioning QoS, QoE, and compliance monitoring operations to the cloud. After bringing the company’s pioneering Vision monitoring platform to market, Korte helped Qligent launch the industry’s first “monitoring as a service” platform, and expanded Qligent’s horizons into the now-ubiquitous big data space to generate detailed audience and business analytics.

He returned to Harris Corporation, now L3Harris, in 2019 where he focused on internal research and development projects for the space industry. He gained experience in program management and satellite technologies, including LEO groundstations and global networking systems that represent important emerging markets for USSI Global.

“Ted brings enormous value to USSI Global that will help us establish growth strategies for our core markets and new business opportunities, while broadening our horizons as a service-oriented organization,” said Morelli. “With several exciting new initiatives in motion, the time is right to bring on someone who has the right expertise and vision to propel our business forward, and deliver innovative programs and services for our customers. We are confident that Ted is the right person for this job, and we are proud to welcome him to the USSI Global team.”

TORONTO — At first glance, one may simply believe Educational Media Foundation seeks to fill a gap in its nearly national footprint for its KLOVE and Air 1 Christian music networks by grabbing a pair of commercially licensed FMs in an economic struggling portion of far Upstate New York.

Yes, EMF will be gaining a presence in such small cities as Malone, Massena and Chateaugay. But, more significantly, EMF has gained two facilities that will allow it to reach English-speaking audiences from Cornwall to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and the western suburbs of Montréal.

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A maker of signal transmission and content monitoring solutions for the broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV markets has released a new product that adds to its portfolio of ATSC 3.0 broadcast items.

The new Sencore TXS 3800 transcoder appliance converts multiple ATSC 3.0 services into
ATSC 1.0-like formats, for reuse and retransmission in existing cable, translator and MVPD systems.

The TXS 3800 is a dense terrestrial transcoder, capable of transcoding up to 4 ATSC 3.0 services in a single chassis. Video features include MPEG-2 and H.264 compression, along with down-scaling, transrating and caption conversion. Audio is transcoded to either AC-3 or AAC and service names are mapped into standard TVCT format. Once transcoded, all elements are packaged into an MPEG transport stream and output as traditional MPEG/IP for downstream use.

As ATSC 3.0 deployments continue to expand, broadcast, cable and MVPD providers are constantly looking for innovative new products to help them manage these new workflows. “The TXS 3800 is the perfect companion to seamlessly integrate ATSC 3.0 signals into existing signal paths with minimal impact to architecture and processes,” Sencore says.

To download the full datasheet, view features and product specifications or request a demo, visit www.sencore.com

A chip shortage has been wreaking havoc on the automobile industry, hampering efforts to get new vehicles into showrooms and out the door with consumers who desire to replace their current ride.

Now, Chevrolet has alerted consumers that certain model year 2021 and 2022 pickup trucks will not come with Xperi’s HD Radio. And, the automotive company says, it is due to a chip shortage.

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Of all of the advertisers using Spot Cable to reach consumers, there’s one that stands out.

And, it is perhaps the most recognizable coffee retailer in the world.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten TV report is noteworthy for its lack of movement among the brands actively using national television to reach consumers.

And, as shown below, auto insurance specialists remain the most active of categories at Spot TV.

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Urban One, the multimedia company led by Alfred Liggins III that owns the TV One and Cleo cable television networks in addition to radio stations, Reach Media and a growing casino gaming operation, has submitted to the SEC the results of voting on matters ranging from executive compensation to its board of directors.

The votes came during Urban One’s annual shareholders meeting on June 23.

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As RBR+TVBR first reported on June 22, Adams Radio Group, the Minnesota-based company led by Ron Stone, is selling two of its stations serving the Eastern Shore of Maryland and lower Delaware.

Stone then hinted at the sale of the remaining stations owned by Adams in the region.

Now, another station has been sold — this time a Class A Country station licensed to Seaford, Del.

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With a mere 99 watts from a broadcast tower used by Sinclair Broadcast Group for its ABC television affiliate, an FM translator reaches most of metropolitan St. Louis at 106.9 MHz.

Until now, this mini-FM facility has simulcast a religious AM. That will soon change, as the FM translator has just been sold.

Paperwork has been filed with the FCC that shows Kaufman Media agreeing to part ways with K295CQ in St. Louis, Mo.

It’s grabbing $125,000 for the baby FM, and the buyer is Rob Austin-led Fusion Radio.

And, Austin has plans in place that will see K295CQ get an upgraded facility and a new tower location, ending the use of the structure at the KDNL-30 studios.

That’s according to Dick Kozacko, who served as Austin’s broker of record. With an upgrade, the coverage area of K295CQ is expected to grow dramatically, making it a “super translator” with city-grade coverage of nearly the entire metropolitan area.

What are Austin’s plans? They could mirror those seen at WPAY-AM 1520 in Toledo and its two associated FM translators.

In addition to his Fusion Radio operation, Austin operates Jammtraxx Media, a Chicago-based operation that offers programming, production, imaging and mix show syndication.

He’s made a $25,000 downpayment to Kaufman, which will receive an additional $25,000 payment no later than August 2. A $75,000 payment will be made at closing.

This is expected to occur by September 1.

Kaufman Media is led by Bert Kaufman, who intended to sell K295CQ and originating station WGNU-AM 920 along with KXEN-AM 1010 and FM translator K283CI to Berry Broadcasting for $650,000 in July 2019. That transaction was never consummated.

Kozacko notes that offers for WGNU, KXEN and K283CI “are pending.”

In 1978, she joined the former Great Trails Broadcasting, working as an on-air personality.

This Gem City radio voice would remain a key figure in the market for some 43 years, and today remains a household name thanks to her presence on an iHeartMedia Adult Contemporary leader.

Come July 16, Kim Faris will say goodbye to Radio. Chances are, she won’t be saying goodbye to Dayton anytime soon.

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It’s been a hallmark of iHeartRadio‘s app for both free and paid users.

Now, Audacy is bringing “exclusive music stations” to its app, formerly known as Radio.com and acquired through the tax-fee CBS Radio merger.

“Exclusive stations underscore Audacy’s commitment to a roadmap of innovation, with many more features and interactivity to come over the coming months,” said J.D. Crowley, the Chief Digital Officer at Audacy.

Audacy adds that “the exclusive station collection is designed for fans by fans and will range widely across various music genres, moods and activities, enabling users to discover new music driven by their interests, favorite artists and upcoming events.”

This brings some 350 new stations, “expertly curated,” to the newly renamed Audacy app and digital audio platform. What makes this different from Pandora, or Spotify? That curation, Audacy notes, with on-air personalities contributing to the “millions of hours of human music compilation and audio production experience.”

Stations will also be built “by some of the biggest stars in the music industry.” They include Coldplay, a highly popular act of the 2000s; Top 40 and EDM act Tiësto, Disney Channel alumnus Sofia Carson and country music artist Jake Owen at launch, with additional artist-programmed stations added in the coming weeks.

Interesting, the catalogue of Audacy’s app-only stations is “Powered by Napster.”

Napster famously rose to prominence some 20 years ago for its users’ ability to download recorded music at no cost. It was shut down in July 2001, agreed to a $26 million settlement, and sought to relaunch as a paid service. This included an attempt to sell Napster to Bertelsmann for $85 million; a judged blocked the move, and its assets were sold off.

Today’s Napster is a descendent of the original Napster and since August has been owned by virtual reality events company MelodyVR.

Thanks to a big PR push and the recent naming of Joe Crowley — the former Democratic Congressman who lost his primary re-election bid to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — as Chairman of pro-recording artist rights coalition musicFIRST, the latest effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to collect dollars for musicians and performers from radio stations was introduced with a big media splash.

The American Music Fairness Act arrived. It looks not so dissimilar to previous attempts to get legislation favoring recording acts passed by Congress, except for one big difference: a tiered royalty structure based on a radio station’s annual revenue.

Is that enough to woo Members of the House and Senate? If anything, it may have had the opposite effect, as the Local Radio Freedom Act has gained more support since the “AMFA” arrival.

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If not, now is your time to make your selections for the Medallas de Cortez awards.

The Medallas de Cortez are the most prestigious and highly coveted symbol of excellence in Hispanic radio. This is the twelfth year these exclusive radio awards will be presented at the Hispanic Radio Conference in Miami, and if you know someone who is doing great work in Hispanic radio, now is your chance to spotlight their efforts with a nomination.

Nominations can be made in seven categories:

• Marketer (may be someone from a station, an agency, or a client)
• National/Syndicated Personality
• Local Personality
• Program Director
• Sales Manager
• General/Market Manager,
• Station of the Year.

The awards, sponsored by vCreative, will be presented at the Hispanic Radio Conference, September 22-23, in Miami at the Intercontinental at Doral.

Nominations are being accepted through July 12. Don’t procrastinate — make yours today!

The regional Mexican radio specialist headquartered in Ventura County, Calif., has secured an FM translator for an AM station it owns in the San Francisco Bay Area.

There’s just one catch, and it involves Audacy.

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