Industry News

When the pandemic put a full stop to sports and live event production, CP Communications parked its mobile trucks and shifted its focus to REMI and in-studio production. It’s a business that continues to grow for the company.

The return of live sports now has CP Communications treading familiar territory with events such as the MLB All-Star Game, NBA Finals, and – most recently – Aramco Team Series New York, an internationally televised and globally streamed professional golf event.

CP Communications, a specialist in RF and IP-based content acquisition for professional golf events, was hired by event producer Olhmeyer Kusserow Group (OKG) to step in on short notice due to COVID-related restrictions for international production teams. Within two weeks, CP Communications had a turnkey crew and technology plan for the hilly Glen Oaks Club on Long Island in October 2021.

CP Communications drove its flagship HD-21 production truck to the course with 50,000 feet of fiber, eight RF cameras, eight RF effects microphones, two RF talent microphones, and course-wide communications. The company also coordinated RF frequencies for live coverage, using special temporary authority, or STAs, from the FCC to acquire spectrum.

“It felt like old times,” said CP Communications CEO Kurt Heitmann. “We have years of experience providing full video and audio coverage of big golf events for major broadcast networks, and the ability to turn around a turnkey system and crew on minimal notice for live productions of any size. When the OKG team came calling, we were ready and eager to step in to help them bring this event to viewers worldwide.”

CP Communications Vice President of Sales and Marketing Aaron Segarra adds that one of the more challenging elements of covering golf is perhaps unexpected.

“Ensuring high-quality video and audio production is essential for any live televised production, but with golf the more challenging elements is clean communications,” he said. “We established a Hytera network with 40 two-radio radios and four channels each of inbound and outbound communications. That is where we really shine for golf, and it is so important given the number of acquisition points and production sites positioned around the course.”

CP Communications acquired and distributed all content over RF for delivery back to HD-21, where MultiDyne VF-9000 video fiber-optic transport frames received and processed the signals. CP technicians managed and switched the feeds in HD-21’s master control center before handing off to OKG, which provided the World Feed and other live broadcast services to TV networks and OTT services. That included four channels of video and multiple channels of audio distributed to the host broadcast facility in Germany.

“Golf is one of the toughest sports to produce, and CP Communications gave us very close to full coverage from tee to green across all holes on a hilly course that is challenging to cover,” said Chris Ohlmeyer, Executive Producer and Managing Partner for Olhmeyer Kusserow Group. “They executed a plan that allowed them to cleanly capture and run signals RF over fiber, while also supporting our own hard cameras over the same infrastructure. They came through with a professional operations and support team on short notice while also keeping us within budget. These were tall orders with only two weeks from first contact to tee off.”

— Brian Galante

EUREKA, CALIF. — Humboldt County-based streaming and podcast tech company StreamGuys has brought to market an upgrade to its HTML5-based SGplayer multimedia player.

Complementing SGplayer’s existing embeddable configuration, version 3.2 offers a new full-page layout mode that provides additional ways for radio broadcasters and content producers to connect with their audiencess.

Hosted and managed by StreamGuys, SGplayer offers content providers a full-featured, multi-format media player that they can incorporate into their websites to present live streams and on-demand content. SGplayer 3.2’s responsive user interface delivers listening experiences on desktop and mobile devices. Integration with StreamGuys’ SGrewind time-shifting technology allows listeners to pause, resume, and rewind live streams or jump back to the beginning of a recently streamed show through a scrollable and searchable program guide.

New engagement buttons in SGplayer 3.2’s full-page layout allow radio stations and podcasters to establish ongoing connections with their audiences. Listeners can quickly subscribe to podcasts through RSS feeds or third-party platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts, while a new Share button lets listeners easily propagate player links for their favorite live streams and on-demand content on popular social media networks and community forums. Enhanced search functionality allows consumers to find podcast episodes of interest by matching keywords to descriptions. The new full-page podcast presentation design can also showcase other podcast series from the same producer alongside the current episode list, encouraging listeners to discover and engage with more of the producer’s content.

Two new monetization features in SGplayer 3.2 supplement its existing support for dynamic advertising insertion. Content providers with existing e-commerce destinations can add a “Buy” button or link to the iTunes Store to allow listeners to immediately purchase products such as individual songs or albums. Customizable, clickable links can be added to live stream and podcast descriptions to take listeners to sponsors’ websites, event ticket sales portals, or any other online destination the content provider wishes.

“Broadcasters and podcast publishers are constantly striving to deepen their relationships with their listeners and expand the monetization of their content beyond traditional advertising,” said Eduardo Martinez, director of technology at StreamGuys. “SGplayer 3.2’s new full-page layout is the result of extensive research we conducted with our customers to optimize how we help them achieve those goals. Its new interface design and features enable audio enterprises to deliver differentiated, engaging audience experiences that will keep their listeners coming back for more.”

Radio Free Entertainment Network, Ltd. (RFEN) was one of the beta testers for SGplayer 3.2. “The new SGplayer enables scalable new opportunities for our marketing sales consultants and our clients,” said RFEN CEO Christavus Dominic. “It will help them increase their productivity and profits through features like customizable text and clickable links for sponsorships and promotional events.”

— Bodhi Hunt, in Arcata, Calif.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On November 15, the FCC adopted and released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to update its rules for applicants proposing directional antenna facilities for FM and Low Power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations.

With the NPRM’s publication on Tuesday in the Federal Register, Comment and Reply Comment dates are now in effect.

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He’s known for his former role as SVP/Media Systems and IT Development for STARZ Entertainment LLC.

Now, he’s taking the newly created role of VP of Operations at the owner of 11 low-powered stations and two program networks, one bearing the name of the entire operation.

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On January 11, 2021, Beasley Media Group shares finished at $2.01. From that point through early November, BBGI would remain a rather steady issue on the Nasdaq GlobalMarket, with average prices in the mid-$2 range.

With Monday’s Closing Bell on Wall Street, Beasley shares have nearly erased all of its 2021 momentum. As such, the stock is ever-closer to its pandemic-era lows and more than $11 per share below where it stood four years ago.

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The FCC’s Media Bureau has identified 231 MX groups, comprising some 883 applications, in its filing window for applications for new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM new station construction permits, which closed on November 9.

What’s next? A new window for settlements and technical amendments.

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We love great photos of broadcast facilities!

Here’s one from the San Francisco market, posted on LinkedIn by Jake Wang. He’s vice president of construction for Fullwave Tower & Broadcast.

“A beautiful day on San Bruno Mountain yesterday!” he wrote. “We installed a new replacement ERI SHP-6 for our friends at KQED(FM). A great antenna that will surely last many years for them.”

Send us your photos of new or interesting facilities, whether it be of an antenna, transmitter, studio or NOC. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post A New Antenna for KQED appeared first on Radio World.

The FCC’s Media Bureau has published the list of mutually exclusive applications submitted in the recent window for new noncom educational FM stations.

The commission received almost 1,300 applications. Out of those, there are 231 MX groups with a total of 883 applications. They are listed here.

Now comes the 60-day period in which MX applicants can reach settlement agreements and file them with the FCC, and/or submit technical amendments to resolve conflicts.

The bureau also dismissed 13 MX applications that had “numerous significant and egregious technical defects.” Each applicant has an opportunity to ask for reconsideration.

It said it will expedite the processing of all complete and rule-compliant settlement agreements and technical amendments that are filed by Jan. 28, 2022. Applicants in MX groups that have not submitted settlements or technical amendments during this period will then proceed to a comparative analysis.

All the procedures are

The post FCC Publishes MX Application List for New NCE FMs appeared first on Radio World.

The new VP/GM of Nexstar Media Group‘s Lafayette, La., operations has been named. It is an individual who is “extremely familiar” with the market and the broadcast TV company’s CBS affiliate in the market.

He started as a videographer at the station’s news department in 1997, and spent 17 years there.

Going back to KLFY-10 is Chris Cook. Only this time, he’s the VP/GM at the station where he once held the roles of Promotions Coordinator, Marketing Director, Digital Sales Manager and Local Sales Manager.

Cook reports to Nexstar Media SVP/Regional Manager Mike Vaughn and comes on board after serving as Director of Sales for Circle City Broadcasting’s WISH-8 in Indianapolis. It is a role he took in early 2020, and saw Cook stay along side Circle City owner DuJuan McCoy. Prior to WISH, Cook for McCoy in Louisiana, at KADN-TV and KLAF-TV in Lafayette, stations McCoy sold to Byron Allen in 2019.

As such, Cook is returning home to Bayou Country.

“Chris is an excellent choice to lead Nexstar’s Lafayette media businesses,”  Vaughn said. “He’s intimately familiar with the market, and understands well the expectations of its viewers, advertisers and marketers. He’s thoughtful, innovative, and dedicated to delivering outstanding local content and service to the greater Lafayette area. His long track-record of success, broad experience, and ability to deliver exceptional ratings and sales results through unique local partnerships and superior customer service will serve him and the team at KLFY-TV well. I am looking forward to working with Chris as he assumes his
new duties and expect much success in the future.”

Cook added, This is like coming home. Plus, when you combine Nexstar’s commitment to
hyper-local content and the unique and innovative cross-platform advertising solutions we offer to our viewers and clients, the result gives us a distinct advantage over our competitors. I am confident that my experience has prepared me well to take on this new role and I am pleased to be re-joining the talented team of broadcast, digital, and sales professionals at KLFY-TV and klfy.com.”

Streamline Publishing Audio/TV/Podcast division seeks a creative go getter who can wear many hats and likes to play on a dynamic team. Candidate should have excellent writing skills (editorial and marketing), be adept at social media, possess great people skills and not afraid to reach out to conference speaking prospects. Strong organizational skills, the ability to multi task, and attention to detail a must.

This is a part time position with the potential to grow into full time.
Send resumes to Deborah Parenti at dparenti@streamlinepublishing.com. No phone calls. Streamline is an EOE employer.