Industry News

Marketron has brought to market the first three connectors within its new Marketron Integration Suite.

Connectors for Salesforce, HubSpot, and NetSuite “simplify” and automate the sharing of data between Marketron’s traffic systems and the three platforms.

“Streamlining the exchange of data between CRM and accounting platforms, these connectors reduce data silos, eliminate duplication and normalization issues, improve data accuracy, and enable greater efficiency and agility across sales, traffic, and billing operations,” the broadcast technology company says.

“Our connectors with Salesforce, HubSpot, and NetSuite allow Marketron customers to begin sharing data with these platforms quickly and easily without involvement of development teams,” noted Marketron VP of Professional Services and Presales Greg
Aimone. “Using these prebuilt integrations with leading third-party platforms, customers can quickly start reaping the benefits of increased automation, broader visibility across key business tools, and complete data access.”

Marketron will work with customers to customize existing connectors as needed and build additional connectors by request, the company says. Additionally, Marketron plans to bring dozens, and eventually hundreds, of connectors “into a broad ecosystem of business tools and platforms.’

One will oversee markets in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. The other will oversee markets in Missouri, Minnesota and select locales in Iowa.

Each now hold the title of Regional Vice Presidents at Alpha Media.

Brian Foster will take Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, while Tuttle will handle the other markets for the Portland, Ore.-based radio broadcasting company.

They each report to COO Larry Bastida.

Bastida commented, “Throughout our extensive search to fill the Regional President position, it became clear that Brian and Les could play crucial roles. In recent weeks, the added collaboration from these three has enhanced the discussion as the company gains momentum going into 2022.”

Foster has worked in the Chicago market as General Sales Manager and Market Manager for the last twenty years. In addition, Foster served as Vice President of NM360 Digital from 2008 to 2015. During that time, Foster was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by Radio Ink magazine.

Over the past eleven years, Tuttle has been Market Manager for Alpha Media in the Missouri market of Moberly-Farmington-Festus, comprised of eight radio stations, two information portals, and all digital marketing services.

The appointments follow the recent naming as a Regional President of Zoe Burdine-Fly.

NEW YORK — Take an Uber or Lyft across one of the Five Boroughs, and there’s a good chance you’ll get a driver tuned to WPAT “Amor 93.1” or WSKQ “Mega 97.9” — FM radio properties that command the lion’s share of the Spanish-speaking audience in the New York market.

The properties are just some of the audio properties that make Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) one of the broadcast media industry’s biggest comeback companies. In Q3, radio revenue and adjusted OIBDA again exceeded 2019 pre-pandemic levels, the company announced late Monday (11/15).

“Our third quarter results evidenced continued solid financial performance as we again delivered double digit growth in both net revenue and adjusted OIBDA, driven by the strong growth of our radio business,” said Raúl Alarcón Jr., Chairman/CEO of SBS.

It was the second quarter in a row that SBS’s radio revenue exceeded 2019 levels. “Our radio operating margins again led the industry, and we expect continued peak operating efficiency as we roll out our previously pandemic-postponed schedule of projected sold-out sponsored concerts in the New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico markets in the coming months,” Alarcón said.

Despite a 38% drop in television division revenue, to $3.02 million from $4.87 million, radio division net revenue surged to $35.94 million from $25.08 million.

This led SBS to shift to net income of $846,000 ($0.11 per share), compared to a net loss of $4.46 million (-$0.61 per share). Operating income increased to $9.21 million, from $6.58 million. Overall net revenue including $485,000 of political advertising climbed to $38.96 million, from $29.96 million in Q3 2020, when some $2.06 million in political ad dollars were seen.

With SBS President/COO Albert Rodriguez in attendance at Forecast 2022 at the Harvard Club on Tuesday, SBS will have its quarterly earnings call for analysts and shareholders on Thursday.

 

This week, we’re taking a look at NPR/Edison Research’s new report on spoken word audio.

The research behind the latest NPR/Edison Spoken Word Audio Report suggests an explosive growth in listening to that medium, particularly among young and multicultural demographics. This begs several questions: Why, what motivates them? How long are they listening? Is it more or less than in the past?

The Spoken Word Audio Report shows increases in listenership for spoken audio rising fastest among younger and multicultural demographics.

While not part of the formal quantitative research, NPR and Edison conducted in-depth interviews with several respondents for additional background about their listening habits, including the why part of the equation.

[Spoken Word Listenership Increases 40% Since 2014]

The results — many are seeking a different point of view from what they’re hearing on social or mainstream media. Typical of the responses, “… I really like the idea of seeing things from different sorts of perspectives.” Another said, “I want to know about different parts of the world, country, different things like that.” And, “I do think it provides different perspectives on stuff that we don’t see in the media every day.”

Another frequent response from participants is that spoken word audio provides them with an inward view, as well as an opportunity for self-improvement and introspection. One respondent said, “it kind of helps me understand more about how to be more successful and try to be more financially well-off.” Others replied, “… so I can improve my positivity within myself that way and I can spread it to others.”

Additional comments included, “You hear other people call in and someone who has a similar problem gives you an idea to try that you can apply to your situation or whatever,” and, “I can take things from each podcast that can help me become a better mom or be a better girlfriend or, eventually, be a good wife. So that’s why I like to listen.”

The research suggests respondents have an average daily listening time of 2 hours and 6 minutes for spoken word content. Compared to five years ago, 51 percent of those surveyed said they are listening to spoken work more than in the past; 31 percent say it’s the same, while 18 percent are listening less. Those numbers skew upwards for the younger demographics and multicultural listeners, down for older listeners, and stay more or less even for white listeners.

Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Spoken Word Audio Provides Listeners New Perspectives, Introspection appeared first on Radio World.

This continues our coverage of the recent online WorldDAB Summit 2021.

Digital Radio UK launched worked to educate retail staff about the advantages of DAB.

To drive DAB+ receiver sales in Europe, the radio industry has to educate consumer and retail sales staff more effectively. How to do that and more were addressed during Session 2 of the WorldDAB Summit 2021 on Nov. 9. (Recordings of the sessions are on the WorldDAB YouTube page.)

To motivate consumers to buy DAB+ receivers, they first have to understand what DAB+ is all about. Jacqueline Bierhorst, project director with Digital Radio Netherlands, outlined how this education is being delivered in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium in the presentation “Working With Retailers to Help Listeners Upgrade to DAB+.”

“The Netherlands has a 360-degree campaign to influence behavior and improve the actual use of DAB+,” said Bierhorst. “The campaign has been heard and seen on radio TV, through native ads and Facebook links, out of home, on the back of trucks and online video. On top of that, we have a collaboration with the five biggest Dutch retailers.” The payoff, she said, “All these efforts have resulted in a great uplift of sales [with a growth of] 271 percent.”

Meanwhile, “Digital Radio Germany is very active and a great inspiration for other countries,” she said. “The team in Germany made sure that all retail staff get guidance and new updates on DAB+ and its advantages. This makes sure that the shop seller is well-informed and can give a good explanation of DAB+ to customers.”

[Read more from Radio World about Digital Radio]

Then there’s Belgium, where this year “the first joint national DAB+ campaign was aired a two-week radio campaign aired on the main French- and Flemish-speaking stations, starting on Sept. 13 in association with the retailer Vanden Borre,” Bierhorst said. Again, both national efforts are increasing DAB+ receiver sales in their respective markets.

Similar promotional efforts in the United Kingdom were touched upon during a session about “Working With Retailers to Train and Educate Their Staff,” presented by Ford Ennals, chief executive officer of Digital Radio UK.

In the U.K., “digital radio sales are challenging,” Ennals said. To find out why, Digital Radio UK surveyed audio sales staff, most of whom were in their mid-20s.

The results: Young audio sales staff tend to view radio as being “more for older people,” said Ennals. “When they’re pressed [by customers], ‘Should I buy a smart speaker or a digital radio?’ they would advise consumers to buy a smart speaker because they see it as an easier and perhaps a more sexy sale.”

Based on this knowledge gap, Digital Radio UK spent the past six months educating sales staff about the full benefits and options provided by DAB+

One way to sell digital radio to consumers is to outline how “green” its transmission system is compared to conventional FM broadcasting. One real-life comparison was offered during “Environment — Bavaria’s DAB+ Green Report,” which was presented by Veit Olischläger, head of technology, media management and public relations for Bayerischen Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM), the Bavarian public-service broadast operator.

BLM compared the FM and DAB power consumption levels, on a per-service basis, for two Bavarian broadcasters. The results were impressive: “The given FM power consumption for Bayerischer Rundfunk is around 1,000 megawatt hours per year, and on the DAB side it’s 261 megawatt hours, which results in a reduction of 75 percent,” Olischläger said.

A Bavarian study found a 75 percent increase in energy consumption to reach the same audience with digital radio versus conventional FM.

Similar savings were seen for the private radio broadcaster Antenne Bayern. “The energy consumption on FM is higher … [while] the energy consumption on the DAB side is slightly reduced to a slightly reduced data rate,” he said. “Overall, the reduction is 85 percent for the private network.”

The final Session 2 presentation was titled “Performance — GfK Analysis.” It reported trends in consumer electronics sales.

The bare facts: “Total 2021 spending was up versus 2020,” said Max Templeman, insight director for consumer electronics at research firm GfK. Digital radio sales only showed “a small value increase,” he said. “Germany, France, Italy and Belgium increased share of total Europe DAB sales, but the Czech Republic saw the highest growth rate.”

As well, “over half of all DAB sales occurred online in quarter one this year,” said Templeman. “DAB radios over €200 still provide a healthy market share and gain importance in quarter four.”

See Radio World’s coverage of WorldDAB Summit 2021 Session 1.

The post Educating Consumers, Sales Staff Key to Building DAB+ Receiver Sales appeared first on Radio World.

The IBC show is a “go.”

After weighting tightened COVID restrictions announced by the Dutch government late last week, the show organizers announced Tuesday morning that the show will take place as scheduled starting Dec. 3 in Amsterdam.

The IBC cited “determined industry support” for the event to proceed.

“The announcement follows a decision at [Monday’s] IBC Partnership Board meeting to continue with the planned event because it can be delivered safely and create the essential business momentum that the industry needs,” it stated.

“We will forge ahead with our IBC Digital offering to ensure that whether onsite in Amsterdam or onscreen at home the industry can come together,” said Chief Executive Michael Crimp in the statement.

Crimp acknowledged the “waves of concern” prompted by the government action last week, but said that examination of the new rules and consultation with The RAI facility showed that “not much changes with regards to the safety plans we had already put in place. We will still have the perimeter fence around The RAI and thorough COVID status and health screening on entry. We will make a number of adjustments to our safety management and operational protocols to make sure the guidance is clear, and the event is safe for exhibitors and visitors.”

The show hours have been adjusted so participants “can make the most of their visits.” Crimp said, “I can definitely see breakfast and lunch gatherings being the mode of networking at this year’s event. Let’s save the big parties to 2022 and focus right now on re-connecting and driving business.”

[Read the full announcement text.]

IBC2021 show opening times will be:

Friday              03.12.21         09:00 – 16:30

Saturday         04.12.21         08:30 – 16:30

Sunday            05.12.21         08:30 – 16:30

Monday          06.12.21         08:30 – 16:00

The post Despite Tightened Restrictions, IBC Show Will Proceed appeared first on Radio World.

Mike Everhart

Alpha Media has operations in 42 markets around the United States, stretching from Alaska to South Carolina, comprising about four dozen studio locations and 200 or so FM and AM licenses.

Director of Engineering Mike Everhart is one of several engineers I interviewed for our ebook “After the Masks Come Off.”

He told me that Alpha’s leadership has been putting lessons of the pandemic into practice.

[Check Out More of Radio World’s Ebooks Here]

“You’ll see it in future iterations of our studio builds. We’re entering a right-sizing operation in the Portland, Ore., market right now; and we’re looking at a move-and-build in another market in the next year or so that will take a lot of those lessons into account.”

The company was already heading down this road, he said, due the cost of construction, which Everhart said has ballooned well above the rate of inflation; a general decline in radio revenue in recent years; and the possibilities that technology brings for enabling remote work and creating more flexibility in the use of infrastructure.

“Those forces have come together and forced us to rethink the way we do these facilities,” Everhart said.

“We’ve been reducing the physical footprint. We’ve been reducing studio counts. We’ve been looking at hoteling workspace as opposed to dedicated individual workspaces, in the office as well as the studio. A person does not have a dedicated workspace all the time.”

A design principle of engineering is to seek efficiency, he said; but Alpha Media’s analysis has shown that traditionally radio is inefficient in their use of space, with low occupancy rates of desks and studios. He attributes this to a cultural paradigm in which a brand’s identity is wrapped up in the control room, where you build a culture to share with an audience.

“What we’ve found is that the culture and feel of a brand is what comes out the speakers and the feelings engendered in the audience members. It doesn’t come from the space, it comes from the head and the heart of the people producing the programs.”

With all that taken into account, and given the costs of building facilities and the expense of commercial real estate, “It doesn’t make sense to keep doing things the way we’ve been doing things.”

I enjoyed putting this particular ebook together and invite you to read more from Mike Everhart and other top engineers. Find it at radioworld.com/ebooks.

Comment on this or any article. Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Your Culture Doesn’t Come From the Studio Space appeared first on Radio World.

Europe’s leading exhibition and conference for broadband, television and online business executives is readying for “a brilliant comeback” from a COVID-19 pandemic pause.

Get ready for ANGA COM, scheduled for May 10-12, 2022 in Cologne, Germany.

Stand booking is already open and a Call for Participation for the technology program is available online at www.angacom.de.

Key topics of ANGA COM 2022 include FTTH, DOCSIS 4.0, 10G, Wifi, Fixed Mobile Convergence, Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Services, OTT, AppTV, Video Streaming, Smart City and Smart Home.

Numerous leading technology vendors have already confirmed their stand bookings for the exhibition, including ASTRA, ASTRO Strobel, AVM, Berthold Sichert, BTV Multimedia, CommScope, DCT DELTA, Deutsche Glasfaser, Emtelle, gabo, Ocilion IPTV Technologies, Technetix, Vodafone and WISI Communications.

The broadband industry is facing a new spirit of optimism. Even after the pandemic – or precisely because of last year’s experience – the expansion of broadband networks is at the top of the agenda everywhere in Europe. In Germany, for example, with its more than 40 million households, network operators and a steadily growing number of international investors have announced an investment of many billions.

Event organizers says ANGA COM will take place at a date that allows sufficient lead time, given the dates of CES 2022 and the NAB Show, in mid-April in Las Vegas.

Legal and company travel restrictions are expected to be lifted by Spring 2022 at the latest, even with a current surge in COVID-19 cases across several German states.

Solid State Logic has confirmed that it will feature its new System T TE1 and TE2 Tempest Engines at IBC 2021, scheduled for December 3-6 at RAI Amsterdam.

The company’s new System T V3.1 software introduces pay-as-you-go licensing, while delivering enhanced third party device control on top of advanced AoIP routing technology at its core.

The new System T V3.1 software release enables operators using the new TE1 and TE2 Tempest Engines to flexibly scale processing capabilities according to their specific broadcast production requirements. Software licenses for five different processing packs, defined by the total number of mono All-Paths equivalent channels supported, from 85 to 800, are available to users as perpetual or short-term, time-based rental upgrades.

The new TE1 Tempest Engine supports Processing Pack 1 (140 paths) or 2 (256 paths) while the TE2 engine supports all five packs, from 140 to 800 paths at 48 kHz or 85 to 500 paths at 96 kHz. The TE1 is equivalent to the original T25 engine for System T, which offered a maximum of 256 paths, while the TE2 matches the previous 800-path T80 engine. The two new engines and five processing packs expand beyond those configurations to offer a wider variety of channel path capacities that align with a broader range of applications and budgets.

Additionally, the System T V3.1 software provides alerts and warnings as any processing pack license nears its expiration. The new SSL licensing platform enables users to retrieve licenses as required and seamlessly add them to their console systems.

SSL invites you to arrange a demonstration or consultation with a broadcast specialist to walk through product features and real-world broadcast scenarios using its latest System T software and DSP engines. To register for a meeting or consultation, please visit https://www.solidstatelogic.com/events/ibc-2021. At IBC 2021, SSL will be at booth 8.C64.

The infrastructure supporting live productions is gradually changing from mainly SDI Video to IP networks. That’s a result of more computer-generated content, new IP cameras and other NDI or IP sources become commonplace.

As such, there’s a need to integrate a mix of SDI, HDMI and IP Video sources.

Broadcast Pix has responded.

It’s brought to market a new integrated production product, “MX Solution.”

The MX Hybrid features:

• 8 Network/IP + 3 SDI (HD/4K) + 1 HDMI/SDI/Analog inputs
• 4 (2 SDI + 2 NDI) Program and Aux assignable outputs
• 6 Keyers with DVEs and chromakey
• Remote “Browser-Based” and “Easy-To-Operate” User Interfaces
• GuestPix remote guest integration
• Integrated Chat and Intercom
• Enhanced macros to automate repetitive tasks and ensure consistency of production
• Built-in streaming, recording and audio mixing
• Hardware that fully supports 1080p/60 and 4K

“We are very pleased to announce MX Hybrid, the latest product in our range of easy-to-use live production solutions,” said Graham Sharp, CEO at Broadcast Pix. “The feature rich, future proof and flexible MX Hybrid will serve the production needs of government, broadcast, live events, and visual radio users – well into the future with its hybrid input configuration and video format agnostic support. We are offering competitive upgrades to existing users and coupled with our customer support packages, we are fulfilling our vow never to leave any customer behind.”

The MX Hybrid is now available to order for $19,995 MSRP and will begin shipping in late 2021.