Radio+Television Business Report

Until now, consumers of Cumulus Media-owned radio stations that wished to stream any of the company’s AMs or FMs needed to do so via two commonly used apps.

As of today, the third widely used live audio streaming app has added all of Cumulus’ broadcast stations to its platform.

Audacy and Cumulus on Wednesday announced a content distribution partnership. This  brings Cumulus’ 413 radio stations and portfolio of podcasts to the Audacy digital platform, with access via the Audacy smartphone app and its Radio.com predecessor app available for WDVD-FM in Detroit; KRUZ-FM in Santa Barbara, Calif., and other Cumulus stations during the noon hour, Eastern time.

The Audacy.com website was still in the process of being updated as of this writing.

“We’re delighted with this opportunity to expand listeners’ ability to discover and connect with our stations and podcasts through the Audacy app,” said Cumulus Media SVP/Digital Operations and Business Development Larry Linietsky. “This partnership is in sync with our strategy of distributing our content through multiple platforms to make it available anywhere and anytime people want to enjoy it.”

Cumulus stations have been available via both the TuneIn and iHeartRadio apps.

“The addition of Cumulus’s expansive portfolio of leading radio stations enhances and bolsters Audacy’s position as the fastest growing digital platform for radio listeners,” said Audacy VP of Business Development Corey Podolsky. “Audacy looks forward to building on this initial partnership with Cumulus and will continue to develop new and innovative ways to super serve our listeners.”

It’s official. And, a formal announcement was released at 10:15am Eastern on Wednesday (9/15).

The National Association of Broadcasters won’t be moving forward with the NAB Show, a move that also cancels the co-located Sales and Management Television Exchange and the Radio Show, co-produced by the NAB and the Radio Advertising Bureau.

The NAB made the news public via Twitter shortly after 10am Eastern. State Broadcasters Associations’ received an email from the association sharing the news earlier in the day.

Making the announcement to the “NAB Show community” was Chris Brown, the NAB’s EVP/Managing Director of Global Connections and Events.

“For more than a year we have worked tirelessly to bring our industry together safely in Las Vegas at NAB Show,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, the pandemic and surge of the Delta variant has presented unexpected and insurmountable challenges for our global community. As we have always kept the best interest and safety of the industry as our priority, it has become apparent in the face of these challenges that we can no longer effectively host NAB Show or our co-located events in person.”

Brown continued, “We will not move forward with a show that delivers anything less than the excellence our community has come to expect and deserves from us.”

And, while there is disappointment in having to cancel the NAB Show — which was to begin in just 24 days — Brown says the organization “looks forward to converging at the 2022 NAB Show, April 23-27, 2022, to reignite our passion for our business and focus on a bright future ahead.”

LAST-MINUTE UNWIND

With just 24 days to go before the Sales and Management Television Exchange was to begin ahead of the NAB Show in Las Vegas, the organization has called off the conference. The decision comes following participation pullouts from such major exhibitors as Brainstorm, Ross Video, Panasonic and Canon.

Yet, as of Monday, companies actively working with broadcast radio and TV stations such as Marketron, Dielectric, GatesAir and ENCO, were eagerly preparing their booths and setting up meetings both on-site and off-site. The latest RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast featuring Marketron SVP of Product Jimshade Chaudhari, distributed Tuesday, offered much discussion on what the company had in the works for NAB Show attendees.

Now, Marketron — and many others — are now scrambling to unwind hotel reservations and airline tickets.

Will there be a virtual offering of any kind in lieu of the Las Vegas affair?

“Stay tuned for details regarding virtual options for accessing select 2021 NAB Show content through NAB Amplify,” Brown said.

“Person-level measurement” is a desire not only for those charged with media buying and planning, executing creative and overseeing the marketing efforts for goods and services across a multitude of categories, but it’s also an increasingly wanted data point for broadcast media.

That’s part of the reason why the VAB, among other organizations, is less than satisfied with the existing measurement tools available to TV.

Comscore has been working hard to satisfy this dissatisfied group of media and marketing professionals. On Wednesday (9/15), it revealed that it has “invented” what it calls “the next generation of personification methodology created to bring person-level measurement to its video products.”

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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has just announced $1.3 million in grants to expand the “Urban Alternative” public radio format to three noncommercial broadcast radio operations.

This will bring the number of markets with the unique format, which combines Hip-Hop and R&B music with public radio’s emphasis on local engagement, to seven.

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He’s held he role of Director of Political Advertising for Hearst Television since 2019 and for some four years has been Director of Sales for politically influential WMUR-9 in Manchester, N.H.

Now, he’s been promoted to the newly created position of Corporate Director of Sales.

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A “major evolution in response to the rapid digitalization of audio consumption” is about to take place for radio ratings across some of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world.

How so? Live streaming data is to be integrated into a new multimillion-dollar hybrid measurement system.

Only, this effort doesn’t involve Nielsen. Rather, it’s an innovation coming to Australia, courtesy of industry advocacy group Commercial Radio Australia and global research firm GfK.

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He was nominated by the readers of the Radio + Television Business Report as the eighth-ranked Top Local TV Leader in 2020 and appears on the soon-to-be released 2021 list.

Now, this head of a dominant station owned by The E.W. Scripps Co. is saying goodbye to his longtime colleagues. Why? He’s just been named the VP/GM of the FOX and MyNetwork TV stations serving the Charlotte market, owned by Nexstar Media Group.

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Until recently, a 3,500-watt Class A facility with a broadcast tower in the city of Oak Brook, Ill., could barely penetrate the Loop and much of the city of Chicago.

Despite the efforts of Richard Jakle to attract progressive rock listeners in the 1970s, lure Adult Standards lovers throughout the 1980s, and cruise across the 1990s with satellite-delivered Adult Contemporary programming, Educational Media Foundation reached a Time Brokerage Agreement in March 2011 for the facility.

Today, EMF owns the station, which carries the WAWE-FM call letters. And, for the first time ever, it fully reaches Chicago’s most populous zones. Thank GeoBroadcast Solutions for making it happen.

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ATLANTA — On the northeast corner of the I-285 spur, adjacent to Norcross, is the town of Doraville, Ga.

It’s home to a movie and television production facility developed five years ago that just happens to be next to an entertainment-centric studio and community development dubbed “Assembly.”

That proximity is what led one of the biggest broadcast TV station ownership groups to buy the film facility, Third Rail Studios, in a multimillion-dollar deal that closed on Tuesday.

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Gray Television has completed its purchase of Third Rail Studios from The Integral Group for $27.5 million.

And, it will be a key component to Assembly, presently under development at the former site of a General Motors Assembly Plant.

Gray says the location is “conveniently located” inside the I-285 perimeter.

With no traffic, it’s about a 25-minute drive from CNN Center in downtown Atlanta. MARTA Gold Line service to Doraville is available to, and it offers a direct 75-minute connection to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport.

Integral purchased the property in 2014 and master developed the site before selling to Gray in March 2021.

Since it opened its doors in 2016, Third Rail Studios has gotten attention for its stages, mill and support spaces, and production offices; Gray says it will serve as an anchor for the future multi-studio site.

For the past few years, Netflix has produced a number of feature-length programs at
Third Rail Studios, including “Ozark.” Recently, Apple leased a significant amount of space within Third Rail Studios to help fulfill its production needs.

Gray CEO Hilton H. Howell calls Third Rail Studios “a pioneer in bringing film and television production to the Atlanta community. We are excited to join forces to create an entire
studio city to serve Georgia’s booming media industry and we are thankful for all of the work already completed at Assembly and proud to usher in the next chapter for the historical site.”

Development plans for Assembly include studio space, mixed-use development, as well as entertainment areas that will be a go-to destination for the Atlanta community. The first phase is expected to be finished by fall 2022.

Gray isn’t a stranger to sound stages: the company is a majority investor in Atlanta-based Swirl Films, which will occupy one of the stages on the property. Gray also owns video
production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo-Raycom, and RTM Studios, the producer of PowerNation programs and content. Furthermore, Gray launched Circle Network with Opry Entertainment in January 2020.

Gray Television, pending FCC approval of its Meredith Local Media transaction, will soon become the second largest local broadcaster in the United States. Gray will own
television stations serving 113 markets that reach approximately 36% of U.S. television households.

On July 29, 2008, the nation’s two subscription-based satellite radio companies officially completed their merger. Washington, D.C.-based XM Satellite Radio and New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio were now one. And, in retrospect, it saved satellite radio’s fiscal failures as deep debt eventually shifted to profit pops as Sirius XM fought traditional radio while acquiring streaming audio pioneer Pandora in the coming years.

Today led by CEO Jennifer Witz, Sirius XM Holdings has come a long way in 13 years. Now, it is contemplating a move that may eventually end the Sirius legacy of the satcaster, technically speaking.

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Of the big regional religious radio broadcasting operations, the Houston-based entity devoted to “keeping Him close by” has emerged as a force in the Lone Star State.

It’s expanded well beyond its home market, and is now ready to enter two new Texas locales.

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Travel along Interstate 81 between the Tri-Cities of Tennessee and such Virginia locales as Harrisonburg, and you’ll travel through the Blue Ridge region that’s a key part of the Appalachian Mountains.

And, it is an Eastlan-rated market, last updated just two weeks ago. With local broadcasters dominating, a new Virginia-based licensee has emerged as a station owner, thanks to a deal signed September 3.

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The 2021 NAB Show is coming soon. While some big companies including Ross Video have opted not to move forward with attendance at this year’s convention and expo, others including Marketron are excited about interacting with broadcast media executives for the first time since spring 2019.

In this InFOCUS podcast, presented by dot.FM, SVP of Product Jimshade Chaudhari chats with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson on what NAB Show attendees that swing by Marketron’s booth can expect in the way of safety and interaction, and what products Marketron is ready to put the spotlight on — including one new offering of interest to radio and TV.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Jimshade Chaudhari, Marketron” on Spreaker.

Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned Dielectric has literally changed how FM broadcast antenna manufactures validate directional pattern studies for new FM broadcast antennas.

In fact, the company’s research played a key role in the recent FCC filing of a Petition for Rulemaking, written with leading broadcast consultancy Merrill Weiss Group, that could be approved within weeks.

The new rule, Dielectric says, paves the way for the first directional FM pattern verification rule change in 58 years — a rule change that passes the torch from physical to AI-driven simulated modeling.

Merrill Weiss, principal of Merrill Weiss Group, offered his expertise on existing FCC rules while assisting with the writing and filing process.

The inspiration behind Dielectric’s effort is to provide FM broadcasters with a more efficient and economical antenna modeling process. FM broadcast antenna manufacturers today build physical models and collect measured data to verify antenna patterns – a time-consuming and burdensome process. Dielectric’s petition proposes that the FCC allow FM antenna manufacturers to transition to computer-based antenna modeling using computational methods – an approach widely used in other broadcast products. In fact, this technique has been used for TV station antenna modeling since 2017.

“This is simply long overdue,” Dielectric VP of Engineering John Schadler said. “FM is the only FCC service that still requires a physical range measurement, and anyone who has worked with range measurements knows that accurately measuring radiation patterns is extremely difficult. Simulated pattern verification is much more economical with less chance of error — it just makes sense.”

The clearance to leverage simulated antenna modeling will also result in better accuracy for broadcasters. “3D high-frequency simulation will, in many ways, yield results that are superior to traditional range measurement proofs,” Schadler added. “Since simulations are done in a true free space environment, any issues with the range or anechoic chamber and with the surrounding environment are eliminated, resulting in more reliable azimuth patterns and H/V ratios.”

The use of software also eliminates the lengthy set-up and take down time of models, as well as the need for a technician to adjust the model and take data points by hand. This removes mechanical tolerances and human error affecting the data. Another advantage of designing in a virtual environment is that the geometry can be completely optimized and not compromised by time, materials and tolerances.

Schadler adds that since the start of Repack in 2017, Dielectric has shipped more than 1,000 TV antennas using a virtual-only design process, which has both accelerated design timelines and eliminated the traditional physical design process. Many of these designs have been field verified, further supporting the accuracy of computer simulations.

“It is safe to say that it would have been essentially impossible to design, manufacture, test, and install this many antennas to successfully complete the Post-Incentive Auction Spectrum Repack, in the minimal time allowed, without the use of virtual simulation,”  Schadler said. “Another fallout of Repack is that we created a new crop of engineers – HFSS computer simulation super users. ANSYS HFSS is 3D electromatic simulation software tool for designing, simulating and evaluating high-frequency components. New opportunities such as FM pattern studies will take advantage of our engineers’ new expertise.”

HFSS software can make small changes to completely optimize radiation patterns and not be constrained by time and material. This replaces the time-consuming trial-and-error procedures that engineers and technicians have lived with for nearly six decades.

— Brian Galante

HD Radio, touted by parent Xperi Corp. as “the most successfully deployed commercial digital radio system worldwide,” has expanded into the motorbike category.

But, don’t expect any Harley drivers to suddenly start cranking up “97.3 The Coast HD2” while enjoying a ride down to the Florida Keys from Miami anytime soon.

The HD Radio receivers are currently available on the digital dash display of one motorbike brand — an uncommon one across the U.S.

So, who among the nation’s motorcyclists can enjoy HD Radio? The new 2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental, the latest addition to the R 18 family, has it.

While it marks another industry first for HD Radio technology, which recently entered the commercial truck market, it also demonstrates that Xperi has a long way to go to get entry into the most commonly used motorcycles.

That said, HD Radio technology is currently available from more than 40 manufacturers across 200 passenger vehicle models and is currently in over 75 million vehicles.

“We are proud that the R 18 Transcontinental marks the first motorbike to offer HD Radio technology,” said Xperi SVP/GM for the Connected Car division, Jeff Jury. “Our entry into the motorbike category is yet another step in our mission to ensure that consumers across the globe have access to the best quality digital radio experience. We are so pleased to continue to partner with BMW, and other OEMs worldwide, as we broaden the reach of HD Radio technology.”

LONDON — AdTonos has appointed Paul Smith as Senior VP of Sales to support the global growth of sales, with a primary focus on the U.K.

Smith has more than 12 years of experience in the radio industry and has successfully managed multiple commercial teams across Great Britain.

In fact, Smith spent much of his career with iHeartMedia investor Global, becoming the youngest Commercial Director at the time.

Smith progressed by joining the Senior leadership team in NewsUKs Wireless group before finally integrating the stations into the Bauer portfolio.

AdTonos is owned by Radio Net Media, an operation designed to monetize podcasts, audiobooks, music and radio streams of over 200 recognized publishers across the U.S., U.K., European Union and in Latin America. Specifically, AdTonos works with online audio publishers and advertisers to deliver ad solutions.

Smith “will strengthen AdTonos’ network of advertising brands so the company can meet the increasing demand for effective, measurable tools within digital audio advertising
and seamlessly connect brands with online radio publishers to utilise the interactive nature of audio,” the company said.

AdTonos CEO Michał Marcinik commented, “Paul’s extensive background in scaling digital advertising solutions, combined with his unrivalled vision of how brands should interact
with their audience makes him the ideal candidate to join AdTonos’ team. Well-recognized
media buyers are actively investing in our audio offering, and the time has come to make it
available to a wider group of advertisers.”

With some vendors saying they’re not going to attend the 2021 NAB Show, Telestream has spoken out regarding its attendance at the early October affair in Las Vegas.

“They’ve got tons to talk about and, despite a reduced presence, will be showing the fruits of their labors especially in regards to technology integrations between products from previous acquisitions,” a spokesperson says.

The workflow automation, media processing, quality monitoring and test and measurement product maker will be using booth C3013 at the NAB Show, from Oct. 9-12 in Las Vegas.

From live and studio production, video on demand and post production, content management, and distribution and monitoring, Telestream has a story to share.

“Attendees will see important updates and enhancements to the company’s wide range of offerings as a direct result of the synergies and integration of intellectual property by development teams provided by the company’s recent acquisitions,” it says.

With rapid analysis, faster diagnosis, and quicker resolution of issues, monitoring and measurement solutions are focused on preserving quality and reducing cost resulting in higher subscriber retention and better business value, Telestream adds.

“It’s been a challenging year and having NAB in October says it all, but the good news is that Telestream has been working closely with top tier organizations to develop processes and workflows that keep them competitive, profitable, and flexible enough to grow in these unprecedented times,” says Scott Murray, SVP Product Marketing at Telestream.

Telestream has continued to advance the state of the art in cloud and hybrid deployments for media processing and video quality assurance. Several Telestream media processing and workflow automation tools will be on display including updated versions of the Vantage Media Processing Platform, ContentAgent, and Lightspeed Live Capture.

The Telestream Cloud suite of services will also be on display allowing customers to mix and match services that meet their specific needs. A brand new, soon to be announced Telestream Cloud service, will make its debut at NAB 2021.

The latest versions of Content Management solutions including Kumulate and DIVA allow customers to easily migrate, update and upgrade their media libraries without affecting day to day operations. Attendees will see how to intelligently manage their storage on-premises, remotely or in the Cloud.

For video quality assurance, new tools for monitoring of QoE and QoS in the production network will be demonstrated. Users benefit from enhanced visibility post origin server of encrypted streams and Dynamic Ad Insertion. Flexible cloud, virtual or appliance-based deployment options are available.

The latest PRISM SDI/IP family waveform monitors will be shown for ST 2110, 4K/8K HDR measurement. PRISM is available in a wide array of form factors and designed to be used in multiple applications from HD-SDI Live Acquisition to 25G ST 2110 IP engineering and diagnostics.

For those unable to attend this year’s show, please visit: https://www.telestream.net/company/events/nab/NAB-2021.htm for more information.

EUREKA, CALIF. — Expanding the range of smart home devices through which radio broadcasters can engage their audiences, streaming and podcast product provider StreamGuys is now offering custom development of Google Actions.

Paralleling the popular Alexa Skills that StreamGuys has been providing for many years, Google Actions enable listeners to access stations’ live and on-demand content on Google smart speakers and other Google-enabled devices through intuitive voice commands.

StreamGuys’ Google Actions creation service allows broadcasters who don’t have their own in-house development capabilities to take advantage of the growing ecosystem of Google smart devices for engaging their audience. Once enabled on a smart device, the custom Actions allow listeners to verbally access not only live streams and podcast episodes, but also additional on-demand content offered by the station. Broadcasters can choose the unique words that users speak to launch their programming, as well as tailoring the interactive experience surrounding their content with customizations such as using their own DJs’ voices for device messages and prompts.

“In today’s media-saturated world, it is important for broadcasters’ brand voice to be presented consistently to their audiences across all listening platforms,” said Eduardo Martinez, Director of Technology at Humboldt County-based StreamGuys. “The ability to create tailored experiences also helps them forge deeper relationships with their listeners than the typical ‘cookie cutter’ approach available through third-party aggregators. Our customers have enjoyed using Alexa Skills to better engage their audiences, and our new Google Actions offering lets them extend these benefits onto Google-enabled devices while providing consistent, cross-platform listener experiences.”

One of the first stations to take advantage of Google Actions developed by StreamGuys is KJTH-FM 89.7 in Ponca, Okla., known as “The House FM.” It is a listener-supported, Oklahoma-based Christian radio broadcaster. Listeners can access the station’s voice-prompted menu by saying “OK Google, ask The House FM to play the live stream” or “OK Google, talk to The House FM”, or go directly to desired content with commands such as “OK Google, play The House of Praise”.

For broadcasters using StreamGuys’ CDN and SaaS-based solutions, tight integration between the Google Actions and StreamGuys’ SGmetadata metadata delivery system also allows live stream listeners to ask questions such as “what’s playing?” or “what song is this?”, with the device then speaking out the current song details.

StreamGuys-created Google Actions can be used on all Google Assistant-compatible devices. This includes native Google devices (Google Nest Audio, Google Nest Hub Max, Google Nest Mini) and third-part smart devices from JBL and Sonos. In addition to dedicated smart home devices, Google Actions are also supported natively on Android smartphones.

Media workflow solutions provider vCreative is welcoming one of the nation’s biggest Hispanic -focused media and marketing technology companies to its family.

That’s because Babson Park, Fla.-based vCreative has completed its deployment of vPPO, the company’s cloud-based software for radio and digital.

Now using vPPO is Entravision Communications.

vCreative implemented its centralized, collaborative platform to connect all departments involved in the production workflow process across all Entravision locations to manage creative radio projects. “From initial task assignments, talent selection and automated advertiser approvals, through to storage and delivery of all digital, local and agency assets, Entravision users now have complete visibility and control of the critical work that drives revenue for their company,” vCreative says.

Entravision also activated the vCreative integration with WideOrbit’s ad management platform WideOrbit Traffic. This integration helps to eliminate duplicate entry and reduce the labor associated with the production workflow process, vCreative says.

Entravision President/COO Jeffery Liberman says, “From the minute a sale is made, the comprehensive work to craft and deliver the best creative message for our customers begins. vCreative has helped us become more effective and precise with our work, allowing us to be efficient, giving us back time while still guaranteeing the highest quality product.”

Susie Hedrick, CEO of vCreative, adds, “The past 18 months have forced us all to take a fresh look at how we operate and conduct our daily jobs. Entravision is a prime example of a company that has consistently focused on finding innovative ways to drive productivity and bring value to its customers. We are proud to offer additional time-saving technology to their employees, who can now focus more acutely on meaningful work for their customers.”

Entravision also manages 47 radio stations across the U.S., most of them serving Spanish-speaking consumers.

Bill Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Townsquare Media (pictured), and Stuart Rosenstein, the locally focused media company’s Chief Financial Officer, are presently preparing to participate in three upcoming investor events.

This includes the Noble Capital Markets virtual roadshow.

Management will participate in Tuesday’s Noble Capital Markets’ Virtual Road Show Series, presented by Channelchek.

The event will feature a corporate presentation, followed by a Q&A session proctored by Noble Senior Research Analyst Michael Kupinski, featuring questions submitted by the audience.

The live broadcast of the virtual road show is scheduled for tomorrow (9/14) at Noon, Eastern Time.

Later this month, management will participate in the Sidoti Virtual Investor Conference on  September 22 and September 23, 2021.  Management’s presentation is scheduled to begin at approximately 2:30pm Eastern on Wednesday, Sept. 22. Management will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors on both days.

To register for the presentation or one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events. Registration is free; one does not need to be a Sidoti client to participate.

Lastly, Townsquare management will participate in the Guggenheim Virtual Broadcast Conference on Wednesday, September 29. Management will be available for one-on-one and small group meetings.