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The Bureau enters into a Consent Decree with Karen L. Toole, Personal Representative, Estate of Robert Cummings Toole

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Low-power FM is creating some interest in Washington this week.

We told you a few days ago about a fresh proposal to allow LPFMs to increase power to 250 watts. That proposal, from REC Networks, remains open for comment.

But meanwhile the Federal Communications Commission seems poised to approve an order in a separate matter that would “affirm” the maximum power level at 100 watts. And comments by the acting chairwoman about seeking “finality” in the rules would seem to cast doubt on the prospects of a power increase anytime soon.

The draft Order on Reconsideration being considered for Thursday’s FCC meeting would affirm a maximum power of 100 watts in order to “maintain simplicity and consistency with past actions regarding the service.”

In 2020 the commission modified its low-power FM engineering rules to improve LPFM reception and options for station relocation, but at the time it rejected a request to allow 250 watts.

In the order to be voted on Thursday, the agency writes that it considered two petitions seeking reconsideration of those technical rules.

Todd Urick of Common Frequency and Paul Bame of the Prometheus Radio Project claimed the FCC had failed to adequately explain its rejection of a power increase; they also asked the commission to eliminate the rule requiring LPFMs to use transmitters certified for that use by an outside lab, a measure intended to avoid interference problems on the FM dial. The draft order leaves that requirement unchanged.

In addition, the draft says that the FCC will require LPFM stations to submit engineering test measurements to prove that their antennas are performing properly. The commission last year approved the use of directional antennas for LPFMs. The new measurement rule only applies to LPFM applications not yet acted upon, according to the FCC.

Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote in advance of Thursday’s meeting that last year’s technical order “maintained core LPFM goals of simplicity, diversity and localism” and she hopes this week’s actions “will provide clarity and finality to the rules.” Whether that means the fresh REC Networks proposal would be dead in the water is unclear.

Rosenworcel also said that this order will “bring us one step closer to opening an application window for new LPFM stations.”

Legal experts will be watching the meeting for hints on the timing of that window. The FCC has indicated that it would follow on the heels of its new noncommercial FM window scheduled for November. The previous LPFM filing window was in 2013.

According to the latest FCC data, there are just over 2,100 licensed LPFM broadcast stations in the United States.

[In other regulatory news: FCC Throws Lifeline to an FM6 Station]

 

The post FCC Seems Set to Affirm 100-Watt LPFM Limit appeared first on Radio World.

The “premium” connected TV/OTT advertising platform designed for regional and local advertisers launched by TEGNA that as of 2020 sees Gray Television as a minority stakeholder has widened its partnership with IHS Markit.

The move is designed to bring Polk data to Connected TV and OTT campaigns for automotive advertisers — something broadcast TV should very much take note of.

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There’s a new individual in charge of the day-to-day operations at a pair of Nexstar Media Group TV stations in market No. 142 — a role that also involves management of Vaughn Media’s dual ABC/The CW affiliate serving Kansas’ state capital.

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The latest Media Monitors Spot 10 Radio report is out, and it shows a job search website building a formidable lead over all other comers.

It speaks strongly of the long-term category potential for job seeker websites, and of the pressures of auto insurance brands to wisely divide their ad budgets between national radio and other forms of media.

Indeed is the big spot radio leader for the week ending June 13 with some 54,165 spot plays. This is far above the No. 2 advertiser by spot count, Progressive. 

Meanwhile, big advertisers such as The Home Depot and GEICO are much lower in play count than Indeed, setting the stage for a full category development opportunity for traditional radio.

 

There’s perhaps no bigger category at linear media today than auto insurers. And, there’s a fierce fight for supremacy shaping up at Spot Cable.

Based on the latest data from Media Monitors, of the three brands in this hot advertising category, Liberty Mutual Insurance is the one that finishes at the top.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NAB Leadership Foundation has elected to present its 2021 Corporate Leadership Award to Procter & Gamble — an honor the leading linear media advertiser will receive during the televised Celebration of Service to America Awards, airing July 10 on selected broadcast stations.

The Corporate Leadership Award is given to a leading business outside of the broadcast industry that, the NABLF says, exemplifies an extraordinary focus on community service and corporate social responsibility.

“Through products, programs and philanthropy, P&G generously provides for vulnerable communities and individuals in need,” NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke said. “In honor of P&G’s commitment to building a better world today and for the next generation, we are pleased to present them with our Corporate Leadership Award.”

During the pandemic, P&G worked to support and safeguard communities. The company donated tens of millions of dollars in product, in kind and cash to help ensure families had access to everyday cleaning, health and hygiene essentials, and supported nursing homes, shelters, community groups, food banks and other relief agencies. P&G also modified manufacturing equipment to produce hand sanitizer in nearly a dozen of its global manufacturing sites, helped produce critically needed non-medical face masks in the early months of the pandemic, and leveraged its marketing expertise to support public health measures.

Like broadcasters, P&G is also dedicated to helping communities during and after natural disasters. For example, P&G launched “Tide Loads of Hope” in 2005 to provide those displaced by Hurricane Katrina with a simple need—freshly cleaned laundry. Since its inception, the mobile laundry program has provided 68,000 loads of laundry to more than 90,000 people affected by natural disasters. During the pandemic, Tide Cleaners in the U.S. also provided free laundry services for frontline responders.

“P&G people believe we have a responsibility to society,” P&G’s Chief Communications Officer Damon Jones said. “We will continue to step up and step forward to use our reach and resources to be both a force for good and a force for growth in a way that will have a lasting, positive impact on people and communities around the world.”

Speaking on Monday (6/14) at the Credit Suisse 23rd Annual Communications Conference, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell announced that NBCUniversal has officially completed its Upfront.

This led the company’s Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships, Linda Yaccarino, to pen her observations of how the 2021 Upfront sets the stage for the future.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fourteen members of the House of Representatives and a trio of Senators have added their support to the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA) — a resolution opposing “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations.

This raises the number of co-sponsors to 138 in the House and 18 in the Senate.

Adding their support recently for the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House are Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI-1), Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8), John Carter (R-TX-31), Liz Cheney (R-WY-AL), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-4), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6), Trent Kelly (R-MS-1), Darin LaHood (R-IL-18), Frank Mrvan (D-IN-1), Amata Radewagen (R-AS-DL), Tom Rice (R-SC-7), Tim Ryan (D-OH-13), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-2) and Chris Stewart (R-UT-2). Adding their support for the resolution in the Senate are Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).

Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) and Steve Womack (R-AR-3) are the principal cosponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House of Representatives. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-WY) are the lead cosponsors of a companion resolution in the Senate.

And, it has the support of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). The group expressed their thoughts penned Friday (6/11) in a letter to Congressional leaders.

Specifically, the NRB asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to support the LRFA in order to “protect local radio stations that play music as part of their programming from having to pay new performance royalties that would cripple, and in some cases decimate, the ability of such radio stations to continue operations.”

“Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station broadcast over the air,” reads the Local Radio Freedom Act.

Vincent Létang, the EVP of Global Market Research at MAGNA, has some downright exuberant things to say about the post-pandemic global advertising recovery that’s already underway for linear and digital media.

“As [the] economic recovery is stronger and faster than anticipated in several of the world’s largest ad markets — the U.S., U.K. and China, in particular — and consumption accelerates, brands need to reconnect with consumers,” he says.

Here in the states, that will yield the highest growth rate for the advertising market since the earliest days of the Reagan administration — an era of high interest rates for home buyers and a recessionary atmosphere fueled by “Reaganomics.”

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Know someone worthy of being honored with a prestigious Medallas de Cortez award for excellence in U.S. Hispanic radio?

Now’s your time to make your nomination for a 2021 honor.

The Medallas de Cortez awards, sponsored by vCreative, will be presented at the annual Hispanic Radio Conference, set for Sept. 22-23.

The awards have become a highly coveted symbol of excellence in Hispanic radio. In its twelfth year, these exclusive radio awards will shine a spotlight on the top talent in Spanish-language radio and at radio stations superserving Hispanic audiences — including noncommercial stations in key U.S. Hispanic markets.

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 nominations deadline is July 12, so please make your selection today.

The Medallas de Cortez awards are named in honor of Raoul Cortez, who founded KCOR-AM in San Antonio — the first full-time Spanish-language station in the United States — in 1946. Nominations are open to anyone, Hispanic and not, who is involved in Hispanic broadcasting. The goal is to make sure everyone dedicated to this segment of the industry has an opportunity to be recognized for their contributions to excellence in radio.

 

Click here to register for the Hispanic Radio Conference today!

Sales teams have endured many changes over the past year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many broadcast stations have downsized. More companies are using part-time sellers and are embracing remote work.

The result: compensation has been all over the place.

Now, as pandemic restrictions are set to outright disappear on Tuesday (6/15) in the state of California as another sign that the worst of COVID-19 is behind us, companies are rebuilding.

The biggest challenge: hiring in an extremely competitive job market.

How can you best compete to hire the top sellers?

The first step is to share your information in our second annual RBR+TVBR/Media Staffing Network Sales Compensation Study.

With your input, valuable insights into emerging and changing trends can help station owners and managers plan budgets and goals while remaining competitive in hiring.

“For example, we have seen that many television stations are now offering longer security periods than in the past,” says Laurie Kahn, President/CEO of Media Staffing Network. “We have learned that a large percentage of sellers are coming up on retirement in the next few years. We have also learned more about how the selling of products and services is being handled by sales departments.”

This year’s survey includes additional questions designed to provide an understanding of the television industry’s efforts in building diverse teams, selling podcasts, how their sales teams fared during the pandemic.

The same sales survey is being offered to newspaper and radio industry sales positions. This will paint a portrait as to how the television business compensates their sales associates, compared to competing local media.

Ideal respondents include owners, managers, sellers, and human resource professionals. All survey participants and their responses are confidential.

Each person who fills out the survey will earn a chance to win a $100 American Express Gift Card in a random drawing. 

The survey will be live for five weeks, starting Monday, June 14. The survey closes at the end of Friday, July 16.

Findings from the study will be released in conjunction with the Small Market Television Show. The event will be held in conjunction with the 2021 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Respondents will receive an early overview of the study. 

“This information from the RBR+TVBR/Media Staffing Network Sales Compensation Study is helpful to all television broadcasters, and the more responses we receive, the more accurate and insightful the study results will be,” Kahn says. “Please share this survey with your staff and peers so we can get you the most information available.”

Click here to take the survey:  http://bit.ly/TVCompStudy21

For this month’s Buyers Guide, we turn our attention to apps for radio technology. We asked the following manufacturers what equipment shoppers should know about their latest offerings. As you’ll see, the definition of an app continues to evolve.

Axia iQs Virtual Mixing Console

Q: What does it do?

A: Axia iQs is an audio mixer that you purchase as software. The iQs software can be preinstalled at Telos Alliance on the Telos Alliance AE-1000 1RU compute platform. Axia iQs can also be run on your own server hardware.

It runs as Docker-compatible “containerized software” and is typically installed on a PC or server running Linux. Multiple iQs software consoles may be installed and operate simultaneously on appropriate computer hardware.

If you’re familiar with any of the Axia mixing consoles in the iQ console line, such as the iQ, Radius, DESQ, RAQ, or iQx, you already know something about iQs. Think of the iQs as the software iteration of these audio consoles. But with iQs, we added a web server, allowing a beautiful graphical console surface on any modern browser connected to the iQs software. This is designed to give great flexibility in how the product is used day to day.

Q: Tell us more.

A: iQs is the first soft console controlled by a full HTML5 interface, allowing you to not only control a mix from anywhere, but on any device — Mac, Windows, tablet, laptop, even your phone!

Info: www.telosalliance.com.

 

Burk Technology Arcadia

Q: What is its function?

A: Arcadia delivers easy-access remote site monitoring and control to managers and engineers on the go.

Arcadia turns a smartphone or tablet into a customized control panel for managing all your remote transmitter sites. Instantly verify performance of RF equipment, power systems, processing, environmental and security systems right from your mobile device.

Q: What more should we know?

A: Arcadia provides mobile access to your entire network over a single secure web link. Alarms are summarized at each network level with the ability to drill down for detailed status and control of individual sites.

Intuitive custom mosaics highlighting information from multiple sites can be created on the fly, including meters, status indicators, control buttons, charts, maps and embedded web sites. Arcadia screens adjust to the size and shape of each browser’s display, enabling easy viewing on mobile devices.

Arcadia continues to add features to enhance the mobile user experience and increase deployment flexibility. The system can now be hosted either in the cloud or on an on-premises computer, ensuring conformance with each organization’s IT policies and network topology.

A new built-in AD-LDS credentialing capability allows standalone management of user identities and permissions. AD-LDS can be used on its own or in conjunction with your company’s Microsoft Active Directory system.

Arcadia graphical interface enhancements include the addition of embedded URL links and the ability to copy, edit and share mosaics. The new ARC Plus API can bring almost any data onto your mobile Arcadia screen.

Arcadia’s centralized communications architecture compiles data from all your sites at a rate of 100 sites per second, providing real-time updates to Arcadia mobile users and NOC operators. Web communications over the public internet are encrypted and secured using Transport Layer Security.

Info: www.burk.com.

 

Cloud Cast Systems Broadcast Delay Service

Q: What is it?

A software-as-a-service profanity delay unit that matches hardware units on the market.

A: Fill us in.

Stations and station groups can run up to six profanity delay units on a single Windows machine. Each unit is packed full of features including expand and compress modes, censor tone insertion, email notifications with dumped audio and compatibility with Axia, Wheatstone and Ember+ control protocols.

The interface is HTML5 and is optimized for mobile and tablet viewing and control. The intention is that a remote producer can stream the pre-delayed feed and dump if required.

The Broadcast Delay Service offers four “build modes”:

1. Expand mode which slows down playback rate;
2. File insert which plays a default or scheduled audio file;
3. External input which routes an external audio input to the transmission chain;
4. Pre-roll which builds delay prior to commencing your network show.

There are two exit modes. Compress Mode speeds up playback rate; Roll Out allows buffer to playout while input is muted. BDS also offers bypass input mixing when rolling out for seamless transition.

When it comes time for action, there are three dump modes: full dump empties entire delay buffer; partial dump removes the desired dump size; and censor dump plays a default or scheduled audio file maintaining the delay buffer.

When the dump button is pressed an email containing a dump file and a clean air file is emailed to select email addresses.

Info: www.cloudcastsystems.com.au.

 

Comrex FieldTap

Q:What does the FieldTap do?

A: It is a free smartphone app available for iOS and Android that allows users to connect to Comrex IP audio codecs and deliver high-quality, wideband audio. It is designed for users who have to set up a remote broadcast in a pinch. FieldTap provides excellent sound with the ease of a regular phone call. Its simple user interface consists of a single button that makes it easy to call in with no hassle. It’s perfect for short drop-ins, field reporting and for use as a backup.

FieldTap is compatible with all Comrex IP audio codecs, as well as EarShot IFB. No SIP registration is required, and the app features a standalone contacts list. Opus, G.722, and G.711 encoding algorithms are available.

Q: What else should we know.

A: “Because FieldTap is free, the barrier to entry is very low,” said Marshall Rice, engineering director for Hubbard Radio in St. Louis. “Our program directors have embraced it because the audio quality is high, and our talent has embraced it because it’s so simple. It has really saved us during the COVID crisis.”

info: www.comrex.com.

 

ENCO iDAD App and iDAD-Remote

Q: What is iDAD?

A: ENCO’s iDAD, part of the enCloud Suite of apps, is a mobile radio app that allows users to record audio from a smartphone and send it directly to a studio-based DAD automation system.

iDAD-Remote allows users to remote voice track and control playback from a tablet, whether at home or broadcasting in the field.

Q: What makes it special?

A: The iDAD app provides an easy way to outfit mobile journalists and reporting teams with a direct line to a radio station’s library.

iDAD-Remote allows broadcasts to easily broadcast live events without the need for a board operator at the studio. This remote content manipulation and remote control offer additional flexibility for newsgathering or live broadcasting in the field.

Info: www.enco.com.

 

Nautel AUI upgrade

Q: What does it do, what is its purpose?

A: The AUI app provides remote monitoring and control for Nautel transmitters. It comes free with purchase of transmitter.

Q: Tell us more.

A: Introduced in 2007, the AUI, Advanced User Interface, is a sophisticated tool for the monitoring and control of Nautel transmitters, and is now featured on more than 10,000 transmitters around the world. The AUI not only provides remote access to presets, alarms, meters, and settings, but valuable analysis tools.

In 2021 Nautel has introduced a major upgrade to the AUI that replaces user interface, operating system and everything in between.

The new HTML5 UI loads fast and runs in browsers on desktop computers, tablets and smartphones — no installation required nor separate app. The new AUI is a free upgrade for all AUI-enabled transmitters and lays the foundation for future Nautel transmitters.

It is specifically designed for Nautel transmitters to five customers the ultimate in status and control. As a key component of every transmitter, the AUI receives regular maintenance and upgrades. In addition to industry standard SNMP support, the redesigned architecture includes a rich API (advanced programming interface) that paves the way for powerful integrations, including Nautel PhoneHome.

For customers who want to run the original AUI until they are ready to upgrade, the free Nautel Legacy AUI Access App (http://support.nautel.com/aui/legacy-aui-access) is available.

Info: www.nautel.com.

 

Tieline Report-IT Enterprise App

Q: What does it do?

A: Report-IT Enterprise is the most popular smartphone codec application. Use it to stream live high-fidelity audio to the studio, record 20 kHz quality audio files and FTP audio files to a server in the cloud. Features include SmartStream Plus redundant streaming, file playlists for live playback, URL link login authentication and more.

Q: What else should we know?

A:Randy Wenner, broadcast and digital journalism instructor at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, told us it does everything they want in a live reporting app including field recording; soundbite isolation; live reporting; sound bites triggered from the field by the reporter; feeding back raw interviews; even use by interviewees.

“It’s very easy to set up the Report-IT app,” he said. “When students log in, it automatically contains a one-touch button that allows them to FTP audio directly to the studio without worrying about entering FTP server addresses, log-ins, etc. There is a bit of technical setup to install the receiver and configure the accounts, but the online documentation is excellent, and the Tieline support staff has been extremely helpful.”

He said students broadcast live from all over the central New York region using Report-IT. Info: http://tieline.com.

 

Wheatstone ScreenBuilder

Q: Tell us about ScreenBuilder.

It lets broadcasters develop custom virtual mixers, metering and other UIs for their laptops or tablets that tie into function commands and elements on the WheatNet-IP audio network from anywhere there is an internet connection. 

A: How is it helpful?

Broadcasters are tasked with doing a lot more with a lot less these days and they’re having to find inventive solutions for monitoring, controlling, routing and processing audio. Since Wheatstone introduced its ScreenBuilder UI development toolkit for its WheatNet-IP audio network, broadcasters have amassed a large library of custom AoIP interfaces for specific workflows and applications.

Working with ScreenBuilder is straightforward. There are dozens of prebuilt widgets such as knobs, faders, timers, meters, and more that can be assembled into an interface and enabled using its simple scripting wizard.

ScreenBuilder is especially useful for adapting existing hardware or software for new workflows. Shown above is a producer’s booth created using ScreenBuilder for WBUR in Boston that has a control interface for the interview table with active controls for mics and other audio production functions.

Info: www.wheatstone.com.

 

Xperi AIM Radio Apps

Q: What are they?

Xperi’s AIM Radio Apps are next-generation smartphone apps that deliver engaging user experiences for radio listeners.

Q: Tell us more.

AIM Radio Apps deliver a content management platform that allows any station to customize their app with features and content after it has been released to an app store. Stations never lose control of their apps and are able to customize as they need in real-time.

Related to real time content updates, AIM Radio Apps are continuously improving, with new features being added all the time, with multiple releases per year, resulting in optimal end-user experiences.

The AIM Radio Apps offer flexibility to broadcasters and can adjust the needs of the radio station — you can start big or small. For example, users can start off with just a smartphone app, and then build as the budget grows, to tablet, car and TV apps.

Finally, AIM Radio Apps come with out-of-the-box support for multiple revenue streams: from targeted audio advertising to interstitial and banner adverts, offsetting maintenance costs and leading to potential profit centers.

Info: Broadcast Electronics (distributor) at www.bdcast.com. 

The post Apps for Radio Technology appeared first on Radio World.

Smartphone ownership has reached near saturation levels worldwide, no surprise there. It’s interesting is to look at the stats for online radio and music consumption, and Jacob Media’s TechSurvey 2021 has the latest.

Growth in numbers who have downloaded radio/music apps, according to the survey, has stagnated, holding at 72%. Downloads clearly skew to younger users. The Greatest Generation makes up just 55% of the total, while 90% of Gen Z respondents claim to have radio/music apps on their smartphones.

Localism rules, even on mobile devices, as the leading download named is the P1 station app holding a 53% lead. P1 is Tech Survey parlance for the respondents’ hometown station. It’s followed by YouTube, Pandora and Spotify.

Nineteen percent of those surveyed claims they frequently listen to their favorite station via a mobile app. That’s up three percentage points from TS 2020. The clear leaders are Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z. Around 60% of mobile device owners are aware that their P1 station has an app, and more than one in three has downloaded it. This number also grows over time, with 26% for TS 2017, increasing 11 percentage points for TS 2021.

According to TS 2021, 58% of those who have downloaded their P1 station’s app rate it as excellent, while 32% rate it good. The rest of the numbers suggest an interesting twist.

While adoption and usage rates for new tech almost always favor younger demographics, the ratings numbers seem to go the opposite direction. Only 50% of Gen Z respondents rate their P1 as excellent, but that number increases ten percentage points for the Greatest Generation. What’s happening here?

[Read: Survey Says Podcast Use Increases, Although Many Still Not Onboard]

While TS 2021 offers no explanation, one might wonder if it’s about expectations. Younger users are usually more tech savvy, and may compare their P1 to lots of other apps. It might take a lot more to impress them. Greatest Generation users tend not to be power users of new tech, and may just be happy if there is a way to easily listen to the hometown station on their mobile device.

The stagnated 72% download rate combined with just 50% excellent ratings from Gen Z users may suggest that some stations still have work to do on their mobile apps.

 

The post Survey Says Full Speed Ahead for Mobile Devices and Apps appeared first on Radio World.

An illustration of what an infotainment display would look like in Los Angeles in a car equipped with Android Automotive, if Google accepts recommendations from the NAB PILOT initiative. This shows an enhanced station list for broadcast radio on Android Automotive to ensure station discovery.

NAB PILOT, Xperi AutoStage and several U.S. and international radio broadcast organizations are taking steps to make sure radio is appropriately represented as automobile OEMs expand their use of Android Automotive.

The context: Big tech companies have been collaborating with carmakers in developing media environments of the future; those decisions will carry crucial implications for broadcast radio.

Broadcasters worry that some of the adaptations may not be in their best interests, especially since companies like Google and Apple seem well positioned to help choose software interfaces that will end up in the dash. Fast-developing innovation is adding urgency to those developments.

Radio in the conversation

Google’s Android Automotive OS is an Android-based infotainment system that is being built into some new vehicles and is gaining adoption momentum among car manufacturers.

The media system, which replaces the standard radio in the dash of most vehicles, is a standalone Android device with user apps installed directly to the car’s system — no smartphone required. (“Android Automotive” is distinct from “Android Auto,” where the system runs on the user’s phone.)

General Motors, Ford, Audi and Stellantis have announced plans to integrate the Android Automotive platform to power their infotainment systems in new cars. ABI Research said it expects 36 million vehicles will ship with Android Automotive in 2030.

It is against that background that NAB, Xperi and broadcasters like iHeartMedia and the BBC are working together.

A key aim is to coordinate the industry’s presentation of metadata for content and advertising.

John Clark, executive director of NAB PILOT, said the goal of the Android Automotive initiative is to make sure broadcast radio is properly supported in the open source system and help broadcast benefit from its rollout.

“Anytime you are talking about ‘what controls the radio and the dashboard,’ it’s important radio is in that conversation. We need to make sure radio functionality is built in and get Android Automotive to support it, and to make sure the tuner and all the broadcast standards like HD Radio, DAB and regular AM and FM are baked in and available to app developers,” he said. “The majority of automakers have already committed to Android Automotive.”

NAB PILOT, which is the association’s technology development initiative, is attempting to build a support system into the open source platform of Android Automotive.

“(Android Automotive) is open to anyone. If you develop in Android and Android Automotive, there is access if we are successful,” Clark said.

The initiative is intended to result in additional software and functionality in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), with open source solutions available to Tier One and app developers around the world.

It’s important because there are “no guarantees the digitalization of the dash will be good” for broadcast radio, Clark said; it could lead to increased competition in the dashboard from pure-play services like Spotify.

“Further fragmentation, and broadcasters and auto manufacturers all doing things a bit differently with no one on the same page, is the worst-case scenario. That would mean different user experiences,” he said.

“We want the broadcast radio to be uniform from car to truck. When you take away the simplicity of radio and put it into a software user interface, it could turn into a giant challenge if people can’t easily find the product,” he said. “There is a huge benefit for cohesiveness.”

Clark said the group’s intent is to make sure “none of the features of broadcast radio are lost. And further, what happens if the dashboard becomes completely reliant on an IP connection? That would be disastrous if dashboard designers are not paying attention to the broadcast component.”

Companies involved in PILOT’s Android Automotive initiative include Bauer Media, the BBC, Beasley Media Group, Commercial Radio Australia, Cox Media Group, Entercom, iHeartMedia, New York Public Radio, NPR, Salem Media Group, SWR and TBS Radio. Clark said they are “providing their expertise and their voice” to the initiative.

Google is “listening”

Xperi is doing lot of the development work on dashboard redesign when it comes to delivery and rendering of metadata, said Joe D’Angelo, its senior vice president radio.

Xperi is the parent of HD Radio; it also recently launched the DTS AutoStage hybrid radio platform. It is a member of PILOT and describes itself as an advocate on behalf of the radio industry.

D’Angelo said Android Automotive “will control the radio tuner, so it’s imperative that broadcasters around the world ensure that Android Automotive fully implements all of the radio standards that are commercially deployed in the world. It’s critical that the head units have the ability to tune in analog AM and FM, HD Radio and DAB signals. That is going to be dependent on the completeness of the operating system’s functionality,” he said.

“Google is engaged with our group, but they are a huge company that has a lot of competing constituents looking for support and resources, too.”

Google did not reply to Radio World’s requests for comment about Android Automotive and how radio fits into the evolving tech landscape.

Clark of NAB said Google is “listening to us like any good company should that wants to get feedback on their product. They have asked us to remain in talks with them. They are very much interested in our progress and they want to hear more from the players in the field, and how what we are doing aligns with what auto manufacturers are doing in the dash.”

He added: “We have to convey to Google that if they pay attention to radio, then radio will really be there with these services.”

Enriched “now playing” information, showing a carousel view of New York stations. Both images in this article show reference designs that will be part of the initiative’s delivery to Google; a DAB design will be delivered as well.

D’Angelo said NAB and Xperi have “open access to Google’s engineering and strategic partnership teams” and can “can educate them on our progress. … We have a long history of working with Google, the automakers and the Tier Ones so we bring to the table our product development, engineering and product certification expertise.”

While Android Automotive is a relatively new entrant to the dashboard wars, he said Google is quickly making inroads.

“I think what is unique is they are coming in not only with a new operating system but also with a suite of applications. It’s not dissimilar to what they did in the smartphone space. They are not dominant yet in auto, but they are trying to make a big push into auto.”

D’Angelo sees natural overlap between Android Automotive and DTS AutoStage, though he said the latter focuses on ensuring terrestrial radio’s presence in the dash.

Google is “offering a set of IP-based services alongside (the Android Automotive) operating system,” he continued, but Xperi is focused on the radio broadcast component.

“Android Automotive is a hybrid system. It has IP functionality, connectivity to the internet and support for over-the-air reception. So it is a platform that DTS AutoStage as a service can be integrated on, but it is not the main goal for the group. That part of it is attractive to us and other hybrid radio advocates, but the scope of the project is solely focused on getting broadcast right. Because if we don’t get broadcast right, there is no hybrid radio,” he continued.

“First we have to ensure that the automakers around the world adopting Android Automotive have the best analog and digital broadcast radio experience possible. Then we can talk about how we evolve and maybe take advantage of the IP connections.”

Broadcasters for now should remain diligent and support efforts to add metadata to their broadcast signals, NAB’s Clark said.

Broadcasters should make sure their over-the-air service “is taking advantage of all the functionality of the transport system,” D’Angelo said. “If radio is offering a rich, compelling multimedia experience that benefits the driver of a vehicle, then the car companies will be compelled to implement all the technology.”

He said companies supporting the PILOT project realize the importance of broadcast metadata being displayed on the dash alongside audio services, and that the metadata is actually presented to the driver, not replaced.

Michael Beach, VP of distribution at NPR, said, “NPR and PRSS believe it is critical to work with the National Association of Broadcasters and Xperi on the development of efforts like this, which will continue the vitality of broadcast radio and take advantage of features on new and emerging platforms.”

Broadcaster involvement, D’Angelo said, is “really critical so we can accelerate the deployment of these great services for vehicle manufacturers that have committed to Android Automotive. And we’re really pleased to have some of the largest broadcasters giving us feedback.”

The post PILOT Project Targets Android Automotive appeared first on Radio World.

DHD.audio 22-fader SX2 audio console at L1’s Maastricht headquarters.

L1, a television and radio broadcaster in the southern Netherlands province of Limburg, has chosen DHD.audio mixing systems for its headquarters in Maastricht and a connected studio in Venlo.

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Product specialist Nicky Hartsuiker with the installation contractor Media Utilities said, “L1’s existing audio control infrastructure needed replacement after 15 years of operation … After researching and comparing the available alternatives, the L1 operational and engineering teams selected DHD as the preferred replacement. Also aiding in the decisions was Netherlands-based system integrator AutoMates which provides advice and technical support to L1 on projects.

For two new radio studios in the Maastricht headquarters a 22-fader SX2 mixer and TX touchscreen mini mixer were installed in each. For two voice and edit booths TX mini mixers were installed. A journalist prep room received a TX touchscreen as well. It also house a visual radio system.

For television and video editing facilities, a 24-fader RX2 console operates in a control room with two studios attached TX mini-mixers populate several video edit and VO suites. XC2 DSP and I/O Cores provide networking support.

A podcast studio for Netherlands broadcaster L1 featuring a DHD.audio TX touchscreen mixer.

A remote operation in Venlo has a TX mixer along with XS2 I/O and DSP Core. These are linked to Maastricht via a dedicated fiber connection.

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The post Netherlands Radio/TV Broadcaster L1 Decides on DHD appeared first on Radio World.