A first-of-its-kind demonstration is scheduled for the ongoing NAB Show Premiere virtual conference that aims to show how news companies “can embrace the interactive content opportunities of NEXTGEN TV to fight misinformation as the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard continues its national rollout on a voluntary basis.
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Standard Media Index has just released its March 2021 data, and the total monthly media investment was “way up,” it reports.
In fact, it was up 22% versus March 2020, which was down 13% from a year earlier as the COVID-19 pandemic arrived on North American shores.
The gains in the last month of Q1 2021 lifted this year’s ad investment higher than pre-pandemic levels, SMI notes: March 2021 investment was up 6.3% versus March 2019.
That said, radio broadcasting executives should not get too excited, as Digital continues to lead the growth, rising 27% in March versus last year. Further exacerbating matters for the Radio industry: TV’s “very strong” March, rising 13% versus 2020.
This, SMI says, is the “first real year-over-year increase in over a year,” excluding a 1% increase in August 2020.
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How to Generate Millions For Your Podcasts, Including Strategies That Do Not Include Selling AdvertisingAudio search and delivery firm Audioburst now is available on the Harman Ignite Store connected vehicle platform.
Separately, Harman also opened a hub for Android Automotive developers.
“The Audioburst Android Automotive app is now available through the Harman Ignite Store to augment vehicle infotainment systems, providing drivers and passengers alike with unprecedented personalization and access to the world’s largest searchable library of talk audio content,” the companies announced.
The company’s AI listens to podcasts and radio stations, analyzes and indexes the long-form content and cuts it into short-form audio clips called bursts.
“Keywords, entities, sentiment and additional metadata features are extracted to ensure the most accurate topical segmentation,” the company explains. “The bursts are then grouped together into playlists to provide listeners with a recommended content stream based on trending topics, past behavior, and defined keywords and interests. These can be as broad as ‘Tech’ and ‘Business’ or as specific as ‘Ariana Grande,’ ‘LA Lakers,’ and ‘Pfizer stock.’”
Audioburst CEO Amir Hirsh was quoted saying this approach means drivers don’t have to browse podcasts and radio stations “in futile, and at times dangerous, attempts to find relevant content,” thanks to personalization and discovery capabilities.
Audioburst said its APIs also “provide OEMs with powerful user analytics and unique monetization opportunities.” OEMs can collect info about content consumption that can be used to inform subscriptions or advertisements.
Albert Jordan, VP of the Harman Ignite Store business unit, said the purpose of its platform is to connect drivers and passengers to their favorite apps and media.
Harman International is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. Samsung Venture Investment is an investor in Audioburst. Harman says 50 million cars on the road have its audio systems. Its brands include AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson and Revel.
Reflecting the growing importance of the Android Automotive OS, Harman also announced a Harman Ignite Store Developers Portal, a hub for Android Automotive developers.
“Those developing to the Android Automotive open operating system can deploy automotive apps, which OEMs can then easily scale and manage to drive new digital touchpoints with their customers through the Harman Ignite Store.”
The post Audioburst Joins Harman Ignite Store appeared first on Radio World.
If you’ve never lost a blower motor in a high-power transmitter, your time probably is coming!
It is a helpless feeling when the transmitter completely shut down. Then add the frustration of trying to find a replacement, not to mention removing the old motor and assembly.
Honolulu contract engineer Dale Machado found a replacement blower and motor assembly to keep on hand, and added to the insurance policy by pre-wiring it. Adding the wiring harness is one less thing to think about when you are off the air.
In the case of three-phase motors, pre-wiring also reduces the chance you’ll miswire the phase, causing the motor to run backwards!
Data pointsConsulting Engineer and frequent Workbench contributor Frank Hertel of Newman-Kees RF Measurement and Engineering compiled useful information for engineers working with AM stations. Frank bases the information on his own experience and on documents available from Kintronic Laboratories (www.kintronic.com).
Frank has been called in after lightning hits to repair a number of antenna tuning units at the base of AM towers. Lightning knows no season! Frank’s summary keeps things simple and easy to understand.
First discussed are estimated impedances for a single reference tower that is series-fed, and operating at 1000 kHz (1 MHz) at heights of 150, 90 and 60 electrical degrees. Under these conditions, the values in the first table are typical:
(150 deg. height) 782R –j13 (Capacitive Reactance
(90 deg. Height) 44R +j18 (Inductive Reactance)
(60 deg. Height) 11R –j113 (Capacitive Reactance)
If you are using an isocoupler on your (single) series-fed tower, it is assumed that the isocoupler has a typical capacitance of around 100 pF (or more). Thus, the isocoupler will present its added shunt value, to your single series-fed tower.
When the isocoupler’s shunt value is added in parallel to the impedance of your single series-fed tower, the addition of the isocoupler will shift the single tower’s impedance and typically yield the approximate values in the second table:
(150 deg. Height) 623R –j315 (Capacitive Reactance)
(90 deg. Height) 45R +j17 (Inductive Reactance)
(60 deg. Height) 10R –j105 (Capacitive Reactance)
Frank adds that a single 90 degree height, series-fed tower will normally use a simpler ATU matching circuit. This circuit may be more efficient as a result of needing fewer components and lessened power loss, but this is debatable.
A single series-fed tower that is shorter than 90 degrees will yield a low R value with capacitive reactance. A single series-fed tower that is taller than 90 degrees will yield a higher R value with capacitive reactance.
Finally, it is worth noting that a tower height of slightly more than 90 degrees should yield an R value of approximately 50 ohms with a manageable reactance value.
Spring is in full swing for many readers. If you find yourself doing AM work and needing AM components, visit the Kintronic site.
Unbalanced-to-balanced adaptorSan Francisco contract and project engineer Bill Ruck has built a number of unbalanced-to-balanced adaptors over the years. He is careful to pay attention to absolute phase — if you’re not, the design can invert the audio.
There is an easy fix to this; the input inverting op amp output is connected to Pin 3. The inverted unity gain IC connection is Pin 2. Swapping Pins 2 and 3 will ensure that the output is in absolute phase with the input signal.
Bill prefers to use +/–15 VDC as a power source, but he has also used inexpensive DC-to-DC converters to take a nominal 9 to 12VDC signal and make +/-15VDC.
And Bill has found it wise to add a small capacitor across the op amp feedback resistor in order to limit bandwidth and make the amplifier stable. Although this is not critical, he tries to pick a capacitor value to be equal to the resistance at around 150 kHz.
Storage strapOver the years, we’ve shown a variety of cable management solutions from brands like Velcro and other hook-and-loop manufacturers. But the one in Fig. 2 serves a dual purpose.
A heavy-duty hook-and-loop cable organizer.The metal grommet helps organize and hang bundles of remote broadcast cables. In the Technical Operations Center, the grommet secures large bundles of cables, especially of the Ethernet variety. The fastener secures the cables without deforming the wire wrap. This heavy-duty nylon strap is available from Koppy and they come in small, medium and large sizes. There is a quantity discount. Go to https://koppy.co/ .
John Bisset, CPBE, has spent over 50 years in broadcasting and is in his 31st year of Workbench. He handles western U.S. radio sales for the Telos Alliance. He is a past recipient of the SBE’s Educator of the Year Award.
Workbench submissions are encouraged and qualify for SBE recertification. Email johnpbisset@gmail.com.
The post Workbench: Blower Motors and AM Tips appeared first on Radio World.
Deloitte has released the results of its 15th annual Digital Media Trends Survey.
It reveals how COVID-19 and shifting generational preferences are reshaping the U.S. media and entertainment landscape. How this may impact the future growth of broadcast television and radio makes this essential reading for your organization.
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Eleven years ago, an influential Member of the House of Representatives crafted legislation passed into law by President Obama designed to eliminate those jarring commercial breaks where the audio is out of sync with the regular programming — and much louder in volume.
In recent months, however, jarring TV spots have reemerged at over-the-air and cable TV, leading this politician on April 14 to seek — for the second time — an FCC investigation into the matter.
The Commission has now agreed to do so.
On April 14, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) sent a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel specifically requesting the Commission investigate ” a reported increase in complaints related to loud television advertisements that may violate the CALM Act.”
The jump in complaints came concurrent to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people sequestered in their homes and watching television. Thus, the loudness issue could have predated the arrival of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. It was the virus that likely exposed the problem to a greater degree.
Eshoo became aware of the problem. On July 21, 2020, she wrote to then-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai requesting information about complaints related to and enforcement of the CALM Act.
The Pai Commission did not act.
On March 31, 2021, online publication Business Insider followed up on the complaints by offering a lengthy feature story that examined the four-month period from November 2020 to February 2021. In this timeframe, FCC complaints of loud commercials increased 140% compared to the same period a year ago — more than double the volume of complaints.
For TV broadcasters and cable operators, the CALM Act requires any station to abide by the A/85 standard approved by the ATSC, the Advanced Television Systems Committee. The FCC is the enforcement agency.
Eshoo was quoted in the Business Insider article, which makes the assumption that “2021 is poised to be the worst year since the initial rollout” of the CALM Act.
Fueled by the online report, Eshoo then pleaded to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “This worries me a great deal,” she wrote to Rosenworcel.
It appears the FCC under Democratic Party influence is worried, to. On Monday (4/19), the Media Bureau moved forward with the issuance of a public notice inviting comment from consumers and industry leaders on whether any updates are needed to the Commission’s rules implementing the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act.
Comments are due by June 3. Reply Comments are due by July 9.
“We seek comment on the extent to which our rules have been effective in preventing loud commercials,” the Media Bureau states. ‘In particular, we invite consumers to tell us their experiences as they watch programming provided by television broadcasters and MVPDs.”
In response, Eshoo said, “I welcome the FCC’s action to protect consumers from the vexing issue of loud TV ads. I authored the law to put an end to this national irritant, but complaints are rising again. I welcome the decision of the FCC to hear complaints from the American people. I urge everyone who is annoyed to submit their complaints to the FCC about loud ads to ensure violations of the CALM Act can be investigated.”
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — He was most recently VP of Programming Communications and Special Projects for Cumulus Media and Westwood One.
Now, he’ll serve as a National Sales Manager for the United States at key Westchester County-based radio tech company RCS.
Taking the job is Aaron Roberts, who will focus his efforts around the GSelector, Aquira and Revma products. Roberts will also chair the RCS Academy, comprised of self-paced, online courses for individuals with basic to advanced knowledge of music scheduling and radio automation using GSelector and Zetta.
Roberts’ radio career spans over 20 years in operations and programming, including stops at WRQQ/Nashville; WIOT/Toledo, Ohio; and WROV/Roanoke, Va. He’s also served as Operations Manager for Citadel’s former Scranton, Pa., station group.
Roberts also has record industry experience, and was a Southeast Regional representative for Trauma Records.
“Aaron is a perfect fit for our team of talented radio experts,” says Neal Perchuk, RcS’s VP of Sales for the Americas, who Roberts reports to. “Aaron’s commitment to quality, professional radio is unmatched. We are excited to share his particular skills with our clients.”
KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY — Starwaves, a developer and distributor of receiver technologies centered around the digital broadcast standard DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), has joined forces with a supplier in the field of broadcast encoder and receiver components for DRM to develop an Android app that allows DRM reception on mobile devices.
Starwaves enables Android phones and tablets to receive entertainment, text information, and emergency warnings via DRM Digital Radio.
The Starwaves technology is based on Fraunhofer technology.
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is being pitched as the “digital successor standard to the classic AM and FM radio services.”
Radio reception with mobile phones and tablets combines the mobility and flexibility of these devices with the benefits of free-to-air radio services.
And, it solves a conundrum that plagued NextRadio, a one-time unit of Emmis Communications, while the ambitious Soundot app failed due to lack of publicity and industry support.
Starwaves has been active in the field of DRM radio receivers for many years. The “STARWAVES DRM SoftRadio” app was developed in close cooperation with Fraunhofer IIS. Its goal: to ensure easy access to innovative DRM radio services for everybody.
It is available from now in the Google and Amazon Android app stores.
“The app provides listeners with access to all the essential features of the DRM digital radio standard, across all transmission bands from DRM on long wave to FM band and VHF band-III,” Starwaves says.
Fraunhofer IIS is a significant co-developer of core digital radio technologies.
This includes the innovative xHE-AAC audio codec, which provides high audio quality at lowest data rates, as well as the Journaline application, which gives radio listeners access to news, the latest sports updates, local weather forecasts, travel tips, and even radio schooling services without requiring internet access.
The app also supports many more DRM features such as the Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), image slideshows, station logos, and service descriptions including Unicode support for worldwide application.
To provide all these services, the app only requires a standard off-the-shelf SDR RF dongle that is attached to the device’s USB port.
“We are proud to launch the world’s first low-cost full-featured DRM digital radio reception solution for mobile devices, developed in close partnership with Fraunhofer IIS. Now everybody can easily upgrade their existing mobile phone and tablet to enjoy DRM digital radio with its undistorted audio quality and advanced features including Journaline,” says Johannes von Weyssenhoff, founder of Starwaves.
— RBR+TVBR European News Desk
Broadcast media facility management software maker Xytech has selected a VP and Managing Director for its ScheduALL platform.
It’s an individual who was working with the product until September 2020 but has returned, now that Xytech is the ScheduALL owner.
Taking the role is Stefan Nied, and his appointment follows the closing of Xytech’s acquisition of ScheduALL from Net Insight earlier this month.
A veteran of ScheduALL, Nied devoted 23 years to ScheduALL, serving as Vice President of Services and Customer Success until the 2015 acquisition by Net Insight. He then served as Senior Director of Global Strategic Accounts within the larger Net Insight corporate structure, continuing his leadership and key account management within the ScheduALL software business unit.
In his new role, Nied will be responsible for the ScheduALL customer success and support teams throughout the ScheduALL-to-Xytech transition.
“Stefan and I worked together for 12 years when I was at ScheduALL and it’s a thrill to bring him into Xytech,” said Greg Dolan, CCO of Xytech. “With more than two decades of experience with the ScheduALL brand, he is the perfect person to seamlessly lead the ScheduALL-to-Xytech transition. Customer success is top-of-mind, and Stefan’s leadership skills will ensure a smooth and easy transition.”
Nied added, “After spending most of my professional career with ScheduALL, I know the product inside and out, and I’m very familiar with the needs of our valuable clients. I look forward to continuing to provide them with the world-class service they deserve.”
Nied will be based at ScheduALL’s office in Hollywood, Fla,, and report to Dolan.
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