Industry News

Pioneer Electronics USA has used the all-virtual CES 2021 conference to debut its newest modular solutions in-dash receiver.

It’s hardware that is designed to provide vehicles with limited or restricted dash space an in-dash upgrade solution.

The DMH-WC5700NEX includes Alexa Built-in, Android Auto (wired/wireless), Apple CarPlay (wired/wireless) and other multimedia entertainment capabilities.

Its 6.8-inch touchscreen is similar in design and features to the 9-inch DMH-WC6600NEX, introduced last year.

One key difference: this model has ability to fit a wider variety of vehicles including traditional 2DIN applications.

Since the introduction of the first Pioneer modular solutions in-dash receivers in 2019, Metra Electronics has introduced several dash kits and fully integrated dash kit packages designed to integrate the modular solutions products, including the DMH-WC5700NEX, into specific vehicles.

Due to the modular form factor and availability of two different optional extension cables, the DMH-WC5700NEX is also suitable for fully custom installation by an installation specialist, further expanding its application to an even wider range of vehicles when compared to traditional in-dash receivers.

“With the DMH-WC5700NEX, Pioneer provides an automotive upgrade solution for many different vehicles that typically have been extremely restrictive or even impossible with regard to the installation of an aftermarket in-dash receiver, including several popular late model Chevrolet vehicles such as the Silverado and Camaro,” said Pioneer Electronics USA VP/Marketing Ted Cardenas. “With this solution, owners of these vehicles now have an option for adding Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and more to enhance and upgrade their driving experience.”

The DMH-WC5700NEX also features Hi-Res Audio playback capability, FLAC file playback, 13-band graphic equalizer, time alignment, 4V RCA preamplifier outputs (front/rear/subwoofer), Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming and hands-free communication, built-in HD Radio capability, SiriusXM Ready (requires SiriusXM tuner and subscription, sold separately), RGB illumination, rear camera input, and HDMI video input for rear seat entertainment.

The Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX is planned for Summer 2021 availability.

Solid State Logic has secured its latest guest for its “Meet the Producer” Facebook Live series — an in-depth Q&A series featuring a diverse range of highly accomplished producers and engineers.

This event is set for Thursday at 1pm Eastern.

SSL will be hosting Marc Daniel Nelson, who will be interviewed by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winning engineer, writer and producer J.C. Losada, a.k.a. “Mr Sonic.”

The session is accessible via SSL’s Facebook page; interested participants can set a reminder via the links provided.

Nelson gained an early mastery of mixing and production, working across a range of genres from Americana, to orchestration, to Hip Hop, to Rock ‘n’ Roll. Since his days at Chicago Recording Company, he has built a list of credits mixing music for Fleetwood Mac, Jason Mraz, and Colbie Caillat; and mixing music for film and trailers including Bladerunner 2049, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Point Break.

“Participants can expect in-depth insight into structuring a session with plug-in templates / presets, achieving appropriate width and depth in a mix, and employing unique processing tricks,” SSL says.

Over the course of his career, Nelson has worked on several SSL consoles including the SL4000, SL6000, SL8000 Series, as well as the AWS 900 and most recently Sigma ‘console in a box’.

Losada will ask Nelson about his approach to working across a variety of genres, as well as his mixing approach for trailers, films and records. The information could be of interest and of benefit to audio media companies developing podcasts, radio programming, and video content tied to broadcast offerings.

Participants will have the opportunity to download a full Pro Tools session of “Wonder” and watch Marc tackle the mix step by step.

The Pro Tools session of ‘Wonder’ is available for free download. It includes all routing, automation, audio and processing: http://bit.ly/WonderPTSession

Film trailer ‘Wonder’ Pro Tools session download: http://bit.ly/WonderPTSession

SSL Facebook PREMERE link: http://bit.ly/MTPMDNReminder

TORONTO — An Ontario-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of video and audio infrastructure products for the TV industry has agreed to acquire the Studer brand, technology and all related assets in a transaction expected to close by March 30.

Selling the brand to Evertz Technologies Ltd. is HARMAN International.

“We’re pleased to welcome this iconic audio brand to our Evertz family of products and solutions that has been serving the broadcast market for more than 50 years,” said Brian Campbell, EVP Business Development at Burlington-based Evertz. “We also welcome the many valued Studer customers who depend on Studer technology and reliability to deliver the best audio to their audience.”

Campbell says Evertz will be investing in Studer for developing next-generation products to meet broadcast customers’ future needs while creating synergies between its current product suite and the Studer product environment.

“We saw an exciting opportunity to evolve these premium products with new products and feature development while having Studer continue to redefine how broadcast audio is produced,” Campbell said.

From The Beatles recording Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at EMI/Abbey Road Studios on a Studer tape deck, to Studer digital mixing consoles in the control rooms at the world’s most prestigious and modern broadcast facilities, Studer has been an iconic audio brand for more than 70 years.

HARMAN acquired Studer in 1994.

“We are very pleased that the stewardship of the iconic Studer brand will continue on under Evertz’s leadership,” said Brian Divine, President of HARMAN Professional Solutions. “The HARMAN team will be working very closely with Evertz over the coming weeks to assure a seamless transition for the customers.”

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLA. — It remains in a battle with Gray Television over the carriage on one of its legacy TV services of a ABC affiliate within the vast Tampa-St. Petersburg DMA specifically focused on Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties.

Now, that fight could be taking perhaps a positive spin — if good vibes from the C-Suite find their way into retrans negotiation.

Frontier has emerged from federal bankruptcy protection.

The MVPD and telecom company on Friday (1/15) secured approval from the Commission for its Chapter 11 restructuring. This also saw Frontier get regulatory approval or favorable determinations in 13 states.

Commenting on the “major milestone” of the restructuring OK, President/CEO Bernie Han said,  “We continue to make important progress in our constructive engagement with regulators across our service territories, and we continue to await approval in just four states and are working to expedite those approvals to enable the Company to emerge from Chapter 11. Our team remains focused on our transformative strategy to strengthen our financial foundation, improve our operations and enhance our customer experience throughout the U.S.”

Frontier expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in early 2021 under its previously confirmed Plan of Reorganization. Upon emergence, Frontier will have reduced its total outstanding indebtedness by more than $10 billion.

— Rob Dumke

He joined MultiDyne as COO in September 2019 following the company’s purchase of Census Digital.

Now, he is retiring, but will join MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Solutions ’ newly formed Board of Directors and remain as an active consultant.

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The first radio app to be compatible with one of the world’s more popular brands of smart watches has been released for international consumption.

But, radio broadcasters in the U.S. shouldn’t get too excited about it. The smart watch manufacturer has been branded by Washington Republicans as an agent of the People’s Republic of China’s government in Beijing.

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Red Apple Group, the parent company of Red Apple Media and New York-based Talker WABC-AM 770, has promoted a legal associate to the role of General Counsel.

It’s Emily Pankow, and Red Apple CEO John Catsimatidis says WABC and his company “will be well served by Emily’s legal insight.”

He adds, “She has proven herself time-and-time again as an asset to our company over the past fifteen years. Since the acquisition of WABC Emily has been instrumental in the day-to-day legal work and has earned this title. I have every confidence that Emily will succeed in the new position and is destined for great things in the future.”

Pankow adds that she’s “honored and delighted to join the Red Apple Media team at this exciting phase of the company’s growth under John Catsimatidis’ leadership. I look forward to helping build upon Red Apple Media’s success. Red Apple Group is continuously expanding its horizons and it has been a pleasure and honor to learn and grow with the company.”

As of today, the ABC affiliate serving the Triad region of North Carolina is getting its own newscasts at 6pm and 11pm.

It brings Greensboro and Winston Salem “a fresh perspective on local news,” the News Director for the Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned station says.

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There’s been chatter of late that those who views have been prevented from dissemination via social media can always turn to another media to get their point across to the American public.

In fact, that media is perhaps the “first” social media — radio.

Only, it’s not open for amateur or private use without a license, and the Commission is making it very clear ahead of Inauguration Day.

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau late Friday (1/15) issued an Enforcement Advisory, warning amateur and personal radio services licensees and operators that they may not use radio equipment to commit or facilitate criminal acts.

The warning also comes in the wake of the January 6 Capitol uprising.

The Enforcement Advisory reads, in part, “The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities. The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes. Specifically, the Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting ‘communications intended to facilitate a criminal act’ or ‘messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.’ ”

— Rob Dumke

You can read the full Enforcement Advisory here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-73A1.pdf

When Wall Street returns to trading on Tuesday, tongues will be wagging across the broadcast media world about The E.W. Scripps Co.’s share price.

Why? There is word that none other than Warren Buffett has snapped up a huge chunk of the company’s stock.

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