Industry News

WorldCast Systems announced Version 2.3.0 of its Ecreso 5/10 kW FM transmitter. It said the added features will provide easier maintenance, more control and cost savings.

The transmitter now uses Version 2 of SmartFM, an algorithm that WorldCast says enables broadcasters to reduce their energy consumption by up to 40 percent.

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“After many tests and deployments worldwide, WorldCast has updated the five saving strategies to adapt to on-field conditions,” the company said. “In particular, SmartFM V2 brings a new ‘Extreme Savings’ strategy for when broadcasters need it most.”

The transmitter also can automate a configuration change or send GPIO commands in case of specific alarms, which the company said is a unique feature. “Complementary to the scheduler features, the automation is part of the Communication Pack license,” it said.

The transmitter also has RDS improvements. “Management of the UTF8 is now available, as are Danish-language characters.” In addition, there is reinforced security from remote FTP via new access restrictions.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Ecreso Offers New Version of Two FM Transmitter Models appeared first on Radio World.

Audio listening habits have shifted over the past five years — sometimes dramatically — according to Edison Research’s most recent “Share of Ear” study, covering the third quarter of 2021.

One interesting finding in the report runs counter to popular perceptions: listening via Pandora and Spotify has stagnated while AM/FM listening and podcast consumption both continue to see steady gains.

The Edison report also revealed that podcast audience listenership has continued to rise. Over past two years, the daily reach of podcast listening among those aged 13 to 34 rose 43 percent with daily reach up 51 percent among those aged 25 to 54.

[Previously in Radio World “Podcast Listeners By the Numbers”]

The other audio platform seeing consistent growth: AM/FM radio streaming. In the most recent “Share of Ear” study, Edison found that AM/FM radio dominates advertiser-/supported audio with a 75 percent share of listening. Podcasts are capturing 11 percent of ad-supported audio time among those aged 18+ while the ad-supported streaming platforms of Pandora and Spotify are at 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

AM/FM radio dominates ad-supported TSL.

The latest “Share of Ear” study found that AM/FM radio leads ad-supported audio across major demographics, regardless of age. AM/FM radio is most popular with those in the 35 to 64 age range with an 80 percent share of ad-supported audio time spent listening to the AM/FM dial, followed by ages 25 to 54 (71 percent), ages 18 to 49 (64 percent) and ages 18 to 34 (55 percent).

Perhaps not surprisingly, most AM/FM radio listening occurs away from home with in-car listening hitting an 88 percent share of listening time. The research also found that Pandora and Spotify listeners primarily use those platforms while at home.

Since Q3 2016, digital streaming of AM/FM stations has nearly doubled.

When it comes to growing audio platforms, both podcasts and AM/FM radio streaming take the lead. The research found that AM/FM streaming is now 15 percent of total AM/FM listening. One of the growth drivers of that boost are smart speakers, with audiences listening to AM/FM radio on smart speakers more than any other ad-supported platform, the report found.

One unique finding, reported by Cumulus Media|Westwood One Audio Active Group President Pierre Bouvard in a recent blog post, is that there is be a significant perception vs. reality problem when it comes to estimating the audience shares of AM/FM radio vs. platforms like Pandora and Spotify.

Perception of TSL to ad-supported streaming services vs. AM/FM radio doesn’t match the reality.

The Audio Active Group quoted a finding from the firm Advertiser Perceptions that asked brand and media agencies in August 2021 to estimate the audience shares of Pandora, Spotify and AM/FM radio. The marketers and media agencies assumed that the share of listeners for Pandora and Spotify were significantly higher than actual levels.

Over the past five years, Pandora and Spotify have seen their ad-supported audience levels erode. In 2016, Pandora was seeing strong listening shares among those aged 13 to 44. Some of that support eroded when Spotify introduced an ad-free subscription service — so much so that Pandora suffered share losses in the 48 percent to 70 percent range among that age group. Meanwhile, Spotify not only saw its reach surpass Pandora but also watched its ad-free subscription service rise 309 percent from the third quarter of 2016 to the same time period in 2021.

[Our Previous “Share of Ear” Report Coverage]

The groups estimated Pandora had a 20 percent share of listening and that Spotify had a 25 percent share of audience. In reality, the audience share of ad-supported Pandora and Spotify is seven times and 12.5 times smaller, respectively.

Media agencies also surmised that the perceived share of AM/FM radio is 28 percent, when in reality AM/FM radio’s actual share is 40 percent, a finding Bouvard called a “massive disconnect” in terms of the perception and reality of audio shares.

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

The post Latest ‘Share of Ear’ Provides New Audio Listening Insights appeared first on Radio World.

The Radio World Best of 2021 Award has had a final extension until Tuesday Dec. 7.

The awards provide an opportunity for manufacturers to receive exposure for their outstanding products and solutions from the last 15 months.

This final extension is to allow those who were entering the Best of Show at IBC, which has now been cancelled, proper consideration for their entries.

The program website has information about the awards, categories and how to register.

 

The post Best of 2021 Award Deadline Extended to Dec. 7 appeared first on Radio World.

WFWL’s Original Studios in the Former Lockhart Motel Village (left); The Current WRJB–WFWL Facility

After 65 years on air serving Benton County from Camden, Tenn., WFWL(AM) is signing off the air for good on Dec. 1.

Community Broadcasting Services Inc., owner of the station, plans to focus its energies on WFWL sister station, WRJB(FM). “It’s purely a business decision. … It just makes sense for us,” said Dylan Powley, program/music director for the organization and host of the WRJB morning show.

“The studio will be converted into a multimedia space. We plan on being able to offer more in the way of interviews and digital content, as well as hosting musicians for live performances. This ties back into us putting our efforts into 95.9 WRJB,” Powley said.

Station Manager Ron Lane (left) conducts an interview during the station’s annual broadcast from the Benton County Fair, a tradition that started in the 1960s.

He also noted that plans for the station’s towers and transmission equipment, had yet to be finalized. Community Broadcasting is looking to repurpose W259BN, WFWL’s FM translator on 99.7 MHz.

WFWL has been a fixture in Camden since it went on air on September 18, 1956. “It was the only radio station in Camden for 20 years,” said Powley. “It was instrumental in covering news and offering entertainment to every corner of the county.”

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Originally owned by Camden Broadcasting Co., the station was sold to WRJB in the mid-1980s. John Latham, one of the original partners in Camden Broadcasting, had launched the FM station in 1976. With the ownership change, the two stations’ studios were consolidated on Vicksburg Avenue in Camden.

Over the years, the station operations changed, but Powley said WFWL remained a presence on 1200 kHz. “WFWL has maintained a presence, albeit much smaller, in the more recent history, playing modern country and gospel on Saturday mornings,” he said.

“While it’s always sad to see a station like WFWL go off-air, this doesn’t mean that local radio is going anywhere in Camden,” said Powley. “We have made a commitment to get off satellite programming, which is rare in rural radio, at least here. We’ve already been able to build an improved listener base with a new, unique format, and the exit of WFWL will allow for the entrance of a more modern operation that can better service our listening area.”

WRJB WFWL Staff at Their 2019 Holiday Party

Powley noted that WFWL going dark will not affect any of CBS’s four full-time employees and the “handful of part-timers that help out.”

To mark the end of the WFWL era, the station will spend its last day on air celebrating the station’s history. Station Manager Ron Lane, who has worked at the station since he was a high school senior in 1959, told The Camden Chronicle that the station’s last day of programming would include comments from current and former WFWL personalities.

“We have such tremendous memories surrounding this station. It has been a pleasure to be part of it,” Lane told The Chronicle.

Send your station news and updates to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post WFWL Readies for Its Last Day on Air appeared first on Radio World.

Due dates have now been published to comment on the FCC’s proposed rule change regarding directional FM antenna patterns.

We reported earlier that the commission has opened a notice of proposed rulemaking to update its rules for applicants proposing directional antenna facilities for FM and low-power FM stations. The commission wants input on rule revisions allowing an applicant to verify a directional antenna pattern through the use of computer modeling.

The proposal was made in a joint petition by Dielectric, Jampro, Radio Frequency Systems, Shively Labs and Educational Media Foundation.

The NPRM asks specifically for help from “engineers, broadcasters, antenna manufacturers, and other interested parties” to help clarify some issues raised by the proposed rule.

[Read the full NPRM text.]

Now that the NPRM has appeared in the Federal Register, the FCC can set the comment deadlines. So comments are due by Dec. 30, and reply comments by Jan. 14.

Use the FCC online comment system, and type 21-422 in the “Specify Proceeding” field.

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

The post Comment Deadlines Set for FM Antenna Computer Modeling appeared first on Radio World.

If there’s one early hallmark of the FCC under acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, it is the Media Bureau’s seemingly aggressive approach to enforcing the Commission’s rules on the timely filing of a broadcast station’s TV issues/programs lists.

Over 2021, forfeiture notices in the thousands of dollars have been issued right and left by the Bureau. Now, two have been issued to a Mississippi licensee who may have to fork over a total of $38,000 in fines.

The stations involved aren’t even full-power facilities.

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International Sales Team named Anil Bhardwaj as its specialist in transmission, antennas and associated RF components.

IST Sales Force Manager Roland Schaller said Bhardwaj has experience in engineering, sales and law, including a law degree.

Bhardwaj has worked as a sales manager and sales director, with global relationships particularly in South Asia and the Middle East. His background includes stints at Jampro and GatesAir.

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“Anil is particularly known for his work in the RF field working with high-power broadcast transmission systems including the antenna arrays, however he has also successfully delivered numerous turnkey studio, CTI, server, storage, and broadcast automation platforms and systems,” according to the announcement.

International Sales Team is a network of broadcast and media industry sales professionals for hire and deployment.

Send announcements for People News coverage to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Bhardwaj Joins International Sales Team appeared first on Radio World.

David Andrews is one of four shareholders in Hometown Communications LLC, the licensee of 1,000-watt Class C WIRY-AM, or “wiry,” in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

He’s also the station’s General Manager and News Director, and on the latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, Andrews shares with the world what it’s like to crank out tunes like “In the Year 2525” with a live, local host and community-focused advertising on a chilly autumn morning in late 2021.

Andrews also shares how the pandemic has proven to be a challenge as a new owner, as the Canadian dollar — until March 2020 — was a key retail driver in Clinton County, N.Y., just 20 minutes to the south of the New York/Québec border.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: David Andrews” on Spreaker.

Near the town of Oak Ridge, Tenn., is an AM radio station with a FM translator that until now has been licensed to Blount Broadcasting Corp.

That entity has just agreed to a sale of the facilities.

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NEW YORK — The shareholders of Meredith Corporation are one step closer to seeing the company’s stock, traded on the New York Stock Exchange, disappear forever.

That’s because they’ve approved the Des Moines-based multimedia company’s $2.825 billion acquisition by Gray Television.

The required shareholder approval came Tuesday morning a special shareholder meeting. Now, Meredith on Wednesday will likely move ahead with filing a Form 8-K with the SEC disclosing the full voting results of the special meeting.

Immediately prior to the Gray acquisition close, Meredith will spin its digital, magazine, MNI, PEOPLE TV, and corporate operations out to its shareholders as a new company, Meredith Holdings Corp. This is the entity that the Barry Diller-led IAC-owned Dotdash has agreed to acquire for $2.7 billion.

Gray will retain all of the local television holdings, and the transactions are now on track to close as expected by the close of business Wednesday (12/1).

As of 12:45pm Eastern, MDP was trading at $59.10, up 6 cents from Monday; Meredith shares are at their highest level since April 2019.

Gray Television, like other companies in the broadcast media sector, is lower on COVID-19 Omicron variant fears. GTN was trading at $20.45, off 3%, and is now back to where shares were in late April 2021.