Industry News

One of the nation’s biggest retailers has emerged as the biggest user of Spot Cable, by far, according to the latest report from Media Monitors.

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It’s about time.

One of the most prolific users of spot radio has surged to the top of the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report.

That would be The Home Depot, which is at the top of the list thanks to nearly 59,400 spot plays as detected by iHeartMedia-owned Media Monitors.

By comparison, category competitor Lowe’s is at No. 7 with some 38,385 spot plays.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) and the Media
Bureau of the FCC have identified two mutually exclusive short-form applications to participate in Auction 111.

Here’s what happens next, with settlement agreements due by November 30.

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NEW YORK — What could be Gordon Smith‘s final public appearance as President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters was met with a standing ovation and words of praise from the heads of Beasley Media Group and Hearst Television as the former Oregon Senator prepares to enter retirement at years end.

Smith, the NAB’s head since November 2009, received the Radio Ink Lifetime Achievement Award at Forecast 2021, held Tuesday at the Harvard Club.

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The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation has elected leaders at iHeartMedia, Cox Media Group and Allen Media Group to serve on its Board of Directors in accordance with Leadership Foundation bylaws.

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NEW YORK — When it comes to Washington, D.C., activities of significance to broadcast media, there is perhaps no bigger topic of conversation today than the nominations from President Biden of Jessica Rosenworcel to serve as the full Chairman of the FCC and the selection as a Democratic nominee for FCC Commissioner of Gigi Sohn.

Sohn’s chances of winning a seat on the Commission is vitally important, and a Forecast 2022 session tackled the subject.

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Leadership changes are on the horizon for two working groups of the National Radio Systems Committee focused on important technical matters for U.S. radio broadcasting. One focuses on digital radio standards development, the other on radio metadata.

The NRSC is a technical standards-setting body co-sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters, representing the transmission side of the radio broadcast industry, and the Consumer Technology Association, representing the reception side.

The NRSC’s IBOC Standards Development Working Group, which is a subgroup of the Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) subcommittee, will be chaired by Alan Jurison, a senior operations engineer with iHeartMedia. Jurison has served as chair of the NRSC’s Metadata Usage Working Group since 2012.

Jurison will be tasked with overseeing headline-making activities within the IBOC standards group. This work includes developing an NRSC guideline for all-digital AM radio stations and updating the NRSC-5 digital radio standard (the technical standard behind Xperi’s HD Radio digital radio system).

Updating that standard is a task undertaken by the group every five years.

“Having Alan as the new [IBOC group] chair is a great development,” said Glynn Walden, consultant to Audacy and co-chair of the DRB subcommittee. “Alan has been a major contributor to NRSC technical documents and done an outstanding job at the helm of the [Metadata Usage Working Group].”

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As for the Metadata Usage Working Group, consultant David Bialik of David K. Bialik & Associates takes the helm as chair. The working group is a subgroup of the Data Services and Metadata Subcommittee, chaired by Steve Shultis, CTO of New York Public Radio.

Right off the bat, Bialik will be responsible for leading the development of NRSC-G304, a guideline for streaming audio metadata.

“David’s expertise in the area of streaming for broadcast audio will be put to good use as the new chair,” Shultis said. “Radio broadcasters rely increasingly upon their audio streams and the NRSC is eager to help develop better standards in this area.”

Jurison succeeds Randy Woods, who until recently was with New Hampshire Public Radio. Bialik succeeds Jurison as chair of MUWG.

The post NRSC Names New Chairs for Working Groups appeared first on Radio World.

Have you harbored a dream of tracking down modern-day pirates? Two new job positions recently opened by the Federal Communications Commission may give you that chance.

The FCC recently posted two openings for field agents as part of the commission’s Enforcement Bureau. The first position is located in Chicago; the second is in New Orleans.

Both positions revolve around enforcing regulations, resolving radio frequency interference, educating users and investigating unlicensed radio operation violations (thar be your pirates).

Posted salary range: roughly $92k–$132k.

The position includes performing fieldwork, serving as a point of contact in matters of fixed and mobile radio direction-finding and interference resolution, and participating in enforcement and engineering projects with regional or national applications. Candidates must be able to operate and understand all field-ready technical equipment, including RF spectrum analyzers, field-strength meters, radio frequency radiation survey meters and radio receivers.

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The position also requires candidates to initiate official notices of violation, participate in regional emergency planning meetings, serve as a local expert in emergency communications restoration, and assist in planning bureau enforcement and compliance workshops.

A certain amount of field ruggedness is required, too. Agents will operate an SUV during routine field activities, which may happen during adverse weather conditions or in darkness.

The position has clear eligibility requirements too — either a degree in professional engineering or a combination of education and specialized experience.

The official announcement has further details on the positions and applicants can apply directly on the USAJOBS website. Job applications are being accepted through Nov. 22, 2021.

The post FCC Looks to Fill Two Enforcement Agent Positions appeared first on Radio World.

SEATTLE — FEMA and Bonneville International Corp.‘s Seattle radio stations are preparing to unveil an “all-hazards upgrade” to what is considered to be the “Primary Entry Point” facility at one of the market’s leading spoken word radio stations.

Bonneville News/Talker KIRO-AM will light up its PEP Transmitter site on Friday (11/19).

The modernization to the emergency studio increases KIRO-AM’s resiliency to continue broadcasting under all conditions, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism.

The facility is one of 77 across the country that serve as a National Public Warning System Primary Entry Point (PEP) station, participating with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during and after incidents and disasters.

KIRO-AM is the 14th station in the country to work with FEMA to complete the all-hazards
upgrade, which includes increased sheltering capabilities, expanded broadcast capacity, and
sustainable power generation for all types of hazardous events.

Friday’s event, which begins at 11am Pacific, includes official remarks, a Q&A session, a tour of the facility, and live demonstration at the KIRO-AM PEP station emergency studio.

Bonneville International President Darrell Brown will be joined by local dignitaries and staff at the event.

He’s been VP and Director of Sales and Marketing for The CW Seattle since 2017 and, for three years before that, the station’s Local Sales Manager. He joined the station in 2012.

Now, this nearly decade-long station veteran has been promoted to VP/Station Manager for the CBS News and Stations property serving the biggest market in the Pacific Northwest.

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