Industry News

By Rob Dumke

Eight former FCC Chairman and the first woman to serve as Acting FCC Chairs have joined the growing list of supporters who advocate for the reinstatement of a federal tax certificate program.

The legislative efforts are designed to encourage investment in Radio and TV station ownership by women and minorities.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

The FCC is seeking comments on three main issues related to broadband deployment in Multiple Tenant Environment (MTE) buildings.

Given the growing use of OTT, “FAST” channels, and video-on-demand, along with the continued use of smart speakers for streaming audio, it could be a matter that effects broadcast media more than many industry leaders realize.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

He most recently served as VP/Communications for VICE Media Group.

Now, this PR and media relations pro is back in familiar environs — ABC News.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON FACEBOOK!

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

There’s a Director of Business Development/Streamers for streaming TV operation Wurl.

It’s the former Head of Business Development for Dish’s Sling TV.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

Hearst Television is expanding its original program production and distribution capabilities with the creation of the Hearst Media Production Group.

And, a longtime Hearst Television executive has been named president of the new group.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

By Rob Dumke

Circle City Broadcasting and Metro Video Productions have signed an agreement that effectively expands the “Indiana News Network,” based at the DuJuan McCoy-owned TV stations serving Indianapolis, to another Hoosier State market.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON FACEBOOK!

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

SPONSORED CONTENT

Audio advertising has gone through some seismic shifts in the last decade thanks to a number of factors. There’s more listeners and more ways to listen – according to Edison Research, 74% of 25- to 54-year-olds are regularly streaming music, news and podcasts, with smart speakers emerging as one of the most popular ways to listen. While technology makes it possible to harness the power of data to create truly targeted advertising. How then, to turn all of this potential into profit for broadcasters? Introducing Adthos Creative Studio For the first time, Adthos Creative Studio enables the production of broadcast-quality advertising audio using synthetic voice technology for on-the-go spot creation, with a powerfully targeted approach.  So much more than a text to speech solution, it’s a first-of-a-kind browser based multitrack editor that allows you and your advertiser to collaborate online, combining music, human and synthetic voice to produce real-time audio advertising. Hearing is believing Adthos Creative Studio harnesses the power of AI to produce natural sounding and programmable audio that needs to be heard to be believed. Within the standard package choose from up to 14 US – English different voices, with many more available in Adthos’ exclusive voice talent library as part of the professional voiceover package. Once you’ve chosen your voice, bring it to life with character and personality: control intonation, speed and apply reading rules for certain types of content such as phone numbers or emails to deliver realistic and engaging audio. Almost like directing your own voice actor! Advertising that’s always a step ahead Alongside text-to-speech functionality, Creative Studio’s one-of-a-kind embedded webserver allows the insertion of content based on different data sets to produce timely, relevant advertising. From web-based information such as the weather pages, using geo-targeting for location-based advertising, or even Excel files in the case of information such as pricing catalogues for supermarket deals. Taking care of the humans It may sound as if this takes away opportunities from voiceover professionals, but it’s quite the opposite. We provide several ways for voice talent to monetize their synthetic voices, for example a royalty system. They also have access to a complete audit of where, when and what their voice has been used for, including being able to playback the recording, and opt out of various kinds of advertising e.g., Alcohol or adult-themed content. Where you decide to use your own voice talent, they’ll also be able to sign up to enjoy the same conditions. Astonishing possibilities. Unbelievable price. You’d expect all of this to come at a cost wouldn’t you? Think again. Adthos Creative Studio comes in at just $49.99/month for a standard subscription. While it’s ready for production and available, Adthos Creative Studio will launch initially with Limited Access, meaning customers must apply and be approved by Adthos before they can access it.  Once approved, customers will get the chance to experience and utilize the full potential of broadcast-quality AI-generated audio advertising.  Curious? Prepare to be amazed 

In partnership with Telos Alliance, Grass Valley is releasing Telos Infinity VIP (Virtual Intercom Platform) on GV AMPP (Agile Media Processing Platform), a professional intercom tool for cloud-based media production workflows.

Infinity VIP on AMPP supports essential intercom functionality that is already well known to production professionals, including partylines, IFBs, groups and peer-to-peer communication.

This new cloud-based production functionality is being beta-tested by All Mobile Video (AMV) and will be live with an AMV customer later in the year..

“It’s critical to us that the maximum number of productions are able to get the most out of our industry-leading intercom solutions,” commented Scott Stiefel, Chief Operating Officer of Telos Alliance. “As a GV Media Universe Alliance Partner, our technology is now tightly integrated with AMPP, putting our intercom solutions in prime position for productions using the cloud-based platform. Through seamless access to our solutions, we look forward to gaining new customers as well as pleasing existing users looking to move as much functionality as possible to the cloud.”

Telos Infinity VIP on AMPP is a native SaaS solution tightly integrated from both an operational and commercial standpoint for a frictionless experience. The Infinity VIP on AMPP cloud server and virtual panel apps are available from the AMPP app store and deploy in the same way as any AMPP application.

AMV CEO Eric Duke commented, “Our beta trials of Infinity VIP on AMPP have gone incredibly well with our customers, and we look forward to Grass Valley building in all the functionality we need to take the fullest advantage of cloud production. This will make us more profitable, more flexible and most important of all, enables AMV to offer the best possible service.”

“The undoubted advantages of cloud-based production, even in a studio environment, means that the methodology behind GV AMPP is a hugely positive paradigm shift for the video production industry,” noted Grass Valley President/CEO Tim Shoulders. “Today, the concept of cloud production is widely understood throughout the industry; it’s now the job of the GV Media Universe to make available to production teams all the professional functionality they need through the cloud. The Telos intercom solution is a fantastic example of how this works to everyone’s benefit. Video producers get access to the latest tools wherever they are, Telos gains new users and we can enable customers, like AMV, the functionality they need to provide workflows that produce exciting content.”

With Infinity VIP on AMPP, operators supporting live productions from anywhere can access the application from any connected browser. The microphone and speakers from the connected phone, tablet, or computer allow operators to communicate with team members, while using the same device for performing their job functions using other AMPP-enabled solutions such as switching, audio mixing, replay, routing, and monitoring.

Usage monitoring is consolidated with other AMPP applications to provide a single billing experience. While providing the latest in flexible user interfaces, this new intercom solution also provides cloud connection for existing intercom hardware, providing all the benefits of a new cloud-enabled system while retaining existing intercom infrastructure and workflows.

Digital Nirvana, a provider of media monitoring and metadata generation services, is preparing for the release of the newest version of its AI-driven compliance logging and monitoring product.

MonitorIQ 8.0 integrates with its Media Services Portal. The update brings its Linux operating system and all included software up to their latest versions.

This helps to negate security vulnerabilities, and offers increased resiliency. Additionally, quicker navigation is seen. Plus, there is lower latency for live video.

Digital Nirvana’s MonitorIQ allows operators to record, store, monitor, analyze, and repurpose content quickly and efficiently with a minimum of clicks. “Natively recording content from any point in the video delivery chain, from production (SDI) to consumption (OTT and STB), MonitorIQ enables broadcasters to collect and use knowledge about their broadcast content to meet a wide range of regulatory and compliance requirements,” the company says. “Users can view live or recorded content across hundreds of channels from desktop and mobile devices in any remote location worldwide for instant recall of proof of performance, compliance, or ad placement.”

MonitorIQ is based on the Linux operating system.

Among other improvements touted by Digital Nirvana are improved video intelligence. This, it says, “means broadcasters can now identify ads on competitive channels, detect logos in high-value content, recognize faces from news sources or entertainment content, and generate closed captions or transcripts of clips from live or historical content or advertisements.”

The MonitorIQ 8.0 upgrade will be available starting in the fourth quarter at no cost to active customers. Digital Nirvana support will contact customers to schedule the upgrade process. More information about Digital Nirvana and its products and services is available at www.digital-nirvana.com.

Celebro Media, a provider of live TV services to broadcasters around the world, has partnered with Quicklink as part of their new global studio project.

Quicklink’s ST500 (Studio-in-a-box) solution has been chosen to provide contribution facilities across Celebro’s televisions studio spaces.

As part of the global studio project, Celebro plans to open 80 new television studios across the world over the next two years. This will complement their larger facilities in London; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles.

Roll out has already begun with Miami and New York; Paris, Brussels and Moscow are next to open.

In these locations, Celebro Media chose Quicklink’s ST500 (Studio-in-a-box) to facilitate the contributions back to their MCRs in Washington or London.

The ST500 (Studio-in-a-box) is a compact unit with in-built lighting and camera that can be controlled from any remote location. The camera, lights and audio can be controlled from a
Chrome web-browser using the Quicklink Manager Portal.

In order to facilitate Celebro’s studio roll-out, it has partnered with Regus. As such, Celebro can easily open studios/bureaus at locations where a news event is happening, such as a sporting event or elections.