Industry News

David Santrella, president of Broadcast Media for Salem Media Group, was elected chairman of the NAB Joint Board of Directors, NAB announced today. Santrella takes over from Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television, Inc., whose term expired.

Bill Wilson, chief executive officer of Townsquare Media Group, was elected Radio Board chair by the NAB Radio Board. John Zimmer, president and owner of Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Inc., was elected Radio Board first vice chair, while Kevin Perry, vice president and chief operating officer of @Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company, was elected Radio Board second vice chair.

Collin Jones, senior vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy for CUMULUS MEDIA, Inc., was elected to the Radio Board’s major group representative seat on the NAB Board’s Executive Committee.

Perry Sook, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Media Group, was elected as NAB Television Board chair. Lynn Beall, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Media Operations for TEGNA, was elected as TV Board first vice chair, Pat L., president and co-chief executive officer of Gray Television, Inc., was elected TV Board second vice chair and Emily Barr, president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, was elected TV Board third vice chair.

Christopher Wood, senior vice president and associate general counsel for Government and Regulatory Affairs at Univision Communications, Inc., was appointed to the designated TV network seat on the NAB Board’s Executive Committee.

The Board elections took place at the NAB Board of Directors meeting, held June 28-29.

BizVibe has identified the expansion of OTT delivery systems as a major trend for the radio and television broadcasting industry.

Why? OTT services are rapidly becoming a primary source of news and public information. Several TV stations are expanding news coverage on OTT delivery systems such as Apple TV and Roku.

These platforms are trying to supplement traditional broadcasting services and open up new monetization opportunities. As BizVibe sees it, this trend is expected to have a strong influence on radio and television broadcasting companies around the world.

The end of the 2021 fiscal year is ending tomorrow for many companies. For others, it marks the first half of a year in which broadcast media transactions have yielded A Tale of Two Signals.

For over-the-air broadcast TV, huge deals have come to fruition since the start of the year. For AM and FM radio, nary a deal that doesn’t involve a religious institution has been had. What’s to come? Veteran media broker Dick Foreman shares his analysis of the media transactions marketplace in this exclusive podcast, presented by dot.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Dick Foreman” on Spreaker.

In November 2019, Jeff Andrulonis-led Colonial Media + Entertainment agreed to the $90,000 sale of a Class A FM with a booster allowing it to better serve the small city of Bradford, Pa., within the Buffalo DMA.

Now, the company that bought this station is selling it. And, it is making a small profit.

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Because of the ongoing chip shortage, General Motors will omit HD Radio from certain pickup models.

The change was first reported by the website GM Trucks. A GM spokesperson has confirmed the plan to Radio World. The change starts with vehicles produced on or after July 12.

HD Radio isn’t the only victim of the worldwide chip problem. According to automotive trade reports, GM said previously it would build certain trucks without Active Fuel Management and Dynamic Fuel Management technologies due to the global microchip shortage. And the Detroit Free Press recently reported about the broader impact of the chip shortage: “Car dealers have barren parking lots, consumers face limited options on new vehicle purchases and buyers must wait, and wait, for their new ride to be built.”

[Read: HD Radio’s History of Innovation and Future of Growth]

Kevin Kelly, senior manager, product and brand communications for General Motors, confirmed the HD Radio change in an email to Radio World. “Due to the global, industry-wide shortage of semiconductors GM is removing the HD Radio feature from certain 2021 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 [vehicles] and all 2022 model year Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 HD and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 HD [vehicles].”

Kelly said this change to the availability of HD Radio “is currently expected to be permanent.”

Radio World invited comment from Xperi Corp. and will report any reply.

GM Trucks also reported that a window sticker will include the line “Not Equipped with HD Radio,” and a $50 MSRP credit will be applied.

The post Global Chip Shortage Hits HD Radio appeared first on Radio World.

It markets itself as “an invaluable free tool for residents to stay informed about major storms, health updates, local news, weather, and sports on local broadcast TV.”

As the NAB and the nation’s Big Four networks see it, it is illegally distributing local television channels to its users without a retransmission consent agreement.

Despite court efforts by the TV industry to shut it down, donation-based Locast continues to grow. It just added its 34th DMA — and it is in the Buckeye State.

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Digital Alert Systems has issued guidance to users of its equipment ahead of the next national test of the Emergency Alert System.

The test is scheduled for Aug. 11 at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The manufacturer released a preparation document to help users of its gear.

This test will be sent via the EAS broadcast-based Primary Entry Point (PEP) system, not the FEMA IPAWS CAP message system.

[Read: National EAS Test Will Focus on Broadcast Chain]

“The NPT is an occasion to perform essential checks on fundamental items, such as checking that the EAS equipment is operating, backup power is functional, the radio monitors are tuned and monitoring the appropriate sources from the state EAS plan, and the equipment’s software is updated,” the company said in an announcement.

It quoted Bill Robertson, VP of business development, saying that if a participant’s DASDEC has been maintained with current software, most steps to prepare for the test are already done. “All DASDEC software from version 3.0 onward will automatically and properly process the NPT code, using the six-zeros national-location code, by immediately forwarding the test alert in compliance with the FCC’s rules.”

But if a DASDEC has earlier than version 3.0, you should update it at least to 3.0 and preferably to V4.3, which he said is most current with security and operational features.

[Read: FCC Releases Results of 2019 EAS Test]

The company said proper configuration is important, especially regarding the system clock. Participants should confirm devices are synced to the correct time and time zone. “One way is to double-check if the device is properly synchronized to a network time source. If a DASDEC is not connected to a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server, then it is important for the user to ensure that the unit time is manually synchronized to an official time source.”

DAS also reminded stations that they must fill out forms on the online EAS Test Reporting System. Form One is due July 6. Form Two must be done after the test, by Aug. 12. Form Three is due Sept. 27.

The backup test date is Aug. 25.

The post DAS Has Guidance for DASDEC Users appeared first on Radio World.

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, the charitable organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting, has revealed the recipient of the 2021 MIW Airblazer Award.

It’s being handed to DeDe McGuire, host of the nationally syndicated “DeDe in the Morning” program.

The MIW Airblazer Award stems from an alliance formed in 2015 between MIW (formerly known as the MIW Group) and Morning Show Bootcamp (MSBC).

“The recipient is carefully selected, as is tradition, by the prior year’s winner and is recognized for her dedication and contributions to the broadcast industry and to the communities she serves,” MIW notes.

The 2021 Airblazer Award will be presented to McGuire on August 12, during MSBC Chicago.

“It’s an honor and I’m completely blown away,” says DeDe McGuire, one of only a few women nationwide to have her own nationally syndicated morning show.

After ten successful years co-hosting the nationally syndicated program “The Doug Banks Show,” McGuire went on to host her own show, syndicated through Compass Media Networks via Service Broadcasting. It can be heard in over 55 markets.

MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff commented, “What a joy to celebrate DeDe and her many accomplishments. Her non-stop work in radio is impressive enough, but it’s her support of so many organizations, and her commitment to mentoring that makes her so special, and so deserving of this award.”

Previous MIW Airblazers include Kellie Rasberry (2019), Mercedes Martinez (2018), Roula Christie (2017), Angie Martinez (2016), and Ellen K (2015).

To register for 2021 MSBC Chicago visit: http://www.morningshowbootcamp.com.

Cordless television consumers are on track to become the predominant TV consumer in the next year.

That’s the primary finding from the fourth Future of TV survey from The Trade Desk.

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Here’s an upcoming event from one of our sister publications that will be of interest to radio people who also work in AV, education and other related fields.

With InfoComm 2021 coming up in October, Systems Contractor News and AVIXA, the association that produces the show, are teaming up for a virtual event on Sept. 23 called InfoComm Sneak Peek.

Attendees will get previews of education sessions on topics including digital signage trends, emerging audio solutions and classrooms of the future. The event will also feature sneak peeks from manufacturers of products they’ll be launching at InfoComm, in addition to networking opportunities.

Rochelle Richardson, CEM, senior vice president of expositions and events at AVIXA, said the virtual event “will pull back the curtain to reveal new and cutting-edge solutions and technologies and give a glimpse of what the industry can expect to experience at the big show.”

InfoComm Sneak Peek is free to attend for qualified integrators, consultants, content creators, technology managers and others. To register or learn more, visit www.infocommsneakpeek.com.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Adam Goldstein at adam.goldstein@futurenet.com.

InfoComm also is giving readers a free Exhibit Hall pass to the show. Use VIP Code “FUTURE” to redeem your free pass during registration. And for show updates, visit the InfoComm 2021 hub.

The post SCN and AVIXA Launch InfoComm Sneak Peek Virtual Event appeared first on Radio World.