XPost: alt.radio.broadcasting

Radio World

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NYC-Area Landlords Get Pirate Letters

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 11:49 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/nyc-area-landlords-get-pirate-letters


Continuing its efforts to fight illegal broadcasts, the Federal
Communications Commission has sent notices to five property owners and
managers in and around New York City.

The letters from the Enforcement Bureau inform the owners that the FCC,
after receiving complaints, traced unlicensed signals to each property in April, May or June. These letters inform the owners that under federal law, anyone who allows pirate radio broadcasting on a property can face
significant financial penalties — up to $2.1 million.

The recipients are given 10 business days to show that they are no longer permitting pirate radio on their properties and to identify individuals
engaged in pirate radio on the property that they own or manage.

-Paul Wilfred got a notice about broadcasts on 90.9 MHz in Cambria Heights.

-Jean Yvon Francois and Elcie Francois-Lapomarede got a letter about
signals on 87.9 in Brooklyn.

-2062 Holding Corp. and its CEO Abe Soloff received a notice for a
complaint of unlicensed broadcasts on 105.7 in the Bronx.

-Rachel Bridge Corp. and its Managing Agent Solomon Schwimmer were sent a notice about transmissions on 93.3 near Washington Heights.

-And Michelle Hepburn got a notice regarding 104.5 in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

This is the latest in a series of such FCC announcements.

The post NYC-Area Landlords Get Pirate Letters appeared first on Radio
World.


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When Agents Knocked, Florida Station Denied Access

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 11:23 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/when-agents-knocked-florida-station-denied-access


A West Palm Beach radio station has been notified that its staff members committed a violation after agents from the Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau were denied access to the radio station.

On March 15, 2022, agents from the Miami field office attempted to inspect radio station WDZP(LP) in West Palm Beach, Fla. A broadcast station
licensee is required to make the station available for inspection by FCC representatives at any time a station is in operation. Even after showing
their badges and credentials to two different station representatives, the agents were denied access, the bureau said.

When reached by telephone, the station’s owner also refused to make the station available for inspection by the agents, despite receiving several reminders that FCC licensees must allow for inspections such as these, the bureau said. 
(Photo via WDZP homepage)

[See Our Business and Law Page]

On its web page, Radio Mondiale 101.1 FM describes itself as the voice of
the Haitian community from Boca Raton to Jupiter, Fla. 

In a recently issued Notice of Violation, the bureau asked licensee WDZP
Media to submit a written statement within 20 days explaining the actions
of the station’s staff and clarifying how and when the situation will be rectified.

That statement must include a signed and dated response submitted under
penalty of perjury by an authorized officer of WDZP Media. The letter also clarified that the Enforcement Bureau may decide to take further action
against the station, including issuance of a Notice of Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture.

The post When Agents Knocked, Florida Station Denied Access appeared first
on Radio World.


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Lords Report Rejects End for BBC License Fee

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 10:45 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/global/lords-report-rejects-end-for-bbc-license-fee



Brits should continue to pay an annual license fee to support the BBC, but
the public broadcaster must develop a bold vision for the future to ensure
the public remains convinced of the value it provides. This recommendation comes in the British House of Lords’ Communications and Digital Committee’s report “Licence to Change: BBC Future Funding,” released on July 18.

Notably, the committee rejected outright replacing the license fee with advertising. “Substituting the licence fee entirely for advertising would provide insufficient income whilst decimating the revenues of other public service broadcasters. A full subscription-based model would likewise
deliver inadequate revenues and face major technical hurdles and
accessibility barriers,” stated the report’s summary. The committee also rejected shifting to an outright governmental grant over concerns about infringing upon the BBC’s editorial independence.

The BBC’s current Royal Charter was granted in 2016 and runs through 2027. The charter renewal process sets out the public purposes of the BBC,
guarantees its independence, and outlines the duties of the BBC Trust and
its Executive Board.

Although focused on the future of the BBC, the report looked broadly at the United Kingdom’s evolving mediascape. In considering whether or not conditional access technology could create a viable funding stream for the
BBC, the Lords looked at the potential for transitioning away form
broadcast technologies to IP-based distribution.

[Related: “British Government Freezes TV License Fee”]

In the inquiry that informed the report, the Lords committee heard from industry experts that the infrastructure needed to replace broadcast with IP-delivered services would not be in place until the early 2030s. Even
then, remote and rural areas would not receive the same level of service provided by broadcast. Additional concerns were noted about the cost of
such services and the hardware to access them, as well as the accessibility
of such technologies, particularly for older Britons.

Looking specifically at the future of radio, the committee noted that while
DAB currently accounts for 33% of British radio listening, analog AM/FM
radio remains the primary technology for 23% of listening. It also noted
that developing conditional access technology for analog radio was not technically feasible and the cost of developing it for DAB (including replacement of existing receivers with subscription-compatible ones) would
be cost prohibitive.
Audio (excluding visual) by device share percentage
for all adults. From Digital Radio and Audio Review (October 2021)

In the end, the Lords report acknowledged that new or improved revenue
sources were needed for the BBC and that a hybrid license fee–subscription system might be achievable in the longer term future, but that more work
needed to be done by the government and the broadcaster to ensure that the public value would be ensured.

“The BBC should publish a comprehensive long-term vision that sets out its role, and how it will deliver value and distinctiveness in a rapidly
changing world. This vision must include costed options for future funding mechanisms, and how these would affect the BBC’s ability to deliver on its mission in the next decade and beyond,” noted the report. It also warned, however, that “The legitimacy of a future funding model risks being undermined by dissatisfied audiences and declining viewing share.”

It also noted that Ofcom’s proposal to update the BBC’s operating license would give the broadcaster needed flexibility. In late June, Ofcom opened a consultation process around its proposal, which would provide more
oversight of the BBC’s online platforms and revise programming requirement quotas.

Transmission services provider Arqiva recently launched the Broadcast 2040+ campaign to encourage the British government to commit to supporting over-the-air broadcasting well into the future. Arqiva CEO Shuja Khan
responded to the Lords’ committee report welcoming its acknowledgement of
the significance of over-the-air broadcasting, and digital terrestrial television in particular, to the public.

“Research shows that the public wants to see continued support for DTT,
which is particularly important for vulnerable groups, including older
people, as well as those in rural areas,” stated Khan. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Committee in the months ahead as they build on
the outcomes of their inquiry.”

The post Lords Report Rejects End for BBC License Fee appeared first on
Radio World.


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Detailed Findings Reveal How America Listens

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 10:35 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/programming-and-sales/detailed-findings-reveal-how-america-listens


A new report by Nielsen reveals that radio continues to reach a major swath
of Americans, buoyed by its role as the leading ad-supported medium in
America today and increased listening levels.

The latest edition of the “Audio Today 2022: How America Listens” report by
Nielsen looks at how Americans consume audio, including broadcast AM/FM
radio, podcasts, streaming and satellite audio. 

The report finds that radio broadcasters continue to be seen as stalwart, steadfast members of the communities in which they operate. “Radio … operators tirelessly serve their communities out of a tradition of responsibility but also because they are beholden to the federal
government,” said Brad Kelly, managing editor of Nielsen Audio, in an introduction to the report. “Unlike digital, it’s not the wild west. Broadcasters are bound by rules that govern their license.”

Kelly said that advertisers have begun to wake up to the social
responsibility of their media choices too. The latest issue of the “How America Listens” report reveals that AM/FM radio continues to be the
leading ad-supported medium in America today, reaching more Americans every month than any other platform, be it linear or digitally. 

Radio reaches 93% of the U.S. population, compared to a combined monthly
reach of 60% from streaming music, podcasting and satellite radio. The
report also found that radio generates 55% more incremental reach when
added to an audio marketing plan. 

Additionally, the report found that most radio listening happens when
consumers are out of the home and 70% of heavy radio consumers are now
spending an hour or more daily in their vehicles — up 60% since spring 2020. 

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The report also highlighted the continued growth the industry is seeing
from podcasting. U.S. podcasting revenues are expected to hit $2 billion
next year as Americans have more than two million podcast titles to choose from. The report also detailed the popularity of certain podcast genres, including genres with the largest percentage of change. Podcasts devoted to music increased 109% in popularity between November 2019 and May 2022.
Other genres with significant percentage changes include leisure, true
crime, comedy as well as TV and film podcasts. 

Data shows that audio consumers are leading the way toward recovery from
the pandemic. Audio users are more likely to plan major purchases in the
next year and are more willing to shop in stores, attend events, work in an office and get on planes. 


In an analysis of the results, a Cumulus Media | Westwood One blog revealed that, with consumption at all-time highs, the audio landscape has never had more potential for advertisers. “No matter the target demographic, there is an AM/FM radio format that delivers the ideal audience,” wrote Pierre Bouvard, chief insights officer of the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group. “[The] data shows that no matter what demographic an
advertiser may be trying to reach, there is an AM/FM radio format that can
be used for that target.”

The post Detailed Findings Reveal How America Listens appeared first on
Radio World.


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CH Media Mines a Diamond

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 10:13 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/global/ch-media-mines-a-diamond


Radio World’s Buyer’s Guide section this month focuses on consoles and mixers.

Swiss private broadcaster CH Media has installed seven new Lawo diamond
mixing consoles in the on-air control rooms and production rooms at
Zurich’s Radio 24. 

Diamond is a modular AES67-compliant AoIP console, which gives buyers the flexibility to design consoles that meet their operational requirements, according to Lawo. 

“Because diamond is IP-native, its modules can be combined into a
traditional single-unit mixer, or used separately as distributed surfaces
that all work together,” the company states.

At Radio 24, the three on-air studios share an identical setup.
Workstations for a host and co-host, a news position, plus space for two
guests are integrated into a table in the center of each studio. The host operates a 12-fader diamond with central control module, which is split
into two sections and flush-mounted into the desk, and is complemented by a Lawo VisTool control screen. 

The co-host also has a four-fader diamond control surface, plus VisTool and playout system screens. A two-fader diamond module for the newscaster
completes each studio.
Dominik Widmer, Radio 24 morning host, with Lawo diamond mixing console

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

Dominik Widmer, host of the Radio 24 morning show, described the diamond as intuitive — fast and comfortable to work with. “After a short time, you operate it without even looking.” He said users appreciate the logically arranged controls, the feel of quality and its compact size. “The table can be used optimally, leaving plenty of space for notes and other things.”

Diamond complies with current AoIP standards including AES67/Ravenna audio-over-IP networking standards as well as ST2110-30/-31 and ST2022-7.
It is powered by Lawo’s Power Core DSP mixing engine, which in addition to AES67 and MADI ports provides expandable I/O via plug-in cards for analog,
AES3 and Dante. 

The diamond surface supports console sizes from two to 60 physical faders,
and up to 120 virtual faders. A new Virtual Extension option provides touchscreen operation of console functions as well as integrated control of other studio hardware and software. 

The consoles can be remote-controlled via LAN or WAN via PC connection with access to every function, suitable for distributed facilities and work-from-home applications.

The post CH Media Mines a Diamond appeared first on Radio World.

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