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Radio World

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Toyota to Make HD Radio Standard in U.S.

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 12:09 PM PST https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/toyota-to-make-hd-radio-standard-in-u-s

The 2022 Toyota Corolla

Toyota will include HD Radio as a standard feature in its next-generation infotainment system in the U.S., which means nearly all new Toyota cars in
the country will have an HD Radio in future.

Xperi announced the development this past week while releasing its
financial results for the fourth quarter and past year.

“Toyota has been a valued customer for some time, although the extent of their prior implementation was in mid-line and upper-end vehicles,” said
CEO Jon Kirchner during an investor call.

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“I think this represents a decision recognizing the importance of HD Radio
in the broader infotainment suite. It’s representative of the continued progress we make with the HD Radio ecosystem in North America, and it lays
a foundation as well for follow-on next-generation entertainment features, which ties in with what we’re doing with DTS AutoStage.”

On that front, Xperi said 16 car companies are testing its DTS AutoStage technology in Europe, North America and Asia. “Multiple partners, including two major OEMs, are in advanced stages of testing.”

Radio people know Xperi largely as the parent of HD Radio and DTS
AutoStage, but it has numerous other businesses including IP licensing, pay
TV, consumer electronics, driver monitoring and TiVo.

Overall, Kirchner said the recent quarter was “solid” and that the company “continued to successfully deliver against the key strategic objectives we set following our merger with TiVo nearly two years ago.”

Revenue in the quarter was $214.4 million, compared to $433.9 million for
the period in 2020, which included prior revenue from Xperi’s Comcast agreement. Xperi said quarterly revenue without that earlier adjustment was
up 2% in Q4. The company posted a loss per share of 14 cents using GAAP calculations and earnings per share of 30 cents using non-GAAP.

For the year 2021 Xperi reported revenue of $877.7 million, down from $892 million the year before. It reported a GAAP loss per share of 53 cents and
a non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.03. It said it had “returned over $100 million to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases” in 2021.

The post Toyota to Make HD Radio Standard in U.S. appeared first on Radio World.


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Webcast Series Explores "Running Radio Today"

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 12:00 PM PST https://www.radioworld.com/resource-center/webinars-resource-center/webcast-series-explores-running-radio-today

A new Radio World webcast series, beginning in March, will help managers
and engineers get a better grasp on technologies that can advance their organization’s goals.
The series “Running Radio Today: Produce, Deliver, Profit” is free. Produced by Radio World and hosted by Editor in Chief Paul McLane, it will
have three parts, one per month focused on a different part of the radio broadcast business mission and workflow.
Each part features presentations from leading technology vendors, plus a roundtable discussion with Paul and a co-host from the broadcast
engineering community.
The first of the series on March 17, “Produce,” will focus on trends and tools for how radio content is created. The 2020s have brought streamlined studio workflows, centralized network designs and expanded remote
capabilities. What are the implications for content creation, from the microphone and automation system to the control surface and AoIP network? Discussing those questions with Paul will be technology experts from
sponsors Telos Alliance, RCS and Comrex. Co-hosting will be Jason Ornellas, regional director of engineering for Bonneville International and past recipient of the Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award.
The second webcast on April 14, “Deliver,” is about how distribution of content is changing. What should radio managers know about advances in transmission, codecs, streaming and other technologies that deliver your content to the listener? Is your station up to date? Joining us for this
will be experts from sponsors Synthax/Digigram, Xperi, Wheatstone and
Comrex. Paul’s co-host will be Rob Bertrand, chief technology officer of
WAMU in Washington.
And the third webcast on May 18, “Profit,” will focus on monetization and the use of technology that helps generate revenue for radio. Several new
tools are available today to maximize all business operations of radio.
We’ll find out how modern tech has infiltrated the ledgers and is improving the bottom line from companies including Marketron. Other participants will
be announced soon.
Registration for Part 1 is now open.

The post Webcast Series Explores “Running Radio Today” appeared first on Radio World.


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Calrec Type R Serves Community Stations

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 09:00 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/products/calrec-type-r-serves-community-stations

The Calrec Type R Console at Eldos FM

From the Radio World Who’s Buying What page: Calrec said South African community radio stations are using its Type R for Radio consoles with the
help of funding from the South African Media Development and Diversity
Agency and systems integrator Experience Audio Solutions.

“The MDDA works with the South African government to assist in developing community and small commercial media across the country and provides
funding and media education for local community operators,” Calrec wrote.

“More than 20 community radio stations have put in requests for quotes to upgrade their technology,” it stated. Eldos FM in Johannesburg is among
those taking delivery of a Type R through MDDA funding. Southside FM in
Durban is being outfitted with a Type R, and Giyani FM is planned.

Experience Audio Solutions works with Calrec’s South African distributor
Wild & Marr on these projects.

“There are 285 licensed community radio stations in South Africa, 212 on
air, and 156 funded by the MDAA. Community radio listenership in South
Africa garners roughly 8 million people,” Calrec wrote.

Send news for Who’s Buying What to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Calrec Type R Serves Community Stations appeared first on Radio
World.


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Gigi Sohn FCC Nomination Vote Scheduled

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 04:00 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/gigi-sohn-fcc-nomination-vote-scheduled


Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has set March 3
for a vote in her committee on the nomination of Gigi Sohn for the open Democratic seat on the FCC.

Commerce has chief oversight of communications issues.

Sohn has had two nomination hearings but as yet no vote in the committee on whether to favorably report her to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

Signaling that there would not be enough Democratic votes to secure a
favorable report of her nomination to the full Senate, the scheduled
February 2 vote on her nomination was pulled from that executive session.

The post Gigi Sohn FCC Nomination Vote Scheduled appeared first on Radio
World.


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CARIAD Joins RadioDNS

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 02:00 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/global/cariad-joins-radiodns


CARIAD, the software arm of the Volkswagen Group, has joined RadioDNS.

“Audi were innovators in the automotive sector for hybrid radio, using the RadioDNS standards to enable new experiences of radio for drivers in
connected vehicles,” RadioDNS wrote in its announcement. Audi is a member
of the Volkswagen Group.

“Functionality like the unique ‘range extender,’ which switches seamlessly
between broadcast radio and IP streaming, uses our standards to get the required stream information directly from radio stations. CARIAD will now continue to work with RadioDNS to implement and develop standards for their hybrid radio offering, which will be available in Volkswagen Group’s connected vehicles.”

The announcement was made by RadioDNS Project Director Nick Piggott and
CARIAD Development Engineer Christian Winter.

Winter said, “Many vehicles in the premium segment of the group are already using RadioDNS technology and we are looking forward to bringing hybrid
radio solutions to the volume segment.”

Other organizations joining RadioDNS recently include Hubbard, Gracenote,
G&L and NXP.

The post CARIAD Joins RadioDNS appeared first on Radio World.


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Radio Sintona Connects With Talent

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 02:00 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/buyers-guide/radio-sintonia-connects-with-talent


Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on products for radio remotes and sports.
Radio Sintonía with its AEQ Talent audio codec readying for a broadcast
from the village of Betancuria on Fuerteventura.

Radio Sintonía is the reference station on the FM band for the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, which recently was the subject of intensive news coverage due to a volcanic eruption on the neighboring
island of La Palma.

“We transmit on six different frequencies to provide the best geographical coverage possible to reach our listeners,” said Technical Director Iván Travieso Gómez.

“Our budget is limited, but we are devoted to serve the community and we focus on making what we call ‘street radio,’ with coverage of local sports, events and tourism on the island.”

The station obtained the AEQ Talent audio codec in 2020, but unlike many stations, it wasn’t concerned primarily with “radio from home.”

“Even if we also have been producing programs from home during pandemic lockdowns, we focus on taking the radio out into the street to interact
with our community. Also, out in the open, COVID is less contagious than indoors. Further, the fantastic climate of the Canary Islands allows both sports or other events to take place outdoors.”

While the codec is suitable for personal use, the station seldom uses it
for a one-man show.

“Talent has an ancillary line and Bluetooth connections. Therefore, we can use it as an ‘OB unit.’ Sometimes we connect it to a 16-channel live sound console, a headphone amplifier, some wireless microphones and a 3G/4G
router and we take the radio out to any plaza or town square.”

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

Through the Bluetooth link to a smartphone, the team can receive calls and
make them part of the program, usually using WhatsApp, which Travieso Gómez said provides very good sound quality.

He likes the simplicity of the Talent control surface and the fact that its Talent Pilot app allows them to manage the unit from a phone.

On the studio PC, the free ControlPhoenix application is installed, which allows him to manage the Talent codec in the field as well as the Phoenix rack-mounted codec at the studio. “We can monitor the status of both in
real time and, if required, intervene to modify some configuration
parameters or resolve other issues.”

The application shows the connection status and VU meters of both audio
inputs and outputs. It also allows them to route signals to the headphones
and control the gain.

Radio Sintonía uses the Opus algorithm included in AEQ’s codecs and the
free registration on its SIP server. “It saves us from having to complicate our lives setting up one of our own, an effort and cost that is beyond our budget and capacity.”

Travieso Gómez said the Talent has helped the station stay close to its listeners and even improve its audience figures.

Info: www.aeq.es, email AEQ sales or call +34 91 686 1300

The post Radio Sintonía Connects With Talent appeared first on Radio World.


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Radio Ratings Overtake TV Among Some Demos

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 02:00 PM PST https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/radio-ratings-overtake-tv-in-some-demos


The balance of power between radio listenership and live and time-shifted television viewing continues to tip in radio’s advantage, with greater
reach and average audience among persons 18–34 and trending in the same direction for 18–49s. That’s based on Nielsen Media findings.

Radio sales executives have long battled TV for advertising dollars and now
the shift in audience size should help give radio more of an edge when it
comes to head-to-head evaluations.

Nielsen’s Q2 2021 Total Audience Report shows AM/FM radio’s weekly reach among persons 18–34 is 12% greater than television in terms of average audience, according to the marketing team at Cumulus Media.

Pierre Bouvard, chief insights officer at Cumulus Media and Westwood One, highlights the Nielsen findings in an online video and blog post posted
this week. In it he outlines the latest in TV and AM/FM radio audiences
using data from Nielsen’s Total Audience Report, Edison Research’s “Share of Ear,” and examples from Nielsen Media Impact.

“The most surprising finding is that TV is being beaten by radio in ratings 18–34. In an average week 82% of 18–34 Americans are being reached by radio. Only 57% are reached by linear TV in a week. So that means that nearly half of 18–34 year old are not reached by linear television,” Bouvard said in the video.

Bouvard continues: “In the 18–49 data you can really see the full collapse of linear television. In 2018 when you look at reach 82% of 18–49 were watching at least some linear TV in a week. That has now shrunk down to
66%.”

TV’s continued viewing slide is evident, according to Nielsen’s report on Q2 2021. For instance, persons 18–49 TV audiences are down 38% since 2018. “Today, one of out of three American persons 18–49 never watch linear TV in a typical week, Bouvard said.”

When Bouvard compares radio and television, the numbers are even more
striking when you consider radio’s gains in the 18–49 demographic. Weekly reach for AM/FM radio in the demo is 85% but only 66% for TV, according to
the video presentation. Radio is also closing the gap in daily time spent
with TV in Q2 2021 with only 30 minutes separating the two mediums.

Bouvard said AM/FM radio is poised to overtake live and time-shifted TV in average audience 18–49 by 2025; assuming current patterns projections hold true. And that changeover has already occurred when considering the 18–49 Hispanic population, Bouvard said.

“AM/FM radio beats TV among Hispanics 18–49. Radio has a massive reach advantage over linear TV. It’s 90% to 67%,” Bouvard said.

Bouvard goes on to explain the collapse of linear television, saying linear
TV erosion is fueled by cord cutting and streaming. “For those who stream, half say it has replaced traditional TV,” he said. “There are three types of TV households: cordless, cord tepid and cord content.”

Bouvard concludes his presentation with an added bonus for radio time
sellers from the Nielsen Media report: “AM/FM radio continues to have a dominant 76% share of ad-supported audio. When introduced into a TV media
plan, AM/FM radio generates an extraordinary increase in campaign reach.”

Randy J. Stine has spent the past 40 years working in audio production and broadcast radio news. He joined Radio World in 1997 and covers new
technology and regulatory issues. He has a B.A. in journalism from Michigan State University.

The post Radio Ratings Overtake TV Among Some Demos appeared first on Radio World.


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Sinon to Be Honored for Digital Leadership

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 11:00 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/people-news/sinon-to-be-honored-for-digital-leadership

Jeremy Sinon

Hubbard Radio’s Jeremy Sinon will be honored at the NAB Show in April with the association’s Digital Leadership Award.

Sinon is vice president of digital strategy for Hubbard Radio. The award
goes to someone who has played “a significant role in transforming a traditional broadcast business to succeed on digital media platforms in a measurable way.”

“Sinon conceptualized, designed and led a team to build Hubbards robust proprietary streaming platform,” NAB wrote.

“Accessible through the web and various individual station mobile apps,
this unified platform offers Hubbard listeners an exceptional user
experience where they can connect with their favorite station and be
rewarded for the time they spend listening and interacting. Hubbard
stations then also have an opportunity to communicate directly with
audiences via notifications, provide effective marketing for clients and
build listener databases.”

He also oversees the company’s podcasting work, including the launch of a local podcasting app platform being piloted in Minneapolis and Washington,
D.C.

The post Sinon to Be Honored for Digital Leadership appeared first on Radio World.


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Radio Leaders to Examine Industry Evolution at NAB Show

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 08:00 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/show-news/nab-show/radio-leaders-to-examine-industry-evolution-at-nab-show

iHeartMedia Chairman & CEO Bob Pittman (left) and Audacy President & CEO
David J. Field

CEOs of two of the largest radio companies in the U.S. will talk about the transformation of the radio industry and what the future holds in an
upcoming session at the 2022 NAB Show in Las Vegas this April.

CEOs David Field of Audacy and Bob Pittman of iHeartMedia will discuss how their businesses have evolved in response to the pandemic and what lies
ahead for radio during “Transforming Radio in the Audio Renaissance,” Monday, April 25, at 2 pm.

Field and Pittman will share the stage with new NAB President and CEO
Curtis LeGeyt to talk about the evolution of the industry, how stations can embrace change and how to create a diversified asset portfolio that can
change along with the media marketplace.

Field has served as chairman, president and CEO of Audacy since 2002.
Audacy is a developer of original audio content and one of the nation’s largest podcast publishers. The company, formerly Entercom, evolved from 15 stations to a multiplatform audio and entertainment company with more than
230 stations in 47 markets.

Pittman serves as chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, an audio company with
more consumer reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet, the company
said. Podcasting is also iHeartMedia’s forte, and the company counts itself as the nation’s largest podcasting publisher.

The session will be one of several focused on audio technology and the
radio industry at the upcoming NAB Show, set to be held in Las Vegas April 23–27, 2022, after a two-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. LeGeyt told Radio World sister publication TV Technology that despite the current omicron wave, he is 100% confident the show will go on as scheduled.

“I think … that there is a lot of pent up demand — both on the exhibitor side and the attendee side — for an in-person show where business actually gets done,” he said.

The post Radio Leaders to Examine Industry Evolution at NAB Show appeared
first on Radio World.


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MPX in the Digital Age: A New Ebook

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 06:51 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/resource-center/ebooks/mpx-in-the-digital-age-a-new-ebook


A new Radio World ebook explores what radio engineers and managers should
know about MPX in 2022.

It explores what MPX is and why broadcasters should care — the benefits and cost savings; the impact on infrastructure/signal chain integrity and
security.

Is there an engineering advantage? What “flavors” of MPX are there? How have MPX and its applications evolved in recent years? What are important considerations in creating an MPX path over IP, and what misconceptions do users have about it?

Veteran engineering consultant Ed Bukont and experts from sponsors Telos Alliance, WorldCast Systems, Digigram and Thimeo Audio Technology provide insights into this important topic.

Read it here.

The post MPX in the Digital Age: A New Ebook appeared first on Radio World.


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Organizations Join Forces to Create World Radio Alliance

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 05:55 AM PST https://www.radioworld.com/global/organizations-join-forces-to-create-world-radio-alliance


Promoting the power and reach of radio around the globe is the goal of the newly formed World Radio Alliance.

In celebration of World Radio Day 2022, trade associations in the U.S.,
Europe, Canada and Australia joined forces to form the new alliance. The
group of 14 trade organizations represents radio companies and radio advertising bureaus, such as the Radio Advertising Bureau in the United
States, Radio Connects in Canada and Radiocentre in the United Kingdom. The Association of European Radios, which represents 5,000 commercial radio stations across Europe, is also supporting the effort.

Lucy Barrett, client director at Radiocentre, will serve as inaugural
president and will steer the group’s activities. Barrett will work in
tandem with new World Radio Alliance Vice President Caroline Gianias,
president of Radio Connects in Canada.

“The time is absolutely right to join forces and speak with a collective voice,” said Barrett. “Over the last decade we have seen the rise of more commercial audio formats such as music streaming services and podcasts, yet commercial radio’s dominance in the sector remains pretty much intact. As
the world has become smaller, with media decisions often taken across whole regions and continents, it’s crucial we come together to tell the success story of radio in a consistent and unified manner.”

The group officially launched on Feb. 10, a few days before World Radio Day
on Feb. 13, with the below video compilation highlighting the strength of radio. The organization’s website also includes resources such as testimonials and research tools.

The 14 inaugural members of the World Radio Alliance are:

Associació Catalana de Ràdio (Catalonia, Spain)
Audify (Netherlands)
Bureau de la Radio (France)
Commercial Radio Australia)
egta – Association of Television and Radio Sales Houses
FCP – Assoradio (Italy)
Radio Advertising Bureau (United States)
Radio Connects (Canada)
Radio Zentrale (Germany)
Radiocentre (United Kingdom)
Radiocentre Ireland
RadioMedia (Finland)
Verband Österreichischer Privatsender (Austria)
VIA – Association of AV Media (Belgium)


The post Organizations Join Forces to Create World Radio Alliance appeared first on Radio World.

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