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Radio World

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"Were Just Getting Started": Industry Execs Weigh In on Future of Radio

Posted: 26 Apr 2022 02:13 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/were-just-getting-started-industry-execs-weigh-in-on-future-of-radio


The radio industry continues to make space for itself — reimagining operations, highlighting its importance in times of crisis and grabbing new technology by the lapels.

At the NAB Show on Monday, Audacy President and CEO David Field and
iHeartMedia Co-Founder and CEO Bob Pittman gathered for the keynote “Transforming Radio in the Audio Renaissance,” which broke down how the radio industry is pivoting away from old norms to new.

More than two years into the pandemic, industry leaders have had to embrace change, make their product malleable to multiple mediums and cater to
changing audience needs to survive.

Pittman said the pandemic also provided greater opportunity for listening, especially with the rise of emerging technologies and audio platforms like smart speakers and podcasting.

“The sense I get is that we’re just getting started,” he said.

Pittman said the challenge for radio isn’t about remaining relevant. “I think the challenge for us will be just to monetize as best we can,” he
said.

Echoing those sentiments, Field said it’s time for radio to get its “fair share” of advertising, something he said currently hinders the industry
from reaching its full potential.

“We have not been able to crack that code,” Field said. “That’s what keeps
me up at night — that historically we’ve been unable to do that as an industry.

“We question the efficacy of what we do,” he continued. “We’re our own worst enemy. But with the extraordinary products we offer our audiences, we
are on the cusp of radio and audio surging forward.”

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]
iHeartMedia Chairman & CEO Bob Pittman (left) and Audacy President & CEO
David J. Field

Pittman and Field said the industry will need to make radio relevant for
all clients and become “user friendly” for advertising.

While garnering its fair share of funding will take time, the presenters
said that hasn’t diminished the quality and reach of radio content.

Recent studies show radio remains at the top of the pack in terms of trust
and influence. Throughout the pandemic, Pittman said radio has created a
deeper bond with audiences and in turn has increased its value.

Pittman said radio continues to provide a comforting presence in these uncertain times, “keeping people company,” when driving. Despite it being the oldest of all electronic media, AM/FM radio still holds the top
position of in-car media according to Edison Research.

“We’re the ones riding in that empty seat next to them,” Pittman said.

Both Pittman and Field said radio’s strong personal relationships with consumers contribute to its higher levels of trust — invaluable both in everyday life and in times of crisis — and that is something neither CEO is willing to sacrifice.

“We play a really important role in this society,” Field said. “It is central that we keep the integrity of our broadcast stations.”

Moderating the session were NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt and April Carty-Sipp, the executive vice president of industry affairs at NAB.

The post “We’re Just Getting Started”: Industry Execs Weigh In on Future of
Radio appeared first on Radio World.


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Thimeo Names MaxxKonnect U.S. Distributor

Posted: 26 Apr 2022 02:00 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/products/thimeo-names-maxxkonnect-u-s-distributor



The MaxxKonnect Group was named exclusive North American distributor for Thimeo’s STXtreme Advanced Audio Processor.

The new STXtreme is the first hardware product based on Thimeo’s StereoTool processing suite.

Thimeo is based in the Netherlands and is led by Hans Van Zutphen.
MaxxKonnect has offices in three U.S. locations and is headed by Josh Bohn.

MaxxKonnect is exhibiting at NAB Show booth W8525. It is also highlighting
its MaxxKonnect Wireless LTE product and the new Nautel VX series of transmitters.

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

The post Thimeo Names MaxxKonnect U.S. Distributor appeared first on Radio World.


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Quu, Xperi Expand Their Relationship

Posted: 25 Apr 2022 06:01 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/quu-xperi-expand-their-relationship


Quu and Xperi announced a strategic partnership that they say will make it easier for radio broadcasters to display and monetize content in connected cars.

The companies “are rolling out an integrated solution to sync programming
and sales messages on vehicle dashboards,” they announced.

“In the past, stations would go to Xperi to deploy its RAPID technology and then Quu for content management, monetization and reporting. Now, Quu is a one-stop shop for both.”

The companies believe the urgency for radio to have consistent in-dash
audio programming will only grow as more cars are made with enhanced infotainment systems.

“This combined solution creates one integrated platform to produce and distribute metadata (such as song titles, lyrics, dialogue, etc.) beyond audio.”

Theyh quoted David Santrella, CEO of Salem Media Group and chairman of the
NAB Joint Board of Directors, saying, “Digital audio platforms provide for
an elegant user experience. Radio has to provide a similar experience if we
are to stay competitive against a growing myriad of choices.”

The announcement was made by Quu CEO Steve Newberry and Xperi SVP,
broadcast Joe D’Angelo.

The post Quu, Xperi Expand Their Relationship appeared first on Radio World.


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LeGeyt Welcomes Broadcasters Back to the NAB Show

Posted: 25 Apr 2022 05:49 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/legeyt-welcomes-broadcasters-back-to-the-nab-show


New NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt welcomed the broadcast industry back to
the spring NAB Show after three years, with opening remarks on Monday here
in Las Vegas.

His remarks suggest a continuation of the themes and priorities that the association has emphasized in the recent past under Gordon Smith: that
Congress should pass legislation to rein in the market power of big tech platforms; that lawmakers and regulators must modernize media ownership
laws to reflect realities of the marketplace; that “the FCC must recognize that the broadcast industry’s ability to function in the public interest is fundamentally premised on its economic viability”; and that NAB strongly opposes a new performance fee on local radio stations.
Photo: JohnStaleyPhoto.com

He expressed excitement at the evolution of radio. “Radio in the car is becoming a screen-driven experience. The data capabilities of HD Radio and
the connected car give broadcasters powerful new ways to build and extend
their listener relationships.”

Here are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Welcome to the 2022 NAB Show! Six words that I’ve waited three years to say!

It is great to have all of you back in Las Vegas — reenergized as an
industry and ready to seize the opportunities before us.

Whether this is your first NAB Show or just your first time back since we
last met in 2019, this week will offer a reimagined and unforgettable experience as we explore the technologies that will power this industry for years to come.

As some of you know, this is my first NAB Show since I took on the role of
NAB president and CEO in January.

As I have made my way around the Show floor, many of you have asked about
my biggest thrill, challenge, or surprise since taking over my new role.

It’s a good question and one that brings to mind the reactions of my own young kids when they learned of my new job.

My daughter, Caitlin, wrote me a note. It congratulated me on my new, but
still boring job…

My oldest son, Jack’s only question was how long it would take to institute
a “free nachos” policy for our entire staff back in Washington.

And my youngest, Desmond’s only question was whether this would mean fewer meetings.

Nothing like kids to keep you humble, or to keep your priorities in check.
But in truth, my first few months have been anything but boring.

There is truly no greater honor than representing your interests in the
halls of government every day, and I cannot imagine a more exciting or more important time to take the reins of this great association.

Much has happened since the last time we were together at this NAB Show. As
a result, the stakes for local broadcasters and the audiences who rely on
us have never been greater.

We have confronted a deadly pandemic, civil unrest, and attacks on
democracy at home and abroad. Our social and professional lives were
upended and forever changed.

But in spite of these challenges, one thing was a constant, comforting
presence — local broadcasters.

Through everything, you were — and are — a leading voice in helping communities sort through a multitude of information and emotions, while
also striving to find common ground and common good.

Amid your own harsh business challenges of the past two years, you — local broadcasters — have done your best work, serving as a constant lifeline during times of emergency, informing our audiences with fact-based
reporting, and providing the best entertainment.

And here’s the part that impresses me most: you did it in a way that binds our communities together rather than divides them. In the most difficult of circumstances, you were the antidote to social media disinformation and
cable news politicization, and I have never been more proud to represent
this industry.

Walking around our Show floor this morning, I marveled at the ways that new technologies will enhance our ability to deliver on this mission.

For years, our critics have tried to write us off as yesterdays technology, predicting a diminished future for broadcasters at the hands of the latest innovation.

First it was the advent of television itself, then competition with cable,
the VCR, the DVR, social media, and now podcasts and streaming,
broadcasters’ demise has been predicted for decades.

But here’s the thing. Every single time, real-life events actually brought local broadcasters back to the forefront and demonstrated there is no other medium that can connect and inform the way we do.

Our next generation of technologies includes not only the revolutionary new broadcast standard — ATSC 3.0 — but also other content delivery methods — whether its 5G, streaming, or mobile video.

I am also excited by the evolution of radio. Radio in the car is becoming a screen driven experience. The data capabilities of HD Radio and the
connected car give broadcasters powerful new ways to build and extend their listener relationships.

Our investment in technology is an investment in localism and the trusted journalism Americans rely on every day.

And as we are making that investment, I am here to tell you that NAB is
working with policymakers in our nation’s capital to ensure they do their part to protect broadcasters’ ability to innovate and grow our uniquely
free service.

To that end, I want to briefly outline four areas where policymakers must
focus to ensure that broadcasters can continue to compete and thrive in
todays environment.

First, Congress must take action to rein in the gatekeeping ability of the
Big Tech giants who are stifling the economics of local news.

A 2021 study found that local broadcasters lose an estimated $2 billion annually when our content is accessed through Google and Facebook. $2
billion! But this is not a copyright problem, it’s a market power problem.

Broadcasters and all local media rely on these platforms to reach online audiences. We have no other choice. Yet their market dominance allows them
to offer us “take it or leave it” compensation terms that significantly devalue our product.

During his recent testimony before the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, Joel Oxley, general manager of WTOP in Washington, summarized Big Tech’s unfair advantage.

He said: “Consider the big storm that just blew through the Northeast…blizzard conditions. Tons of work at a lot of cost and time for local broadcasters. But not for Facebook, Google and the like. They simply
take our coverage, profit from it, and virtually nothing comes back to us.
If we don’t find a way to have true partnerships with the big platforms, we will not be around — and neither will our coverage.” And Joel is right.

Without broadcasters, lives would have been risked during that storm. And
that is not all.

A recent study by Brookings shows that Americans are harmed when local news suffers. Inadequate local news has been linked to more government
corruption, less-competitive elections, and weaker municipal finances.

That is why Congress must pass legislation to rein in the market power of
the big tech platforms. That includes the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which would level the playing field for broadcasters.
This bill would allow us to jointly negotiate the value of our local
content that is accessed through these platforms.

There is no long-term business model for local news if we don’t fix this existential problem.

This brings me to my second point. Lawmakers and regulators must modernize media ownership laws to reflect the realities of the marketplace.

A report released last Congress by Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell
noted that Google and Facebook control an estimated 77 percent of locally focused digital advertising.

Yet broadcasters still operate under a set of rules that pretend they only compete with one another.

We are adapting our business models and our content to match today’s
rapidly changing media landscape. But outdated laws force us to compete
with one arm tied behind our back for advertising dollars and audience.

Congress and the FCC must take a fresh look at whether these decades-old regulations are helping or impeding broadcast competition and media
diversity.

Third, as I look forward to discussing with Chairwoman Rosenworcel in a few minutes, we are urging the FCC to reorient how it thinks about broadcast
policy more broadly.

One hundred years ago, Congress established a system in which broadcast stations were licensed to provide a free service to local communities in
the public interest. Broadcasters take these public interest obligations seriously and go far above and beyond in serving their listeners and
viewers every day.

But to fulfill Congress’s vision, it is imperative that the FCC recognize that the broadcast industry’s ability to function in the public interest is fundamentally premised on its economic viability.

This means the Commission must consider whether each existing and new regulation will help or impede broadcasters’ ability to thrive in a media environment dominated by other services.

It means embracing the tremendous consumer benefits of ATSC 3.0 and
adopting policies that enable its growth to the benefit of localism and
trusted journalism.

And it also means the FCC working hand-in-hand with broadcasters to help us attract leading talent from all backgrounds to ensure our stations better reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

But if we remain bogged down in all that could wrong instead of all that
could go right, we will not succeed!

The fourth and final focus of our advocacy, we urge congressional support
for the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes a new performance fee on
local radio stations.

NAB welcomes a holistic discussion on music licensing reforms. We can grow
the pie for creators while ensuring an economically viable broadcast
industry. But a one-sided standalone performance fee on local radio
stations will undermine our service.

In closing, broadcasting is more than a technology. It is a public service
— interwoven in the fabric of our communities.

You may have recently seen a story about one of our own local D.C. meteorologists, Doug Kammerer, that just went viral. Doug was in the middle
of a live broadcast when he saw on the radar a tornado moving in the
direction of his home. He decided, while live on air, to call his children
to warn them.

Afterwards, he recounted, “This was a scary moment for me. As I am zooming
in on the radar, I noticed my house is right in the path of the tornado. My kids were home alone and I knew they would not be paying attention to the warning. As I was live on air, I was debating in my head if I should call
them while I was on TV, and I soon realized I had to make the call. I had
to protect my kids.”

As a father, I can’t imagine how worried Doug must have been for his
family, and yet he felt a responsibility to also stay on the air to bring viewers the emergency weather report they needed to stay safe.

Doug is one of thousands of local broadcasters providing these kinds of lifelines in their communities every day. For Doug, the emergency was not
an abstract one — he lives in the community he was reporting on. This is
why our listeners and viewers know they can turn to us.

We broadcasters know that our duty to inform and find answers may put us in harm’s way. But we go about our work, day in and day out, because it is critical and needed now more than ever.

Because during times of emergency when our communities seek information to
keep them safe and informed, we are there.

When our audiences feel overwhelmed and seek a reassuring voice, we are
there.

And during uncertain times, when our listeners and viewers seek a human connection and comfort.

We are there to give hope.

My hope as your president and CEO is for us to continue our work together
to always be there for our communities and give Americans the trusted local journalism only broadcasters can provide.

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

The post LeGeyt Welcomes Broadcasters Back to the NAB Show appeared first
on Radio World.


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NRSC Adopts New EAS Guideline at NAB Show

Posted: 25 Apr 2022 05:48 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/show-news/nab-show/nrsc-adopts-new-eas-guideline-at-nab-show


The National Radio Systems Committee is taking steps to help radio
broadcasters elevate emergency alerting in the United States.

A new EAS guideline adopted at the NAB Show in Las Vegas sets forth recommendations regarding how broadcasters can best implement EAS
functionality at their facilities.

The National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) is jointly sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Technology
Association and works as a vehicle to allow radio broadcasters and receiver manufacturers find solutions to common problems in radio broadcast systems.

The NRSC’s EAS Guideline will not represent a requirement for compliance to any standard, according to the group. However, they hope broadcasters, automation software vendors, transmission equipment manufacturers and
consumer electronics manufacturers will find the recommendations in the document useful.

The NRSC’s Data Services and Metadata (DSM) Subcommittee adopted the new guideline “Best Practices for Delivering Emergency Alerts and Information
for FM Radio Broadcasters” (NRSC-G303) at a meeting on Saturday.

The action was taken at the first series of NRSC Subcommittee meetings to
be conducted face-to-face at an NAB Show since 2019. More than 30 attended
the meeting in Las Vegas, according to David Layer, NAB VP of advanced engineering technology.

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

The NRSC EAS Guideline includes technical information about radio
broadcaster participation in EAS, as well as background information on the
FCC rules pertaining to EAS and the infrastructure used to generate alert messages.

Methods of delivery of both EAS messages as well as lifeline emergency information provided by radio broadcasters are discussed in the document,
Layer said.

The NRSC’s guideline includes a special focus on using metadata over FM
radio signals, both analog and digital is included, as well.

The guideline work was conducted within the Emergency Alerting and
Information Working Group, chaired by Matt Straeb, Global Security Systems.
The DSM Subcommittee is chaired by Steve Shultis, New York Public Radio.
Layer said the guideline will be released after a final procedural legal review, most likely sometime in May.

The FCC has been working on upgrading the Emergency Alert System in the
U.S., which will directly impact radio and television broadcasters. It also recently updated its rules to increase the reliability, speed and accuracy
of Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The post NRSC Adopts New EAS Guideline at NAB Show appeared first on Radio World.


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Prodys Quantum2 Codecs Support Both A and V

Posted: 25 Apr 2022 04:00 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/products/prodys-quantum2-codecs-support-both-a-and-v


Prodys notes that the needs of broadcast contributions are evolving
quickly, not only because of the pandemic but infrastructure improvements,
new standards, more efficient hardware and new ideas for live production. 

Its Quantum2 family, it says, goes beyond what’s usual in a portable contribution codec.

“What makes this family of equipment different is that it permits audio and video connections in a single device, being able to establish two
independent and bidirectional stereo streams and one video stream with four embedded audio channels,” states the company, which is headquartered in Spain.

Quantum2 has multiple transmission interfaces, and they are capable of
working simultaneously: two Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi and up to eight LTE
links, with 5G as an available option.

Video capabilities allow a user to simplify applications where several
devices and services have been necessary but also to address new ways of producing live events. 

“Different scenarios are possible: remote commentaries, video transmission
of pre and breaks of the events, support to on-site commentators that
cannot cover visually all the event, creation of audio and video programs on-site and live delivery to the cloud,” for example.

The Quantum2 codecs have been designed to work in infrastructures using
devices from other manufacturers thanks to the use of protocols in their
audio interfaces (AES67), audio transmission (SIP), video transmission
(SRT) and management (Ember+).

[Read about more new products in the Radio World Spring Product Preview
ebook.]

The post Prodys Quantum2 Codecs Support Both A and V appeared first on
Radio World.


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Alerting Venture Combines NextGen TV and FM RDS

Posted: 25 Apr 2022 02:00 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/alerting-venture-combines-nextgen-tv-and-fm-rds


A new company called America’s Emergency Network LLC has announced an advanced emergency information (AEI) network using ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV
combined with FM RDS.

Co-founder and President John Lawson is also executive director of the
AWARN Alliance.

“With the introduction of AEN, authorized alert originators such as the National Weather Service, ShakeAlert and local emergency managers will be
able to send actionable, geo-targeted rich-media messages even when power, cellular and internet fail,” the company said in a press release.

At the NAB Show, Tolka TV is demonstrating an AEN Alert hybrid RDS and ATSC
3.0 receiver dongle at the booth of Atlanta DTH, #W7903. 

[Visit Radio World’s News and Business Page]

AEN said it plans several pilots in coming months and will build out its product line. It will enable the AEI with NextGen TV and sell alert
receiver devices; it also plans to offer ad-supported reality programming
from emergency managers and a fee-based library of licensed emergency manager-generated content. AEI is an industry term for ATSC 3.0-enabled emergency messaging.

“At the NAB Show and in days after, AEN is meeting with potential strategic partners in the broadcasting, infrastructure and receiver industries,” it said.

It will market AEN Alert as a “rich-media-capable emergency notification system” to deliver emergency messages to residents, schools, hospitals and commercial and industrial facilities, including information such as
evacuation routes, flood map and video from authorized public officials.

“AEN marries ATSC 3.0 to the existing Alert FM, which uses the Radio Data System in 12 states, said the company. Alert FM serves an extensive network
of local alert originators, which is their current customer base, and distributes through FM radio stations. Alert FM is licensed by USGS to
deliver ShakeAlert earthquake warnings on the West Coast in five seconds or less.

The integrated FM/ATSC 3.0 system will provide multiple redundant backup transmitters connected by satellite to provide secure transmission of a
single point-to-multipoint messaging, layered by geo-targeted groupings.”

The post Alerting Venture Combines NextGen TV and FM RDS appeared first on Radio World.

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