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Many of us have clients who rely on our skills. We’re called as needed, sometimes for major issues, sometimes minor; but these calls never seem to come at an opportune time and often are accompanied by panic. 

One of my clients is a school that operates a streaming station; they are blessed with good equipment. But one day I get the call: They cannot play anything and the station is broken. 

Alright, I can diagnose nothing from that description, so I interrogate and learn that the problem seems to be with their automation; I need to come in.  

On site I inspect the PC and ask what has changed recently. At first I’m told “Nothing.” But then I notice that this is a new PC and that its software hasn’t been installed or configured. 

I speak to the IT manager and explain that we need the data from the old PC; its drive contains the automation system program and the music library and interstitials. Yes, without that drive they certainly are DOA. Also, we’ll need the audio cards from the old PC. We don’t want to run the station off the motherboard’s sound card!

The IT manager moves the drive and cards to the new PC; but our work does not stop there. This new machine has a different operating system, so I call the automation company’s support line (keep that number in your phone) and ask for help setting it up. Never be ashamed to ask for help, especially when support was built into the price my client paid for that hardware.

The new PC is Windows 11, and the school’s IT department has mandated that Windows 10 should not be on the network. I ask the automation company if our current software will work on Windows 11. The answer is NO! Argh!!

But there’s hope; a new version will be released within days and will support it. My client says they’re happy to wait. (It seems their system had been down a month before they even called me.)

Within two days the version is released. I will be doing the first install. I don’t like being first; nevertheless we start. I download the necessary files while the support technician works via TeamViewer. 

Since we are the first to install this version, the supplier is being cautious. Their development team sends various files; they’re taking notes, and I sense more than one person on their end of the phone call.

The first issue (not the fault of the automation system) is that Windows Updates start getting loaded into the system. Yes, we stop that. Always make sure the IT manager knows that it needs to be stopped. Nobody needs your operating system to change in the middle of the install!

Next we find that the Windows firewall service keeps turning on even though it is not on the domain. Again, the IT manager has to shut it down. Ah, that is finally resolved. 

But the system still is not working right. What now? We find that the security permissions also had changed with the updates. This gets resolved by going to the properties of the program folders and granting the users full access.

That was three hours of our life that we will not get back.

Finally the system is up but the stream is not receiving data. After a quick investigation, I discover that the firewall on the encoder is not letting the port through. 

We make the exception and all is good. The system is running: cuts are playing, data is changing and boy am I hungry!

Engineers, be patient with your client. They might think they are being helpful or trying to save money by not calling you.  

Managers, what lessons does this experience offer? Small changes to anything can have ramifications.

Your engineer, IT manager and product support are all on the same team. That team wants your station running with no issues. Always speak to your engineer if something is going to be done with the equipment, such as replacing the automation computer.

And last, if it is a big project, bring the engineer something to eat.

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Low-power FM advocate REC Networks is petitioning the FCC for partial reconsideration of its decision to allow broadcasters to use FM boosters to geo-target and originate content for short periods of time each hour.   

In its most recent comments, REC asked the commission to answer questions previously raised about potential co-channel interference. It also says the FCC misquoted previous comments made by REC in its order allowing the use of ZoneCasting technology from GeoBroadcast Solutions.  

“It is clear that the commission has errored by mistaking our discussion regarding our serious co-channel interference concerns as being some kind of a concern regarding first-adjacent channels, for which adequate rules already exist,” REC Networks told the FCC.

REC says, as a result of the FCC’s “material error in its analysis,” a very important discussion in regards to the risk of increased co-channel interference from FM boosters to unrelated secondary services such as LPFM, FM translators and unrelated FM booster stations, along with primary facilities, was never addressed in the FCC’s decision. 

[Related: “The FCC’s Final Rules for Geotargeting Are Still Pending“]

REC previously told the FCC that it had deep concerns in regards to the potential for increased interference to co-channels “especially in situations where subsequent to the authorization of a secondary facility, that a primary facility modifies to increase their signal in the area of the secondary facility in a manner that would not be strong enough to warrant displacement of the secondary facility.”   

The advocacy group is now asking the FCC to put further restrictions on ZoneCasting during its period of experimental operations, which is in effect until final rules are adopted. It asks the FCC to include a requirement — what REC calls an up-front form of co-channel interference protection — that broadcasters looking to sign on a new booster demonstrate they will not exceed an existing signal of any incumbent unrelated signal by 20 dB on co-channel via a contour study. 

REC says, in comments filed last week, such a provision is similar to what currently exists for first-adjacent channel interference protection. The group says it will further address making the policy permanent through a codified rule in the FCC’s upcoming Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

The NAB and some broadcasters have also raised concern over the possibility of interference to established FM services. They also have expressed concern that the technology might put downward pressure on advertising rates.   

[Read more of Radio World’s extensive geo-targeting coverage here]

The post LPFM Advocate Asks FCC to Place Restrictions on ZoneCasting appeared first on Radio World.

Colorado Public Radio (CPR) has chosen a local architecture firm to build out its new Denver headquarters.

Semple Brown Design will now be tasked with transforming the building purchased in August 2023, located at 777 Grant St. in Denver, Colo.

The 72,000-square-foot, six-story building is located in the city’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood.

“Semple Brown brings a diverse team with the right experience and a strong understanding of CPR,” said Jenny Gentry, chief operating officer of CPR, in a press release. “We appreciated their thorough and thoughtful responses to our feedback throughout this discovery stage, and we look forward to diving into the next phase of the project.”

Colorado Public Radio has purchased the building at 777 Grant St. in Denver to build out a headquarters.
(Photo credit: Hart Van Denburg/CPR News)

According to the release, CPR prioritized securing a Colorado-based firm for the project.

Chris Wineman, principal at Semple Brown, said in the release: “This unique project blends our experience with workplace design, cultural facility design and public event design. The more that we can support the staff members at CPR to have a highly functional and dynamic workspace, the more that they can be a catalyst for community conversations and creativity.”

Now, Semple Brown will begin the design and permitting process for the new HQ, issue a Request for Proposal for a general contractor and build on initial fundraising efforts. CPR said it expects to provide further updates, including announcements of donors for this project, when initial designs are ready later this year.

“Once complete, the CPR headquarters will be the hub of CPR’s effort to become Colorado’s home institution for news,” said the radio network. “The space will be accessible and welcoming to the community, hosting vital conversations, performances from local musicians and other live events.”

Colorado Public Radio paid $8.34 million for the building, with the entire purchase price coming from a donor. Per a December press release, CPR would like construction to start in early 2025, and expects the construction duration to be 16 to 18 months.

“Elements of the project may include a new two-story venue space for community engagement — training, speaker events, concerts and more; a café/coffee shop open to the public; broadcast and media rooms, focus spaces, collaborative spaces, etc.,” said CPR.

[Check Out More of Radio World’s Facility Showcases]

The post Colorado Public Radio Selects Denver-Based Architect for New HQ appeared first on Radio World.

At the end of 2018, DJ Wilson retired as President/GM of TEGNA‘s NBC affiliate serving Portland, Ore., ending a 12-year run at the successful station. He was succeeded by Steve Carter, who transferred from KUSA-9 in Denver to take the role.

As of June 3, Carter’s duties will be handed to the News Director at KGW-8 as Carter will also be retiring, RBR+TVBR has confirmed.

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NEW YORK — An “FM Scam” has been uncovered as the newest “audio fraud” scheme to surface, a matter in which fraudsters pretended to be some 500,000 devices, including phones and tablets, that used for music streaming.

The reason? To fake engagement with audio ads.

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If you’re a DirecTV streaming customer in four cities where The CW Network affiliate is owned by Gray Television, you can now view these channels thanks to a new carriage agreement.

A DirecTV spokesperson tells RBR+TVBR that as of today the following stations are now on the streaming channel lineups for their respective DMAs:

• WQCW-30 in Charleston-Huntington, W. Va.
• WMTV-15.2 in Madison, Wisc.
• KYCW-LD 25 in Springfield, Mo.
• KSCW-33 in Wichita-Hutchinson, Ks.

The May 7 announcement follows DirecTV’s April 18 agreement to begin offering its streaming customers access to The CW affiliates in eight markets. Each of those stations are owned by entities other than Nexstar Media Group, the controlling interest holder in The CW.

The April 18 deal included one Gray Television station: WUAB-43 in Cleveland. It is a former Raycom station.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the former owner of this TV station. Additionally, all Gray television stations are negotiated under the same agreement.

 

For marketers, a multimedia approach that includes digital, social and linear media in English and in Spanish is the winning recipe to a successful advertising campaign when seeking U.S. Hispanic consumers.

Fresh takeaways from Cumulus Media and Westwood One Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard and Nielsen VP of Cross Platform Insights Tony Hereau only strengthen this point, and they’ll present their all-new sales success stories at the 2024 Hispanic Radio Conference.

Among the key talking points Bouvard and Hereau will share at a session they’ll participate in are the following:

• Radio crushes TV in reach and ratings among Hispanics
• Radio elevates the TV and digital media plan
• AM/FM radio (and not connected TV) is the solution for political campaigns to expand Hispanic voter reach
• Hispanic-targeted podcasts present “a massive growth opportunity”
• The hottest categories where Spanish-language radio can move the sales needle

 

Join Pierre, Tony, and Hispanic radio broadcasters at the 15th Hispanic Radio Conference for this and other compelling sessions designed to help drive more ratings, revenue, and shared resources to your stations.

It’s the only conference dedicated solely to Hispanic radio! Register now!

About the Hispanic Radio Conference Celebrating 15 years, the Hispanic Radio Conference is an annual opportunity for in-person networking and sharing ideas in a multi-platform, multicultural world. For more information about the conference, which takes place on June 12-13 in San Antonio, visit the Hispanic Radio Conference website.

For those looking for answers as to why The Walt Disney Co. stock price fell by 9.5% in trading on Tuesday, one can indeed look to Disney+ as a culprit. In fact, some investors may be wondering if the movie studio and ABC Television Network need a bit more dollar-attracting pixie dust.

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Douglas, Ariz., to many is at the center of a border “crisis” between the U.S. and Mexico. The small town, a two-hour drive from Tucson, is directly opposite Agua Prieta, Sonora. Twin walls separate much of the two municipalities, with Border Patrol agents on the U.S. side regularly on duty.

Here, Donna Henderson has operated the lone AM emanating from the American side of the border as a regional Mexican station. Its FM sister features a Country format. Pending FCC approval, Henderson, whose husband signed on the FM in March 1990 and died of a short illness in November 2015, will soon be its former owner.

 

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Since July 2020, it has served Grand Rapids with an Adult R&B format via an expanded-band AM and its accompanying FM translator. Now, this operation branded as “102.5 The Ride” is poised to change hands, pending FCC approval.

But, the move ensures the continuation of the current presentation.

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Here’s a sampling of recent letters to the editor of Radio World. Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The Ongoing Value of Shortwave

I enjoyed Kim Andrew Elliott’s commentary “Why We Need Shortwave 2.0.” He’s exactly on target.

I’ve said that the brass at VOA thought the people of Djibouti had laptops and high-speed internet when in fact they were living in houses made from four sheets of corrugated roofing iron — one for a roof, a half-sheet for the left end, another half for the right end, one for a rear wall, and a front wall with a large notch for a door. 

Gerhard Straub and I were rebuilding the 2 MW and 1 SW stations for local broadcaster RTD, Radio Television of Djibouti. One piece of equipment arrived in a wooden shipping crate made of quite nice wood, and I asked the RTD technicians to take it apart and build some shelves for the back room. 

But one man became very upset. He told me he’d already had “dibs” on it for an addition to his home. I said it was OK, we didn’t need the shelves that badly. 

I’ve always been proud to be an American. After I was in Djibouti, I was glad to be an American.

— David R. DeSpain, P.E., W0BCG 

 

Those Darn Wall-Warts

Mark Persons wrote recently about “Those Darn Wall-Wart Power Supplies.”

A few years ago, a friend stored his motorcycle at my house, connected to a battery trickle charger with wall wart. I soon forgot about the charger but eventually I noticed a beeping sound coming from my AM radio. It was like Telstar, beeping away all over the dial, even on shortwave.

I disconnected anything in the house that might be interfering, took a portable radio and walked around the house. I didn’t find anything inside, so I tried outside, and sure enough, at the power box, the beeping grew louder. So I went to the front yard power pole. Beeping increased again, so I concluded (erroneously) that it was a neighbor.

Weeks went by. I finally got mad enough to check one more time with a portable. This time it dawned on me: I’d never pulled the battery charger wall-wart. So I did, and the beeping immediately stopped. I looked at the wall-wart to see if this was some sort of cheap imported thing, and what do I see but a logo from the Canadian version of our FCC, assuring me that the device will not interfere with radios.

Ever since then, I’ve hated switching supplies.

— Duke Evans, KBBF(FM) Calistoga, Calif.

[Check Out More Letters at Radio World’s Reader’s Forum Section]

The post Letters: Shortwave and Wall-Warts appeared first on Radio World.

The first quarter performance from Gray Television was just what the doctor ordered on a day when one radio broadcasting company engaged in a 7% reduction-in-force initiative as another AM and FM station owner explained why a shareholder “say on pay” vote that yielded a strong “no” on salaries for its C-Suite leaders was simply advisory, with the salaries getting a rubber stamp from management.

In this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, we hear from Gray leaders Hilton Howell Jr., Pat LaPlatney and Sandy Breland as well as outgoing CFO Jim Ryan and his successor as we review not only a stellar Q1, but strong guidance, while Howell chided Wall Street for not paying full attention to the company’s achievements.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Gray Q1 2024 Earnings” on Spreaker.

Nearly two years ago, The CW Network affiliate serving the Alamo City became the ATSC 3.0 “lighthouse” station for San Antonio for four of the market’s broadcast television facilities, with neither TEGNA nor Graham Media Group choosing to participate with Sinclair Inc.

Now, both groups’ local stations have hopped on the NEXTGEN TV bandwagon, as have two of the market’s biggest Spanish-language television stations and its PBS Member station, too.

 

At long last, TEGNA’s CBS-affiliated KENS-5 and Graham Media Group’s ABC-affiliated KSAT-12 are offering NEXTGEN TV signals to those in San Antonio.

They are joined for the first time by TelevisaUnivision-owned KWEX-41; NBCUniversal Local‘s Telemundo O&O, KVDA-60; and KLRN-9, the leading educational noncommercial station in San Antonio.

According to KSAT General Manager Ashley Parker, “NEXTGEN TV is in high demand in San Antonio. Local broadcasters are dedicated to growing this free service in the San Antonio area and providing valuable local news, sports and entertainment. NEXTGEN TV’s emergency alert and dual language capabilities are essential to residents and we’re proud that we can give them even more options now.”

The five stations are being hosted by a second “lighthouse” station; RBR+TVBR has confirmed it is KSAT-12.

This property joins the first “lighthouse” for NEXTGEN TV in San Antonio — Deerfield Media-owned station KMYS-33, operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group via a Joint Sales and Shared Services Agreement. That property since June 2022 has hosted the ATSC 3.0 signals for KABB-29, the FOX affiliate owned by Sinclair; NBC-affiliated WOAI-4, also owned by Sinclair; and KCWX-2, a Corridor Television-owned MyNetwork TV affiliate in San Antonio.

 

It is a public charity that supports philanthropic causes important to The E.W. Scripps Company and the communities it serves, with a special emphasis on journalism education, excellence in journalism and childhood literacy. In January, its President/CEO announced her retirement. Now, her successor has been named.

Taking the head role at the Scripps Howard Fund is Meredith Delaney. 

She begins her new position on Wednesday (5/8), and rises from Director of Philanthropic Strategies. Before that, she was Director of Development. Delaney joined SHF in 2017.

“Since joining Scripps in 2017, Meredith has been a key member of the Fund’s leadership team through a period during which the Fund focused efforts on making an even greater impact on the communities we serve,” Scripps President/CEO Adam Symson said. “While leading our annual childhood literacy campaign, she has also led new initiatives to connect our stations with meaningful local causes that align our brands in order to maximize the benefit to our communities. I am confident that the Scripps Howard Fund will be in good hands – continuing to create informed and engaged communities across the country.”

Delaney commented, “This job is incredibly gratifying. When I see the impact we’re making across our programs, I’m so inspired. It’s truly a privilege to serve an organization so deeply rooted in a legacy of investing in journalism education, childhood literacy and caring for the communities that Scripps calls home.”

 

When it came time for Gray Television to deliver its Q2 2023 results, difficult comps to a political ad-fueled second quarter of 2022 were offset by a 14% rise in retransmission consent fees. Now, along with its Q1 2024 financial results, the broadcast television station group headed by Hilton Howell Jr. and Pat LaPlatney has also offered guidance for Q2.

How did Gray fare, and are the second quarter numbers shaping up to beat last year’s results?

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This story is excerpted from the Radio World ebook “Artificial Intelligence in Radio.” Here, we spoke with business leaders and industry experts about the broad-brush potential impact of AI on the industry.

Many radio people believe generative AI will have a transformative influence on the broadcast industry in an increasingly digital and data-driven world. The National Association of Broadcasters calls AI the “newest tech superpower,” and many radio broadcasters are eager to explore AI while remaining wary of potential pitfalls.

Just how impactful might generative AI be on the radio industry? Bob Kernan, COO of jācapps, the mobile app development company, channels his inner Oppenheimer, likening AI to splitting the atom: “You can create enormous energy, or you can blow stuff up.”

Look for more AI to be plugged into multiple radio stacks. Disruptive tools like Open AI’s ChatGPT have made waves in creative industries including radio. Broadcasters are gaining a better understanding of applications: spec spots in minutes, smoother automation, synthetic voices, creation of copy, improved operational efficiencies, deeper brainstorming capabilities and inventive new experiences for listeners. 

But the radio industry is also asking itself a lot of questions such as the possible impact on jobs, how to protect copyrighted material and whether to identify generative AI content on the air. Many executives agree that radio needs some guardrails and guiding principles; but what does that landscape look like, and does it involve some level of regulation?

There also are ethical implications to using the technology, and broadcasters are considering the ramifications. Deepfakes like the AI-generated explicit images purporting to be of Taylor Swift involve visuals but raise concerns among people who work in audio as well. Many experts believe abusive uses of AI will only grow worse. 

Broadcast CEOs and radio programmers talked to Radio World about how the industry is evaluating AI and the next steps some are taking to adopt it.

Promise of transformation

Caroline Beasley, CEO of Bealey Media Group, said AI has the potential to be a game-changer in the broadcast industry. She said AI can help to personalize content, automate repetitive tasks and improve the overall quality of content and sales presentations as well as assist broadcasters in identifying new revenue streams and monetizing their content more effectively. 

“The excitement around this technology stems from its ability to transform the industry and create new opportunities and efficiencies for broadcasters,” Beasley said.

Beasley Media has been working with Waymark to roll out the company’s generative AI technology to generate video for advertisers. It also is testing and considering Futuri’s Audio AI and Benztown’s Spec AI for the creation of spec radio spots, production and other on-air content. In addition, it is using AI plugins to assist with its digital content operations, she said. 

“AI also can help the sales process by identifying new customers, improving outreach, customizing sales decks and increasing our speed to market,” she said. 

The company, which owns 61 radio stations in mostly large and medium markets, is still developing policies to manage AI, Beasley said.

Audacy officials confirmed to Radio World “there is experimentation and discovery happening with AI” at the company, but said its long-term game plan is still evolving. 

Jeff Sottolano, EVP of programming for Audacy, said undoubtedly there will be applications for AI that haven’t even been considered yet. 

“That will be determined through democratizing access to these tools. Cultivating an environment where people feel excited about the possibility, rather than threatened by the future, will be crucial to discovering the applications we haven’t even begun to think about.”

He said AI is already being integrated into many of Audacy’s tools such as Salesforce and its music scheduling platform. 

“Ultimately, I think for us it’s more about how we can leverage AI to make our creators’ lives easier so they can continue to deliver more of the premium audio content our consumers love and expect,” he said.

Lew Dickey, chairman of Modern Luxury Media, expects generative AI to have a profound impact on media over the next 10 years. 

“It will be a transformative technology. The greatest since the advent of the internet,” said Dickey, the co-founder and former CEO of Cumulus Media.

He believes AI has the potential to increase productivity meaningfully across most if not all functional areas of the business, including content, sales, marketing, finance, traffic, technical and administrative. 

“For media companies, AI will help create a closer relationship with audiences through more relevant content and more frequent touchpoints,” he said. 

“Importantly, it will also speed the shift towards the modern media model, which emphasizes content to commerce as brands increasingly look for the media spend to activate consumers.”

The speed and efficacy of this transition will depend upon the amount of resources dedicated to application development by both media companies and third-party developers, in his view. 

“Media organizations will need to evolve with technology in order to remain competitive,” Dickey said. He also expects many legacy broadcast positions will become obsolete while new jobs will be created to manage and optimize the potential of the new applications.

However, while media companies should understand and embrace this transformative technology, “I would advise caution and prudence, as the earliest adopters often bear the brunt of the pain as the various use-cases are proven out.” 

The radio industry doesn’t have to look far to find competitors embracing AI. Spotify quickly jumped into the world of AI last year by rolling out a generative AI radio DJ, and SiriusXM this winter launched an AI-generated co-host for a show hosted by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. 

[Read More Radio World Stories About Artificial Intelligence]

Podcasting and “backend” tasks

Several experts told us they expect AI technology to be a major time-saver for broadcasters. They imagine AI taking a radio station’s on-air content, like a morning show, and quickly creating podcasts and other online audio material for websites.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, said the audio company is looking to use AI to translate, transcribe and voice content for its podcast archives. It’s currently testing the technology.

He said iHeartMedia, the largest podcast publisher, expects to roll out the AI technology in the second half of 2024. “It’s not just a meaningful way for the creators to be able to access audiences in the language they want, but also to actually build businesses in those territories,” Byrne told the magazine.

Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson told the website Channelchek last year that the company was already using AI for backend engineering and technology tasks. At the time Wilson said Townsquare was also using it for writing computer code.

“This is the area I’m most excited about,” he told Channelchek. “AI is on everyone’s mind. The implications are still not well known, but I look for this is going to be like the industrial revolution. This is going to be such a dramatic change for all businesses. Really profound. 

“For Townsquare, I have no doubt that it’s going to create scalability, efficiency and so many opportunities for us to continue our digital growth and transformation,” Wilson said in the interview. 

The use of artificial intelligence for products, services and innovations is certainly sparking policy discussion at radio companies across the United States.

In Washington, several bills in Congress would put limits on AI and ultimately affect radio, including placing restrictions on using AI and deepfake technology to create political ads that could mislead listeners.

Experts say there also are legal questions galore about who owns what when it comes to content created by generative AI, and how broadcasters will protect their own content, much of which will likely be settled in the courts. 

NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt, testifying in January on Capitol Hill, said he worries about radio and TV personalities having their credibility undermined by rogue AI that manipulates their likeness or voice. Yet he understands how AI has captivated the industry. 

LeGeyt, addressing the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, said AI’s potential, including its impact on broadcasters, is just starting to be recognized, including in newsrooms.

“(AI) can help a radio newsroom generate better stories to serve diverse audiences,” LeGeyt said. Yet “the rising prevalence of deepfakes make it increasingly burdensome for both our newsrooms and users to identify and distinguish legitimate, copyrighted broadcast content, from the unvetted and potentially inaccurate content being generated by AI.”

In January NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law about AI oversight. The second inning

Transparency is another question mark for the industry. To what lengths should broadcasters go to know let listeners know the difference between generative AI and the human self?

“I worry broadcasters will be eager to use AI voiceover in radio, for commercials and imaging, but will broadcasters try to fool listeners or be forthcoming about how they use artificial intelligence? Ultimately, the FCC may have to weigh in on this,” said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media. 

He said some radio companies will likely avoid the use of AI until much of this is sorted out. 

“That may prove to be a mistake if they don’t make it a point to use this moment as an opportunity to learn and test drive the technology. It is simply unacceptable for broadcasters to get caught flat-footed by AI, or late to the party,” Jacobs said.

Given that it’s just the “second inning” for AI, according to Jacobs, the industry hasn’t witnessed anything near its full capabilities. 

“Radio is going to have to innovate to remain competitive, but it’s essential broadcasters don’t just jump into the fray without a better understanding of what they’re getting themselves into. And I can’t stress this enough. Radio broadcasters will need to train staff on how to use it.” 

Jacobs said he explains AI’s presence this way: “How and where (AI) shows up can be illusory. It’s hard to see sometimes. As attendees at CES the last few years know, AI isn’t a gadget or an exhibit. It’s part of the oxygen, the foundation of so much technology today, whether it’s on the content or marketing fronts. It’s going to be in the DNA of many products and services going forward.”

AI advocates see quickly expanding AI opportunities for radio, similar to efforts by Alpha Media in Portland, Ore., which launched AI Ashley, an artificially cloned voice, on KBFF(FM).

Despite high-profile applications like that KBFF experiment, AI mostly is expected to allow broadcasters to increase productivity and possibly cut costs.

“It’ll cut through much of the drudge radio work we see today,” one expert told Radio World. “The litmus test will be whether AI simply results in job losses and cutbacks or true innovation.” 

Talk with your audience

According to a survey by McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting company, businesses that strategically implement artificial intelligence can experience a 20% increase in operational efficiency and a 10 to 15% reduction in overall costs. Furthermore, companies leveraging AI for customer insights and personalization have witnessed a 25 to 30% improvement in customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Buzz Knight, president of Buzz Knight Media and former programmer at Greater Media, said AI will help broadcasters enhance their operations, improve content creation and optimize audience engagement. 

The consultant sees uses for AI in quality control, predictive analytics, audience analytics and even chatbots online. 

“Radio stations could implement AI-powered chatbots on websites or on social media platforms for immediate listener interaction. These chatbots can answer questions, provide information regarding upcoming shows, and even take song requests. They would enhance engagement and provide a 24/7 point of contact for listeners,” he said.

Knight cautions broadcasters to embrace a guiding principle of maintaining “a human touch to ensure quality is at its highest level.” He suggests radio broadcasters move forward with AI by taking a “beginner’s mindset as you would when you have a new tool in the toolbox.”

Small-market radio broadcasters, too, are excited about AI’s potential. Some think generative AI could help level the playing field for smaller broadcasters and advertisers who may not have all the resources as bigger companies. 

Will Payne, president of Payne Media Group, believes his seven FM stations in eastern Oklahoma will be able to offer goods and services more quickly thanks to AI. 

“If I can get bullet points from a client, I can throw it into the program and get the beginnings of a script. Usually it’s pretty good already, but then we customize it a bit to the client. This is especially helpful to young AEs who can take spec spots to clients,” Payne said.

The company is using AI to help create scripts via ChatGPT and is considering the generative voice aspects.

“I’m very curious and continue to look at it. Imagine if you could choose from some good voices and create the commercial. You then have a pretty good commercial to start with. Better than you would without using AI. I think we will pick something like that up eventually,” Payne said. 

There are experts who say AI is being overhyped, much like the metaverse was several years ago. Technological research and consulting firm Gartner ranked generative AI high on its “Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies” list last year. Others say the true value of AI will take years to play out. 

Sam Matheny, EVP and chief technology officer for NAB, said research suggests the real benefits of generative AI will come in roughly five years. Meanwhile, he said, we are about to enter a challenging period where businesses might become disillusioned with the realities of trying to implement the new technology.

“I offer this perspective because while I believe in the promise of AI, I also think it has become so broadly used as a marketing term that broadcasters, and other stakeholders at large, should be thoughtful in how they approach it,” Matheny said.

[Related: “Special Report: AI Case Studies in Radio”]

The post Special Report: Behold the Potential of AI in Broadcast appeared first on Radio World.