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At the NAB Show Comrex will debut a major feature update for its Gagl remote contribution service called Hotline, as well as a new tier called Gagl Solo.

Gagl enables users to send and receive audio through common web browsers to Comrex hardware IP audio codecs. It supports up to five remote participants in one session.

“Hotline dramatically improves the quality of a standard cell phone call for on-air use,” Comrex said in its announcement.

“Gagl + Hotline provides a 10-digit telephone number with each Gagl + Hotline subscription. A guest or reporter can call the number using an AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon cell phone. The caller’s audio will be presented within the Gagl interface in HD Voice quality for clean, clear full fidelity for use on-air.”

The Gagl service doesn’t require specialized hardware or software on the remote end. With a computer or smartphone plus a headset, Comrex says, high-quality audio can be transmitted bidirectionally with minimal latency, to get anyone on the air.

Also new is Gagl Solo, which supports single guest connections and is suitable for users who don’t need to manage multiple participants, like a reporter in the field.

“Acquiring high-quality audio from remote locations is essential for creating compelling radio. Providing flexibility for guests who can’t come into the studio was a driving force behind Gagl’s creation. Gagl + Hotline creates more options for guest connectivity and makes it even more valuable for radio programming.”

NAB Show Booth: C2234

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

The post Comrex to Introduce Two New Gagl Features appeared first on Radio World.

You may find a few “Pardon Our Dust” signs at this year’s NAB Show as renovation of the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center begins.

The closure of that hall means organizers have rearranged some components of their event.  

The LVCC was begun in 1959 but has grown and morphed far beyond its original design. The North Hall alone is four decades old. 

With the new West Hall well established, LVCC management will renovate North and its meeting rooms. They also plan to build a new Grand Lobby between North and Central, adding natural light and views into the halls. Next year Central Hall will be offline for renovation.

A new climate-controlled interior concourse between North and South will provide interior access across the entire campus. There also are plans to add more meeting rooms, improve signage and connectivity, and enhance parking lot and landscaping.

Ultimately, the facade and roof line will be updated to reflect the architectural look of the $1 billion West Hall that opened in 2021. The projects will cost more than $600 million. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

A less familiar view of the LVCC, with the new West Hall in the foreground. We’re looking to the southeast. The roof of the North Hall is behind the monorail tracks, slightly to the left of center in this photo. Credit: LVCVA Archive

At the 2024 NAB Show, some exhibit space and meeting locations will be different. One observer said West Hall might feel “a bit more isolated” with North closed, but organizers are seeking to minimize the impact and are not worried about disruptions. They just want to make sure attendees are aware that the footprint will be altered. 

As last year, the Broadcast Engineering & IT Conference will meet in the West Hall, and many radio industry exhibitors will be found there. Some radio suppliers also will be found in Central.

The Broadcast District, a community engagement zone for people in the industry, will again be in West, which also will house exhibitors that are part of the Connect, Capitalize and Intelligent Content “pillars” of the show.

Planners have added exhibit space in the South Upper and South Lower Halls for the “Create” pillar, said Justine McVaney, senior VP and deputy managing director at NAB. She said most companies that were displaced from North Hall will relocate to South.

“Anytime there is construction and disruption it causes some stress. But it really isn’t anything new for us,” she said.

“We are used to moving people around the convention center. We strive every year to get people around what is a large facility as efficiently as possible.” 

Floor traffic has been more evenly distributed since West Hall opened. “In 2023 we saw a much better flow of traffic across all three halls,” McVaney said. Attendance was approximately 65,000 last year, up about 20% from 2022 when the show resumed after COVID. 

The diagram shows where content “pillars” of the show are located, but most radio-related companies will be in the North and Central Halls. Loopers

McVaney, who is responsible for the strategic development and delivery of NAB’s annual calendar of conventions, says transportation options will in place to get people from West Hall to the South Hall. 

“We are adding shuttle stops at South Hall and utilizing some golf carts to move folks around. The Vegas Loop station in front of Central Hall will still be open over to the South Hall.”

NAB also will set up additional “interactive wayfinding kiosks” to help direct people to their destinations.  

McVaney reminds attendees that they can plan out their visit by using NAB’s online mapping tools.

“Familiarize yourself with our show services, where the shuttle stops are and how to hop the monorail. There are a lot of resources available. The results of the construction will be worth the disruption. The improved décor and improved facilities will be worth it in the end.”

The show drew about 65,000 people last year. Credit: © NAB

NAB will again utilize the Vegas Loop, which consists of two tunnels under the campus that accommodate electric Tesla vehicles to shuttle attendees back and forth. It reduces a 25-minute walk across the 200-acre facility to a free ride of about two minutes. 

The system “sure help move people quickly,” McVaney said. “We have been talking to the convention center about adding more vehicles this year to move attendees from the West to the South Hall,” where a new Creator Lab will focus on creators, equipment, distribution channels and monetization techniques.

Erica Johnson, director of communications for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said, “The LVCC has been working closely with NAB Show management in minimizing any impact of the renovation during the 2024 show, including wayfinding, signage and access.” 

Radio World asked several radio technology exhibitors whether they are concerned about the closure of the North Hall. They told us they expect few issues.

Marty Sacks, executive VP of sales, marketing and strategy for Telos Alliance, says the company has moved from West to Central Hall to be more accessible to visits from people in the South Hall.

“Many of us have been going to NAB for years, so changes at LVCC are always disruptive to some extent. But there have been continual exhibit hall changes in the past few years, so I think attendees will not be too perplexed by the North Hall closure,” he said, adding that the company sells into both radio and TV markets, so Central Hall works well.

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

The post Expect Renovation Work at the LVCC appeared first on Radio World.

MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems will unveil a new generation of its NanoBrix Series  products at the 2024 NAB Show, introducing new functions into the line of miniature signal processing applications.

MultiDyne will also unveil an updated NanoBrix product design featuring a ruggedized enclosure, putting in motion a second rollout phase that will allow users to house and connect multiple NanoBrix devices in a single chassis.

The NanoBrix Series became part of MultiDyne’s product family following a strategic acquisition, adding a range of 12G/3G/HD/SD-SDI conversion and distribution products for managing high densities of analog and digital signals. The original NanoBrix Series includes a range of fiber-optic transceivers, multiplexers/de-multiplexers, distribution amplifiers and audio embedders/de-embedders, most of which will be retained in the new series.

MultiDyne will add new devices to the series over time, beginning with a new 12G to HDMI converter. The new NB2-12G-HDMI provides a way for broadcast engineers to monitor 5.1 audio streams and downmix the surround signal to 2.0 stereo audio. The device accepts a 12G 4K SDI signal and converts it to HDMI for live confidence monitoring. At the same time, the embedded surround signal is used to provide a L/R multichannel downmix for stereo applications, including television sets and web streams.

MultiDyne will refresh the appearance of the NanoBrix Series beginning with the NB2-12G-HDMI, with MultiDyne’s familiar branding added to brighter orange and black foundational coatings. The NB2-12G-HDMI and other updated NanoBrix products include 5-volt USB/USB-C powering and an accessory cable, along with magnetic mounting capability that makes it easier to conceal devices inside studios and equipment racks. The NB2-SDI-HDMI is also available with a single-channel fiber input and can regenerate the incoming signal for daisy-chained monitors.

The updated NanoBrix Series will soon expand with the NB2-10G-TRX copper 10G over fiber transceiver, with optional PoE+ support. Foster says this product will be available in single and dual-fiber configurations and “will fit right alongside the NB2-12G-HDMI in the frame system, as will all future NanoBrix products.”

— Reporting by Brian Galante

It’s an FM serving the city of Topeka and the college town of Lawrence with Hip-Hop and classic R&B programming as “96.9 The Beat.”

Pending FCC approval, it will become a sibling of Kanzaland Radio.

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Gray Television has completed a series of debt principal payments totaling $53.75 million.

These payments were comprised of:

•  a required principal payment of $3.75 million on March 29, 2024, under its Term Loan D (due 2028)
•  a voluntary prepayment of the three remaining 2024 required quarterly principal payments totaling $11.25 million on April 1, under its Term Loan D (due 2028)
•  a voluntary principal payment of $38.75 million on April 1, under Gray’s Term Loan E (due 2026).

Gray shares as of 12:42pm Eastern on Friday were trading just below $6 per share, off 2% from Thursday’s closing price.

By Rosemary Ravinal

If you see effective public speaking as a balance of concrete, concise, and compelling ideas delivered energetically with clarity and consideration for the audience, then the ancient practice of feng shui can make a world of difference in how you communicate. It starts with clearing physical and mental clutter.

Spring is a time for releasing material things, ideas and habits that no longer serve you and making room for new and better ones. I undertook a large-scale clearing of my office of books and files from my past lives and found a two-inch binder filled with reference materials about organizing. Twenty years ago, I considered becoming a professional organizer as an antidote to the burnout I felt in my public relations career. The binder contained a wealth of information on how to achieve an organized life, including how to apply the principles of feng shui to living and working spaces and mindset.

I discovered that the principles of feng shui used to enhance interiors can be applied directly to how you communicate. While I actively preach and practice techniques and strategies to improve public speaking skills, one aspect I have underestimated is the influence of environment and energy flow, as understood in the feng shui tradition. Until now.

Feng shui is centered around the concept of creating harmony and balance in one’s surroundings to promote well-being and success. It examines the relationship between individuals and their environment, emphasizing the flow of energy, or chi. By optimizing the energy flow, feng shui aims to enhance various aspects of life, including health, relationships, and career.

The connection between feng shui and public speaking lies in the profound impact that your surroundings can have on your mindset, confidence, and ability to communicate effectively.

Here’s how feng shui principles can be applied to create an environment and mental outlook conducive to successful speaking:

1. Clutter-free Spaces

Feng shui teaches us that clutter obstructs the flow of chi and creates mental chaos. A clutter-free environment is essential for clarity of thought and focus, both crucial for effective communication. Before stepping onto a stage, ensure that your practice and speaking areas are tidy and organized to promote a sense of calm and composure.

2. Balanced Energy Flow

The arrangement of furniture and objects within a space can either facilitate or hinder the flow of energy. In feng shui, the positioning of objects is carefully considered to create balance and harmony. Arrange seating and podiums in a way that allows energy to flow freely throughout the room, promoting a sense of connection between you as the speaker and your audience.

3. Colors and Lighting

Colors and lighting have considerable influence on mood and perception. In feng shui, warm, inviting colors such as earth tones and soft blues are often recommended for spaces where communication is key. The same thoughtful color choices are also recommended for your wardrobe. Adequate lighting, both natural and artificial, is also crucial for creating a bright and energizing atmosphere that keeps the audience engaged and attentive.

4. Supportive Backing

In feng shui, a solid backing behind you symbolizes support and stability. When speaking in public, choose a lectern/podium or seating arrangement that provides a sense of security and grounding (but don’t hide behind them). On Zoom video conferences, have a well-designed virtual background that when used with a physical green screen presents you at your professional best. Avoid sitting or standing directly in front of doors or sharp corners because these can create a sense of vulnerability and distraction. This also applies to the artifacts and décor in your real-life video setup.

5. Mindful Placement of Props

Visual aids and props can enhance your presentation in person and online but their placement should be thoughtfully considered. In feng shui, each object carries its own energy, so be mindful of the messages they convey. Choose props that align with your message and place them strategically to complement rather than detract from your speech. The same goes for awards, accolades, or symbols of achievement you can display to boost your confidence and credibility.

6. Personal Energy Alignment

Feng shui emphasizes the importance of harnessing positive chi (energy). Practices such as meditation, visualization, or Qi Gong cultivate a sense of inner calm and alignment. This centered state of being can positively impact your presence and ability to connect with your audience. Before stepping onto the stage or starting a video call, take a moment to center yourself and imagine success. Incorporate calming breathing exercises or mindfulness techniques to dispel nervous energy and project authority.

Do you need help polishing a speech or presentation for work?
Let Rosemary Ravinal help you. Private coaching sessions are available in April. Schedule a quick call with Rosemary Ravinal and get started.

Salem Media Group is putting the finishing touches on a new multimedia weekly program that will be hosted by the current President of the Family Research Council and will feature the man who presently holds the title of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“This Week On the Hill” debuts April 13 and will be distributed via the Salem Radio Network, Salem News Channel, Salem Podcast Network, and Townhall.com.

The 60-minute show will be hosted by Tony Perkins, who leads the Family Research Council, and will feature House leader Mike Johnson, along with other members of the House and Senate. Issues facing Congress, the United States, and the world from a conservative perspective will encompass the show’s content.

Executive Producer of “This Week On The Hill” will be Tom Tradup, VP of News and Talk programming at SRN.

The show will be fed down the SRN Satellite channel on Saturday morning at 7am Eastern for stations to carry over the weekend.

“Salem is honored to kick off this important program with Speaker Johnson as guest. Speaker Johnson has worked tirelessly for conservative values throughout his career, including since he took over the Speaker’s position,” said Salem Senior VP Phil Boyce. “Tony Perkins, a nationally recognized expert in public policy, will be an excellent host, as the show deals with the important topics facing the Members of the House and Senate.”

During the Trump administration, Tony Perkins served as the chairman of the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom.

 

Newport, Ore., and Lincoln City, to its north, are popular oceanside getaways for many who reside along the busy I-5 corridor between Eugene and Portland, Ore. When two FM radio stations in these cities went dark, and were put up for sale, Xana Oregon jumped at the opportunity.

Now, all that awaits a change in ownership of the FMs is the FCC’s approval — and a “red light” removal.

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For 18 years he was associated with Kozacko Media Services. Now, George Kimble has gone out on his own and has his first sale filed with the FCC for regulatory approval. It involves an AM radio station with an FM translator serving a growing community in northeast South Dakota.

 

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In August 2023, RBR+TVBR exclusively reported on the acquisition of WBKB-11 in Alpena, Mich., from The Marks Media Group by Morgan Murphy Media. WBKB under Marks branded itself as the “Thunder Bay News Network,” and is home to all of the “Big Four” networks, with the DT1 signal home to CBS. NBC is on DT2, ABC is on DT3 and FOX is on DT4.

Now, Morgan Murphy is poised to “greatly expand its local news coverage” by entering a partnership with Sinclair Inc.‘s two stations in Traverse City.

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Another quarter-by-quarter increase in the number of noneducational FM radio stations was during the first quarter of 2024, as commercial AM radio stations saw double-digit declines in number, continuing a trend that began earlier in the year.

That’s the key learning from the FCC’s updated broadcast station total list, for the three-month period ending March 31.

With the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act poised to gain Congressional approval, pending a floor vote, some 17 kHz-band stations disappeared during the first quarter of 2024.

Some 19 kHz-band radio stations disappeared in the second half of 2023.

Meanwhile, the continued increase in the number of noncommercial FM radio frequencies was seen — this time, the result of a NCE construction permit window opened by the FCC and not by conversions of commercially licensed FMs.

The other big takeaway: the FM translator and booster boom indeed ended in 2023, as the total has again declined. That said, it remains higher than at the end of Q2 2018.

On the TV side, the number of LPTV stations dipped again in Q1, continuing a trend that began in the third quarter of 2023.

 

BROADCAST STATION TOTALS AS OF MARCH 31, 2024
(Compared to December 31, 2023)

TOTAL BROADCAST STATIONS: 33,344 (down 84)

All comparisons below to the end of Q4 2023

AM STATIONS 4427 (minus 17)
FM COMMERCIAL 6663 (unchanged)
FM EDUCATIONAL 4286 (plus 34)
TOTAL 15,393 (minus 13)

UHF COMMERCIAL TV 1015 (minus 1)
VHF COMMERCIAL TV 367 (plus 3)
UHF EDUCATIONAL TV 267 (unchanged)
VHF EDUCATIONAL TV 116 (unchanged)
TOTAL 1,765 (plus 2)

CLASS A UHF STATIONS 349 (unchanged)
CLASS A VHF STATIONS 30 (unchanged)

FM TRANSLATORS & BOOSTERS 8,913 (down 14)
(up from 7813 as of June 30, 2018)

UHF TRANSLATORS 2459 (up 3)
VHF TRANSLATORS 669 (up 4)

UHF LOW POWER TV 1516 (down 45)
VHF LOW POWER TV 313 (down 4)

LOW POWER FM 1,960 (down 7)

XGen Network (XGN) and Milachi Media, as the founding members along with the LPTVBA, are gearing up for the April 13 launch at the 2024 NAB Show of a new broadcast industry non-profit whose aim is to promote and help deploy 5G Broadcasting worldwide.

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Should a television station licensed to Opelika, Ala., offering content from diginets THISTV and NBCLX be given “must carry” status for the Atlanta DMA, something its owner believes should be enforced by DirecTV?

In January 2022, the Media Bureau of the FCC said no. Now, in an intriguing twist, the Senior Deputy Chief of the Policy Division is siding with the station owner in a dispute against Dish.

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The FCC has denied an application for review from Roger Wahl, the owner and operator of 93.3 WQZS(FM) Meyersdale, Pa., and a convicted felon.

It has upheld its Enforcement Bureau’s decision last year to revoke the license of his Class A FM station, finding Wahl unqualified to be a licensee. The license of WQZS is revoked as of April 4.

In July 2020, Wahl pleaded guilty in Somerset County court to five crimes, including taking nude photos of a woman inside her home using a hidden camera and using the pictures to solicit requests for sexual advances on her behalf via an online dating site. The Pennsylvania State Police report stated that Wahl later deleted the nude photos from his phone and deleted the communications he made via the online dating site after learning of the police investigation.

In April 2023, the FCC revoked Wahl’s license following an order from Administrative Law Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin terminating her hearing into his qualifications to be a licensee. She ruled that Wahl had waived his right to a hearing because he had not met the hearing obligations.

Wahl filed an application for review (AFR) a month later and said poor health had caused him to miss multiple deadlines during the proceedings before Halprin.

He also argued that his community advocacy and public service fulfill the criteria to remain a broadcast licensee in good standing. He said that if given the opportunity to present evidence, he’d demonstrate “his past meritorious service.” He said that his offenses had amounted to an isolated crime of passion.

The commission dismissed Wahl’s attempts to bring new evidence.

“While Mr. Wahl asserts that his health issues merit reopening the proceeding so he can introduce evidence, he had ample opportunity to request additional time from the ALJ and failed to do so,” the commission said.

But the FCC also analyzed the rest of Wahl’s argument, including the seriousness of his felony.

Wahl argued that his convictions did not involve fraud, bribery, perjury or bodily injury. “On the contrary,” the commission replied, “the facts surrounding his convictions implicate both fraud and bodily injury.”

It said Wahl’s lack of candor in tampering with evidence is a form of fraudulent representation. And while his victim did not suffer bodily injury, Wahl placed her at the risk of sexual assault by impersonating her on the online dating site, the FCC said.

The commission weighed other factors, including any efforts Wahl made to remedy the wrong, his overall record of compliance and any subsequent rehabilitation efforts. On balance, the commission found the factors to weigh heavily in the revocation of the license.

“His misconduct was recent and willful and involved multiple criminal acts. Additionally, he inflicted emotional harm and the risk of bodily harm — including sexual assault — to the victim and also committed fraud in tampering with evidence. Because Mr. Wahl is the owner and operator of the station, his character determines whether the license should be revoked.”

Wahl’s daughter Wendy Sipple pleaded in the AFR to transfer the license to her for the sake of keeping the station in her family. With the revocation order, a transfer is made moot.

The FCC told Wahl to shut down WQZS’ transmitter effective April 4 or face forfeitures.

(Read the decision.)

The post Revocation of Roger Wahl’s FM License Is Upheld appeared first on Radio World.

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Granted CNZ's request for WGBP carriage throughout Columbus-Opelika DMA

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Issued a Forfeiture Order in the amount of $9,500 to Roseland Broadcasting, Inc. , for violations of Commission rules.

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