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When it comes to improving broadcasting’s equal employment opportunity rules, any changes must simultaneously increase employment diversity while not overburdening small broadcasters with onerous paperwork and nonproductive actions.

Those are the comments from a group of 82 broadcasters who responded to the Federal Communications Commission’s request for reply comments on the commission’s EEO Compliance and Enforcement Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

[Read: NAB Believes FCC’s EEO Rules Can Be “Streamlined”]

While the 82 broadcasters do not question the laudable goals of the EEO rules, they do doubt the necessity of what the group calls “burdensome paperwork and nonproductive actions.” As it stands today, the EEO rules require broadcasters to use a three-pronged approach to recruit for full-time vacancies, including the implementation of certain short-term and long-term recruitment initiatives, as well as the need to keep records on station compliance with those rules.

Those rules are a significant burden on smaller broadcasters, the joint broadcast commenters said.

“It is time that the FCC reassess its current documentation and paperwork approach to nondiscrimination and employment diversity,” the group said, adding that without detailed evidence that the current FCC paperwork and recordkeeping rules are reducing discrimination, it’s time for the FCC to direct its regulatory efforts to finding more effective ways to achieve the goals of nondiscrimination and employment diversity.

The 82 broadcasters advocate for proposed FCC rule changes to require all stations (no matter the size) to post job opening notifications on a recognized job seeker website, to revise the FCC’s EEO definition of employment unit to include all employees in the broadcasting entity, and to reduce EEO paperwork for small broadcasters by exempting entities with fewer than 50 full-time employees (instead of the current number of five).

The broadcasters propose that the burden of bringing diversity to the industry should be “placed upon larger broadcasters with human resource departments, rather than foisted upon smaller entities for whom just finding employees is a challenge,” the group said.

“The 82 broadcasters emphasize that they have no desire to lessen or diminish the FCC’s quest for diversity in employment and full and transparent opportunities for all job seekers in the broadcasting industry,” the group said. But the group said it is important that all broadcasters stand behind the FCC’s EEO program in both process and spirit.

“There is nothing more sapping to a small broadcaster than EEO paperwork and documentation that it is not staffed to handle, knowing that its larger competition has an HR department handling such record-keeping,” the group said.

The group of 82 broadcasters include the likes of Eureka Broadcasting Co. in Eureka, Calif.; Blakeney Communications in Laurel, Miss.; and Eastern Utah Broadcasting Co., in Price, Utah. The reply comments were filed in response to a series of comments left by ACA Connects, the National Association of Broadcasters and other EEO supporters.

Comments on the FCC’s EEO proposed rulemaking can be seen in the commissions’ ECFS database using Media Bureau Docket Number 19-177.

 

The post 82 Small Broadcasters Weigh in on EEO Rule Changes appeared first on Radio World.

The author is CEO of SSR Communications, owner of WYAB(FM) in central Mississippi.

Matthew Wesolowski has told the FCC that hundreds of FM Class A stations would be able to double in power thanks to a Class C4, “and would gladly do so if given such an opportunity.”

A proceeding currently before the Federal Communications Commission to provide eligible Zone II Class A commercial FM broadcasters an opportunity to upgrade from 6 kilowatts to 12 kilowatts has not attracted a great number of headlines this year, but that has not prevented the FM Class C4 proposal from making some significant strides as of late.

Most noteworthy, the Class C4 FM idea has attracted some powerful allies. In January, the proposal won the backing of Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, sitting chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the congressional body that maintains direct oversight over the FCC.

Sen. Wicker noted that the power increase could be of particular benefit to “small and rural radio stations” in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. In his February 2019 reply, Chairman Pai agreed by saying that the FM Class C4 option “could be especially important for small, minority-owned stations that currently cannot serve their entire communities.”

TURF WAR

Sen. Wicker now joins the list of approximately 130 small broadcasters who filed comments in full support during the FM Class C4 Notice of Inquiry (MB 18-184, FCC 18-69) filing windows in September, 2018.

Several years prior, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai first advocated for the new station class in September, 2016 at the NAB/RAB Radio Show in Nashville, Tenn., and going back further, the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) supported the effort in 2013 when it helped author the original proposal.

Predictably, a turf war has erupted between the small broadcasters that the FM Class C4 proposal would benefit, and larger license holders who generally control the biggest signals in any given market.

The National Association of Broadcasters did not support the introduction of a new station class, which is unsurprising, as that same organization vehemently opposed the creation of the FM Class C0 allotment type some 20 years earlier. Although larger companies stopped short of endorsing the idea fully, some nationwide broadcasters did come out in support of the FM Class C4 concept, including Educational Media Foundation, while iHeartMedia did not oppose the new station class in its comments.

The current sticking point in the FM Class C4 proceeding appears to stem from a component of the proposal that would give certain underbuilt Section 73.207-licensed stations a Section 73.215 designation, provided that the affected station has operated under its maximum antenna height, power level or equivalent thereof, for a period of 10 years or more.

Under the current FCC rules, a neighboring station looking to upgrade that is adjacent to an underbuilt Section 73.207-licensed station must treat that station as if it were fully built out, whereas a Section 73.215 station can be protected assuming its actual antenna height and power level.

The practice of treating underbuilt stations as if they were fully constructed can have large implications for smaller adjacent stations wanting to upgrade in power or situate their antenna sites more favorably. For example, a full FM Class C1 station is able to broadcast with 100 kilowatts of power from an antenna height above average terrain of 299 meters. If that station were to have an antenna height of only 200 meters above average terrain, then its primary service contour would be about 5 miles short of what a fully built FM Class C1 facility could reach. Any competing neighboring station looking to upgrade is compelled to protect that underbuilt station for five extra miles of coverage that it does not (or if underbuilt for more than 10 years, likely will not ever) serve.

BUFFER ZONE

In August 2019, SSR Communications Inc., which co-authored the FM Class C4 petition with MMTC, presented a revised version of the Section 73.215 aspect of the proposal to the FCC’s Audio Division.

The amended plan would still call for redesignation of certain underbuilt Section 73.207 licensed stations as Section 73.215 authorizations, but would also provide a 3 dB protective “buffer zone” to allow the affected stations an opportunity to relocate or build out more fully in the future. The buffer zone would create a protective bubble around underbuilt stations, usually amounting to anywhere from 3 to7 miles, depending on how severely underpowered or under-height the affected station may be.

This 3 dB buffer zone “compromise” would resolve the controversial aspects of the FM Class C4 proposal and should allow the proposal to advance.

The buffer eliminates almost all scenarios in which an affected reclassified Section 73.215 facility could be hemmed in and blocked from making future service improvements or tower relocations. It would also disincentivize the Section 73.215 conference procedure for stations seeking such towards neighboring underbuilt Section 73.207 facilities in almost all cases, except for those involving Section 73.207 stations that are the most decidedly underbuilt with respect to their class. Indirectly, the buffer prevents almost any scenario in which a secondary service could be affected by the Section 73.215 component of the FM Class C4 idea.

BREAKTHROUGH NEAR?

Meanwhile, an alternative waiver-based path towards a FM Class C4 equivalent facility may also soon exist. In July 2018, WRTM(FM) 100.5 MHz asked the Federal Communications Commission to consider allowing the station to double in power from 6 kilowatts to 12 kilowatts. If granted, the WRTM waiver application would establish new precedent and provide certain Class A FM stations an opportunity to enjoy an improvement in coverage.

Unlike the FM Class C4 proposal, the WRTM application (BPH-20180716AAC) suggests that, in order to double in power, a Class A FM licensee should guarantee that its upgraded signal would not impact vital LPFM and FM translator services. Also departing from the Class C4 FM proceeding is the idea that a neighboring Section 73.207-licensed station could still be reclassified as a Section 73.215 facility if it is not built out fully, but only if that station has been operating below its antenna height or maximum power level for a period of 30 years (the FM Class C4 proposal states that a 10-year window is appropriate). The WRTM filing backs this argument by saying, “No zoning problem, FAA issue, or cost consideration could not be resolved within 30 years if the desire is truly there to build out fully.”

Whether moving forward “as is,” as an amended proposal with a 3 dB buffer zone consideration, as a waiver-based procedure for eligible stations, or something else altogether, what will happen next in the FM Class C4 proceeding is anyone’s guess.

What is clear is, however, that hundreds of FM Class A stations would be able to double in power and would gladly do so if given such an opportunity. With support in high places, it seems as if a breakthrough is just around the corner, and it could be sooner than later that the FM Class C4 idea moves from concept to reality.

Comment on this or any story. Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Commentary: Buffer Compromise Would Boost FM Class C4 appeared first on Radio World.

The patriarch and founder of the Beasley Media Group, George Beasley, will receive the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Mike Award Gala, March 4, 2020, at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

Beasley started with an AM daytimer in Benson, N.C., in 1961, building his company into a top radio group owner with more than 60 stations in nine states. While the company is listed on the NASDAQ, family members, notably daughter Caroline and son Bruce, are closely involved in the day-today operation; making it seem more like a family-owned broadcaster.

Broadcasters Foundation of America Chairman Dan Mason said, “Starting off with radio stations in small market America and expanding to major cities, George built the company that bears his name with ingenuity, integrity, and innovation. We are delighted to recognize his leadership in our industry.”

The announcement quoted Beasley, “I fell in love with radio early in my career, and I have been fortunate to be a part of this wonderful business as it has grown and expanded.”

He added, “Giving back is an important tradition in our family, and it is an honor to support the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation to help those in our industry who need it most.”

Beasley has long been involved with the foundation, having served on its board for many years. He has been recognized with awards by several state broadcasters associations and inducted into many associated halls of fame.

 

The post Beasley to Receive Award From Broadcasters Foundation appeared first on Radio World.

The New Jersey Broadcasters Association has a clear message for the FCC: It opposes any modification of the existing LPFM service rules that would increase the potential for interference to higher full-power radio broadcast stations, such as might be the case in a densely populated area like New Jersey.

In comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission, the New Jersey Broadcasters Association expressed concern about the commission’s July 2019 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning proposals to improve the low-power FM service. In short, the rules must be followed when it comes to secondary services not interfering with full-power radio broadcast stations in other classes, the NJBA said. Referring to another secondary service whose expansion has caused friction in some places, NJBA CEO and President Paul S. Rotella said, “In effect, the abundance of FM translators has created ‘holes’ in the audiences of full-power radio broadcast stations by causing interference to those stations.”

[Read: FCC Finalizes FM Translator Interference Rules]

The NJBA asked the FCC to continue to pay close attention to the tenants of the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 and the resulting statutory protections that are afforded full-power commercial radio stations.

The NJBA said that interference also compromises the integrity of the Emergency Alert System “since many LPFMs do not have the equipment necessary to receive, propagate and broadcast critical EAS messaging” — an issue the organization said is particularly worrisome due to New Jersey’s high population density and its broadcast audience’s reliance on local radio for emergency information and other important local news and information.

Referencing perceived listener behavior on another interference issue, the NJBA said, “many listeners of full-power stations may be deprived of the service provided by their local full-service stations, and therefore simply tune into the plethora of other nonbroadcast programming sources available to the public today — rather than taking the time to file interference complaints …”

The NJBA also expressed concern that the changes to LPFM engineering requirements proposed in the FCC’s July NPRM will exacerbate these dangerous “holes” in full-power station audiences.

The NJBA said that the commission must keep in mind that LPFMs were originally positioned as a secondary, noncommercial radio service with a community focus.

“The need for further expansion and competition from LPFM services is dubious at best, given that the radio broadcasting industry has already been subjected to increased competition from the recently enacted FM translator rule changes, digital media, satellite radio, podcasts, internet and other media sources,” the organization said in its filing. “Moreover, the changes proposed in the NPRM will likely only serve to increase interference with full power stations.”

“Accordingly, when it comes to balancing the equities, the FCC must ensure that the balance falls on the side of full-power broadcast licensees, whose station licenses and construction permits were granted under a licensing regime in which they were promised — and therefore should be accorded — full protection from secondary service interference,” the organization said.

The NJBA believes the commission should consider increasing power for New Jersey Class A FM broadcast stations from 3 kW to 6 kW to “mitigate existing power inequities [that]  threaten the survival of Class A FM broadcasters, coupled with the ongoing allowances given translators and the rules being now contemplated for LPFMs.”

Responding specifically to the FCC’s request for comments on the NPRM, the broadcast association said LPFMs should not be granted expanded usage of directional antennas because those antennas could interfere with the signal patterns of co-channel and first-adjacent full-power FM stations. “The very nature of directional antennas conflicts with the original purpose for the LPFM service — i.e., reaching smaller, community-oriented audiences in highly localized areas,” the association said.

The NJBA also opposes redefining the phrase “minor changes” for purposes of expanding the ability of LPFM stations to relocate — unless that redefinition excludes relocations that could potentially affect full-power stations and their 45 dBμ contour listening audiences. The organization also expressed concern about permitting the cross-ownership of LPFM and FM booster stations without considering the implications of such a rule change on Class A FM broadcast stations.

In short, NJBA believes that the expansion of LPFM service through the proposed rules in the NPRM is contrary to the limited, secondary nature of that broadcast service, the association said. “Nevertheless, to the extent the commission chooses to adopt such rule changes, it must also adopt explicit protections for full-power radio broadcast stations and more importantly Class A FM broadcast stations,” the group said.

The comments were submitted as part of Media Bureau Docket Number MB Docket No. 19-193 via the FCC’s ECFS comment database.

 

The post NJBA: FCC Must Protect Full-Power Stations appeared first on Radio World.

With Radio TechCon 2019 just a few weeks away, the conference has unveiled a few ways that interested attendees that may still be on the fence can attend this year’s conference.

First, through what it calls the Organization Bursary, Radio TechCon has supplied three tickets each to the Community Media Association, Student Radio Association and Sound Women Network to award to their members as the see fit. Also, there is an Individual Bursary, which is offering nine spots that anyone can apply for here; deadline to apply is Wednesday, Nov. 6. A limited travel and accommodations fund is also available as part of the Individual Bursary.

In addition, Radio TechCon has announced a number of new sessions that will be held during the conference. These include a talk from Leslie Gaston-Bird, AES Governor-at-large; “Building Your Own Small-Scale DAB Mux;” a presentation on BBC Internet Fit radio; and a live demonstration of super sound bars. The full session lineup will be announced soon.

Radio TechCon 2019 will take place on Nov. 25 at IET London. Tickets are available at radiotechcon.com.

 

The post Radio TechCon Unveils Attendee Deals, Additional Sessions appeared first on Radio World.

The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), in conjunction with the Media Bureau (MB), announce an auction of certain FM broadcast construction permits. This public notice also seeks comment on competitive bidding procedures and proposed minimum opening bid amounts for Auction 106.

LONDON — Podcasting and on-demand services are challenging traditional live radio, but also offer exciting opportunities for broadcasters, the audience at the annual “Drive to Digital” conference has heard.

Steve Ackerman (right), managing director of production company Somethin’ Else talks to Matt Deegan at Drive to Digital 2019. All photos: Vincent Lo

More than 200 delegates gathered in London’s British Library for the annual event, organized by Digital Radio U.K., and hosted by broadcaster Penny Smith.

DISRUPTION

Clare McNally-Luke from United Kingdom’s media regulator Ofcom opened by showing radio listening’s weekly share of audio time at a healthy 72%. However, she sounded a note of caution, suggesting that disruption was underway, with new services challenging the definition of radio.

Belinda Doyle is program director at United Kingdom digital station JACK Radio.

Other audio platforms were borrowing from traditional radio strengths, she said, citing the example of Spotify’s “Your Daily Drive” playlist launched in the United States, which adds news podcasts from the Wall Street Journal and NPR to personalized music, to emulate the content of a radio show.

The BBC’s Alison Winter spoke about its new “BBC Sounds” app, which launched last year to replace BBC iPlayer Radio. It combined three separate offerings of live radio, music, and on-demand podcasts, which she said was crucial to attract new users to BBC Radio content, in addition to existing radio lovers. Winter revealed that BBC Sounds was now attracting 2.7 million weekly users.

[Read: Radio Techcon Opens Registration]

Belinda Doyle of JACK Radio suggested that podcasts could complement linear radio by helping to bolster brands. The U.K.’s JACK Radio is a digital station playing all-female artists, which has recently added “The Offside Rule” — an award-winning female-fronted football podcast produced by Muddy Knees Media — to its schedule.

TECHNOLOGY

On technology, Simon Bryant from Futuresource Consulting reported that they expected 12 million home audio sets to be sold in the U.K. in 2019, breaking all previous records. Smart speakers are driving this growth at 5.3 million units this year, and radio the fourth most popular activity on them.

The Drive to Digital podcast panel: (left to right) Matt Deegan, British Podcast Awards; Steve Ackerman, Somethin’ Else; Sadia Azmat, Comedian & Writer, “No Country for Young Women”; Iain Macintosh, Muddy Knees Media; and Leanne Alie, In-clued Consulting

Meanwhile, for in-vehicle listening, Kurt Dusterhoff of SBD Automotive reported that U.K. drivers still want radio, with FM as the most popular source. But in their next car, this desire is shifting to internet radio, with FM dropping five per cent, and IP radio rising 10%, mirroring trends in-home.

The event closed with a podcasting panel. Asked about the popularity of podcasts, Leanne Alie from In-clued Consulting pointed to the increasing diversity, and said the format allowed people to tell their own stories and perspectives, which hadn’t been the case previously for traditional radio.

Steve Ackerman from production company Somethin’ Else said that “once you have the on-demand habit, you can’t go back.”

Head of Audiences for BBC Radio & Education, Alison Winter

He was confident of the sector’s future, adding: “The audience growth is so aggressive and obviously the money is following, with big entertainment companies joining. It’s a global marketplace for ideas — for the first time, there’s a value to global IP rights. You can now test an idea and show there’s an audience, as we can see hour by hour analytics.”

The post Podcasts, On-demand Challenge Traditional Radio appeared first on Radio World.

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The Media Bureau dismisses in part and denies in part a petition for reconsideration filed by Florida Community Radio, Inc., and affirms the expiration of the construction permit for WRBD(FM), Horseshoe Beach, Florida

The Society of Broadcast Engineers Board of Directors, led by newly elected president Wayne Pecena, have announced the committee chair appointments for the next year. All were approved during the annual SBE Membership Meeting, Oct. 15–16.

The committee chairs are as follows:

Awards — Tom McGinley, CPBE, AMD, CBNT

By-Laws — Charles “Ched” Keiler, CPBE, 8-VSB, CBNE

Certification — Ralph Hogan, CPBE, DRB, CBNE

Chapter Liaison — Mark Fehlig, CPBE, 8-VSB

Education — Geary Morrill, CPBE, CBNE

Fellowship — Troy Pennington, CSRE, CBNT

Electronic Communications — Roswell Clark, CPBE, CBNT

Finance — Roswell Clark

Frequency Coordination — Ted Hand, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB

Government Relations — Kevin Trueblood, CBRE, CBNT

International — Charles W. Kelly Jr.

Membership — Steve Brown, CPBE, CBNT

Mentoring — Chris Tarr, CSRE, AMD, DRB, CBNE

Nominations — Jim Leifer, CPBE

Publications — Jason Ornellas, CBRE, CRO

Social Networking — Kirk Harnack, CBRE, CBNE

Sustaining Membership — Vinny Lopez, CEV, CBNT

Technologies — Shane Toven, CBRE, CBNT

Hogan, Pennington and Kelly do not serve on the SBE Board of Directors.

“The skill and experience of the SBE Board of Directors and committee chairs is wide and varied, and I look forward to drawing on their abilities to continue forward progress of the SBE as we implement plans from the 2018 strategic planning conference and develop new opportunities for our members,” said Pecena.

In addition to the committee chairs, Pecena appointed Roswell Clark and Geary Morrill as directors to serve on the SBE Executive Committee. They will join other committee members Pecena, Vice President Andrea Cummins, Secretary Kevin Trueblood, Treasurer Ted Hand and Immediate Past President Jim Leifer.

 

The post SBE Sets 2019–2020 Committee Chairs appeared first on Radio World.

What’s happened with digital radio over the last year? And what’s next?

This latest Radio World ebook offers insight into digital radio progress to date. It looks at opportunities, challenges and future goals for DAB+, Digital Radio Mondiale as well as HD Radio.

In addition, “Digital Radio Developments” highlights the particulars of each standard, give tips on how to integrate the Emergency Warning Functionality into a national alerting network as well as how to build a sound digital radio distribution strategy, and more

Learn more in the latest free Radio World International ebook. Read it free now — click here.

 

The post Digital Radio Developments appeared first on Radio World.

Tom Vernon takes a deep dive into the history of radio automation systems. Matthew Wesolowski touts the benefits of a compromise proposal for FM Class C4. Paul Kaminski gives you a look at the dashboard of the Hyundai Kona, the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. Buyer’s Guide explores new offerings in remote control, signal monitoring and test. This and plenty more.

SPECTRUM POLICY

Is There an Afterlife for “Franken FMs”?

TV licensees that present themselves as radio stations at the low end of the FM dial consider the term “Franken FM” disparaging. They believe they provide an important service. But their future is in doubt.

TECHNOLOGY

Go on the Road With a Nomad

A Canadian engineering firm thinks it has a faster, simpler way to measure FM/HDR antenna performance.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

• Hyundai Kona Offers Big Capability and a Simple Interface
• Workbench: A Very Odd Case of Studio RFI
• Buyer’s Guide: Signal Monitoring and More

 

The post Inside the October 23rd Issue of Radio World appeared first on Radio World.

Here in the 21st century, it’s difficult to imagine broadcast automation without thinking of computers; you can’t have one without the other. But it wasn’t always this way.

Computers and automation systems have both been around for a long time but the two worlds didn’t begin to merge in a big way until the mid-1970s, when IGM introduced the 750 system with a DEC PDP-8.

Most of the hardware, playback media and terminology of these earlier analog systems is long gone and forgotten. That means it’s time for a ’70s flashback.

FLASHBACK

Let us don our wide-lapeled, burgundy, three-piece polyester suits, set the date for April 1974 and dive headlong into the time machine.

We emerge just in time for the opening of the NAB show of 45 years ago, and we visit the Sparta booth to see what’s new in broadcast automation systems.

 

Three or four racks of equipment were typical for a mid-sized automation system.

At first glance the three racks of equipment look intimidating. But when we break it down, we see that it’s just audio tape reproducers, a controller or some sort, and ancillary devices such as silence sensors and logging equipment.

The first thing we’ll look at are playback systems.

Unlike the digital audio files of today, there were different tape media for different lengths of content. Most of the music, especially for the popular beautiful music and easy listening formats of the day, was recorded on larger 14 -inch NAB reels of 1/4-inch tape.

Beautiful music and easy listening stations usually relied on playback decks that could handle the larger 14-inch NAB reels, such as the Sparta Corinthian.

Sparta’s Corinthian was one such machine. With 1 mil tape rolling at 7.5 inches per second, six hours of content were stored. Foil leader at each end of the tape would reverse the machine at the end of three hours and switch tracks. Stereo decks were available in half- and quarter-track configurations. The capstan was direct drive with a synchronous motor, giving a timing accuracy of 99.8%.

While Sparta built their own 14-inch playback machines, other automation system manufacturers used the popular Scully Model 270.

With other formats, some stations preferred to have reels with music from different categories, and conventional playback-only recorders with 10-inch reels and auto-reverse were employed. Again, Sparta manufactured their own machines, while other companies used a variety of recorders, from Revox A-77s on the economy end to Ampex 440s on the premium side.

In addition to the standard NAB “A” carts, automation systems used “B” and “C” carts for station IDs and time announcements.

Commercials, PSAs and jingles usually were recorded on NAB “A” size carts, which could hold about 10 minutes of tape. Several commercials could be be recorded on each cart, so they could be played in rotation. Carts were loaded into Sparta RS-224 carousels, which held 24 carts each. Depending on the size of the station, format and commercial load, there could be as many as four carousels in an automation system. Automation often had a separate rack-mounted cart machine that could handle A, B and C carts, dedicated to top-of-the-hour station IDs.

MAKE IT SOUND LIVE

One of the criticisms of early automation systems is that they lacked a “live” sound. But:

Here at the 1974 NAB, we see that problem being addressed.

There in the rack of Sparta’s demo automation system is a TA-581 time announcer. And what an amazing piece of equipment it is. When the salesman slides it out on the drawer, we see two C-size carts that hold the time announcements, one for odd minutes, the other for even. Time checks can be programmed as events. We’re told that we can purchase pre-recorded carts with the time announcements, or make up our own, for a more localized feel.

The Sparta TA-581 time announcer had two “C” carts for even- and odd-minute time announcements, as well as a quartz-controlled clock.

The clock is controlled by a crystal oscillator, making it super accurate, according to the salesman. The only reference time signals available to us in 1974 are from the National Bureau of Standard’s WWV, and the network tone at the top of the hour. That oscillator may drift slowly, so once a month, the salesman explains, it’s good to check it against the network.

The geek in us wonders though: What happens to that clock after a power failure?  Won’t it give inaccurate time announcements, ruining the illusion that we’re a live operation?

 No worries, explains the salesman. The time announcer is disabled after a power failure until reset, so inaccurate time checks are never aired.

Master clock and network join functions were performed by the Sparta DC-24.

A fairly new arrival in automation systems is a net join, enabling automated stations to join the network for news, then break away for the next event. Sparta’s DC-24 has an LED display for 12- or 24-hour time, driven from a clock that is almost identical to the one found in the time announcer. Plug-in time cards or thumbwheel switches are available for selecting program fade, network join and break times. The DC-24 can control up to four timed events per hour. It also provides timing signals for program time correction. And just in case something goes horribly wrong, pushbuttons on the front panel can manually do the network join functions. Although we don’t see one on the show floor, there are other network join devices that work off the tones sent by the network just before the newscast begins, and immediately after it ends.

Every station’s requirements for automation are different, depending on format, commercial load and market size. Each Spartamation system is custom-built to customer requirements using the aforementioned components.

That just leaves one question. How did automation systems do all of this, and more, without the use of computers?

The short answer is that it was fairly easy, albeit without much of the flexibility that we take for granted today.

 

The brains of Spartamation (also spelled as Sparta-Mation) was the 1052 automatic program controller. It delivered automatic start/stop control and overlap audio switching for 10 sources, plus two special channels for network and fill music. The basic model had a 52-event format capability, with an 11 x 52 matrix board for the format information.

For greater flexibility with carousels, the RS-250 Random Access could be purchased, as it acted as a sub-programmer for the 1052 controller. Once it was installed, two carousels (48 carts) appeared as a single source to the 1052. The 250 determined which carts would be played, which skipped and in what order. When there was no commercial scheduled for an availability programmed into the 1052, the “skip” setting on the 250 would cause the controller to ignore the play command.

Sparta’s 124 and 224 carousels featured 24 cart capacity, teletype logger output and maximum shift time of 4 seconds from cartridge stop to next ready. Maximum drum rotation time was 22 seconds.

The 250 also featured “search-ahead cueing,” which insured that the other carousel had the correct cart loaded ahead of time, so carousels could play back to back with no dead air. An LED readout displayed carousel and tray number to play next. Event position was programmed via a series of slide switches located in a slide-out drawer. This was the 1970s equivalent of non-volatile memory; event programming would be preserved during power outages.

Carts that were produced for automation made use of the secondary and tertiary cue tones. The 150 Hz secondary tone was added at the end of the audio, and it was the signal to the controller to start the next event. Also, a logging encoder was used to record the five-digit code on the cue track that was used for identification. Selection of the correct digits for encoding was usually made via  rotary switches on the encoder.

WARNINGS & LOGGING

While a number of syndication companies, such as Bonneville Beautiful Music, TM Programming, Drake-Chenault and Century 21, distributed pre-recorded music tapes, some stations preferred to create their own. In addition to the usual production facilities, making your own music tapes for automation required additional items. Stations recording 15-inch reels needed a recorder that would handle the larger reels. Also necessary would be an EOM generator to record a 25 Hz tone at 5 dB below reference level for 1.5 seconds on the left channel.

The right combination of cart and tape playback systems, along with a controller and random access, could give a smooth-running automation system. Other essentials included a silence sensor, line amp, 25 Hz filter and program logging.

Sparta’s 1052 Automatic Program Controller used a diode pin matrix board for a 52-event capacity. An FX-52 Format Expander could be added to the system to handle an additional 52 events.

In Sparta systems, the AP-2 alarm panel would beep and flash a warning light whenever the auto restart function of the automation system had been triggered. Auto restart would advance the program controller by one event when a silent period was sensed. This could be the result of brief power outages or tape/equipment failures. In any event, the operator on duty needed to check the tapes and reset the clock if necessary.

The LAM-1 line amp provided VU meter monitoring of both program and cue levels in addition to the traditional line amp function. Optional plug-in 8-watt monitor amplifiers were available for loudspeakers. Also optional was the HP-40 40 Hz high-pass filter. It would remove the 25 Hz EOM tones from the program output. Otherwise, they could be quite audible over the air.

Greater flexibility with tape cartridges was possible by using a random access such as the Sparta RS-250. It would combine two carousels as a single source to the 1052 Automatic Program Controller.

The demo system at our Sparta booth would have had a CBS Audimax connected to the output to ensure a reasonably consistent level between sources. This was a fairly common practice. Gates systems of the same era usually came with two Sta-Level amps.

The FCC regulations for maintaining program logs applied to automated stations in the same way they did for live operations. Just because a commercial was scheduled to run on automation was no proof that it did run.

A logging system would “listen” to what was played, and create an FCC-compliant program log. For carts and tapes, information encoded on the cue track was coupled with a timestamp in 2400 format from the digital clock. We note that these logs follow the letter of the law, if not the spirit.

A typical log printout might include an entry such as “1317  05218.” To figure it out, we would need the encoder directory, usually maintained by the sales department when commercials were recorded. In this case, we discover that at 1:17 p.m. (i.e., at 1317), the automation played a McDonald’s :60 (because the encoder had assigned the cart for the McDonald’s spot a five-digit code of 05218).

Carts were encoded for logging with the Century series record/playback machine and encoder (right). The teletype printer (left) would print out the time stamp from the digital clock, along with the five-digit code that was recorded on the cart.

Logging systems in later years would by advertised as English language, meaning that the tedious task of looking up five-digit codes had been eliminated, and the logs could be easily read by someone who didn’t speak binary.

Dot-matrix printers would not be readily available for a few years, and the program log was usually printed out on a teletype machine, similar to the one used at stations for the AP or UPI news service. Some systems used a printer that used a 2-inch roll of paper and looked similar to an adding machine.

As we head back up the aisle toward the time tunnel and our return to the 21st century, we marvel at all the things that were possible with broadcast automation before the integration of computers. We also wonder: Whatever happened to Spartamation systems, since Sparta isn’t recalled as a major player in the automation market? And for that matter, what happened to Sparta itself?

In 1976, just two years after our visit to the NAB, Sparta had become part of the Cetec Broadcast Group, which was a union of five California-based companies.

Cetec Jampro manufactured TV and FM antennas, Cetec Vega made wireless microphone systems, while Cetec Audio continued with Sparta’s line of consoles, including its Series 10 quad boards. Cetec purchased Schafer automation, and it became Cetec Schafer.

Some of the important automation accessories for 1974 Sparta automation include the LAM-1 line amp/monitor panel (top), AP-2 alarm panel (middle) and 25-SEN sensor/filter (bottom).

Cetec Sparta dropped its automation product lines and focused primarily on transmitters. Sparta had been doing pioneering work on solid-state AM and FM transmitters during the early 1970s, and their SS1000A was the first solid-state AM transmitter type accepted by the FCC. The Sparta AM line featured 1, 2.5 and 5 kW units, while their FM transmitters were solid-state at 250 and 500 watts, and solid-state up to the final tubes at higher power levels. The company also continued to manufacture its Century II modular cart machines, available as triple deck (one motor) desktop and rack-mount units.

Tom Vernon is a longtime Radio World contributor. He wrote here in the previous issue about the history of transmitter remote controls.

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Radio and music junkies have long claimed that by the time radio stations start airing a song, it’s been playing on Spotify for weeks, and that radio is falling behind the curve. Can that be true?

Music research company Integr8 Research decided to get to the bottom of this story. To do so, they compared Spotify’s numbers to data from the Nielsen-BDS powered Billboard Radio Songs chart during the same period to see if radio really is late to the party, or if something else is going on. The data set they used was the top 200 most-streamed songs on Spotify from January through August 2019.

But first, some background is in order, in the form of an earlier post from Integr8, Is Spotify Replacing Record Stores or Radio Stations? Spotify users, claims Inegr8, are comprised largely of an artist’s fan base, who are anxious to check out their latest project. There are also music fans who are anxious to see what all the excitement is about. Integr8 says that radio listeners, on the other hand, are a more diverse group, and it takes longer for them to discover and warm up to new songs.

The difference, they claim, is in usage patterns between the two media. Integr8’s research suggested that new songs are released at about the same time on radio and Spotify. It further claims that the average lifespan of a top 10 song on Spotify is under nine weeks, while the average lifespan of a top 10 song on the radio is over 16 weeks.

Comparison of song cycles between Spotify and radio.

That being the case, says Integr8, if one simply compares what’s #1 on Spotify to what’s in radio’s power rotations, radio is always going to appear to be on a slower timetable.

What can we learn from all of this? According to Integr8, the critics are wrong about radio being the last to release new songs. The key, they say, lies in understanding the difference in consumption patterns. That’s not to say there aren’t lessons for radio in this research. Integr8 believes that music directors will need to carefully weigh both the impact on listenership and on their brand when the listeners have mixed reactions to songs that skyrocket on Spotify.

And what does that mean?

The answers will be forthcoming in a Integr8 webinar that will air Nov. 13 at 2:00 EST/11:00 PST entitled “What Radio Can Learn From Spotify.”

The key topics include:

• What are the different consumption patterns for new music on Spotify — and how radio can use those patterns to spot real hits;

• When should radio start — and stop — playing songs;
• Why Spotify is replacing record stores more than radio stations — and why it matters for how radio programmers interpret Spotify data;
• How new releases have a major impact on music consumption that’s often ignored by radio.

The webinar can be registered for here.

 

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