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Futuri’s survey found a general willingness to accept AI-generated voices on air.

Around 21% of radio listeners think they’ve heard AI-generated content on the air. That’s just one of the findings in Futuri’s new “Audio Consumers’ Perception of AI” report.

The report is one of two new audience surveys released by Futuri in partnership with CMG Custom Research. The surveys explore the perceptions, expectations, and realities surrounding the use of AI in media today. Futuri offers AI-based tools for media companies and content creators.

The surveys found that audiences expect media companies will use AI — and many believe they are already hearing it on the air. They also believe AI an improve program content and are ready for AI-generated voice content, but they want to be informed when and how AI is being used.

In the audio consumer survey, 90% of respondents claimed a familiarity with AI, including 56% saying they had used AI tools. In general, those familiar with AI had a positive view of the technologies; however, non-users were more wary of AI. The familiarity with AI was similar for respondents to the news survey.

When thinking of the use of AI-generated voices, about a third (31%) said AI voices were more likely to make them listen; for a similar number of respondents, the use of AI voices have no effect on listening. However, 28% of respondents said it would make them less likely to listen. The willingness to hear AI-generated voices was greater for listeners to talk programming and podcasts than to who listen to music radio.

Respondents said they’d be more open to AI voices when there wasn’t currently an on-air personality, when a host was on vacation, or when the voice had not been heard before.

The study also tested listeners’ ability to detect the use of AI voices. About 60% of the time an AI voice was perceived as human or vice versa.

Nearly half of respondents for the news survey reported they thought they had heard AI-generated news stories read by human presenters on the air. 45% of respondents felt AI could help news outlets improve their story selection, and 54% thought it could improve weather forecasts.

Both surveys also noted that a large number of respondents listen to podcasts — 90% reported listening daily; 32% daily. Futuri identified repurposing on-air content as podcasts as a potential growth area for broadcasters.

The audio consumer survey was fielded in December 2023 and had 2,634 respondents. The news consumer survey was fielded in March 2024 and included 2,500 respondents.

[Read more Radio World business news here.]

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LAS VEGAS — For forty years, Robert Heymann has served as a media broker, helping buyers and sellers complete transactions with values ranging from $11,000 for an Indiana low-powered TV station to the $165 million deal that created Classic Rocker “The Drive” in Chicago.

Given his experience with transactions, born out of his ownership of an FM radio station in San Francisco in the early 1980s, what does Heymann have to say about the deal-making environment of today and its overall health? The assessment is hardly rosy.

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Ford Ennals

After two years at the helm of Commercial Radio & Audio, Ford Ennals has resigned effective immediately.

CRA is the industry body representing 260 commercial radio stations across Australia, managing audio research, audience measurement surveys, revenue reporting, and regulatory and legislative matters.

Jo Dick, CRA chief commercial officer, will manage the CEO role whilst the board undertakes a search for a new CEO.

Ciaran Davis, chair of the CRA Board, thanked Ennals for his leadership of CRA, stating “Ford has made some great contributions during his tenure with CRA. We wish him well for his future role.”

Ford joined CRA in April 2022 after a long tenure in the United Kingdom working on the digital television switchover and then the expansion of DAB in that country.

“I’ve had the privilege to successfully guide the CRA through a key period of transition. I extend my gratitude to the CRA team and our members,” stated Ennals. “I am confident that the commercial radio and audio sector is well-positioned for future growth and success.”

During his time as CRA CEO, he led the rebranding of the association from “Commercial Radio Australia” to “Commercial Radio & Audio.” He also oversaw the launch last year of the Radio 360° audience measurement system.

[Related: Radio World’s 2022 interview with Ennals.]

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The FCC in March granted an application for a construction permit filed by WQVR(AM) 940 in Webster, Mass., requesting licensed nighttime operation.

This is noteworthy because WQVR has been licensed to operate during daytime hours with a High-Efficiency Broadband Antenna or HEBA, developed by Worldwide Antenna Systems.

The HEBA is a dual-feed antenna designed to have a much smaller footprint than a standard guyed tower with a quarter-wavelength ground system for a medium-wave antenna. WorldWide Antenna Systems partnered with WQVR, previously WGFP, to prototype different designs of the HEBA under experimental daytime operation. The station began full-time broadcasting with the HEBA during the day in December 2016 at 1 kW, and after its RF proof was accepted by the FCC, it was granted a license to operate with it during daytime hours in July 2018.

“The nighttime grant is the culmination of six years of research and we are thrilled to have the authorization of the FCC to validate this remarkable technology,” WorldWide Antenna Systems Managing Partner Tom Poulos said.

Using NEC-5 modeling software, WQVR’s engineering team — which includes the HEBA’s architect, Kurt Gorman, Isotrope’s David Maxson, Soundcart’s John Garrett and Loud & Clean Broadcast Science’s Grady Moates — ran nighttime interference analysis to confirm whether its interference contour was within the necessary FCC limits. It submitted its findings to the Media Bureau in February.

WQVR’s HEBA is 75 feet above the ground, situated on 2,500 square feet of land. With just one tee-joint welding, Poulos said the antenna has sustained through multiple New England nor-easters and severe weather outbreaks.

Poulos believes that with its reduced height, and no need for a large, buried ground system, the HEBA could be a way for AM stations to monetize the current property they operate from, which was the genesis of WQVR’s initial partnership with WorldWide Antenna Systems.

“There is also no longer a need to tune the station in the spring and fall because of the change in the weather,” Poulos said, which he believes could reduce station operating and maintenance costs.

WQVR is licensed to run 4 watts with its nighttime pattern. The station expects to receive a license to cover from the commission for transmitting from the HEBA after sunset in the next few weeks.
(Read the FCC’s nighttime authorization for WQVR’s High Efficiency Broadband Antenna.)

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The NAB and Society of Broadcast Engineers are releasing updated self-inspection guides for FM radio and television stations.

The guides assist broadcasters in conducting a self-inspection of their stations, as well as for contract inspectors who are part of the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program. Guides for AM, low-power and translator stations are expected to be released soon.

The guides provide up-to-date, standardized guidance to help comply with FCC rules and policies. The FCC stopped publishing self-inspection checklists in 2003, but rules and policies have continued to change since then.

“NAB is excited to announce these self-inspection guides as a benefit to both NAB and SBE members,” said Robert Weller, vice president for spectrum policy at NAB. “The success of this project was possible through close collaboration between our organizations and demonstrates the commitment of broadcasters to proper station operation.”

The guides will be available initially as a free member benefit for NAB and SBE members, downloadable from the member sections of the associations’ websites.

The guides will be formally introduced April 16, during a joint NAB/SBE session “FCC Enforcement – New Self-Inspection Guides Can Help Your Station Avoid Fines.” Representatives from NAB, the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association (NASBA) and SBE will present the new guides.

[Click here for more news from NAB Show 2024.]

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With a fully synthetic co-presenter named Ameca, findings from a comprehensive study on the role of generative artificial intelligence in broadcast media were shared at a NAB Show 2024 presentation featuring the CEO of Futuri, with data gathered in collaboration with CMG Custom Research.

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New SBE Fellows with SBE President Ted Hand. From left: RJ Russell, Ted Hand, Andera Cummis, and Conrad Trautmann. (Photo courtesy SBE)

At today’s SBE Membership Meeting during the 2024 NAB Show, the Society of Broadcast Engineering honors three new Fellows. Fellows are elected by the SBE board of directors in recognition of having rendered conspicuous service or made value contributions to the advancement of broadcast engineering or allied professions.

On April 13, the society’s board of directors elected Andrea Cummis, CBT, of Orange, N.J.; Robert “RJ” Russell, CPBE, ATSC3, CBNT, of Magnolia, Del.; and Conrad Trautmann, CPBE, of Trumbull, Conn., to the membership rank of Fellow.

Cummis is chief technology officer at WLVT-TV in Bethlehem, Pa. She is immediate past president of the SBE board of directors and has been an SBE member since 1996. She has served on the SBE board several times between 2003 and 2019, including as president (2021–2023), vice president (2019–2021), and treasurer (2009–2011; 2013–2017). As chair of the SBE Publications Committee, she oversaw release of the SBE Engineering Handbook.

Cummis was awarded the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year award in 2022.

In her nomination, one endorser said she has “a breadth of expertise in the industry, holding degrees in electrical engineering, law and technology and an MBA. She has reached out to encourage and support — especially women — to enter and advance their broadcast engineering careers.”

Russell is president of Technical Broadcast Solutions Inc. which he founded in 2017, as well as frequency coordination manager for the SBE. In the latter role, he manages frequency coordination issues with the U.S. Department of Defense in shared spectrum. He has held high-level engineering positions with Fox, E.W. Scripps, BYU Broadcasting, Sprint-Nextel, as well as engineering positions at multiple broadcast TV stations.

Russell joined the SBE in 1999 and has served on the board of directors, including terms as vice president and treasurer. In 2020, he was awarded the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year award.

Included in Russell’s nomination letters was the comment that he is “brilliant in the area of technical regulatory advocacy work involving the FCC generally, and especially in the critical area of broadcast auxiliary spectrum management.” It went on to note that RJ has been “one of the best advocates for broadcast engineering at the FCC.”

Trautmann is the chief technology officer of Cumulus Media, a position he has held since 2021. He joined Cumulus Media’s Westwood One in 2000 as executive vice president for technology. Trautmann also serves on the NAB Radio Technology Committee.

He joined the SBE in 1985 and has served on the national board of directors several times between 2001 and 2011. He has also served New York Chapter 15 in a variety of roles, including as chapter chair, treasurer and certification committee chair.

One of his nominations described Trautmann as “an invaluable mentor and technical resource.” Another nomination wrote, “Conrad Trautmann is a true gentleman who can communicate with a group of engineers one moment and then walk into a boardroom and present such a level of confidence like no other.”

In addition to being recognized at the 2024 NAB Show, the three new fellows will be honored at this year’s SBE National Meeting in September in Madison, Wis.

[Click here for more news from NAB Show 2024.]

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LAS VEGAS — Sunday’s sundown soirée on the Las Vegas Strip saw another high-profile radio affair come together supremely at the Capitol Grille in Las Vegas for the third annual “Cocktails and Conversation” event during this year’s NAB Show.

Hosted by vCreative, Jacobs Media Strategies, Beasley Media Group, Benztown, Quu, Skyview Networks, Xperi, Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR, this year’s assembly once again hit maximum capacity as radio and audio industry professionals united, ranging from C-suite executives to individual station managers, including NAB President Curtis LeGeyt and this year’s MIW Mildred Carter mentees.

Across the street from the Wynn and Encore, attendees gathered for an evening of networking and industry discussions. From artificial intelligence to AM radio, political ad spend, and more, this year marked another opportunity for positivity and candid discussions alongside more lighthearted radio fare and hors d’oeuvres.

 

 

He was previously President of Sales for Westwood One and was with the New York-based radio network from 2015-2023.

Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia in New York from 2008-2015, following five years as Senior Account Executive with the former CBS Radio in New York. From 1998-2003, he was Broadcast Media Supervisor for Macy’s.

Introducing the new President of Sales at Key Networks: Ron Russo.

Russo will lead Key Networks’ ad sales team and work directly with Key Networks clients, including Bloomberg Radio, to create new sales opportunities and revenue streams for the company. Russo will report directly to Key Networks’ Chief Executive Officer, Rob Koblasz, and to Dennis Green, Chief Operating Officer. He is based in New York.

Russo succeeds Jason Wilberding, who Koblsz thanked for his contributions and wished him well “in the real estate endeavors he is leaving to pursue.”

As the NAB Show opens, what are the most important business issues facing U.S. radio owners and executives? We asked six experts.

“Continuing to keep our over-the-air broadcast relevant for both advertisers and audiences by incorporating new technology platforms to our value offering and compete with other digital content media outlets,” replied Felipe Chávez, COO of Bustos Media.

Felipe Chávez

For consultant Mike McVay, “The challenge ahead is shifting radio, as a part of legacy media, into being an integral part of multitier media campaigns. Impressions is important and it’s nearly impossible for an audio medium like radio to accurately validate reach. The results must come from selling services, merchandise, products and influence.”

Rhonda Lapham, market president of iHeartMedia for Cape Cod and Providence, said, “There are lobbying groups focused on issues like taking free over-the-air broadcast radio out of cars. This would make it harder for us to serve our communities, which is our mission, as well as harder for FEMA to reach people with critical lifesaving information.

“Broadcast radio is the only medium licensed by the federal government to serve America communities; it’s our most important priority. Anything that would make that harder, or make it harder for our communities to easily access free, over-the-air broadcast radio, is a concern for me,” Lapham said.

Mike McVay

Chad Lopez, president of 77WABC and Red Apple Media in New York, wants to correct a narrative that radio is dead. “This has had a trickle-down effect from advertisers, to agencies, all the way down to how investors see us,” he said.

“The days of high multiples are gone. Correcting the narrative is essential for radio groups and owners. The audio medium may be challenged by the ever-growing number of other media distribution choices and what’s going on with AM radio in electric cars. However, when you have station owners and groups that invest in the product, you see positive results in ratings and revenue follows. 

“From small businesses to large, when ownership invests in their product, so will Wall Street.”

Technologies

Rick Ducey, managing director of BIA Advisory Services, says several technologies are worth watching for their possible impact.

“First, the FCC’s recent move to approve over-the-air geotargeting of content, including ads, for several minutes per hour will provide the option for local radio stations to get into the geotargeting business,” he said.

“While the NAB and some broadcast groups see downsides, we believe the option to offer broadcast geotargeting is a positive, and this is supported by brand and agency studies, engineering studies and BIA’s own revenue forecasts.”

Rick Ducey

He also pointed to the critical role of the in-car environment. “Making more innovative uses of in-dash display technology for both synchronized (to the audio) and non-synchronized (i.e., not related to the audio) ads, displaying other data such as sports, weather, traffic, local interest data in text scrolls and graphics, using QR codes and other innovation applications for HD Radio and RDS analog receivers will add strong value for audiences,” Ducey continued.

“And third, the work Xperi is doing with DTS AutoStage to bridge the linear broadcast and connected car experience is a path to future business models for local radio groups as auto OEMs increase their adoption of this tech.”

Ducey thinks generative AI is only beginning to deliver on its expectations. “That said, it is a high-value impact for sure. GenAI will be extremely valuable for content creation and editing including news, sports and commercial content. Of course, GenAI is a tool that must be designed and managed well to provide the best outcomes and minimize unintended negative consequences.”

Mike McVay agrees that “We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of AI’s abilities — improving commercial content, upgrading radio websites, providing talent with more content, and enabling promotion departments to be more efficient in reaching potential listeners. AI is a tool, but it’s not the medium itself.”

Said Rhonda Lapham of iHeart, “AI is an important new platform that has and will continue to add great value to our industry in many ways, both for our products and how we operate. This new technology will help us improve and streamline day-to-day activities, from prospecting for new clients to researching and preparing for pitches, scanning and summarizing documents. We’ll be rolling out our own iHeart-specific AI solutions to help our internal teams use AI effectively.”

Chad Lopez

of Red Apple Media takes a cautious view about using generative AI on the air, especially for formats that require active listening such as news, talk and sports. 

“The product on all formats, however, suffers. A computer is not going to generate the human element of interaction and intimacy, which is exactly what makes radio a terrific medium for not only reaching but influencing audiences. This is what we need to push, over and over again, in our dialogue with advertisers, agencies and investors.

“In terms of running a station, automation can run a board, but you don’t get rid of the people. You move them into content creation. You need the human element to know if what’s being said is of interest to the audience. We need to learn how to use automation to our advantage and enhance the product by freeing those employees to focus on creating additional content that our listeners are yearning for.”

Lopez said streaming and digital assets can give advertisers more avenues to reach listeners and combat the image of radio as an “old” medium. 

Felipe Chávez of Bustos Media says AI has proven useful in some areas such as copywriting and translation, though he would like to see more applications that specialize in Spanish-language radio. Looking beyond AI, he said, “Digital FM asymmetric power operation is another interesting topic to increase the reach of the station’s HD channels to new audiences. We are also watching with great interest the FM booster geotargeting capabilities.”

What next?

Over the next several years, what will be the most important change in this business?

Nicole Ovadia

“The most successful radio companies will continue to evolve into marketing companies,” McVay replied. “In this way it is a regression to when we sold products and services. The purpose of attracting the largest audience is to expose those products and services in order to increase revenue for our advertising clientele.”

Rick Ducey’s colleague Nicole Ovadia, vice president of forecasting and analysis at BIA Advisory Services, said programmatic advertising — “featuring self-serve on-boarding to tap into the long-tail SMB market, where there are millions of potential accounts” — is critical for both OTA and digital ad inventory. 

Also, she said, “Managing and where possible reducing debt leverage and creating more favorable capital structures is critical. And first and foremost, create products and services that audiences and advertisers want.”

Chad Lopez hopes the industry will embrace the intimacy that other media cannot replicate. 

“There are many ways to get in front of your audience digitally; however there is still an appetite for that connection that only radio provides. Radio needs to get back to grassroots strategies. Whether it comes down to events or doing live remotes, we need to create experiences on radio, inside the station and out.”

Rhonda Lapham

He wants radio to get smarter about building connections with younger consumers.

“Many subscribe to the notion that people under 30 don’t want to work in radio, let alone AM radio. We are building a younger audience, and that should be an important topic for everyone in radio. Part of building a younger audience is building a younger staff that is invested in the medium.”

Said Rhonda Lapham, “I feel that radio will continue to evolve and discover new ways to be where consumers are. Delivering information and entertainment when and where consumers want it and how they want it. 

“Not knowing what the future has in store in terms of technology, I do know that our industry can pivot and evolve right along with it, it always has,” she concluded. “Look at the role digital has played for us. Digital has substantially added further radio listening, it’s additive listening for us. We are agnostic as to which device listeners want to receive our content on.”

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

The post What Are Radio’s Biggest Business Challenges? appeared first on Radio World.

Nautel has launched a program offering stations a “digital radio test drive.” It will allow customers who buy or lease a GV2 transmitter to also have a six-month trial of HD Radio with minimal investment.

“Nautel wants to break down the barriers keeping many broadcasters from trying HD Radio broadcasting,” the manufacturer said in its announcement.

“HD Radio transmission has the potential to create critical presence on the car dashboard and help stations stay competitive in a field of alternative media choices.” A recent study by Quu Inc. found that two out of three new cars in the United States now have HD Radio.

The test drive offer takes advantage of Nautel’s software-based air chain. Broadcasters need a GV2 transmitter, content delivery via LiveWire and an Xperi license.

“For eligible broadcasters Nautel can provide Omnia for Nautel audio processing, importer, exporter and exgine as a software load. That allows the broadcaster to place their main station and as many as three extra multiplexed channels on air for up to six months. Broadcasters won’t need extra expensive boxes to implement HD Radio because audio processing, digital coding and synchronization will all be running inside the GV2.”

Head of Marketing and Product Strategy John Whyte was quoted in the release saying the program allows broadcasters to test revenue-generating opportunities without a commitment to the software licenses and HD hardware normally required, so they can experiment with formats, language programming or pop-up event stations.

“Additionally, stations will have the opportunity to see the impact on listener retention and engagement when album art or graphics appear on a car dashboard. While we can’t eliminate the need for a broadcaster to have an HD capable transmitter, our ‘Just Add Audio’ HD approach helps us do our best to minimize the next $40–50K worth of boxes and complexity that may keep a broadcaster from getting an HD Radio signal on the air.”

A broadcaster would lease or purchase a GV2 and obtain an HD Radio license from Xperi and trial agreement with Nautel. They would provide content for up to four channels delivered via Livewire or AES67. The “Just Add Audio” capability in the GV2 transmitter is Gen4 ready, allowing users to test HD1, 2, 3, and 4 streams without purchasing external equipment such as Importer, Exporter and Exgine.

The GV2 also incorporates a software processor, Omnia for Nautel, that covers FM and HD Radio audio processing feeds and provides Livewire AoIP inputs for audio streams. HD operation is achieved through a software license from Nautel. Under the test drive the Nautel license fees are waived for six months.

At the end of the trial, the broadcaster can decide to continue with all or a partial implementation of the HD Radio deployment by purchasing or subscribing to Nautel’s software-based air chain. If the broadcaster decides against HD Radio transmission at that time, the GV2 will default to traditional FM transmission.

The post Nautel Introduces “HD Digital Radio Test Drive” appeared first on Radio World.

LAS VEGAS — The highly anticipated launch of a datacasting platform to enable data distribution across all current Sinclair TV markets where it has a NEXTGEN TV “lighthouse” with ATSC 3.0 technology.

Introducing Broadspan, which will serve the 40% of the U.S. where Sinclair has a broadcast presence.

 

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One of Canada’s biggest radio and television broadcasting companies isn’t exactly celebrating 25 years of serving audiences — at least from a fiscal standpoint.

With the release of its latest quarterly results Friday (4/12), Corus Entertainment shares plummeted on the TSX, putting the parent of TV network Global and 39 radio stations on shaky ground with a difficult three months already unfolding.

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The need for Urban One to have a little more time to submit its quarterly earnings reports for 2024 and its full-year 2023 results is no secret. With the July 2023 dismissal of BDO as its outside accounting firm, and the subsequent hiring of EY to take over, a restatement of quarterly financial reports for several quarters was needed.

With Urban One’s FY 2023 report still not filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, the Nasdaq Stock Market has notified the company that its stock could be delisted. The key word here is could.

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Spanish Broadcasting System has been handed a proposed fine from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau for the apparent failure of one of its Los Angeles radio stations to deliver a prize to a contest winner in the prescribed time the FM said it would.

 

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It is a professional sports club established in 2012 as a founding member of the National Women’s Soccer League. Now, it has local broadcast rights for 11 regular season games secured, thanks to a partnership with a local TEGNA over-the-air TV station.

The Seattle Reign FC has its games airing on KONG-16, the sibling of KONG-5 in Seattle-Tacoma. The first game was scheduled for 5pm Sunday (4/14) as the team took on “Bay FC.”

Seattle Reign FC CEO Vincent Berthillot commented, “We’re thrilled to establish a partnership with KING 5 this season and provide our fans with exclusive Reign FC content. We look forward to teaming up on dedicated coverage that reflects the demand and growth we are experiencing in women’s soccer, while also working together on community-based initiatives that impact our region.”

TEGNA’s KING 5 Media Group will have local broadcast rights to six home and five away games, including the Reign’s next three games. As the official local broadcast partner of Seattle Reign FC, KING 5 will also provide fans with special access to post-game coverage, exclusive interviews with Reign FC coaches and players and deliver unique web and social media content.

“We are delighted to forge a relationship with Seattle Reign FC, continuing our commitment to lead the market with dedicated local sports reporting and programming.” said KING & KONG President/GM Christy Moreno. “We’re equally proud we can provide our Northwest communities with free, over-the-air and live stream coverage of professional women’s soccer and unparalleled coverage of the Reign FC organization.”

The fourteen-team NWSL is widely considered to be the most competitive women’s professional soccer league in the world.

Seattle Reign FC games available on KONG-TV and the KING 5+ app in 2024:

 

• Seattle Reign FC at Bay FC – Sunday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC vs. Chicago Red Stars – Sunday, April 21, at 3:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC at North Carolina Courage – Saturday, April 27, at 4:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC vs. Kansas City Current – Wednesday, May 8, at 7:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC vs. Orlando Pride – Sunday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC at Washington Spirit – Friday, May 24, at 4:30 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC at Kansas City Current – Sunday, June 9, at 3:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC vs. Racing Louisville FC – Sunday, June 23, at 3:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC vs. Utah Royals FC – Sunday, July 7, at 3:00 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC at Houston Dash – Saturday, September 21, at 5:30 p.m. PT
• Seattle Reign FC vs. Bay FC – Sunday, September 29, at 3:00 p.m. PT

 

A Class A FM serving the Portsmouth, Ohio listening area is trading hands. What does this mean for a Classic Rocker with a name that’s traditionally been used for stations airing a Smooth Jazz format?

It’s a question that also applies to an AM/FM combo also poised to trade hands.

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For a century, it has served the Midwest with one of the station’s biggest AM radio signals. From the 1960s through the mid-1980s, it was one of the world’s most-listened-to Top 40 radio stations. Today, it is a Cumulus Media spoken word property that’s celebrating its 100th birthday.

WLS-AM 890 in Chicago debuted on April 12, 1924, at 6pm. It took its call letters from the phrase “World’s Largest Store,” referring to Sears-Roebuck.

On Saturday (4/13) and Sunday, a two-part 100th anniversary special was placed on the lineup, for 4pm-8pm Central. It is hosted by Jeff Davis.

What started as a station for farmers evolved into the epicenter for rock ‘n’ roll in the 1960s and 1970s.

For the past 30 years, has been a home for news and talk programming in Chicago, competing against other longtime big-signal AMs: WBBM-AM and WGN-AM.

Marv Nyren, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media in Chicago, commented, “WLS is bigger than a destination on your radio dial. It’s a Chicago institution and treasure. Some 100 years ago, radio was simply sound communication via radio waves but there’s nothing simple about the impact of WLS on Chicago. WLS has been a neighbor, a friend, and a mentor for people in Chicagoland. It’s been a place where people can go for entertainment and information – and it’s been a companion to the biggest moments in history. We are excited to usher in WLS-AM’s next 100 years with Chicago’s best audio content on-air, online, on-demand, and onsite.”

WLS Program Director Stephanie Tichenor added, “We are not bound by physical limits. WLS is on your phone, your smart speakers, in your car, and on your desktop. Our signal only grows in this digital world, and we will continue to grow and evolve thanks to our amazing team. Please join us in wishing the Big 89 a Happy 100th Birthday and here’s to the next century of WLS, radio, and Chicago!”

Digital Alert Systems, Telos Alliance and Nautel have partnered to “reimagine” EAS alerting for radio. The companies say their joint approach, dubbed “EAS At The Edge,” will bring the emergency alert process into the interconnected AoIP world.

The concept is on display at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

“Unlike legacy EAS implementations that have gone unchanged since the 1990s, EAS At The Edge … leverages modern IP-based content distribution and control to route alerts precisely to their required destinations,” the companies said in a press release.

The manufacturers say traditional EAS deployments depend upon cascading layers of hardware and multiple boxes, often one per transmitter, even when serving combined transmission sites in a single market.

“EAS At The Edge replaces standalone hardware centricity with an intelligent, one-to-many approach that places critical hardware at the edges of the air chain,” read the release. “Utilizing IP-based content distribution to control and insert emergency messages via the Livewire AoIP protocol, EAS data can be geo-targeted for precise alert routing, with a single input node shared for insertion to multiple streams, resulting in significant cost savings.”

According to the press release, similar edge-to-edge systems have been deployed in video environments for years and “applying this model to radio as well will cover even more broadcast use cases.” 

The groups say the flexible nature of IP-based systems ensures that EAS At The Edge complies with current regulations and can address future FCC rules as they evolve. They say this is an important feature and noted that EAS devices have undergone a series of updates in recent months, notably to prioritize CAP-formatted alerts over legacy ones.

Two demonstrations of EAS At The Edge are being offered at the 2024 NAB Show, which runs through Wednesday, April 17. 

In booth W3920, Digital Alert Systems is showing a DASDEC emergency messaging platform networked to an Omnia.9 audio processor, which is typically the last step in the air chain before the transmitter. In the Nautel booth, W3042, a DASDEC is linked directly to a Nautel GV2 transmitter and virtual air chain, injecting EAS alerts directly into the transmitter and its internal “Omnia For Nautel” audio processor. When an EAS message is received, Nautel’s embedded processor instantly airs alerts on both the FM and the HD air chain.

“Omnia and Nautel have collaborated for years, and both companies recognize virtual air chains are the future,” said Telos Alliance Product Manager Geoff Steadman in the release. “EAS integration has been a sticking point due to the constraints of legacy approaches, but with Digital Alert Systems’ deep knowledge of workflow and regulatory realities, and their adoption of the Livewire+/AES67 standard, EAS finally enters the radio IP ecosystem.”

Bill Robertson, vice president of business development for Digital Alert Systems, said “What we’re showing at NAB is our first integration, but we already see more ways to evolve this as it parallels many of the things we’ve been doing in the video space.”

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