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It’s a broadcast technology company focused on video, and it is eagerly anticipating the NAB Show, scheduled for April 14-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

What can attendees look forward to from Sencore?

For one, the company is preparing an exhibit with a “comprehensive display” of Sencore’s expertise in managed content and distribution, monitoring, contribution encoding, and the latest in ATSC 3.0 technology.

“This year’s exhibition is a unique opportunity for industry professionals to explore the latest advancements and witness firsthand how Sencore continues to redefine the possibilities in video systems,” the company shares.

Aaron Doughten, Director of Technology and Marketing at Sencore, added, “NAB is a pivotal platform for us to engage with industry leaders and showcase our latest projects. Our products are designed to meet the evolving needs of the broadcast, distribution and commercial AV markets.”

At the Sencore booth, visitors can delve into the world of video transport and monitoring of modern AV over IP systems, witnessing how Sencore empowers networks and operations teams globally. In addition to the core offerings, Sencore is excited to present advancements in managed content and distribution, monitoring solutions, contribution encoding capabilities, and ATSC 3.0 technology.

Sencore will be at booth W2401 during NAB 2024. To schedule a meeting in advance, visit
www.sencore.com or reach out directly to salesonline@sencore.com for more information.

Captivating narratives, stunning visuals and life-like character interaction: artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting traditional content creation and delivery.

This explains why a leading AI and computer-vision researcher will dive into the cutting-edge world of generative AI during a keynote presentation at the opening session of the 2024 NAB Broadcast Engineering and IT (BEIT) Conference.

The event held during the NAB Show, from April 13-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will see the presence of Pinscreen co-founder and CEO Dr. Hao Li.

“Dr. Li’s insights into how AI is shaping the future of content delivery will be invaluable to conference attendees,” said NAB Emerging Technology SVP John Clark, who also serves as the Executive Director of the NAB’s PILOT program. “This high-energy conference kickoff lays the groundwork for over 70 presentations and panels that will explore the rapidly changing media technology landscape.”

Pinscreen is a Los Angeles-based startup that builds the world’s most advanced AI-driven virtual avatars. In his presentation, Dr. Li will peel back the layers of generative AI for production – including the latest advancements in AI lip sync technology, face swap and deaging, as well as the future potential of AI technology.

Dr. Li will present “Generative AI for Content Production: From Storytelling to Visual Effects, AI Lip Sync, and Beyond” on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. at the NAB BEIT Conference Opening Session.

 

The NAB BEIT Conference will focus on the future of content delivery, next-generation systems and the opportunities and challenges at hand throughout its 70+ sessions. The conference’s focus is designed for broadcast engineers and technicians, media technology managers, broadcast equipment manufacturers and R&D engineers.

The NAB BEIT Conference is part of the Core Education Collection.

Norwegian real-time graphics and live production specialist Vizrt has added a German AV and IT-focused distributor to its roster of European channel partners — ComLine.

ComLine provides market leading technology, expertise, and support to resellers, enterprises and entrepreneurs looking to stay relevant, future-proof their workflows, and grow in the ever-evolving digital world.

Managing Director Richard Gäbel comments, “For ComLine, the professional live production solutions from market leader Vizrt are fantastic additions to the existing product portfolio. From the TriCaster Mini Go to produce smaller live events to the TriCaster 2 Elite and Viz 3Play for broadcasting, Vizrt offers integrated, production-proven and hybrid cloud solutions in all expansion stages.”

He adds that in the production of live events, the Vizrt product line is beneficial thanks to parallel processing of all production steps in teamwork. “Added to this is the great flexibility of I/O signals from classic SDI to NDI and other IP formats,” Gabel says. “We are looking forward to working with Vizrt and supporting our new partner in larger projects with our technical expertise and are always available as a backbone.”

Vizrt has hundreds of certified partners worldwide that work directly with Vizrt technology users.

— With reporting from RBR+TVBR in Kaiserslautern, Germany

RBR+TVBR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

A new line of Shure wireless clip-on microphones, the MoveMic Microphone System, has attracted attention for its ability to deliver broadcast-quality audio in an ultra-lightweight design — an advancement that’s particularly ideal for broadcast media content creators and journalists, as well as videographers.

It’s compact, and is a dual-channel direct-to-phone wireless lavalier product developed with a custom acoustic design and proprietary wireless software.

“Shure’s discreet and durable MoveMic series connects directly to phones in both single—MoveMic One—and dual channel—MoveMic Two—configurations for use with our MOTIV and MOTIV Video apps on iOS and Android,” the company notes.

For those seeking universal compatibility, the standalone MoveMic Receiver and bundled MoveMic Two Receiver Kit integrate with devices like cameras, computers, and third-party smartphone apps.

“On-the-go interviews have become the primary way journalists, content creators, and TikTokers gather the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of people around the world,” said Eduardo Valdes, Associate Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Management at Shure. “The rise in this style of content has created an ideal opportunity to introduce an incredibly discreet, extraordinary-sounding wireless lavalier microphone system like MoveMic. We’ve applied our expertise as the leaders in professional wireless tools for performance, broadcast, and recording to create this super portable device. Creators will love that they can simultaneously send two channels of audio directly to their phone while keeping mics covert on camera.”

Each MoveMic wireless clip-on microphone features up to eight hours of battery life. Users can achieve two additional eight-hour charges within the charging case, giving creators an entire day of recording for every full charge. USB-C connectivity makes MoveMic universally chargeable with any USB-C capable charging platform.

After pairing MoveMic One and Two with a user’s preferred device, the microphones will automatically reconnect to the last-paired device when removed from the charging case and powered on. By eliminating setup time between shots, creators, journalists, and videographers can be ready to record in an instant.

Designed to be paired with the free MOTIV Audio and Video apps, creators leveraging MoveMic One and Two can configure audio settings like gain, limiter, compression, noise reduction, and EQ. Additionally, users can record and livestream content to Facebook directly from the MOTIV Video mobile app, with YouTube livestream integration coming in spring 2024.

Pricing and Availability:

The MoveMic system and components are available now at Shure.com and select retailers.

Product What’s In the Box Price MoveMic One

• 1x MoveMic Wireless Lavalier Microphone
• Charging Case
• USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

$249 (US) MoveMic Two

• 2x MoveMic Wireless Lavalier Microphones
• Charging Case
• USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

$349 (US) MoveMic Two Receiver Kit

• 2x MoveMic Wireless Lavalier Microphones
• Charging Case
• MoveMic Receiver
• 2x USB-C to USB-C Cable
• 3.5mm – 3.5mm Cable
• Roll Bag/Protective Carrying Case

$499 (US) MoveMic Receiver

• MoveMic Receiver
• USB-C to USB-C Cable

$199 (US)

The latest MoveMic series of products is now available for purchase at Shure.com or at authorized Shure retailers.

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The Media Bureau affirms the dismissal of the application of Unity Media and Radio for a new LPFM station at Athens, Tennessee

The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019 amended the Communications Act of 1934 to require all U.S.-based foreign media outlets submit reports every 6 months to the Commission regarding the outlets' relations to their foreign principals.

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The National Association of Broadcasters has announced the recipients of its 2024 NAB Engineering Achievement Awards, which honor radio and TV professionals. Established in 1959, the two awards are given to individuals who have made “significant contributions to advancing broadcast engineering,” according to the NAB.

David Kolesar

This year, the radio engineering award will be presented to David Kolesar, who has worked in the broadcast engineering field for more than 30 years. Kolesar serves as a senior broadcast engineer for Hubbard Radio, where he has worked since 2006. He previously was an electronics engineer in the Information Technology Division of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

“Kolesar is a broadcast engineering pioneer, having commissioned the first full-time all-digital AM radio station in the U.S. by converting, adapting and rehabilitating Hubbard station WWFD in Frederick, Md., serving as the chief engineer as well as the program director,” said the NAB in a press release.

“In addition to his efforts to make all-digital AM radio a reality, Kolesar has been an advocate for all-digital AM within the industry, sharing and documenting his work in numerous technical papers and at conferences, and continuing research on ways to improve all-digital AM performance.”

Over the years, Kolesar has been recognized by other industry organizations for his contributions, including receiving the Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award in 2019 and the Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 37 Engineer of the Year award in 2020. He also submits occasional commentaries to Radio World.

Winston Caldwell

The 2024 television engineering award will be presented to Winston Caldwell, who has more than 25 years of electrical engineering experience, specializing in network communications, security, spectrum management and standards development, according to the NAB.

Caldwell began his career at Fox Corporation in 2000, spending 23 years there in various engineering roles, including vice president of spectrum engineering. He then became an independent consultant in 2023 with Pearl TV, the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority (A3SA) and NAB among his clients.

He also managed engineering efforts for transitioning Fox stations to the ATSC 3.0 system, and served as chairman of the NAB Next Generation Broadcast Platform Task Force.

“Caldwell’s technical analysis in contributions to development of spectrum policy have been utilized in regulatory matters, domestically at the FCC and internationally at the International Telecommunication Union,” said NAB in the release.

Both Kolesar and Caldwell will be honored at the We Are Broadcasters Awards, held on the Main Stage of the 2024 NAB Show on April 16 at 9:30 a.m.

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

The post David Kolesar to Receive NAB’s Radio Engineering Achievement Award appeared first on Radio World.

The National Association of Broadcasters is set to honor consulting engineer Winston Caldwell with the 2024 NAB Television Engineering Achievement Award. Established in 1959, the Award recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to advancing the field of broadcast engineering, with nominations coming from their peers.

Caldwell will be honored alongside Hubbard Radio’s David Kolesar during the We Are Broadcasters Awards at the NAB Show Main Stage on April 16.

Winston Caldwell boasts over 25 years of experience in electrical engineering, with a focus on network communications, security, spectrum management, and standards development. Caldwell’s notable career began at Fox Corporation in 2000, where he spent 23 years in various engineering capacities, including vice president of spectrum engineering.

In 2023, he transitioned to independent consulting, with clients including Pearl TV, the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority, and NAB. Caldwell’s contributions include leading the development and deployment of the A3SA security system for Next Gen TV services and managing the transition of Fox stations to the ATSC 3.0 system.

He has also played a pivotal role in spectrum policy development and regulation, both domestically and internationally.

David Kolesar is being awarded the 2024 Radio Engineering Achievement Award, with more than three decades of experience in broadcast engineering. Currently a senior broadcast engineer with Hubbard Radio since 2006, Kolesar’s earlier career included a role as an Electronics Engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Information Technology Division.

An organization seeking to build a low-power FM station in a suburb of Cincinnati has failed to convince the FCC to overturn its rejection.

Blueberry Radio, a non-profit organized last year, sought to broadcast on 105.5 FM from Liberty Township, Ohio, and filed an application during the 2023 LPFM window. It planned to offer educational programming including discussion groups, news talk shows, community forums and coverage of local council meetings, from a facility it would own and operate.

The Media Bureau dismissed the application in January, saying it would violate second-adjacent spacing requirements in respect to both 105.1 WUBE(FM), a Class B signal licensed to Cincinnati, and 105.9 WNKN(FM), a Class B licensed to Middletown. In the case of WNKN, the proposed Blueberry Radio signal would be just 8 miles away, well short of the commission’s spacing requirement of 42 miles.

The Local Community Radio Act does authorize the commission to waive second-adjacent spacing requirements if an applicant requests a waiver in its application and demonstrates that its facilities would not result in interference.

Blueberry Radio did not submit a waiver at first, but in late January it filed a petition to seek reinstatement of its application as well as a waiver of the second-adjacent requirement. 

It blamed an oversight by its consulting engineer for not submitting a waiver in the initial application, and it argued that its signal would not cause interference, citing an engineering exhibit. Blueberry Radio also pointed out that its application was a singleton, not in competition with other applicants for this low-power FM facility.

But in an echo of how it recently handled a proposed LPFM in Pennsylvania, the commission now has upheld its decision. 

It said it will only consider a petition that points to an error in its original judgement or facts not known at the time the application was filed.

The commission also said that being a singleton was not a justification for a waiver. And it said that permitting anyone to file requests to waive separation requirements after the close of the window and dismissal of an application would be “unfair to the many applicants who fully complied with the rules and filing requirements, and is therefore, contrary to the public interest.”

This is one of several recent cases in which applicants blamed an unsatisfactory outcome, at least in part, on filing errors by their engineers. But the commission repeatedly replied that “errors of technical assistants” are not an excuse for failure to adhere to the rules.

As a result, Blueberry Radio’s petition that the FCC reconsider its Liberty Township LPFM application has been denied. (Read the decision.)

[See Our Business and Law Page]

The post Applicant Unable to Secure an LPFM in Cincinnati Suburb appeared first on Radio World.

A Houston, Texas AM is changing hands from Classic Hits to a Spanish-language broadcast ministry.

Estrella Media is selling KEYH-AM to Hector Guevara, President of the Radio Vida Vision Network and pastor of Centro Cristiano de Vida Eterna.The station experienced a broadcasting hiatus from December 31, 2020, until December 27, 2021, after its main transmitter site was sold.

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Fueled by a share of viral moments, the 96th Academy Awards are expected to again deliver a bump in viewership for the linear TV staple. With host Jimmy Kimmel back at the helm for ABC, the 2024 Oscars could potentially outpace the average of 18.8 million from 2023. With that, comes a successful payoff for a sold-out advertising slate, including an Academy first.

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The “Spring Forward” to Daylight Saving Time may have led to a groggy Monday for many, but the world’s largest association of Christian communicators is using the opportunity to again tell legislators to wake up on a proposed law to make DST permanent, saying it would have harmful implications for AM radio.

National Religious Broadcasters is protesting the Sunshine Protection Act, saying the nature of AM radio wave transmission, which changes from day to night, necessitates that stations adhere to FCC regulations requiring power reductions after dark to prevent signal interference. NRB argues the “morning drive” daypart between 6a and 10a is critical for audience reach and advertising income.

Should DST become permanent, AM stations would face reduced power and signal strength during the early hours up to 8a in the winter months, impacting listener numbers and revenue. NRB says this potential change adds to the hurdles AM broadcasters already confront, such as their exclusion from some new electric vehicle models.

With more than 120 AM stations among its members, the National Religious Broadcasters represents a body that values AM radio’s vital role in community service. An integral part of the AM For Every Vehicle Act is how AM stations are integral for delivering news, traffic updates, sports, talk shows, religious content, and emergency communications.

While there is perennial backing for adjusting timekeeping practices, historical attempts at permanent DST have been unpopular and problematic. The implications of such a change on sectors like radio broadcasting and the associated safety concerns, given the darker morning commutes, will likely continue to undergo examination.

As traditional radio works on securing its position in the dashboard, new data shows audio remains a cornerstone of the in-car experience, outpacing other digital amenities in modern vehicles. Audacy has unveiled findings from a series of four surveys conducted between 2021 and 2023 focusing on user engagement in the connected car.

The survey results highlight the evolving preferences of drivers who favor interactive and user-friendly dashboards.

Notably, AM/FM radio retains a stronghold in vehicular audio consumption, with two-thirds of drivers favoring it over music streaming services. Additionally, there’s a burgeoning interest in voice-activated features, with 45% of respondents eager to see them in their next car.

Safety and ease of use rank high among connected drivers’ priorities. The shift away from phone-based audio towards dashboard-controlled systems is notable, with a 10% increase in dashboard use and a 17% decrease in phone usage for audio functions from 2021 to 2023.

The studies also identified radio app and voice command users as ‘super users’ – avid listeners with particular habits and expectations. These users seek continuity in their audio experience, whether at home, on their phones, or in their cars.

In some great news for radio advertisers, app users are also more likely to engage with and respond to radio advertising, especially in significant expenditure sectors such as home improvement and financial services.

Advertisers are given a nudge to tailor their messaging to these super users, who are more inclined to research products, visit stores, and make purchases after hearing an ad on the radio compared to the general listening population.

More data from the Audacy studies on the connected car can be found here.

In November, SiriusXM announced Uncommon Creative Studio as its creative agency of record for the satellite broadcaster’s massive rebrand. Now the duo has debuted a new national brand campaign titled “Closer,” using the Academy Awards as its launchpad.

SiriusXM aims to attract new audiences while continuing to cater to existing subscribers by underscoring the emotional aspects of the company’s audio offerings. Sirius ended 2023 with a slight subscriber decrease, with a total of 34 million subscribers.

The addition of about 131,000 new self-pay subscribers in the last quarter was overshadowed by an annual drop of 445,000 in the self-pay subscriber count, settling at a 1.6% monthly churn rate.

The campaign’s launch features the short film A Life in Sound, by Emmy-winning director Kim Gehrig, which was featured during Sunday night’s 2024 Oscars broadcast in the US. The film was also distributed on Sirius’ social media channels.

In addition to the film, SiriusXM has introduced an out-of-home campaign focusing on Hip-Hop, Country, and Sports captured by photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses. The campaign is targeted at New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Boston, and Atlanta alongside digital content, including behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with SiriusXM hosts.

The “Closer” campaign will be expanded on in the months to come.

SiriusXM Chief Growth Officer Suzi Watford said, “At SiriusXM we are passionate about audio. Our ‘Closer’ campaign features powerful, emotive and iconic creative showcasing the role that SiriusXM plays in people’s lives and is a celebration of the power of audio.”

“As we look to connect with the next generation of SiriusXM listeners, we’re focused on telling stories of how we bring listeners and fans closer to what moves them. We’re extremely proud of how that message comes through in this campaign, and how we are able to reflect the stories we hear from listeners and their passion for what we do.”

Uncommon Creative Studio founder Nil Leonard commented, “A Life in Sound celebrates the real, universal, and uniquely human experience of being moved by the audio you love. One film. One woman. Dancing through the different chapters of her life. It is the truth of the SiriusXM experience captured in film. And as a creative studio, we were honored to have the opportunity to capture and share that magic.”

Audacy has appointed Judy Lakin as the new General Sales Manager for its Houston operations. With more than three decades in broadcast leadership, Lakin’s notable accomplishments include her tenure as President of Vista14 Advertising Agency along with roles at Cox Media Group and Clear Channel Radio.

Lakin is a Texas Radio Hall of Fame inductee and the 2023 Living Legend Award honoree from The Houston American Advertising Federation. She has also been awarded multiple Media Alliance Awards.

Her engagement extends beyond her professional career, as Lakin actively participates in executive boards and community services including the Houston Media Classic, The Snowdrop Foundation, and Made a Masterpiece, among others. Her community commitment is further demonstrated by her lifetime membership in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and her participation in the Salt Grass Trail Ride.

She will operate under the guidance of Audacy Vice President of Sales Alana Lujan.

Lujan praised Lakin’s diverse background saying, “Judy’s extensive experience in talent development, coupled with her recent involvement in business development, multi-media buying, and digital innovation, makes her a powerhouse addition to Audacy’s sales leadership team. With her expertise, Judy is poised to make an immediate and substantial impact. Here’s to an exciting journey with someone who will bring so much to the table!”

Lakin commented, “I am thrilled to join the exceptional leadership team at Audacy. The Houston market’s wide variety of broadcast and digital products makes me eager for what will come. The local sales team’s incredible skills and high energy is a tremendous plus to this opportunity.”

“Meeting voters where they are,” is the reasoning behind President Joe Biden’s multi-million dollar radio advertising push in battleground states, announced on Friday. The six-week push comes as former President Donald Trump also turns to the reach of AM/FM.

With Nikki Haley’s exit from the GOP Primary post-Super-Tuesday, it is all but guaranteed that the 2024 Presidential election will be a rematch of the hotly contested 2020 matchup between Biden and Trump. With both sides looking for an edge, President Biden’s camp is pouring $30 million in total ads and strategic tours across pivotal battleground states.

Besides radio, the campaign involves television and digital platforms, with a particular emphasis on the NCAA College Basketball tournament this month. The radio adds are targeting key multicultural demographics that were crucial to Biden’s 2020 win, including Black, Hispanic, and Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.

States involved include Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada.

Biden Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon told CBS News, “We know it was a close election in 2020. We know that we have an extraordinary amount of work to do to make sure that the American people are hearing from this campaign.”

Biden’s investment comes as former President Trump’s largest super PAC, MAGA Inc., is halfway through a radio campaign in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan targeting Black and Hispanic male voters. The ad campaign will run until the end of March, with a total expenditure of $380,000 distributed across the three states, per Axios.

The Democratic National Committee already spent six figures in traditional radio and print ads aimed at engaging Black, Latino, and Native American voters in Michigan alone. This strategic focus on AM/FM radio leverages its proven appeal among multicultural audiences, amid findings from numerous studies that underscore radio’s effective reach.

Katz Local Vote data reveals the high political engagement and radio listenership among Hispanic and Black voters, illustrating the strategic rationale behind the both parties’ targeted advertising efforts.

With 73% of the 45.1 million Hispanic adults in the US showing high political engagement and an 83% voter participation rate among registered voters in this demographic, radio’s 85% listenership outperforms broadcast TV’s engagement levels. Similarly, the Black adult population in the US, totaling 33.6 million, exhibits strong political involvement with 86% registered to vote and 85% consistently voting.

Radio listenership among Black voters stands at 83%, surpassing the broadcast TV viewership rate, further emphasizing radio’s pivotal role in reaching and mobilizing these key voter groups.

The US’ biggest broadcast TV owner is fighting back after the Federal Communications Commission proposed a forfeiture of $720,000 over the renewal of consent for the retransmission of its stations in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Nexstar Media Inc. has formally requested the fine be lessened or dropped altogether after the FCC Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer alleged a breach of good faith in retransmission consent negotiations with Hawaiian Telcom Services Company, Inc. (HTSC).

Nexstar challenges the FCC’s decision, which involves six stations, on two fronts.

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