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The Society of Broadcast Engineers has announced its plans for the spring NAB Show in April.

We already shared with you the agenda for the SBE Ennes Workshop, which will be held April 12 and 13. It will feature tracks on RF 101 and essentials of media over IP. Both will be held in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall.

“The highlight of the SBE activities at the convention will be the annual Membership Meeting and Member Reception,” the society said in a release.

“Both will be held on April 15. The Membership Meeting brings information about the Society’s activities and programs to our members, and will highlight the SBE’s 60 years since its founding. Several member accomplishments are also recognized at the meeting. The Member Reception will immediately follow. Both events will have prize drawings for attendees.”

The society will be in Booth W4732 in the West Hall, featuring books and merchandise. The SBE will also hold a daily prize drawing, so bring a business card to drop off.

Its full schedule including the board of directors meeting has been posted.

[Read other news about the 2024 NAB Show.]

The post SBE Announces Its NAB Show Schedule appeared first on Radio World.

Here’s a fresh twist regarding the proposal that would allow more U.S. FM stations to increase HD Radio digital power levels.

The FCC Media Bureau is asking for public comments about a late-breaking request from the National Association of Broadcasters and Xperi, two of the proponents of the change.

On Feb. 2, NAB and Xperi filed a petition saying they had “identified an important ambiguity that requires clarification regarding the maximum allowable operating power of a digital FM signal.”

The NPRM and the commission’s past discussions have considered only the power level for the digital FM carriers of the primary HD Radio MP1 hybrid service mode of operation. In particular, the commission said, it has considered the total integrated power level for all digital carriers used to transmit MP1 standard hybrid service.

NAB and Xperi pointed out that HD Radio is not limited to the MP1 mode and that the commission has authorized extended hybrid modes of operation, which increase the number of digital subcarriers.

They told the FCC that the optimal operation of the extended hybrid modes requires an increase in the total integrated power above that of the MP1 mode so that all the digital carriers individually operate at the intended power.

“Otherwise, individual carriers would have to operate with less than the intended power level to keep the total integrated power at the intended level,” according to the FCC’s summary of the filing.

NAB and Xperi asked the commission to clarify the maximum digital FM power levels permitted for hybrid and extended hybrid service modes, including adding clarifying text to the NPRM and textual changes to the proposed new section of the rules. (You can read their petition here in PDF form.)

In response the Media Bureau has asked for comments on those suggestions.

The NAB and Xperi also would like the commission to incorporate a reference in the rules to the NRSC-5 standard, but the FCC says this would be unusual and asked for feedback.

“Commenters also should consider whether the additional digital power necessitated by use of extended digital modes would increase potential interference to first adjacent channel analog FM stations, to the host analog station, or to other users of the FM broadcast spectrum or adjacent to that spectrum,” the FCC continued.

It noted that the petition does not reference any technical studies of the impact of extended hybrid modes with a total integrated digital power level more than –10 dBc. “Are such studies needed to determine whether or not to adopt this proposal?”

Also, if the commission adopts this proposed change for stations operating with less than –10 dBc, should the FCC limit the total overall digital power for any station operating in extended hybrid mode to a maximum of –10 dBc? It noted that doing so would require stations that convert from MP1 to an extended hybrid mode to reduce the power of the individual subcarriers in the primary digital sidebands, in order to accommodate the power added by the extended digital sideband partitions.

“Commenters have an opportunity to suggest modifications to petitioners’ clarifying suggestions, as appropriate.” The FCC encouraged people to provide input regarding the number of stations operating in the various extended hybrid modes, including whether those stations operate at a power level with more than –14 dBc.

Comments on this new issue can be filed in the FCC’s online system. In the Proceeding field, use MB Docket No. 22-405.

The post NAB, Xperi Raise Concern Over HD Power “Ambiguity” appeared first on Radio World.

Lynn Cheney, right, stands with colleague Kris Specht at a trade show in an undated photo.

Lynn Everett Cheney, who helped shape Comrex Corp. into a prominent broadcast audio equipment manufacturer, has died. She was 80.

Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane, writing at Cheney’s retirement in 2006, described her as “a forthright, capable leader who competed for business vigorously, was always affable with her competitors and has genuine affection for her employees and clients. She contributed to, and then presided over, the growth of a successful — and proudly efficient — equipment manufacturer, through decades that have seen great change in radio and in the company’s business model.”

According to that profile story, it had not been her intention to enter a career in broadcast electronics. She studied French at Wellesley when professional opportunities for women were limited. “At the time I went to college, you got married,” she said.

She wed George Distler and took a job for the Sudbury newspaper, where she was paid by the column inch. While covering the government, she met local appeals board member John Cheney, who had started a company in 1961 making wireless mics. Business had slowed and he was doing mostly consulting work for other manufacturing companies. But the transistor age was giving Comrex new life.

“John designed a crystal-controlled UHF wireless system that came out just about the time ENG cameras for television hit the market in a big way. This 450 MHz product was a success,” Radio World reported.

“He needed someone to help answer the phones, so [in 1974] he offered journalist Lynn Distler a position working three hours a day, three days a week. He didn’t know he was hiring his future wife and business partner. It was also Lynn’s baptism into business.”

The company soon made a splash with frequency extension technology and expanded into increasingly sophisticated audio codecs and other products.

George Distler died in 1981. Lynn would eventually marry John Cheney and continue to grow in her role as manager; she called Cheney “the best teacher I’ve ever run into.” When John passed away in 1998, Lynn became president and led the firm until 2006. (For more about her time at the company, see McLane’s 2006 profile “Cheney Era Ends at Comrex.”)

Her obituary notes that before retiring as president of Comrex, she organized and launched a successful employee stock ownership plan, “believing in the importance of workers having a stake in the company and benefiting from its success.”

After retirement she lived in Maine and was active in several community organizations.

Lynn Cheney died on Feb. 11 at the home of a daughter in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A cause of death was not given.

Her obituary said her passions included horses, gardening, international travel and card-playing. “She was a paragon of patience, strength and kindness, always willing to lend an ear, then usually a hand, to anyone she met.”

A memorial concert is being planned, to be held in Blue Hill, Maine.

The post Former Comrex President Lynn Cheney Dies appeared first on Radio World.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Chairwoman of the FCC on Wednesday proposed final rules that would require multichannel video programming distributors to specify the “all-in” price clearly and prominently for TV services in their promotional materials and on subscribers’ bills.

This, Jessica Rosenworcel believes, will eliminate “the misleading practice” of describing video programming costs as a tax, fee, or surcharge.

 

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On October 6, 2023, the time period for filing comments and reply comments on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking tied to the increase of FM digital power concluded. The proceeding, initiated two months earlier, would change the methodology used by digital FM stations to determine whether they can boost their HD Radio output. It would also allow asymmetric sideband operation.

Now, the Media Bureau has confirmed the filing earlier this month of a “Petition for Clarification,” submitted jointly by the NAB and HD Radio parent Xperi Inc. Why? They detected “an important ambiguity” that requires a clear-up.

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Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on products that support sports coverage and other radio remotes.

Mark Simpson is the chief engineer at Cumulus Radio Tucson and Jose Pollorena is assistant chief. Between the two they handle everything from the microphone to the antenna.

The Tieline ViA audio codec has replaced their older iMix G3 for more intricate remote broadcasts, such as pre-game and post-game remotes for University of Arizona home games. 

“We also use one of our ViA units for larger broadcasts within our cluster of five stations,” Simpson said. “We love using the Report-IT app too, but there are times when you need a full-featured unit on the table.”

They use the ViA for radio broadcasts and to feed the YouTube channel of Wildcats Radio 1290 AM, KCUB. 

“We typically have three commentators, one host and two former players, and sometimes a crowd microphone. We attach the ViA to a laptop for the YouTube feed, and this also allows us to play a locally recorded audio clip through the codec if required.”

At the studio they are transitioning from using a Merlin Plus with analog I/O, to dialing into a Gateway 8 codec with native Livewire AoIP support. This integrates with their Axia equipment, and the additional channels allow them to broadcast remotes in stereo. 

“This lets us split the return feed and send a mix-minus IFB feed of everything relevant to the show to the commentators’ headsets. We send the other channel to onsite speakers minus any IFB communications audio. With the advent of much smarter consoles, the mix-minus is very simple to set up.”

David “D.K.” Kelly is program director and afternoon drive host on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM.

The team typically use a CradlePoint router for connections between the ViA and ISP, whether that be a wired connection, LTE modems or a combination. Whenever possible they use both, so they have an automatic backup or load-sharing configuration. 

“We have also used Wi-Fi, but usually as a backup. We use the highest quality Opus algorithm since we typically don’t send music from the remote site, which reduces latency and buffering.”

On the ViA, they have three setups per station — one for connecting to the Merlin Plus, one for the Gateway and one for internal testing — so everything is preconfigured.

“The ViA’s reliability, audio quality, audio latency and overall performance are excellent,” Simpson said.

“It is a noticeable change from the iMix G3, with new features and functional improvements, as well as multiple cellular technology options.”

They use the input compressor to keep audio levels consistent between commentators and guests. This helps alleviate the need to ask a person to put the microphone closer to their mouth and allows the conversation to flow without interruption.

“We use the Cloud Codec Controller (CCC) to monitor units remotely, and it is a great remote diagnostic tool. With cellular you can perform a site check, but then tens of thousands of fans arrive on game day and the connection struggles with enough bandwidth. The CCC lets us monitor and adjust connection settings, another reason we always try to use a LAN connection with cellular as a backup or bonded.”

Simpson said their engineers, commentators and promotions team find the codecs easy to use. He loves the touchscreen but discourages commentators from touching the unit if possible. 

“Their job is to produce the best content possible and it’s ours to set up the equipment properly. Having said that, it’s nice to have equipment that is simple to use and navigate around, in case there is an issue or last-minute change.”

The battery is handy if they are doing a short coach’s interview without access to power. It also ensures they stay connected if the generator runs out of fuel.

“We also use a double-conversion UPS in between shore power or generator power. Utilizing the UPS and internal battery ensures we rarely ever experience a connection issue.”

Simpson said that with the ViA codec they can pick up a case and do an on-the-fly remote. 

“The ViA has been wonderful to operate because there is normally never a problem, and if there is, it is easy to resolve with the CCC.

“Even the Tieline Gateway is so simple to set up and connect with the ViA, that you often over think things and forget you can easily connect via the CCC, or the Axia router, to change your configuration. No more moving wires, making weird setups with extra equipment, etc. Just put the unit on the table power up, connect and do the remote.” 

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The post Cumulus Radio Tucson Combines ViA and Gateway appeared first on Radio World.

Synthetic voices continue to expand into the audio advertising space with a new offering from AdsWizz Inc., a SiriusXM subsidiary. 

Synthetic Voice Ads are now available on AudioGO, AdsWizz’s self-serve platform for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). AdsWizz says this is the first tool to launch in a suite of offerings it calls “AdsWizz’s AI Ad Tools.” With multiple artificial voices to choose from, and more languages and voice options to come, according to the company, Synthetic Voice Ads allow advertisers to create attention-grabbing, and persuasive voiceovers in seconds.

“The new suite of offerings is expected to complement AdsWizz’s broader ad offering by delivering cost-effective and efficient solutions to advertisers, with an initial focus on lowering the barrier for entry into the world of audio advertising for SMBs,” according to an AdsWizz press release. 

Chris Record, senior vice president of ad product, technology and operations at SiriusXM Media and AdsWizz, said the companies continue to “explore the ways AI can extend the power of our audio portfolio to new audiences.”

“With the launch of Synthetic Voice Ads on AudioGO, we are beginning to bring a wider diversity of brands into the audio advertising space,” said Record in the release. “We believe we have the ability to support the next generation of entrepreneurs around the world in a unique way, breaking down barriers and allowing advertisers of any size to tap into audio in ways they might not have thought possible.”

AdsWizz says a “friction point” in audio buying, especially for SMBs, is the lack of a self-service creative platform to quickly and easily launch customizable audio ads. “The latest advancements can help unlock this growth in audio by removing this barrier to entry, encouraging new advertisers into the audio space and giving SMBs the opportunity to create and customize compelling, engaging audio campaigns generated by AI,” it said.

[Read More Radio World Stories About Artificial Intelligence]

The post AdsWizz Announces Launch of Synthetic Voice Ads appeared first on Radio World.

When it comes to TelevisaUnivision‘s Upfront 2024 plans, Tuesday, May 14, will see the largest producer of Spanish-language audio and video content in the world transform an event venue in the City of New York’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood into a Casa Cultura.

It’s being heralded by the company headed by CEO Wade Davis and President of U.S. Advertising Sales and Marketing Donna Speciale (pictured, top left) as “a new, unique approach to its Upfront presentation.”

Specifically, TelevisaUnivision is creating an experiential day-long activation that it says “brings to life the vibrance and passion of Latino culture that is dominating U.S. mainstream and drawing more marketers to embrace this powerful force as a priority investment for 2024.”

For longtime Hispanic Upfront attendees, the event harkens back to a Discovery U.S. Hispanic event that saw a Manhattan production studio transformed into a parque central in a small Mexican city, complete with a paleta vendor.

In the case of TelevisaUnivision’s Casa Cultura, it will serve as a day-long “pop-up” locale, if you will, and will start its day-to-night sessions with a presentation from Speciale and other guests who will highlight the company’s “evolved go-to-market strategy,” as well as new tools and platforms for advertisers to use when selecting TelevisaUnivision’s media products for their marketing campaigns.

Casa Cultura will conclude with a concert event powered by its Uforia audio brand, with entertainment yet to be revealed; this is typical of Hispanic Upfront events seen across the last decade.

For TelevisaUnivision, 2024-2025 is being eyed as an opportunity to build on last year, which yielded the “best Upfront in nearly a decade in terms of volume, with a record number of advertisers participating,” the company said. Furthermore, TelevisaUnivision closed 2023 with another record number of new clients.

“The opportunities to reach U.S. Hispanics continue to grow, and we are steadfast in our commitment to leading the charge and the change to ensure marketers meet this moment and embrace the power of Latinos,” Speciale said. “Inside our casa, we will bring to life the heart and passion of the massive community we exclusively serve; we will showcase Latinos’ influence on culture and commerce; and we will debut an enhanced portfolio of content, creator and audience capabilities for brands to truly unite with what is undoubtedly their most significant consumer segment.”

 

The chairwoman of the FCC wants to add a new EAS alert code for missing and endangered persons. She said this is particularly important to help missing Native and indigenous women.

A press release from the commission said adding such a code to the Emergency Alert System would help law enforcement provide alerts “to galvanize public attention to missing native and indigenous persons, as well as other groups, and build on efforts to collect comprehensive data on these cases.”

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Law enforcement agencies successfully use AMBER Alerts on TV and radio to help mobilize public attention and recover abducted children. But we do not have a similar code in the Emergency Alert System dedicated to sounding the alarm over other missing and endangered persons, particularly the thousands of missing native and indigenous women who have disappeared from their homes never to be seen again.”

She is working with Sen. Ben Ray Luján on the issue. The FCC quoted him saying that violence against Native people is a crisis. “The federal government must take more decisive action to properly notify their loved ones and locate these individuals to keep families together.”

Details are to be posted tomorrow and Rosenworcel plans to call for a vote on it at the FCC’s March meeting. A “yes” vote would open a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on creating an “MEP” alert code for missing and endangered persons who do not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert. The FCC said the proposal would also ask questions about the relationship of this potential new alerting category with the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which does not use such event codes.

[Read more Business & Law coverage.]

The post Rosenworcel Calls for EAS Code for Missing and Endangered Persons appeared first on Radio World.

Joe Myers has rejoined Broadcast Electronics, which is part of the Elenos Group.

The company has appointed him regional sales manager for the eastern United States and parts of the Caribbean. He will be based in Lexington, S.C.

“Myers brings an extensive history in broadcast technology to the Elenos Group – Broadcast Electronics, having held multiple senior sales roles with companies including Harris Broadcast and GatesAir, ENCO, DJB and a previous stint at Broadcast Electronics,” the company said in its announcement.

“In addition, Myers has a strong background in the programming of radio stations.” He most recently was director of sales at the MaxxKonnect Group.

Send announcements for People News to radioworld@futurenet.com.

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The post Joe Myers Rejoins Elenos Group appeared first on Radio World.

He joined Audacy Inc. in August 2020 to establish the strategy and oversee all of the news content and operations for the company’s 25 local News stations. Now, he’s taken to social media to announce that he’s moving “into a new professional chapter.”

Bill Smee has stepped down as VP of News at Audacy and tells his LinkedIn followers that he is “diving back into the strategic consulting and project management work that I enjoyed for a number of years.”

This will see Smee reopen his consultancy, established in the Washington, D.C., area in December 2016. In this role, he offered video strategies to such organizations as HuffPost, and Mashable. Before that, Smee served as Director of Digital Video for NBC News.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to work these last four years with so many talented and passionate people within Audacy’s newsrooms and across the larger company,” Smee said on LinkedIn. He also took note of his team’s collective accomplishments: building out digital and podcasting capacity; integrating broadcast and digital teams within newsrooms; strengthening communication and collaboration across a network of brands; navigating the first wave of AI; and creating new revenue opportunities in partnership with sales teams. “All of this was done while delivering over and over in high leverage, breaking news situations and racking up awards that validate Audacy’s local news brands as best in class,” Smee said.

He added, “The challenges for media and journalism these days — and for local news in particular — are profound, and the stakes are high. But there are new frontiers on the horizon and we can deploy innovative ways of thinking about how we do what we do. As always, I’m excited to explore those frontiers and draw on my many years of strategic and operational experience to help media brands and other organizations find a way forward.”

Smee’s experience includes roles at CNN, where he began his career as a Headline News producer in June 1987.

CHICAGO — Ashleigh Banfield has reached a new multi-year agreement with Nexstar Media Group-owned NewsNation cable TV network, a move that solidifies her presence in prime-time on the MVPD-delivered news and political commentary-focused offering.

As the host of Banfield, she can be seen on NewsNation every weeknight at 10pm Eastern. She’s previously been seen on CNN [“Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield”] and its sibling network HLN [“Primetime Justice”]; MSNBC and NBC News (from 2000-2004); CourtTV; and on ABC News. “Ashleigh is an incredible talent and a seasoned broadcast journalist,” said Michael Corn, President of News at NewsNation. “She covers crime and the justice system better than anyone and we are thrilled that she has re-signed with the network.”

Banfield commented, “As the crime genre continues to be an increasingly important staple for Americans, Banfield has become an essential destination for true crime fans,. We are proud to be a place where viewers can come for a deep dive into the major crime stories happening across the country.”

Earlier in her career, Banfield served as the evening news anchor for KDFW-4, the FOX affiliate in Dallas; and for CICT-2 in Calgary, where she worked at the Global-affiliated station owned by Corus Entertainment as a producer from 1992-93 and from 1993-95 as their evening news anchor and business correspondent.

Born in Winnipeg, Banfield became a U.S. citizen in 2008.

It has built a revenue model that very much depends on the growth of its digital and programmatic advertising opportunities as well as its collection of radio stations in small- and mid-sized markets.

Did that recipe cook up riches for Townsquare Media during the final three months of 2023? All will learn the answer bright and early on the morning of the third Friday in March.

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The iHeartMedia fourth quarter 2023 earnings call has been scheduled for the last day of February. Once CEO Bob Pittman and COO/CFO Rich Bressler share the details of the company’s fiscal performance across the final three months of last year, they’ll be preparing to woo institutional investors at a major event scheduled for March 5 in San Francisco.

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The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved Audacy Inc.’s Plan of Reorganization.

With the Plan approved, Audacy expects to emerge from the Chapter 11 process after the company obtains approval from the FCC.

“Today’s announcement marks a powerful step forward for Audacy, positioning the Company for an exciting future,” said David Field, Chairman, President and CEO of Audacy. “As expected, we have achieved a speedy confirmation of our prepackaged Plan, which will enable Audacy to pursue our strategic goals and opportunities in the dynamic audio business. We aim to drive accelerated growth and financial performance, capitalizing on our scaled, leadership position, our uniquely differentiated premium audio content and the robust capital structure that we will have upon emergence. I also want to express my gratitude to our team, who continue their outstanding work to serve our listeners and customers with excellence and fulfill our commitments without missing a beat.”

Audacy operates one of the country’s two scaled radio broadcasting groups, as well as one of the country’s largest podcast studios, the Audacy direct-to-consumer streaming platform and multiple audio networks. Audacy is also a major event producer and a digital marketing solutions provider and is the unrivaled leader in local news and sports radio. The restructuring will enable Audacy to continue its strategic digital transformation and capitalize on its position as a scaled, leading multi-platform audio content and entertainment company differentiated by its exclusive, premium audio content.

Under the approved Plan, Audacy will equitize approximately $1.6 billion of funded debt, a reduction of 80% from approximately $1.9 billion to approximately $350 million. Trade and other unsecured creditors will not be impaired.

PJT Partners is acting as investment banker, FTI Consulting is acting as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal counsel to Audacy.

Greenhill & Co., LLC is acting as financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as legal counsel to the DIP financing lenders and the ad hoc group of first lien debtholders.

Evercore Group, LLC is acting as financial advisor and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld is acting as legal counsel to the ad hoc group of second lien debtholders.

Dielectric and SCMS have partnered, giving SCMS the distribution rights to Dielectric’s FM radio antenna products and systems in the United States.

The new partnership marks Dielectric’s first distribution agreement for the domestic FM radio market.

According to a joint press release, “Dielectric will direct new leads to the SCMS sales team and work directly with customers on design specifications as needed” and “SCMS will aggressively market Dielectric antennas, filters/combiners and RF systems to FM customers seeking to replace, upgrade or add to existing infrastructure.”

Southern Coastal Marketing Services (SCMS) is a privately-held broadcast/AV equipment solutions provider. Founded in 1976, the company is based in North Carolina with sales reps and broadcast engineers across the U.S. and Latin America.

Based in Raymond, Maine, Dielectric is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group. The company has been building and delivering antennas and RF systems, serving global markets, since 1942.

“Dielectric’s reputation in the broadcast business is strong and enduring, and together with SCMS we offer 130 years of industry experience to our customers,” said Matt Cauthen, vice president of SCMS, in the press release.

Submit business announcements to radioworld@futurenet.com.

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The post Dielectric Partners With SCMS for U.S. Radio Sales appeared first on Radio World.

Will Payne has the mannerisms you would expect from an Oklahoman raised in the 1970s: plenty of southern charm mixed with some Midwest grit. He’s part tornado chaser and part youth soccer coach, a graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a proud dad. And he is a third-generation radio man. 

Payne’s family broadcasting tree is a tall one. Paynes have operated radio stations in the area since the 1950s, beginning with an AM in Cushing, Okla.

His father, the late Bill Payne, launched one of the first FM stations in the state, in his home in Edmond, and was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Grandfather William Howard Payne founded the family broadcasting business and was an attorney who represented tribal nations in their efforts to gain reparations.

Will Payne addresses graduates at commencement at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He is president of its alumni association.

In fact, the listening area of Payne’s radio stations cover much of the Choctaw, Cherokee and Chickasaw Nations of eastern Oklahoma.

Will Payne has built on the success of his father and grandfather. Payne Media Group LLC, of which he is president, operates seven FMs that serve southeastern Oklahoma and northeast Texas, while Payne’s mother, Gail, still owns the stations her late husband held across the region.

The 50-year-old Payne also holds a seat on the radio board of the National Association of Broadcasters and is in his second stint as chairman of the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. And he hosts a morning radio show with Barry Diamond on a regional network of four FM stations. 

Radio World talked with Payne about the family’s broadcast legacy, challenges faced by broadcasters in small markets, and his life as a radio ambassador.

Radio World: You’re not kidding when you say radio is literally in your blood. What is it like to be raised in a radio family? 

Will Payne: It’s all I know. There are challenges, but in our family it’s a lifestyle. On Christmas mornings, before we had all this fancy technology, we were the ones working so the staff could have the day off. I remember taking road trips with my dad in the station van out to transmitter sites that needed work. We would chase tornados, too. 

My dad never pushed us in the direction of radio, but he allowed us to be hands-on if we wished. I was a music programmer by 17 and a GM by 21. In 2006, I got my first construction permit and built my first radio station, so there were definitely great opportunities as well.

RW: Sounds like it was a great learning environment.

Payne: We were able to be a part of every facet of the radio business. My dad was that way. He was on air, programming, engineering and management. I’m that way myself, and that’s something great about being a part of a radio family. 

On the “Bill and Will Show,” KTFX(FM) in Tulsa.

RW: Do you handle your own engineering work, then?

Payne:  I handle the day-to-day and routine maintenance and any tech support. Richard Hardy has built all of my stations; I call on him when we have major or catastrophic issues. He comes in from Tulsa 2-1/2 hours away. Richard used to pick me up at daycare and bring me to my father’s station in Tulsa. He has worked for the family since the 1980s.

RW: What challenges do you face as a small-market radio broadcaster?

Payne: Same as the big groups. We compete now with not only other radio stations, but goliaths like Facebook, Google and YouTube. And social media. There is more competition than ever before. 

We tell our clients we are in the media business, so we’ve acknowledged that we are in the media business, too, by live streaming events, video ads, pre-roll banners and website ads. We really make sure that when we talk to clients, we let them know we are in the media business, not just AM or FM or HD Radio business.

At age 17 Payne was music director at KTFX. He’s with midday host Hugh Downing.

RW: You mention HD Radio. Is it the cost of the initial investment that has kept more small radio broadcasters from adopting it?

Payne: I think that was the case 10 years ago, but now I think Xperi has done a good job of offering payment plans to do it. I’m hoping more small broadcasters adopt.

And the transmitters are much more reliable now. When we went HD, I went from an old tube-type transmitter to a Nautel solid-state. Now I don’t need to maintain that new transmitter like I used to. I feel with the electricity I’m saving, along with the cost I’m saving in tubes and engineering, that I can afford HD.

RW: You call yourself an ambassador for radio. How so?

Payne: I don’t think we do enough to promote our wins. We are diversifying as an industry and we need to promote that more than ever. I tell other broadcasters to get out there and tell their story because it’s a great story to tell. 

RW: Can you expand on that? What aspects of radio, or of their own stories, would you like other broadcasters to be more vocal about?

Payne: Rural radio moves the needle and the cash register every day. And it is a lifeline. In a time of need, radio is there. We spring into action, we report, we raise money. We need to promote ourselves. 

Tell the story of how you did it. What you do. Use any means necessary to recap and be vocal on how to make a difference. Show numbers, show man-hours dedicated. Yes! We create transactions every day with local businesses. That’s an amazing story. We need to share it with everyone in the community. 

Live at the studios of KDOE(FM) before the Antlers, Okla., Homecoming Parade.

RW: What’s it like serving on the NAB Radio Board as owner of a small-market group?

Payne: There are a few of us, I’m not alone. I’m not sure that I bring a unique perspective. We are similar in a lot of ways.

One of the things I can say is this. In a small market we do it all. From engineering, to sales, to programming, we have a familiarity with it. Those who work for larger groups might have higher proficiency in one area or another, so in that sense we can come up with ideas and find solutions for the whole of radio.

RW: What are your thoughts on AI and what it means for radio?

Payne: As a small-market guy, we’ll be able to offer goods and service more quickly. The other part of it is that AI offers a way to check your work. 

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

That’s just on the creative copy side. We are not using any AI on the audio creative side, but I’m very curious and continue to look at it. Imagine if you could choose from some good voices and create the commercial. You then have a pretty good commercial to start with. Better than you would without using AI. I think we will pick something like that up eventually. 

Payne, rear, was part of an NAB State Leadership Conference delegation to Capitol Hill. He’s with Brent Hensley of KOCO(TV); Vance Harrison, CEO of the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters; Will’s mother Gail Payne; and Heston Wright of Wright Media.

RW: What do you think of the FCC and the current climate of regulation? 

Payne: First, props to the NAB for getting our regulatory fees reduced. They went in and were able to show the FCC how to allocate the fees more fairly.

In our market, we are the only media paying fees to the FCC. It puts us at a disadvantage. I will say this, we have direct competitors that are not regulated and operate as they please. That’s to their advantage.

RW: The commission recently declined to remove or raise the subcaps that limit how many radio stations one company can own in a market on each band. What’s your opinion of that?

Payne: I am in favor of helping local radio owners in the rural market. I think the strong need to be able to get stronger. Clearly the competition has changed. Many owners are ready to sell due to age or finances. Broadcasters need flexibility. 

RW: AM radio still means a lot to you and your family? 

Payne: Absolutely, I remain a fan of AM. Our first station was an AM station and my mother still owns an AM station. There are still standalone AMs, without the help of translators, doing great things for their community in this country. 

RW: You’re considered a pioneer in video streaming of high school sports in Oklahoma. How did that come about?

Payne: We started streaming high school sports around 2011. My heart is in radio, but if you’re not streaming high school sports and you only rely on the radio broadcast, you are doing your listeners a disservice. The public is demanding that we stream local sports.

We worked together with the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters to get a bill passed into law in 2021 that helps radio stations secure the rights to stream the football and basketball games of their local high schools. The law really levels the playing field and eliminates out-of-state companies from enforcing exclusive media rights deals that deny access. 

Radio broadcasters doing broadcasts of local sports really need to focus on streaming the games and take advantage of the revenue possibilities. It’s a real growth area for us. 

RW: Are any of your children following in your radio footsteps? 

Payne: That’s to be determined. Jarred, 28, is working in Kansas City. McKinley, 23, will finish occupational therapy school in May at Oklahoma University. Hayes, 13, is very active with live streaming broadcasts of high school sports. 

RW: You say you can sometimes be found on the prowl in your 1974 canary yellow De Tomaso Pantera. Are you a car guy?

Payne: That’s what I do in my free time. I love working on old cars. I’d been chasing that very Pantera for nearly 25 years and finally caught it. It was sitting behind an old barn with no engine when I found it. 

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