Aggregator

.

.

Alexandra Communications, Inc. enters into consent decree to resolve political file investigation

.

.

One Putt enters into consent decree to resolive political file investigation

The Media Bureau enters into a Consent Decree with KERU-FM

.

According to a tech note sent to its affiliates, a swap of satellite receivers will be necessary to continue to receive Westwood One programming.

The Wegener iPump 8640

The radio network told affiliates on Monday it has selected the Wegener iPump 8640 receiver as the new satellite delivery platform for Westwood One formats and shows, including all talk and music programming.

Radio World confirmed the letter is in the hands of at least several Westwood One affiliates even though the radio network did not immediately reply to questions about how many affiliates might be affected by the change.

Westwood One stated the new Wegener i8640 receivers will be shipped to affiliates, but did not indicate in the notice when the transition will take place.

“[The] Wegener receiver includes many improvements with the primary advantage of standardized relays,” Westwood One stated in the notice to affiliates. “This is a big advantage as you no longer have to map different relays for the same function such as local breaks or liners. For example, relay 1 will always be the local break for all Westwood One programming.”

The new Wegener receiver also has an isolated relay bank associated with each audio output, Westwood One said, so no errant relays from another audio source when programming is active at the same time on multiple outputs.

“There are 4 audio/relay ports which can provide 24/7 programming for up to four separate stations at your location or simulcast two or more stations from one audio/relay output. The audio quality is also dramatically improved,” the radio network stated.

For the transition, the audio connection on current XDS receivers can be moved directly to the audio output of the Wegener receiver provided a radio station will not have non-Westwood One programming remaining on XDS.

The change also affects all affiliates currently using a Wegener i6420 receiver. “That receiver model will be upgraded to the i8640,” Westwood One told affiliates.

The radio network noted: “Your engineer will need to wire new relays to your switcher and/or automation as there is not a way to convert your XDS mappings to the Wegener standardized relay output.”

Affiliates are asked to refer to the Westwood One technical site at technology.westwoodone.com. At the site, affiliates will find show clocks for the Wegener (and XDS for comparison), audio/relay pinouts, ShowDirector instructions (for scheduling the Westwood One shows currently contracted) and other critical information.

For additional technical questions, affiliates also can contact Westwood One at 888-435-7450.

Westwood One, which is owned by Cumulus Media, says it has nearly 7,300 affiliated radio stations and media partners. It describes itself as the largest audio network in the United States.

Randy J. Stine has spent the past 40 years working in audio production and broadcast radio news. He joined Radio World in 1997 and covers new technology and regulatory issues. He has a B.A. in journalism from Michigan State University.

The post Westwood One Notifies Affiliates of Move to New Satellite Receiver appeared first on Radio World.

KETTERING, OHIO — Continue north on I-75 from the Gem City of Dayton, Ohio to Piqua and, then, to Sidney and you’ll find a 6kw Class A FM offering programming that’s “Totally. About. Music.”

It comes courtesy of Dean Miller Broadcasting, but could that change soon? The station has just been sold, and the buyer — a familiar figure in the building — plans on a return to its former branding.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

The only national distributor of Spanish-language news in public radio has signed off on a Consent Decree with the FCC’s Audio Division Chief, Al Shuldiner, that absolves the licensee of non-compliance with the Commission’s Public File Rule.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

An advanced advertising company focused on “audience-based campaigns” in television has promoted three new members to its executive team.

The leadership elevation of the trio of OpenAP leaders comes at a time of “significant growth” for the operation, which recently saw Discovery Inc. become a minority owner.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

On January 5, Westwood One, the national radio arm of Cumulus Media, officially put an end to The Zach Sang Show.

Now, the former Nickelodeon star is set to resurface — not on the radio, per se, but perhaps a “Mr. Microphone” for the YouTube era, courtesy of Amazon.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

The Voice of Equality studio (UNICEF Iraq via Twitter)

To mark International Women’s Day, Voice of Equality launched in Erbil, Iraq, on Mar. 8, 2022, with the goal of advocating for women and adolescent girls’ well-being and empowerment.

The FM station, which broadcasts on 101.9 MHz, is run by the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s General Directorate for Combatting Violence Against Women (GDCVAW) and UNICEF with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

According to a UNICEF press release, Voice for Equality “will promote participatory approaches that aim to stimulate critical reflection on power and strengthen voice and agency and also facilitate partnerships across organizations and sectors.”

The goal is to advocate for girls and women’s empowerment, as well as to address issues of gender-based violence and violence against children.

The post Voice of Equality Launches in Iraqi Kurdistan appeared first on Radio World.

ORLANDO — She’s fondly remembered for her 12 years at Interep, her 17 years as Publisher of now-defunct industry trade Radio & Records and as a 25-year-old General Manager of WXLO “99x” in New York for RKO General in the late 1970s.

For the last decade, Erica Farber has served as President/CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB). It’s a role she’ll be keeping for a couple of more years.

Farber and the RAB’s Executive Committee have agreed to a contract extension that will keep her in the association’s top role through April 2024.

Farber joined the RAB in January 2012 as an executive vice president and ascended to her current role a few months later.

The announcement comes following the RAB’s Spring Board of Directors Meeting held last week in Central Florida; WideOrbit sponsored the event.

At the meeting, held March 2-3, the RAB executive committee also reinstated and activated several new committees, including committees focused on bylaws, nominating, finance, strategy, investment, events, network, multicultural, and the “National Radio Talent System.”

The committees are overseen by the RAB board of directors with participation by RAB’s senior staff and are intended to help the organization manage its day-to-day business, while planning ahead for the future and benefit of the radio industry.

The Spring affair also saw StateNets Southeast & Midwest Region Partner Carolyn Fisher succeed Dave Martin on the board of directors.

PINELLAS PARK, FLA. — The Director of Content at the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate located on Gandy Blvd. in St. Petersburg, Fla., will soon be trading in her Bolts and Bucs jerseys for Flyers and Eagles attire.

That’s because she’s just been named President/GM of CBS News and Stations’ local businesses in Philadelphia.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Arrakis Systems is introducing APEX Cloud this spring.

This optional service brings cloud functionality and enhances the company’s flagship automation, APEX.

“The key benefits of a cloud-based automation system are remote access, failsafes and backup of critical files, along with being able to share audio between locations,” the company wrote.

“APEX Cloud does this all while utilizing the latest in security technology.”

[Related: “Exhibitor Preview: Arrakis Systems at NAB Show”]

The system allows the user to mix and match the needs of small individual operations up to large station groups.

APEX Failsafe software runs remotely in parallel with APEX automation; it will go live if the studio goes down so the broadcaster can continue to serve its community in emergencies.

Cloud and local automatic backup uses the Synology NAS with a 1 TB HDD and/or a current or new cloud backup service. This assures that the station can get back on air quickly regardless of hardware failures.

The system offers remote access setup and support for remote control of all APEX Plus/Harddisk and APEX Tools management features, with current security protocols.

APEX Connect automated file downloading software downloads and updated audio to your automation and moves files automatically across the user’s LAN or VPN, such as Traffic, Music logs and reports.

The post Arrakis Systems Heads to the Cloud appeared first on Radio World.

Of the many licensees of low-power television stations that have been actively trading properties of late, Lowcountry 34 Media has been more of the prominent ones.

The company led by Jeff Winemiller has most recently snapped up unbuilt LPTVs right before a construction deadline, donated a LPTV to an Indiana public television broadcaster, and spun off an Arkansas property to Weigel Broadcasting.

Now, Winemiller is writing a check to the U.S. Treasury. Why? He’s given the approval to a Consent Decree with the FCC to resolve a matter in which Lowcountry 34 was charged with abusing the Commission’s licensing process.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

From the Who’s Buying What page: RTL Today Radio in Luxembourg has deployed a BCE StudioTalk visual radio system.

The automated system integrates the station’s branding, synchronizes with RTL’s automation and broadcasts on its website.

“In less than three months, Broadcasting Center Europe installed the solution in RTL Today Radio studio, including the cabling, infrastructure and platform configuration,” the supplier wrote in the announcement.

The system includes four PTZ cameras and multiple screens. It is synchronized with the radio automation to broadcast the music and news with the content on the visual radio screens, in the studio and on the website. StudioTalk also triggers live shows, manages camera production with intelligent identification of the speakers, and automatically adds the graphic titles.

RTL Today Radio, an English-language station operated by the RTL Group, started broadcasting on Mar. 1, 2022, four years after the affiliated English-language news website RTL Today launched.

Send news for Who’s Buying What to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post RTL Today Radio Deploys StudioTalk appeared first on Radio World.

Cary Pahigian (left) and Dan Joerres

Cary Pahigian plans to step down as president and general manager of Hearst Television’s two Baltimore radio stations.

Dan Joerres will add those duties. He is president and general manager of WBAL(TV) and has worked as Pahigian’s collaborator on joint radio-TV initiatives, including Baltimore Ravens football.

“Joerres will oversee all of Hearst’s Baltimore operations: WBAL(TV), WBAL NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5 and WIYY(FM) ‘98 ROCK’ and their associated digital properties,” the company said in its announcement.

It noted that Joerres and Pahigian have secured broadcast rights to Baltimore’s major pro sports teams including the radio rights for the Baltimore Orioles. WBAL NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5 and 98 ROCK are the official radio home of the Orioles, while WBAL(TV), WBAL NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5 and 98 ROCK are the official broadcast partners to the Ravens.

Pahigian joined Hearst Television from Saga Communications, where he was president and GM of a nine-station radio group in Portland, Maine. He also is former corporate vice president/operations at Sconnix Broadcasting, station manager at WBZ/Boston and operations manager at WIP/Philadelphia.

He is pursuing other professional opportunities. He was quoted by the company: “I leave Hearst with my gratitude for their support and providing me the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The post Pahigian Moves on From Baltimore appeared first on Radio World.