Industry News

WorldDAB says a total of 110 million DAB receivers have now been sold globally.

Twice a year, the organization — which positions DAB+ as “the core future platform for radio in Europe” — publishes an infographic that depicts trends for the digital radio format, including receiver sales, population coverage and road coverage.

It now has released its latest infographic.

It reports that over the past 12 months, the number of automotive DAB receivers sold surpassed 10 million for the first time, while consumer receiver sales totaled about 5 million units.

“The automotive DAB+ market has been transformed over the last two years,” the organization stated, “with DAB+ now a standard feature in over 89% of new cars in all key European markets.” It noted that the European Electronic Communications Code now requires new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio.

“In the consumer receiver market, the proportion of devices featuring DAB / DAB+ has also seen a sharp increase — from 28% two years ago to 42% in the second quarter of 2021. DAB sales are benefiting from strong marketing in Germany and the Netherlands, receiver regulation in Germany, France and Italy, and the emergence of new DAB markets including Belgium, Austria and the Czech Republic.”

Among other data points, WorldDAB said that digital radio reach “has achieved record levels in several markets, including the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia,” and it cited growth patterns in the sales of consumer DAB+ receivers in countries like Italy, the Czech Republic and France and a number of other countries.

Below is one chart from the infographic; the full version is available on the WorldDAB website.

The post WorldDAB Celebrates Receiver Sales Numbers appeared first on Radio World.

Ad software firm Viant and convergent TV advertising platform Beachfront have integrated Beachfront’s linear and connected TV inventory into Viant’s Adelphic software.

With the integration, Adelphic becomes the first demand-side platform (DSP) to support Beachfront’s linear TV inventory, which is enabled for real-time bidding.

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Discovery Inc. shareholders appear to be satisfied with the company’s third quarter results, despite falling short on analysts’ EPS estimates and coming in just shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate on revenue.

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He has served as President and as a board member of Firestone Communications, where he launched Spanish-language children’s cable television network Sorpresa. Most recently, he served as the co-founder and CEO of equestrian sports, culture and lifestyle network Ride TV.

Now, this “serial entrepreneur” has been tapped as a co-CEO alongside Lynn McBee of the television enterprise connected to the international environmental organization “dedicated to a more sustainable future worldwide.”

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iHeartMedia wants more of the fast-growing action in sports betting, so it has signed a “strategic relationship” with DraftKings.

It says the agreement makes DraftKings “the official odds supplier for iHeartMedia’s broadcast, digital, podcast and social platforms.”

Sports gambling is a hot commodity for big companies with radio roots just now. Audacy and Cumulus for example have been active in the sector.

iHeart and DraftKings cited all sorts of possible joint projects, including DraftKings co-creating and distributing long-form content.

“The two can also collaborate around a wide range of possible content development opportunities, tapping into iHeart’s 270 million+ monthly consumer base on its broadcast platform alone,” according to the announcement.

Further opportunities include integrations in iHeart live sports coverage and “possible experiential opportunities for listeners and fans.”

This seems like a natural fit, given the scale of iHeart’s sports audio network, which includes broadcast products as well as the large iHeartPodcast Sports Network.

Among other things DraftKings will be able to use iHeartMedia’s SmartAudio advertising products.

“The data integration would enable fact-based audience planning and targeting optimizations across iHeartMedia’s broadcast and digital platform,” they said in the announcement.

Both companies are publicly traded on Nasdaq. The announcement was made by Greg Ashlock, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Multiplatform Group, and Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of DraftKings North America.

Kalish and friends Jason Robins and Paul Liberman started DraftKings in Liberman’s apartment in Massachusetts, launching a daily fantasy sports platform in 2012. Last year it combined with Diamond Eagle Acquisition Co. and gambling technology firm SBTech, going public in April 2020. It now calls itself a “vertically integrated pure-play sports betting and online gaming company.”

Kalish was quoted saying, “Analytically tapping into iHeart’s coveted listenership while powering authentic betting content is a landmark moment for both organizations and precursor to new possibilities in media innovation.”

“Audacy Expands BetQL Sports Betting Network”

“WynnBET and Cumulus Media Forge Betting Advertising Alliance”

“Cumulus Highlights AM/FM for Reaching Bettors”

The post Betting on Sports, iHeartMedia Partners With DraftKings appeared first on Radio World.

It’s all about the bat.

A native Floridian bat plays a significant role in a case before the Federal Communications Commission after a broadcasting firm failed to determine if the habitat of the endangered bat would be impacted by a new communications tower.

As a result, the Florida Myers Broadcasting Co. has agreed to pay a $20,000 as part of a consent decree between FMBC and the FCC.

FCC rules require a licensee to determine if its proposed facilities might have a significant impact on the environment by preparing an environmental assessment (EA), during which a licensee needs to determine if the proposed site would affect threatened or endangered species and their habitat. These rules must be followed before any work begins at the site.

[Read: Seventh Generation Asked to Pay $3,000 Forfeiture for Late License Renewal]

In the summer of 2020, FMBC began assessing a site in Southwest Florida that it was considering for a new wireless communications tower. The area is within Punta Gorda, Fla., and is home to the endangered Florida bonneted bat, an animal found only in South Florida, making its nests in wetlands, cliff crevices and tree cavities. In August 2020, without first finishing a required environmental review of the site, FMBC began clearing vegetation at the tower site, two months before it completed the required FCC antenna structure registration (ASR) process as well as an environmental assessment EA.

In FMBC’s case, those assessments weren’t completed until November 2020. After the application was received, the matter was referred to the commission’s Enforcement Bureau, which asked FMBC to submit a series of sworn questions about the situation. As part of the investigation, FMBC admitted it violated the environmental and ASR rules, specifically stating that it did not determine if its tower would have a significant impact on the environment before beginning to clear vegetation.

FMBC agreed to enter into a consent agreement with the bureau, admitting that its actions violated FCC environmental and ASR rules.

As part of the consent decree, FMBC must develop a compliance plan for this project, which includes creating a compliance manual, setting up a compliance training program revolving around the FCC’s environmental rules, filing several compliance reports detailing FMBC’s efforts to comply with the consent decree over the next 3 years and paying a civil penalty of $20,000.

The good news: the environmental review has been completed and the commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau found that the tower would have no significant impact on local wildlife. To offset potential impacts to the environment based by premature clearing, the FCC said FMBC voluntarily contributed to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Florida Bonneted Bat Fund to address the loss of any trees that could have been a potential roosting spot for the bats.

The post Sunshine State Licensee Agrees Penalty After Environmental Miss appeared first on Radio World.

Seeking to address complaints about questionable audio in podcasts, The Telos Alliance has released OmniaTools, a software package designed to improve and make podcast audio levels consistent.

“OmniaTools allows podcasters to automatically manage loudness levels and create a unique signature sound on podcasts and other on-demand content, helping them stand out, brand, and keep audiences engaged,” the company says.

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

The package is file-based and designed to work automatically, not requiring human intervention or monitoring. The processing is based on Omnia.9 algorithms. It is compatible PCM, MP2, MP3 and AAC files.

OmniaTools can process four jobs at a time and up to 16 channels of audio. It includes TU-1770 and EBU R 128 loudness control.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

Info: https://telosalliance.com

The post Telos Releases OmniaTools appeared first on Radio World.

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and the ARF (Advertising Research Foundation) have released their fourth iteration of a common language for media measurement, Lexicon 4.0.

It includes a compilation of terms and definitions for the industry.

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On October 29, Sirius XM satellite radio listeners first caught wind of a significant channel realignment that sparked more than 100 disgruntled subscribers to offer comments in what has become RBR+TVBR‘s most-read story in its online history.

Today, those moves occurred, resulting in the debut of a channel devoted to “Pop Hits from the 2000s” and a tweak of another channel to “Bright Pop Hits” with a decidedly 1970s-era Mellow Rock feel.

At the same time, Sirius XM has unveiled what it is calling the “most holiday music channels ever.” That said, 10 of the 19 choices are only available on the SXM app.

With 50s on 5 and 60s on 6 making their shifts to Channel 72 and Channel 73, respectively, Channel 5 is now the home of “The Pulse,” offering “Today’s Adult Hits” in what is largely a Hot Adult Contemporary format. On Channel 6 is acoustic/singer-songwriter channel “The Coffee House.”

Now on Channel 11: The 10s Spot, a nod to Sirius XM’s desire to attract younger audiences by creating a place specifically for pop hits from the 2010s.

Then, there’s an outright format flip: A rarity for Sirius XM. Until now, “The Blend” was focused on “light pop that’s cool and familiar, featuring songs from pop’s biggest stars.” Among them: Elton John, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Billy Joel, Ed Sheeran, P!nk, Phil Collins and Train.

Now, fortysomething women are liking texting their Moms to give the station a listen. In the 11am hour, songs included “All of You” by Diana Ross & Julio Iglesias and The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There.” Instead of Adele there is Anne Murray. The most upbeat song heard? “Sweet Freedom” by Michael McDonald.

It suggests that “Love,” which has been moved online from a channel that was preempted for “Yacht Rock” and Christmas programming in the winter, is being merged into The Blend.

Meanwhile, Christmas has arrived at Sirius XM, as it debuts some 19 ad-free channels. There are two new choices for 2021: “Holiday Instrumentals” and “Noël Incontournable,” featuring Francophone Christmas classics and contemporary holiday hits of interest to subscribers in Canada.

But, you can’t hear those channels on a Sirius XM receiver; they’re only on the SXM app.

The same goes for Holiday Chill-Out; Rockin’ Xmas; 70s/80s Holidays; Jazz Holidays; Jolly Christmas; Mannheim Steamroller Channel; and the Spanish-language Navidad.

For Jewish listeners, the limited appearance of “Radio Hanukkah” returns between November 23 and December 6 to cover the holiday’s dates in 2021. However, it will, too, be only accessible via the SXM app.

What’s accessible via tuners?

Holly (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 105 through Dec. 26.)

Contemporary holiday hits featuring songs by Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix, Norah Jones, John Legend, Train, Lady A, Ariana Grande and more.

Holiday Traditions (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 71 through Dec. 26)
Traditional holiday recordings from the ‘40s through the ‘60s by artists such as Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Ray Conniff and Nat King Cole.

Hallmark Channel Radio (available on the SXM App through Dec. 26 and via satellite on channel 104 between Nov. 23 and Dec. 26)
Christmas music and carols that celebrate the joy of the season from such Hallmark stars as Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, and Jonathan Bennett.

Holiday Soul (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 49 between Dec. 7 and Dec. 26)

Classic soul and Motown holiday music from the ’60s and ’70s, along with R&B holiday music from the last four decades.

Country Christmas (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 58 between Dec. 7 and Dec. 26)

Spanning the generations of country Christmas music, including Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood and George Strait.

Christmas Spirit (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 63 between Dec. 7 and Dec. 26)

Christmas music and holiday favorites from Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artists.

Holiday Pops (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 76 between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Classical Christmas carols and holiday favorites performed by such artists as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Luciano Pavarotti, New York Philharmonic, King’s College Choir, Boston Pops and Thomas Hampson.

Acoustic Christmas (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 6 between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, pre-empting Coffee House)

New and classic holiday songs from well-known singer songwriters and bands like Jack Johnson, Sia, George Ezra, Train, Norah Jones, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, and The Lumineers.

Following the Christmas holiday, “New Year’s Nation” will take Channel 105 between Dec. 27 and January 3; it is already available on the SXM app.

“New Year’s Nation is custom curated to serve as your ultimate New Year’s celebration playlist powering your party with the best pop, rhythm, dance and hip-hop hits from across the nation to ring in 2022,” Sirius XM says.

On October 25, it was trumpeting how support was piling up for its ONE Casino + Resort, a proposed 100,000-square foot facility on property to be sold by Philip Morris that would be transformed into a destination bringing “unrivaled gaming entertainment” to the Southside portion of Virginia’s capital city, Richmond.

Now, the multimedia company superserving African American consumers behind the plan appears to be headed to Plan B, as city voters have officially rejected a Urban One-backed casino referendum.

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