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WorldCast Systems, the supplier of advanced broadcast products, is bringing to market a new version of its Ecreso FM 5/10kW transmitter.

The Ecreso 5/10kW is a fully digital transmitter for analog FM which combines performance and high efficiency of up to 76%. The Ecreso 5/10kW is designed for cost efficiency, high audio quality, and user experience. The transmitter hosts a multitude of onboard features including an integrated digital modulator, 5-band sound processor, RDS encoder, MPX over AES compatibility, and SmartFM technology.

The Ecreso FM 5/10kW allows remote control by Web server with its advanced measurement interface in addition to SNMP management, RS232 or GPIOs.

“With the 2.3.0 version, users benefit from advanced features and improvements for additional reliability, efficiency, and control,” the company says.

These include:
SmartFM [V2] – This algorithm enables broadcasters to reduce their energy
consumption by up to 40%.
Automation – The company claims Ecreso FM is the only transmitter to automate a configuration change or send GPIO commands in case of specific alarms. Complementary to the scheduler features, the automation is part of the Communication Pack license.
RDS improvements – management of the UTF8 is now available.
Reinforced security from remote FTP through new access restrictions

 

Looking for that special holiday gift amid a supply chain slowdown that could make finding that item a bit difficult?

Second-hand presents may be the answer, and eBay has stepped up its efforts to make that point known by investing in a Spot Radio effort.

According to the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report, eBay is now the third-largest full paying advertiser on the stations tracked by the iHeartMedia-owned service. RBR+TVBR negates any iHeart-associated activity as it does not reflect fully paid advertising across all radio stations.

The latest report also shows a surge in activity from Indeed, while audio advertisements for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine rank No. 5.

 

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The FCC recently threw out all eight applications for new NCE FM channels from a recently formed ham radio club in Washington state, citing “numerous significant and egregious technical defects.”

When the Media Bureau last month announced the settlement period for mutually exclusive applications filed in the recent window for new noncommercial educational stations, it also published a list of applications being dismissed due to technical defects.

The Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club was prominent on the list. The club, established in 2021 according to its website, is on Bainbridge Island, home of the historical Fort Ward WWII naval radio station. The club’s mission statement indicates that the club includes licensed amateur radio men, women, students and youths.

The FCC said it typically doesn’t review MX applications for technical defects at this early stage, but it made the effort to do so and the ham club’s technical defects were identified.

Attempts by Radio World to contact the Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club for comment were unsuccessful.

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The commission cited numerous technical conflicts in the club’s applications, including significant overlap caused to first-, second- and third-adjacent channels and co-channel licensees. It said the club also ignored interference treaty agreements between the U.S. and Canada.

A rejected applicant has one opportunity to file a minor curative amendment and petition for reconsideration, requesting reinstatement of the application, according to the FCC. Any amendments and petitions for reconsideration must be filed within 30 days of the dismissals.

“In order for an application to be reinstated, the amendment must correct all the application defects, propose only minor changes, comply with all the commission’s relevant rules, and not create any new application conflicts,” according to the rules.

Bainbridge Island is just west of Seattle across Elliott Bay from the city. The island is connected to Seattle by ferry, according to the city’s website.

The Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club was founded this year by Louis Charles Hoffmann Alloin, according to the club’s website.

The commission received almost 1,300 applications for noncom educational FM stations in the recent window. Out of those, there are 231 MX groups with a total of 883 applications.

Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post FCC Rejects Ham Radio Club’s NCE Applications appeared first on Radio World.

Until now, opposition to President Biden’s choice to take the fifth seat on the Federal Communications Commission, Gigi Sohn, was expected to get vocal opposition from Republican members of the U.S. Senate.

Now, one key GOP leader in the upper body of Congress has voiced his opposition to the nomination of the acting Chairwoman to serve a new five-year term, setting the stage for a potentially unthinkable scenario — a 2-1 Republican majority at the FCC during a Democratic presidential term.

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A Class B FM once known for its rock ‘n’ roll programming and today offering South Asians an audio home as “Bolly 92.3” has become the first radio station in the U.S. to broadcast geo-targeted advertising.

It’s perhaps the first step in convincing marketers that broad-casting isn’t so broad, after all, and can bring addressable advertising to the FM radio dial, in addition to streaming audio.

RBR+TVBR OBSERVATION: There’s a song that’s more than 40 years old called “Video Killed The Radio Star.” How about an update called “Marketers Killed The Radio Business.” Why? Broadcasters offer a broad array of consumers, putting one single message in the ears of thousands of potential buyers. Is that not worth anything in 2021?

 

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Is the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 a worry Wall Street need not push to much focus on? On Monday, that answer appeared to be a “yes,” as financial markets were up broadly.

Media stocks rode the wave upward. But, 3 notable decliners were seen.

Nexstar Media Group shares slipped by 1% on Monday, to $152.42, while Entravision shares declined by 2.6%, to $7.01. Also down: Cumulus Media, dipping by 1.4% to $11.83.

How did other stocks fare on Monday? Please visit the RBR.com homepage to view our Wall Street Report.

Recently, Good Karma Brands promoted Sam Pines to a corporate-level role of SVP. This left the top leadership spot open in Cleveland, where it operates the market’s ESPN Radio affiliate.

Pines’ successor in the market has now been named.

Rising to the post is Amy Crossman. She was previously the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sports Talk station.

Pines said, “Amy embodies Good Karm Brands’ core values and takes a marketing first approach for our fans, advertising partners and teammates. She directly impacted our growth during a difficult and unique two years. I am excited for the future of ESPN Cleveland and our continued growth with Amy as Market Manager.”

Crossman added, “I appreciate the trust Sam Pines and the Good Karma Brands’ leadership team has put in me to lead and continue to grow a legacy brand. ESPN Cleveland has a passionate fanbase, loyal advertising partners and a dedicated team that we will continue to build in 2021 and beyond.”

Crossman joined ESPN Radio in Cleveland in October 2019, and for 19 months prior to that was Director of Partnership at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. A 25-year veteran of marketing, Crossman has worked at Men’s Health, Time, The New York Times, Crain’s New York Business, PARADE Group, and as a director for Momentum Worldwide’s top B2B account, American Express OPEN.

On Wednesday, December 1, the legal counsel representing the trustee for two FM radio stations in Florida Cox Media Group is required to sell in order to comply with FCC local ownership rules spoke by phone with the head of the Media Bureau.

Why? Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey wants answers as to the necessary steps for the “CXR Radio Station Trust,” led by Houlihan Lokey broker Elliot Evers, to complete an “orderly process” of divesting the two radio stations.

Does this point to a capitulation with respect to Cox’s request that it get up to one year to sell the FMs, on the basis that the COVID-19 pandemic deflated their valuations and a rise in value could come in the next 12 months?

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) elected three experienced media executives to serve on the ATSC Board of Directors for three-year terms that begin in January 2022.

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On Dec. 2, Croatian media regulator Agencija za Elektroničke Medije (AEM) announced plans to consider applications for national DAB+ concessions, as well as local DAB+ concessions in Zagreb and nine counties. Applications for the 20-year concessions are due by year-end.

According to a report in the newspaper Glas Istre, AEM believes there is public interest in launching new digital radio services, especially in the Zagreb region, despite the low number of DAB+ receivers in the country.

Comment on this or any article. Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Croatia Opens DAB+ Licensing appeared first on Radio World.

A new partnership between Triton Digital and Pocket FM will give media buyers additional access to the digital audio space in India.

The agreement will make Pocket FM’s OTT platform — a free podcast app and audio show that has grown into the largest audio OTT platform in India, the company said — available on the Triton Audio Ad exchange, giving buyers access to Pocket FM’s inventory through more than 30 demand size platforms via Triton.

According to the company, Pocket FM has become a top-ranking music and audio app, clocking in more than 40 million downloads and 2.7 billion monthly listening minutes. Listeners have access to more than 100,000 hours of programming via long-format content, audio shows, stories, novels and podcasts in eight languages through Pocket FM.

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Through the partnership, the companies said, Pocket FM media buyers will have access to Triton’s Yield-Op capability, an audio-first supply-side platform built for broadcasters, podcasters and music streaming services. Yield-Op offers users controls to set up deals, manage demand and optimize yield. Users will also have access to Triton’s Tap OnDemand, which enables streaming audio services and web-only audio publishers to streamline advertising trafficking and maximize revenue with dynamic audio ad insertion (DAI) as well as coordinate campaign trafficking, delivery and reporting.

“Consumption has grown significantly over the past 24 months, making digital audio an important medium for marketers seeking to reach this engaged and growing audience,” said Aditya Summanwar, director of market development for Triton Digital, adding that 57.6 million people in India as of 2020 were consuming podcasts on a monthly basis. “That makes India the third largest country for podcast consumption, following the U.S. and China,” Summanwar said.

Rohan Nayak, co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM, said that the new partnership with Triton Digital will offer media buyers and publishers a deeper look into validated measurement of India’s growing digital audio consumption market. “In the coming months, Pocket FM intends to achieve 100 million users and introduce more genres on the platform, building the largest community of writers, artists and homegrown authors in India,” Nayak said.

Submit business announcements to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Triton Digital, Pocket FM Ink Partnership appeared first on Radio World.

The newest version of the Global Radio Guide is out.

Penned by author Gayle Van Horn, this edition of the publication lists by-hour schedules that include language services, frequencies and world target areas for more than 500 stations. The guide includes listings of DX radio programs, websites, entries for time and frequencies for many stations as well as a group of unique transmissions available on shortwave radio bands.

The guide includes articles that look at the current state of shortwave receiver technology, technology product reviews, a guide to shortwave music programs from around the world, and current radio news.

In this issue, Van Horn delves into covering the radio broadcast services of the People’s Republic of China, looking at the local, regional and international medium-wave and shortwave networks run by China’s Communist Party, including the country’s largest and most widely broadcast radio station, China Radio International.

The 17th edition also includes introductory articles on traveling the world via shortwave radio broadcasts, tips on monitoring shortwave action bands and a frequency list of high-frequency non-broadcast radio stations worldwide.

The current edition of the Global Radio Guide is available on the Teak Publishing website and via Amazon.

The post Newest Edition of Global Radio Guide Hits the Streets appeared first on Radio World.

 

Work is done on a 3.8-meter single-feed antenna aimed at satellite SES-11. This particular facility in Christmas, Fla., supports a Hearst Properties site for WESH(TV).

USSI Global said it has helped satellite company SES complete the first phase of the FCC’s accelerated C-band clearing and relocation activities.

As part of the FCC’s program to encourage the rollout of 5G, SES is seeking to clear 280 MHz of the C-band spectrum. Broadcasters with satellite infrastructure are among the business sectors that have been affected by the overall process, as Radio World has reported.

“Phase I required SES to relocate all of its existing services that are received by Incumbent Earth Stations out of the 3700–3820 MHz band,” USSI Global stated in a press release. “USSI Global made the necessary equipment changes on all associated Incumbent Earth Stations.”

SES selected USSI Global as its primary vendor to help manage and execute the transition of Incumbent Earth Station filtering to mitigate risks of 5G interference.

“USSI Global served as the lead project management firm and was responsible for outreach, IT systems integration, field support management and status reporting.”

The work included research about site-specific details, and then design, procurement, installation and commissioning of 5G filters and antennas. USSI Global supported approximately 600 Phase 1 Incumbent Earth Station site transitions, which helped SES meet eligibility for the first accelerated relocation payment from the government.

The company said it also has supported the clearing of more than 100 Phase II sites so far.

The post USSI Global Supports SES in C-Band Transition appeared first on Radio World.

The Poynter Institute for Media Studies has named the 40 public radio stations, 16 public television stations, and 19 joint licensees participating in the Digital Transformation Project.

Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Digital Transformation Project is a virtual training program for public media senior leaders and their staff looking to apply best strategies and tactics to transform their organization’s digital operations and culture.

“CPB’s commitment to advancing innovation and diversity continues to be reflected through our strategic investments helping system leaders advance a digital-first, audience-centric approach,” stated Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO in a release.

The five National Multicultural Alliance Organizations — Black Public Media, the Center for Asian American Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, Pacific Islanders in Communications, and Vision Maker Media — will join the 75 stations to form four cohorts of 20 public media leaders participating in the nine-month program. The first cohort begins training in January with additional cohorts starting the program every three months.

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In addition to one-on-one and peer group coaching sessions, the program includes a series of educational webinars, work exercises, and resource materials that span the program curriculum.

“The selected participants are some of the nation’s most trusted sources citizens turn to for local news and information,” stated Poynter President Neil Brown. “Our partnership with CPB will help public media outlets build digital-first strategies that inspire an even greater — and more sustainable — connection to grow with their communities.”

According to Poynter, each public media CEO will work with their team on a specific digital performance challenge with clearly defined business outcomes, such as attracting and growing new and diverse audiences, increasing audience engagement, converting audiences to loyal members, and driving new revenues from digital channels.

“A focus on digital transformation will pay off for public media by establishing even greater audience engagement and loyalty,” Brown stated.

The 75 participating stations/networks are:

Alabama Public Radio
Alaska Public Media, Anchorage
Arizona PBS
CapRadio, Sacramento
Classical KING FM, Seattle
CoastAlaska, Southeast Alaska
Colorado Public Radio
GBH News, Boston
Idaho Public Television
Illinois Public Media
Interlochen Public Radio, Michigan
Iowa PBS
KAWC/KOFA, Colorado River Public Media/Border Radio
KAXE/KBXE, Northern Community Radio, Northern Minnesota
KCUR FM, Kansas City, Mo.
KGNU FM-AM, Boulder/Denver, Colo.
KJZZ FM and KBAQ FM, Phoenix
KLCC-FM, Eugene, Ore.
KNBA FM, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, Anchorage
KOSU-FM, Stillwater, Okla.
KPBS TV-FM, San Diego
KPCC FM, Southern California Public Radio
KTSU 90.9 FM, Houston
KUER-FM, Salt Lake City, Utah
KUNC FM and The Colorado Sound, Greeley, Colo.
KVIE TV, Sacramento
Maine Public
Marfa Public Radio, Texas
Mountain Lake PBS (WCFE), Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Nashville Public Radio
Nine PBS, St. Louis
NJ PBS
Northern California Public Media (KRCB/KPJK)
NPR Illinois
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
PBS Fort Wayne
Pioneer PBS, Granite Falls, Minn.
Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting (WESA-FM and WYEP-FM)
Radio Milwaukee
St. Louis Public Radio
Twin Cities PBS (TPT)
USC Radio Group: KUSC, Los Angeles, and KDFC, San Francisco
Vegas PBS
WAMU FM, Washington, D.C.
WCNY TV, Syracuse, N.Y.
WDSE TV-FM, Duluth, Minn.
WERU Community Radio, Blue Hill, Maine
WFYI Public Media, Indianapolis
WGLT FM, Bloomington-Normal, Ill., and WCBU FM, Peoria, Ill.
WGVU Public Media, Grand Rapids, Mich.
WHUT TV, Washington, D.C.
WITF Public Media, Harrisburg, Pa.
WKAR Public Media, East Lansing, Mich.
WKMS FM, Murray, Ky.
WLIW TV/FM, Garden City, N.Y.
WMHT Educational Telecommunications, Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.
WNET/Thirteen, New York, N.Y.
WNIJ FM, DeKalb, Ill.
WPSU TV-FM, State College, Pa.
WQLN PBS/NPR, Erie, Pa.
WRTI FM, Philadelphia
WSHU Public Radio, Westport, Conn.
WTCI-TV, Chattanooga, Tenn.
WUNC FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.
WUSF Public Media, Tampa, Fla.
WUWF Public Media, Pensacola, Fla.
WUWM FM, Milwaukee
WVIK, Quad Cities NPR, Iowa/Illinois
WVPE FM, Michiana
WVTF FM (Radio IQ), Roanoke, Va.
WXPR Public Radio, Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
WXXI Public Media, Rochester, N.Y.
WYES TV, New Orleans
WYPR FM, Baltimore
Yellowstone Public Radio, Montana

The post 75 Public Broadcasters Selected for ‘Digital Transformation’ appeared first on Radio World.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Some 75 public media stations have been selected to participate in the Digital Transformation Program, a virtual initiative developed by the Poynter Institute to educate, assist, and coach public media senior leaders and their staff on the best strategies and tactics to transform their organization’s digital operations and culture.

The training is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

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