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Radio World

2020 NAB Crystal Radio Award Nominations Open

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

The nomination period for the 2020 NAB Crystal Radio Awards is open now through the end of January, the National Association of Broadcasters says.

In order to be considered, radio stations must submit an entry describing their community service in 2019. NAB Television/Radio Awards Manager Tobi Hall can provide additional information about the process.

[Learn about the 2019 Crystal Radio Award winners]

In February, a panel will choose 50 finalists from these entries. Then, 10 Crystal Radio Award winners will be announced and recognized during the April 21 We Are Broadcasters Celebration in Las Vegas. The 2020 NAB Show is scheduled for April 18–22.

The post 2020 NAB Crystal Radio Award Nominations Open appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

Shapiro Highlights Trends in CES 2020 Look

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago
Gary Shapiro

The Consumer Electronics Show kicks off today in Las Vegas and runs through Jan. 10. As usual, the massive event is expected to highlight the technology trends that will have the biggest impact on the consumer market, as well as the broadcast industry.

And who better to guide CES 2020 attendees than Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro? No one, except perhaps Shapiro, Fred Jacobs and Buzz Knight. The trio break down what you should expect and need to know in a Jacobs Media post entitled, “We’re Off to CES 2020 and Gary Shapiro Is Our Guide.”

According to Jacobs, “The connected car, AI, 5G, autonomous driving, smart speakers/voice, wearables/hearables — all are major innovations impacting our industry that we’ll gain a better understanding of this week.”

Learn more and read the full Shapiro Q&A at jacocbsmedia.com.

 

The post Shapiro Highlights Trends in CES 2020 Look appeared first on Radio World.

Emily M. Reigart

Reflections on Racism and Radio 

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Many years ago as a DJ at a rock station, I became friends with a bartender who was a regular listener of my show. He seemed like a solid guy, and I admired that while he poured drinks for a living, he did not drink. 

One morning perusing the newspaper, I saw a headline about a KKK rally that had occurred that weekend, with a photo of a bunch of guys in white robes carrying crosses through the center of town. The leader had taken off his hood.

Much to my shock, I recognized my “pal,” the bartender. An ugly snarl on his face, he was screaming something at the crowd. 

I felt sick as the realization hit me for the first time that it’s impossible to know what hatred lies in a person’s heart.  

WORK TO DO

For a long time, I thought racism in America was decreasing; but social media, videos on YouTube and continuous targeted racist violence clearly indicate that our country has a long way to go. 

Historically, the radio industry has contributed both to perpetuating racism and educating listeners to fight against it. While the scales have certainty tipped toward education, tolerance and awareness, we have much work to do. Perhaps the few examples that follow can kickstart a New Year’s plan at your station.

  • The website of WOUB in Athens, Ohio, provides searchable tags for racism and hate crimes.

    Let’s begin by recognizing public radio for the range and timeliness of stories that NPR and affiliates are running on the air and featuring prominently on station websites. Search the term “racism” plus a set of public radio call letters, and you will often encounter a page focused purely on stories pertinent to the issue. 

  • CBS local websites also cover the topic, as do many other commercial broadcasters. 
  • It’s best when the stories are aggregated under one tag for archive viewing and for search purposes. I’m hopeful that most of these stories make it on the air as well as the websites. When time doesn’t permit, it does make sense to do shorter on-air stories with a reference to details on the website.  
  • Promotionally, there’s much all radio formats can do to help organizations that fight racism and other forms of hatred. As you’re looking at your 2020 event calendar, could you schedule a month during which you work with a local non-profit to raise awareness, volunteerism and money? Make sure to utilize on-air PSAs running with good frequency. This is also a rare opportunity for you to involve local religious institutions in all aspects of your plan. Churches, synagogues and mosques have people whom they can activate through social media, mailing lists and pulpits.
  • For talk/news formats, there’s no question that it takes an ever-vigilant program director to work with hosts on understanding what constitutes racism and how to deal with live callers who are on a mission to spread hatred. Racism and hate speech, from the right or the left, is wrong and has no place on American radio. Industry veterans know that it’s a small but vocal part of the audience, often trolls, who call in a lot. If you have hosts who can handle the rants, that’s terrific, and the calls can be transformed into a learning moment; but when it becomes repetitive and tedious to deal with the same callers, a number block may be in order.   
“Yo, Is This Racist?” is a podcast co-hosted by Andrew Ti, creator of the popular blog of the same name.
  • There are already many podcasts focused on racism and cultural intolerance. Does your parent company have one you can help promote, or is the topic of enough interest in your market to support your own effort? Either way, be sure to promote on-air and through all of your platforms.
  • When is the last time you had a staff discussion concerning racism and cultural intolerance? If the answer is a long time ago, or never, this is the time of year to get it done. Many experts are available to help you tackle this tough topic on two levels: how you approach issues on-air and at remotes and, perhaps even more sensitive, in your station’s own environment. 

Whatever one’s background, each of us benefits from enriching our self-awareness as regards social diversity and learning more about how others can do so as well. As we enter a new decade, let’s take the opportunity to help keep life peaceful for everyone.

The post Reflections on Racism and Radio  appeared first on Radio World.

Mark Lapidus

Radionline Shows Hybrid Radio App at CES

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Radio station and podcast provider Radioline, a Baracoda company, is showing its Hybrid Radio application for cars at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.

The Paris-based firm is exhibiting at the show alongside NXP to present the new automotive infotainment application.

It is demonstrating the capabilities of the NXP infotainment chip set in combination with the Hybrid Radio solution.

Radioline, which develops car applications that are compatible with Linux HTML5 and Android for cars, says the solution “meets the growing technological needs of car manufacturers.”

According to the company, the Hybrid Radio app offers “an easy and customizable interface for an optimal” driving experience.

“Radioline has combined its technologies with NXP to ensure an interactive and secure driving experience that meets the driver’s needs and pleasure,” said Xavier Filliol, COO of Radioline.

Characteristics of the system include automatic switching between six connections, IP, DAB +, FM, HD, DRM and CDR; the possibility for drivers to save and find their favorite stations, podcasts or songs; access to local, national and international programs through catalogs available on the app; access to content information such as a title, description, cover and album name. In addition, says the firm, the app features a “clean and intuitive” in-house designed interface.

“Radioline has quickly developed an application well suited to demonstrate the capabilities of our infotainment chip set,” said Nacho Seirul-lo, NXP’s director of program management.

“Radioline has enabled the integration of Broadcast and Internet radio in our radio demonstrator thereby improving the user experience.”

 The company is exhibiting at the NXP booth CP-18 in the Central Plaza.

The post Radionline Shows Hybrid Radio App at CES appeared first on Radio World.

Marguerite Clark

2020 Looks Good for Digital Radio, Smart Speakers

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

OTTAWA — People from various areas of the industry are optimistic about radio’s fortunes in 2020, especially when it comes to “riding the digital wave.” But some of them see challenges in radio’s ability to attract and hold younger listeners, who must be won over to keep this audio medium viable for decades to come.

Angel Radio’s 60+ audience is increasingly listening to the station via smart speaker. Credit: Angel Radio

CONTINUED GROWTH FOR DAB+

Let’s start with the most positive radio trend in 2020: DAB/DAB+ will continue to grow in reach, usage and popularity.

“We expect to see continued growth of digital listening as audiences shift away from analog platforms,” said Aris Erdogdu, WorldDAB’s communications manager. “DAB/DAB+ will remain the dominant digital platform — especially in the car.”

A case in point: “In the United Kingdom, digital listening has increased to a new record of 56.8%, up from 52.4% in Q3 2018,” said Erdogdu. “What’s more, listening via DAB now accounts for 39.7% of all listening, and 70% of digital listening.”

“DAB digital radio is also prevailing in the automotive sector,” he added. “In the U.K., 93% of new cars now come equipped with DAB as standard, and DAB listening in the car has increased by 13.1 million hours — or 15.5% — compared to the same time last year.”

2020 will be a watershed year for in-car DAB, thanks to the European Union’s decision to require all new car radios in the EU to receive digital terrestrial radio by Dec. 20, 2020.

“Germany has recently transposed this directive into national legislation, while Italy and France — which is preparing the launch of its national DAB+ network in 2020 — already have laws in place which conform to the EU rule,” said Erdogdu.

DAB/DAB+ is attracting attention in other parts of the world including the Middle East, North and South Africa as well as Southeast Asia. “Tunisia is the latest country to have rolled out DAB+, and neighboring Algeria has also hit the ground running with the launch of a DAB+ trial in and around the capital Algiers,” Erdogdu said.

Tony Smith, founder/station manager of Angel Radio. Credit: Angel Radio

DAB+ is also gaining ground in Australia. “Permanent commercial DAB+ services were launched in the cities of Canberra, Darwin and Hobart in 2019, so there are now eight major population centers in Australia with DAB+, and more regional areas will follow next year,” said Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).

“DAB+ will grow as commercial networks are offering more DAB+-only stations and enhancing and rebranding their services,” she noted. “For instance, Southern Cross

Austereo is now offering five DAB+-only stations under their Triple M brand — Triple M Greatest Hits, Triple M Classic Rock, Triple M Aussie, Triple M Country and Triple M Hard N Heavy. Listeners have more music choice to fit their mood, while advertisers can access incremental audience reach beyond the main Triple M station.”

Aris Erdogdu is WorldDAB Communications Manager. Credit: WorldDAB

DAB/DAB+ offers business opportunities for smaller broadcasters such as the U.K.’s Angel Radio. It is a community radio station serving listeners 60 years and older via FM, regional DAB and web streaming.

“Since 2015, Angel Radio has run one of the trial small-scale DAB multiplexes,” said Tony Smith, founder and station manager of Angel Radio.

Joan Warner is chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia. Credit: Commercial Radio Australia

“We currently bring 28 radio services to DAB+ listeners in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas. These stations are mainly small internet-only or FM community stations that could not afford the cost of carriage on regional DAB. Our multiplex carriage rate card is flexible enough to enable larger, more financially stable stations, to subsidize the cost of carriage for much smaller niche stations.”

SMART SPEAKERS ARE GOOD FOR RADIO

In April 2019, the technology research firm Canalsys predicted that the number of web-connected smart speakers in use worldwide would increase 82.4% from 114 million units in 2018 to 207.9 million units in 2019. Given the proven popularity of smart speakers such as the Amazon Alexa/Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod, and the Sonos One, this trend seems likely to continue in 2020.

Peter Moore is owner of Radio Caroline. Credit: Radio Caroline

Radio is tagging along for the smart speaker ride: “The use of smart speakers to listen to the radio more than doubled in the past year,” said James Cridland, radio futurologist and editor of the Podnews newsletter. “Live radio is the most popular audio consumed on smart speakers, by total time spent listening, and it seems that these devices will continue to replace broadcast receivers in more households.”

It isn’t just Millennials who listen to radio via smart speakers. “Alexa is definitely being used more by our older audience these days,” said Angel Radio’s Tony Smith. “Around 15% of our U.K. online audience is using Alexa and Echo Dot.”

“The future seems to be the net aided by smart speakers, laptops, smart phones and apps,” said Peter Moore, owner of Radio Caroline, the one-time ship-based pirate broadcaster that is now a legal terrestrial radio station on AM/MW, DAB and the web. “Our online audience has now increased 45-fold whereas our satellite audience was at best static and that while we extensively use local DAB, this is just a novelty that we hope may develop in the future.”

Some of the DAB/DAB+ radios now available to consumers. Credit: WorldDAB

PODCASTING GAINING GROUND

Podcasting is a trend that radio people are talking about, with many broadcasters jumping into the medium to stake out new territory and attract new listeners.

A case in point: In 2020, “there will be a strong focus on podcasting as we’ve recently launched the Australian Podcast Ranker, which will be a regular monthly report of the top 100 most downloaded and listened to podcasts in Australia,” said Commercial Radio Australia’s Joan Warner.

“The aim is to drive consumer awareness of the great variety of content out there and increase advertiser understanding of the opportunities in the podcast space. The latest Australian Share of Audio study by GfK showed that consumers are now spending more time listening to podcasts than owned music.”

Radio Caroline’s former ship-based transmitter on the MV Ross Revenge. Credit: Colm O’Laoi 

WINNING YOUNGER LISTENERS REMAINS A CHALLENGE

One negative trend that appears likely to continue in 2020 is broadcast radio’s weakening appeal to younger listeners.

“While radio continues to reach 9 out of 10 adults in most countries across the world, it appears to be losing its gloss with young audiences who are listening for considerably less time,” said Cridland. “Radio is increasingly relying on an aging population to continue delivering their audience figures. Younger audiences, who increasingly look for on-demand content, needs to be a focus for the industry.”

To turn this situation around, “Radio needs programming to attract younger audiences, and we need radio to understand that ‘live and local’ is much less compelling for younger audiences than ‘real and relevant — real people on their air, with relevant content for them,” he said.

“This is a real challenge to radio’s long-term future, and I’m increasingly concerned that radio broadcasters are complacently using their current audience figures as an excuse not to change.”

The post 2020 Looks Good for Digital Radio, Smart Speakers appeared first on Radio World.

James Careless

SWR Mourns Davey Edmiston

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

David K. Edmiston Jr., known as Davey Edmiston, passed away suddenly in December at the age of 49.

The announcement was made by SWR, the Pennsylvania-based antenna and transmissions systems manufacturer where he’d worked since his early 20s. Davey was son of the company’s president and CEO, David Edmiston Sr.

Several other Edmiston family members also work at the company, which was founded in 1964, under the aegis of Thomas Edmiston Sr., Davey’s grandfather.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep regret that we announce the passing of David K Edmiston Jr., Davey to those who knew him best,” SWR said in a statement. “He leaves behind his loving wife Amy, and a long list of friends and loved ones both personal and professional.” The company said he’d suffered an aneurysm.

According to a company bio, David Jr. began his career in broadcasting as a tower technician with Edmiston Tower and worked his way up to field-testing and antenna design with Systems With Reliability (SWR), eventually becoming manager of operations. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers and the National Association of Broadcasters.

“For more than 25 years, his irreplaceable dedication and expertise have contributed to our ongoing success, and we will never fill the void of his passing,” the company stated. “Though his absence has cast a long shadow, and though we may grieve, we must also remember his wit, his exuberant personality, and his boundless lust for life. During this difficult time, we ask that you keep his family and all of us who cared so deeply for him in your thoughts and prayers.”

Edmiston served in the Navy, and then spent his entire career at SWR. According to Marketing and Multimedia Director Morgan James, Davey learned much of his technical knowledge from longtime company consultant Dr. Ali Mahnad.

According to an obituary in the Tribune-Democrat, Davey Edmiston also enjoyed golf, camping, fishing and football, and he loved to “dance, dance, dance.”

A memorial service was held in December.

 

The post SWR Mourns Davey Edmiston appeared first on Radio World.

Paul McLane

Alleged Deception Costs FM Broadcasters Their License

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

It’s a case that ropes in issues of timeliness, candor and questions of who exactly is fit to hold a broadcast license. In the end, the issue of honesty — and the fact that it is a foundational requirement for holding an FCC license — resulted in the revoking of three California station construction permits and licenses.

The Federal Communications Commission ordered that the permits and licenses of three FM stations would be revoked after William L. Zawila and two other groups were accused of disingenuous stonewalling and various misrepresentations in their dealings with the FCC. The others in the case include the estate of Linda Ware and the estate of H.L. Charles, although the FCC said Zawila represents all stations — which include KNGS(FM), KZPE(FM) and KZPO(FM).

The case came to a head largely due to Zawila’s conduct, the commission said.

[Read: Out-of-Date Online Files Being Investigated by FCC]

Way back in 2003, the commission requested this case be reviewed by Judge Richard L. Sippel, a chief administrative law judge with the FCC, after allegations were made regarding illegal transfer of facility control, the violation of several commission operating rules and an allegation that Zawila had made several disingenuous misrepresentations to the FCC.

After some internal issues were resolved, including a distress sale of some facilities, the hearing proceeding was reactivated by Judge Sippel — but not until more than 10 years later.

When the case moved ahead in 2014, it was alleged that Zawila and others had failed to provide substantive responses to several document requests and questions posed by the FCC Enforcement Bureau. Although the judge required Zawila to file a status report during the review, none was submitted. There were also concerns about Zawila submitting incomplete responses to questions and several back and forth discussions on attending a status conference. Because Zawila failed to adequately provide complete substantive responses to the Enforcement Bureau’s interrogatories and to attend a status conference in person, the judge held Zawila in default.

Zawila filed an appeal saying that among other things, the FCC misapplied its own good character policy and was imposing a huge burden by requesting information from so many years ago. Nonetheless, the judge concluded that Zawila had violated numerous provisions of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules, and as a result, did not possess the basic qualifications to remain a permittee and licensee.

In December 2019, the FCC affirmed the judge’s findings and revoked the related permits and licenses.

In the end, the issue of truthfulness was a huge pivoting factor in the case.

“Long ago the Federal Communications Commission established that the ‘trait of truthfulness’ is a necessary element of the character required to operate a broadcast station in the public interest,” said FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement following the order. “[In this case], we uphold an earlier finding that a licensee’s misrepresentation, lack of candor and false statements were used to mislead the FCC and defraud the public interest.

“In doing so, we affirm the decision to revoke the licenses and construction permits of a licensee that made a series of false statements to the agency,” she said. “I support this decision as well as the time-honored principles that inform our review.”

On the same day, the commission also dismissed a Petition for Reconsideration by two other parties to this proceeding: Avenal Educational Services and Central Valley Educational Services. The FCC said this request was not properly served nor were the new arguments in the petition raised properly.

 

The post Alleged Deception Costs FM Broadcasters Their License appeared first on Radio World.

Susan Ashworth

Hotels Leave the Light on for Audio

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago
Full Service Radio is “a community podcast network and internet radio station broadcasting live from a standalone radio studio located inside the lobby of the Line DC.”

Hotels played a big role in the early days of radio broadcasting, providing shelter and credibility to new radio stations. 

New Orleans’ WDSU launched as a respectable business inside the city’s DeSoto Hotel in 1928, after spending five years operating out of owner Joseph Uhalt’s backyard chicken coop as WCBE. Other hoteliers played home to radio stations such as Chicago’s Drake Hotel, which housed WGN (then WDAP) in 1923. 

But the trend was short-lived: As radio began to boom in the 1930s, stations checked out of hotels to move into their own dedicated facilities.

Today, in Washington, D.C., there are two facilities whose presence hearkens back to radio’s historic relationship with hotels; and the hospitality segment has drawn new interest recently from iHeartRadio as it seeks to bring its own channels and content to hotel-based consumers nationally.

RETURN OF THE LOBBY STATION Jack Inslee, center facing camera, talks with guests at Full Service Radio.

If you’re a guest at The Line hotel in Washington, you’re free to look through the windows at live broadcasts being streamed from Full Service Radio, a lobby-based internet radio station in a chic, elegant setting.

“We offer 34 weekly programs/podcasts created by local producers, which can be heard live or on demand at www.thelinehotel.com/full-service-radio,” said Jack Inslee, founder and executive producer of Full Service Radio.

Inslee previously helped launch Heritage Radio Network and is a record producer, audio engineer and DJ. 

“The shows cover a very wide variety of topics from music and food to self-help and pop culture. Our full-time employee and part-timers work to identify possible hosts, who provide the content to us for free in exchange for using our studio to create this content and distribute it worldwide.”

Full Service Radio’s live schedule at The Line hotel runs Sunday to Friday. Its program/podcast titles include “SongByrd Radio,” “Beer Me,” “Beats&Beautiful Music,” “The Wedding Dish” and “Edible Activist.” 

Full Service Radio as seen on an iPad. At upper right: “Book Your Stay.”

Although he says Full Service Radio does work with The Line hotel on content occasionally, the streaming station manages its own programming without external direction. 

“We’re free to do anything we want as we see fit,” said Inslee. “Meanwhile, if our hosts manage to attract sponsors, they get to keep the majority of the revenues, which provides them with an incentive to grow their programs and their audiences.”

BIG WHIG

Newly completed in the courtyard of the Willard InterContinental Hotel is Big Whig Media, a full-fledged multimedia production facility. It is a partnership of Nahigian Strategies, a communications and public relations firm, and property developer Carr Companies.

Artist’s rendering of the studios of Big Whig Media in the courtyard of the historic Willard Hotel.

Big Whig Media (“Whig” being a nod to the defunct political party) is home to an audio production studio for live radio and audio streams and podcasts, a multi-camera video studio and TV editing suite, and satellite uplinks/landline links to get the content out to the world.

“There’s a real demand for third-party production studios in downtown Washington,” said Cassie Scher, an account manager with Nahigian Strategies. “With industry experts and foreign dignitaries staying at the Willard, and so many government agencies and associations nearby, this location is the perfect spot for people to be able to do their interviews without having to go too far out of their way.”

Appealing to audio professionals is definitely part of its goals. Its website states: “Bring your podcast or live radio show to the cutting edge! Big Whig Media offers the only ground-level, windowed studio focused primarily on creating premium audio content. We also offer the opportunity to transform your program from an audio-only experience into a dynamic, visual show, streamed with the ability for fans to see you record live. For those content creators or radio hosts visiting Washington D.C., we offer the opportunity and equipment you need to broadcast from the iconic Willard InterContinental Hotel.”

HOTEL LISTENING

Industry biggie HeartMedia may not be based in a hotel lobby, but it, too, sees the potential in the hospitality segment. Since 2017 it has been using a cloud-based distribution platform from hospitality tech company Intelity to deliver its streamed stations to hotel guests using tablet computers in their rooms.

The welcome screen of a guest’s Intelity media center shows iHeartRadio content at lower left.

“Integrating iHeartRadio into hotel rooms through partners like Intelity is a great way to give travelers a chance to stay connected to their communities while on the road, while also giving them the opportunity to quickly discover what’s happening in the places they are visiting,” said Jessica Jerrick, iHeartRadio’s EVP of business development and partnerships. 

“In addition to access to thousands of live radio stations across the country, travelers can access music and podcasts perfect for any mood or activity, all for free.”

This September, for instance, iHeart announced an agreement with Hilton Hotels. “Hilton guests can now enjoy thousands of iHeartRadio’s music playlists, podcasts and can even stream live radio stations,” the companies announced. “Guests can access this new feature directly from their TVs in Hilton’s ‘Connected Room’ guest entertainment platform.”

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE

Perhaps it’s too much to call any of this a rebirth of hotel-based radio or even a trend in hotel-based internet radio. But the special nature of hotels seems to have enduring media appeal. 

[Read about how one Aussie uses hotels for his popular shows, since he’s frequently on the road.]

Intelity CEO Robert Stevenson describes hotel listeners as a highly engaged, captive audience. Similar captive audiences could be captured by setting up internet radio stations in other specialized locations, he added.

“For example, if there is a streaming audio station set up in a mall, they have the opportunity to sell advertising placements to the stores within the mall and can guarantee that those advertisements will reach a relevant audience,” Stevenson said. “The secret is to have a targetable audience and a platform to deliver a broadcast on, ideally digital and mobile.”

It remains to be seen if hotels in other U.S. cities follow this trend; but Full Service Radio is now producing programs in The Line hotels in Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles.

The post Hotels Leave the Light on for Audio appeared first on Radio World.

James Careless

Gene Novacek, Founder of ENCO, Dies

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Eugene Novacek, who founded broadcast technology company ENCO and led it for decades, has died. He was 61.

According to a statement from the company, he died on New Year’s Day in New York, from pancreatic cancer.

Survivors include his wife Judith Novacek, daughter Kristin Heinbockel, son Andrew Novacek and granddaughter Evany Novacek. “His legacy lives through his family, the company he founded, and the industry he loved and changed,” the statement reads.

Novacek was a professional engineer (P.E.) who held engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He had early jobs at Bechtel Power Corp., Barton Malow Co. and Alberici Constructors before founding ENCO Systems Inc., whose acronym includes his initials.

ENCO is now based in Southfield, Mich., but began in St. Louis is 1983 by providing computer-based process control for critical industrial applications. “We started providing industrial process control and automation to manufacturers like GM, Ford, Chrysler, Monsanto, Anheuser Busch, General Tire, Waste Management, etc. in 1983,” Novacek wrote in a 2008 blog post celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary.

But it was in broadcast that the firm grew, becoming a prominent supplier of automation for radio and TV stations. Its first digital audio delivery system was introduced in 1991; its product lines have since grown to encompass playout automation, captioning, scheduling and streaming. Its markets also include A/V, events, concerts, worship and retail environments, according to enco.com.

Among other accomplishments, Novacek wrote the chapter on automation and audio storage in the latest edition of the NAB Engineering Handbook. He also held a private pilot’s license.

ENCO is currently led by Ken Frommert, who in 2017 was promoted from general manager to president and has been the more public face of the company in recent years.

The post Gene Novacek, Founder of ENCO, Dies appeared first on Radio World.

Paul McLane

2020 Media Kits/Editorial Calendar/Rate Cards

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

2020 Media Kits/Editorial Calendar/Rate Cards

2020 RWUS Editorial Calendar & Rate Card

2020 RWUS Full Media Kit

2020 RWI Editorial Calendar & Rate Card

2020 RWI Full Media Kit

 

The post 2020 Media Kits/Editorial Calendar/Rate Cards appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

Media Bureau Continues FM6 Update Inquiry

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

The “Franken FM” saga continues.

The FCC’s Media Bureau has set the comment and reply comment deadlines for responses to its Dec. 4 public notice. The summary was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 23; therefore, the comment deadline is Jan. 22, and reply comments must be submitted by Feb. 6.

MB Docket No. 03-185 addresses “the operation of analog radio services by digital low-power television stations as ancillary or supplementary services.” The commission says it is seeking to “update the record” on LPTV stations’ use of TV Channel 6 spectrum just below the U.S. FM band.

The post Media Bureau Continues FM6 Update Inquiry appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

Samson LM10x Lavalier Microphone Debuts

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Samson has introduced its new Samson LM10x lavalier microphone, intended for use in various applications, such as presentations, live broadcasts, house of worship and more.

A discreet, omnidirectional lavalier mic with a miniature condenser mic capsule, the Samson LM10x lavalier microphone comes with four included adapter cables to help ensure it can be connected to most popular brands of wireless systems.

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

The microphone is based around a 3 mm, omnidirectional miniature mic capsule in an effort to allow it to capture sound evenly in all directions with limited proximity effect or off-axis coloration, regardless of the position of the microphone to the sound source. Its lightweight clip design offers an unobtrusive placement on ties, lapels and more.

The LM10x includes four detachable adapter cables (1/8-inch/3.5 mm, Hirose four-Pin, Switchcraft TA3F, Switchcraft TA4F), allowing the LM10x to connect with Samson wireless transmitters and most other brands of wireless transmitters as well.

All of these items can be kept together safely in an included protective carry case that houses the mic and other essential components. Also included with the LM10x are a lightweight mic clip and four standard windscreens to avoid wind noise and plosives such as P-pops.

The Samson LM10x lavalier microphone is currently available for sale at major CE and MI retailers for $99.99.

Info: www.samsontech.com

The post Samson LM10x Lavalier Microphone Debuts appeared first on Radio World.

ProSoundNetwork Editorial Staff

Best of Show Up Close: GatesAir Intraplex Ascent

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

“Best of Show Up Close” is a series about participants in Radio World’s annual Best of Show at NAB Awards program.

In 2019, GatesAir nominated the Intraplex Ascent audio over IP platform. Radio World asked Keyur Parikh, vice president and general manager of Intraplex Products Group, about it.

Radio World: What is this product and what are its intended uses?
Keyur Parikh: Intraplex Ascent is a COTS-based, high-density AoIP and gateway solution. The software platform is built upon proven Intraplex IP Link technology and supports up to 32 channels of AES3/analog/AES67 audio.

Ascent supports the same audio encoding as IP Link. In addition to supporting FEC and Stream Splicing to reliability, Ascent adds Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol for added reliability and security. In addition to AoIP applications, the scalable nature of the software architecture also supports media gateway capability to enable reliable transport of broadcast quality video across the STL.

A GatesAir Intraplex Ascent is installed at Leighton Broadcasting.

For audio applications, typical use cases for Ascent would be studio-to-studio connectivity to transport high-density channels; and large-scale contribution or distribution, where an Ascent system at the head-end interoperates with IP Link codecs at the remote studios or transmitter sites. For media gateway applications, Ascent can be used for TV STL, or to distribute any UDP-based, high-bitrate media to a large number of recipients.

[Read: Best of Show Up Close: Inovonics Sofia 568 FM HD Radio SiteStreamer+]

RW: The software-defined version seems notable, what should we know about the implications of that approach as far as the user’s installation and operation of the system?
Parikh: Ascent can be purchased as software or as a complete appliance. The appliance is built on a multi-core GatesAir/Intraplex branded server that is preloaded with an OS and applications. It also includes the necessary audio I/O required for the customer. The installation of Ascent is similar to our IP Link codecs, and its built-in Web interface provides a similar look and feel.

Ascent continues the legacy of transport reliability of IP Link, and includes four network ports that can be used for both traffic and control. The combination of the four network ports along with SRT and Stream Splicing provides industry-leading network reliability. The software architecture of Ascent was designed to be scalable with channels, which allows our customer to a smoother growth path.

RW: What does Intraplex Ascent cost? Is it available now?
Parikh: Ascent is shipping now. The cost of the system varies based on configuration. I would recommend reaching out to your local sales representative to get more details.

RW: What else should we know?
Parikh: The introduction of Ascent provides a flexible and scalable software platform, which provides easier integration of new functionality. It also reduces operational costs for our customers by leveraging a COTS platform.

In October 2019, GatesAir said that Leighton Broadcasting in St. Cloud, Minn., replaced a hardware-based, point-to-point IP STL systems with an Intraplex Ascent AoIP transport platform; the manufacturer said this was the first commercial implementation of Intraplex Ascent for software-based transport.

The Future Best of Show Awards program honors and helps promote outstanding new products exhibited at industry conventions like the spring NAB Show. Exhibitors pay a fee to enter; not all entries win. Watch for more coverage of participating products soon. To learn about all of the nominees and winners, read the 2019 Best of Show Program Guide.

The post Best of Show Up Close: GatesAir Intraplex Ascent appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

Niall Power, Adam Bowie Join Radiodays Europe Speaker Lineup

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

The speaker lineup for Radiodays Europe 2020 continues to grow, as Niall Power and Adam Bowie have been announced as the latest names that will present at the annual conference.

Niall Power is the head of Station Sound, the first regional radio station in Ireland. Power has been in radio for more than 20 years as an anchor and in program manager roles. He also is a member of the music training board of the Learning Waves training network for Ireland’s commercial radio sector.

Adam Bowie is a business development manager for the BBC World Service, having served with the BBC World Service for five years carrying out strategy and extending BBC’s podcast carriage globally. Some of his previous experience includes working for Absolute Radio and Virgin Radio.

The complete list of announced speakers for Radiodays Europe 2020 is available on the conference’s website.

Radiodays Europe 2020 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from March 29-31. More information, including how to register, is available here.

The post Niall Power, Adam Bowie Join Radiodays Europe Speaker Lineup appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

KRK Systems Unveils Classic 5 Studio Monitors

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

KRK Systems has debuted the Classic 5 Professional Biamp Studio Monitors, designed with an eye towards adapting and adopting concepts from the brand’s long-serving Rokit lines.

Jimmy R. Landry, global director of marketing, Pro Audio Division, Gibson Brands, noted that during the development process, the company “zoomed in and fine-tuned certain components to make it an incredibly versatile monitor for music creation, mixing and mastering.”

The powered closefield studio monitor sports an optional +2 dB KRK Bass Boost, a biamped Class A/B amplifier with built-in automatic limiter and a low-resonance enclosure for minimized distortion and colorization. Additionally, a five-inch lightweight, glass-Aramid composite woofer is claimed to provide clear midrange and tighter bass, and a one-inch soft dome tweeter with waveguide provides highs up to 35 kHz.

The Classic 5 monitor also comes preinstalled with high-density foam pads underneath to decouple the speaker enclosure from the surface, aiming to provide clarity and more accurate frequency response.

The monitors also feature a front-slotted bass port, which reduces boundary coupling and aids positioning within a room, and high- and low-frequency controls so that users can adjust the monitor’s sound to their environment and preference. Multiple inputs (XLR, 1/4-inch, RCA) provide connectivity for the Classic 5.

Info: www.krksys.com

The post KRK Systems Unveils Classic 5 Studio Monitors appeared first on Radio World.

ProSoundNetwork Editorial Staff

Winter Edition of Global Radio Guide Available on Amazon

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Some winter reading is now available for those interested in radio around the world, as Teak Publishing has made the Global Radio Guide (Winter 2019–2020) available as an eBook on Amazon.

Formerly known as the International Shortwave Broadcast Guide, Gayle Van Horn authored the 13th edition of the publication that provides a 24-hour station/frequency guide for selected AM band, longwave and shortwave radio stations from around the world. The guide features by-hour schedules that include all language services, frequencies and world target areas for more than 500 stations.

This edition also features an introductory article, “The Software Defined Radio — Bringing the World to Your Doorstep,” which includes an SDR buyers guide. Other features of the guide include an equipment review on the Airspy HF+Discovery SDR. A number of other authors contributed articles to the guide.

The new Global Radio Guide eBook is available on Amazon for US$8.99.

The post Winter Edition of Global Radio Guide Available on Amazon appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

Greg Walden Prepares to Close a Chapter

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Rep. Greg Walden, Republican from Oregon, knew the question was coming before it was asked. After all, as soon as he’d announced that he would not seek another term in 2020, people had begun to wonder if the former radio owner might not have his eye on eventually becoming leader of the National Association of Broadcasters. 

“There was all this speculation that Gordon Smith was resigning and that was why I was stepping aside,” said Walden with a chuckle, referring to the current president/CEO of NAB. 

“No. It’s none of the above. Look, I love broadcasting. It’s in my veins. It shows on my soldering iron-burned hands. I grew up in broadcasting and it’s a great industry.”

Walden, 62, will leave Congress in January 2021. He came to the Hill in 1998 and most recently has been the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which maintains principal responsibility for legislative oversight relating to telecommunications. That means Walden is intimately aware of the issues facing the broadcast industry.

SAVVY AND SERIOUS

Much of the media coverage of Walden’s decision focused on the outlook for the GOP in next year’s elections. 

Politico put it this way in late October: “The Oregon congressman is the 19th House Republican to announce they are retiring at the end of this Congress, a sign of how difficult it will be for the GOP to win back the majority in what’s already shaping up as a tough 2020 election. Having President Donald Trump’s name at the top of the ticket will ensure turnout among his supporters, yet it’s also expected to bring Democrats out in huge numbers as well.”

Politico characterized Rep. Walden as “well-respected by colleagues from both sides of the aisle, who describe him as both a savvy politician and serious legislator who likes to dig into the nitty-gritty policy details.” It noted that he is a former chief of the House GOP’s campaign arm who “earned a reputation for party loyalty over his past two decades in Congress” but said he “has been quietly picking and choosing his battles with Trump this year, fueling speculation he might be eyeing the exits.”

Specifically, it reported, Walden “rebuked the president over the hugely controversial border wall project, backed Russia sanctions over Trump’s objection, voted with Democrats to end the historic 35-day government shutdown and has been vocal about addressing climate change. But Walden also has stood by Trump throughout the Ukraine scandal and fallen in line on other key issues.”

WHERE’S WALDEN?

NAB released a statement regarding Walden’s retirement from Smith, a former U.S. senator: “I was lucky to have served with Greg Walden in both the Oregon legislature and in Congress, and can honestly say he is one of the finest public servants I’ve ever known. Greg’s career has been defined by success — as a committed local broadcaster, as a bipartisan political bridge builder and as a brilliant legislator,” he said.

“Congress is a better place because of Greg Walden, and I’m certain he will make a positive difference in whatever path his future may hold.”

Rep. Greg Walden and wife Mylene arrive for a formal dinner at the State Department, honoring recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018.
Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

Walden and his wife Mylene owned and operated a group of radio stations for more than two decades in Hood River, Ore., until 1998. The town is in the Columbia River Gorge. Earlier, Walden worked at stations his parents owned. His duties included working on air, doing traffic and even a little engineering. Walden also is a licensed amateur radio operator (W7EQI).

In his role on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Walden worked to “pass legislation to grow American jobs by expanding access to wireless broadband, spur new U.S. technology and innovation and protect the Internet from government control,” according to his official bio.  

Speaking with Radio World, Walden reflected on his time in Washington and the current regulatory environment. Some replies have been edited for length and clarity.

Radio World: How did your radio background give you unique perspective on items that came before the  House Energy and Commerce Committee? 

Rep. Greg Walden: As a community broadcaster who owned radio stations for 20 years and who grew up in a family of broadcasters. In fact my father was a broadcaster going back to the 1930s, so you really learn about listening and learning about people in your community. It’s about localism. All of those things that broadcasters do so well. Those principles and the engrained institutionalized service to community really served me well when I came to Washington.

As a broadcaster I did sales calls. I wrote ads. I did news. All of those things helped me because it taught me how to be in touch with the community. That helped me politically. And did give me an insight into the issues broadcasters still face today.

Walden at work with legislative assistant Ted. The sign on the desk says “Pull Up Yer Big Boy Boxers & Git ‘er Dun.”

RW: What are your views on the state of government regulation in the lives of broadcasters?

Walden: There is a place for regulation. We don’t want pirate radio stations crashing on top of licensed radio stations. I think under this FCC and the leadership of [Chairman] Ajit Pai and [Commissioner] Mike O’Rielly, they have really recognized the need to get rid of unnecessary regulation. 

I’ve talked to Chairman Pai about our experience as broadcasters and the things we needed to do and the unnecessary parts. We had a public file that no one looked at except for the occasional FCC inspector. It’s important that we get to the things that matter, and not burden local broadcasters with things that no one cares about in today’s age.

RW: What is your position on performance royalties? Should radio be paying artists to play their songs?

Walden: I think artists benefit terrifically by broadcasters getting their music out to listeners. We already — and I say “we” because I still talk in the broadcaster’s vein — we are already paying a lot of money to the record companies. My preference is to have them figure it out amongst themselves.

RW: NAB is on record as saying they would prefer the Department of Justice defer to Congress to determine any material changes needed to the music licensing structure. Could that happen?

Walden: I can’t say. I know the pressure seems to have grown on radio broadcasters since online music services began paying performance royalties. Right now it’s in the DOJ’s hands.

RW: What do you think about the pending deregulation proposals before the FCC?

Walden: I watched what happened after the 1996 Communications Act and I think it really helped provide the market share that was necessary to allow for stations to group up. That happened in our case. We went from two, then three and finally five radio stations. The ones we purchased were not doing that well. And by the time we were done we had a synergy to allow for a more competitive group. 

We have a hugely competitive marketplace these days, and I want broadcasting to be able to grow and flourish and serve their local communities. There has been a lot of debate about national caps and such. So there is much to be discussed, but we have to make sure we maintain the viability of broadcasting. We don’t want to go the way of newspapers. It’s important there is competition and not have monopolies, but we want competition designed in this era and not the 1940s and 1950s era.

RW: You’ve said you’ve been watching spectrum issues and especially the battle over dividing up the C-Band. Are you worried about the damage that could be done to established downlinks for broadcast?

Walden: Yes, absolutely. In fact we have had subcommittee hearings over which way to go and how much to divide up. We are having a vibrant debate about which direction to go and how much spectrum should be freed up. We need to stay ahead of the 5G rollout in this country to make sure it works. 

I think there is a way to accommodate that and still make sure broadcasters using the mid-band spectrum can continue to get the programming they need without interference. There are different options to make that happen.

I met with the head of the Congressional Budget Office recently on this very topic. They are looking at whether an auction performs better for taxpayers or a private sale. [FCC Chairman Ajit Pai subsequently signaled that he plans to seek a public auction of C-band spectrum. — Ed.] 

We are working our way through it. I’m still in the information-gathering mode. I know I don’t want rural areas of America to go under-served all of a sudden because you don’t have the bandwidth anymore. I don’t want interference. Some of it could be replaced by fiber but not all of it. I represent some very rural areas where fiber just wouldn’t work for broadcasters to continue receiving programming. 

Walden at work. “It’s important there is competition and not have monopolies, but we want competition designed in this era and not the 1940s and 1950s era.”

RW: You’ve been critical of the FCC in the past when it was under different leadership, saying it was not transparent enough. Has that aspect of FCC operations under Chairman Pai improved?

Walden: Oh yes. There were periods under previous leadership when the FCC was antagonistic and almost hostile toward broadcasters. I think that has changed greatly. That’s very encouraging. True, the FCC is the cop on the beat, and if you are a licensee you have certain obligations that have to be met. But my experience as a former broadcaster and as former president of the Oregon Broadcasters Association years ago, I think this commission recognizes the amount of community service radio provides.

RW: Another FCC question. They have been criticized by some as being slow to move on AM revitalization. Is the FCC doing enough to help AM radio?

Walden: I was the owner of two AM stations. One was a former daytime that we were eventually allowed to drop to about 13 watts to remain on the air 24/7. Another was a 1,000 kW AM. I want to see AM survive and thrive. It’s especially important for new entrants into broadcasting, the diversity of programming. 

It certainly has been slow-moving, but it has been an initiative of Chairman Pai to get it done. It is one of those things on my bucket list to try and get it into a better place.

RW: What do you hear from the White House? And what is their view on broadcast industry priorities?

Walden: I think it is pretty positive. I have several former staffers in the White House working on communication issues. They understand the importance of having a vibrant broadcast community. We are all looking at what is next. They are aware of the C-band spectrum issues. 

As for radio, this is an administration and a president that is a big fan of broadcast in general. 

RW: You were chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee when Republicans held the majority in the House. Can you reflect on issues broadcast you tackled?                  

Walden: I think we had a good run of it. On the TV side, the digital transition, we were able to go back and get another $1 billion to help cover the transition costs. We really dug in to make sure that with changes in the tax laws that we didn’t lose the deductibility of advertising. That was a big threat to broadcast and other industries that depend on advertising.

I think I’ve been helpful in efforts to enact good public policy that has been a positive for the broadcast industry.

RW: You were a vocal supporter of getting FM chips into cell phones. Could you have pushed any harder on that, short of a mandate?

Walden: Well, that was the nuclear weapon, mandating something, especially a new technology. We haven’t done that in other areas. When you begin putting in federal mandates, especially on technology, it can create a whole bunch of unintended consequences and legacies. And I don’t think we could have passed that through Congress anyway.  

I did use my bully pulpit the best I could to nudge these companies into adopting the FM chip. Even with my limited engineering experience, I was able to push back on their weak arguments. We made some progress. It’s just unfortunate we didn’t get it into the iPhone. I never understood why (Apple) didn’t go down that path.

RW: You’re 62 years old. What will you do next when your term expires early 2021?

Walden: I’ve enjoyed the 30 years of public service, counting my time in the state legislature in Oregon. But my wife and I, while we have enjoyed it, we are ready to close the chapter on public life. I’d like to do something else, but I don’t know what that will be. I’m ready to take on a new challenge.   

RW: And there is nothing to the NAB rumors?

Walden: Gordon Smith is a dear friend. He’s a fellow Oregonian. We served together in the state legislature and in Washington. His contract runs through I think 2023, so he has a long time to serve yet in that role.

RW: Will you remain in the Washington area or live year round in Oregon?

Walden: Oregon is home. We still live in Hood River in the same house we bought in 1987, about five blocks from the radio stations we owned. It’s a great home. I don’t know the career path that is out there, but Oregon will always be home.  

RW: Any thoughts about a return to broadcasting once you walk away from public service? 

Walden: You know, I was speaking with Jeff Smulyan [founder and CEO of Emmis Communications] recently, and I asked him if there was an overnight shift somewhere, where I could work the board. He told me I could have a shift on the hip-hop station in New York City. I don’t see that happening!

The post Greg Walden Prepares to Close a Chapter appeared first on Radio World.

Randy J. Stine

The 100th Anniversary of KJR Seattle, 1919 to 2019

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago
KJR founder Vincent Kraft’s first microphone was a “Wonderphone,” originally developed for the Dubilier Wireless Telephone. From the collection of Sonny Clutter.

The question of which station was the first broadcaster in the United States has been debated for most of the past century. KDKA in Pittsburgh historically has received this honor, due principally to the untiring early efforts of the Westinghouse promotions department. But there is overwhelming evidence that a handful of other broadcasters in fact preceded KDKA.

One reason for the controversy has been disagreement on the criteria that should determine who was “first.”  Additionally, we must distinguish between the “oldest” and “first” station. Evidence of rudimentary broadcasting exists as far back as far as 1912, but all these activities came to a halt during World War I when all non-government broadcast stations were ordered off the air. After the order was finally lifted by the Navy on April 15, 1919, broadcasting gradually resumed in several cities, but these operations were sparse and sporadic until the big “radio boom” of 1922 when hundreds of new stations debuted almost overnight. Most of these early broadcasters did not survive radio’s first decade. 

Additionally, it took some time for the Department of Commerce, which regulated radio activity in those days, to recognize broadcasting as a separate class of station and create a specific license for it.

[2020 Radio History Calendar Available Now]

It wasn’t until Dec. 1, 1921 that regulations were created to define broadcasting as a distinct class of radio station, and by that time there were already dozens of stations on the air. Those first pioneer broadcasters operated under several classes of license: Amateur, Experimental or Limited Commercial. (The first station to receive an actual “Broadcast License” was WBZ in Boston late in 1921). Nonetheless, most of these early stations were broadcasting in the true sense of the word, as they were sending out voice programs of information and entertainment on a regular schedule to a public audience.

Another factor that has made it difficult to clearly identify who was first is that, although some well-known pioneer broadcasters such as KDKA and WWJ had clearly defined “start dates,” there were others that began as amateur or experimental stations with irregular schedules and then gradually transitioned into serious broadcasting activities. 

Such is the case of KJR in Seattle. Its exact starting date in 1919 is not recorded, and it appears to have made a gradual transition from a personal hobby station to a serious broadcast operation over the course of a two-year period.

7XC

The first entry for KJR in the Department of Commerce records is dated April 1, 1922: “KJR, Commercial Land Station, 360 and 485 meters, Vincent I. Kraft.” Although we can consider this to be the official starting date for the station, the pre-history of KJR was documented in a letter written by station founder Vincent Kraft in 1962. He wrote: 

Vincent I. Kraft was Seattle’s first broadcaster. He created a local sensation in 1919 by playing phonograph records over his station 7XC. In July, 1920, he broadcast the results of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight for the local audience. By 1922, Kraft’s station had become KJR.

Shortly after World War I, in late 1918 or early 1919, amateur stations closed during the war were allowed to re-open. These re-opened stations immediately reflected the advances made during the war, and installed equipment for transmitting voice and music, whereas prior to the war they had all been dot-and-dash code stations. Among these re-opened stations was my own, with the new call letters 7AC. There were several “wireless telephone” stations under amateur licenses. I received an experimental license with the call letters 7XC for developing this phone equipment. It was on the air with voice and music from 1919 on, as were several other amateur stations. 

In 1921, the Department of Commerce, then the sole licensing authority for the government, created a new class of stations and named them “Broadcast Stations.” I immediately applied for a new broadcast license for the equipment which had been operating for a couple of years under the call letters of 7XC. At the same time that these new broadcasting station licenses were created, a new regulation went into effect prohibiting amateur stations from transmitting music. 

[WTMA Celebrates 80 Years in Charleston] KJR began broadcasting as 7XC from this modest home in Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood in 1919. Kraft broadcast phonograph concerts for 45 minutes each evening from his 10-watt transmitter.

At first, Kraft’s little 10-watt station broadcast from his home in the Ravenna District of Seattle, and later from his downtown radio parts store. But by 1924, KJR was broadcasting daily with 1,000 watts from the prestigious Terminal Sales Building in downtown Seattle.

Kraft then built three other prominent West Coast stations — KEX in Portland, KGA in Spokane and KYA in San Francisco — and tied all four stations together with telephone lines to create one of the country’s first radio networks.

In 1928, he sold his interests in his four stations and network, but he went on to build KXA in Seattle and several stations in Alaska. 

THE CENTURY MARK

As for KJR, it went on to have a colorful history. The station’s second owner built it into a huge operation before bankrupting the station and going to jail for embezzlement. It was then acquired by NBC, which later sold to the operators of KOMO, and the two stations operated together as the Seattle affiliates of the NBC Red and Blue networks until 1945. 

The station again gained prominence in the 1950s as one of the country’s premier top 40 stations, managed by Lester Smith with celebrity partners Danny Kaye and Frank Sinatra. Today, KJR is a 50 kW sport-formatted station operated on 950 kHz by iHeartMedia.

KJR’s 1,000 watt transmitter is shown in the Terminal Sales Building in 1924. The transmitter was custom built by Kraft’s Northwest Radio Service Company.

Next year, Radio World will celebrate broadcasting’s official centennial, recognizing the birth of WWJ, KDKA and other pioneer broadcast stations in 1920. Before then, during what can be considered to be broadcasting’s “pre-history,” there was a smattering of experimental activity in a few locations around the country. 

It is well documented that Charles Herrold in San Jose was making weekly voice and music broadcasts as early as 1912. Lee de Forest was broadcasting over his station 2XG in New York City both before and after the war, and 1XE, the AMRAD station near Boston, was also experimenting with voice and music during those same years. 9XM in Madison, Wis., a predecessor to WHA, had been broadcasting weather and market reports in Morse code as early as 1916, although it didn’t begin voice broadcasting until November, 1920. 

The custom-built 5,000 watt transmitter in Lake Forest Park, 1927. Chief Engineer Clarence Clark is at right in this photo.

So while KJR in Seattle was certainly not the first station to broadcast, it may be the oldest station to operate continuously from its amateur radio beginnings in 1919 up until the present day. 

[Read about Graham McNamee, radio’s first superstar announcer]

In future “Roots of Radio” articles, we plan to salute a number of pioneer broadcasters as each reaches its own centennial date. As has been often said: Stay tuned.

John Schneider is a lifetime radio historian, author of two books and dozens of articles on the subject, and is a Fellow of the California Historical Radio Society. Find more history articles at the Roots of Radio page.

The post The 100th Anniversary of KJR Seattle, 1919 to 2019 appeared first on Radio World.

John Schneider

Designing the Ideal Radio Studio

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago

Planning a new studio project? Whether upgrading a studio or building one from scratch, there are a number of points radio broadcasters should keep in mind — right from the planning phase — to ensure the successful execution of their project.

“Designing the Ideal Radio Studio” guides you on your journey toward your perfect radio facilities. It offers examples of different studio builds; provides tips from industry experts on how to meet your goals; where to begin; questions to consider; how to select the right gear for your needs; and more.

This latest ebook includes articles from Clark Novak, radio-marketing specialist for Lawo, who gives advice on what station managers need to know before building an IP studio and 2wcom Sales and Marketing Manager Anke Schneider, who shares insight on cross-media adoption.

In addition, Gary Kline of Kline Consulting discusses key points radio broadcasters should consider when designing or renovating a studio, and we offer an in-depth look at innovative radio complexes around the world.

Read it free here!

The post Designing the Ideal Radio Studio appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

THAT Thing Supplemental Material

Radio World
5 years 5 months ago
Schematic for THAT Thing, a do-it-yourself preamp/electronics project by Curt Yengst, featured in the Jan. 8, 2020 issue of Radio World.

The post THAT Thing Supplemental Material appeared first on Radio World.

RW Staff

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