Industry News

It’s known across the broadcasting industry as a volunteer non-profit charitable organization of top-level female radio professionals “dedicated to using their influence and resources to help other women in radio broadcasting develop management and leadership skills.”

Now, the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) group has three new members to its Board of Directors.

The three executives are described by MIW as “top-level female radio professionals who use their experience, influence, and resources to help other women in radio develop management and leadership skills.” They are Brittney Jackson, Haley Jones and Melissa Mitchell.

Jackson is the General and Digital Sales Manager for Urban One/Richmond. She is responsible for recruiting and developing new talent, leading multi-platform sales efforts, and increasing annual revenue. A graduate of MIWs 2016 Mildred Carter Mentoring Program, Jackson has participated in numerous leadership programs and has served as a speaker at National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation’s Media Sales Institute and the RAB/NAB Radio Show.

Jones serves as Head of Independents for MRC Data where she oversees independent labels, small radio groups, and managers with music intelligence for today – whether that’s airplay, consumption data (sales or streaming), or helping clients understand changing consumer behaviors. Haley, who currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, previously spent over 20 years programming radio, shaping now-defunct stations in the Adult Alternative format.

Mitchell is Bonneville International’s Director of Finance, Corporate Controller and located in their Denver market. In her role with Bonneville, she is responsible for financial accounting and reporting, accounts payable, consolidated traffic operations, and operational process and reporting improvement for the Company’s six markets in Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. Melissa has over 25 years of broadcast experience. She has been an active member of the Media Financial Management Association, and its Board, since 2008 and is currently serving as Immediate Past Chair.

MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff said, “We are extremely fortunate to have not one but three powerhouses join our Board. Their success speaks for itself; it’s their willingness to pay it forward for the good of women and our industry that makes each so special and appreciated. I’d be remiss in not thanking the three Members leaving our Board as their terms end: Kay Olin, Principal Olin & Associates, and past MIW Spokeswoman, whose constant leadership, dedication, and long term participation profoundly impacted MIW and me personally; Valerie Blackburn, Principal VKB Consulting, whose financial expertise led MIW through the arduous process of establishing a formal 501(c)(3) status; and Beth Neuhoff President & CEO Neuhoff Media who provided invigorating energy and challenging ideas that MIW will push ever forward.”

Both Corinne Baldassano and Erica Farber are founding members of the MIW organization.

It’s controlled by HC2 Broadcasting but continues to have stations in its stable licensed to the entity it has majority control over, DTV America.

Paperwork has been filed with the FCC that will see DTV America spin a low-power TV station in the Deep South. The buyer? It is led by Maurice Bailey.

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Audacy, the audio content creation and distribution company, has sold an AM radio station.

It’s at 1550 kHz and serves Northern California. And, it happened to be the home of the company’s LGBTQ+-focused music and entertainment digital multicast format.

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More business groups are pushing lawmakers to pass a single national standard for consumer privacy.

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Known as “the dean of country music broadcasters” Ralph Emery died over the weekend. The former WSM morning show host was 88.

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, the legendary broadcaster started his career at small radio stations and eventually moved into television. Emery spent a decade hosting “Nashville Now” on the Nashville Network cable channel from 1983-1993.

Emery landed a job on the overnight shift at WSM in 1957. He took care of the graveyard shift on the 50,000-Watt country giant from 1957 to 1972. During his career he interviewed the biggest names in country music in his laid-back conversational style. His popularity gained him a weekday morning show and then moved him into syndication.

Emery’s legacy included and number of television programs. He hosted a weekly program on RFD-TV and he spent a decade hosting “Nashville Now” on the Nashville Network cable channel from 1983-1993.

He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1989. He added Country Music Hall of Fame honors in 2007.

A tribute to Emery can be found on The Country Music Hall of Fame Website.

Known as “the dean of Los Angeles talk radio” Michael Jackson died over the weekend. Jackson, who battled Parkinson’s disease, was 87.

Jackson led the ratings for many years with his local talk show on KABC-AM from 1966 to 1998. After leaving KABC he worked for a number of stations before retiring at age 73.

After leaving South Africa with his family in 1958, Jackson moved to Los Angeles to work at KHJ-AM and then news station KNX-AM, before landing at KABC, where he would remain for 32 years.

In a 1992 interview with the Los Angeles Times Jackson spoke of his non-combative style, “I think sometimes I’ve been overly polite to guests, showing them greater deference, but I’m not going to become less polite. Rudeness is such an easy excuse for not doing your homework.”

DirecTV has notified One America News Network that it will not renew its contract this Spring. The contract with Herring Networks Inc. expires in April.

OAN has been in the sights of critics and some lawmakers for allegedly supporting “The Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen. It has also come under fire for allegedly spreading false information about Covid 19.

DirecTV, is owned by AT&T Inc. and TPG via a joint venture. DirecTV is the largest distributor of OAN. It is still carried on some smaller pay-tv providers and streaming platforms.

The TV industry has evolved faster in the past 18 months than it has in decades. Continual shifts in viewership, audience fragmentation and proliferation of screens have forced all sides of the ecosystem to adapt to a more dynamic TV universe. It’s one in which “TV” now spans linear and streaming platforms. Access to clearer, more accurate data has become paramount to success.

With 2022 already entering its third week, TVSquared compiled the key trends it expects to define this year.

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Ed Lobnitz, retired principal/senior electrical engineer at TLC Engineering Solutions, wrote the chapter on lightning protection for towers that has appeared in several editions of the NAB Engineering Handbook, including the most recent. The chapter is recommended reading and goes into considerable depth. But for engineers reviewing their air chains and thinking about business continuity in the face of lightning threats, we asked Lobnitz for some general advice and resource suggestions. This article originally appeared in the 2020 ebook “Plan B: Ensuring RF Readiness.”

Let’s assume we are talking about existing, installed systems that are in full operation, including transmission sites, electronic systems and racks, associated buildings and backup generators and/or UPS systems.

The design of such systems, when new, requires considerable thought and detailed design considerations to “lightning harden” facilities so that lightning and its effects are handled so as not to interrupt operations or cause extensive damage to tower sites and associated facilities.

I have previously prepared and have available a “Design Manual for Antenna Systems — Grounding, Bonding and Lightning Protection” for when constructing new facilities is anticipated; it is also useful in evaluating the adequacy of existing installations from a lightning protection standpoint.

In fact, it would be a good idea to review existing installations, using the manual, to provide a base knowledge that existing systems were “lightning hardened” when first installed. (To request this and the other resources mentioned in this article emailed to you for free, see the end of this article.)

As for existing facilities and protection against lightning effects, I would suggest reviewing all existing maintenance procedures and documentation from the time the facilities were constructed and comparing them to the document “Maintenance Guide for Antenna System Grounding, Bonding and Lightning Protection,” which I prepared a few years ago.

Maintenance inspection frequency cannot be overemphasized — especially after any environmental conditions such as corrosive atmospheres, storm frequency and severity, any alterations, or extreme seasonal changes.

The maintenance inspections should include visual as well as complete testing and keeping complete records and test data. Another document I have prepared for maintenance help is a “Site Audit Check List/Report” that can be used as a first-time guide and to build on as future inspections are made. (See end of this article.)

Lightning protection for facilities should always be either UL certified, Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) certified or both, to ensure the installation is properly and effectively protected.

Also, familiarization with Underwriters Laboratories UL 1149 Standard for Surge Protection Devices, 5th edition, and National Fire Protection Association NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2020 edition, is highly recommended.

Also important where generators are involved is the 2022 edition of NFPA 110 Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, which includes generator maintenance checklists. The Lightning Protection Institute is similar to UL in regards to lightning protection system and installer certification but is solely dedicated to lightning issues. I used to be on their board of directors and was also on the UL 1449, 3rd edition, committee.

The author has kindly agreed to allow Radio World to share three resources with readers who ask. Available are “Design Manual for Antenna Systems — Grounding, Bonding and Lightning Protection,” “Maintenance Guide for Antenna System Grounding, Bonding and Lightning Protection” and “Site Audit Check List/Report.” There is no cost. Email a request to Editor in Chief Paul McLane at radioworld@futurenet.com.

Ed Lobnitz also welcomes questions from readers. Email ed.lobnitz@gmail.com.

This is an excerpt from “Maintenance Guide for Antenna System Grounding, Bonding and Lightning Protection” by Edward Lobnitz. This checklist is part of a discussion about inspecting lightning protection systems, grounding, bonding and related equipment:

1. The following data should be taken to the site or reviewed on-site if available:
   1. As-built drawings.
   2. Shop drawings or data sheets for all components.
   3. Prior test reports for:
      1. All grounding measurements.
      2. Soil pH.
      3. Soil resistivity.
      4. VSWR measurements at all coaxial surge suppressors.
   4. Prior inspection and maintenance reports.
   5. Clamp-on ground resistance meter.
   6. 3-pole ground resistance test meter.
   7. Digital camera.
   8. Sensitive clamp-on ammeter.
2. Check the following components for corrosion, damage, modifications or removal:
   1. Coaxial shield ground kits on the tower. Use binoculars or climb tower to make inspection.
   2. Grounding cable and connections to the tower base.
   3. Guy wire jumper and ground wire connections.
   4. Entrance bulkhead cable boots, mounting provisions and grounding connections. Check cable boots for pliability, cracks and leaks.
   5. Ground bar connections in all racks and RF cabinets.
   6. Single point ground. Meter and record all values. Compare to previous ground readings. Test for any current flow on each ground connection with the clamp-on ammeter. Record any readings and compare with previous readings.
   7. Record number of lightning strikes on the lightning strike counter (if provided). Inspect the counter for any obvious damage.
   8. Inspect all coaxial, low voltage, DC and 120V surge suppression devices related to the antenna systems. Measure VSWR reflected energy at each coaxial suppressor and compare to previous readings. Replace suppressors if VSWR increases more than 10% of if damage is apparent. Replace all suppressors every 3 to 5 years. On low voltage, DC and 120V surge suppressors observe failure lights if available and inspect for damage or inoperative equipment.
   9. Review all underground grounding cable and strap for any obvious dig-ins or construction activity that might disturb the system. Dig up any suspect areas and inspect grounding continuity.
   10. Verify that the main building service surge suppressor is still functional by observing failure lights. Proper functioning of this suppressor is important to the life of all low voltage, DC and 120V suppressors.
   11. Use the clamp-on ground meter to check all building lightning protection downlead ground terminals, walk the roof to observe any damage to the system, such as loose cable supports, damaged, missing or loose air terminals, broken cable, loose connections, etc., the system must be inspected by a UL certified lightning protection contractor and recertified by UL every five years.
   12. Review generator test logs for compliance with NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, maintenance requirements. If generator is not being tested, recommend a testing program be set up to test and record data per NFPA 110.
   13. Test UPS units serving the racks for proper operation. Follow manufacturer’s Maintenance and Test Guidelines.
3. Prepare a report of all inspection results, repair recommendations or other suggestions and include an album of all pictures taken, properly identified and referenced in the report as appropriate

The post Harden Your Facility Against Lightning appeared first on Radio World.

From Hurricane Michael to violations of the FCC’s TV issues and programs rules, Gray Television has seen much in the last several years at its WJHG-7 and WECP-LP 18 in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Now, Gray is adding to its properties in the market with the addition of another low-power TV property in the former Spring Break hub popular with Atlanta and Birmingham-area retirees and beachgoers.

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