NAB Radio Update – Sep 9, 2008
Sep 9, 2008 9:00 AM
Index:
- NAB Radio Show Session Examines AM Tower Revenue Opportunities
- Wheatstone E Squared
- Jampro Antennas RCPU
- Broadcast Electronics Audio Vault X
- How well do you know Texas?
- WHUR-FM to Receive NAB HD Radio Multicast Award
- RAB CEO to Keynote NAB Radio Show Luncheon
- Comrex DH42
- Burk Technology ARC Plus Mobile Web Connectivity
- V-Soft Communications Probe 3
- NAB Radio Show Introduces New Super Session Featuring Radio Executives
- Comic Wonder and Veteran Comedians Langston and Dunlop will Crown “Radio’s Comic Wonder”
- Events in Austin
- APT Worldnet Oslo Module
- Wideorbit WO Account Pro
- Barix Technology BCL Software
- How Did You Do?
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News from the ConventionNAB Radio Show Session Examines AM Tower Revenue Opportunities
Washington, DC – Sep 3, 2008 – The NAB Radio Show will include a session discussing the technical and legal regulations broadcasters need to know when renting AM tower space. Garrison Cavell, president of Cavell Mertz and Associates, and Erwin Krasnow, chairman of the Communications and Technology Group at Garvey Schubert Barer, will lead the discussion on Sept. 17 in Austin, TX.Titled Renting AM Towers to Non-Broadcasters – Practical Tips for Managers and Engineers, the session will examine how the growth of mobile communications technologies has led to a worldwide demand for tower space, creating additional revenue opportunities for radio stations. During the session, managers and engineers will learn how to prepare their stations for shared tower use, as presenters Cavell and Krasnow discuss the technical and legal issues broadcasters need to know before renting out their AM tower space.Exhibitor ExtraWheatstone E Squared
Ethernet audio system
Booth 413
The E2 System is designed to interface with Wheatstone”s existing line of E-Series control surfaces including the new Evolution 4 control surface. The flexible E2 system is comprised of linkable units or squares that communicate with one another via a single CAT-5E/6 cable connected to standard layer 3 Ethernet switches. The E2 Digital Engine handles all of the mixes from the E-Series surfaces while housing the DSP power and managing the distribution of PGM, AUX, and mix-minus buses throughout the system. 12 Universal Logic ports are encased in the single rack unit which is equipped with front-panel access to real-time control features such as IP setting, up time, network traffic and logic status. Web/PC software user interfaces provide remote access and control.Jampro Antennas RCPU
Patch panel
Booth 517
The RCPU is a quick release, patch panel with a low insertion loss. A positive lock mechanism ensures quick re-directions of RF signal paths. The euipment is useful for patching RF feeds to emergency antenna, alternate main/auxiliary transmitters, filter by-pass, master station combiner re-routes and test point insertions. No tools are required to make patches. The unit comes in several sizes with an optional signal-flow indicator panel, dual-line power splitter or power measuring VSWR.Broadcast Electronics Audio Vault X
Studio automation platform
Booth 301
Audio Vault X is a new studio platform with more capacity and flexibility for adding and personalizing format channels on the Internet or over the air. New capabilities enable broadcasters to do more with less. Audio Vault X handles complex segues, such as inserting donut tracks in the middle of a song, station ID or weathercast. It can even do double donuts — that is, drop in a voice or other segment in the middle of a song or jingle twice. Plus, talent can manipulate fades, audio levels and other characteristics of segues. Personalized studio mashups combine studio tools and applications from more than one source into a single workspace. The Audio Vault X multi-thread engine enables talent in separate studios to work collectively off the same log, in real-time. BE’s Audio Vault X is a complete digital media system for live-assist or satellite operation. The new platform offers on-air studio operation as well as a full suite of scheduling and production modules for multi-track editing, music rotation and ad insertion.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 9, 2008
Sep 9, 2008 9:00 AM
Do You Know?
How well do you know Texas?
Take this quiz and find out.
- True or False? The first suspension bridge in the U.S. was in Texas.
True
False - How much taller, in feet, is the Austin capitol building than the nation’s capitol building in Washington, DC?
A. 10′
B. 7′
C. 4′
D. 2′ - The worst natural disaster in U.S. history occurred in Texas in 1900. What was it?
A. Hurricane
B. Tornado
C. Flood
D. Fire - The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built entirely over what?
A. A national forest
B. A burial ground
C. Sand
D. Water
The answers are on the last page of this newsletter.Eye on IBOCWHUR-FM to Receive NAB HD Radio Multicast Award
Washington – Sep 5, 2008 – Howard University’s WHUR-FM will receive the NAB HD Radio Multicast Award for its HD2 channel WHUR-World. The station will receive the award during the NAB Radio Luncheon on Sept. 19 during The NAB Radio Show in Austin, TX.WHUR-World combines non-traditional music, news, community involvement and information into a unique format. The multicast channel is an extension of the university’s WHUR-FM adult urban contemporary station. In addition to personality-supported shows, the programming for WHUR-World includes jazz, hip-hop and worldbeat music, along with business, financial and domestic violence talk shows.The NAB HD Radio Multicast Award was established in 2007 and recognizes stations using HD Radio technology through innovative or groundbreaking programming on a multicast channel. Stations were asked to submit information including programming, on-air personalities, promotions and branding elements that establish the multicast channel with a separate identity from the main station.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 9, 2008
Sep 9, 2008 9:00 AM
Industry
RAB CEO to Keynote NAB Radio Show Luncheon
Washington, DC – Aug 26, 2008 – Radio Advertising Bureau President and CEO Jeff Haley will discuss the future of radio during The NAB Radio Show Luncheon held Sept. 19 in Austin. The luncheon will also include the presentation of the National Radio Award, given this year to Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Bonneville International. During the luncheon presentation titled A Conversation about Radio’s Future in a Digital World, Haley will discuss the digital opportunities that will promote the future expansion of radio.
Haley has played a major role in the Radio Heard Here initiative, a campaign recently established by the NAB, the RAB and the HD Digital Radio Alliance. The campaign is designed to showcase the advances in digital technology that have enhanced radio programming. Prior to serving at RAB, Haley managed marketing and sales teams across a variety of media platforms.
In 1989, Haley joined Time Inc. as a member of the launch team for Entertainment Weekly. He served as sales development manager and Midwest marketing manager before joining Children’s Television Workshop (CTW) as group vice president. Haley is currently on the board of directors for the Ad Council and a member of the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council. He is also cochairman of the Radio Creative Fund (RCF), the governing body of the Radio-Mercury Awards.
Products from the Floor
Comrex DH42
Digital telephone hybrid
Booth 407
This digital telephone hybrid accommodates two traditional POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines as well as two Voice-over-IP (VoIP) lines in a 1RU enclosure. Essentially a four-line conferencing hybrid, the DH42 has been designed to allow callers to be put on-air with separate send and receive paths, filtering, AGC and control functions. DH42 offers broadcasters the ability to interface their Internet-based VoIP lines or VoIP PBX lines with professional broadcast audio equipment.
Burk Technology ARC Plus Mobile Web Connectivity
Portable remote control
Booth 613
Burk Technology has added mobile Web connectivity to the ARC Plus broadcast facility control system. The ARC Plus now allows remote access via Web-enabled cell phones and PDAs, including Treos, Iphones, Pocket PCs and more. Virtually any device with Web access can now monitor transmitter readings and allow remote operators to review alarms, issue commands and run macros without a PC.
V-Soft Communications Probe 3
Terrain analysis software
Booth 416
Probe 3 software includes a database search engine, allowing the user to search the database by criteria such as service type, licensee, city of license or distance. It supports NAD27 and NAD83 data, includes a mapping engine for solid and dashed lines of any width, plots census density using gradient shading, with race selection and imports MIF files as a separate layer to be plotted on the map. New for 2008 is the added ability to load the latest U.S. census data updates, which include new updated population figures and detailed mapping, and supplemental MSA/Tiger boundaries. The new dataset, derived from data collected by the Census Bureau, includes improved city boundaries and county lines, and Urban Area Boundaries, in addition to completely new datasets such as County Subdivision Boundaries, Landmark Boundaries, and Landmark Point Data. The Landmark data is separated into several unique categories such as Military, Housing, Educational, Transportation and more.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 9, 2008
Sep 9, 2008 9:00 AM
Session Highlights
NAB Radio Show Introduces New Super Session Featuring Radio Executives
NAB announced today a new event featuring broadcast radio executives during the upcoming NAB Radio Show. The Super Session Breakfast with Radio Group Executives will take place on Thursday, Sept.18 at 7:30 a.m. Radio executives are expected to address current radio trends and key issues impacting the business.
Panelists include:Amador Bustos, president and CEO of Bustos Media, LLC, a leading private broadcasting company that owns and operates 25 radio stations and produces nationally syndicated radio formats carried by 55 affiliated stations. Bustos currently serves on the NAB Radio Board and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) board, and was previously chairman and CEO of Z-Spanish Media Corporation. In August 2000, Z-Spanish merged with Entravision Communications, where Bustos served as a member of the board until 2003. An active member of his community, Bustos helped establish the Bustos/Lopez Family Fund in 1996, supporting over 50 graduating high school seniors throughout their college years.
David Field, president and CEO of Entercom Communications, a radio broadcasting company that owns and operates more than 100 stations in more than 20 markets. As the leader of one of the country’s five largest broadcasting companies, Fields was hailed as Radio Ink’s 2006 Radio Executive of the Year, as well as one of the Best CEO’s in America by Institutional Investor’s magazine, an award Field’s also won in 2007. Field, the former chairman of the NAB Radio Board of Directors, currently serves on the boards of Entercom and the Radio Advertising Bureau, and is involved in a variety of charitable and community organizations.
Dan Mason, president and CEO of CBS Radio. He became president of CBS Radio in 1995, leaving the position in 2002 to serve as an advisor and consultant to CBS and other domestic and international companies in the radio broadcasting industry. In 2007 Mason returned to CBS Radio as president and CEO, currently managing 140 stations as the leader of one of the largest major-market operators in the United States. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Mason was named “Outstanding Alumnus of the Year” in 1995, as well as Radio and Record’s Radio Executive of the Year.
Mary Quass serves on the NAB Radio Board and is president and CEO of NRG Media, which presently operates 84 radio stations throughout the Midwest. She began her radio career as an account executive for KHAK AM/FM, eventually working as vice president and general manager until she bought the stations in 1988. During a radio career that spans over three decades, Quass has been recognized for her leadership and significant achievements in radio. In 1999, she was inducted into the Iowa Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and presented with the Radio Wayne Award for Broadcaster of the Year by Radio Ink. Since then her name has appeared on Radio Ink’s “The 40 Most Powerful People in Radio” and “The 50 Most Influential Women in Radio” lists.
Jeffrey Smulyan serves as Chairman of the Board of Emmis Communications Corporation, an Indianapolis-based radio, TV and magazine publishing company that owns and operates FM and AM radio stations in the nation’s largest markets. A former member of the NAB Radio Board and former chairman of the Board of Directors of the Radio Advertising Bureau, Smulyan was named one of the 10 most influential radio executives of the past two decades by Radio and Record’s in 1995. He was the recipient of the American Women in Radio and Television’s Silver Satellite Award, NAB’s National Radio Award, and Radio Ink’s “Radio Executive of the Year,” all presented in 2000. In recognition of his charitable efforts, Smulyan was presented with The Broadcasters Foundation Golden Mike Award in 2006.
More Convention News
Comic Wonder and Veteran Comedians Langston and Dunlop will Crown “Radio’s Comic Wonder”
Two of America’s comedy greats are joining forces with Comic Wonder, bringing their material to a whole new generation.
Comicwonder.com, the world”s first and only online competitive audio joke telling arena, is hooking up with veteran actor/comedians Murray Langston (“The Unknown Comic”) and Vic Dunlop for a unique ongoing cross promotion campaign with their new independent film Dirty Jokes: The Movie.
Langston and Dunlop will hit the stage at the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Show to emcee Comic Wonder’s “coronation” of the winner of their popular Radio’s Comic Wonder contest on Sept. 18th in Austin, TX.
Beyond the free airfare and accommodations at the NAB Radio Show and $1,000 in cold, hard cash, Comic Wonder is giving away one of The Unknown Comic’s famous bags from The Gong Show. The bag will be signed and framed. Deadline to enter is Aug. 31.
If you’re a radio personality and think you”re a hoot, prove it by visiting www.radioscomicwonder.com before the deadline and tell your best joke. You can submit original jokes of up to three minutes over the phone. Visitors to comicwonder.com vote on the performances and help choose Radio’s Comic Wonder.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 9, 2008
Sep 9, 2008 9:00 AM
Out and About in Austin
Events in Austin
Although there’s plenty of live music in the Live Music Capitol of the World, be sure to check out some of these other events while you’re in Austin.
1st Annual Texas Great Grape Stomp-Off Championship
Sept. 20
8484 Hwy 46W, New Braunfels
Winning participants from each of the 22 vineyards on the Texas Wine Trail will come together for a Texas-sized showdown to determine the best grape stomp team in the state.
www.vintageoakstexas.com
The Capital One Bank Pecan Street Festival
Sept. 20-21
Musicians, food vendors, artists and craftspeople turn Sixth Street, originally named Pecan Street, into a lively street fair.
www.oldpecanstreetfestival.com
Old Gruene Market Days
Sept. 20-21
Nearly 100 vendors offer uniquely crafted items collectibles and packaged Texas foods in the Gruene Historic District. Market hours are 10am-5pm. Free admission.
www.gruenemarketdays.com
DinoLand Exhibit
Ongoing
Zilker Botanical Garden
More than 30 life-sized dinosaurs will reside in their “natural habitat,” the new Escarpment Trail. Zilker Botanical Garden hosts special weekend festivals during the 3-month exhibit, which includes fun and educational activities for the entire family, entertainment from DinoMan and Dino George, dino lectures and docent-led school tours along the exhibit trail.
www.zilkergarden.org
Product Peeks
APT Worldnet Oslo Module
Linear/PCM audio option
Booth 618
The Worldnet Oslo is now available with a linear audio module offering uncompressed audio quality over both IP and T1 links. The Linear/PCM audio option is in addition to the existing MPEG L2 option and the pro-grade, low delay Enhanced apt-X coding utilized in hundreds of STLs and studio links throughout the country. Also, APT’s codecs now fully support SIP and SDP protocols. SIP ensures interoperability between audio codecs from different manufacturers and enables the negotiation of traffic across firewalls and external networks. With SIP and SDP on all the Worldnet Oslo audio multiplexers, APT”s product range is now fully compliant to the N/ACIP standard set out by the European Broadcast Union.
Wideorbit WO Account Pro
Sales management software
Booth 425
An entirely Web-based application that provides contact management, customer information, sales manager dashboards, reports, account history, and other key information for account reps and sales managers, WO Account Pro is tightly integrated with WO Traffic, providing two-way real time information exchange and transaction updates. WO Account Pro is the foundation of Wideorbit’s sales suite, providing a single system that addresses all the needs of media sales professionals.
Barix Technology BCL Software
Solid-state player application
Booth 327
Barix has developed solid-state player functionality for its range of Audio over IP devices using Barix”s powerful open source BCL (Barix Coding Language) software. Customers in the radio broadcast and professional audio industries can now use Barix Exstreamer audio decoders and Annuncicom intercom/VoIP devices in the studio or at a receive point as a cost-effective solution for reliable, high-quality audio playback.
Did You Know?
How Did You Do?
- True! The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge, built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.
- The capitol in Austin opened May 16, 1888. The dome of the building stands seven feet higher than that of the nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- The worst natural disaster in United States history was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. More than 8,000 deaths were recorded.
- The Flagship Hotel on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built entirely over the water.
To receive these articles weekly in your e-mail, subscribe to the NAB Radio Update e-newsletter from Radio magazine. Click here to subscribe.
