A Sunday morning session in the NAB Show’s Broadcast Engineering & IT Conference will discuss “Successfully Launching Compelling Visual Radio Automation.” It will be by Fritz Golman, director of video systems and automation for RadioDNA.
Radio World: It feels like video has been part of radio operations for a while now. What will you talk about?
Fritz Golman: I’ll be presenting how we’ve successfully implemented a number of visual radio automation platforms. These case studies will highlight two projects of note, Houston Public Media’s KUHF, with two of their live flagship shows “Hello Houston” and “Houston Matters,” as well as Good Karma Brand’s WVMP/ESPN Radio Chicago and their 12-hour live broadcast day programming.
In this day of declining traditional listenership, not only alternative channels (EG, streaming) but enhanced presentation methods are needed to maintain and grow audience numbers — and of even more critical importance, especially for public radio, new opportunities for generating revenue.
RW: What would a typical station’s visual radio system consist of in 2026?
Golman: Although there is a temptation to utilize the least expensive components like low-cost webcams, the limitations they impose will be realized as soon as the operators of such systems when they want to “take it up a notch” with more sophisticated presentations.
Thus we only specify IP video systems using NDI and audio over IP, such as WheatNet, LiveWire or Dante. As these run on conventional network wiring, we eliminate the additional complexity of coax-based SDI cameras and dedicated digital video connections like HDMI.
The small additional upfront costs of these platforms yield long-term benefits of flexibility and interoperability. Then we integrate with a typical playout system like WideOrbit, RCS NexGen or RCS Zetta.
RW: Can you give examples of best practices?
Golman: Don’t scrimp on network wiring or backbone. The tiny additional cost of Cat-6 versus Cat-5 wiring can make a huge difference in the near future.
Pull another wire or two more than what is needed at the time, you’ll find that will come into play sooner or later.
Don’t be tempted to use hardware video switchers. They are limited in capability and locked into that configuration permanently.
Be willing to learn about the visual medium and collaborate with others, potentially from disciplines outside of one’s facility, to get the “look” that will attract and keep viewers.
RW: What else should we know?
Golman: We like to configure our solutions around proven, widely used products. Although there are a number of software packages that can do at least some of what we’re fielding, the operator should consider how many other users there are of that piece of kit.
I like to say that if you can only find one or two video clips showing the system in use or demonstrating features, it is probably not the package that has a lot of depth of support.
On the other hand, stay clear of open-source offerings. Even with the very tempting price (free), you will probably get what you paid for.
[For more coverage of the convention see our NAB Show page.]
