Radio+Television Business Report

Broadcast Pix has rolled out a new feature-rich software release for its entire range of  integrated production systems. V9.0 software is now available on all new Broadcast Pix systems, and as a free download to all users with a current support contract.

Apart from the usual bug fixes and minor enhancements, the V9.0 release includes some “significant new features,” ones the company says will benefit all production environments.

GuestPix
GuestPix integrates remote guests connected via their browser with any other video elements in the switcher, including full automation and timing by including them in Macros.

A user logs in through a link using an authentication code and then shares their webcam or desktop, allowing users to see a preview of what is being shared, along with the return program output, including audio with automatic mix minus for echo cancellation.

Integrated Intercom and Chat
Remote crew members such as a camera or graphic operator can talk to the switcher operator like a traditional intercom system through their browser, using their local mic, speakers or headset. Additionally, they can open a chat window and message the switcher operator or control room using IM, with the ability to leave, but still pick up conversations when they reenter. The chat session can also be saved to a text file for later use.

Enhanced Automation

Macro Timer
Schedule a Macro to trigger at a set time or on a recurring basis
Macros can be enabled and disabled without deleting them
Status bar shows a timer icon at 2 mins and a counter at 30 secs prior
Automatically start a production (i.e., a church service or meeting)

Show-Based Camera Control Setting
Works with all IP cameras using the Sony camera control protocol
The camera control and its settings can now be show-based
Simplifies operation for multiple setups of different room configurations
Reduces errors and increases flexibility
Presets are saved locally with unlimited presets, plus export and back up with the show

Broadcast Pix CEO Graham Sharp said, “We are very excited that this major software release will enable our users to do more – include remote guests, improved team collaboration, and enhanced automation within their live productions – at no additional cost. These rich new features build upon our tradition of offering the most powerful yet easiest-to-use live production solutions available today.”

Version 9.0 software is now available on all new BPswitch, ChurchPix, RadioPix and StreamingPix systems and is also available as a free update for existing Broadcast Pix users under warranty or a support contract. To learn more, visit www.broadcastpix.com.

A Los Angeles-based company known for transcriptions and captioning products is welcoming a sales leader who has held several senior sales, marketing, and business development roles throughout his career.

Joining Digital Nirvana is the former U.S. Director of Business Development for Brand Localization solution provider Blend. That’s Tom Moniak, and he’ll serve as Director of Sales at Digital Nirvana.

Digital Nirvana says it created the position in response to the company’s growth and expansion.

This puts Moniak in charge of sales to media and entertainment clients in the United States.

“Tom has served clients in every aspect of production and delivery in the M&E space and has strong relationships across the localization, media production services, advertising, gaming, and software development communities and with Fortune 500 companies,” Russell Wise, SVP/Sales and Marketing for Digital Nirvana, says. “That mix of experience makes us better able to serve customers and prospects in postproduction environments and lays the groundwork for our continued growth in the U.S.”

Moniak’s resume includes a three-year stint at Deluxe Entertainment Services Group.

MIAMI — It’s known in media and broadcast circles for its products. Now, this French operation is welcoming an Application Engineer and “Solution Architect” to its U.S. headquarters.

Taking the South Florida-based role is Cyrus Uible, who joins from Skyline Communications, where he served as a Principal Solutions Architect.

From June 2008-May 2015, Uible was associated with HA Design Group LLC, as a design engineer.

At WorldCast, his role is to offer pre/post-sales support to Account Managers and customers in their call for tenders and project deployment – for all company brands, including the NMS Kybio, by WorldCast CONNECT, and WorldCast Systems’ Ecreso, APT, and Audemat solutions.

“I could not be more excited to have joined the Worldcast team! My goal is to help grow and strengthen our relationships with partners and customers in the Americas by designing, delivering and supporting innovative solutions,” Uible said.

FORT LAUDERDALE — The company handling the distribution and Support for RME Audio Products in North and South America, in addition to Ferrofish, Digigram, Appsys and myMix products, is moving forward with a series of networking and educational events under the “Connections & Cocktails” banner.

Synthax U.S. plans to host multiple events across the country in 2022. The series kicks off  January 27 from 5pm-8pm at Sinema in Nashville.

Additional no-cost events are planned for locales in Southern California and Miami, with dates to be announced later in 2022.

Geared for audio technology for musicians, producers, live sound engineers, audio integrators and broadcasters, “Connections & Cocktails” will feature live product demos, food, an open bar and live music.

“During a time when we aren’t meeting in large groups, Synthax U.S. saw the opportunity to gather in a more intimate setting while continuing to educate end users on all the potential the Synthax portfolio of brands has to offer,” said Marie Sorenson, Marketing Manager for Synthax U.S. “We look forward to connecting with engineers, musicians and producers and share how they can get the most out of their gear, while also giving them an opportunity to network with their peers.”

To RSVP for the event, click here.

Big, splashy tech developments like autonomous vehicles and virtual reality are powered by the latest developments in communications infrastructure, like 5G. But, high-level technology is necessary in areas you don’t always consider — including sports broadcasts.

With that in mind, the Pac-12 turned to Zayo Group, a global provider of enterprise-grade network infrastructure solutions, as its official sponsor and technology partner.

This led to the December 2021 placement of the Pac-12 Football Championship Game on the Zayo Wavelength Network. The game was the highest viewed program of the day among 18-49-year-olds, with an audience of 4.2 million viewers.

What does this relationship entail?

First, The Pac-12 Network utilizes Zayo’s DIA network as their primary ISP at their corporate headquarters in San Francisco and Zayo’s Dark Fiber Network to broadcast the Men’s and Women’s basketball conference championships in Las Vegas.

Further, the Pac-12 Network utilizes Zayo’s Wavelength Network to broadcast 24-hour coverage of Pac-12 sanctioned sporting events, including Olympic sports and broadcasts of archived sports telecasts via satellite and cable networks.

Additionally, live events from all 12 universities including 30+ football games, 100+ men’s basketball games, Pac-12 Championship events, more than 300 live Olympic sport events as well as original and studio content such as The Pregame, The Drive: Pac-12 Football, Inside Pac-12 Football, Our Stories and Pac-12 All-Access.

In addition to the national channel, the Pac-12 Network also operates a group of six regional sports channels focusing on different schools within the conference under the Pac-12 Networks brand.

Zayo’s partnership with the Pac-12 comes as the company is acquiring QOS Networks from M/C Partners. QOS is a provider of SD-WAN and edge-managed services.

It also follows the recent appointment of Lynn Tinney as SVP of Channels and Partnerships. Tinney joins Zayo from Brightcove, where she served as VP of Global Channels.

An AM and its FM translator licensed to the city of Santa Fe, N. Mex., are seeking the Commission’s approval for a pro forma transfer.

It is being done without consideration, and for estate planning purposes.

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Freedom. That’s what is coming soon to Rahsaan Thomas.

The 51-year-old co-host of the podcast Ear Hustle has had his sentence commuted by the governor of California, Gavin Newsom.

Until now, Ear Hustle has been a unique draw for podcast listeners. Why? It is produced inside San Quentin State Prison, where Thomas is an inmate — at least for now.

The decision from Sacramento means Thomas can immediately go in front of the California state parole board, which will decide if he may be released. It is likely, as the board already recommended the clemency grant, Podcast Business Journal reports.

Thomas was serving a 55.5-years-to-life sentence for a second-degree murder conviction in 2000. He was charged with fatally shooting one person and injuring another in a drug deal gone bad. Thomas argued that it was self-defense.

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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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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Is Netflix so powerful that it is impervious to anything negative offered by a respected financial analyst? That appeared to be the case on Friday, as shares in the dominant on-demand visual content creator and distributor rose by nearly 3% before cooling off as trading for the week neared its conclusion.

The growth came despite a notable note of wariness from MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson.

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On Tuesday (1/11), the Cogeco-owned cable TV operator known as Atlantic Broadband shed its name, becoming Breezeline. The move was tied largely to the acquisition in late 2021 of WOW! systems in Ohio. But, Breezline President Frank van der Post explained, “We’ve long offered much more than broadband, so our company identity must evolve with us.”

In contrast, five MVPD providers have combined forces to operate under a single name — one that puts “Broadband” front and center in its new identity.

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Over half of U.S. consumers have expressed an interest in receiving features of a “NextGen Broadcast Emergency Information service.”

That’s among the key findings from new research unveiled this week by the NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance (NVISA), sponsored by Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary ONE Media 3.0.

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MIAMI — It’s described as “a new content brand designed to super-serve the full spectrum of today’s U.S. Hispanics.” And, it is an Over-the-Top (OTT) experience. But, it will not have an app of its own.

Introducing TPlus, which will be fully housed within the NBCUniversal Peacock platform upon its autumn launch.

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