Friday's Radio & Media News - March 29, 2013

A New Future for HD Radio? Digital Power Radio Says New HD Chips Will Offer More Reception Power Digital Power Radio says it has a new reception technology that improves the performance and coverage of HD Radio transmissions, which will be a "game changer," offering over-the-air digital a renewed future. Former FCC Chairman and DPR Managing Member Mark Fowler says, "Digital Power Radio's technology improves hybrid HD Radio AM and FM coverage by making the baseband receiver chip in the radio receiver more sensitive. The effect is to provide the substantial gains in HD Radio signal strength stated in the press release. Technically, the signal itself is not made stronger; but because the chip can pick up weaker signals and decode them, the effect is the same as improving signal strength." He notes that "the technology provides a growth vehicle for the broadcast industry into all kinds of radios, including mobile handset platforms, such as smartphones." Fowler spoke at length about the new technology with Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane. DPR, based in Palm Beach, Florida, is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group and the Fowler Radio Group, including Branimir (Brana) Vojcic, the chief inventor. Digital Power Radio's enhancement, we're told, makes changes in radio receivers' baseband receiver chip, rather than at the transmission level. Beasley CEO George Beasley says the new HD Radio technology "could be a game-changer for radio," providing coverage gains of approximately 5 dB hybrid for FM signals in mobile handsets/smart phones and tabletops in buildings, and approximately 7 dB of gains into auto receivers for hybrid FM broadcast signals. Similar gains, says DPR, will be realized for AM hybrid broadcasts. The new technology will be introduced at an April 8 presentation at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Vojcic and Fowler will host the presentation. Says DPR, "Improved reception quality and increased primary signal coverage radius represent two of the key drivers to improve the adoption rate of HD Radio and broaden its user base. Future growth of the broadcasting industry will be driven by substantially improving HD reception and the rate of adoption of digital HD Radio by consumers. In this presentation, we show how Digital Power Radio's advanced communications technology will significantly improve the signal coverage radius and quality for FM and AM HD Radio, assuring improved reception and strong HD reception into smartphones and other mobile and portable devices, as well as car and table top radios. The DPR technology does not require changes in existing HD Radio transmission format or equipment, but only very feasible changes in the baseband receiver chip in HD Radio receivers. We also will present even more significant improvements that can be achieved by modified HD Radio air interfaces for systems that have not yet been deployed, such as all-digital AM and FM radio. A review of applicability of advanced technology developed by DPR to other radio broadcast systems will be provided." WBUR-FM/Boston 'Here & Now' Teams with NPR to Expand, 'Here & Now' to Replace NPR's 'Talk of the Nation' NPR is partnering with member station WBUR-FM, Boston, to expand the midday "Here & Now" to two hours. It will also add a co-host, Jeremy Hobson, who currently hosts the "Marketplace Morning Report." Says a news release, "Talk of the Nation, broadcast by more than 400 stations nationwide, will stop production at the end of June." NPR says host Neal Conan will "step away from the rigors of daily journalism" after 35 years at NPR and 11 years hosting the show. "Science Friday," with Ira Flatow, will continue. "To replace the midday staple program and to boost news coverage between its flagship drive-time show Morning Edition and All Things Considered, NPR is partnering with member station WBUR to expand the Boston station's hour-long news magazine Here & Now to two hours. It will be updated throughout the afternoon as it airs in different time zones. The expanded Here & Now debuts July 1." The news release notes that NPR relies on its network of affiliated stations to subscribe to its programs and contribute new stories and other editorial content. "However, this level of strategic partnership with a member station such as WBUR is unprecedented." Says NPR Chief Content Officer Kinsey Wilson, "This is a different kind of collaboration, and one where we’ve kind of rolled up our sleeves together and imagined what this show, which is already successful, could become when expanded to two hours." NPR will encourage public radio stations to replace "Talk of the Nation" with "Here & Now" and also contribute editorial muscle to the expanded show. WBUR General Manager Charles Kravetz tells us, “There’s going to be a lot more NPR content and bloggers and reporters and editors who are going to contribute to the program. But at the core, the great program that Here & Now is will still be there and get better and better." NPR executives said the unusual move to seek to replace "Talk of the Nation" with WBUR’s "Here & Now," which is carried by not even half as many stations across the country, is partly in response to long-voiced demands by member stations calling for more robust news coverage during the workday. The number of public radio listeners sags markedly between "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered," according to the news release. Scott 'Torg' Torgerson Returning to Columbus Radio? As we've recently reported, a new Sports Talk station, airing the CBS Sports Radio network's programming, is coming to 95.5 FM in Columbus, Ohio. However, there are now reports that the new Sports Talk station will also be the new radio home of Scott "Torg" Torgerson, the former afternoon co-host at crosstown "97.1 The Fan" WBNS-FM. We previously noted in our "Behind the Microphone" feature, "Country 'K 95.5' WHOK-FM, Columbus, Ohio, will move its programming to sister Country 'Wink 107.1' WNKK-FM, April 1, to make room for CBS Sports Radio progrmming to take over 95.5 FM." Now, Torgerson posts on Twitter, "Fact: A new FM All Sports station is coming to Columbus very soon. Fact: The Torg is coming back on the air in Columbus soon." His tweet uses the hashtag "#torgisback". Torgerson, you might remember, was first suspended and then fired from WBNS-FM after tweeting death wishes for ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard last October. He's since been hosting weekends and fill-ins at CBS Radio's "92.3 The Fan" WKRK-FM, Cleveland. According to reports from the market, the new Wilks Broadcasting Sports Talk station on 95.5 may be dubbed either "95.5 The Zone" or "95.5 The Game" based on recent domain registrations. Bob Lewis Returns to AGM as Regional Director of Programming American General Media names veteran programmer Bob Lewis as Regional Director of Programming for its seven- station Albuquerque cluster and seven-station Bakersfield cluster, effective immediately. This is a return to American General Media for Lewis, who previously was Director of FM Operations/Marketing and Programming at their Bakersfield group. "I am delighted to have Bob rejoin our company in this important new capacity," says AGM President Rogers Brandon. "We have a broad array of great radio stations in both Bakersfield and Albuquerque. I look forward to working with Bob to grow our stations with great heritage and develop new and exciting product lines." Lewis tells us, "I am beyond thrilled to be rejoining American General Media and look forward to learning and partnering with the exceptional PD’s and staffs in Albuquerque and Bakersfield." Lewis' extensive radio background also includes Marketing and Brand Manger/Program Director for Trumper Communications "Hot 97.5" KMVA-FM, Phoenix; and at Emmis Communications Austin stations KDHT-FM and "103.5 Bob FM" KBPA-FM. He was previously with AGM before joining Emmis. His resume also includes Network Format/Brand Manager for Entravision's Radio Romantica Network, overseeing San Francisco, Denver, Sacramento, Albuquerque and Salinas-Monterey. Former Katz 360 President Brian Benedik Joins Spotify Former Katz 360 President Brian Benedik has joined Spotify as Vice President of North America Ad Sales. Benedik exited Katz 360 last September "to pursue other interests." He had previously been the President at Katz Media Group's Christal Radio. Benedik was with Katz 360 and Christal from March 2005 to September 2012. Before that he was the General Sales Manager at Clear Channel's "Z100" WHTZ-FM, New York, from September 2002 to March 2005. That assignment followed two years as a Regional VP for Clear Channel Radio Sales, preceeded by an earlier seven plus years at Katz Media Group starting in June 1993. In all, he spent close to 20 years with the Clear Channel Radio family of station sales representation. In his new position with Spotify, he will be based in New York City. Spotify plans to grow its U.S. ad sales operations to more major markets beyond its current sales operations in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, and the former broadcast radio sales pro will oversee that effort, as digital audio increasingly becomes the future of radio, as well as the newer streaming audio services such as Spotify. Says Benedik, "The digital ad marketplace is waking up and starting to recognize the online audio channel as attractive." But he tells us that unlike Pandora, which has taken an adversarial position against traditional radio, Spotify wants to “be a friend to the radio community." It offers a premium, subscription-based on-demand service and a free ad-supported product. Spotify claims 24 million active users worldwide, including six million paid subscribers, of which one million are in the U.S. The company says its free-to-paid conversion ratio is 25%, which would place its total U.S. audience at about 4 million. Benedik's bio describes him as an "online and offline media and technology executive with experience running Local and National ad supported businesses. Assignments have included maintaining large media brands and staffs with over $400 million of annual revenue to creating and building a Digital business for Katz Media." That's obviously what Spotify wants as it expands its U.S. ad sales operations. Koren Vaughan Upped to NYC WBLS-FM/WLIB-AM Director of Interactive Sales and Marketing YMF Media Urban AC WBLS-FM and Black Gospel WLIB-AM, New York, promotes Marketing Director Koren Vaughan to the newly created position Director of Interactive Sales and Marketing, responsible for leading the sales department in developing sales pricing strategy, effectively immediately. Vaughan has been with the company for seven years. "I am very excited about taking on this new responsibility," says Vaughan. "I am looking forward to further developing the company’s digital revenue stream." VP and General Manager Deon Levingston tells us, "Koren's leadership and knowledge as our Marketing Director along with her past experience as the Interactive Content Manager for WQHT positions her as the perfect person to lead both of these departments. I am very excited to have her in this new role." Blake Shelton to Audition for Portland 'Bull' Morning Show? Alpha Broadcasting's New Country "98.7 The Bull" KUPL-FM, Portland, Oregon, tells us Country music artist Blake Shelton will be auditioning to host their morning show. Shelton, says Alpha Portland Director of Programming Scott Mahalick, will be on the air live Monday (April 1) from 6-10am. Or will he? We'll believe it (for now) -- but note the date. (Could this be a clever April Fool's prank?) Mahalick says (with a straight face) that listeners will be able to submit votes for Shelton, or any other favorite Country artist they'd like to hear audition for the show at LikeTheBull.com -- which ultimately redirects to KUPL-FM's Facebook page. (Where else with "Like the Bull"?) Assuming this is a legitimate promotion, the station tells us that each weekday during the month of April, a different Country artist will be auditioning to host their morning show. "We're honored to have America's premier talent auditioning for our morning show and wish Blake Shelton the best of luck," says Mahalick, promising this isn't just some bull... uh, you know. (We wish the Director of Programming the best of luck with obtaining the bucks to pay Shelton -- or Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, or another Country Music star -- to be the new daily morning show host if this isn't an April Fool's Day stunt! Has anyone cleared this with Larry Wilson?) Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio CHR-Top40 "107.5 The River" Program Director Brian Mack adds PD duties for sister CHR-Top40 "Kiss FM" WKXJ-FM, Chattanooga, taking over for JoJo, who will continue his programming duties in Greensboro and Augusta ... Mexican Contemporary "La Que Buena" WLQB-FM, Myrtle Beach, SC, flips to AC as “B 93.5" featuring "The Best of the '80s, '90s and Now” -- airing Dial Global's AC format ... Morning host Heidi Harris has exited Salem Conservative News Talk "870 The Answer" KRLA-AM, Los Angeles, and "590 The Answer" KTIE-AM, San Bernardino-Riverside, California. Brian Whitman and Ben Shapiro continue on "The Morning Answer" and will be joined by a new co-host to be named soon ... "94.7 The End" KZND-FM, Anchorage, Alaska, flips from Alternative to Active Rock under new Program Director Jeetz, who also will host afternoons.