NAB Moves Up Radio ShowDates

Washington - Nov 2, 2001 - In an effort to avoid association with the September 11 terrorist attacks, the NAB has shifted the start date of next year's NAB Radio Show in Seattle. The show, originally planned to start on September 11, will now start on September 12 and run through September 14.

It was felt the September 11 will be a day of reflection and remembrance for all Americans and the NAB believes it is important to respect that. The NAB also said that it expects many radio stations to plan something special to mark the anniversary and it wants to give stations the opportunity to be on the job that day.

NAB Offers Free Downloads ofNAB2001 Session Materials

More than $100 worth of session materials from NAB2001 are now available for free download on the NAB2002 website. The detailed presentations are available as MP3 audio files. Some of the sessions available include:

• Non-Linear Editing Techniques - from the NAB2001 Digital Video Production Workshop (Downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF)

• Virtual Reality For Online Broadcast - from the NAB2001 Broadcast Engineering Conference Proceedings (Downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF)

• A New Era For AM Directional Antenna Proofs - complete audio recording of this NAB2001 conference session (MP3 download)

• "The Future of Technology" - from Vinton Cerf's keynote address at the NAB2001 Technology Luncheon (RealPlayer Video Stream)
  
  A preview of sessions for NAB2002 is also available at the NAB website at www.nab.org.

Radio Shack Canada To Offer DABProduct Line

Barrie, Ontario - Nov 5, 2001 - Radio Shack Canada announced that it will become the first retail chain to carry a line of DAB (digital audio broadcasting) products for the home and portable markets. Planned products include boomboxes, walkman-style devices, and DAB computer attachments. Introduction is scheduled for early 2002. This latest development is the culmination of discussions between Radio Shack Canada and Digital Radio Roll-Out Inc. (DRRI), which began earlier this year.

Currently, more than 55 DAB stations have made service available to 10 million people in Vancouver, Toronto, Windsor, and Montreal. Ottawa is next in line to be added to the market list, with preparation underway for an airdate of early 2002. Planned expansion into all major corridors will add a series of markets including Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Guelph, Cornwall, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Quebec City, Trois Rivieres and Chilliwack.

DRRI is a non-profit joint initiative of major private broadcasters, a number of smaller private broadcasters, and public broadcasters with the support of the Canadian government. DRRI's mandate is the introduction of digital audio broadcasting services across Canada. DAB is the replacement technology for current AM and FM analog transmission.

GM Begins Production of XM-EquippedCadillacs

Hamtramck, MI - Nov 5, 2001 - A new sound was heard inside the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center when GM began producing XM Satellite Radio-equipped Cadillacs. Cadillac is offering XM as an option on the 2002 DeVille and Seville models; GM will expand availability to over 20 additional models in 2003.

The service price for XM's 100 channels is $9.95 per month, which customers who lease or finance through GMAC can roll into their monthly car payments.

Harris To ModernizeRomania’s Radio Broadcast Infrastructure

Bruce Allen, president and general manager of Harris Corporation's Broadcast Division, and Romanian representative, Gabriel Grecu, director general of the S.N. Radiocomunicatii S.A. (right) sign an $85 million broadcast purchase agreement at the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.

Melbourne, FL - Nov 1, 2001 — Harris Corporation has been selected by S.N. Radiocomunicatii S.A., Romania’s state-owned broadcast organization, as its prime supplier for a three-year program to upgrade and expand its nationwide broadcast infrastructure. The contract is currently valued at $85 million.

A formal signing of the contract took place during Prime Minister of Romania Adrian Nastase’s visit to Washington, D.C. Prime Minister Nastase, other Romanian officials, and Bruce M. Allan, president of Harris Corporation’s Broadcast Communications Division participated in the signing.

During the modernization project, it is expected that Harris will provide radio broadcast transmission systems for approximately 90 sites throughout Romania, microwave links, and centralized network management systems. Harris also will provide engineering, installation and commissioning services.

MeasureCast Forms GlobalPartnership with Nielsen Companies and NetRatings

Portland, OR - Oct 30, 2001 - MeasureCast announced it has formed international partnership agreements with the Nielsen companies and NetRatings to measure streaming media from commercial websites. MeasureCast, a privately-held company based in Portland, Oregon, also announced that it has secured $8.5 million in second round financing from the Nielsen companies, NetRatings, international investment firm Trans Cosmos USA, and FBR CoMotion Venture Capital, which led MeasureCast's first round of financing.

These new alliances will enable the MeasureCast Streaming Audience Measurement Service to become the international currency for streaming media advertising spending worldwide. The Series B funding, which brings the total investment in MeasureCast to $12 million since the company's founding in 1999, will help MeasureCast continue new product development, including a verification and demographic reporting service for in-stream ads. MeasureCast has contracts with U.S. and European broadcasters representing more than 1,000 Internet radio stations.

The Nielsen companies include Nielsen Media Research, the U.S. television ratings service, and ACNielsen Media International, which provides media measurement services outside the United States. NetRatings is an Internet audience measurement and analysis company, branding its services through Nielsen//NetRatings. The Nielsen companies are subsidiaries of VNU. VNU also has a majority ownership in NetRatings. Trans Cosmos USA has investments in more than 80 U.S. Internet technology companies. In addition, Trans Cosmos was instrumental in the creation of several prominent joint ventures in Japan, including DoubleClick, NetRatings, Primus Knowledge, AutoByTel, NetPerceptions, AskJeeves and others.

Under the terms of the MeasureCast partnerships, Nielsen Media Research will market MeasureCast services to its customers in the United States. ACNielsen Media International and NetRatings will market and distribute MeasureCast services outside the U.S., while Trans Cosmos USA and NetRatings will partner with MeasureCast to launch MeasureCast products in Japan.

As part of the agreements, the Nielsen companies, NetRatings, and Trans Cosmos USA have appointed members to the MeasureCast board of directors. They are: Jack Lazar, executive vice president, corporate development and CFO, NetRatings; David Harkness, senior vice president, strategy, VNU and Nielsen Media Research; and James J. Geddes, Jr., senior managing director, Trans Cosmos USA. They join existing board members David Billstrom, managing partner, FBR CoMotion Venture Capital, Randy Hill, MeasureCast founder and chief technology officer, and Edward T. Hardy, chief executive officer and president of MeasureCast.

TM Century Offers Barter For AllProducts

Dallas - Nov 1, 2001 - TM Century announced that effective immediately it will begin bartering for all TM Century products in all domestic markets.

TMCI President and CEO, David Graupner commented, "Times are tough for broadcasters from New York to New Braunfels. It is no secret that most stations find themselves in a position of having abundant inventory, but increasingly tight cash budgets. This is a way for stations to preserve their cash while deriving maximum value from their inventory.

"For the first time in our history...and I believe the history of the industry...we will barter jingles. Jingles have historically been a cash in advance business. Additionally, all TM Century products, including music services, production and imaging libraries, and commercial jingle production will now be available on barter."

Dallas-based TM Century creates, produces and distributes music-based products for broadcast media use. Product lines include music compilation libraries and services, production music, commercial jingles and radio and TV station identification packages. TM Century's clients include radio and television stations; radio, television satellite and Internet networks; websites and portals; the American Forces Radio Network; numerous advertising agencies and commercial businesses. TM Century's products are broadcast on every continent.

Digigram VXpocket Compatiblewith SoundCheck Software

Montbonnot, France - Oct 30, 2001 - Digigram announced that its VXpocket laptop sound card is now compatible with the SoundCheck electroacoustic test system.

SoundCheck, produced by Listen and distributed by Brüel and Kjaer, is versatile software for the production line testing of loudspeakers, microphones, hearing aids, telephones and other acoustic transducers.

The VXpocket compatibility provides SoundCheck with maximum mobility. The VXpocket v2 sound card for laptops offers the power to perform serious audio production and analysis. The VXpocket has 24-bit converters providing 24-bit performance with SoundCheck.

The card has two balanced mono inputs at microphone or line level and two balanced analog outputs. It features one stereo SPDIF input and output, allowing direct digital transfer and LTC (SMPTE) time-code input. A breakout cable is provided with XLR connectors for the analog inputs/outputs, phono connectors for digital and LTC, and a stereo mini-jack for headphone monitoring.

Brüel and Kjaer will offer the option of SoundCheck bundled with the VXpocket v2 sound card.

CCI Installs Antex SC-22

Gardena, CA - Oct 31, 2001 - Antex Electronics, manufacturer of professional DSP-based sound cards, satellite receivers, and network/internet appliances, announced, that its sound card, the SC-22, is being used by Clear Channel Interactive (CCI) to digitize radio programming for rebroadcast over the Web. More than 280 SC-22s are in use in the top 50 radio markets across the U.S. and are an integral component of CCI's Next Generation rebroadcast system delivering broadcast quality audio to websites worldwide.

General Motors of Canada Puts DAB OnThe Road

Ottawa, Ontario - Oct 29, 2001 - General Motors of Canada Limited (GMCL) announced that GM will become the first automaker to deliver factory installed DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) technology to the automobile marketplace. This development is the culmination of a strategic alliance formed between GM of Canada and Digital Radio Roll-Out Inc. (DRRI). The two have been working together since 1998 to develop a made-in-Canada digital radio solution. The Oshawa-built Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo will be among the first models available with DAB.

Currently, more than 55 DAB stations have made service available to 10 million people in Vancouver, Toronto, Windsor, and Montreal. Ottawa is next in line to be added to the market list, with preparation underway for an airdate of early 2002. Planned expansion into all major corridors will add a series of markets including Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Guelph, Cornwall, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Quebec City, Trois Rivieres and Chilliwack.

Digital Radio Roll-Out is a non-profit joint initiative of major private broadcasters (Astral Media, CHUM, Corus Entertainment, Rogers Media, Standard Radio, Telemedia Radio), a number of smaller private broadcasters, and public broadcasters (CBC, Radio Canada) with the support of the Canadian government. DRRI's mandate is the introduction of digital audio broadcasting services across Canada. DAB is the replacement technology for current AM and FM analog transmission.

Harris RestructuresCarlsbad Office

Cincinnati and Carlsbad, CA - Oct 31, 2001 - Harris Broadcast Communications announced that it is making some changes to its operation from the Carlsbad, CA, facility. While Harris as a company is healthy and has enjoyed five consecutive quarters of strong financial results, the Carlsbad decision was based on the national and international economic environment and is intended to allow Harris to continue with its financial strength.

The Carlsbad, CA, facility was acquired by Harris in 1998 when it purchased the assets of Pacific Research and Engineering, manufacturer of radio broadcast consoles and studio furniture. Harris officials commented that despite these operational changes, Harris is still fully committed to the Harris Pacific products.

Harris is transferring two manufacturing functions from Carlsbad to its facility in Mason, OH, near Cincinnati. These transfers include the manufacture, integration and testing of audio consoles, and the studio furniture construction processes.

The engineering design and development teams for consoles and furniture will remain in Carlsbad. The office, formerly called the West Coast Broadcast Center, will be renamed the Pacific Design Center.

The West Coast Broadcast Center also housed a staff of sales people. These functions are being relocated to the Cincinnati facility as well. To accommodate its customers outside the Eastern Time Zone, Harris is extending its telephone support hours and adding additional telephone support.

The call center changes are effective immediately. The manufacturing changes will begin their change soon and will be complete on January 11, 2002, when the Cincinnati facility will house the console and furniture manufacturing. The Cincinnati facility has been manufacturing furniture since Harris acquired Midwest Communications in the 1980s.

There are 60 employees in the West Coast center. Ten employees are being asked to relocate to Cincinnati as a result of the announcement. Other employees who are able and willing to relocate to Cincinnati or to Harris' Quincy, IL, facility are being accommodated. Employees choosing to leave Harris and not relocate are being offered severance packages and are being provided with career placement assistance.

When the changes are complete, there will be 15 employees in the Pacific Design Center.

SAS Chosen by Clear Channel Atlantaand Radio Marti

Burbank, CA - Oct 24, 2001 - Clear Channel Communications has selected Sierra Automated Systems (SAS) to provide its Atlanta broadcasting center with the SAS 64000 Audio Routing Switcher.

Presently, the Atlanta Clear Channel broadcast center consists of five commercial stations: WGST-AM (News), WKLS (Rock), WMXV (Rock), WXVV (Rock), WPCH (Light Rock), and the Georgia News Network, a state-wide radio network.

The 64000 is a digital-ready, microprocessor-controlled audio switching system built upon the same system architecture, design and construction techniques that have been used in proven SAS installations for more than ten years. Designed for large-scale operations in professional broadcast facilities, the 64000 has a high packaging density: 256 x 256 mono in one equipment frame; 256 x 256 all stereo in only two frames. It supports analog and digital I/O and can be configured to operate as a mono, stereo or mixed mono/stereo system. The control software allows adjacent inputs or outputs to be linked as stereo pairs and treated as one source or destination.

SAShas also been chosen by Radio Marti as part of its digital upgrade project in Miami. The SAS-64000 Audio Routing Switcher and two SAS-32000 Audio Routing Switchers were recently installed in Radio Marti’s Master Control in Miami.

As Radio Marti prepared for the upgrade of its Miami studio facility, it was determined that to more easily migrate to digital operations, a router system that could effectively handle combined digital and analog audio would be preferable to attempting to operate with a digital-only router, augmented by the old analog router. Additionally, ease of control with hard controls and soft-panel controls on PC workstations was a significant requirement.

The SAS-64000 is used for all primary audio routing throughout the Radio Marti Operation, including control rooms, studios, desktop workstations, office monitors, and the technical operations center. One SAS-32000 generates up to ten simultaneous mix-minus audio paths for telephone and remote/field operations. The second SAS-32000 is the intercom/IFB system for all technical locations, headphone positions, telephone hybrids and remote/field location.

When Radio Marti was originally established in Washington, D.C., an SAS 32000 Router was installed as the main facility router, and subsequently reinstalled in Miami during the relocation in 1998. This original 32000 is still being used to control the old PR&E switcher/console during the transition to digital. During the Fall of 2000, an SAS-16000 Router was installed at the Marathon, FL transmitter site as part of a continuous expansion of the facility. It provides audio back to the Miami headquarters, including air monitor, satellite audio, terrestrial audio paths, and three receivers monitoring Cuban radio broadcasts.

ChainCast Networks AcquiresStreamAudio

San Jose, CA - Oct 30, 2001 – ChainCast Networks has acquired Seattle-based StreamAudio, a provider of Internet radio streaming and ad replacement technology. The two companies are joining to prove that Internet radio can have a successful business model if Internet radio streaming companies can get their bandwidth cost under control (through the use of P2P technologies, such as chaincasting).

The acquisition will strengthen ChainCast’s position as the leading content delivery service by delivering low cost streaming, increased performance and optimal quality of service to its Internet radio customers.

The acquisition benefits both companies and e-listeners in general; ChainCast immediately gets a much bigger audience/market share. The acquired company (StreamAudio) becomes profitable using ChainCast technology. E-listeners get expanded access and continued personalized service.

In the months prior to the acquisition, StreamAudio successfully tested ChainCast’s technology with its network of radio stations. From this positive experience and the mission to provide cost-effective streaming services, the companies joined to offer their customers dedicated live streaming. StreamAudio serves millions of streams monthly and will continue to deliver its streaming and ad insertion offerings to radio stations and media companies worldwide under the StreamAudio.com brand using the ChainCast platform.

ChainCast’s technology is a broad networking platform that solves many challenges associated with traditional webcasting. ChainCast’s Virtual Multicast Routing (VMRTM), along with its platform architecture, allows customers to stream content at a lower cost compared to other methods by creating streaming media overlay networks on demand. These networks transform each client from a media player for local playback to a VMRTM player that is a combination of the media player and a soft router for the originating stream. Therefore, since the receiving VMRTM player can route (or cascade) an original stream to several other VMRTM players in the overlay network, the technology produces a multiplier effect that increases the number of e-listeners that can be served off of each originating stream.

US Navy Awards Tube Contract ToEconco

A rebuilt AEGIS radar tube with U.S. Navy Excellence Award to Econco for achieving significantly longer operating life than new tubes.

Woodland, CA - Oct 29, 2001 - Econco received a $7.7M U.S. Navy contract to provide rebuilt power tubes for the AEGIS Weapon System. State-of-the-art Navy AEGIS ships employ power tubes to pulse powerful radars in the first fully integrated radar and missile defense system developed.

In addition, the U.S. Navy recently presented Econco with a second Award for Excellence for support to the AEGIS Weapon System. Econco was first honored for producing rebuilt tubes with 30% longer life than production tubes.

Econco has delivered long life vacuum tubes to the broadcast and industrial markets worldwide since 1969.

Dielectric ExpandsPalmyra, MO Facility

Raymond, ME — Oct 29, 2001 — Dielectric Communications recently completed work on the newest addition to its Palmyra, MO, television and FM antenna design and manufacturing facility. The 16,000 square foot addition will house the company's expanding engineering staff. The addition will more than double the current floorspace and allow for the use of manufacturing cell technology.

The Palmyra facility is the only ground reflection far field test range in the U.S. This test range, with a source tower located three miles away, offers ideal conditions for far field testing, approaching the free space environment of an installed antenna. Antennas greater than 100 ft. in length and weighing up to 15 tons can be accommodated at the facility.

Broadband panel antennas for TV and master FM antenna systems are manufactured at the Missouri facility. With this recent expansion, Dielectric’s plants in Maine, Missouri, Indiana and California now total over 290,000 square feet.

Crown Names Graham to VP of Marketing

Elkhart, IN - Nov 2, 2001 - Mark Graham has been appointed to the position of vice president of marketing for Crown International. Graham reports directly to Crown's president, Blake Augsburger. In his new role, Graham now supervises and directs Crown's global marketing efforts relating to amplifier, microphone and IQ System products.

Prior to his appointment, Graham most recently served as business development manager for Agilent Technologies' Electronic Products and Solutions Group - formerly the test and measurement business of Hewlett-Packard - in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also previously owned an Arizona-based professional audio consulting and contracting firm as well as an associated retail operation specializing in portable sound reinforcement systems.

Graham possesses a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University.

Crown International, a Harman International company, manufactures amplifiers, microphones and systems control products for professional audio markets worldwide, with corporate headquarters located in Elkhart, IN.

Myat Hires New OperationsManager

Norwood, NJ - Oct 30, 2001 - Myat is pleased to announce the appointment of Dennis Heymans as operations manager for its filter products division.

Heymans comes to Myat from Micro Communications, where he most recently served as the chief operations officer. Over his 28 years with Micro, heymans has developed experience with all facets of the business; from materials processing and system optimizing, to sales and customer support. Myat is a designer and manufacturer of rigid transmission line systems, components and accessories. Headquartered in Norwood, NJ, Myat is now celebrating its 50th Anniversary of serving the television and radio broadcast industries.

FCC Appoints Nina Shafran toMMB

Washington, DC - Nov 6, 2001 - Nina Shafran has been named deputy chief of the Mass Media Bureau’s audio services division. Shafran joins the Commission from Dow, Lohnes & Albertson’s communications group where she specialized in broadcast matters. Prior to joining Dow, Lohnes in January 1998, Shafran worked at the DC offices of O’Melveny & Myers and Weil, Gotschal and Manges. Her experience includes broadcast transactions, station facilities applications, and rule making proceedings, particularly those involving the Commission’s ownership rules. She has also counseled broadcasters and lenders on FCC issues raised by various forms of financing and securities offerings.

Before practicing communications law, Shafran specialized in international trade matters. She served at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission prior to being admitted to the bar.

Shafran graduated with honors from The George Washington University law school in 1990. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Bryn Mawr College and a master of arts degree from Georgetown University in Russian studies/international trade.

QSC Audio Names Gamache WesternRegion Account Specialist

Costa Mesa, CA - Nov 5, 2001 - QSC Audio Products recently announced the appointment of Dienna Gamache as their new account specialist for the western region. She joins QSC’s inside sales team, headed by Inside sales manager Derek Covin.

Gamache is responsible for processing all sales orders and information requests for the western territory. Further, she will serve as a key point-person for a wide variety of inquiries—interfacing with the company’s field sales force, dealers, and end-users.

Gamache comes to QSC with a 14-year customer service background in the medical products manufacturing business. Previously, she was a customer service specialist with Sechrist Industries, located in Southern California.

QSC Audio Products is a manufacturer of power amplifiers, professional loudspeakers, signal processing, digital signal transport, and computer control systems for professional audio markets worldwide.

Harris Announces TopAppointments

Cincinnati - Nov 5, 2001 – Harris Corporation has announced two key appointments at its Broadcast Communications Division headquarters in Mason, Ohio. Jay Adrick has been appointed to the new position of vice president of strategic business development, and Douglas Stark has joined the division as vice president of studio products and systems.

Adrick becomes responsible for identifying and developing solutions that address emerging industry trends and customer requirements. His activities will span all three Harris Broadcast Communications business units – Transmission Systems, Automation, and Studio Products and Systems. Initially he will focus on systems that support consolidated operations and central broadcast management. He also will serve as Harris’ representative to such broadcast organizations as the ATSC and SMPTE. Most recently, Adrick served as vice president of studio products and systems for the Broadcast Communications Division.

Stark joined Harris in 1977, beginning his tenure in the finance organization of Harris’ RF Communications Division in Rochester, New York. He advanced through the ranks to serve as controller and vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at RF Communications before transferring to Harris operations in Melbourne, Florida in 1996. Most recently, Stark served as vice president of joint ventures for Harris Publishing Systems Corporation. He holds a degree in accounting from Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

JBL Professional AppointsChaikin

Northridge, CA - Oct 30, 2001 - JBL Professional announced the appointment of industry veteran Peter Chaikin as director of marketing, recording and broadcast. Mark Gander, JBL vice president of marketing, revealed that Chaikin will take over marketing responsibility for the company's studio monitors, including the LSR line of powered monitors as well as developing new products in the line.

Chaikin has held high-level product marketing and marketing management positions at Alesis and Yamaha, where he was instrumental in the success of several digital recording and mixing products. He also has 15 years of independent recording engineering experience, working with dozens of name acts including Quincy Jones, Patrice Rushen, George Duke, Michael Sembello and Harvey Mason. Chaikin received RIAA Gold and Platinum Records and a Grammy nomination for "Best Engineered Recording."