Radio World launched a free four-part series of weekly webcasts exploring how major broadcasters are reinventing their workflows and air chains to support remote operation.
“The world of radio has just changed dramatically,” said Editor in Chief Paul McLane. “Remote broadcasting isn’t just an option anymore. It’s a mission-critical part of the industry because of the global health crisis.”
The series is called “Broadcasting From Home.” Each 45- to 60-minute webcast explores how prominent broadcasters moved fast to create new solutions in the face of the unprecedented threat to their normal business practices.
The first episode explores how Bonneville’s Sacramento cluster built its remote workflow. Featured are Jason Ornellas, director of engineering for Bonneville Sacramento, and Nate Mumford, director of sales engineering for sponsor RCS.
The second features Learfield IMG College, which holds the rights to sports coverage for more than 100 colleges and universities. What happens when a pandemic upends all of its usual workflows — and when sports come to a standstill? We talked with Tom Boman, the VP of broadcast operations, and Randy Williams, chief engineer, along with Chris Crump, senior director of sales marketing at Comrex.
Week 3 provide a look at remote operation from four separate perspectives:
Tony Weir is CEO of The House FM, a noncommercial Christian network heard on 24 frequencies in Oklahoma and Kansas as well as the internet and on smart speakers; he discusses the ministry’s use of RCS technologies. Mike Friedman is broadcast engineer at VPM, Virginia’s home for Public Media, an NPR outlet whose broadcast assets include multiple radio stations. He lays out several applications of Comrex gear for remote interviews and operations including live call-ins managed remotely. Dan McQuillin, managing director of Broadcast Bionics, talks about how workflow solutions and digital software approaches are solving remote problems in difficult operating conditions for broadcasters like WNYC in New York and WAMU in Washington. And Greg Dahl, broadcast engineer with Second Opinion Communications, a specialized integrator, explores how audio over IP technology from the Telos Alliance is serving remote demands for WHYY in Philadelphia and KCRW in Los Angeles.
Part 4 includes four more unique perspectives. JR Rogers and Bill Eisenhamer describe how Entercom’s five-station San Diego cluster confronted the crisis and quickly set up employees for working from home, including the use of Tieline gear. Stan Walbert of Multicam Systems explains how automated visual radio production tools are being deployed in the coronavirus context. Shannon Burke of “The Shannon Burke Show,” heard on Florida Man Radio, talks to us from his guest bedroom about his use of the Comrex BRIC-Link II. And Andrew Schildberg and Jacob Kromer of Family Life Communications describe their use of RCS automation and Cleanfeed to set up remote teams.
