Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 870, Volume 17, #37 for April 15, 2026

THIS IS THE WEEK!
Broadcasters are showing up through this week in Las Vegas for the NAB Spring Show, the PREC, and more. More than 4.6 million square feet of exhibitor space is now available in the refurbished Convention Center – as the largest in the US grows larger.

AI is one of three central themes at the 2026 NAB Show, highlighted in many ways. AI will impact broadcasting from programming, content creation, studio production, as well as determining how to monetize the product. New creation and transmission products, and new teaching new skills are an important part of that.

Harbingers of the coming changes: the current shift in sports programming – and the cash flow – from broadcast to streaming, and the changes the automotive industry is developing in the dashboard.

DEFINITIONS
It is obvious that language changes. Words that meant one thing, now mean something entirely different. As is true elsewhere, a number of broadcast terms either no longer appear to mean the same thing or – worse – are not understood by younger broadcasters. Clay Freinwald started this conversation a few years ago. This week we rewind it!

THURSDAY PREVIEW
Our Thursday get-together this week is mainly to talk about the NAB Show and what we hope to see, what we think we will see, and what you think we need to see.

Join us Thursday at 2 PM Eastern /11 AM Pacific, and let us learn things. The link request is, as usual, at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ Yes, you can see us on YouTube live – but joining us on zoom makes it easier to ask questions and discuss issues.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

FCC NUMBERS GAMES
In its recent filing with Congress, the FCC is planning for about 100 fewer employees during this fiscal year. Planned and early retirements and other attrition should result in a total of 1,294 full-time equivalent  employees.

The Commission also released the total number of stations as of March 31st. Not a lot of surprises there. The AM band lost 32 stations in the past quarter, while Commercial FM totals dropped by 15. NCE FMs were up though – by 28. There were 13 each new LPFMs and FM translators and boosters. Total full power is now 15,667 for those who keep count. LPFMs topped 2000 with 7 to spare.

GOING UP!
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr took the opportunity to praise the efforts of America’s tower crews. “It’s tower crews like this who maintain these structures; they are the reason why people receive these signals,” he said as he travelled to the top of WRNS(FM)s tower – almost 2000 feet above the ground.

COMING DOWN
KFUO has operated since 1924, although they moved transmissions to another place a couple of years ago. Eventually, the tower needed to come down. The self-supporter was dropped on April 3rd. Of course, there is video.

FM TRANSLATOR TOLD TO STOP
The FCC gives preference to full power stations out to their 45 dBu contour, so when a translator is shown to interfere with the FM station – however distant, the FCC will give orders to turn the translator off. This is what just happened in Cary NC, where a translator run by Curtis Media caused some listeners of WLUS(FM) Clarksville, VA to report interference. Lakes Media and Curtis have been going a number of rounds over the complaints and adjustments to the translator. For now, the translator must go off.

THE AUDIO CRAWL – NOT YET
The FCC has long wanted – since 2013 – stations to be required to audibly repeat, on a secondary audio stream, any visual crawl content that relates to emergency information outside of newscasts. With difficulties showing that implementation is not feasible at this time, another delay in the Audible Crawl Rule will take us to November 2027. The matter is to be addressed at the April Open Meeting on April 30th.

A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT FOR JOHN LYNCH
Getting a warm sendoff after 33 years at Broadcast Supply Worldwide, well-know and respected Director of Business Development at BSW John Lynch will retire on April 30th with a career of more than 50 years in broadcasting under his belt. Bryan Seeley, President and CEO of BSW noted: “His ability to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and practical application has made him a trusted partner to broadcasters across the country.” Over the years, John became a respected (and loud) voice especially in the sportscasting community, where his influence helped shape products and solutions that are still in use across the industry today.

SECURITY SEMINAR FROM THE FCC
The FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) has scheduled a cyber-security workshop for broadcasters. The program is on May 14th at 10 AM Eastern. Interested folks can attend in person at the FCC HQ or register to see it on a stream.
Explanation of tricks and traps from bad actors will also include some tips to make your site more secure.

CONSUMER ROUTERS GAIN CONDITIONAL APPROVAL
As you can tell, the Commission has been more and more aggressive about system security, making the effort in March to warn stations to avoid most consumer grade routers. NETGEAR has just announced that they have received conditional approval from the FCC as “a trusted router company.” While this is of more import for home systems, it is good to know that some stronger safety and security standards are starting to be achieved even in the moderate price points.

MORE THAN CYBER DANGERS!
Over in Onley-Onancock VA, WESR-FM suffered a nasty fire in the middle of the night, which destroyed the transmitter building and everything in it for WESR and WESR-AM. The stations got back on via streaming, and are working to rebuild.

BROADCAST VERSUS STREAMING – TAKE 2
The broadcast of the NBA’s post-season took a hit at the worst possible time for Amazon. With 48.1 seconds left, the stream went to black – and stayed there for about nearly two minutes, covering 22 seconds of game clock time, during which the game winning shots were taken. As streamers bid higher and higher prices – and charge viewers more – for sports programming, as they remove them from the free over-the-air broadcasts, one can only surmise viewers will begin to express their displeasure in monetary ways.

FINANCIAL MATTERS
Not forgetting WESR’s travails, it has not been good week or so for broadcasting. SBS (Spanish Broadcasting System) is the latest to file for a packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. The Cumulus bankruptcy is trying to work out some creditors objections, even as revenue is down. Leadership & Sales Cuts and Restructuring are ongoing at iHeartMedia. And several other companies are continuing to restructure – either financially or in reducing the employee roles.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

• Talking Like An Old Hand – Clay Freinwald
• Are you Ready to Buy Your Own Station? – George Kimble  
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch – Licenses in danger for non-payment / Tower painting NOVs
• New Transmitters and Tubes from Nautel – Barry Mishkind
• MP3 was Only a Beginning – Greg Ogonowski
• AC Problems Solved with PowerClamp – Hank Landsberg
• Enforcement Watch – License deleted / EAS fine: $369k
• Coping with Overgrown Wild Vegetation – Barry Mishkind
• Making Nautel Customer Support Better – John Wilton
• Keep Your Copper in the Ground – Clay Freinwald

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

*This* is the FCC week. Lots of things happening. Here is a small taste.

StreamGuys has worked out a deal to launch what they call the Inform Media Network. This is an effort to help pubic radio stations by filling their inventory on podcasts and live streams, with special attention so that all underwriting will be compliant with FCC rules for content. About three dozen public radio stations already have signed on the deal.

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Edge One was demonstrated in an international broadcast this past week by Lawo. Edge One is a new device that provides combined, expandable connectivity and functionality for both video and audio in a compact footprint, featuring SMPTE ST2110 native support with a bandwidth of up to 25 Gbps. It is equipped with both RJ45 ports including PoE++ and SFP ports. Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW) has taken the lead in promoting and selling the Lawo products.

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BSW has another exclusive – and it is the exclusive representation of the Kybio system being promoted by WorldCast. Kybio is capable of monitoring as many as 25 devices – including transmitters, STL links, audio codecs, sound processors, modulation monitors, networking equipment, and environmental sensors – all through a secure cloud–based dashboard.

And WorldCast Systems has another announcement: the upcoming launch of the Audemat FM/HD Probe, a next-generation monitoring solution designed to ensure the quality, compliance, and performance of FM and HD Radio broadcasts. Developed specifically for the evolving needs of HD broadcasters, the Audemat FM/HD Probe provides comprehensive supervision of HD1, HD2, and HD3 channels alongside full FM and RDS analysis.

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Updating is one of the themes we are sure to see at NAB. Broadcast Electronics lays into that theme with the AMX, a next generation AM transmitter platform based around ultra-high efficiency, scalability, modularity, simplified maintenance, and a significantly reduced footprint. The AMX pioneers the use of Silicon Carbide MOSFET RF Amplifier and modulator modules – a proven technology deployed in electric vehicle drives for nearly 10 years – and can deliver 5 kW in a single 5 RU chassis for Analog, HD Radio or DRM broadcasts.

Additionally, a new 1 kW FM transmitter in just 2RU has been announced by Broadcast Electronics. The design allows for field upgrades for the various digital modes. Another update brings several enhancements to the AudioVault system.

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DPA Microphones N Series Digital Wireless System users in North America can now take full advantage of the system’s exceptionally wide tuning range. Recognized for advanced features such as True Radio Diversity and a 400 MHz super wide tuning bandwidth, the new N-Series firmware provides customers in the U.S. and Canada with Duplex Gap and Guard Band access for a broader usable spectrum.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

Do You Remember? This week in history:
Broadcast related items:

• 0 years ago (4/13/26) the 2026 class for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was announced. Phil Collins leads the group.*
• 17 years ago (4/13/09) Phil Spector was convicted of second degree murder. (He died in prison in 2021.)
• 21 years ago (4/16/05) NRSC adopted NRSC-4 for RDBS and NRSC-5 for HD Radio (then called IBOC).
• 43 years ago (4/14/83) The SBE set up the national frequency coordination program during the NAB Show.
• 54 years ago (4/15/72) Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was #1 for the first of six weeks.
• 55 years ago (4/16/71) Carole King moved from songwriter to star performer with a #1 Hit record,”It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move.“
• 58 years ago (4/15/68) KNX began operating as an all-news station.
• 59 years ago (4/15/67) Frank and Nancy Sinatra hit #1 for four weeks with “Somethin’ Stupid.” **

… and 62 years ago (4/16/64) Dean Martin hit #1 with “Everybody Loves Somebody.” ***

Also, how about some more regular newsy-type stuff:

• 13 years ago (4/15/13) the Boston Marathon was disrupted by two Chechen brothers and their bomb.
• 37 years ago (4/15/89) student-led demonstrations were held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. ****
• 43 years ago (4/18/83) A suicide bomber destroyed the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
• 79 years ago (4/15/47) Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in ML baseball.
• 52 years ago (4/17/64) Ford introduced the Mustang. Original price: $2300 *****
• 92 years ago (4/17/34) WLW was first permitted to use the 500 kW transmitter.
• 114 years ago (4/15/1912) the Titanic sunk.
• 120 years ago (4/18/1906) an earthquake leveled San Francisco.******
• 161 years ago (4/15/1865) John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

* There were eight inductees this year:  Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Sade, Luther Vandross, Wu-Tang Clan, Oasis, and Joy Division/New Order.

** It was the only father-daughter duet ever to hit #1.

*** Martin’s effort knocked the Beatles “A Hard Day’s Night” off of the #1 slot.

**** The largest was in Beijing and led to the June 3rd Army attack on the students, known as the Tienanmen Square Massacre.

***** now usually around $25,000, but some classics can cost way more.

****** Estimated at close to 8.0 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed some 3,000 people.

MIDWEEK BONUS

Las Vegas is one of many towns now sporting robotaxis. Getting around by clicking on an app, and watching an driverless car pull up in minutes seems like a great deal. On the other hand, look what happened in Wuhan!

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barry