On June 20, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly announced the granting of a special license allowing MSU and WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) to launch an experimental Next Generation TV broadcasting station. Based on the ATSC 3.0 digital TV standards, NextGen TV adds internet-style information and interactivity, plus advanced technologies such as 4k ultra high-definition video… read more
At the National Association of Broadcasters’ Board of Directors meeting, held June 12-13, the NAB Executive Committee elections took place and Michigan’s own Bruce Goldsen, President of Jackson Radio Works, was elected Radio Board Second vice chairman. Goldsen, who is a Past MAB Chairman and Board member (and still on the board as a honorary… read more
OK2SAY is a MAB partner; MAB member stations have been airing OK2SAY public service announcements. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has released the OK2SAY student safety program’s 2017 Annual Report. OK2SAY is an effective prevention-based reporting mechanism tool, logging in more than 14,000 tips from students across Michigan since September 2014. “Since the programs’ inception,… read more
Northern Michigan’s Blarney Stone Broadcasting has announced a joint marketing and distribution agreement with MyNorth.com and Traverse Magazine that brings Lick the Plate to Blarney Stone stations WKLZ-FM, WQON-FM, WFCX-FM and WFDX-FM. The program will air weekdays during afternoon drive and be repeated in evenings along with its current distribution on MyNorth.com. Hosted by David… read more
According to the Broadcast Law Blog, the FCC’s Media Bureau released a decision letter rejecting an objection filed by three groups advocating on behalf of LPFM stations against almost 1000 FM translator applications. The grounds for the objections included claims that Section 5 of the Local Community Radio Act (LCRA), an act setting some ground rules for… read more
WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) will host a debate among the candidates seeking the Democratic seat in the Michigan Governor’s race on June 20. This will be the first televised debate for the gubernatorial contenders. It will air live at 7 p.m. on WOOD-TV and woodtv.com. All three democratic candidates will take part: Gretchen Whitmer, Shri Thanedar… read more
Longtime Michigan broadcaster Skip Essick, who’s programming and management career in our state includes stops in Detroit and Grand Rapids, has started writing about his career highlights in a blog titled “This is Skip Essick, signing off.” Essick, who is a past Chairman of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters is currently semi retired and living… read more
All Access reports former Michigan Radio Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has joined Adell News-Talk WFDF-AM (Detroit) for a 9-11 a.m. weekday show starting July 9. CEO Kevin Adell said, “I’m excited to have Jack, the father of journalism, who taught many of my staff here at my media companies, join the 910AM SUPERSTATION family. Jack… read more
On June 14, the MAB held a workshop for prospective Alternate Broadcast Inspection Program inspectors, as well as for station engineers who were interested in the process. The workshop was conducted by Dennis Baldridge, an SBE certified broadcast engineer who has been a contract engineer, consultant, and ABIP inspector since the 1980s. Over the course… read more
On Monday, June 18, Entercom’s WDZH-FM (Detroit) will launch a new morning program to be hosted by Chris Cruise and Julia Lepidi. The Morning Show with Cruise and Julia will air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. Chris Cruise is a Detroit native and comes to WDZH having previously worked at WOW 104.3 in Boise, ID…. read more