Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 865, Volume 17, #32 for March 11, 2026

NAB RADIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
The NAB has announced the 2026 Engineering Achievement Awards. Bert Goldman is the recipient of the Radio award. His work on FM boosters and translators, as well as AM directional designs, have had impacts in many markets around the country. The presentation will be at the NAB Spring Show in Las Vegas.

CUMULUS BANKRUPT AGAIN
Cumulus Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 5, 2026 to eliminate another $600 million in debts. (Previously, it dropped some $1 billion in a 2017 bankruptcy.) The pre-packaged bankruptcy reorganization wipes out all stock equity (current public shareholders get nothing) and the current board, and it takes the company private, 95% owned by the major creditors.

NOTT LIMITED
Sometimes a company that says it is not limited is just using an advertising theme. But Nott Limited, actually founded by Ron Nott, provides a wide range of products and services. Ron’s successor, Jim Burt is our guest this week to talk about the current offerings of the company and how they can help you.

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!

 

SOME MORE DDD
The FCC’s latest Delete, Delete, Delete initiative will be voted on at this month’s Open Meeting. Of interest to broadcasters will be dropping what Chairman Carr says “eliminates unnecessary requirements for routine AM station facility modification applications, codifies the existing interpretation of the term ‘authorized’ stations to include both licensed stations and granted construction permits, and consolidates the rules for petitions to deny license renewal applications under a single rule section.”

A side point: the Commission will debate if it has the authority to tell businesses to not hand off customer service calls to an overseas location where not only can language be a problem, but also accountability – unless there is notice that the calls are going overseas and the customer can opt for a US-based response. (Whether or not that would mean a local AI instead of an international AI might need to be determined!)

AI IS NOT QUITE THE SAVER/SAVIOR SOME THINK
A recent report suggests that AI costs are expected to surpass that for human agents by 2030. Increased data center expenses and AI makers seeking profitability are among the reasons AI may not overwhelm or support options anytime soon.

WHAT IS LEGAL UNDERWRITING IN BROADCAST?
Following a complaint involving KSKQ in Ashland, OR, the FCC is looking into whether public/non-comm stations are violating the
terms of their authorizations by running underwriting announcements that are really commercial ads. The various strictures related to underwriting announcements are a constant source of questions from stations, as they seek to navigate the dual priorities of the desires of sponsors and the FCC Rules. According to the FCC, KSKQ will pay a fine – a warning to other public stations.

RANSOMWARE ALERT
True, there is almost always an alert each week about some exploit. This alert comes from the FCC, with a lengthy (7 pages) memo list of “best practices” that should help stations and others to protect themselves.

WHEN THERE WAS NO BUSY SIGNAL
It sure would have been odd if Thomas Watson was on the phone when Alexander Graham Bell called him – there was no one else for him to speak with! But it was 150 years ago this week that the historic call was made, leading to the amazing growth of the telecommunications industry as we know it.

BROADCAST ELECTRONICS OWNERSHIP CHANGE
It has been an interesting couple of years for Broadcast Electronics. The Quincy, IL company had been acquired by Leonard Busi and the Elenos Group in 2017. Now, CEO Rich Redmond has announced the 2026 acquisition of BE by a group led by Richmond and the Alzana Group. A new entity will be BE Systems, Inc, but the Broadcast Electronics name is preserved.

END OF WEATHER IN CANADA
Well, not really weather itself, but the Canadian agency Environment Canada has decided its WeatherRadio feature is to be terminated this coming week (March 16th). In addition to the automated broadcasts, the Hello Weather telephone forecast system will also be closed.

LIVE NATION TENTATIVELY SETTLES WITH THE DOJ.
The huge antitrust lawsuit currently going on finds Live Nation dealing with the federal government and agreeing to a $280 million fine and the sale of at least 13 venues. However, New York and other states have not joined in the settlement, want more attention given to the issue of monopoly, and seek to continue the trial.

WANTED/FOR SALE
Do you have a 1.2 to 2 kW UHF TV Transmitter sitting in storage? Someone may be willing to buy it. Those and some great buys on used gear are available on the ForSale Page.

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

 

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

• My Experience with Tubes and Rebuilders – Reid Brandon
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• 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
• The Rewards of a Broadcast Career – Mike Vanhooser
• What Do We Really Know About Reginald Fessenden – Donna Halper
• Y2K – Tempest in a Computer Code – Barry Mishkind

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

 
MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

Digital Alert Systems has released its new Verson 6 software for the DASDEC-III platforms.

Version 6 introduces a new operating system that modernizes ensures long-term reliability, standards compliance, and a clear path for future innovation. Among the new features is Instant alert visibility with automatic browser refresh, expanded audio support, including MP3 and OGG/Vorbis streaming formats, front-panel audible alerts for immediate operator awareness, and customizable alert messaging, including text and audio adjustments. More information is here.

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Broadcast Electronics to change ownership.

It has been an interesting couple of years for Broadcast Electronics. The Quincy, IL company had been acquired by Leonard Busi and the Elenos Group in 2017. Now, CEO Rich Redmond has announced the 2026 acquisition of BE by a group led by Richmond and the Alzana Group. A new entity will be BE Systems, Inc, but the Broadcast Electronics name is preserved.

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NAB NOTES

While the NAB’s Floor Pass offer has expired, it is still possible to get one via the exhibitors (register at NABShow.com). If you are planning to go to Las Vegas in April, do not forget hotel arrangements. Some options are available on the NAB website. You can start to make your walking list with these folks:

Use code MP47 to get a FREE Show Floor Pass.
Offer expires March 28, 2026.

• Arrakis Systems         Booth #C2338    Exhibits Passcode: NS7629
• BGS/Broadcast Tools     Booth #C2816       Exhibits Passcode: NS4833
• Broadcast Depot         Booth #C1455       Exhibits Passcode: NS2994
• Broadcast Electronics   Booth #C1646    Exhibits Passcode: NS2864
• BSW USA         Booth #C1459    Exhibits Passcode: NS4427
• Comrex                  Booth #C2243    Exhibits Passcode: NS4695
• Davicom                 Booth #C2838    Exhibits Passcode: NS9583
• Digital Alert Systems   Booth #C3452    Exhibits Passcode: NS5442
• Lawo                    Booth #C2108    Exhibits Passcode: NS6282
• Nautel                  Booth #C2546    Exhibits Passcode: NS9564
• Telos Alliance          Booth #C1819       Exhibits Passcode: NS9723            
• Wheatstone              Booth #C1051    Exhibits Passcode: NS8557

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

 

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

• 8 years ago (3/14/18) iHeart (Clear Channel) filed for bankruptcy protection
• 29 years ago (3/11/1997) Paul McCartney was knighted.
• 50 years ago (3/13/76) The Four Seasons hit #1 with “December 1963 (Oh What A Night).“ *
• 62 years ago (3/14/64) Jack Ruby was convicted of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald.
• 67 years ago (3/8/59) Groucho, Chico and Harpo Marx made their final TV appearance together.
• 68 years ago (3/14/58) the first RIAA (Gold Record was awarded. To whom? What song? **
• 93 years ago (3/12/33) FDR made his first “Fireside Chat” broadcast to the nation.

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

• 15 years ago (3/11/11) the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan caused massive devastation, and the ensuing tsunami destroyed a section of northeastern Honshu, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, considered the second-worst nuclear disaster in history.
• 37 years ago (3/10/1989) Tim Berners-Lee devises the World Wide Web (www). He was knighted in 2004. Want to see the original WWW? ***
• 65 years ago (3/12/61) Yuri Gagarin became the first manned space flight. ****
• 76 years ago (3/14/50) The FBI debuted the  “10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list.

…and 108 years ago (3/11/1918) the first deaths from Spanish Influenza were reported in the US – eventually killing 3 times as many as WWI. (Scientists now say there is no evidence it started in Spain, but most likely in the US.)

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

 

MIDWEEK BONUS

* The Four Seasons were the only act to chart #1 hits before, during and after The Beatles.

** The first RIAA Gold Record was awarded to Perry Como for “Catch a Falling Star.“

*** The original WWW – do not be shocked – is here.

**** The flight lasted just one hour and 48 minutes. The spacecraft was the Vostok 1, not Sputnik, which was a satellite.

MIDWEEK BONUS

Guess Who is back! Who? No … Guess Who!

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We sure do appreciate you spending time with our Newsletter. And even more so when you recommend us to your colleagues and friends.

NO INBOX FLOODING!!!!    MORE DETAIL HERE
Those you who read the Newsletter might notice that more detail is provided on some timely issues than on the BDR site, itself. That is one reason we encourage you to invite your friends to subscribe. We are Opt-In only… and we give you two promises (OK, four!):
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PLEASE DO INVITE A FRIEND
We sure hope you are finding the BDR and the Newsletter to be of value to you. If so, there are two things that you can do to ensure the BDR keeps pulsing along:
        1. Invite a colleague or a friend to sign up for the Newsletter. Since it is only one-time-a-week, you will not be accused of flooding their in-boxes!
        2. Anytime you deal with one of our sponsors, letting them know the BDR is important to you will make them happy – and ready to keep on supporting the BDR.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT’S WHAT
There are so many areas into which we would like to expand, but it is feedback from you that helps us decided where to go first. Are you interested in a certain piece of gear or technology? Let us know. Even better, would you be willing to do a user report and share your experience?

barry