CASBAA 2009: the CASBAA Convention 2009, the annual industry meeting organized by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) in Hong Kong from November 3-6 2009, drew more than 700 delegates, speakers, sponsors and media from around the world.(marketing & events)(Conference news) - Television Asia

According to CASBAA, the multichannel TV industry is more competitive than ever, with a major focus on growing business while navigating the new world of online media and digital content.

The mantra that pay-TV is largely recession-proof has been put to the test this year, said Jack Wakshlag, chief research officer of Turner Broadcasting in the US.

'Cable networks are experiencing less negative impact than print and the traditional broadcast networks despite the current challenging environment. People are buying bigger TVs and High Definition (HD) only increases the audience's interest in TV.'

Mark Patterson, CEO, Asia Pacific of GroupM said, 'TV is making a comeback. One third of respondents to a recent survey said they were staying in more and a quarter were watching more TV... Our belief is that Asians still have a significant love affair with TV.'

A key to sustaining growth will be the ability of the pay-TV business to take advantage of the deployment of new digital distribution platforms. According to Todd Miller, EVR Networks, Asia Pacific of Sony Pictures Television, 'Our core business isn't changing in the foreseeable future and we have mobile extension, catch-up TV, online communities and tightening windows. All these go back to support our core business.'

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The three days of conference sessions, roundtables, networking breakfasts, lunches and cocktail parties reinforced the fact that the Indian market continues to be a tremendous growth story with an ever increasing channel choice and 105 million-strong subscriber base.

And yet, by many measures the India market has yet to deliver on its full promise.

Subhash Chandra, chairman of Zee Entertainment Enterprises said broadcasters continue to contend with the problem of under-declaration and ever higher programming costs. Nevertheless Chandra said he expected a critical consolidation of the six DTH operators in India, which could transform the industry into profitability.

A debate on video services in China also attracted attention. According to David Rubio, COO of Cisco China, there are 300 million plus Internet users and more than 70 percent are online video consumers, the majority of whom are not fully satisfied with the online video experience. Rubio said China represented a 'huge opportunity' for the right delivery systems.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Anita Huang, VP of Community & Marketing of Tudou said the online video market, which for the time being, at least, is less regulated than traditional broadcast TV, offered the best opportunity for legitimate content deals. A major roadblock, she admitted, was piracy.

Huang added that although Tudou has undertaken antipiracy initiatives, it is up to the content owners to be more proactive in terms of protecting their content online. 'Work with us,' she said, insisting that Tudou is open to revenue sharing deals on legitimate content.

Sports TV was also a hot topic covering the thorny issue of escalating sports rights for channels, platforms and consumers.

'Sports fans demand the best available content and that is what we deliver. We also favour the market and we are in favour of laissez faire on rights,' said Russell Wolff, EVP & MD of ESPN International.

'While there is some competition for sports rights in China the reality is that only CCTV can afford the huge fees for major events such as the World Cup soccer and the Olympics,' said Ma Guoli, CEO & MD of Infront Sports & Media.

During a special address, Makato Harada, DirectorGeneral, International Planning and Broadcasting Department of NHK said their network is aggressively moving into the digital age and will complete its digital transition by July 2011.

'NHK now has 100 percent of production in HD and we are working on generating super HD. We don't know if the effort of digitalization and HD will lead directly to an increase in revenue. But if we do not make the effort to expand with new services, we could lose our leadership position, especially with younger viewers,' added Harada.

Also addressing digital issues, Bernhard Glock, President of the World Federation of Advertisers, called for a concerted effort on the part of advertisers and agencies to evolve the development of advertising for the digital space.

Glock claimed that the basic principles behind effective advertising--solid consumer insight, and engaging content had not changed. The '30second spot' will continue to be an important part of every advertiser's messaging. However, he added that 'the way people experience it will be different'.

Wrapping up the Convention was the CASBAA Bollywood Charity Ball in support of Variety the Children's Charity and sponsored by Turner. During the evening, approximately US$45,000 was raised for The Dream School Foundation to help children in India.

Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation to Launch Mobile Initiative - Wireless News

Wireless News
12-01-2010
Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation to Launch Mobile Initiative
Type: News

Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation has created a mobile application weaving community and entertainment together.

According to a release, Ubiquity's mobile initiative is entrenched with its own proprietary patent and patent pending technology named Weav. Weav mobile targets 13-29 year olds.
Weav mobile uses Ubiquity's Lifestyle Portal patent which was awarded to Ubiquity in September 2009. The patent aims to configure internet-based information tailored to individuals' lifestyles where relevant information is available through a single web-site that meets the specifics of each user's lifestyle. The Lifestyle Portal Patent is the backbone to social media, mobile media, and social networks alike

Ubiquity has partnered with Lightmaker Group, a provider of web and mobile development, to help in the development of Ubiquity's Weav mobile initiative.

Adrian Barrett CEO of Lightmaker said, 'Weav mobile is going to change the way people access and use social media.'

'Today, we communicate with our family and friends through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube,' CEO Chris Carmichael said. 'Tomorrow, you'll be able to take your friends with you wherever you want when you want, all on the go, with the mobile media device of your choice.'

Weav mobile allows users to access all of their social media outlets at the touch of a button on the iPad, iPhone, and soon to follow on the Droid Pad, Google Pad, Samsung Galaxy Pad, and the Toshiba Folio 100 Pad.

Ubiquity's Weav mobile pulls from the best content on the web and gives the end user customized media and information based on their preferences and profile, and allows them to Weav with family and friends with ease.

Ubiquity Board Member, Jeffrey Cole of USC's Annenberg School for the Digital Future said, 'Ubiquity has the power to change social media and digital technology forever. The key transformational change is empowerment, and Ubiquity has created the tools to empower the end user.

'Ubiquity's patents in social networking, ecommerce, compression, and navigation are central core areas in media, internet, and mobile use that are really going to define the next 20 to 30 years of digital use.'

Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation also produces and distributes video coverage for the upcoming Sponsor Me series of Action Sports events.

Sponsor Me is an action-sports social media group and athlete management company.

Apple designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication devices, and portable digital music and video players.

Facebook is a social networking website.

Google maintains an index of Websites and other online content.

Toshiba is a provider of personal and professional computers, telecommunications and medical equipment, industrial machinery, consumer appliances, electronic components, and semiconductors.

Lightmaker Group specializes in website design, development and strategic services.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2010 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

More Than the Score; 'The Voice' of Cascade earns broadcasting honors - Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque)

'The Voice' of Cascade has branched out and made an impact in thestate of Iowa.

Jesse Gavin cut his teeth in broadcasting by announcing over thepublic address system for high school sporting events in his hometownand worked briefly for KDST-FM in Dyersville before heading off tocollege.

Earlier this spring, the Wartburg College junior won four awardsat the Iowa Broadcast News Association's Annual Spring Convention inIowa City.

Gavin serves as the Sports Director at Wartburg's student-runtelevision station. He won first place in the Sports Play-by-Playcategory for both the Student Market Radio and Television Markets;his retrospective marking the 150th episode of WTV's weekly sportsshow, SportsKnight, won first place in the In-Depth/Series category;and SportsKnight, which Gavin executive produces, won first place inthe Best Sportscast competition for the second straight year.

'It's pretty tremendous to be in the same room with so many of thegiants of Iowa broadcasting and to get to have my work recognized,'Gavin said. 'It was really a great experience to attend theconvention this year, and to hear so many congratulatory words frompeople that I have idolized since I decided that this is thedirection I want my life to go.'

Library hosting 'Tall Tales'

In anticipation of the Cabela's fishing tournament this weekend,the Carnegie-Stout Public Library will host a 'Tall Tale Telling'program at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Dubuquers Tom Tully, Bill Conzett and a handful of others willshare their fishing tales, then encourage audience participation. Thelibrary's adult services department came up with the program andpatterned it after Mike Fink, the rugged keelboater who worked on theMississippi River.

The program will be presented free of charge. For furtherinformation, call the library's information desk at 589-4225, option4.

Bellevue moves rodeo

The Bellevue, Iowa, rodeo will take place much earlier thissummer. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned eventwill take place June 9-11.

For the past 17 years, Bellevue brought the rodeo to town duringthe second week of August.

Iowa Games registration information available

Entry form booklets and online registration are now available forthe 19th annual Summer Iowa Games. Booklets can be obtained at DrugTown, Hy-Vee, U.S. Bank locations, Casey's, Subway stores, localparks and recreation departments, YMCA/YWCAs and online atwww.iowagames.org.

The Games, scheduled for mid-July, are expected to draw 18,000athletes in 50 sports. Dodgeball, a high school football 7-on-7passing tournament and a strongman contest have been added to the2005 list of sports. In many instances, team entry fees have beenreduced to make the Games more affordable.

E-mail More than the Score items to Jim Leitner atjleitner@wcinet.com.

Charles Sanford, 86, 'icon in Maine broadcasting' - Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME)

MELANIE CREAMER By MELANIE CREAMER Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
01-13-2011
Charles Sanford, 86, 'icon in Maine broadcasting'
Byline: MELANIE CREAMER By MELANIE CREAMER Staff Writer
Edition: FINAL
Section: Local & State
Type: News
Memo: feature obit

FALMOUTH --

Charles Sanford, the retired general manager and vice president of WGAN radio who was considered a pioneer of Maine broadcasting, died on Wednesday. He was 86.

Mr. Sanford began his broadcast career at WJOR in Bangor in 1947, then went on to become a disc jockey and announcer for WGUY radio.
In 1952, Mr. Sanford joined WGAN in Portland. In his early years, he was a morning show host. He worked his way up to news director and program director, then vice president and general manager of the station.

He retired from broadcasting in 1986 and was later inducted into the Maine Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

As general manager, he hired Kim Block, a longtime TV news anchor for Channel 13 in Portland, now WGME.

She remembered Mr. Sanford on Wednesday as a mentor and role model who set the standard for broadcasting excellence.

'We have lost another broadcast legend in Maine,' Block said. 'He gave me a shot at a young age and gave me a career that I really love. He was one of the most genuine, kind, gracious and supportive people I have ever worked for.'

Mr. Sanford also launched the career of Cary Pahigian, president and general manager of Portland Radio Group. He hired Pahigian in the early 1980s as program manager of WGAN.

He said Mr. Sanford was an 'icon in Maine broadcasting.'

'This is a huge loss,' Pahigian said Wednesday. 'His knowledge of Maine broadcasting was second to none. He had a great love for the state. He had a deep respect for the on-air broadcasting component. He was a throwback to serving the community, serving the public, serving the listener and working hand-in-hand with the media.'

Mr. Sanford grew up in Minnesota. He was an accomplished high school athlete but turned down a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota and enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

At the age of 19, he was a B-17 bomber pilot with the 100th Bomb Group, known by many as the Bloody 100th. 'Those were the good old blood-and-guts days, where they had no fighter planes guiding them and no oxygen masks,' said his daughter, Jo-Ellyn Harris of Weare, N.H. 'Not many men finished their tour alive flying out of that group.'

After he was discharged from the service, he moved to Machias to work at his brother's gas station.

He was married to June Sanford for 57 years. The couple raised two children.

Mr. Sanford was remembered by his daughter Wednesday as a supportive and loving father who was involved in the lives of his children. She said he was respectful and calm when making decisions.

'He loved watching my brother play sports and was always at his games,' Harris said. 'That carried over to his grandchildren. He would go to their soccer games and track meets right up until last year.'

Mr. Sanford had a passion for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and continued to play golf until last year.

One of his favorite places to go was Smith Pond Camp in Elliotsville Plantation, where he hunted and fished for 60 years.

In his later years, he pursued his passion for cooking and wrote and published 'Chuck's Camp Cookbook.'

Harris said her father often cooked at the camp and enjoyed creating new recipes. She said his happiest times in life were spent at the camp.

'He was happiest when he was hunting and fishing with his brother and friends,' his daughter said. 'He found peace there. My brother and I think that his love of nature is reflected in his personality, in the way he approached people and treated people. My father was one of a kind.'

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:

mcreamer@pressherald.com

[Sidebar]

PASSAGES

Each day the newsroom selects one obituary and seeks to learn more about the life of a person who has lived and worked in Maine. We look for a person who has made a mark on the community or the person's family and friends in lasting ways.

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Family photo Charles Sanford 'was happiest when he was
hunting and fishing,' his daughter said.

Copyright 2009 Blethen Maine Newspapers

PUBLIC FORUM PUBLIC BROADCASTING CAN'T MATCH CABLE CORNUCOPIA - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Susan Weiner's column headlined 'Cutting funds for publicbroadcasting shortsighted' (Daily News, Jan. 9) was a typical exampleof why liberals are losing the ideological fight in America. For,unlike most Americans, Weiner believes that our debt-riddengovernment needs to be supplying us with our culture - something thatis already abundantly available at a low price in the free market.

Weiner maintains that public broadcasting is fulfilling amandate that is not being fulfilled elsewhere, claiming that, 'Theadvent of cable channels and the promises of the networksnotwithstanding, so far only public broadcasting offers qualitydocumentaries, in-depth news coverage, and features on the sciencesand humanities.'

That simply isn't true. I know, because I happen to be ahistory and science documentary junkie. I also demand the best andmost extensive in-depth news coverage. And quite frankly, although Ido agree that there is some excellent programming on PBS, it's a dropin the bucket compared to what basic cable has to offer.

For example (I'm trying hard not to seem like an advertisementfor cable), the Arts and Entertainment network and the DiscoveryChannel are just gushing culture all over the place with programminglike 'Civil War Journal,' 'David L. Wolper Presents,' 'The 20thCentury,' 'Justice Files,' 'Investigative Reports,' 'AmericanJustice,' 'Best of Comic Relief,' 'Evening at the Improv,' 'Magic,''In the Wild,' 'Nature,' 'In the company of Whales,' 'PetConnection,' 'Animals,' 'Fangs,' 'Hunters,' 'Sanctuary,' 'Survival,''Himalayas,' 'America Coast to Coast,' 'Alaska Bound,' 'Challenge,''X-Planes,' 'Wings,' 'Wings of the Luftwaffe,' 'Wings of the RedStar,' 'Wings Over the Sea,' 'Firepower,' 'Armor,' 'Know Zone,' 'NextStep,' 'Beyond 2000,' 'Invention,' 'Shipwrecks,' 'Pirates,' 'AncientMysteries,' 'Biography,' 'Chefs,' 'Cuisine.'

And that is just a taste of the programming that are on two ofthe channels through the week on basic cable. Other channels such asthe Family Channel, Lifetime, USA, TBS and TNT also have equally goodprograms, and as far as in-depth news coverage, CNN isworld-renowned. And two channels, ESPN and Prime Ticket, arecompletely dedicated to sports, both national and internationalsports. Another channel, C-SPAN, is dedicated to governmentalaffairs such as congressional and Senate debates and committeehearings and the like, as well as round-table call-in discussionswith important personalities in the news.

As for Weiner's insistence that the benefits of publicbroadcasting justify the cost of $253 million, which comes to onlyabout $1 per person a year, all I have to say is that this is a veryarrogant attitude toward taxpayers' money. How many other uselessgovernment programs are there that only take $1 out of my pocket eachyear? I wonder if they add up to a thousand. But hey, what do Ineed with a mere $1,000 dollars anyway, right?

- Leonard C. Snebold

Simi ValleyHearing about vote fraud

The Jan. 4 Daily News article headlined '170,000 fraud incidentsoccurred in election, study says' is incorrect. It should have said'170,003.'

I have a very bad habit of listening to the conversations ofpeople near me when I am alone. One day, prior to the Novemberelections, while alone and bored in a restaurant, I overheard a manexplaining how he had voted four times by absentee ballots. He votedfor himself, his ailing mother-in-law, his daughter (who was away atschool) and his son (who, also, was not at home).

Shortly after that, I reregistered in front of my local market.I had to prove nothing. I could have been anyone from anywhere.

Now we are going to have this marvelous motor/voterregistration, which invites more fraud in a system that is already afarce. We should have more stringent control over something soimportant as the concept of one vote per one United States citizen.

- Carole Breyde

North HollywoodFeds, cults and the NRA

Though I think much is commendable in John Cork's critique ofNat Hentoff's poor use of examples in his Jan. 9 anti-governmentalabuse editorial ('Ending a plague of official lawlessness'), I thinkCork errs in one respect, as regards the Branch Davidian fiasco. Hewrongly takes Hentoff to task for saying the FBI should haveconsulted with an expert on 'marginal religious movements' beforedeciding to storm the compound.

During the Waco standoff I was in a producer's office pitching astory about a cult deprogrammer who has spent virtually his entirelife on the front lines, snatching people from the fire of 'marginalreligious movements' like the Branch Davidians. At this time in thestandoff, my deprogrammer friend was desperately trying to persuadethe FBI to call off the dogs (i.e., hovering helicopters, blaringfloodlights, sounds of dying rabbits, etc.).

He offered his services as a former lieutenant in a BranchDavidian-type cult - he knew cult leaders, how they think, what makesthem tick. Though the FBI knew who he was, they just blew him off.

They had their 'experts.' The producer asked me if my friendhad any predictions about the outcome. I said: 'Yes. He predictsthat, if the FBI continues with its tactics, the group will becomemore insular, more paranoid, and eventually Koresh will gather hislieutenants and they will ensure that everyone goes out in a blaze ofglory.' A week later, that is exactly what transpired.

In '93 it was the Branch Davidians in Waco. In '94 it was the'The Order of the Solar Temple' in Switzerland. We are approachingthe year 2000 and millennial madness has set in. Small, paranoid,heavily armed, apocalyptic fringe groups now dot the Americanlandscape. More death and disaster are right around the corner. Ourlaw enforcement personnel (police, FBI, ATF, etc.) need to availthemselves of all available resources, not just the theoreticalacademicians, but also those who are on the front lines in this dark,perplexing domain within our culture.

- Bob Pierce

Van Nuys

John Cork's letter in the Jan. 11 Public Forum ('Hentoff ignoredrisk of serving search warrants') seems to be directed from anotherplanet.

Cork states that the National Rifle Association advocates'disrespect for law enforcement.' Nothing could be further from thetruth. He states that, 'The NRA is funded largely by gunmanufacturers.' The NRA is funded 95 percent by its membership,which represents millions of law-abiding citizens.

For Cork to even suggest a correlation between the NRA and theunbelievable, unconstitutional and illegal actions of the DrugEnforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco andFirearms, and much of law enforcement today is unconscionable atmost, ill-informed at least.

- William Marky

Reseda

John Cork's Jan. 11 letter failed to note an important point.The DEA agents had a legal search warrant, all right. But the reasonthey were searching the Malibu estate of the 'armed man' who wassubsequently shot and killed trying to defend his home againstunannounced, armed intruders was to find marijuana (which they didnot) and seize the estate under the Racketeer Influenced, CorruptOrganizations (RICO) law.

RICO, as applied during the Reagan and Bush administrations byoverzealous and corrupt law enforcement professionals, has resultedin more suffering and death than ever was caused by marijuana. Theimportant lesson here is that out-of-control 'get tough' politiciansand law enforcement types must be stopped from their insane,expensive, unconstitutional, and futile 'War on Drugs.'

- John D. Baltic

TopangaPut academics first

This is in response to the Jan. 6 Daily News editorial 'Failedby their schools.'

After teaching 34 years in public high schools, I am notsurprised that 85 percent of CSUN freshmen students take at least oneremedial course.

For example, on a daily basis, my attempt to offer qualityinstruction was sabotaged by excessive disruptions. Not only werestudents frequently excused from class for frills, but the amount ofbulletins, clerical work and discipline problems left very littletime for instruction.

No school reform can be effective without challenging thepriority given to competitive sports. While no one is permitted toinflate football scores even with the intention of maintaining highteam self-esteem, our schools issue inflated grades as well ascounterfeit diplomas to students who obviously do not read, write orcalculate anywhere near their grade level.

Until performance in the academic classroom is rewarded on a parwith performance on the football field, taxpayers will continue topay more taxes for more remedial courses for academically deficientstudents.

- Gilbert A. Rubio

Fund established to commemorate late sportscaster ; The Frank Fixaris Memorial Endowment will help St. Joseph's students aspiring to work in broadcasting. - Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME)

TOM CHARD Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
07-19-2006
Fund established to commemorate late sportscaster ; The Frank Fixaris Memorial Endowment will help St. Joseph's students aspiring to work in broadcasting.
Byline: TOM CHARD Staff Writer
Edition: FINAL
Section: Sports

STANDISH --

The late Frank Fixaris encouraged many an aspiring broadcaster during his long career as southern Maine's top sports announcer. Known for gently offering advice or an encouraging word, Fixaris was admired for his talent and professionalism.

Now Fixaris's legacy will live on through the Frank Fixaris Memorial Endowment at St. Joseph's College.
St. Joseph's College officials revealed details of the endowment at a news conference on Tuesday.

Through a partnership with the Portland Sea Dogs, the Portland Pirates and other sports teams and organizations, the college has set an endowment goal of $1 million. St. Joseph's will start the endowment with two $5,000 scholarships this September for a deserving junior and senior studying journalism and broadcasting.

David House, president of St. Joseph's College, said those scholarships will grow to $10,000 each in a few years.

'Frank Fixaris's legacy will live on,' said House.

Fixaris worked for WGME for 30 years. He died in January in a fire at his home in Falmouth. At the time, Fixaris co-hosted the popular 'Morning Jab' sports talk show on WJAB radio.

Today from 8 to 10 a.m., WJAB will devote airtime to Fixaris through recollections of colleagues and information on the endowment.

Prior to his TV career, Fixaris worked in radio at local stations. Besides anchoring the 6 and 11 p.m., sports reports at Channel 13, Fixaris was known for years as a top-notch play-by-play announcer of high school basketball and football. He served as color commentator on radio for the Maine Mariners and later the Pirates, both of the American Hockey League.

Four events have been planned to raise money for the endowment. Both the Sea Dogs and Pirates will donate a portion of ticket sales from a game to the fund.

Gary Prolman, director of the Maine High School Hockey Invitational, said a tournament called the Fixpot, modeled after the collegiate Beanpot in Boston, will be held on Jan. 22 and 29, 2007, at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus, Falmouth and Scarborough will vie for the title with all proceeds going to the endowment.

A celebrity golf tournament will be held at Riverside Golf Course in August 2007 to raise funds.

It is hoped that in time, the endowment also will support internships for students in broadcast journalism, stipends for middle school and high school athletes to attend athletic camps at St. Joseph's, a lecture series featuring national sports figures, and enhancement of the college's radio station to better prepare students in broadcast journalism.

'Fix was one of the originals,' said Kim Block, WGME-TV news anchor and colleague of Fixaris. 'Frank was smooth and competent during the days of early technology. He never missed a beat. He loved broadcasting. I know he helped me tremendously when I was starting out.'

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Copyright 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Founder Of Broadcasting School Vows To Reopen Farmington Branch: An abrupt closing. - Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)

Byline: Rinker Buck

Mar. 6--The founder of a popular Farmington broadcasting school -- one that has placed its graduates at television and radio stations throughout the country -- vowed to reopen after the school was abruptly shut down by an affiliate of financial giant Credit Suisse.

The Connecticut School of Broadcasting, which was started in Hartford in 1964 by veteran radio announcer Dick Robinson, shuttered its two Connecticut campuses and 24 affiliate locations throughout the country Wednesday, giving faculty and students an hour's notice to vacate the premises.

In a terse press release on Thursday, the Connecticut School of Broadcasting said that its major lender, National City/PNC Bank, had seized its bank accounts, forcing it to shut down and file for bankruptcy. The shutdown prevented dozens of students from receiving their graduation certificates just five days before their course was scheduled to end.

'My children and I are just totally sick about this and we had no idea that the school was in such difficulty,' said Robinson, 70, who sold the school to Credit Suisse in 2006, and who now lives in Palm Beach, Fla. 'But we are making plans to resurrect at least the Farmington campus.'

On Thursday, as students stranded by the school's closing milled around the snowy campus on Birdseye Road in Farmington, state Commissioner of Higher Education Michael P. Meotti and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal initiated investigations into the CSB shutdown.

Meotti said that a state fund established to protect students of occupational schools that close will be applied to reimburse students for their tuition or provide 'teach-out' programs at other schools so that students can finish their degrees.

The Department of Higher Education urged broadcasting school students to call its toll-free line, 800-842-0229, or visit the agency's website, ctdhe.org, to register for tuition refunds or learn about options for completing their degrees.

During its 45-year history, the Connecticut School of Broadcasting has placed hundreds of graduates at entry-level editing and production jobs at radio and television stations, allowing them to work their way up the broadcasting ladder. Graduates also found jobs at media companies like cable sports giant ESPN in Bristol or all-news or all-talk radio stations.

'A lot of CSB graduates may have started at modest broadcasting jobs behind the scenes,' said Fox 61 sportscaster Bob Rumbold, a Windsor Locks native who graduated from the school in 1969. 'But the school is well-known and respected and there aren't many stations in New England without CSB alumni.'

When Robinson sold the school to Credit Suisse almost three years ago, the school had 13 locations throughout the country, most of them modeled on the hands-on approach he had supervised while he ran the schools, which stressed students' learning everything from on-air announcing to post-production editing. The school promised its graduates a 'lifetime guarantee' of support, under which they could use the school's facilities to polish their 'demo' reels as they sought better jobs.

Under Credit Suisse, the school rapidly expanded, doubling its size to 26 campuses. Most of the school's students and graduates interviewed in Farmington on Thursday said that they were especially attracted to the school because of the lifetime guarantee benefits. Students, many of whom worked part-time jobs while they completed their course work, said they were aggressively recruited by a school that offered generous 'scholarship' discounts and student loans against the basic $12,000 tuition.

David Banner, CSB's president, did not return calls from The Courant, and a Credit Suisse spokesman would say only that the bank was 'disappointed by the outcome' of closing the schools.

The end arrived so quickly Wednesday that many students barely had time to shut down their computers and editing equipment before they were forced to leave.

'We were told at 4 p.m. [on Wednesday] to vacate the campus by 5 p.m. that day,' said one top administrator of the school who declined to be quoted by name because he was instructed by the managers who shut down the campus not to comment publicly. 'We had no choice but to comply and tell the students to leave, even though it broke our hearts to betray these kids.'

The plight of student Chandler Hartford, 21, of Southington, seemed typical. Hartford enrolled in the school's course at Farmington in early January, attending day classes while holding down an afternoon and evening job as a waiter at an assisted-living facility. He had planned to begin a career as a voice-over announcer and was working on a demo tape and website when the school closed.

'I was really starting to crack down on my voice-overs and realized that this was something I could be great at,' Hartford said. 'But now all of my work can only be accessed on computers behind locked doors, and my voice-over coach was fired.'

Meotti said that Connecticut maintains a $3.5 million Student Protection Account -- raised by fees charged to occupational schools -- that will be used to either reimburse students for their tuition costs or pay comparable schools to help students complete their degree requirements. The higher education commission served the school with a subpoena on Thursday and today will search the school for student records, the first step toward allowing enrollees to obtain either tuition reimbursement or complete their courses.

Meanwhile, Robinson vowed to honor the school's commitments to students on the Farmington campus. Robinson said that his family still owns the school building in Farmington and that three of his children -- all of whom worked at some time for CSB -- will apply for a 'fast-track' license to reopen the school.

His family's regaining control of the school would involve some 'ironic justice,' Robinson said.

'After we founded CSB in 1964 there were many times that other broadcasting schools went under and we did all the teach-outs for the kids who were locked out,' Robinson said. 'We never charged a dime. All we care about now is the kids, and their broadcasting careers.'

To see more of The Hartford Courant, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.courant.com/.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Hartford Courant, Conn.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Ex-New Trier star charges into broadcasting career - Chicago Sun-Times

Megan Mawicke's bio is incomplete. The communications departmentat Fox Sports Chicago that churns out puffy material on Jim Rome,Keith Olbermann, Tom Waddle, Hawk and D.J. needs to update the storyof its latest hire.

OK, the 27-year-old grew up in Kenilworth, attended IndianaUniversity and received a master's degree at Northwestern's MedillSchool of Broadcasting. She once interned for Mark Giangreco at WMAQ-Channel 5 and worked in Green Bay, Wis.

But let's fill in the blanks:

She participated in her first tennis tournament at age 7. Byaccident, her mother entered her in a 12-and-under event. Withouttaking a lesson, she won and earned a national ranking.

She was a tomboy who played baseball and basketball with boys ineighth grade. At the time, she sported the only ponytail.

She began subscribing to Sports Illustrated when she was 13. Shewaited by the door for the mail carrier to deliver it. How many girlscan say that?

She was a tennis star at New Trier. In doubles competition, shefinished second in the 1988 state tournament and won statechampionships in 1989 and 1990. And she did it with three differentpartners.

As a scholarship athlete at Indiana, she beat Dick Vitale'sdaughter in a match against Notre Dame to earn a trip to the NCAAfinals.

She played on the pro tennis tour for six summers before realizingthat the life wasn't for her. She wasn't good enough to play atWimbledon, didn't want to be ranked among the top 900 players in theworld and was discouraged by others who struggled to earn enoughprize money to fly to the next tournament.

In Green Bay, the 69th-largest television market in the country,she arrived a year after two Super Bowls and discovered that theseven-day deer-hunting season was a bigger story than the Packers.But her most memorable experience was spending three days on an icefishing story.

Now she is back in Chicago as a reporter; anchor for Fox's twolocal productions, Chicago Sports Tonight and Regional Sports Report.And her new assignment isn't unlike playing tennis, learning to workwith different partners and having her game face on for every(camera) shot.

'My parents finally repainted my bedroom, took down my plaques andtrophies and stored them in the attic,' she said. 'I'm 15 minutesaway from a home-cooked meal, cookies and other sweets. And I'm astuffed pizza freak. One thing I learned is Chicago is the only placethat makes good pizza.'

It also is a terrific town for sports media. Mawicke relishes thethought of having 30 minutes to do stories instead of 30 seconds,covering high school, college and pro sports, working 14-hour days,writing her own scripts and driving to Platteville. She only recentlyhad time to pick up a tennis racket.

She is in the communications business, and the name of the game istalk, talk, talk. She works with different partners-Eric Goodman orDamon Andrews or Dave Otto or Gail Fischer or Mitch Robinson-andfills in on San Francisco and Ohio shows that aren't seen in Chicago.

'No matter who you are working with, in tennis or in the studio oron the field, you still have to perform,' she said. 'You have to beon the same page with your partner.

'In tennis, you have half a court. But if you get mixed up in themiddle, you have to know who will take the ball or you'll step allover each other. If you don't communicate, you're lost.

'In broadcasting, there are no retakes when you're live. You aread-libbing off the cuff. It is in your head. If you make a mistake,you have to recover, make the sentence smooth and get your pointacross.'

Being a self-described 'sports junkie' prepared her well for hercareer. She can relate to athletes. She understands about pressureand pregame butterflies. She understands when they want to be leftalone, when not to bother them. She has been there, done that.

BROADCASTING DUO HONORED BY SPORTSCASTERS TALENT AGENCY OF AMERICA ONCE AGAIN - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

ATHENS, Ohio, May 17 -- Ohio University issued the following news release:

ATHENS, Ohio-The efforts of Ohio seniors Brian Boesch and Caleb Troop were honored by STAA (Sportscasters Talent Agency of America) this weekend for the second straight year.

Boesch became STAA's first two-time Sportscasting All-American, placing fifth nationally, while Troop garnered a 14th-overall ranking from the agency for his television work.

Boesch provided play-by-play for Ohio Baseball and Women's Basketball while contributing to the halftime shows for Ohio Football and Men's Basketball. He also reported for BobcatTV and was the talent for in-stadium and in-arena promotions for Ohio Athletics' Marketing department. Boesch was also the sports director at WXTQ-FM/WATH-AM Radio in Athens. He is currently the number two broadcaster for the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Boesch will return to Athens in the fall to be the sideline reporter for Ohio Football.

Troop served as the sideline radio broadcaster for Ohio Football the last two seasons, also providing 2008-09 halftime radio features for Bobcat football and basketball. He was also a radio play-by-play voice for Ohio's women's basketball program the last two seasons, and contributed segments for BobcatTV. Troop is the former sports director for WATH/WXTQ and worked extensively with WOUB-TV this year as the station's Assistant Sports Director.

'Ranking broadcasters is a very difficult thing to do, but there is no question in my mind that Brian is one of the top student broadcasters in the country,' said Ohio Director of Broadcasting and 'Voice of the Bobcats' Russ Eisenstein. 'His ability, intelligence, maturity, attitude, work ethic and drive could net a very long and successful broadcasting career. I'm proud of him, and I'm glad he will be back with us in the fall.'

'Having two students who have been on our broadcasts on this list says a lot about Ohio University, and the relationship the athletic department has with the Radio-TV department. It's a great partnership to have.'

Boesch and Troop were two of just four non-seniors to make the list last year and Ohio was one of just three schools with multiple representatives a year ago. This year, Syracuse was the only other school to have more than one honoree. The duo is also amongst the seven individuals to finish in the STAA Top 20 twice and Ohio is only school to have more than one student accomplish that feat.

Liberate the BBC; Broadcasting.(Let the BBC expand--but privatise it first)(Brief Article) - The Economist (US)

Let the BBC expand--but privatise it first

'BETRAYAL and surrender,' thundered John Reith, the BBC's first director-general, when, as a member of the House of Lords in 1952, he tried in vain to defend the BBC's broadcasting monopoly. Half a century on, the BBC is still fighting, and losing, the battle against the growth of commercial TV. Today, 44% of British households pay to have scores of channels delivered to their living-rooms; over two-thirds of them will do so in five years' time. Struggling to regain ground, the BBC has applied for licences to operate four new digital TV channels and five new radio ones. Yet, in arguing the case for further expanding public-service broadcasting, the BBC is exposing the contradictions at the heart of its own operation.

The government is expected to announce at the end of August whether it will let the BBC go ahead. Tessa Jowell, the media minister, said recently that the BBC would need to demonstrate that its new services did 'not duplicate what the commercial sector is doing'. In other words, the government wisely considers its chief criterion for assessing the BBC's case to be whether the new channels address a market failure.

Three of the four new BBC channels are designed for young people: one for pre-school children, one for 'pre-teens' and another for young adults. The fourth would provide a 'forum for intellectual debate'. Judging the case for the four new channels by the government's own standard, it is hard to argue that the first three will supply something that the market will not. The children's market alone is fiercely competitive in Britain, with 14 digital channels. Ah, the BBC will reply, we will make better children's programmes. Really? The existing output provides precious little evidence of that. And not all commercial children's channels carry wall-to-wall cartoons.

Even the argument for the fourth proposed channel is less than compelling. The sorts of cultural niches that this channel would occupy--the arts, sciences, history and philosophy--are increasingly inhabited by small commercial channels, such as Artsworld or The History Channel.

Yet, however hard it is to make a persuasive case for the BBC's new channels, it seems odder still to argue that Britain's biggest broadcaster should not try out good new ideas. The chief objection to the BBC doing so is that such operations would be financed by the licence fee, a heavy tax on television sets. Were the BBC a self-financing commercial organisation, there could be no objection to its launching as many channels as it fancied.

The idea that the BBC might go commercial alarms many people, both inside and outside the organisation. Yet the arguments for having a huge state-financed corporation dominate the broadcasting business were formulated in a different broadcasting era. Few hold today.

The BBC, goes one line, lures viewers to programmes that are good for them (documentaries, news) by scheduling them after the stuff they actually like (gameshows, soaps). But viewers today channel-hop the minute the credits roll. The BBC, goes another defence, provides more diversity and higher quality than the commercial sector. As the BBC struggles to win back viewers, its offerings have become indistinguishable from the competition. The BBC, runs another line, binds Britons together with common cultural experiences, such as big sports events. That is out of date too. The BBC has now lost most sports rights to commercial TV.

The slimline option

What, then, to do with the BBC, with its huge production house, its six licence-fee funded TV channels and its 24,000 staff? As the argument for state finance weakens, so the case for selling it grows. Privatisation would not just save the public the [pound]2.4 billion a year tax it pays for the licence fee, it would also free the BBC to expand as it wished.

Sell the BBC, then, and keep government out of television? Not quite. The good stuff on the pay-TV channels is available only to subscribers. Other viewers should still have access to the serious, thoughtful programmes which Britain's public-service ethos produces. But an elephantine, state-financed producer-and-broadcaster is not the only way to do this.

Marshall student is rated one of best at calling the plays: ; Broadcasting major says hard work resulted in numerous awards - Charleston Daily Mail

MONTGOMERY - One Marshall University student has won so manybroadcasting awards that some of his peers tell him they can'tperform at his level.

(Just think how intimidating Tiger Woods is, even to many otherprofessional golfers.)

Adam Cavalier said that is just not the case. Like anything else,he said, becoming a good broadcaster takes hard work.

The Montgomery native and Charleston Catholic graduate has put inthe time and effort to become the best collegiate sports broadcasterin the country.

On June 5, Cavalier found out that he'd won the first Jim NanceAward for radio sportscasting from the Sportscasters Talent Agencyof America.

The next day, he won second place in the National Radio BroadcastNews Championship division of the William Randolph HearstFoundation's Journalism Awards Program. It is sometimes referred toas the collegiate-level Pulitzer Prize.

Cavalier is 'a great writer,' said Dan Hollis, a broadcastjournalism professor at Marshall.

'It is unusual for a student to do well with news and sports, andto do well off the cuff,' which is crucial to call play-by-playgames.

His play-by-play work has won awards. He has also been cited fora documentary titled 'Failing Infrastructure: Saving Huntington'sSewage System' that he wrote and produced.

Marshall alumnus Vince Payne knows what it is like to perform ata high level in collegiate journalism. The Hansford native stillholds the record for the most awards won by a Marshall broadcastingmajor.

He said he fully expects Cavalier to beat his record before hiscareer at Marshall ends.

'For someone to be good at both news and sports, they need to beversed in current events, politics, and the rules and regulations ofeach sport that is announced,' said Payne, who is a freelanceannouncer and the director of public relations for Hamilton LocalSchool District near Columbus, Ohio.

'They have to be well-rounded individuals who don't cornerthemselves in being a 'news' or 'sports' person,'' Payne said, 'butconsider themselves complete journalists ready for anything andeverything to make the best at both types of reporting.'

Jon Chelesnik is CEO of the Sportscasters Talent Agency ofAmerica, which gave out the Jim Nantz award.

'Preparation is the key to being successful at anything you do inlife,' he said. 'A lot of people don't get it. Sometimes those whodon't prepare are the first to get the pink slip.'

Cavalier started announcing Charleston Catholic sports eventsover the loudspeaker back when he was in high school.

Even in college, he returned to announce the Fighting Irish gameswhen he could.

Now he's a perfectionist. Cavalier said he watches and listens tohis broadcasts to improve his work and gives them to his mentors tocritique. He also said he listens for 'crutch phrases' and clichesand makes lists of different ways to describe sports plays. He aimsto have 50 descriptions to announce, say, a touchdown, he said.

Even though he could become a news journalist, Cavalier said hewants to broadcast games for a college or university.

There aren't many jobs in that field in this tough economy, so hehas decided to stay in school.

He is as good a student as he is a broadcaster. He graduated fromMarshall's honors program with a 4.0 grade point average when heearned his bachelor's degree in May. He began studying for hismaster's in journalism on Monday because he said he might want toteach someday.

Cavalier is a 'phenomenal student,' said Dr. Chuck Bailey, whoamong other things is the adviser to Marshall's WMUL-FM radiostation. 'He is academically gifted and he can apply it.'

Hollis said Cavalier is 'dedicated to being the best he can be.'

'Most people settle for being pretty good,' he said. 'That's athing all of us face - 'I'm happy where I am.'

'It'd be easy to rest on his laurels, but he doesn't do that.'

Bailey concluded, 'It's amazing what a student can do when theyput in the work.

'You can hear him working to get better.'

Jones Broadcasting moving to Roanoke - The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, VA)

Channel 24 will be back on the air in Roanoke next month, nearly two years after the religious and family-focused station went dark following a legal dispute.

Gregory Jones, president and CEO of Jones Broadcasting of Woodstock, confirmed that he bought the station formerly known as WDRL-TV and is moving its studios and his company's headquarters to a 22,000-square-foot space in the old movie theater at Crossroads Mall.

The station will remain on channel 24, but its call letters will change to WEFC. Jones said the station will carry religious programming, family-friendly shows, local and national sports and gospel music.

'Three things we do not do,' Jones said, 'are to show anythingthat is sexually degrading or explicit, anything that promotesprofanity or anything that glorifies criminality.'

Jones Broadcasting also has produced gospel music videos. Jones said he would like to bring performers to Roanoke for a music show he wants to produce.

He expects the station to be back on-air with a full lineup by mid-August.

'We are acquiring the station and we're doing it up big,' said Jones, who already has moved to Roanoke from the Shenandoah Valley. 'It's going to be a multifunction television complex with multiple stations in the Roanoke area.'

Industry website Radio & Television Business Report reported thatChannel 24's sale price was $1 million. The new call letters were once used by Channel 38 in Roanoke, which is now WPXR. Jones would not elaborate on the switch to WEFC.

Jones, a Lynchburg native who started Jones Broadcasting in the late 1980s, owns 13 stations, including WAZT in Woodstock. That station's religious programming is retransmitted throughout the Shenandoah Valley on four other channels as part of Jones' Family Entertainment Network.

Those stations will now be based at Crossroads, along with WEFC.

Jones Broadcasting's plan for Channel 24 sounds similar to WDRL'sprogramming lineup, which was heavy with local church services, high school and college sports and classic programming such as 'Lassie' and 'The Rifleman.'

WDRL was forced off the air and into court-ordered receivershipin July 2010 after a federal judge upheld a $1.1 million judgment against then-owners Mel and Nele Eleazer in a copyright dispute with Charter Communications that lasted six years. The Eleazers lost the station and eight employees lost their jobs.

The Eleazers had made two attempts to sell the station - first toLiberty University for $6 million in 2007, then to Living Faith Ministries of Abingdon for $5.3 million - but both deals fell through.

WDRL's demise angered many leaders in Roanoke's black community. The station targeted black audiences with its religious and community programs. Local black preachers had their own shows, and the Roanoke branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People hosted a community affairs talk show.

Jones Broadcasting's purchase of Channel 24 gives the Roanoke Valley a rarity in the American television industry: an owner who is a minority.

Jones said that he is the 'largest African-American television station in the United States now,' a claim that could not be verified Friday because messages left for the Federal Communications Commission were not returned.

However, according to FCC data from 2006, minorities owned just46 television stations in the United States, a number that hadfallen more than 25 percent since the late 1990s.

Jones said he plans to feature community faces on WEFC.

NATIONAL BROADCASTING SOCIETY PRESENTS CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH AWARDS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

Central Michigan University issued the following press release:

Central Michigan University broadcast and cinematic arts students have received several top honors from a national organization.

The National Broadcasting Society presented its highly prized National Student Electronic Media Competition awards in March in Washington, D.C. Six CMU student projects brought home awards in the competition, which is judged by professional broadcasters from around the country and includes such categories as production, scriptwriting and Web site development. In addition, two students won individual achievement awards.

Peter Orlik, chairman of CMU's School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, said the students' contest entries showcase their talents and are the product of many hours - even months - of labor.

'The fact that the students brought home these awards truly shows the breadth and depth of their abilities, their expertise, and their commitment to the field,' he said.

Of the 10 categories in which CMU had national finalists, students brought home the Grand Prize in six. Winners include:

* News Package (Video): Gregory Angel, Steve Roberts and Jason Nagy for 'Smokers' Bill'

* Magazine Program (Video): Ken Ochalek and J. R. Curtis for 'Central View'

* Sports Play-by-Play Programming (Video): Dan Empson, Jason Dizik, Nate Blair, Matt Park, Kirkland Crawford and Eileen LeTarte for 'MHTV Sports Game of the Week: CMU Volleyball vs. Toledo'

* Promos (Video): Ken Ochalek for 'Central View Fall 2005 Promo'

* Comedy Program (Video): David Seger, Scott Lightfoot, Randy Colburn and Nick Scimeca for 'Deskies: Episode Six'

* Web Design Overall: Maria Albert, Brian Lucas, Danny Crowle and Caleb Newman for the broadcast and cinematic arts Web site

Additionally, graduate student Patrick Brown of Mount Pleasant and senior Christina Colagiovanni of Caseville were chosen as the National Rookie of the Year and National Communications Coordinator of the Year, respectively.

Broadcast and cinematic arts faculty member Jerry Henderson, adviser for CMU's National Broadcasting Society student chapter and radio operations manager for WMHW Modern Rock 91.5, supervised much of the work that students entered in the radio categories of the competition.

'This is one of two major national competitions that our students enter,' he said. 'Not only is it a great thing for them to graduate with, but these awards help to increase and maintain the stature of the department and show that we are definitely a national force in the broadcasting profession.'

Broadcast and cinematic arts faculty members Kevin Corbett, adviser for MHTV's entertainment and sports programming, and Rick Sykes, adviser for the station's News Central 34, oversaw most of the work done in the television categories.

'The show producers spend literally hundreds of hours in their 10-week season creating their shows, so I believe these awards are a well-deserved reflection of that dedication and diligence,' Corbett said.

'I'm extremely proud of the students,' Sykes said. 'As the competition gets tougher every year, the students continue to rise to the occasion, and it's really gratifying. Our students, by and large, are the ones who are very serious about the business and maximize these opportunities, and those efforts show up in the awards.'

Created for students and professionals pursuing electronic media careers, the National Broadcasting Society is dedicated to helping college students transition to the professional world. Among other activities, the group invites students to attend its national convention, which offers networking, workshops, seminars, critiques and tours.Contact: Lindsay Allen, 989/774-7327; Peter Orlik, 989/774-7279; Jerry Henderson, 989/774-7284; Rick Sykes, 989/774-3894; Kevin Corbett, 989/774-7285.

BROADCASTING'S SEWARD A FRIEND IN STEED - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

On the day Sunday Silence won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, BillSeward drove through Louisville in such a hurry, he didn't stay towatch the race.

He was on his way to California from Concord, N.H., where theCBS affiliate for which he was sports director had just folded.Before announcing that more than 200 people were out of jobs, thestation manager told Seward, 'This is almost as sad a day as when Ihad to put my dog to sleep.'

With a send-off like that, it's understandable that Seward, aSherman Oaks native, was eager to get home.

Still, he regrets missing his best chance to attend a Derby.

'If you said, `You could cover the NBA Finals, or the SuperBowl, or any of the other big events for broadcasters . . . I thinkthe Kentucky Derby would be a blast,' says Seward, a sports anchorfor KNX-AM (1070) and, occasionally, Channel 2. 'If I had to coverone thing, there's no doubt in my mind, it would be horse racing.It's a great sport.'

Seward, 37, who will co-host this afternoon's 'Santa AnitaToday' cablecast of the San Antonio Handicap (on tape at 6:30 p.m.,Prime Sports), is a rarity among Los Angeles sportscasters: He notonly is an unabashed Friend of Horse Racing, he is also a participantin the sport, having co-owned about a dozen thoroughbreds in the pastseven years.

Two of them are getting ready for races at Santa Anita next week- Bet a Bic, coming off a third-place finish in a $16,000 claimingrace, and Queen Helmsley, an untried filly. Both are trained by JackCarava.

Seward is the guy who, when he's delivering the scores on KNX,always makes sure to squeeze the local stakes results into his60-second to 2-1/2-minute broadcasts.

'I think I'm giving racing its due,' he says, pointing out thatdaily racing attendance compares favorably with, say, a Lakerssellout of 17,505. 'I'd like to lead the sports (report) with it,but that probably wouldn't last very long.'

Seward's enthusiasm for the races is evident when he hosts SantaAnita's Friday-night shows on Channel 56, and in showcases liketoday's, one of 11 weekend stakes to be shown on Prime Sports cableduring the Santa Anita meet. He'll co-host the coverage with KurtHoover. Jeff Siegel will provide analysis and Trevor Denman willcall the action.

'I don't put myself out there as any expert, that's for sure,but I'm aware of the sport from a number of different levels,' saysSeward, who attended his first races when he was a freshman at NotreDame High School in Sherman Oaks. 'I've been the kid who's drivingout to Santa Anita in a '65 Mustang with $12 in his pocket, saying,`I'm going to hit the double!' I've also been in the winner'scircle.'

Since he was a kid, watching Saturday races on Channel 2 showshosted by Gil Stratton, Seward has watched racing TV coverage getswallowed up by other sports. A big reason is that manysportscasters are ex-athletes and few of the rest follow racing.

Actually, Seward started out in the sports mainstream, playingthe line for the Notre Dame High football team, and serving as anassistant coach at Notre Dame and head coach at St. Bernard HighSchool in Playa del Rey from 1982 to 1984. He was the EveningOutlook coach of the year in 1982.

He coached while attending Loyola Marymount. He also started onhis broadcasting career by calling Lions basketball and baseball onthe radio.

'You can only watch so much (football) film before your eyesfall out,' Seward said of his career choice.

He worked on the air in Eureka, Oxnard and Concord, and it wasbetween that job and joining KNX that Seward indulged his love of theracetrack by working with trainer Yves Seguin at Del Mar. He got hisfirst victory as an owner two days after the 1994 Northridgeearthquake.

'Bill adds a tremendous amount,' said Amy Zimmerman, executiveproducer and director of 'Santa Anita Today.' 'Not only is he atremendous broadcaster, but he knows the game intimately.'

As an owner or a broadcaster, maybe there's a Derby in hisfuture.

West Virginia seeks bids for broadcasting events - Charleston Daily Mail

MORGANTOWN West Virginia Universitys athletic department, one ofthe few in the country that still handles its multimedia rights onits own, will seek proposals for broadcasting of events not shownnationally or regionally. The so-called third-tier rights cover thebroadcast and marketing inventory that doesnt belong to the Big 12Conference when the Mountaineers join on July 1. The conferenceschools give their first- and second-tier rights to the Big 12,which means the conference owns the rights to all nationally andregionally televised football and basketball games. The schoolsretain their third-tier rights, which are the leftover events andcontent that the University of Texas has famously converted into theone-of-a-kind Longhorn Network. It will be out there on the street,and well go through the formal process and see what the response is,Luck said of the request for proposals. That will take severalmonths. Luck said WVU wasnt necessarily looking to make a change inits independent operation but was simply looking for information.The biggest parts of the third-tier rights are radio broadcastrights and the football and basketball games not claimed by thefirst two tiers. That would be smaller, non-conference games likeNorfolk State for football and Tennessee Tech for mens basketballthis past year. The third tier also includes the remainingtelevision inventory of the other WVU sports as well as signage andcommercial rights at sporting event sites. There arent as many third-tier television opportunities because so many football andbasketball games are claimed by the first- and second-tier, butthere could be competition for what remains, as well as for theuniversitys other sports, because of the interest generated by WVUsmove to the Big 12. The rights can be worth several million dollarsper year, and schools generally enter multi-year contracts. InMarch, North Carolina State agreed to a 10-year contract worth $49million with Learfield Sports and Capitol Broadcast Company. Thedeal created a group called Wolfpack Sports Properties that was putin charge of signage, marketing, radio play-by-play, television andradio coaches shows and website sponsorships. WVUs third-tier rightsare presently under the umbrella of the universitys MountaineerSports Network while West Virginia Radio Corp.s Metro News hasbroadcast football and basketball games for decades. Mike Parsons,deputy director of athletics, who has been in charge of MSN since1981, and Dale Miller, the president of West Virginia Radio Corp.,did not return messages Tuesday. Bray Cary, president of WestVirginia Media Holdings, which runs the shows featuring mensbasketball coach Bob Huggins and football coach Dana Holgorsen, saidhis company is interested in the request for proposal. Cary onceowned Creative Sports, which held the rights for the University ofKansas and throughout the Big 12. He later sold it to ESPN, whichrebranded it as ESPN Regional. Well look at it aggressively, saidCary. Any school the caliber of West Virginia will generate interestnationally, and I think with a lot of people in the state as well.There will be a lot of interest and it will be very competitive.Luck said the Mountaineers are not forcing ourselves to go withanybody. Were looking to see what the marketplace is saying aboutus. Luck became the athletic director in 2010. Under his leadership,WVU secured consulting services from Rockbridge Sports Group forhelp with that topic. Rockridge is a company headed by formeremployees at CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, which works withschools and manages their media rights. Virtually all other collegesthat play football, basketball or both have help from an outsidesource. The University of Southern California signed a deal in Aprilto have ESPN Radio broadcast nationally all of its home footballgames. Illinois is shopping its multimedia rights and is reportedlydown to IMG College and Learfield Sports. Those are the industryleaders, with IMG College working with 80 schools in some capacityand Learfield Sports working with 50 schools and the Big Ten,Western Athletic and Missouri Valley conferences. CBS College SportsProperties is a smaller group that works with a handful of schools.The combined NBC and Comcast group is expanding its reach. From theBig 12, Texas, Kansas, Baylor and TCU are IMG College clients andOklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Iowa Stateare Learfield Sports clients. WVU has limitless options, however,and could specify exactly what it wants with the request forproposal. It may seek to outsource merely the radio rights, theleftover television rights or both. It might want to outsource onlythe marketing rights. There are other possibilities that couldpreserve the current format, or let it continue in a similarfashion. Kansas State and Iowa State will both have school-specificwebsites beginning next fall to present their third-tier properties.Kansas State started theirs last season and actually showed itsseason-opening football game online. Iowa States will debut in thefall. Both are subscription services. Each charges $9.95 per monthor $79.95 per season.

In broadcasting, patience can be rewarded. - American News (Aberdeen, SD)

Byline: Jeff Bahr

Jul. 30--Gene Reich thought he would never broadcast another Northern State University game.

Reich finished a 17-year career as the Wolves' announcer in 1997. That year, he left KSDN, which was about to be purchased by Roberts Radio, and moved to KGIM. He later departed radio for a full-time job at Avera St. Luke's.

But over time, the unlikely sometimes becomes possible.

Last year, the Aberdeen Radio Ranch became the new owners of KSDN, and now Reich will be doing NSU games once again.

Though he's excited, Reich is also a little nervous about returning to the NSU microphone. 'I wish I could start right now,' he said. After missing eight seasons, he has a lot of work to do to get ready, he said.

The 54-year-old Reich has maintained a radio presence over the years doing Aberdeen Central and other high school games. He also appears on local cable TV.

On the Wolves' games, Reich will replace Rob Waltman.

Before Jeff Kilpatrick was hired late last year, the new owners of KSDN asked Waltman if he wanted to return to a full-time position. Waltman said no, which is when Kilpatrick was hired.

Waltman does not want to burn any bridges. But he had the feeling this past school year that Kilpatrick was going to take over his NSU broadcasting duties this coming year.

Hoping to hold onto part of his Northern duties, Waltman offered to let Kilpatrick broadcast NSU football and women's basketball if he could continue with NSU men's basketball. But when the decision was made to go with Kilpatrick entirely, Waltman accepted the decision and was reconciled to the idea of leaving radio, he said. He was planning to devote his full attention to his farm near Wetonka. He is also a partner in Aberdeen Carpet Cleaning and Duct Doctors.

But then in May, Kilpatrick resigned from KSDN.

At that time, Waltman says he entered into a verbal agreement with Aberdeen Radio Ranch general manager Brian Lundquist to return to NSU play by play. But he later received a call from Lundquist saying the station had decided to go in a different direction.

Waltman said that one issue in his dealings with KSDN was the amount of money he was being paid. Lundquist told him that the company wasn't making any money on NSU sports.

Lundquist backs up that point. 'There is no money being made on the university for sports,' he says. 'It's a misconception out there that you make a ton of money on doing sports broadcasts. The ton of money that goes into sports broadcasts is a lot, and we've committed a lot of money to Northern.'

When the Aberdeen Radio Ranch hired Kilpatrick, it was with the intention of having him help out with a lot of the sports work to cut down on costs, Lundquist said.

Take a look at Northern When Kilpatrick left, 'we decided we seriously better take a look at Northern and have somebody committed year-round,' Lundquist said.

The decision was a difficult one, Lundquist said. But since Waltman became a full-time farmer, Reich 'could commit to it more full-time I think than Rob could,' Lundquist said. Broadcasting NSU sports could be more of 'a year-round thing for Geno.' The station feels it's important to broadcast 'Wolves Midweek' during the summer, he said.

'I have all the praise in the world for Rob Waltman,' Lundquist said.

'He's always been an excellent play-by-play announcer.'

From his first year to his last year, Waltman made 'a world of improvement,' Lundquist said. 'And he ended up being a very talented play-by-play guy. Hopefully, he comes back into the industry.'

Waltman, 38, doesn't want to burn any bridges. 'If they want to move in a different direction, that's fine,' Waltman says.

But he says that in the eight years he broadcast NSU sports, the station turned a profit on Northern athletics each year. He also says that while he's busy during the summer, he has plenty of time during the school year.

In 10 years, Waltman broadcast 762 college and high school games. He also noted that he has won the South Dakota Associated Press Broadcaster Association play-by-play award four times in the five years it's been handed out.

Waltman is grateful to all the coaches he's worked with, including former NSU athletic director Jim Kretchman. 'They've all been great,' he said. He also thanks Mona Smith of Aberdeen Central, Northern sports information directors and NSU public address announcer Harry Jasinski.

He also appreciates the comments he's received from listeners.

'I did the best job I could, I had a lot of fun and I met a lot of nice people,' he said.

To see more of the American News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.aberdeennews.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Local radio station gives teen a chance to experiment with a possible broadcasting career.(Neighbor) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Sean Noble Daily Herald Staff Writer

There are several certainties in northern Illinois sports, Doug North said.

St. Charles High School has a great football coach. The Chicago Bears have a not-so-great owner.

'It's a shame the team's being run into the ground by a loser owner who doesn't know any better,' North said, disdain dripping from his voice.

And another certainty: North would like to keep his voice on the airwaves and keep talking about what's right and wrong with sports to whoever will listen.

'I know for sure I want to get into sportscasting,' said North, a senior at Elgin High School. He knows this because he's already doing some broadcasting on a part-time basis at a low-powered radio station that - nonetheless - gives him big-time dreams of success.

North's 'Sports Update' airs three mornings a week on WEPS-FM 88.9, a station owned and operated by Elgin Area Unit District 46.

The program is only 15 minutes long. The station runs on only 750 watts, just enough juice to push North's voice about as far as Sugar Grove.

The Bartlett teenager isn't sure how many - or even if - any people are listening. But he doesn't care much, either.

'Basically, it's a learning experience, no matter who listens,' he said.

North's muse and uncle, the mid-day host at WSCR-AM 1160, agreed.

'He's got a lot of ambition,' Mike North said of his protege. 'He's a real, real responsible kid - exactly the opposite of what I (was like) as a kid.'

Mike North was working hot dog stands until 'the tender age of 37,' when he decided to take a shot at broadcasting. He began leasing time on a small radio station for his sportscasting hobby and stumbled into a small-time broadcasting job before The Score hired him as a sportscaster six years ago.

His nephew, he pointed out, is pursuing a career 'the way you should.'

Doug North has stayed close to sports from an early age, with seat-vending jobs at Chicago Cubs and Bulls games. He has worked local high-school football games as a intern for WRMN-AM 1410 in Elgin.

He's visited WSCR with his uncle to learn the ins and outs of the broadcast booth.

Last year North even figured out a novel way to practice the art of public speaking - reading the morning announcements over the public-address system at Elgin High.

Principal Ron O'Neal approved the idea on the strength of North's enthusiasm and a demo tape. He hasn't regretted the decision.

'I was impressed with the fact he'd done his homework ahead of time,' O'Neal said.

In fact, it was O'Neal who suggested North spend last summer drafting a WEPS sports program proposal. District officials approved the plan, and 'Sports Update' was born this fall.

'It's given him a feel for whether or not this is what he really wants to get into,' O'Neal said.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, North leaves Elgin High for his free period of the day.

He drives to the WEPS station at Chicago and Gifford streets, where he waxes philosophical about sports from 9:45 to 10 a.m. Then, he heads back to school for the remainder of his day.

Finding enough material to fill his time sometimes can prove difficult, when balanced with homework and his jobs. In addition to hawking goodies at ballgames, he works in building services at Barrington's Willow Creek Community Church.

Still, North enjoys his juggling act. And he enjoys filling a niche that few other broadcasters do - talking about high-school athletes.

North empathizes with the hard work student athletes do, having labored on the Elgin High wrestling team once.

As he looks to the future, North has narrowed his post-high school choices down to three, including Columbia College in Chicago. Wherever he winds up, he wants to study broadcasting.

For now, even with the success he's had and the experience he's gaining, North is trying to keep things in perspective.

Montgomery man wins prestigious broadcasting awards - The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, WV)

Adam Cavalier of Montgomery, a spring 2009 graduate of MarshallUniversity's W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and MassCommunications and a four-year member of the WMUL-FM broadcaststaff, received two prestigious national broadcasting awardsrecently.

On June 5, Cavalier won the inaugural Jim Nantz Award as thenation's most outstanding collegiate radio sportscaster. He hadqualified for the Nantz Award when the Sportscasters Talent Agencyof America ranked him as one of the top five outstanding collegiateradio sportscasters in the country.

'The Jim Nantz Award, to me, is recognition for me in a field inwhich I want to be associated for years to come,' Cavalier said ofthe award named in honor of the four-time Sports Broadcaster of theYear from CBS Sports. 'I want to be a play-by-play announcer, andfor those skills to be acknowledged publicly on a national scalemakes me want to do cartwheels.'

On June 6, Cavalier took second place and $4,000 in prize moneyin the National Radio Broadcast News Championship division of theWilliam Randolph Hearst Foundation's Journalism Awards Program. Healso won an additional $1,000 award for Best Use of Radio For NewsCoverage in the Hearst Awards. The Hearst Awards are considered bymany to be the college version of the Pulitzer Prize.

'I've been working for the past two years to place this high inHearst,' Cavalier said. 'The award is the culmination of a goal thatstarted a long time ago and is what makes it truly special.'

Other finalists for the Nantz Award were sports broadcasters AdamAmin from Valparaiso, Siddique Farooqi from Hofstra, Joel Godettfrom Syracuse, Jim MacKay from the University of Maine and JustinShackil from Fordham. Each of the finalists has been recognized as a2009 Sports Broadcasting STAA All-American.

'An argument can be made for any of these sports broadcasters tohave won the award,' said STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik. 'What Adam does sowell is to create great drama with his play-by-play. He isn't justdescribing the action. His sportscasting is telling a story. Hiscourt description and verbiage are also excellent. He is ready tohit the sports broadcasting job market running.'

Ryan Epling, a Marshall University graduate student from Wayne,won an honorable mention in the STAA competition.

'These awards demonstrate not only what I can do, but also thequality of student broadcasters that WMUL-FM, the W. Page PittSchool of Journalism and Mass Communications and Marshall Universityproduce,' Cavalier said.

Cavalier is Marshall University's third national placer in theHearst Journalism Awards Program in the past four years. JenniferBaileys, now part of the 'Fox In The Morning' team at WDRB-TV inLouisville, Ky., finished third in the television competition in2006. Paul Gessler, now a reporter and sports anchor at WSAZ,finished second in the television competition in 2007.

Cavalier was in San Francisco working on his assignment for theHearst Awards when he was informed by phone that he had won theNantz Award.

'These two awards get fast tracked to the top of my resume,'Cavalier said. 'Getting both in the same weekend makes it that muchmore overwhelming. This has been a wonderful two-day span that Iwon't forget for a very long time.'

The Hearst Championships are the culmination of the 2008-2009Journalism Awards Program, which may be entered only by studentsenrolled in the 110-member colleges and universities of theAssociation of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication withaccredited undergraduate journalism programs.

From June 2 through June 6, 24 finalists participated in the 49thannual Hearst Championships in San Francisco where they demonstratedtheir writing, photography, radio and television skills in rigorouson-the-spot assignments. The assignments were decided by mediaprofessionals who judged the finalists' work throughout the year andat the championships. The winners were announced at the awardsceremony in San Francisco.

UNICEF KOREA AND SEOUL BROADCASTING SYSTEMS TEAM UP TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR CHILDREN. - States News Service

INANDA, DURBAN -- The following information was released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF):

Amidst the excitement of Korea Republic's progression to the second round of the World Cup, representatives from Seoul Broadcasting Systems (SBS), UNICEF, the Department of Basic Education and the staff and children of Nhlanhlayethu Secondary School, gathered to observe the signing of a partnership agreement between SBS and UNICEF Korea which will see the up-grading of the school's current sport and playing field.

Although the school building is prominent amongst the small and simple houses dotting the hills around it, the playing field at Nhlanhlayethu is currently nothing more than an uneven dusty field littered with stones.

'UNICEF believes that engaging children in structured play and organized sports in schools and communities across the country is the best way to leave a legacy for development beyond 2010,' said Ms. Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in South Africa, 'and the provision of safe sports fields and play areas is integral to its success'.

CEO and President of SBS, Mr. Won Gil Woo, pledged the broadcaster's support to the development of sport and children in South Africa, saying 'We are very happy to work with UNICEF and to have this opportunity to give back.'

The commitment by SBS - who hold exclusive broadcasting rights for the World Cup in Korea - was solidified through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by Mr. Woo and Ms. Park, Executive Director of UNICEF Korea. Two sport fields at schools in South Africa will be upgraded, the first one at Nhlanhlayethu.

Partnerships for Children's Development

The Vice Minister for Sport and Culture in Korea, Mr. Doe-Gin Kim, highlighted the importance of partnerships for development by recalling his childhood - in the days before Korea Republic was an economic powerhouse - when he and other children had nothing but dirt and stones to play with. Now, as one of the top 20 economies in the world, the Republic of Korea is in a position to work closely with other countries to support their development.

'We hope that today will be the mustard seed for further development opportunities between South Africa and Korea,' said Mr. Kim.

In spite of the fact that schools in South Africa are currently on holiday, over 400 children from the school and community attended the pledge ceremony, and cheered loudly for the delegation from Korea, congratulating them not only on their contribution to sport for development, but also for their success in the World Cup. The school is well known for producing a number of sporting stars and while poverty and over-crowding present major challenges to the quality of education, the school is aiming for a 90 per cent matric pass rate in 2010.

The Right to Play

UNICEF recognizes that sport and play can be powerful vehicles for working with disadvantaged and vulnerable children. Regular physical activity is essential for the physical, mental, psychological and social development of children and teens. Sport is also an ideal entry point for child, youth and community programmes. This is the concept for 'sport for development' - that sport is not just an end in itself, but also an effective tool to achieve goals in health, education, gender equality, HIV and AIDS and child protection.

UNICEF has teamed up with the Department of Basic Education to bring Sport for Development to more than one million children in over 700 most needy schools in the country. The approach is part of the Safe and Child Friendly School programme that works to transform schools into safe, healthy and child-friendly learning environments.

For information, please contact:

Ms Yvonne Duncan

Tel + 27 82 561 3970,

yduncan@unicef.org

Kate Pawelczyk:

Mobile 0731563650 / 0823365565,

MEMO TO NEWT: HOW NOT TO FIX PUBLIC BROADCASTING - The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

Newt Gingrich, the next speaker of the House, intends to changepublic broadcasting.

This is good.

There are things about it that need changing.

Gingrich has announced that he will do the job by eliminatingfederal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, whichis getting $285.6 million in tax money in the current fiscal yearand distributes 90 percent of it to about 1,000 public televisionand stations and groups.

I think he will eventually conclude that this is not the way toget the change he wants.

Two things about public broadcasting bother many Americans, notjust conservatives.

First, government should not be in broadcasting unless itprovides necessary services that the market does not deliver.

Second, some public programming, especially from NationalPublic Radio and a number of big-city stations, reveals instancesof bias -- mostly, but not exclusively, a liberal bias in coveringsocial problems.

As for economics, most public broadcasting originates not inbig cities but in smaller communities.

Most stations are less like New York's or Chicago's than theyare like WVMR, a radio station in Dunsmore, W.Va., that offerslocal programming that no commercial station would consider:lost-dog ads, funeral announcements, school closings, junior highsports broadcasts.

Other stations feature high school equivalency and literacyprograms and other educational courses, public-health services andcomputer networking.

The small stations depend more on the federal stipends theyreceive than do the larger ones. The overall federal contributionto stations' budgets ranges from 4 percent to 40 percent, butgenerally the smaller the station, the bigger the subsidy.

Thus, small stations are the most likely to be killed by thedisappearance of federal financing.

There is lots of talk about how commercial television can dothese things, but it is mostly talk. In its feature-length morningand late-afternoon news programs, listeners to public radio getmore diverse news, debate and commentary than they can get from the10-second sound bites of commercial radio.

So far, commercial television has proved less willing than theCorporation for Public Broadcasting to take the risks entailed indeveloping ambitious programs, and it does not provide the depth ofgood children's television that public broadcasting does.

The nation's well-being depends on a certain level of literacyand common culture in the population -- something Gingrichunderstands quite well.

Both those 'commodities' are in scarce supply.

The second problem with public broadcasting is bias --programming that does not disseminate a common culture but imposesa partisan attitude. This bias is not frequent and tends to occurin the programming of the bigger public broadcasting stations,which receive perhaps 5 percent of their budgets from thegovernment.

These are the stations best able to survive and continue theiractivities even if their federal contributions drop to zero.

Cutting off financing to the Corporation for PublicBroadcasting would not address the problem of bias. The opposite istrue. Because big stations as well as small ones get public money,all are accountable to public authorities. This accountabilitymakes a difference.

The money we give public broadcasting helps ensure itsaccountability. Remove federal funds and you remove officials'ability to influence the system. Such withdrawal would beirresponsible, and I do not think it is what Gingrich wants.

There is an argument for transferring more responsibility fromthe big urban stations to the Corporation for Public Broadcastingto make programming more truly national and better able to serveits legitimate unifying purposes.

If Gingrich spares the corporation, he need not give up onchanging public broadcasting. He can keep the budget tight. He canre-examine the way the money is distributed. He can yell bloodymurder at what he finds offensive.

WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY BROADCASTING STUDENTS GIVE FANS CHANCE TO BE PART OF PLAY-BY-PLAY - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

MACOMB, Ill., Nov. 15 -- Western Illinois University issued the following news release:

Unleash your inner commentator.

Through a live in-game blogging opportunity provided by Western Illinois University broadcasting students, Leatherneck athletics fans can log in during home games, while following the game on television or radio, and provide their own color commentary alongside the students who are broadcasting live from the game.

To participate and be a part of the play-by-play action, visit wiu.edu/cofac/sportsbroadcasting and click on Live Blogging. The blogging site is active during the home games for football, volleyball and basketball. Past blogs are also archived, and schedules of live blogging opportunity are posted.

'They are doing a great job,' said Broadcasting Department Chair Sharon Evans. 'We really want to get more alumni and fans involved. It's just one more way to increase school spirit, while giving our broadcasting students a great new experience.'

Evans 'borrowed' the in-game blogging idea from her alma mater, Baylor University, after visiting that school's website to follow her team in the NCAA baseball tourney and learning more about that school's blog. The blog is powered by CoverItLive.

'I was intrigued by the possibilities, and after participating, I really enjoyed blogging with other fans,' Evans said. During a recent Baylor game, more than 3,000 fans participated in the live blogging, including fans from Beijing, Afghanistan, London and more.

Evans took her firsthand experience to Buzz Hoon, broadcasting professor, who, working with the College of Fine Arts and Communication web manager Khaing Saw, made the live in-game blogging during WIU athletics home games a reality this fall. Hoon saw this as an excellent opportunity for new students to jump into the program and learn a new skill.

'The blogging is one of many learning activities we provide to our students to prepare them to be multimedia sports broadcasters,' Hoon said. 'We want to provide outlets to showcase our students' talents in covering sports in an ever-changing technological world.'

One of the student-bloggers, Pierce Roberson, a freshman from Chicago, said he didn't expect to get so involved in his major as quickly as he did.

'Doing the live in-game blogging has given me an opportunity to get experience in the field of sports broadcasting, and a chance to prepare my skills in my freshman year so that I may take them to the next level in the coming years,' he added.

For blogger Matthew Dougherty, a freshman from Chatham, said the experience has been a challenge as it has required him to adapt his broadcasting skills to a new mode of communication.

Japan's Mainichi Broadcasting System to Broadcast in SRS Circle Surround - Wireless News

Wireless News
03-28-2005
Japan's Mainichi Broadcasting System to Broadcast in SRS Circle Surround

WIRELESS NEWS-March 28, 2005-Japan's Mainichi Broadcasting System to Broadcast in SRS Circle Surround (C)2005 10Meters - http:// www.10meters.com

SRS Labs, a provider of audio enhancement technology, and Mainichi Broadcasting System Inc. (MBS), a terrestrial TV broadcasting company in Japan, announced they will televise the 77th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in SRS Circle Surround 5.1 (CS).
The invitational will also be broadcast through GAORA, a communication satellite broadcasting station. This marks the first time a Japanese television-broadcasting studio will encode SRS Circle Surround 5.1 into its broadcast chain, the groups noted.

'As a result of our various experiments, I have verified that SRS Circle Surround has proved to be highly compatible with stereo broadcasting,' said Makoto Sugimoto, chief mixer, Production Technical Center, MBS. 'Circle Surround made it possible for us to deliver 5.1 surround sound exactly as we anticipated. We are satisfied with its quality of providing an immersive surround sound experience to many audiences.'

All 32 matches of the 77th National High School Baseball Championship, which kicked off March 23, will be relayed by GAORA via the communications satellite broadcasting system, and the semi- final and the final matches of the tournament will be broadcast in both conventional terrestrial TV broadcasting with the SRS Circle Surround System, and to the terrestrial digital TV broadcasting with the 5.1 channel discrete surround system.

SRS Labs' regional manager, Hank Kato said, 'We are proud that Mainichi Broadcasting Systems chose to broadcast such a popular sports venue in SRS Circle Surround. Circle Surround is particularly powerful for live sports programming where the audio challenge is to give the audience a television experience that rivals watching the event live. The fact that Mainichi Broadcasting System is using SRS Circle Surround as their format for delivering impressive surround broadcasts is testament to the flexibility and effectiveness of our technology.'

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@10meters.com)) ((Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com))

(Copyright M2 Communications Ltd. 28, 2005)

Chasing his dream Blind since birth, Schaumburg H.S. graduate set for broadcasting debut.(Sports) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Marty Maciaszek Daily Herald Sports Writer

Ryan Kuro doesn't see any big deal in his plans for Saturday night.

The 1999 Schaumburg High School graduate and junior at Western Illinois University figures they aren't much different from a lot of college students.

Kuro is getting an opportunity to pursue a dream by doing radio color commentary for the first time of a Western Illinois men's basketball game with visiting Valparaiso.

'I'm not doing anything that important,' Kuro said. 'I'm just broadcasting a basketball game.'

Nothing unusual about what many other students do at colleges across the country. Except for the fact Kuro has never seen a game - or anything - in his life because he's been blind since birth.

That fact hasn't diminished Kuro's mutual interests of radio and sports. He'll get to show his love for both at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Macomb as part of a first-year classroom program that gives students on-air experience on campus radio station WIUS-FM.

National Association of Broadcasters spokesman Jeffery Yorke told the Associated Press he wasn't aware of any other blind sportscasters. Don Wardlow is retired as a broadcaster for the minor-league baseball Charleston Riverdogs.

'Ryan's very keyed up and we're so excited for him,' said WIU broadcasting assistant professor Buzz Hoon. 'Hopefully he enjoys it.'

One thing is perfectly clear from Hoon, play-by-play partner Rich Zapf, Schaumburg head football coach Tom Cerasani and Kuro himself: Kuro may be receiving significant media attention, but this is not a publicity stunt.

'I've worked very hard to make this happen,' said Kuro, who will be part of a three-man crew with commentator Todd Kelly.

'He's got as much heart as I do (for broadcasting),' said Zapf, a WIU senior and 1999 Lake Park High School graduate who wants to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.

'Ryan was just in this (Thursday) morning talking about Saturday's broadcast to make sure he was prepared,' Hoon said. 'He said he was nervous and I said, 'Ryan, you have to know a couple of things for why I picked you to be on the air. I think no other student knows radio sports like you do and nobody else has listened to radio sports like (you have).'

'He's one of those radio nerds. And he knows sports. He may not have seen it but he's listened and read, and he knows in his mind how it's supposed to happen.'

But sports weren't Kuro's first love. It was radio, which opened a new world to Kuro.

'When I was a little boy I collected old radio shows,' Kuro said. 'I remember on a trip back from Michigan we tuned into an old radio show and I fell in love with it.

'I saw something enjoyable.'

Kuro also found similar satisfaction in sports once he started high school at Schaumburg. Cerasani brought Kuro and Jonathan Cregier, whose spinabifida confined him to a wheelchair, into the football program as managers.

'The first time I saw Ryan he was walking down Schaumburg Road by himself and I went, 'Holy Christ, what is this kid doing?' because I knew he was blind,' Cerasani said. 'I was so impressed with him and we got to talking and I gave him a game jersey.

'His perseverance, to be blind ... and it didn't stop him. This is not a gimmick at all. This is always what he wanted to do.'

Kuro became a fixture at Schaumburg sporting events and often talked into a tape recorder and typed notes to himself.

He also started getting some practice on the football sideline by doing color commentary from the action described by Cregier.

So after two years at downstate Lincoln College, one of the first places Kuro went when he arrived at WIU was Hoon's office.

'I told him we were trying to start a program of radio sports broadcasting,' Hoon said. 'He was very excited and told me of his dream of being on the radio and doing some aspect of sports broadcasting.'

Hoon said Kuro was constantly coming in to see if the grant money had arrived to purchase the necessary radio remote equipment. And Kuro became a fixture at WIU sporting events.

Finally everything came to fruition and WIU basketball was on the air on WIUS. Kuro kept close tabs on some of the initial broadcasts to get a feel for the operation.

Zapf said Kuro also provided constructive criticism.

'One game he came over to us and said you need to describe this a little better and we took it into consideration,' Zapf said. 'On radio it's almost like you're trying to broadcast to the blind. You have to be very descriptive and Ryan helped me with that a lot.'

Zapf wants to return the favor. He understands since his mother, Debbie, works for the Ray Graham Association, which helps people with developmental disabilities.

'It's Ryan's dream,' Zapf said. 'I'm not going to sit here and say he can't do it because he can do it.'

Kuro does it by familiarizing himself with areas of the court to form mental images. He's also preparing cheat sheets after spending several weeks converting media guides and game notes into pages of Braille six inches thick.

Kuro said he'll try to feed off Zapf and Kelly to provide information and descriptions to the audience. But Kuro doesn't plan to do some pseudo-Harry Caray or Howard Cosell.

'I need to be me,' he said. 'I have to jump in and do it. The only way to get experience is to be on the air and do it.'

Kuro said he hopes to do one more broadcast this basketball season. Hoon said the station plans to cover other sports and he wants Kuro to get involved in a sports talk show as well.

Hoon believes Kuro has plenty to offer if he decides to pursue a sports broadcasting career. And Kuro won't let his blindness deter any of his ambitions.

'Who has the right to even tell anybody they can't accomplish their dreams?' Kuro said. 'It doesn't matter how big or small they are. I love it. And I tell you, I'm not doing it to get rich.'