Digital Alert Systems announced in May a major software update that they claim improves security, the user interface experience, and email notifications. Version 5.1 is available now for most DASDEC II and all DASDEC III EAS devices.
TEGNA-Standard General Merger Collapses
The proposed merger between TEGNA and Standard General has collapsed, according to a statement from TEGNA. The merger would have seen Standard General acquire TEGNA for $5.4 billion, including the company’s San Diego-based television station, KFMB TV.
The collapse of the merger comes after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) raised concerns about the deal and called for a hearing on the matter. The delay caused the deal to pass a finance deadline. The FCC said that the merger would have given Standard General too much control over local news and could have led to higher prices for cable and satellite TV subscribers.
Jeff Crane Joins KPBS
KPBS-FM/TV Senior Engineering Manager Kevin Schrader told us that Jeff Crane joined their staff in April as a Broadcast Engineer. Jeff comes from KSWB-TV Fox 5 where he was a Broadcast IT Engineer for three years. He had previously worked with KSTS (TV) in San Jose, and as a freelance entertainment event technician in various roles.
May Meeting: Perry Priestley of Broadcast Electronics
Elenos, Italian manufacturer of FM broadcast transmitters, acquired Broadcast Electronics in Quincy, Illinois, a highly regarded US manufacturer of AM, FM, and TV transmitters. BE has been known for years for its high quality transmitters, and Elenos has gained market share for their compact FM devices. Perry Priestley will update us on their lines and philosophies, sharing stories along the way.
Join us in an online presentation Tuesday, May 9th, at 11:30 AM organized by Chapter 47 of Los Angeles. Here’s the Zoom Link for registration.
About Perry
Perry Priestley has worked in the professional broadcast industry for over 49 years. He joined Broadcast Electronics in June 2019 in the position of Chief Operating Officer and he’s now the Chief Sales Officer. Previously he held the position of CEO at Anywave Communication Technologies Inc. He has also held positions in Sales and Business Development with Linear Industries Brazil, Ibiquity Digital Corporation (now Xperi), Thales-France (now Thomson Broadcast), EEV-Marconi, and Philips (Pye TVT) in the UK. Perry has presented at over 200 technical broadcast conferences worldwide, has been the lead commercial coordinator in notable projects around the world, and has been a significant contributor to many new product releases in the radio and television broadcast market.
Perry earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Cambridge University, England, and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Telecommunications from Cambridge College of Technology.
San Diego County EAS Plan Complete
We’ve revised the 10-year-old San Diego County Emergency Alert System Plan and it’s ready for distribution. Changes are minor. You’re no longer asked to fax in your alerts, thank you very much. The old CLERS and San Diego County LIFE system with their radio backbones are gone. KSSX (FM) 95.7 is no longer listed as an LP1 station; you might remember that station had served for a while as a simulcast FM source of KOGO (AM). We cleaned up grammar and layout.
I was the primary editor of the document, but it could not have been properly done without the valuable input of John Rigg of iHeartMedia; Richard Rudman, volunteer Vice-Chair of the California State Emergency Coordination Committee; and Daniel Vasquez of the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services.
If you are in charge of your broadcast facility EAS execution, you should keep a copy of the revised plan with your other EAS materials. The plan is not publicly distributed, but you can obtain it by sending me a request. Mention what stations in San Diego County you take care of if I don’t already know.