Tech Roundup

Users of the Hound app and Houndify voice AI platform from tech firm SoundHound are now able to access a "robust slate of audio content" from the nation's No. 1 owner, by station count, of radio stations.

After years of product development and experimentation, wearable tech has started to gather pace, building an ecosystem of connected devices that is capturing the hearts and wallets of consumers. Futuresource Consulting's continuing series on top CES 2020 topics continues with this column from James Manning Smith on the "rapid acceleration of device uptake" it is seeing, resulting in a global market value of $108 billion by 2023.

The hype surrounding Esports has yet to slow, with the gaming market behind it being expected to grow close to $230 billion in value by 2023. As media companies including Beasley Media Group invest in Esports, understanding how and why it is gaining popularity in the U.S. could be a matter of dollars -- and big dividends -- for the right players.

The man who in January 1983 founded one of the leading makers of audio automation systems used across the professional broadcast industry has lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The RTL Group-owned video advertising platform designed to bridge TV and digital video on a global scale has promoted its three-year Chief Revenue Officer to the role of COO. At the same time, there's a new "Chief People Officer" at SpotX.

Video watermark technology is newly a part of Verance's Aspect platform, and the video watermark provides a high-performance, commercial implementation of the ATSC video watermark specification.

The E.W. Scripps Co.-owned digital audio and podcast technology arm known as Triton Digital has reached an agreement that brings its programmatic platform to the Rubicon Project digital ad exchange. 

Members of the Advanced Television Systems Committee have elected four "experienced industry executives" to serve on the ATSC Board of Directors for three-year terms that begin in January 2020. Concurrently, two directors were appointed to the ATSC board by their respective professional associations.

The FCC’s chief technology officer serves as the senior technology expert in the agency. The individual selected for the role will formally succeed Dr. Eric Burger, who has been serving at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy since October. The new CTO's first day at the FCC is set for Jan. 13, 2019.

SaaS-based streaming and podcast solutions provider StreamGuys has launched a "significant new version" of its SGplayer HTML5-based multimedia player. Enhancements in SGplayer 3.0 include a fully redesigned user interface; greater continuity between desktop and mobile experiences; and additional CCPA compliance tools for media enterprises leveraging targeted advertising.

As more broadcasters transition to IP, the production switchers market is rising in value. According to this latest report from Futuresource Consulting, it is on track to exceed $250 million in 2019.

TownNews has released a new audience acquisition and retention platform that enables publishers, broadcasters, and digital-native media organizations to precisely tailor their conversion funnels using machine learning and proven industry best practices.

Comrex is now shipping ACCESS MultiRack, its new rackmount multi-channel IP audio codec. ACCESS MultiRack occupies 1RU, and it can handle up to five full-duplex IP audio connections simultaneously.

The fast-growing digital multicast news network focused on non-stop newscasts has a new look. It's thanks to the debut of the first of a group of new studios constructed for NewsNet, concluding a seven-month project giving the network "a flexible new set."