SEATTLE — For many radio broadcasting companies, metadata is an essential connector between the AM or FM station and the consumer. For CRISTA Media, owner of three radio stations serving the Puget Sound region, the need for an upgrade of its metadata management system was a priority.
It’s now benefiting from technology powered through the “Radio Experience TREplus” product offered by Broadcast Electronics.
This saw the company’s Christian Talk & Teaching KCMS-AM and Contemporary Christian KCMS-FM, along with Worship Music-focused KWPZ-FM, shift to the new system earlier this year.
Also taking on the new metadata platform are KCMS’s two digital multichannel stations, Worship Music “LIFT Radio” and Beautiful Music-focused “Quiet Time Radio.”
The debut of TREplus at the stations will be part of the discussion BE representatives hope to have at the 2025 NAB Show. There, BE will be in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (at Booth #W3301).
CRISTA Media Chief Engineer Aaron Hume comments, “CRISTA Meida had been looking for an updated cost-effective solution to allow us to deliver visual content to our radio and streaming platforms. When we learned about the new TREplus platform, it hit the mark with flexible operations, extensive metadata destination and was more cost effective than other options. Installation went quickly and easily; in addition to RDS and HD Radio® we interfaced to a Opticodec as an output for our internet streaming and are in the process of connecting with our new stream encoders from Wheatstone.
“Cover art and editing titles and matches is great,” he continues. “We made some small suggestions to improve the workflow that was well received. The input and output setup coming from automation systems and going to RDS and HD systems is well built and has a lot of compatibility options, I also really like how simple it is to add additional metadata destinations for things like backup site RDS.”
BE is led by President/COO Rich Redmond.
