TALKERS News Notes
KAB Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees and Individual Award Recipients. The Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB) will induct four new members into the Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame, as well as honor four other outstanding broadcasters. Inductees will be honored at the 2024 award ceremony at the KAB Convention, Oct. 20-21, in Wichita. Information on inductees and awardees, along with the criteria for these awards, including past recipients, can be found by clicking here. www.kab.net
SiriusXM to Open Technology Center of Excellence in Ireland. SiriusXM Satellite Radio has opened of a new state-of-the-art technology facility in Dublin, Ireland. The Company’s Dublin-based employees are expected to play a critical role in the audio entertainment company’s continued digital transformation and will function as a “center of excellence” for SiriusXM’s Product and Technology organization. SiriusXM is supported by the Irish government through IDA Ireland. SiriusXM’s Dublin workforce will primarily focus on software development, automotive technology and engineering, adtech, data science, and analytics. Talent based in the new technology hub will be charged with developing and implementing best-in-class standards for high-quality, scalable software deliveries for SiriusXM’s streaming and in-vehicle audio entertainment platforms. Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke tells TALKERS, “I congratulate SiriusXM on their expansion. Our team had the pleasure of meeting the SiriusXM management team recently, and I am pleased that they are opening a new Technology Center of Excellence in Dublin and availing of the wealth of professional talent available here.”
For the last several years, KSHSAA has opted into agreements with third parties that prevented local broadcasters from video-streaming games when the exclusive partner opted to do so. Kansas Association of Broadcasters president Allison Mazzei states, “I’m pleased that now, in post‐season, friends and families of student athletes will have access to free, quality coverage from the same broadcasters who cover their teams all season long. Local high school sports should be covered by local broadcasters. Our broadcasters depend on the revenue generated from high school sports coverage to stay on air and provide local news, weather, entertainment, and emergency alerts that communities depend on.” The KAB also notes students interested in pursuing careers in radio broadcast will also benefit from the legislation. Previously, if a local station was prohibited from video streaming a post‐season game, so were their student workers. Now, students will be able to cover all of their school’s activities regardless if it takes place in post season.